Birds to See in Highland in October
146 bird species on our list for Highland are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, Chaffinch and Mallard. New this month: Redwing, Fieldfare, Long-tailed Duck and Eurasian Woodcock and 3 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
At their peak
Pink-footed GooseBusiest month of the year · Sep–May
Whooper SwanBusiest month of the year · Sep–Mar
Barnacle GooseBusiest month of the year · All year
Greater White-fronted GooseBusiest month of the year · Sep–Apr
Little EgretBusiest month of the year · Sep–Oct
Tundra Bean GooseBusiest month of the year · Oct
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 146 birds in October
146 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.75% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.25% in Oct
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.23% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.11% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.78% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.24% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.24% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Oct- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.19% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Oct- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.80% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentCommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.49% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.46% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.44% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.34% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.29% in Oct- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentUncommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentUncommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.18% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.17% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaWinter visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusResidentUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.12% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.07% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentRare42–49 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Oct- Little EgretEgretta garzettaPassage migrantRare55–65 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.04% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorUncommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaSummer visitorRare46–56 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentRare28–32 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantRare46–51 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusSummer visitorUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.02% in Oct- Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisPassage migrantRare66–84 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataSummer visitorRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
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