Birds to See in Highland in July
148 bird species on our list for Highland are recorded regularly in July
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Barn Swallow and Chaffinch. New this month: Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Black-tailed Godwit and Sooty Shearwater and 1 more.
On the move in July
GBIF · JulArriving
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 148 birds in July
148 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Jul
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Jul
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.79% in Jul
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.57% in Jul
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Jul
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Jul
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Jul
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Jul
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Jul
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Jul
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Jul
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Jul
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Jul
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Jul
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Jul
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Jul
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.66% in Jul
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Jul
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Jul
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.61% in Jul
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Jul
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Jul
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Jul
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.48% in Jul
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.44% in Jul
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Jul
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Jul
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 1.32% in Jul
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Jul
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Jul
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Jul
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jul
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Jul
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Jul
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Jul
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.99% in Jul
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.94% in Jul
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Jul
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Jul
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Jul
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Jul
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Jul
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Jul
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Jul
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.78% in Jul
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Jul
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Jul
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.71% in Jul
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Jul
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Jul
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jul
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.67% in Jul
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.67% in Jul
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.62% in Jul
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Jul
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.57% in Jul
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jul
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jul
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jul
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Jul
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jul
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jul
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jul
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jul
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jul
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jul
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Jul
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jul
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jul
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.48% in Jul
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jul
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Jul
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in Jul
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in Jul
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jul
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jul
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.42% in Jul
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Jul
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Jul
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jul
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.38% in Jul
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Jul
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jul
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Jul
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.34% in Jul
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Jul
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Jul
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jul
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Jul
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jul
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jul
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Jul (protected)
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jul
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jul
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Jul
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.25% in Jul
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Jul
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Jul
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jul
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.22% in Jul
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jul
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Jul
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jul
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jul
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jul
MagpiePica picaResidentUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jul
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jul
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Jul
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jul
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Jul (protected)
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jul
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Jul
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jul
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Jul (protected)
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jul
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.08% in Jul
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jul
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in Jul
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jul
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantUncommon14–18 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.08% in Jul
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Jul
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Jul
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Jul (protected)
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Jul
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.07% in Jul
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Jul (protected)
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Jul (protected)
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.06% in Jul
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in Jul
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Jul
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jul
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Jul
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Jul
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.03% in Jul
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.03% in Jul
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Jul
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.03% in Jul
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Jul
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorRare48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Jul
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in Jul
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixPassage migrantRare16–18 cmRegularly Jun–Jul · 0.01% in Jul
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.01% in Jul
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Jul
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