Wildlife in Scotland

Some of the best wildlife areas in Scotland include Speyside, the Isle of Mull, Shetland, the Outer Hebrides, Islay and the Solway coast. These areas are known for birds of prey, seabirds, marine wildlife and rare species such as capercaillie and crested tit. 

The Isle of Mull is famous for golden eagles and white-tailed eagles. The Outer Hebrides and many parts of the Highlands are also excellent for spotting birds of prey such as hen harriers, short-eared owls and buzzards. 

The Moray Firth is one of the best places in Europe to see bottlenose dolphins from land. Whales, dolphins and basking sharks are often seen around the west coast and the Hebrides. Orcas are regularly sighted around Shetland, Orkney and Scotland’s north coast. 

Bass Rock near North Berwick, the Isle of May, Shetland, Orkney, and the cliffs and islands of the west coast. 

The Scottish wildcat, with only a few hundred remaining. 

The Red deer is Scotland’s largest land mammal. In Scottish waters, the largest regularly seen sea mammal is the minke whale, followed by orcas. 

There are no mammals found only in Scotland, but the Scottish crossbill is the only bird species unique to Scotland. There are also some unique subspecies such as the Scottish wildcat and St Kilda wren. 

Climate change, habitat loss, invasive non-native species, pollution and overexploitation of natural resources. Conservation and habitat restoration projects are helping protect wildlife across Scotland. 

Yes but you should always keep your distance and avoid disturbing animals. Follow the Nature Photographers’ Code of Practice | PDF 0.8MB | PDF 0.8MB and never approach or disturb wildlife. 

If flying a drone, you must follow Civil Aviation Authority guidance and the Drone Code, and take extra care to avoid disturbing wildlife. 

Volunteer in community gardens, litter-picking groups, citizen science projects such as bird counts, or volunteer at nature reserves. Organisations such as NatureScot and the Scottish Wildlife Trust offer volunteering opportunities across Scotland. 

There are many wildlife projects across Scotland, including habitat restoration, species reintroduction and conservation work funded through the the Nature Restoration Fund. Projects include Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels, Species on the Edge and the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

Scotland has a huge variety of landscapes including mountains, forests, peatlands, coastlines and islands. This range of habitats supports many different species, particularly birds, plants, insects and marine life. 

In the Highlands you might see red deer, golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, otters, dolphins, pine martens and red squirrels. The Highlands also have rare plants, peatlands, Atlantic rainforests and coastal wildlife habitats.