Birds to See in Orkney Islands in April
111 bird species on our list for Orkney Islands are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, Curlew, Common Starling, Greylag Goose and Meadow Pipit. New this month: Barn Swallow, Great Skua, Northern Shoveler and Bar-tailed Godwit and 39 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Orkney Islands’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 111 birds in April
111 birds
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 3.12% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.86% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.56% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.56% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.24% in Apr
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.94% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaSummer visitorCommon31–34 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.89% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.87% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.83% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Apr
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.61% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.55% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.38% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.35% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorCommon24–25 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.33% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesSummer visitorCommon9–10 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.33% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.33% in Apr
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.16% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorCommon50–90 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.14% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.12% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 1.10% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.99% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in Apr
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.90% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaPassage migrantCommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.86% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.86% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.84% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.84% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaSummer visitorCommon34–39 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.84% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.77% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.77% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaSummer visitorCommon58–67 cmRegularly Mar–Jul · 0.73% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.73% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.69% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.67% in Apr
RedwingTurdus iliacusPassage migrantCommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.67% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.65% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.62% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusPassage migrantCommon9–10 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.62% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosPassage migrantCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.62% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.60% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.58% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.58% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.54% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.52% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.49% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantCommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.49% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.49% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.47% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.47% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorCommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.47% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.43% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.43% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorCommon90–98 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.41% in Apr
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.39% in Apr
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.39% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.37% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaPassage migrantCommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.34% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.34% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.32% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.32% in Apr
CootFulica atraSummer visitorCommon36–42 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.30% in Apr
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.30% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.28% in Apr
FieldfareTurdus pilarisPassage migrantCommon22–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantCommon60–75 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.28% in Apr
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.26% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.26% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.17% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Apr
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Apr
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.15% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.15% in Apr
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Apr
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Apr
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · records held back in Apr (protected)
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.11% in Apr
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentCommon58–77 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · records held back in Apr (protected)
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Apr
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Little AukAlle alleScarceUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 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