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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in Scottish Borders

Our list for Scottish Borders has 167 bird species recorded regularly there: 67 residents, 33 summer visitors, 11 winter visitors, 43 passage migrants and 13 scarce visitors

The list comes from 45,000 birdwatchers' records from 2019–2024, shared through the eBird Observation Dataset on GBIF. A bird is listed when it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years and has a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur here than are listed; the months show when it is recorded most years.

Species on our list
167
In October
106
Common
97
Busiest month
May

What's special about Scottish Borders

vs Scotland

The birds recorded far more often here than across Scotland, as a share of all bird records. These are the ones Scottish Borders is worth visiting for.

  1. Eurasian NuthatchEurasian Nuthatch5.2×Resident · 0.79% of records here, 0.15% across Scotland
  2. Red-legged PartridgeRed-legged Partridge3.7×Resident · 0.18% of records here, 0.05% across Scotland
  3. Eurasian Tree SparrowEurasian Tree Sparrow3.7×Summer visitor · 0.75% of records here, 0.20% across Scotland
  4. YellowhammerYellowhammer3.3×Summer visitor · 1.0% of records here, 0.32% across Scotland
  5. Red CrossbillRed Crossbill3.2×Resident · 0.28% of records here, 0.09% across Scotland
  6. DipperDipper2.7×Winter visitor · 0.42% of records here, 0.15% across Scotland
  7. ChiffchaffChiffchaff2.6×Summer visitor · 1.9% of records here, 0.70% across Scotland
  8. Eurasian JayEurasian Jay2.5×Resident · 0.34% of records here, 0.14% across Scotland

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Carrion CrowCarrion Crow4.07%
  2. European RobinEuropean Robin3.53%
  3. Blue TitBlue Tit2.97%
  4. WoodpigeonWoodpigeon2.87%
  5. JackdawJackdaw2.82%
  6. Eurasian WrenEurasian Wren2.82%

Arriving now

  1. RedwingRedwingWinter visitorSep 0.04% → Oct 1.45%
  2. FieldfareFieldfareWinter visitorSep 0.04% → Oct 0.59%
  3. BramblingBramblingPassage migrantSep 0.04% → Oct 0.56%
  4. Whooper SwanWhooper SwanPassage migrantSep 0.18% → Oct 0.49%
  5. Ring OuzelRing OuzelPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.20%
  6. Lesser WhitethroatLesser WhitethroatPassage migrantSep 0.16% → Oct 0.20%

Share of all bird records in Scottish Borders in October, 2019–2024. “Arriving now” are the birds whose share rises most from last month. Each month links to that month’s page.

Near you this week

The birds most likely around your town or postcode right now, from the same records, for a square about 9 km across.

The bird calendar for Scottish Borders

Month by month

When each bird is around, through the year. The darker the square, the closer that month is to the bird’s busiest. Filter by summer or winter visitors to see the seasons turn over.

The year in Scottish Borders

Records by month
Bird records in Scottish Borders by month, 2019–2024
January2,010
February1,906
March3,734
April4,233
May6,700
June6,284
July3,921
August3,582
September4,889
October4,078
November2,525
December1,114

May has the most records (6,700). Records follow birdwatchers as well as birds: a busy month means more people out looking, as well as more birds passing through.

By family

12 of 30
All 30 families in Scottish Borders

How common

More of Scotland

All of Scotland

All 167 birds, A to Z

Show all 167 birds

Questions

4

What birds is Scottish Borders known for?

Compared with the rest of Scotland, Scottish Borders stands out for Eurasian Nuthatch, Red-legged Partridge, Eurasian Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer. Each is recorded at least 3.2 times as often here as across Scotland, as a share of all bird records (2019–2024).

How many birds are on Birdfact's list for Scottish Borders?

167 species, each recorded regularly in Scottish Borders (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 67 residents, 33 summer visitors, 11 winter visitors, 43 passage migrants and 13 scarce visitors. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in Scottish Borders, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in Scottish Borders in October?

106 species on our list for Scottish Borders are recorded regularly in October. Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Robin, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw.

What are the most common birds in Scottish Borders?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in Scottish Borders are Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch and Blackbird.

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

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