Ayrshire Species Checklist

This page lists all the species on the Ayrshire list. Included is an indication of their current status in the county. A key to the status symbols appears at the end. A separate page shows a summary of those species with fewer than 20 sightings in Ayrshire with a breakdown of sightings into pre-1966, 1966-1982, and 1982-2001, as well as a total count. This gives a rough indication of the trend in sightings of a given species.

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata C FB W P
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica C(B) W P
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer U W P
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii A
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis C B
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus C b p
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena U W §
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritusU W §
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis A §
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis C B P
Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea A ‡
Great Shearwater Puffinus gravisA ‡
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus U P §
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus C S P
Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus R S P §
Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus C FB S p
Leach’s Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa U P §
Gannet Morus bassanus C B p
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo C B p
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis C B w
Bittern Botaurus stellaris R FB
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus A
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus A
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax A §
Snowy Egret Egretta thula A
Little Egret Egretta garzetta A
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea CB w
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea A
White Stork Ciconia ciconia A
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus A
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia A §
Mute Swan Cygnus olor C B
Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii R w P
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus C W
Bean Goose Anser fabalisA §
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus U w P
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons R w P (§ A. a. albifrons)
Greylag Goose Anser anser C b W
Snow Goose Anser caerlescens A E §
Canada Goose Branta canadensis U b P
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis U w P
Brent Goose Branta bernicla U w p
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna C B
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea E
Wigeon Anas penelope C (B)W
American Wigeon Anas americana A §
Gadwall Anas strepera U(B)
Teal Anas crecca C B W
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis A §
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos C B W
Pintail Anas acuta U w P
Garganey Anas querquedula R (B) §
Shoveler Anas clypeata U b w P
Red-crested Pochard Netta ruffina A/E §
Pochard Aythya ferina C (B) W
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris A
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca A
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula C B W
Scaup Aythya marila C W
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis A §
Eider Somateria mollissima C B
King Eider Somateria spectabilis A §
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus A §
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis U W
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra C W P
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata A §
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca U W §
Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica A §
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula C W
Smew Mergellus albellus U W §
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator C b p
Goosander Mergus merganser C b w
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis R
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus R
Black Kite Milvus migrans A
Red Kite Milvus milvus FB A §
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla FB
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus R P (B) §
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus U b p
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus A
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis U (B)
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus C B
Buzzard Buteo buteo C B
Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus A § ‡
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos U (B) §
Osprey Pandion haliaetus R FB P §
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus C B
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus A
Merlin Falco columbarius C b W
Hobby Falco subbuteo R §
Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus A
Peregrine Falco peregrinus C b w
Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus C B
Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus FB A
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix C B
Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus A
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa E (B)
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix C B
Quail Coturnix coturnix R FB §
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus C B
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus C b W
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana R P
Little Crake Porzana parva A
Corncrake Crex crex U (B) S §
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus C B
Coot Fulica atra C B
Crane Grus grus A
Great Bustard Otis tarda A
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus C B W P
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta A §
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius A
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula C B W P
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus A
Dotterel Charadrius morinellus R (B) s P §
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica A §
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria C B w P
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola C w P
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus C B W P
Knot Calidris canutus C W P
Sanderling Calidris alba C w P
Little Stint Calidris minuta U P
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii R P
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis A
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos R
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea U P
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima C W P
Dunlin Calidris alpina C b W P
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis A
Ruff Philomachus pugnax C P
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus C w P
Snipe Gallinago gallinago C B w P
Great Snipe Gallinago media A
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus A
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola C B W
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa U w P
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica C W P
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus U P
Curlew Numenius arquata C B W P
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus U w P §
Redshank Tringa totanus C B W P
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis A
Greenshank Tringa nebularia C w P
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes A
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus U w P §
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola U P §
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleuca C B S P
Turnstone Arenaria interpres C W s P
Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor A
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus A
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius R
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus U P (§ immatures only)
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus U S P
Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus A §
Great Skua Stercorarius skua U S w P
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus R P (§ immatures only)
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla A
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan A
Little Gull Larus minutus U P §
Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini R P §
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus C B W
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis R § ‡
Common Gull Larus canus C B W
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus C B S p
Herring Gull Larus argentatus C B W
Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans A § ‡
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides U W P § (‡ kumlieni only)
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus C W s P
Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea A
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus C B W P
Ross's Gull Rhodostethia roseaA §
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla C B w P
Little Tern Sternula albifrons U (b) S p
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia A
Black Tern Chlidonias niger R P §
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis C (B) S P
Common Tern Sterna hirundo C B S P
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii R FB s P §
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea C B S P
Guillemot Uria aalge C B w p
Razorbill Alca torda C B w p
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle C B W p
Little Auk Alle alle R W §
Puffin Fratercula arctica U b S p
Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus A
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia C B
Stock Dove Columba oenas C B w
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus C B W
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto C B
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur R s P
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus C B S p
Barn Owl Tyto alba C B
Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca A
Little Owl Athene noctuaA §
Tawny Owl Strix aluco C B
Long-eared Owl Asio otus U b §
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus C B W p
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus R FB
Swift Apus apus C B S p
Alpine Swift Apus melba A
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis U b
Bee-eater Merops apiaster A
Roller Coracias garrulus A §
Hoopoe Upupa epops A §
Wryneck Jynx torquilla A §
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis U b
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major C B
Skylark Alauda arvensis C B W P
Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris A §
Sand Martin Riparia riparia C B S p
Swallow Hirundo rustica C B S p
House Martin Delichon urbicum C B S p
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis C B S p
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis C B P
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus C B p (§ littoralis only)
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta R w P § ‡
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava U (B) S p (§ not flavissima)
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea C B S w P
White/Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba C B
Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus R w P §
Dipper Cinclus cinclus C B
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes C B
Dunnock Prunella modularis C B
Robin Erithacus rubecula C B W p
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica A §
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochrurus R W p
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus C B S p
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra C B S p
Stonechat Saxicola torquata C B
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe C B S P
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus U b S p
Blackbird Turdus merula C B W p
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris C W P
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos C B w p
Redwing Turdus iliacus C W P
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus C B W
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia C B S
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus C B S p
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca U b
Whitethroat Sylvia communis C B S p
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin C B S p
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla C B S w p
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus A
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix U B S p
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita C B S w p
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus C B S P
Goldcrest Regulus regulus C B p
Firecrest Regulus ignicapillus A §
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata C B S p
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca U b s P
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus C B
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus C B
Great Tit Parus major C B
Coal Tit Periparus ater C B
Willow Tit Poecile montanus U b §
Nuthatch Sitta europaea A
Treecreeper Certhia familiaris C B
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus A §
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A §
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor A
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor R w P §
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator A §
Jay Garrulus glandarius C B
Magpie Pica pica C B
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax FB §
Jackdaw Corvus monedula C B w
Rook Corvus frugilegus C B
Carrion Crow Corvus corone C B
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix C b
Raven Corvus corax U b
Starling Sturnus vulgaris C B W
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus A ‡
House Sparrow Passer domesticus C B
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus C B
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs C B W
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla U W p
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris C B W
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis C B
Siskin Carduelis spinus C B W p
Linnet Carduelis cannabina C B
Twite Carduelis flavirostris C (B) W
Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret C B S p
Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea U P §
Crossbill Loxia curvirostra U B w
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinusA §
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula C B
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes A
Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus A
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis U W p
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella C B
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus A ‡
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla A ‡
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus C B
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala A §
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra U b

Escapes

Black Swan Cygnus atratus E
Ross’s Goose Anser rossi E
Eagle Owl Bubo bubo E
White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus E
Emperor Goose Anser canagicus E
Magellan Goose Cloephaga picta E
Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus E
Reeves’s Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii E
Mandarin Aix galericulata E
Barbary Dove Streptopelia 'risoria' E

Key to Symbols

Key	Meaning
A	Accidental (≤ 5 records)
R	Rare (≤ 20 records)
U	Uncommon (≤ 20 records per year)
C	Common (> 20 records per year)
B	Breeds (≥ 25 pairs/territories reported per year)
b	Breeds (< 25 pairs/territories reported per year)
(B)	Casual or occasional breeder
FB	Former breeder
S	Summer visitor (s = less regularly)
W	Winter visitor (w = less regularly)
P	Passage migrant (p = less regularly)
E	Introduced or escaped
§	Written details may be required for Ayrshire Birds Records Committee
‡	Written details may be required for Scottish Birds Records Committee

Ayrshire Bird Rarities Committee (ABRC) Form

Should you be in the fortunate position of seeing a rare bird within the county then you'll be asked to submit a Sightings Form to the ABRC before the sighting is “accepted”. A PDF version of this form is available here for you to print, fill-in and then return to the Recorder. Using this standard form makes things a lot easier for the Recorder and the committee. For a list of what species the ABRC needs a form please consult the above table looking for species marked with a § (Ayrshire rarity) or ‡ (Scottish/British rarity). This list is also published in the latest edition of the Ayrshire Bird Report.

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