Birds of Merton
What has actually been seen around Merton: 104 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 104 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 2,721 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Robin
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 58 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Merton
104 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Merton (Devon) since 2010, across 2,721 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Robin, Woodpigeon and Great Crested Grebe.
Merton is a garden-bird place: 61% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Blue Tit make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in April and are lowest in January — 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.
Dolton, 5 km to the east, has fewer species on record (82 against 104).
Daylight runs from 16 h 32 min at midsummer to 7 h 56 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:23 in mid-April and 5:01 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Merton
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 104 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 88 |
| 3 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 86 |
| 4 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 82 |
| 5 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 81 |
| 6 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 81 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 81 |
| 8 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 75 |
| 9 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 74 |
| 10 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 72 |
| 11 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 70 |
| 12 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 69 |
| 13 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 68 |
| 14 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 66 |
| 15 | Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus | 63 |
| 16 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 61 |
| 17 | GoldcrestRegulus regulus | 58 |
| 18 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 53 |
| 19 | ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita | 52 |
| 20 | Great TitParus major | 50 |
Records by month
What to put out in Merton
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
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
- Long-tailed Tit
Suet · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Devon
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 Merton?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Merton are Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Blue Tit and Carrion Crow, based on 2,721 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Merton?
104 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Merton?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 5:01.
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.