Birds of Benbecula
What has actually been seen around Benbecula: 153 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 153 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 10,332 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Eurasian Oystercatcher
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 17 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18 h / 6.6 h
What the records say about Benbecula
153 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Benbecula (Eilean Siar) since 2010, across 10,332 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Gull and Northern Lapwing.
Water shapes this list. 69% of records near Benbecula are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Eurasian Oystercatcher, Common Gull and Northern Lapwing 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 Short-eared Owl and Common Buzzard.
Isle of North Uist, 18 km to the north, has fewer species on record (116 against 153). Birds logged far more often around Benbecula than there include Gadwall, Little Grebe and Eurasian Coot.
Daylight runs from 18 h 1 min at midsummer to 6 h 36 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:22 in mid-April and 4:30 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Benbecula
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 485 |
| 2 | Common GullLarus canus | 356 |
| 3 | Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus | 348 |
| 4 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 348 |
| 5 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 333 |
| 6 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 317 |
| 7 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 311 |
| 8 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 272 |
| 9 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 261 |
| 10 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 260 |
| 11 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 253 |
| 12 | Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis | 245 |
| 13 | DunlinCalidris alpina | 239 |
| 14 | Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensis | 232 |
| 15 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 227 |
| 16 | Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula | 214 |
| 17 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 194 |
| 18 | Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus | 191 |
| 19 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 184 |
| 20 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 175 |
Records by month
What to put out in Benbecula
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Collared Dove
Seed mix
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
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 Benbecula?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Benbecula are Starling, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Skylark, Rock Pigeon and Pied Wagtail, based on 10,332 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Benbecula?
153 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Benbecula?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:30.
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.