Birds of Christchurch
What has actually been seen around Christchurch: 235 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 235 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 55,836 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Woodpigeon
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 4 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 8 h
What the records say about Christchurch
235 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council) since 2010, across 55,836 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull and European Herring Gull.
The records split between garden birds (57%) and waterbirds (39%), so a feeder in Christchurch sees the familiar Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Magpie, while Black-headed Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
16 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel.
Records peak in April and are lowest in December — about 2.7 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.
Bransgore, 6 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (163 against 235). Birds logged far more often around Christchurch than there include Great Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Redshank and Eurasian Oystercatcher.
Daylight runs from 16 h 30 min at midsummer to 7 h 57 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:14 in mid-April and 4:53 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Christchurch
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,706 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,673 |
| 3 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,601 |
| 4 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,582 |
| 5 | MagpiePica pica | 1,534 |
| 6 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,498 |
| 7 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 1,390 |
| 8 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,352 |
| 9 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 1,345 |
| 10 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,339 |
| 11 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 1,229 |
| 12 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 1,204 |
| 13 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 1,193 |
| 14 | GreenfinchChloris chloris | 1,084 |
| 15 | Great TitParus major | 1,022 |
| 16 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 1,010 |
| 17 | European StonechatSaxicola rubicola | 1,002 |
| 18 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 923 |
| 19 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 910 |
| 20 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 889 |
Records by month
What to put out in Christchurch
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Greenfinch
Sunflower hearts · Black sunflower seed
Seasonal bird notes for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
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 Christchurch?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Christchurch are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling and Robin, based on 55,836 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Christchurch?
235 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Christchurch?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:53.
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.