Birds to See in Scotland in March
168 bird species on our list for Scotland are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon and Blackbird. New this month: Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Wheatear and Osprey and 7 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
At their peak
From Scotland’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 168 birds in March
168 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 4.76% in Mar
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.98% in Mar
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 3.84% in Mar
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.50% in Mar
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.01% in Mar
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Mar
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Mar
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 2.41% in Mar
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Mar
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Mar
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Mar
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.97% in Mar
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Mar
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Mar
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Mar
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Mar
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Mar
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Mar
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.09% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Mar
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.07% in Mar
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Mar
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Mar
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Mar
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Mar
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Mar
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Mar
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Mar
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.79% in Mar
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Mar
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Mar
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Mar
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.63% in Mar
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Mar
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Mar
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Mar
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Mar
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Mar
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Mar
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Mar
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.53% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Mar
CootFulica atraResidentUncommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Mar
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.46% in Mar
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Mar
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Mar
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentUncommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Mar
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Mar
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Mar
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentUncommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Mar
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.38% in Mar
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Mar
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.33% in Mar
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Mar
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Mar
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Mar
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentUncommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Mar
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Mar
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Mar
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.21% in Mar
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Mar
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Mar
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Mar
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Mar
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.17% in Mar
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Little EgretEgretta garzettaWinter visitorUncommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Mar (protected)
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Mar
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentUncommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Mar
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Mar
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Mar (protected)
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisWinter visitorUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.10% in Mar
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Mar
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Mar
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Mar
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.07% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Mar
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.06% in Mar
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.06% in Mar
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Mar
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% in Mar
BramblingFringilla montifringillaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Mar
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
SmewMergellus albellusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Mar
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentRare30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Mar
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisPassage migrantRare66–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorUncommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.02% in Mar
King EiderSomateria spectabilisSummer visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Red-billed ChoughPyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxWinter visitorRare39–43 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusSummer visitorUncommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentRare16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Northern GoshawkAstur gentilisRecords withheldRare46–61 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · records held back in Mar (protected)
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Mar
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusWinter visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaWinter visitorUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.01% in Mar
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusSummer visitorUncommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.01% in Mar
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsPassage migrantRare31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.01% in Mar
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusSummer visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.00% in Mar
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Willow TitPoecile montanusWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Mar
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaResidentRare42–45 cmRegularly Mar–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Black SwanCygnus atratusResidentRare110–142 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in Mar
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Golden PheasantChrysolophus pictusPassage migrantRare90–105 cmRegularly Mar · 0.00% 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