Birds to See in Shetland Islands in October
157 bird species on our list for Shetland Islands are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Starling, Blackbird, European Herring Gull, House Sparrow and Hooded Crow. New this month: Fieldfare, Glaucous Gull, Eurasian Woodcock and Bohemian Waxwing and 24 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
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 157 birds in October
157 birds
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.00% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 3.19% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Oct
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 2.73% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.69% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 2.19% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.13% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusPassage migrantCommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.91% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.78% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.62% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantCommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 1.42% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.40% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.30% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.27% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Oct
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 1.15% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.98% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.93% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.92% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.85% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.77% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.71% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.60% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.54% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.53% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.51% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.45% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.45% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.44% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.34% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.34% in Oct
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.33% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.32% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Oct
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.29% in Oct
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.25% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.25% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.24% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.23% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.21% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.19% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.17% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusPassage migrantUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.16% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.16% in Oct
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorCommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.15% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.15% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Oct
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.14% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.14% in Oct
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Oct
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in Oct
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.12% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.12% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.11% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.10% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Oct
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorCommon62–68 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.10% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.09% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentUncommonRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.09% in Oct
King EiderSomateria spectabilisPassage migrantUncommon46–64 cmRegularly Oct · 0.09% in Oct
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisPassage migrantUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Great Grey ShrikeLanius excubitorPassage migrantUncommon22–26 cmRegularly Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.06% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.05% in Oct
Red-flanked BluetailTarsiger cyanurusPassage migrantRare13–14 cmRegularly Oct · 0.05% in Oct
MagpiePica picaScarceRare44–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Great White EgretArdea albaPassage migrantUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Oct
Cattle EgretArdea ibisScarceRare46–56 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataSummer visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentRare16–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Oct
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Oct
Short-toed LarkCalandrella brachydactylaPassage migrantRare14–17 cmRegularly Oct · 0.03% in Oct
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.03% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantRare48–60 cmRegularly Oct · 0.03% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentRare15–17 cmRegularly Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusPassage migrantRare52–71 cmRegularly Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.02% in Oct
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Oct–Jan · 0.02% in Oct
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaWinter visitorUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon27–28 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Oct
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
CootFulica atraWinter visitorUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.01% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct · 0.01% 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