Birds to See in Shetland Islands in September
146 bird species on our list for Shetland Islands are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Common Starling, Meadow Pipit, European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow and Blackbird. New this month: Redwing, European Robin, Blackcap and Goldcrest and 40 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
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 146 birds in September
146 birds
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.01% in Sep
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.44% in Sep
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.26% in Sep
Hooded CrowCorvus cornixResidentCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.26% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 2.14% in Sep
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.99% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.82% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.80% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 1.65% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Sep
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantCommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 1.56% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.47% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Sep
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.33% in Sep
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Sep
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Sep
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.14% in Sep
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaSummer visitorCommon50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.08% in Sep
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaWinter visitorCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.91% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.80% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Sep
European RobinErithacus rubeculaWinter visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.78% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusPassage migrantCommon9–10 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.74% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.68% in Sep
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.67% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.61% in Sep
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsWinter visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.60% in Sep
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.59% in Sep
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.59% in Sep
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorCommon140–165 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.57% in Sep
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.56% in Sep
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusSummer visitorCommon40–42 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.53% in Sep
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosWinter visitorCommon20–23 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.49% in Sep
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.47% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.46% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Sep
Common RosefinchCarpodacus erythrinusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.45% in Sep
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.40% in Sep
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorUncommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.39% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Sep
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.35% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaSummer visitorUncommon17–20 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.35% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusSummer visitorUncommon32–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.34% in Sep
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.26% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Sep
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataPassage migrantCommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.23% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantUncommon20–32 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
WhitethroatCurruca communisPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.19% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.18% in Sep
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Sep
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisResidentUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.17% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.16% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusWinter visitorUncommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneSummer visitorUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusPassage migrantUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.15% in Sep
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Feb–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.14% in Sep
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusWinter visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Sep
Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurioPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorCommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.12% in Sep
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentUncommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.11% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.11% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.10% in Sep
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaSummer visitorUncommon37–42 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorUncommon40–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.10% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
DunnockPrunella modularisPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Sep
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.09% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusSummer visitorUncommon50–90 cmRegularly May–Jan · 0.09% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.08% in Sep
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusSummer visitorCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustesPassage migrantUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Woodchat ShrikeLanius senatorPassage migrantUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
GreenshankTringa nebulariaPassage migrantUncommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.06% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.06% in Sep
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Marsh WarblerAcrocephalus palustrisPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Jun–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.04% in Sep
European Turtle-doveStreptopelia turturPassage migrantRare26–28 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
WryneckJynx torquillaPassage migrantUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Sep
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.04% in Sep
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentUncommon34–39 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.03% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
MagpiePica picaScarceRare44–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusSummer visitorUncommon14–18 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusSummer visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantRare18–23 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.02% in Sep
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusResidentUncommon41–52 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in Sep
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentRare66–94 cmRegularly Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
PochardAythya ferinaResidentUncommon42–49 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantUncommon48–56 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
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