Birds to See in Orkney Islands in October
132 bird species on our list for Orkney Islands are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Starling, Common Gull, Curlew, Great Black-backed Gull and Eider. New this month: Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye, Eurasian Woodcock and Horned Grebe and 6 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
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 132 birds in October
132 birds
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.02% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.95% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.90% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusPassage migrantCommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.86% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.84% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusPassage migrantCommon41–52 cmRegularly Aug–Dec · 1.82% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.80% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaSummer visitorCommon24–25 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.76% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.69% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaSummer visitorCommon31–34 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.58% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesSummer visitorCommon9–10 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.47% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.42% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaSummer visitorCommon26–29 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.39% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusSummer visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.33% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 1.32% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.31% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.26% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorCommon90–98 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 1.24% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.17% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.15% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantCommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.05% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosPassage migrantCommon20–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.05% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.01% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.00% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.99% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.98% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusPassage migrantCommon9–10 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.93% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaPassage migrantCommon10–12 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.92% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.92% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataSummer visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.92% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantCommon24–33 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.91% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaSummer visitorCommon16–22 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.87% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.84% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.84% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorCommon45–50 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.76% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.74% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaPassage migrantCommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.73% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusSummer visitorCommon30–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.70% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.70% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.68% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.64% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.63% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisPassage migrantCommon22–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.63% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.59% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.58% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaPassage migrantCommon46–56 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.53% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.51% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantCommon60–75 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.50% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.49% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.49% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantCommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.44% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.43% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaSummer visitorCommon34–39 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.40% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.39% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.39% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorCommon50–90 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.38% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaPassage migrantCommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.38% in Oct
CootFulica atraSummer visitorCommon36–42 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.36% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantCommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.35% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantCommon40–51 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.35% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorCommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.31% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.30% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusSummer visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.28% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.26% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.26% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.26% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.24% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.24% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.22% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.22% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Oct · 0.21% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentCommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantCommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.20% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.18% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.17% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusScarceUncommon27–28 cmRegularly Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusResidentCommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorCommon45–47 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorUncommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoSummer visitorCommon51–57 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusSummer visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentCommon58–77 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusSummer visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% 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