Birds to See in Shetland Islands in April
117 bird species on our list for Shetland Islands are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Herring Gull, Common Starling, Fulmar and Blackbird. New this month: Great Skua, Wheatear, Blackcap and Atlantic Puffin and 23 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From Shetland 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 117 birds in April
117 birds
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.18% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.72% in Apr
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.65% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.64% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 2.31% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Apr
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.69% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.67% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.67% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.56% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Apr
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.49% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.45% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Apr
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.25% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Apr
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Apr
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Apr
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.08% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.99% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Apr
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.90% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.81% in Apr
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Apr
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.76% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusPassage migrantCommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.76% in Apr
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.66% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.56% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.55% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.50% in Apr
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.45% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.43% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.40% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.40% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.38% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentUncommon58–67 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.37% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.34% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.33% in Apr
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.28% in Apr
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.25% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Apr
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.21% in Apr
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Apr
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorCommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.19% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.17% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorCommon62–68 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.14% in Apr
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Apr
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.12% in Apr
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.12% in Apr
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.12% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.10% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.09% in Apr
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Apr
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.09% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Apr
Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostrisPassage migrantUncommon66–84 cmRegularly Jan–Apr · 0.09% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.08% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Apr
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon27–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Apr
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentUncommonRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.06% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.05% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · records held back in Apr (protected)
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentRare16–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in Apr
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Apr
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.04% in Apr
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Apr
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.02% in Apr
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Apr · 0.02% in Apr
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