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From adders and Arctic skua to wildcats and wood anemones, Scotland is home to a huge diversity of wildlife.

Browse our species profiles below to find out more about some of Scotland’s wildlife.

List of species

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106 records found

Adder
Vipera berus

Adders are relatively small, stocky snakes which prefer woodland, heathland and moorland habitat. They are grey or reddish brown, with…

Arctic skua
Stercorarius parasiticus

The arctic skua is a large seabird about the size of a common gull. Arctic skuas are pirates: chasing other…

Arctic tern
Sterna paradisaea

The Arctic tern is a medium-sized tern which nests in colonies on sand and shingle beaches along the coast. Arctic…

Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar

Atlantic salmon can be very large fish, growing over a metre in length. They are found in the cleanest rivers,…

Badger
Meles meles

One of Scotland’s most charismatic mammals, the badger is a member of the mustelid family (the same group as stoats,…

Barn owl
Tyto alba

Perhaps the most familiar owl, the barn owl will often hunt during the daytime and can be seen ‘quartering’ over…

Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus

The basking shark is the second largest fish in our oceans – its relative the whale shark being the biggest.…

Eurasian beaver
Castor fiber

Once a common sight across the UK, the Eurasian beaver was hunted to extinction in Britain around 400 years ago.…

Bell heather
Erica cinerea

Bell heather is found in a variety of harsh habitats including heathland, acidic soils, open woodland and even coastal areas.…

Black Grouse
Tetrao tetrix

The black grouse is a large gamebird about the same size as a female pheasant. Males are unmistakable black birds…

Black-throated diver
Gavia arctica

The black-throated diver is a large waterbird: larger than the great crested grebe but smaller than the cormorant in size.…

Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Bluebells spend most of the year as bulbs underground in ancient woodlands, only emerging to flower and leaf from April…

Bogbean
Menyanthes trifoliata

Found mostly in the north of Scotland, the bogbean gets its name from its leaves which have a close resemblance…

Bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus

The most familiar of the dolphins and the most likely to be seen from British shores, the bottlenose dolphin is…

Brown hare
Lepus europaeus

Brown hares graze on vegetation and nibble bark from young trees and bushes. Hares shelter in a ‘form’, which is…

Brown long-eared bat
Plecotus auritus

A medium-sized bat, the brown long-eared bat certainly lives up to its name! All British bats are nocturnal, feeding on…

Brown trout
Salmo trutta

A medium to large fish, the brown trout lives in fast-flowing, stony and gravelly rivers. Brown trout are predatory fish,…

Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula

The bullfinch is a large, plump finch which feeds on buds and fruit in woodlands, hedgerows, parklands, gardens and orchards.…

Capercaillie
Tetrao urogallus

The capercaillie is the largest member of the game bird family. It resides in the pinewoods of Scotland, but is…

Cep
Boletus edulis

Also known as ‘penny bun bolete’, cep is an edible fungus which can be found growing in soil at the…

Coal Tit
Periparus ater

The coal tit is the smallest European tit, known for their lively and acrobatic nature and ability to hang upside…

Comma
Polygonia c-album

The comma is a medium-sized orange and brown spotted butterfly. It is on the wing throughout the year, having several…

Common blue butterfly
Polyommatus icarus

The common blue is a small blue butterfly which flies throughout the summer between April and October. The most widespread…

Common butterwort
Pinguicula vulgaris

The common butterwort, also known as bog violet or marsh violet, can be found in damp areas such as bogs,…

Common Darter
Sympetrum striolatum

The common darter is a small, narrow-bodied dragonfly which is on the wing from the end of June right through…

Common Frog
Rana temporaria

Common frogs are amphibians, coming to ponds to breed during the spring and spending much of the rest of the…

Common Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna

In May, our hedgerows burst into life as Common Hawthorn erupts with masses of creamy-white blossom, colouring the landscape and…

Common Juniper
Juniperus communis

Common Juniper is a sprawling, evergreen shrub that tends to grow in colonies on chalk downland, moorland, rocky slopes and…

Common Lizard
Lacerta vivipara

Living further north than any other reptile species, the common lizard is also remarkable for giving birth to its young,…

Common Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellus

The Common Pipistrelle is our smallest and most common bat. All British bats are nocturnal, feeding on midges, moths and…

Common Poppy
Papaver Rhoeas

Also referred to as the corn poppy, the common poppy is prevalent throughout farmland, fields, wasteland and roadsides mainly due…

Common Scoter
Melanitta nigra

A squat, dark seaduck, the Common Scoter gathers in flocks of several hundred or even thousands in winter, mostly feeding…

Common Toad
Bufo bufo

Toads are amphibians, breeding in ponds during the spring and spending much of the rest of the year feeding on…

Common Tern
Sterna hirundo

The common tern is a medium-sized tern and the one you are most likely to see away from known breeding…

Cross-leaved heath
Erica tetralix

Cross-leaved heath is a type of heather that gets its name from the distinctive whorls of four leaves that occur…

Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra

The Crossbill is a large finch of conifer woodlands; so-named for its bizarre cross-tipped bill, which it uses skilfully to…

Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus

About the size of a collared dove, the cuckoo is a scarce summer visitor to most of Britain, arriving in…

Curlew
Numenius arquata

Curlew are very large, tall waders, about the same size as a female pheasant. Curlew are mottled brown and grey…

Dipper
Cinclus cinclus

Dippers are short-tailed birds with a plump body shape. They are unmistakable, with a white throat and breast, whilst the…

Eel
Anguilla anguilla

Eels are very long, narrow fish which can grow over a metre in length. Eels look smooth and lack the…

Eider
Somateria mollissima

The eider duck is characterised by its wedge-shaped bill and bulky shape. Males have a black and white plumage with…

Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis

The fulmar is a grey-white pelagic seabird, or nomad of the ocean, only coming ashore to rocky islands or desolate…

Garden Tiger Moth
Arctia caja

This large, brightly coloured moth is on the wing towards the end of the summer during July and August. It…

Globeflower
Trollius europaeus

This plant prefers damp soil and provides a splash of colour in wet meadows, on riverbanks, in damp woodland and…

Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos

The golden eagle is the top predator in the Scottish countryside; it is a massive bird of prey that mainly…

Grayling
Hipparchia semele

A medium-sized butterfly, Graylings spend much of their time sunbathing on the ground, with their closed wings angled to catch…

Great Crested Newt
Triturus cristatus

Great crested newts are amphibians, breeding in ponds during the spring and spending most of the rest of the year…

Grey Partridge
Perdix perdix

A plump, round gamebird the grey partridge is locally common but now thinly distributed and becoming scarce in most parts…

Grey Seal
Halichoerus grypus

A very large mammal, the Grey Seal spends most of its time out at sea where it feeds on fish.…

Grey Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis

One of our most familiar mammals, Grey Squirrels can be found in woods, gardens and parks, often proving to be…

Guillemot
Uria aalge

The guillemot is a seabird of the auk family that comes on land to breed in the summer. Most guillemots…

Harbour seal
Phoca vitulina

The smaller of our two seal species, harbour seals (also known as common seals) are often found around sheltered shores…

Heather
Calluna vulgaris

Heather is also known as ‘Ling’ and is an abundant plant on heathland, moors, bogs and even in woodland with…

Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus

Small, round, brown and famously covered in spines, the Hedgehog is one of the most familiar of Britain’s wild mammals.…

Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus

Kestrels are one of our best known bird of prey; a familiar sight hovering over the side of the road,…

Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis

A famously colourful bird of rivers and streams, the kingfisher can be spotted sitting quietly on low-hanging branches over the…

Kittiwake
Rissa tridactyla

A slight, medium-sized, pelagic gull with a flight pattern that is more elegant (and more Tern-like) than other gulls. Kittiwakes…

Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus

Familiar birds of farmlands and wetlands, lapwings can often be seen wheeling through winter skies in large, black and white…

Linnet
Carduelis cannabina

The Linnet is a common, small finch of heathland, scrub and farmland. Linnets feed on seeds and are present all…

Lynx
Lynx lynx

Once resident in Scotland, the lynx is thought to have become extinct in the UK during the medieval period around…

Marsh Fritillary
Euphydryas aurinia

Once widespread throughout Britain, the Marsh Fritillary has suffered dramatic decline, with a drop in numbers of 66% from 1990…

Narrow Headed Ant
Formica exsecta

The Narrow Headed Ant is a wood ant, which are the largest type of ant in Britain. The species is…

Northern brown argus
Aricia artaxerxes

Northern brown argus butterflies occur in small colonies of less than fifty individuals and the females have only one brood…

Orca
Orcinus orca

Also known as the ‘Killer Whale’, the Orca one of the top predators in the world’s oceans; they feed on…

Otter
Lutra lutra

Otters are one of our top predators, feeding mainly on fish, waterbirds, amphibians and crustaceans. Otters have their cubs in…

Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus

A common wader, the oystercatcher is very noisy with a loud ‘peep-ing’ call. On the coast, they specialise in eating…

Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus

The peregrine falcon suffered from persecution and pesticide poisoning in the early 20th century and until recently was only found…

Pike
Esox lucius

The pike, or northern pike is one of the largest freshwater fish found in the UK. They can be spotted…

Pine marten
Martes martes

Pine martens are elusive animals, found primarily in the north of Britain. Mostly chestnut-brown in colour, pine martens have a characteristic…

Pink-footed Goose
Anser brachyrhynchus

The Pink-footed Goose is one of our smaller geese, with a relatively short neck, rounded head and short bill. A…

Puffin
Fratercula arctica

A small auk, puffins are familiar as the ‘clowns’ of the coast with their brightly coloured bills, bumpy landings and…

Razorbill
Alca torda

Razorbill populations are migratory and lead a predominantly aquatic lifestyle, only coming on land to breed. Understanding the precise number…

Red Deer
Cervus elaphus

Our largest deer, males have large, branching antlers, increasing in size as they get older. During the autumnal breeding season,…

Red Squirrel
Sciurus vulgaris

Red Squirrels are most often found in coniferous woods. Red Squirrels feast on hazelnuts by cracking the shell in half.…

Redshank
Tringa totanus

A common wading bird, both resident and migrant in Scotland, breeding throughout the country. The redshank is an elegant, medium-sized…

Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclus

A sparrow-sized bird of reedbeds, wetlands and farmland, the Reed Bunting feeds on seeds and invertebrates. In the winter, Reed…

Round-leaved Sundew
Drosera rotundifolia

The Round-leaved Sundew is a strange and beautiful plant that can be found sitting among the soggy Sphagnum mosses at…

Rowan
Sorbus aucuparia

Rowan is a small tree found on mountains, heathland and in woodland edges, and is frequently planted in towns and…

Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris

Scots Pine is the native pine tree in Scotland and has been widely planted elsewhere in the UK, too. During…

Scottish Crossbill
Loxia scotica

The most striking feature of the Scottish crossbill is its crossed mandibles when its bill is closed. Males have russet…

Scottish Primrose
Primula scotica

The Scottish primrose is often found near the coast and is endemic to a small area in the very north…

Sessile Oak
Quercus petraea

Sessile Oak is a tall tree that can mainly be found in semi-natural woodlands, especially in the north and west…

Shore Crab
Carcinus maenas

Probably the commonest crab in Britain, the Shore Crab is a medium-sized crab which lives amongst rocks and seaweed from…

Silver Birch
Betula pendula

Silver Birch is a familiar, small, spindly tree with thin branches and papery bark. It is found on heathland, moorland…

Skylark
Alauda arvensis

Male skylarks can be spotted rising almost vertically from farmland, grassland, salt marshes and moorland and effortlessly hovering and singing…

Small blue
Cupido minimus

The Small Blue is aptly named as it is our smallest native British butterfly. Males of this species can often…

Small cow-wheat
Melampyrum sylvaticum

Small cow-wheat is a flowering plant that prefers to grow in light shade and high humidity. It can be found…

Small Heath
Coenonympha pamphilus

The Small Heath is a small, inconspicuous butterfly of heathland, moorland, grassland and coastal habitats. Adults are on the wing…

Snipe
Gallinago gallinago

A medium-sized wader, the snipe lives in marshes, wet grassland and moorlands where they nest by scraping a small hole…

Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos

The Song Thrush is a small, familiar songbird, commonly found in parks and gardens, woodland and scrub. Living up to…

Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum

Sphagnum mosses are the amazingly multi-coloured living carpets of moss found in wet places like peat bogs, marshland, heath and…

Spotted Flycatcher
Muscicapa striata

Spotted Flycatchers are medium-sized songbirds of open woodland, parks and gardens. They have a relatively long tail which is often…

Swallow
Hirundo rustica

Swallows are common summer visitors, arriving in April and leaving in October. They build mud and straw nests on ledges,…

Thrift
Armeria maritima

Thrift plants, also known as sea pink, can reach a height of 0.3 metres and can be found along coastal…

Tree Sparrow
Passer montanus

Tree sparrows are scarce birds of farmland, hedgerows and woodland edges and are not associated with man in the way…

Twinflower
Linnaea Borealis

Although mostly found in North East Scotland, the twinflower population has become critically scarce. In an attempt to bring the…

Water Vole
Arvicola amphibius

Whilst it may resemble a rat (even being dubbed the “water rat” or “ratty”), the water vole has fur on…

Wild boar
Sus scrofa

Wild boar are part of the pig family. They probably became extinct in the UK around the 13th Century due…

Wildcat
Felis silvestris

One of our rarest and most endangered mammals, and the only wild member of the cat family in the UK.…

Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus

Willow Warblers are slim, delicate birds of woodland, scrub, parks and gardens. They can be heard singing a melodious, warbling…

Wood Anemone
Anemone nemorosa

The Wood Anemone is a pretty spring flower of ancient woodlands, and is also planted in graveyards, parks and gardens.…

Wood warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Wood warblers are small birds of oak woodland in the north and west of the UK, particularly upland areas. They…

Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes

The diminutive wren can be found in almost any habitat, anywhere there are insects to eat and sheltered bushes or…

Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella

The Yellowhammer is a sparrow-sized, bright-yellow bird of woodland edges, hedgerows, heath and farmland that feeds on seeds and invertebrates.…

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