Birds of Randalstown
What has actually been seen around Randalstown: 95 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 95 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 5,815 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Blackbird
- Busiest month
- December
- Elevation
- 40 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.3 h / 7.2 h
What the records say about Randalstown
95 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Randalstown (Antrim and Newtownabbey) since 2010, across 5,815 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Blackbird, Robin and House Sparrow.
Randalstown is a garden-bird place: 84% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow and Wren make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
6 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. A hawk that hunts feeder birds is among them, so set feeders 2–3 metres from shrubs: close enough for cover, far enough that a cat can't ambush from it.
Records peak in December and are lowest in October — about 4.4 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.
Antrim, 7 km to the south-east, has more species on record (108 against 95). Birds logged far more often around Randalstown than there include Northern Lapwing, Common Redpoll and Siskin.
Daylight runs from 17 h 19 min at midsummer to 7 h 13 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:24 in mid-April and 4:46 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Randalstown
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 287 |
| 2 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 271 |
| 3 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 270 |
| 4 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 256 |
| 5 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 256 |
| 6 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 247 |
| 7 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 245 |
| 8 | Great TitParus major | 227 |
| 9 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 218 |
| 10 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 214 |
| 11 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 205 |
| 12 | MagpiePica pica | 195 |
| 13 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 190 |
| 14 | Coal TitPeriparus ater | 183 |
| 15 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 181 |
| 16 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 165 |
| 17 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 143 |
| 18 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos | 136 |
| 19 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 130 |
| 20 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 105 |
Records by month
What to put out in Randalstown
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
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 Randalstown?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Randalstown are Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow, Wren and Starling, based on 5,815 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Randalstown?
95 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Randalstown?
Observation records peak in December 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.