Birds to See in Highland in January
130 bird species on our list for Highland are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Chaffinch, Blackbird, European Robin and Carrion Crow. New this month: Lesser Black-backed Gull, Bohemian Waxwing, Snow Goose and Northern Shoveler and 2 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
At their peak
From Highland’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 130 birds in January
130 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.73% in Jan
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.26% in Jan
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Jan
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.07% in Jan
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Jan
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Jan
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Jan
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Jan
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Jan
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.18% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Jan
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Jan
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Jan
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Jan
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Jan
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Jan
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Jan
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Jan
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Jan
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Jan
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.96% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Jan
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.86% in Jan
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Jan
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Jan
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.68% in Jan
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jan
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Jan
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Jan
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.59% in Jan
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jan
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jan
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Jan
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Jan
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jan
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.50% in Jan
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jan
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jan
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.47% in Jan
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jan
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.43% in Jan
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jan
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.39% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jan
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.29% in Jan
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.25% in Jan
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jan
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
MagpiePica picaResidentUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Jan
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jan
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jan
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Jan
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.17% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.17% in Jan
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jan
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.13% in Jan
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Jan
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensScarceUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Jan · 0.11% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Jan
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.08% in Jan
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.07% in Jan
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.07% in Jan
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jan
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.06% in Jan
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.06% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jan
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Jan
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Jan
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in Jan
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Jan
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in Jan
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.04% in Jan
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made