Print pageStar species
Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.
Arctic skuas are fierce seabirds described as 'piratical' - they chase other birds, such as terns, and force them to give up their food. They come to Fetlar to breed but spend all their other time at sea. |  |
Great skuas have similar antisocial habits to their Arctic cousins. Be careful you don't get too close to their nests as they have little hesitation in divebombing potential threats! |  |
Phalaropes are unusual wading birds in which the females are the more colourful of the two sexes and also perform most of the courtship rituals. Here, you can watch them as they spin about on the water searching for food. |  |
Red-throated divers are adapted for life on the water - they are very clumsy indeed on land as their feet are so far back on their bodies. Look for them on the sea as they go fishing. |  |
A migratory species which spends its winters in Africa, whimbrels nest on boggy grassland on Fetlar. |  |