Birds in Scotland
Explore 186 species found in this region.
Scotland is home to an impressive diversity of birdlife, with 186 species recorded across its dramatic landscapes of rugged coastlines, ancient Caledonian forests, expansive moorlands, and tranquil lochs. From vast flocks of Pink-footed Geese arriving each autumn to the charismatic Northern Lapwing displaying over farmland, Scotland offers exceptional birdwatching throughout the year. Notable species include the Common Merganser on highland rivers, Eurasian Woodcock in dense woodland, and the Common Shelduck along its estuaries.
Visiting in April? Look out for Atlantic Puffin and Barn Swallow arriving this month, and Brent Goose and Common Kingfisher depart for the season.
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Get Your Free DigestShowing 47–69 of 186 species
Dipper
Cinclus cinclusLC
A charismatic resident of fast-flowing Highland burns and rivers. Bobs on midstream rocks and walks underwater to feed on aquatic invertebrates.
Year-round
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
Breeds on upland moorland and machair in summer, moving to estuaries and mudflats in winter. A year-round resident across Scotland.
Year-round
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
A common year-round resident of hedgerows, gardens and woodland edges. Often shuffles mouse-like along the ground, easily overlooked despite its widespread presence.
Year-round
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
Resident year-round along rocky coasts and islands. Scotland holds the bulk of the UK breeding population; prized historically for its fine down.
Year-round
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
An uncommon resident around farms, gardens, and villages. Less widespread in Scotland than in England, with a distinctive monotonous call.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
A rare resident largely confined to central and southern Scottish woodlands. Its harsh screech often betrays its presence among oak trees.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
A rare resident slowly expanding its range northward into Scotland. Found in mature deciduous woodland, often detected by its loud call.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
A common and conspicuous resident of coasts, farmland, and river shingle. Its loud piping call is a familiar sound across Scotland.
Year-round
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Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon resident closely linked to Scotland's conifer and birch woodlands. A regular visitor to nyjer seed feeders in winter, often in acrobatic flocks.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
An uncommon resident of open farmland and moorland edges. Its sustained hovering song flight is a hallmark of Scottish grasslands.
Year-round
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanusLC
A rare resident, largely confined to scattered pockets in eastern and central Scotland. Favours farmyards and rural edges, far scarcer than its House Sparrow cousin.
Year-round
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
Resident breeder on moorland lochs, with numbers boosted in winter by continental migrants. Flocks gather on estuaries and flooded fields.
Year-round
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to damp woodland and leaf litter from October to March. Superbly camouflaged and mostly crepuscular.
Oct–Mar
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
One of Scotland's commonest birds, resident in virtually every habitat from gardens to remote glens. Remarkably loud song for its tiny size.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A colourful and common year-round resident, increasingly seen at garden feeders. Flocks gather on seed heads of thistles and teasels in autumn and winter.
Year-round
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
A common and familiar resident of coasts, towns, and harbours throughout Scotland. Numbers have declined in recent decades.
Year-round
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
A rare passage migrant in spring and autumn, mainly at coastal sites. Breeds in oak woodlands further south but scarce as a Scottish nester.
May–Sep
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
A common and confiding resident of gardens, woodland and hedgerows year-round. One of the first birds to sing at dawn and last at dusk.
Year-round
European Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelisLC
A year-round resident of rocky coastlines and sea cliffs. Smaller and sleeker than the Cormorant, with a distinctive green sheen in breeding plumage.
Year-round
European Storm-petrel
Hydrobates pelagicusLC
A rare, secretive seabird seen offshore in July and August. Breeds in burrows on remote Scottish islands including St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides.
Jul–Aug
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
A winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving from October in noisy flocks. Often feeds on berries in hedgerows alongside Redwings.
Oct–Apr
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialisLC
Nests on sea cliffs year-round across Scotland's coastline. Numbers have declined sharply in recent years, linked to reduced sandeel availability.
Year-round
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
Rare year-round resident on lowland lochs and reservoirs. Often overlooked among Mallards but slowly increasing in Scotland.
Year-round