Star species

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

Capercaillie Come to the special early morning 'caper-watches' in April and May to see these spectacular grouse displaying at their communal 'lek'.
Crested tit The soft trilling of the crested tit can be heard as you walk around the trails through the forest. They spend a lot of time in the tops of the pines, but also visit the feeders near the Osprey Centre and come down to eye level.
Goldeneye Goldeneyes nest in specially provided nestboxes around the edges of Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie and dive for food in the water.
Osprey Enjoy the antics of the famous breeding pair of ospreys from the comfort of the Osprey centre. You can also see live video footage of the action - beamed to the centre direct from the nest.
Scottish crossbill Listen for the repetitive, hard, metallic 'chipping' notes of Scottish crossbills as you walk around the trails through the Ancient Caledonian Pine Forest. Scan the treetops carefully and you may see them clinging on to branches, stripping seeds from the pine cones.