Birds of Newquay
What has actually been seen around Newquay: 181 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 181 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 10,291 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- February
- Elevation
- 31 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.4 h / 8 h
What the records say about Newquay
181 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Newquay (Cornwall) since 2010, across 10,291 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow.
Water shapes this list. 41% of records near Newquay are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Northern Fulmar lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Jackdaw is still the most logged garden bird.
12 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel and Common Buzzard.
Records peak in February and are lowest in May — about 2.9 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.
Crantock, 3 km to the south-west, has fewer species on record (176 against 181).
Daylight runs from 16 h 27 min at midsummer to 8 h 1 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:28 in mid-April and 5:08 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Newquay
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 677 |
| 2 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 400 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 369 |
| 4 | Eurasian Rock PipitAnthus petrosus | 310 |
| 5 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 299 |
| 6 | Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis | 288 |
| 7 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 278 |
| 8 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 275 |
| 9 | Northern GannetMorus bassanus | 263 |
| 10 | European StonechatSaxicola rubicola | 263 |
| 11 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 245 |
| 12 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 240 |
| 13 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 235 |
| 14 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 235 |
| 15 | MagpiePica pica | 231 |
| 16 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 227 |
| 17 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 226 |
| 18 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 221 |
| 19 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 212 |
| 20 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 197 |
Records by month
What to put out in Newquay
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Cornwall
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 Newquay?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Newquay are Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Rock Pipit, Blackbird and Starling, based on 10,291 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Newquay?
181 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Newquay?
Observation records peak in February and are lowest in May. Sunrise in late June is around 5:08.
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.