A Selection Of Scottish Wildlife Quiz

Answer: Adder

Scotland's only venomous snake is the adder (Vipera berus). It is recognisable by its zig-zag patterned scales. Despite its venom, it's a shy reptile, preferring to retreat rather than strike. Males engage in an intense mating dance, twisting around each other to compete for dominance.

Adders hibernate through winter, emerging in spring to bask in sunlight. Their venomous bite is rarely fatal but can cause painful swelling. As part of Scotland's ecosystem, they help control populations of small mammals, lizards, and birds.

Answer: Basking Shark

The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the largest shark species in Scottish waters and the second-largest fish in the world, growing up to 12 meters (nearly 40 feet) long. Despite its size, it is a gentle giant, feeding exclusively on plankton by swimming with its mouth wide open to filter tiny organisms from the water.

These sharks are commonly seen along Scotland's west coast, particularly in the Sea of the Hebrides, where nutrient-rich waters attract them during the summer months. They are slow-moving and harmless, often spotted near the surface as they bask in the sun while feeding.

Answer: Scottish Wildcat

The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is a rare and elusive predator, often called the Highland tiger due to its fierce nature. It is a subspecies of the European wildcat, distinguished by its thick, striped fur, bushy tail with a blunt black tip, and muscular build. Unlike domestic cats, wildcats have broader heads and more robust bodies, making them well-adapted to Scotland's rugged landscapes.

Once widespread across Britain, the Scottish wildcat has suffered severe decline due to habitat loss, persecution, and hybridisation with domestic cats. In the first quarter of the twenty-first century it is classed as critically endangered, with only a small population remaining in the remote Highlands. Conservation efforts aim to protect and restore their numbers through breeding programs and habitat preservation.

Answer: Eurasian Bittern

The bittern's booming call is one of the most extraordinary sounds in Scotland's wetlands. It's a deep, resonant foghorn-like call that males produce during the breeding season to attract mates. This sound is so powerful that it can carry for several kilometres, even in dense reedbeds.

The bittern creates this call by gulping air into its throat and forcing it through its oesophagus, almost like inflating a bagpipe before releasing the sound. Some people say it resembles a low, mournful bellow or a distant rumbling thunder. Because they are so secretive, their call is often the only sign that a bittern is nearby!

Answer: Long, shaggy coats and curved horns

The Highland cow (Ḅ Ghàidhealach in Gaelic) is a rugged, long-haired breed native to Scotland, known for its shaggy coat and impressive horns. These cattle are exceptionally hardy, thriving in the harsh, wet, and windy conditions of the Scottish Highlands. Their thick double-layered fur keeps them warm, eliminating the need for excess body fat, which makes their beef lean and flavorful.

Highland cattle come in a variety of colors, including red, black, yellow, and brindle, though red is the most common due to selective breeding. They are gentle and docile, despite their formidable appearance, and are often seen grazing on rough terrain where other cattle struggle. Interestingly, a group of Highland cattle is called a 'fold' rather than a herd, a nod to the traditional stone shelters used to protect them in winter.

Answer: Golden Eagle

Scotland's golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a powerful bird of prey, soaring over the country's remote mountains and moorlands. With a wingspan of up to 2.3 meters (over 7 feet), it is one of the largest raptors in the UK. These eagles are expert hunters, preying on hares, rabbits, grouse, and even young deer. They also scavenge carrion, playing a vital role in the ecosystem.

Golden eagles mate for life, building massive nests, called eyries, on cliffs or trees, often used by generations of birds. Despite their strength, they have faced historical persecution, though conservation efforts have helped their numbers recover. At the time of writing Scotland is home to over 500 breeding pairs, making it a stronghold for this iconic species.

Answer: Red Deer

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is Scotland's largest land mammal. It thrives in the Highlands and Islands. Stags can grow up to 1.37 meters (over 4 feet) at the shoulder and weigh as much as 225 kg (nearly 500 lbs). Their majestic antlers, which can span up to a meter (more than 3 feet), grow larger each year and are shed annually before regrowing.

During the autumn rut, stags engage in dramatic battles, locking antlers and bellowing to assert dominance over rivals. Red deer are highly adaptable, living in moorlands, mountainsides, and grasslands near woodlands. They play a vital role in Scotland's ecosystem, shaping vegetation through grazing and providing food for predators.

Answer: Bottlenose Dolphin

Scotland is home to a resident population of bottlenose dolphins, particularly in the Moray Firth, where they can often be spotted from the shore. These dolphins are larger than average, growing up to 4 meters (13 ft) long and weighing around 600 kg (1300 lbs), thanks to their thick blubber, which helps them stay warm in colder waters.

Highly intelligent and social, they use echolocation to hunt for fish like salmon and herring. Some of the best places to see them include Chanonry Point, Fort George, and Spey Bay, where they often leap and play in the waves.

Answer: True

The pine marten (Martes martes) is a tree-dwelling member of the weasel family, closely related to weasels, stoats, otters, and badgers. It has a slender body, bushy tail, and rounded ears, making it an agile climber well-suited to Scotland's woodlands.

Unlike its smaller weasel relatives, the pine marten is about the size of a small cat, with dark brown fur and a creamy-yellow throat patch. It is an omnivorous hunter, feeding on small mammals, birds, insects, and fruit, and plays a key role in controlling populations of invasive grey squirrels.

Once rare due to habitat loss and persecution, pine martens are now making a comeback, particularly in the Scottish Highlands, where conservation efforts have helped their numbers recover.

Answer: They dig burrows in cliffs and grassy slopes

Scotland's Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) are striking seabirds known for their bright orange beaks, which fade in winter and regain their vibrancy during breeding season. They return each spring and summer to nest in burrows on coastal cliffs and islands, often reusing the same site year after year. Puffins mate for life, raising a single chick called a puffling before heading back to sea.

Despite their stocky build, puffins are agile fliers, flapping their wings up to 400 times per minute to stay airborne. They're also expert divers, using their wings to propel themselves underwater while hunting for fish. Some of Scotland's best puffin colonies can be found on Sumburgh Head, Isle of May, Staffa, and St. Kilda.