Birds of Darvel
What has actually been seen around Darvel: 78 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 78 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 528 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Jackdaw
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 104 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.5 h / 7 h
What the records say about Darvel
78 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Darvel (East Ayrshire) since 2010, across 528 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Jackdaw, Carrion Crow and House Sparrow.
Darvel is a garden-bird place: 83% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow and Chaffinch make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
6 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. A hawk that hunts feeder birds is among them, so set feeders 2–3 metres from shrubs: close enough for cover, far enough that a cat can't ambush from it.
Galston, 6 km to the west, has more species on record (93 against 78).
Daylight runs from 17 h 32 min at midsummer to 7 h 2 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:14 in mid-April and 4:32 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Darvel
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 36 |
| 2 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 30 |
| 3 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 26 |
| 4 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 25 |
| 5 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 17 |
| 6 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 17 |
| 7 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 17 |
| 8 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 17 |
| 9 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 16 |
| 10 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 16 |
| 11 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 15 |
| 12 | SwiftApus apus | 14 |
| 13 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 13 |
| 14 | Great TitParus major | 13 |
| 15 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 13 |
| 16 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 12 |
| 17 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis | 11 |
| 18 | MagpiePica pica | 11 |
| 19 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 11 |
| 20 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 11 |
Records by month
What to put out in Darvel
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for East Ayrshire
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 Darvel?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Darvel are Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Blue Tit, based on 528 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Darvel?
78 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Darvel?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in September. Sunrise in late June is around 4:32.
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.