Birds of Swadlincote
What has actually been seen around Swadlincote: 157 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 157 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 14,362 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 98 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.9 h / 7.6 h
What the records say about Swadlincote
157 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Swadlincote (Derbyshire) since 2010, across 14,362 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull and Woodpigeon.
Water shapes this list. 53% of records near Swadlincote are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull and European Herring Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
11 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon.
Records peak in January and are lowest in September — 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.
Moira, 4 km to the south, has more species on record (189 against 157).
Daylight runs from 16 h 53 min at midsummer to 7 h 36 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:09 in mid-April and 4:40 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Swadlincote
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 1,739 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 618 |
| 3 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 451 |
| 4 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 449 |
| 5 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 419 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 375 |
| 7 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 372 |
| 8 | MagpiePica pica | 372 |
| 9 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 360 |
| 10 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 325 |
| 11 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 323 |
| 12 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 318 |
| 13 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 296 |
| 14 | Caspian GullLarus cachinnans | 293 |
| 15 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 293 |
| 16 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 271 |
| 17 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 255 |
| 18 | Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis | 245 |
| 19 | Great TitParus major | 245 |
| 20 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 244 |
Records by month
What to put out in Swadlincote
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Derbyshire
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 Swadlincote?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Swadlincote are Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie, Blackbird and Carrion Crow, based on 14,362 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Swadlincote?
157 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Swadlincote?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in September. Sunrise in late June is around 4:40.
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.