Birds of Whithorn
What has actually been seen around Whithorn: 73 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 73 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 196 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- September
- Elevation
- 64 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.3 h / 7.2 h
What the records say about Whithorn
73 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Whithorn (Dumfries and Galloway) since 2010, across 196 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, House Sparrow and Carrion Crow.
The records split between garden birds (57%) and waterbirds (35%), so a feeder in Whithorn sees the familiar House Sparrow, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw, while European Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
Records peak in September and are lowest in October — about 19.0 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.
Wigtown, 15 km to the north, has more species on record (152 against 73).
Daylight runs from 17 h 19 min at midsummer to 7 h 14 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:17 in mid-April and 4:39 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Whithorn
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 14 |
| 2 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 9 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 8 |
| 4 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 7 |
| 5 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 6 |
| 6 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 6 |
| 7 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 6 |
| 8 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 6 |
| 9 | Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus | 5 |
| 10 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 4 |
| 11 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 4 |
| 12 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 4 |
| 13 | Eurasian Rock PipitAnthus petrosus | 4 |
| 14 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 4 |
| 15 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 4 |
| 16 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 4 |
| 17 | SwiftApus apus | 4 |
| 18 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 4 |
| 19 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 4 |
| 20 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 4 |
Records by month
What to put out in Whithorn
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Collared Dove
Seed mix
Seasonal bird notes for Dumfries and Galloway
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 Whithorn?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Whithorn are House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Barn Swallow, based on 196 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Whithorn?
73 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Whithorn?
Observation records peak in September and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:39.
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.