Birds of Newtownabbey
What has actually been seen around Newtownabbey: 175 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 175 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 46,058 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-headed Gull
- Busiest month
- August
- Elevation
- 15 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.3 h / 7.2 h
What the records say about Newtownabbey
175 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Newtownabbey (Antrim and Newtownabbey) since 2010, across 46,058 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull and Mallard.
Water shapes this list. 67% of records near Newtownabbey are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, European Herring Gull and Mallard lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Hooded Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including .
Records peak in August and are lowest in October — about 3.1 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.
Carnmoney, 4 km to the north-west, has fewer species on record (134 against 175). Birds logged far more often around Newtownabbey than there include Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Teal and Tufted Duck.
Daylight runs from 17 h 18 min at midsummer to 7 h 14 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:23 in mid-April and 4:46 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Newtownabbey
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,684 |
| 2 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,386 |
| 3 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,281 |
| 4 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 1,239 |
| 5 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 1,202 |
| 6 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 1,172 |
| 7 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 1,115 |
| 8 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna | 1,076 |
| 9 | MagpiePica pica | 1,073 |
| 10 | Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa | 1,064 |
| 11 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,010 |
| 12 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 981 |
| 13 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 975 |
| 14 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 942 |
| 15 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca | 863 |
| 16 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 838 |
| 17 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 815 |
| 18 | Common GullLarus canus | 802 |
| 19 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 792 |
| 20 | Common TernSterna hirundo | 787 |
Records by month
What to put out in Newtownabbey
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Antrim and Newtownabbey
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 Newtownabbey?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Newtownabbey are Hooded Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail and Starling, based on 46,058 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Newtownabbey?
175 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Newtownabbey?
Observation records peak in August and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:46.
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.