Birds to See in Highland in March
137 bird species on our list for Highland are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are Chaffinch, European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Robin and Mallard. New this month: Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Sandwich Tern and 7 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
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 137 birds in March
137 birds
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.51% in Mar
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Mar
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.96% in Mar
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Mar
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.48% in Mar
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Mar
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Mar
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Mar
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 2.11% in Mar
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.10% in Mar
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Mar
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.07% in Mar
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.93% in Mar
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Mar
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Mar
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Mar
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Mar
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Mar
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Mar
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Mar
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Mar
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Mar
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Mar
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Mar
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Mar
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Mar
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.03% in Mar
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Mar
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Mar
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Mar
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Mar
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Mar
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Mar
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Mar
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Mar
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Mar
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.58% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Mar
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Mar
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Mar
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Mar
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.54% in Mar
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Mar
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Mar (protected)
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Mar
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Mar
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Mar
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Mar
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Mar
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Mar
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Mar
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Mar
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Mar
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Mar
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.37% in Mar
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.37% in Mar
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Mar
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.32% in Mar
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in Mar
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.24% in Mar
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Mar
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.23% in Mar
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.22% in Mar
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
MagpiePica picaResidentUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Mar
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.17% in Mar
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Mar
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.14% in Mar
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.14% in Mar
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Mar (protected)
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.12% in Mar
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Mar
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.10% in Mar
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.08% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.08% in Mar
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Mar
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.06% in Mar
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in Mar
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in Mar
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.05% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Mar
King EiderSomateria spectabilisScarceUncommon46–64 cmRegularly Mar · 0.05% in Mar
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Mar
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.04% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.04% in Mar
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.03% in Mar
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Mar
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Mar
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Mar
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentRare12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.01% in Mar
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusPassage migrantRare90–105 cmRegularly Mar · 0.01% in Mar
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