2024 List

Great Shearwater to be removed from the SBRC List.

This change is from January 2024.

  • BLACK BRANT
  • RED-CRESTED POCHARD
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • BLACK-WINGED STILT
  • CONTINENTAL BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • LESSER YELLOWLEGS
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • BLACK KITE
  • LITTLE OWL††
  • EUROPEAN BEE-EATER
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • MARSH TIT†††
  • WOODLARK
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • ARCTIC WARBLER
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL
  • CITRINE WAGTAIL
  • PARROT CROSSBILL**
  • SERIN
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • CIRL BUNTING

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Dumfries & Galloway.

††† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Borders and Dumfries & Galloway.

Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

Past Lists

Red-crested Pochard, Little Owl, European Bee-eater and Marsh Tit to be added to the SBRC List.

These changes are from January 2023.

  • BLACK BRANT
  • RED-CRESTED POCHARD
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • BLACK-WINGED STILT
  • CONTINENTAL BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • LESSER YELLOWLEGS
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER††
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • BLACK KITE
  • LITTLE OWL†††
  • EUROPEAN BEE-EATER
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • MARSH TIT††† & ††††
  • WOODLARK
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • ARCTIC WARBLER
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL
  • CITRINE WAGTAIL
  • PARROT CROSSBILL**
  • SERIN
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • CIRL BUNTING

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

††† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Dumfries & Galloway.

†††† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Borders and Dumfries & Galloway.

Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

Scottish Crossbill to be removed from the SBRC List.

This change is from March 2022.

  • BLACK BRANT
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • BLACK-WINGED STILT
  • CONTINENTAL BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • LESSER YELLOWLEGS
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER††
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • BLACK KITE
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • WOODLARK
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • ARCTIC WARBLER
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL
  • CITRINE WAGTAIL
  • PARROT CROSSBILL**
  • SERIN
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • CIRL BUNTING

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

Lesser Scaup, Kentish Plover, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit and Little Bunting to be removed from the SBRC List.

These changes are from 1 January 2020.

  • BLACK BRANT
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • BLACK-WINGED STILT
  • CONTINENTAL BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • LESSER YELLOWLEGS
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER††
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • BLACK KITE
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • WOODLARK
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • ARCTIC WARBLER
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL
  • CITRINE WAGTAIL
  • PARROT CROSSBILL**
  • SCOTTISH CROSSBILL**
  • SERIN
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • CIRL BUNTING

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

https://www.the-soc.org.uk/content/bird-recording/sbrc/sbrc-lists/2019-list

Black-winged Stilt and Red-flanked Bluetail to be added to the SBRC List.

Egyptian Goose, Ferruginous Duck and Glossy Ibis to be removed from the SBRC List.

Blyth’s Reed Warbler remains on the SBRC list, but with local assessment in Shetland and Fair Isle.

All these changes are from 1 January 2017.

• LESSER SCAUP
• WHITE-BILLED DIVER§
• CORY’S SHEARWATER
• GREAT SHEARWATER††
• WILSON’S PETREL
• NIGHT-HERON
• CATTLE EGRET
• PURPLE HERON
• BLACK KITE
• MONTAGU’S HARRIER
• RED-FOOTED FALCON
• STONE-CURLEW
• BLACK-WINGED STILT
• KENTISH PLOVER
• WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
• YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
• CASPIAN GULL
• WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
• ALPINE SWIFT
• LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
• WOODCHAT SHRIKE
• SHORT-TOED LARK†
• WOODLARK
• RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
• CETTI’S WARBLER
• GREENISH WARBLER†
• RADDE’S WARBLER
• DUSKY WARBLER†
• DARTFORD WARBLER
• SUBALPINE WARBLER†^
• MELODIOUS WARBLER
• BLYTH’S REED WARBLER§§
• MARSH WARBLER†
• NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
• RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL
• CITRINE WAGTAIL
• OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT†
• SERIN
• ARCTIC REDPOLL† ^
• SCOTTISH CROSSBILL**
• PARROT CROSSBILL**
• CIRL BUNTING
• ORTOLAN BUNTING†
• LITTLE BUNTING†

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

§ Records of this species may be assessed locally in Shetland and the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

§ § Records of this species may be assessed locally in Shetland and Fair Isle.

Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

^ Only birds not identified to any particular subspecies are considered by SBRC or local committees. Birds identified to subspecies are assessed by the British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

Lesser Scaup, Blyth’s Reed Warbler and Citrine Wagtail were added to the SBRC list, being no longer assessed by BBRC.

Aquatic Warbler, Tawny Pipit, Red-throated Pipit and Rustic Bunting were removed from the SBRC list, being now assessed by BBRC.

White-billed Diver remains on the SBRC list, but with local assessment in Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.

Olive-backed Pipit remains on the SBRC list, but with local assessment in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

All these changes are from 1 January 2015.

  • EGYPTIAN GOOSE
  • FERRUGINOUS DUCK
  • LESSER SCAUP
  • WHITE-BILLED DIVER§
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER††
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • GLOSSY IBIS
  • BLACK KITE
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • WOODLARK
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • SUBALPINE WARBLER (cantillans)†*
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • BLYTH’S REED WARBLER
  • MARSH WARBLER†
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • CITRINE WAGTAIL
  • OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT†
  • SERIN
  • (COUES’S) ARCTIC REDPOLL (exilipes)†*
  • SCOTTISH CROSSBILL**
  • PARROT CROSSBILL**
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • LITTLE BUNTING†

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

§ Records of this species may be assessed locally in Shetland and the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

* Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

Great White Egret, Continental Cormorant, Rough-legged Buzzard, and Water Pipit were removed from the SBRC list in January 2013, and Glossy Ibis and Olive-backed Pipit were added.

  • EGYPTIAN GOOSE
  • FERRUGINOUS DUCK
  • WHITE-BILLED DIVER
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER††
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • GLOSSY IBIS
  • BLACK KITE
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • WOODLARK
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • SUBALPINE WARBLER (cantillans)†*
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • AQUATIC WARBLER
  • MARSH WARBLER†
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • TAWNY PIPIT
  • OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT
  • RED-THROATED PIPIT†
  • SERIN
  • (COUES’S) ARCTIC REDPOLL (exilipes)†*
  • SCOTTISH CROSSBILL**
  • PARROT CROSSBILL**
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • RUSTIC BUNTING†
  • LITTLE BUNTING†

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

* Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

Descriptions of all the above species should be submitted to SBRC unless indicated otherwise. Assessment of a record can only be carried out by a committee if a full written description is provided by the observer, along with photographic evidence if available. Click here to download a form for this purpose. Descriptions should be submitted by the observer to the Local Recorder in the first instance, who will pass them on to SBRC.

Local Assessment Species

The following species are delegated from SBRC to local assessment. Where no local committee exists, or no clear decision can be reached at a local level, SBRC will be happy to consider these records.

  • American Wigeon
  • Green-winged Teal
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Surf Scoter (female only)
  • Balearic Shearwater
  • Little Egret
  • Great White Egret
  • White Stork
  • Honey-buzzard
  • Rough-legged Buzzard
  • Hobby
  • Crane
  • Little Ringed Plover
  • American Golden Plover
  • Pectoral Sandpiper
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper
  • Sabine’s Gull
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Bee-eater
  • Firecrest
  • Pallas’s Warbler
  • Barred Warbler
  • Icterine Warbler
  • Rose-coloured Starling
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher
  • Richard’s Pipit
  • Water Pipit
  • Common Rosefinch
Pre-1950 records

All ‘new’ pre-1950 records of species appearing on the BBRC List require to be accepted by SBRC.

Subspecies recorded in Scotland on 20 or fewer occasions

All records of subspecies recorded in Scotland on twenty or fewer occasions should be examined by either BBRC or SBRC.

Snow Goose (Greater) Anser caerulescens atlanticus
Brent Goose (Black) Branta bernicla nigricans
Eider (Northern) Somateria mollissima borealis*
Red-necked Grebe (American) Podiceps grisegena holboellii
Black-tailed Godwit (Continental) Limosa limosa limosa
Whimbrel (Hudsonian) Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus*
Little Auk (Franz Josef Land) Alle alle polaris
Barn Owl (Dark-breasted) Tyto alba guttata*
Subalpine Warbler (Eastern) Sylvia cantillans albistriata*
Nightingale (Eastern) Luscinia megarhynchos golzii*
Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed) Motacilla flava feldegg*
Yellow Wagtail (Eastern Blue-headed) Motacilla flava simillima*
Yellowhammer (Continental) Emberiza citrinella citrinella

* Records of these subspecies are examined by BBRC. Records of all others should be submitted to SBRC.

New taxa for the Scottish List

All potential new taxa for the Scottish List require to be accepted by either BBRC (and BOURC if new for Britain) or SBRC. The Secretary of SBRC can advise Local Recorders/observers of the correct procedure for each particular taxon involved.

Egyptian Goose and Scottish Crossbill were added to the SBRC list in June 2012.

  • EGYPTIAN GOOSE
  • FERRUGINOUS DUCK
  • WHITE-BILLED DIVER
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER††
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • GREAT WHITE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • BLACK KITE
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • WOODLARK
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • SUBALPINE WARBLER (cantillans)†*
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • AQUATIC WARBLER
  • MARSH WARBLER†
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • TAWNY PIPIT
  • RED-THROATED PIPIT†
  • WATER PIPIT
  • SERIN
  • (COUES’S) ARCTIC REDPOLL (exilipes)†*
  • SCOTTISH CROSSBILL**
  • PARROT CROSSBILL**
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • RUSTIC BUNTING†
  • LITTLE BUNTING†

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

* Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

** Considered by SBRC if outside core range (see Identification of Scottish and Parrot Crossbills).

Descriptions of all the above species should be submitted to SBRC unless indicated otherwise. Assessment of a record can only be carried out by a committee if a full written description is provided by the observer, along with photographic evidence if available. Click here to download a form for this purpose. Descriptions should be submitted by the observer to the Local Recorder in the first instance, who will pass them on to SBRC.

Local Assessment Species

The following species were delegated from SBRC to local assessment in 2010. Where no local committee exists, or no clear decision can be reached at a local level, SBRC will be happy to consider these records.

  • American Wigeon
  • Green-winged Teal
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Surf Scoter (female only)
  • Balearic Shearwater
  • Little Egret
  • White Stork
  • Honey-buzzard
  • Hobby
  • Crane
  • Little Ringed Plover
  • American Golden Plover
  • Pectoral Sandpiper
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper
  • Sabine’s Gull
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Bee-eater
  • Firecrest
  • Pallas’s Warbler
  • Barred Warbler
  • Icterine Warbler
  • Rose-coloured Starling
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher
  • Richard’s Pipit
  • Common Rosefinch
Pre-1950 records

All ‘new’ pre-1950 records of species appearing on the BBRC List require to be accepted by SBRC.

Subspecies recorded in Scotland on 20 or fewer occasions

All records of subspecies recorded in Scotland on twenty or fewer occasions should be examined by either BBRC or SBRC.

Snow Goose (Greater) Anser caerulescens atlanticus
Brent Goose (Black) Branta bernicla nigricans
Cormorant (Continental) Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis
Eider (Northern) Somateria mollissima borealis*
Red-necked Grebe (American) Podiceps grisegena holboellii
Black-tailed Godwit (Continental) Limosa limosa limosa
Whimbrel (Hudsonian) Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus*
Little Auk (Franz Josef Land) Alle alle polaris
Barn Owl (Dark-breasted) Tyto alba guttata*
Subalpine Warbler (Eastern) Sylvia cantillans albistriata*
Nightingale (Eastern) Luscinia megarhynchos golzii*
Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed) Motacilla flava feldegg*
Yellow Wagtail (Eastern Blue-headed) Motacilla flava simillima*
Yellowhammer (Continental) Emberiza citrinella citrinella

* Records of these subspecies are examined by BBRC. Records of all others should be submitted to SBRC.

New taxa for the Scottish List

All potential new taxa for the Scottish List require to be accepted by either BBRC (and BOURC if new for Britain) or SBRC. The Secretary of SBRC can advise Local Recorders/observers of the correct procedure for each particular taxon involved.

American Golden Plover and Ring-billed Gull were removed from the SBRC List on 1st January 2010. In addition, records of Great Shearwater for the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles) may now be assessed locally, although it remains on the SBRC List for all other areas.

  • FERRUGINOUS DUCK
  • WHITE-BILLED DIVER
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER††
  • WILSON’S PETREL
  • NIGHT-HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • GREAT WHITE EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • BLACK KITE
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • CASPIAN GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • SHORT-TOED LARK†
  • WOODLARK
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER†
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • SUBALPINE WARBLER (cantillans)†*
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • AQUATIC WARBLER
  • MARSH WARBLER†
  • NIGHTINGALE (megarhynchos)†*
  • TAWNY PIPIT
  • RED-THROATED PIPIT†
  • WATER PIPIT
  • SERIN
  • (COUES’S) ARCTIC REDPOLL (exilipes)†*
  • PARROT CROSSBILL
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING†
  • RUSTIC BUNTING†
  • LITTLE BUNTING†

† Records of these species may be assessed locally in Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney.

†† Records of this species may be assessed locally in the Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).

* Only this subspecies (or birds not identified to any particular subspecies) is considered by SBRC or local committees. Other subspecies are assessed by British Birds Records Committee (BBRC).

Descriptions of all the above species should be submitted to SBRC unless indicated otherwise. Assessment of a record can only be carried out by a committee if a full written description is provided by the observer, along with photographic evidence if available. Click here to download a form for this purpose. Descriptions should be submitted by the observer to the Local Recorder in the first instance, who will pass them on to SBRC.

Local Assessment Species

The following species have been delegated from SBRC to local assessment. Where no local committee exists, or no clear decision can be reached at a local level, SBRC will be happy to consider these records.

  • American Wigeon
  • Green-winged Teal
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Surf Scoter (female only)
  • Balearic Shearwater
  • Little Egret
  • White Stork
  • Honey-buzzard
  • Hobby
  • Crane
  • Little Ringed Plover
  • American Golden Plover
  • Pectoral Sandpiper
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper
  • Sabine’s Gull
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Bee-eater
  • Firecrest
  • Pallas’s Warbler
  • Barred Warbler
  • Icterine Warbler
  • Rose-coloured Starling
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher
  • Richard’s Pipit
  • Common Rosefinch
Pre-1950 records

All ‘new’ pre-1950 records of species appearing on the BBRC List require to be accepted by SBRC.

Subspecies recorded in Scotland on 20 or fewer occasions

All records of subspecies recorded in Scotland on twenty or fewer occasions should be examined by either BBRC or SBRC.

Snow Goose (Greater) Anser caerulescens atlanticus
Brent Goose (Black) Branta bernicla nigricans
Cormorant (Continental) Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis
Eider (Northern) Somateria mollissima borealis*
Red-necked Grebe (American) Podiceps grisegena holboellii
Black-tailed Godwit (Continental) Limosa limosa limosa
Whimbrel (Hudsonian) Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus*
Little Auk (Franz Josef Land) Alle alle polaris
Barn Owl (Dark-breasted) Tyto alba guttata*
Subalpine Warbler (Eastern) Sylvia cantillans albistriata*
Nightingale (Eastern) Luscinia megarhynchos golzii*
Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed) Motacilla flava feldegg*
Yellow Wagtail (Eastern Blue-headed) Motacilla flava simillima*
Yellowhammer (Continental) Emberiza citrinella citrinella

* Records of these subspecies are examined by BBRC. Records of all others should be submitted to SBRC.

New taxa for the Scottish List

All potential new taxa for the Scottish List require to be accepted by either BBRC (and BOURC if new for Britain) or SBRC. The Secretary of SBRC can advise Local Recorders/observers of the correct procedure for each particular taxon involved.

On 1st January 2009, Yellow-billed (White-billed) Diver, Cattle Egret and Parrot Crossbill were added to the SBRC list.

  • FERRUGINOUS DUCK
  • YELLOW-BILLED DIVER
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER
  • WILSON’S STORM PETREL
  • BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
  • CATTLE EGRET
  • GREAT EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • BLACK KITE
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • RING-BILLED GULL
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED TERN
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK††
  • WOOD LARK
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • TAWNY PIPIT
  • RED-THROATED PIPIT††
  • WATER PIPIT
  • COMMON NIGHTINGALE††
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • AQUATIC WARBLER
  • MARSH WARBLER†
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • SUBALPINE WARBLER††
  • GREENISH WARBLER†
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER††
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • EUROPEAN SERIN
  • ARCTIC REDPOLL††
  • PARROT CROSSBILL
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING*
  • RUSTIC BUNTING††
  • LITTLE BUNTING††

* Records of these species can be assessed by Local Recorders in Shetland & Orkney.

†† Records marked thus may be assessed by Local Recorders in Shetland and Orkney without full written descriptions.

Descriptions of all the above species should be submitted to SBRC unless indicated otherwise. Local Bird Reports will only include records if they have been accepted by either SBRC or a local records committee. Assessment of a record can only be carried out by a committee if a full written description is provided by the observer. Forms for this purpose are available online or from the local recorder. These should be submitted by the observer to the Local Recorder in the first instance.

The following species were delegated from SBRC to local committee assessment in 2007. As always, where no local committee exists, or no clear decision can be reached at local level, SBRC will be happy to consider these records.

  • American Wigeon
  • Green-winged Teal
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Surf Scoter (female only)
  • Balearic Shearwater
  • Little Egret
  • White Stork
  • European Honey-buzzard
  • Eurasian Hobby
  • Common Crane
  • Little Plover
  • Pectoral Sandpiper
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper
  • Sabine’s Gull
  • European Bee-eater
  • Richard’s Pipit
  • Icterine Warbler
  • Barred Warbler
  • Pallas’s Leaf Warbler
  • Firecrest
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher
  • Rosy Starling
  • Common Rosefinch

Records of the ‘Caspian’ race of Herring Gull cachinnans, are now being examined by BBRC, but it is understood this practice may soon end. It is our intention for this to become an upper case (block capitals) taxon on our list if it is no longer examined by BBRC.

All ‘new’ pre-1950 records of species appearing on the BBRC List, require to be accepted by SBRC.

In addition to the above, all records of subspecies recorded in Scotland on twenty or fewer occasions, should be examined by either BBRC or SBRC.

Subspecies recorded in Scotland on 20 or fewer occasions
Snow Goose (Greater) Anser caerulescens atlanticus
Brent Goose (Black Brant) Branta bernicla nigricans*
Black Scoter (American) Melanitta nigra americana*
Red-necked Grebe (American) Podiceps grisegena holboellii
Great Cormorant (Continental) Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis
Whimbrel (Hudsonian) Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus*
Herring Gull (American) Larus argentatus smithsonianus*
Little Auk (Franz Josef Land) Alle alle polaris
Barn Owl (Dark-breasted) Tyto alba guttata
Yellow Wagtail (Sykes’s) Motacilla flava beema
Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed) Motacilla flava feldegg*
Yellow Wagtail (Eastern Blue-headed) Motacilla flava simillima
Common Nightingale (Eastern) Luscinia megarhynchos hafizi*
Common Redstart (Ehrenberg’s) Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus*
Arctic Redpoll (Hornemann’s) Carduelis hornemanni honemanni*
Yellowhammer (Continental) Emberiza citrinella citrinella

* Records of these subspecies are examined by BBRC. Records of all others should be submitted to SBRC.

All potential new taxa for the Scottish List require to be accepted by either BBRC (and BOURC if new for Britain) or SBRC. The Secretary of SBRC can advise Local Recorders/ observers of the correct procedure for each particular taxon involved.

In a major revision of species for which SBRC requires descriptions, it has been decided to delegate all former ‘lower-case’ species. This allows for the addition of species recently removed from the BBRC list.

  • FERRUGINOUS DUCK
  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER
  • WILSON'S STORM PETREL
  • BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
  • GREAT EGRET
  • PURPLE HERON
  • BLACK KITE
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD
  • RED-FOOTED FALCON
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER
  • WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER
  • RING-BILLED GULL
  • YELLOW-LEGGED GULL
  • WHITE-WINGED TERN
  • ALPINE SWIFT
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK††
  • WOOD LARK
  • RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
  • TAWNY PIPIT
  • RED-THROATED PIPIT††
  • WATER PIPIT
  • COMMON NIGHTINGALE††
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • AQUATIC WARBLER
  • MARSH WARBLER††
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • SUBALPINE WARBLER††
  • GREENISH WARBLER††
  • RADDE’S WARBLER
  • DUSKY WARBLER††
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • EUROPEAN SERIN
  • ARCTIC REDPOLL††
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING*
  • RUSTIC BUNTING††
  • LITTLE BUNTING††

* Records of these species can be assessed by Local Recorders in Shetland & Orkney.

† Records marked thus may be assessed by Local Recorders in Shetland and Orkney without full written descriptions.

Descriptions of all the above species should be submitted to SBRC unless indicated otherwise. The Scottish Bird Report will only include records if they have been accepted by either SBRC or a local records committee. Assessment of a record can only be carried out by a committee if a full written description is provided by the observer. Forms for this purpose are available online or from the local recorder. These should be submitted by the observer to the Local Recorder in the first instance.

Species delegated from SBRC to local committee assessment are listed below. As always, where no local committee exists, or no clear decision can be reached at local level, SBRC will be happy to consider these records.

  • American Wigeon
  • Green-winged Teal
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Surf Scoter (female only)
  • Balearic Shearwater
  • Little Egret
  • White Stork
  • European Honey-buzzard
  • Eurasian Hobby
  • Common Crane
  • Little Plover
  • Pectoral Sandpiper
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper
  • Sabine’s Gull
  • European Bee-eater
  • Richard’s Pipit
  • Icterine Warbler
  • Barred Warbler
  • Pallas’s Leaf Warbler
  • Firecrest
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher
  • Rosy Starling
  • Common Rosefinch

Records of the ‘Caspian’ race of Herring Gull cachinnans, are now being examined by BBRC, but it is understood this practice may soon end. It is our intention for this to become an upper case (block capitals) taxon on our list if it is no longer examined by BBRC.

All ‘new’ pre-1950 records of species appearing on the BBRC List, require to be accepted by SBRC.

In addition to the above, all records of subspecies recorded in Scotland on twenty or fewer occasions, should be examined by either BBRC or SBRC.

Subspecies recorded in Scotland on 20 or fewer occasions
Snow Goose (Greater) Anser caerulescens atlanticus
Brent Goose (Black Brant) Branta bernicla nigricans*
Black Scoter (American) Melanitta nigra americana*
Red-necked Grebe (American) Podiceps grisegena holboellii
Great Cormorant (Continental) Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis
Whimbrel (Hudsonian) Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus*
Herring Gull (American) Larus argentatus smithsonianus*
Little Auk (Franz Josef Land) Alle alle polaris
Barn Owl (Dark-breasted) Tyto alba guttata
Yellow Wagtail (Sykes’s) Motacilla flava beema
Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed) Motacilla flava feldegg*
Yellow Wagtail (Eastern Blue-headed) Motacilla flava simillima
Common Nightingale (Eastern) Luscinia megarhynchos hafizi*
Common Redstart (Ehrenberg’s) Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus*
Arctic Redpoll (Hornemann’s) Carduelis hornemanni honemanni*
Yellowhammer (Continental) Emberiza citrinella citrinella

* Records of these subspecies are examined by BBRC. Records of all others should be submitted to SBRC.

All potential new taxa for the Scottish List require to be accepted by either BBRC (and BOURC if new for Britain) or SBRC. The Secretary of SBRC can advise Local Recorders/ observers of the correct procedure for each particular taxon involved.

https://www.the-soc.org.uk/content/bird-recording/sbrc/sbrc-lists/2004-2006-list

  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER
  • Balearic Shearwater
  • BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON (from 1/1/2002)
  • Little Egret
  • PURPLE HERON
  • White Stork
  • AMERICAN WIGEON (from 1/1/2002)
  • Green-winged Teal
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Surf Scoter (females only)
  • European Honey-buzzard*
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD
  • Eurasian Hobby*
  • Common Crane*
  • STONE-CURLEW
  • Little (Ringed) Plover
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • Pectoral Sandpiper*
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper
  • Sabine’s Gull
  • RING-BILLED GULL
  • HERRING GULL yellow-legged forms michahellis and cachinnans
  • European Bee-eater
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK
  • WOOD LARK
  • Richard’s Pipit*
  • TAWNY PIPIT
  • WATER PIPIT
  • COMMON NIGHTINGALE
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • AQUATIC WARBLER
  • MARSH WARBLER
  • Icterine Warbler*
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • Barred Warbler*
  • Pallas’s Leaf Warbler*
  • Firecrest
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher*
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • ROSY STARLING (from 1/1/2002)
  • EUROPEAN SERIN
  • Common Rosefinch
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • ORTOLAN BUNTING*
  • LITTLE BUNTING

 

* A dispensation has been granted to the Local Recorders in Shetland and Orkney that records of species marked with an asterisk (*) can be accepted at their discretion without full written descriptions. A similar dispensation has been granted to the Argyll Local Recorder in respect of Balearic Shearwater.

UPPER CASE: SBRC would prefer to receive all records.

Lower case: these should normally be dealt with locally if a local records committee exists, but should be submitted to SBRC if there is no local committee.

The Scottish Bird Report will only include records of the following species if they have been accepted by either SBRC or a local records committee. Assessment of a record can only take place by a committee, if a full written description is provided by the observer. This should be submitted to the Local Recorder.

  • CORY’S SHEARWATER
  • GREAT SHEARWATER
  • Mediterranean Shearwater
  • Little Egret
  • PURPLE HERON
  • White Stork
  • Spoonbill
  • Green-winged Teal carolinensis
  • Ring-necked Duck
  • Surf Scoter
  • Honey Buzzard*
  • MONTAGU’S HARRIER
  • ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD
  • Hobby*
  • Crane*
  • STONECURLEW
  • Little Ringed Plover
  • KENTISH PLOVER
  • Pectoral Sandpiper*
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper
  • Mediterranean Gull
  • Sabine’s Gull
  • RING-BILLED GULL
  • HERRING GULL yellow-legged forms michahellis and cachinnans
  • Bee-eater
  • LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
  • SHORT-TOED LARK
  • WOOD LARK
  • Richard’s Pipit*
  • TAWNY PIPIT
  • WATER PIPIT
  • Nightingale
  • CETTI’S WARBLER
  • AQUATIC WARBLER
  • Marsh Warbler
  • Icterine Warbler*
  • MELODIOUS WARBLER
  • DARTFORD WARBLER
  • Barred Warbler*
  • Pallas’s Warbler*
  • Firecrest
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher*
  • BEARDED TIT
  • WOODCHAT SHRIKE
  • SERIN
  • Common Rosefinch
  • CIRL BUNTING
  • Ortolan Bunting*
  • LITTLE BUNTING

* A dispensation has been granted to the Local Recorders in Shetland and Orkney that records of species marked with an asterisk (*) can be accepted at their discretion without full written descriptions. A similar dispensation has been granted to the Argyll Local Recorder in respect of Mediterranean Shearwater.

UPPER CASE: SBRC would prefer to receive all records.

Lower case: these should normally be dealt with locally if a local records committee exists, but should be submitted to SBRC if there is no local committee.

The Scottish Bird Report will only include records of the following species if they have been accepted by either SBRC or a local records committee. Assessment of a record can only take place by a committee, if a full written description is provided by the observer. This should be submitted to the Local Recorder.