Birds of Cove
What has actually been seen around Cove: 239 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 239 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 107,082 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- August
- Elevation
- 76 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.9 h / 6.7 h
What the records say about Cove
239 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Cove (Aberdeen City) since 2010, across 107,082 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Common Gull.
Water shapes this list. 49% of records near Cove are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Common Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including .
Records peak in August and are lowest in December — about 3.6 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and winter visitors), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.
Portlethen, 5 km to the south-west, has fewer species on record (183 against 239). Birds logged far more often around Cove than there include Common Redshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Ringed Plover and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Daylight runs from 17 h 55 min at midsummer to 6 h 41 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:02 in mid-April and 4:12 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Cove
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 3,939 |
| 2 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 3,156 |
| 3 | Common GullLarus canus | 2,589 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 2,542 |
| 5 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 2,482 |
| 6 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 2,392 |
| 7 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 2,391 |
| 8 | MagpiePica pica | 2,391 |
| 9 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 2,370 |
| 10 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 2,332 |
| 11 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 2,283 |
| 12 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 2,250 |
| 13 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 2,189 |
| 14 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 2,174 |
| 15 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 2,048 |
| 16 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 1,994 |
| 17 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,973 |
| 18 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 1,964 |
| 19 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 1,959 |
| 20 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 1,956 |
Records by month
What to put out in Cove
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
Seasonal bird notes for Aberdeen City
What's arriving, what to feed and when to clean feeders, written for UK gardens. One email a month at most.
Nearby places
Frequently asked
What birds visit gardens in Cove?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Cove are Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Magpie, Woodpigeon and Goldfinch, based on 107,082 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Cove?
239 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Cove?
Observation records peak in August and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:12.
Sources
- GBIF occurrence search (birds, class Aves, 2010 onward)
- GeoNames gazetteer (place, population, elevation)
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.