Birds of Penzance
What has actually been seen around Penzance: 267 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 267 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 71,285 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- September
- Elevation
- 32 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.4 h / 8.1 h
What the records say about Penzance
267 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Penzance (Cornwall) since 2010, across 71,285 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Robin.
Water shapes this list. 41% of records near Penzance are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in September and are lowest in June — about 2.3 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.
Mousehole, 4 km to the south, has fewer species on record (237 against 267). Birds logged far more often around Penzance than there include Cetti's Warbler and European Stonechat.
Daylight runs from 16 h 24 min at midsummer to 8 h 3 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:30 in mid-April and 5:11 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Penzance
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 3,395 |
| 2 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 2,447 |
| 3 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 2,005 |
| 4 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,906 |
| 5 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 1,849 |
| 6 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 1,798 |
| 7 | MagpiePica pica | 1,672 |
| 8 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 1,628 |
| 9 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 1,562 |
| 10 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 1,486 |
| 11 | ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita | 1,467 |
| 12 | Great TitParus major | 1,416 |
| 13 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 1,407 |
| 14 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 1,385 |
| 15 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 1,323 |
| 16 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 1,311 |
| 17 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 1,301 |
| 18 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 1,276 |
| 19 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,234 |
| 20 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 1,157 |
Records by month
What to put out in Penzance
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
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 Penzance?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Penzance are Carrion Crow, Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Jackdaw, based on 71,285 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Penzance?
267 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Penzance?
Observation records peak in September and are lowest in June. Sunrise in late June is around 5:11.
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.