A Guide to the Wildlife of the Isle of Skye

As well as land and water, the skies above the island are full of wildlife too, and the biggest bird you’ll see here is the eagle. There are two species – the golden eagle and the white-tailed, or sea, eagle.

The Cuillin range is the place to start looking for golden eagles. The entire area is a designated Special Protection Area under the Natura 2000 programme specifically because of its importance to the species – it holds one of the highest-density golden eagle populations in Britain, with unusually high breeding success. The Trotternish ridge is another great spot to see them, as well as one of the finest walks on the island. White-tailed eagles, on the other hand, are more coastal, since they hunt over open water for fish and seabirds. Some of the best sightings I’ve had over the years were above the cliffs north of Portree and on the Isle of Raasay.

Telling the two apart at a distance is surprisingly easy, and it’s mostly about shape and size. The white-tailed eagle is bigger, with a wingspan of over 2.5 metres, and can be recognised in flight from its broad, rectangular wings held flat. It has a pale, almost white head and a short, wedge-shaped tail.

The golden eagle is slightly smaller and far more elegant, with wings held in a shallow V and deeply fingered wingtips, a longer tail, and rich golden-brown plumage. Both birds are majestic and a delight to see.

But what about the funniest bird of all, the puffin, you may wonder?

Skye isn’t a major puffin island itself, but it makes an excellent base for reaching those that are. Puffin season runs roughly from late April to early August, with May through July being prime time, when the birds are busiest feeding chicks near their burrows. By August, most have already returned to the open sea. The nearest significant colonies are on the Small Isles – particularly Canna – reachable by boat. The Treshnish Isles further south near Mull are also a well-known option for a dedicated puffin day trip.

If you’re looking to visit the ultimate Scottish puffin haven, you’ll find them on our Outer Hebrides & St Kilda Wildlife trip.

If you’re used to North American wildlife watching, Skye will likely ask something different of you. From the Rockies to the Alaskan coast, the experience tends to be grand and viewed from a distance. Skye’s wildlife, on the other hand, is smaller in scale but far more intimate. You’re not watching from a vehicle across a valley; instead, you’re sitting on a rock as an otter surfaces twenty feet away, or standing on a clifftop as a sea eagle’s shadow passes directly overhead. There’s less drama in the encounter, but there’s more “normality” in it instead – wildlife is part of the landscape, and so are you. Behave well and pay attention, and it’ll come to you.

It’s also wilder than it first appears, precisely because nothing here is managed for you. There are no viewing platforms or guaranteed sightings – wildlife watching isn’t really an attraction, it’s just something you do while you’re outdoors. What’s left of the Hebrides’ wildness is real, and a sighting has to be earned rather than scheduled. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. Keep your distance and your voice down. Then just let the island set its own pace – more often than not, it will reward you.