Birds of Isle of Lewis
What has actually been seen around Isle of Lewis: 164 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 164 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 9,866 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 14 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18.3 h / 6.4 h
What the records say about Isle of Lewis
164 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Isle of Lewis (Eilean Siar) since 2010, across 9,866 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Hooded Crow and Corn Crake.
Water shapes this list. 42% of records near Isle of Lewis are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Corn Crake and Great Black-backed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Hooded Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Buzzard. 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.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 5.7 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.
Ullapool, 81 km to the south-east, has fewer species on record (140 against 164). Birds logged far more often around Isle of Lewis than there include Corn Crake, Redwing, Blackcap and Grey Wagtail.
Daylight runs from 18 h 15 min at midsummer to 6 h 24 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:16 in mid-April and 4:19 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Isle of Lewis
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 426 |
| 2 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 426 |
| 3 | Corn CrakeCrex crex | 380 |
| 4 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 270 |
| 5 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 256 |
| 6 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 254 |
| 7 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 235 |
| 8 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 215 |
| 9 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 206 |
| 10 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 198 |
| 11 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 198 |
| 12 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 190 |
| 13 | SiskinSpinus spinus | 185 |
| 14 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 180 |
| 15 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 178 |
| 16 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 167 |
| 17 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 166 |
| 18 | Coal TitPeriparus ater | 157 |
| 19 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 154 |
| 20 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 151 |
Records by month
What to put out in Isle of Lewis
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- 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 Isle of Lewis?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Isle of Lewis are Hooded Crow, Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon and Starling, based on 9,866 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Isle of Lewis?
164 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Isle of Lewis?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:19.
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.