Birds to See in Moray in April
117 bird species on our list for Moray are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Woodpigeon and Great Black-backed Gull. New this month: Barn Swallow, Willow Warbler, Osprey and Sand Martin and 20 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Moray’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 117 birds in April
117 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.53% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Apr
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.34% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.34% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.33% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Apr
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 1.27% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.19% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.05% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Jan–Sep · 1.03% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.97% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.90% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.90% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.81% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.81% in Apr
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.78% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.77% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.75% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Apr
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.69% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosSummer visitorCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Apr
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisWinter visitorCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Apr
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaWinter visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.49% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusSummer visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.41% in Apr
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleSummer visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.40% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.38% in Apr
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorCommon51–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.34% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.32% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.32% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenanthePassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.27% in Apr
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.25% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.22% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.19% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.16% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Apr · 0.16% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.16% in Apr
Crested TitLophophanes cristatusWinter visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.13% in Apr
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.13% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSummer visitorUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Apr
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.12% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · records held back in Apr (protected)
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorUncommon54–67 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.10% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorCommon28–32 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in Apr
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.10% in Apr
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.10% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaPassage migrantUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.06% in Apr
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · records held back in Apr (protected)
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensScarceUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · records held back in Apr (protected)
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in Apr (protected)
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · records held back in Apr (protected)
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