This is a list of the bird species recorded in Scotland. The avifauna of Scotland include a total of 535 species, of which 9 have been introduced by humans.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of British Ornithologists' Union (BOU). The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Scotland.
The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Scotland (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Scotland as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions (E) Endemic - a species endemic to Scotland
Ducks, geese, and swans Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Brent goose, Branta bernicla Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis (A) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (I) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (A) Greylag goose, Anser anser Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus White-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Bewick's swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Egyptian goose, Aloochen aegyptiaca (A) Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (I) Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (I) Garganey, Spatula querquedula Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Black duck, Anas rubripes (A) Pintail, Anas acuta Eurasian teal, Anas crecca Green-winged teal, Anas carolinensis Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) Pochard, Aythya ferina Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca (A) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (A) King eider, Somateria spectabilis Eider, Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (A) Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca Common scoter, Melanitta nigra Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (A) Smew, Mergellus albellus Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Goosander, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (I)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings.
Red grouse, Lagopus scotica (A) Ptarmigan, Lagopus muta Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus (I) Black grouse, Tetrao tetrix Grey partridge, Perdix perdix Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Quail, Coturnix coturnix Red-legged partridge, Alectorix rufa (I)
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A) Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
White-throated needletail, Hirundapus caudacutus (A) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) Alpine swift, Apus melba (A) Swift, Apus apus Pallid swift, Apus pallidus (A) Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A) Little swift, Apus affinis (A)
Bustards Order: OtidiformesFamily: Otididae
Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.
Great bustard, Otis tarda (A) MacQueen's bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (A) Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (A)
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius (A) Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A) Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A) Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus (A)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock dove, Columba livia Stock dove, Columba oenas Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus Turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur Oriental turtle dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A) Collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe, but some are bold and conspicuous. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers, though many are also capable of long-distance migration and dispersal.
Water rail, Rallus aquaticus Corncrake, Crex crex Sora, Porzana carolina (A) Spotted crake, Porzana porzana Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Coot, Fulica atra American coot, Fulica americana (A) Allen's gallinule, Porphyrio alleni (A) Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla (A) Little crake, Zapornia parva (A)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A) Crane, Grus grus
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (A) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Stone-curlews Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Burhinidae
The stone-curlews are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus (A)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus (A) Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae include the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus Sociable lapwing, Vanellus gregarius (A) White-tailed lapwing, Vanellus leucurus (A) Golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria Pacific golden plover, Pluvialis fulva American golden plover, Pluvialis dominica Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola Ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (A) Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (A) Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus Lesser sand plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Greater sand plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A) Caspian plover, Charadrius asiaticus (A) Dotterel, Charadrius morinellus
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A) Eurasian whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (A) Curlew, Numenius arquata Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (A) Turnstone, Arenaria interpres Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (A) Knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (A) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (A) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta (A) Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Little stint, Calidris minuta Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (A) White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri (A) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (A) Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Great snipe, Gallinago media Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus Snipe, Gallinago gallinago Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (A) Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Grey phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius