Wildlife - Scottish Seabird Centre

Scotland's marine environment is exceptional and diverse. Over 18,000km of coastline, more than 900 islands, and around 61% of the UK's seas support more than 6,500 species of animals and plants.

Seabirds

Scotland is internationally important for seabirds, with more than 5 million breeding here each year. Find out more about Scottish seabirds by following the links below:

Puffin photo

Gannet photo

Razorbill photo

Guillemot photo

Black guillemot photo

Black guillemot

Kittiwake photo

Herring gull photo

Great black-backed gull photo

Great black-backed gull

Lesser black-backed gull photo

Lesser black-backed gull

Common Gull photo

Black-Headed Gull photo

Black-Headed Gull

Roseate Tern photo

Arctic tern photo

Common tern photo

Sandwich tern photo

Little tern photo

Fulmar photo

Storm-petrel photo

Manx shearwater photo

Manx shearwater

Shag photo

Cormorant photo

Great Skua photo

Arctic skua photo

Shorebirds & Waterbirds

A huge variety of bird species can be seen and heard along the Scottish shoreline all year round. Discover some of the most commonly spotted species by clicking on the links below:

Oystercatcher photo

Redshank photo

Curlew photo

Ringed plover photo

Turnstone photo

Dunlin photo

Grey Heron photo

Eider photo

Purple Sandpiper photo

Purple Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper photo

Common Sandpiper

Sanderling photo

Bar-Tailed Godwit photo

Bar-Tailed Godwit

Rock Pipit photo

Wigeon photo

Knot photo

Lapwing photo

Marine Mammals

More than 20 cetacean species can be spotted in Scottish waters, making it one of the best places in the world to see whales, dolphins, and porpoises. It's also a great place to look for seals, with 2 species frequently spotted around the Scottish coast. Find out more about marine mammals in Scotland by clicking on the links below:

Grey Seal photo

Common Seal photo

Bottlenose Dolphin photo

Bottlenose Dolphin

Orca (Killer Whale) photo

Orca (Killer Whale)

Humpback Whale photo

Minke Whale photo

Harbour Porpoise photo

Harbour Porpoise

Short-Beaked Common Dolphin photo

Short-Beaked Common Dolphin

Risso’s Dolphin photo

Risso’s Dolphin

Coastal animals

The rocky shore is alive with a rich variety of wild animals if you know where to look. Find out more about some of the species you might see by following the links below:

Edible crab photo

Common shore crab photo

Common shore crab

Velvet Swimming Crab photo

Velvet Swimming Crab

Common Lobster photo

Common starfish photo

Common starfish

Common Brittlestar photo

Common Brittlestar

Edible Sea Urchin photo

Edible Sea Urchin

Beadlet Anemone photo

Beadlet Anemone

Common Mussel photo

Native Oyster photo

Common limpet photo

Acorn Barnacle photo

Keelworm (Tubeworm) photo

Keelworm (Tubeworm)

Blue-Rayed Limpet photo

Blue-Rayed Limpet

Breadcrumb Sponge photo

Breadcrumb Sponge

Common Hermit Crab photo

Common Hermit Crab

Dog Whelk photo

Coastal Plants & Algae

Terrestrial Plants photo

Terrestrial Plants

Marine Algae photo

Fish

Scottish waters support as many as 250 species of marine fish due to their nutrient-rich nature and diversity of habitats. Find out more about some of these species in Scotland by clicking on the links below:

Basking Shark photo

Sandeels photo

Common Blenny (Shanny) photo

Common Blenny (Shanny)

Common Goby photo

Flapper Skate photo

Wildlife FAQs

The Scottish Seabird Centre is not an animal rescue or rehabilitation facility. We do not have the infrastructure or expertise to assist with the practical rescue, relocation, or care of injured wild animals. These pages contain some general information and advice, signposting the organisations that might be able to help if you come across stranded, injured, or dead wild animals along the coast.

Avian Flu photo

Injured Seabirds photo

Injured Seabirds

Injured marine mammals photo

Injured marine mammals

Dead Seabirds and Marine Mammals photo

Dead Seabirds and Marine Mammals

Puffling rescue photo

Puffling rescue

Responsible Wildlife Watching photo

Responsible Wildlife Watching