wildlife Cairngorms

Cairngormswildlife

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Birds of prey are, to some enthusiasts, the most fascinatingof all the avian species. Alsoknown as 'raptors' they hunt inflight, often swooping down fromgreat heights to snatch prey usinguniquely-developed senses, especially the power of vision. Theking of all these meat-eaters is thegolden eagle, which will even target small deer.

One of the most spectacular birdsof prey is the osprey: it's an awesome sight, the male pluckinga 14lb salmon from a loch.Scotland's commonest bird of preyis the buzzard, now widespreadaround the Cairngorms area.

The golden eagle is another veryspecial resident to the Cairngorms,and while numbers of this spectac-ular hunter are low, they can beenseen in high grounds and overmountain peaks.

Owls are common in Scotland, butbeing nocturnal they are often onlyheard rather than seen - especiallythe young! They are solitary creatures but do like a good conversation now and again...

In Brief

Birds of Prey &Owls Cairngorms National Park

Bird Group PageBirds of Prey 48Game Birds 62Gulls & Terns 72Non - Passerines Birds 82Passerines Birds 94Wading Birds & Waterfowl 160

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Karlos Lomsky

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The buzzard is the most commonbird of prey in the UK. It breeds inwoodland and hunts over openland. It doesn't form flocks or livein social groups, but on occasionsseveral may be seen together.

This broad-winged raptor has awide variety of plumages but allhave the same features and it canoften be confused with the similarrough-legged buzzard or the distantly related honey buzzard,which mimics the common buzzard's plumage for a degree ofprotection from other birds of prey,such as the goshawk.

Eating HabitsBuzzards feed mainly on a diet ofsmall mammals, birds and carrion

When to see itBuzzards can be seen all yearround throughout the LochLomond area, as they do notmigrate to warmer climes.

Where to see it in the ParkBuzzards can be seen flyingaround farmland, open moorlandsabove fields or over wooded hillsand thick forests. They like treesand hilly crags for nesting, butopen farmland and moorland forhunting and feeding.

BuzzardButeo buteo

Length WingspanBill Eggs IncubationLifespanNestingPlumage

51 to 57 cm.110 to 130 cm.Large black hooked bill.Lays 2 to 4 eggs.33 to 35 days.8 yearsNests in trees.Dark brown with pale heads and breasts and dark wingtips.

In Brief

Green Conservation Status:LC = Least Concern

In the ParkResident all year RR

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The golden eagle is a huge bird ofprey with an average wingspan ofover two metres - only the white-tailed eagle is larger.

With its long broad wings and tail,it has a different outline from thesmaller buzzard. The bird like tosoar high and glide on air currents,holding its wings in a shallow 'V'shape. Eagles have traditional ter-ritories and nesting places, whichmay be used by many genera-tions. They have been persecutedin the past and are still occasional-ly poisoned, their nests oftenrobbed for highly-illegal privatecollections.

Eating HabitsTheir prey includes rabbits, haresand mice - sometimes birds, foxesand young deer. Large mammalslike adult deer will only be taken ifthey are wounded or sick.

When to see itAlthough not easy to see, goldeneagles are resident all year roundand do not migrate.

Where to see it in the ParkThese magnificent birds live inwild, open moorlands and overmountain plateaus favouringremote glens while avoiding largeareas of forestry.


75 to 82 cm.204 to 220 cm.Large black hooked bill.Lays 1 to 2 white eggs.43 to 45 days.32 yearsNest high on rock faces.Dark black or brown with white markings and a golden-buff crown.

In Brief

Amber Conservation Status:VU = Vulnerable


Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos

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Goshawkare are a widespreadspecies and can be found in manyparts of the northern hemisphere.In Britain the goshawk becameextinct in the 19th century becauseof specimen collectors and perse-cution by gamekeepers, but inrecent years it has come back viaimmigration from Europe, escapedfalconry birds, and deliberatereleases.

Simular in size to a buzzard, thegoshhawk is rather difference inapperance with its distinctive blue-grey back, short broad wings andgrey or off-white underbody. Theyalso have a short hooked bill.

Eating HabitsIt hunts birds and mammals inwoodland, relying on surprise as itflies from a perch or hedge-hops tocatch its prey unaware. Animals aslarge as hares and pheasant areaften on the menu.

When to see itGoshawks are resident in the parkall year round and do not migrate.

Where to see it in the ParkThis species nests in trees, build-ing a new nest each year. They arebest spotted in and around wood-lands and forests but can also beseen hunting in open countryside.

GoshawkAccipiter gentilis


48 to 62 cm.135 to 165 cm.Short dark hooked bill.Lays 2 to 4 eggs.35 to 38 days.19 yearsNests in trees.Males are blue-grey above and barred grey below. The larger female is slate grey above and grey below.

In Brief

Green Conservation Status:LC = Least Concern


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The hen harrier is the most intensively persecuted of all theUK's birds of prey - its effect on thenumber of grouse available toshoot is still very much the causeof the conflict which threatens itssurvival in parts of Britain.

It's restricted to heather moorlands, usually below 500m,where there are old, deep heatherfields for it to nest in. Young coniferplantations are also favoured byharriers. Moors managed forgrouse shooting are so attractiveto hen harriers because they havevegetation of mixed ages.

Eating HabitsHarriers feed mainly on smallrodents such as mice. They alsoeat small, easily caught birds.

When to see itThe hen harrier is resident inScotland, and especially theCairngorm area, all year round.

Where to see it in the ParkHen harriers live and breed inareas of low vegetation and can befound on upland moorlands.During the winter months, thebirds will venture down to lowerareas around farms and openheather lands.


44 to 52 cm.100 to 120 cm..Hooked yellow & dark.Lays 4 to 6 blue eggs.29 days.16 years.Nests in the ground.Males are pale grey, and females are brownwith a white rump.

In Brief


Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus

Red Conservation Status:T = Threatened

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Kestrels are most easily distin-guished by their typical huntingbehaviour: hovering at a height ofaround 10-20m over open countryand swooping onto their prey.

Once a very familiar sight, with itspointed wings and long tail, hover-ing beside a roadside verge,kestrels have been declining as aresult of habitat degradation due tocontinuing intensive managementof farmland. Females tend to bebigger than the males and have abrown head and upper body withblack spots compared with themale's grey-blue coloured head.

Eating HabitsKestrels require a slight headwindin order to hover, hence a localname of windhover for the com-mon kestrel. Their ability to spotprey is enhanced by being able tosee ultraviolet, which is stronglyreflected by vole urine. Kestrelsfeed usually on small mammals,lizards or large insects.

When to see itKestrels are resident all year.

Where to see it in the ParkHabitats vary from moorland toheathland. They can also survivein towns, villages and even cities.

KestrelFalco tinnunculus


32 to 35 cm.71 to 80 cm.Short drak and hooked.Lays 3 to 6 eggs.27 to 29 days.15 years.Nest on cliffs and ledges.Males have light reddishbrown backs and wings. and a grey-blue head.

In Brief



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The merlin, which is known as thepigeon hawk in North America, isthe UK's smallest bird of prey. Thiscompact, dashing falcon has relatively long, square-cut tail andrather broad-based pointed wings,shorter than those of other falcons.Its small size enables it to hoverand hang in the breeze as it pursues its prey. In winter UKnumbers increases, most of theIcelandic population of merlinsmigrating here as it's warmer.

Males are smaller than thefemales and, although recoveringfrom a decline in late 20th century,they are still a vulnerable species.

Eating HabitsMerlins feed on small birds andhunt by flying low. They will alsofeed on insects, small mammalsand reptiles.

When to see itUK populations of merlins are resident all year.

Where to see it in the ParkMerlins tend to breed in uplandheather moorland, with some birdsbreeding in the edge of coniferplantations. They usually leavetheir upland breeding areasbetween August and Octoberreturning in April and May.


25 to 30 cm.50 to 62 cm.Small hooked brown bill.Lays 4 to 5 spotted eggs.28 to 32 days.12 years.Nests in ground hollows.Females are brown with light streaks. Males havegrey upper and whitestreaked under parts.

In Brief



MerlinFalco columbarius

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This medium large raptor is a specialist fish-eater. It's an unusual bird with no close relatives, and was thought to havebecome extinct as a British breeding species after 1916. Onlyin 1954 did it return to breed.

Ospreys favour areas with Scotspine forests, fresh water lochs andrivers. Seen in flight from below, ithas white or slightly mottled under-parts. The long wings areangled, bending at the 'wrist',which has a black patch contrast-ing with the white wing linings, andat a distance it could be mistakenfor a large gull.

Eating HabitsOspreys can often be seen fishingfor trout or salmon over rivers andlochs.

When to see itThis magnificent predator is onlyresident in the spring/summer andusually arrives in the Cairngormsarea around April, after migratingnorth from Africa where it winters.

Where to see it in the ParkSee them at Loch Garten OspreyCentre or over numerous lochssuch as Loch Insh, Loch an Eileinand over fish farms and rivers.

OspreyPandion haliaetus


55 to 58 cm.145 to 170 cm.Dark hooked bill.Lays 2 to 3 yellow eggs.37 to days.20 years.Nest high up in trees.White underbody, white wings with a black patch and brown upper body.

In Brief


In the ParkSummer months 77

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The peregrine is a large and powerful falcon. It has long, broad,pointed wings and a relativelyshort tail. It is blue-grey above,with a blackish top of the head andan obvious black 'moustache' thatcontrasts with its white face.

Peregrines have suffered persecution from gamekeepersand landowners throughout theUK and have been a target for eggcollectors, but better legal protec-tion and control of pesticides(which indirectly poisoned many ofthem) have helped the populationto recover considerably from avery low population in the 1960s.

Eating HabitsPeregrines feed on medium-sizedbirds, such as wading birds,pigeons and small ducks.

When to see itPeregrines are resident and do notmigrate to warmer countries.Some, particularly females andjuveniles, move away from theuplands in autumn.

Where to see it in the ParkPeregrines can be seen aroundcliffs and over rocky crags. Theycan also often been found in rockyquarries where they will nest highup and away for predators.


39 to 50 cm.95 to 115 cm.Dark tipped and hooked.Lays 3 to 4 eggs.28 to 32 days.18 years.Nests on rock faces.Blue-black backs, white chest, dark head with white chin and cheekpatches.

In Brief

Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus



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wildlife Cairngorms