Birds of Barra
What has actually been seen around Barra: 151 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 151 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 3,806 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Eurasian Oystercatcher
- Busiest month
- June
- Elevation
- 166 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.9 h / 6.7 h
What the records say about Barra
151 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Barra (Eilean Siar) since 2010, across 3,806 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Herring Gull and Starling.
Water shapes this list. 51% of records near Barra are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Eurasian Oystercatcher, European Herring Gull and Graylag Goose lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Starling is still the most logged garden bird.
9 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Isle of South Uist, 30 km to the north, has fewer species on record (145 against 151). Birds logged far more often around Barra than there include Common Murre and Northern Fulmar.
Daylight runs from 17 h 53 min at midsummer to 6 h 43 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:24 in mid-April and 4:34 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Barra
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 156 |
| 2 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 137 |
| 3 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 133 |
| 4 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 128 |
| 5 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 110 |
| 6 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis | 102 |
| 7 | Common GullLarus canus | 102 |
| 8 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 92 |
| 9 | European StonechatSaxicola rubicola | 90 |
| 10 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 84 |
| 11 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 79 |
| 12 | Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus | 78 |
| 13 | Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe | 77 |
| 14 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 75 |
| 15 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 74 |
| 16 | Northern GannetMorus bassanus | 73 |
| 17 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 68 |
| 18 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 67 |
| 19 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 67 |
| 20 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 66 |
Records by month
What to put out in Barra
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
- Song Thrush
Mealworms · Soaked sultanas · Fruit
Seasonal bird notes for Eilean Siar
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 Barra?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Barra are Starling, Hooded Crow, Meadow Pipit, Blackbird and European Stonechat, based on 3,806 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Barra?
151 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Barra?
Observation records peak in June and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:34.
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.