Birds of Chigwell
What has actually been seen around Chigwell: 197 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 197 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 21,707 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Magpie
- Busiest month
- March
- Elevation
- 36 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Chigwell
197 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Chigwell (Essex) since 2010, across 21,707 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Magpie, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow.
The records split between garden birds (57%) and waterbirds (36%), so a feeder in Chigwell sees the familiar Magpie, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow, while Mallard and others turn up on nearby water.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Common Buzzard and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. 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 March and are lowest in July — about 3.2 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.
Abridge, 5 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (129 against 197). Birds logged far more often around Chigwell than there include Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal.
Daylight runs from 16 h 40 min at midsummer to 7 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:05 in mid-April and 4:41 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Chigwell
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MagpiePica pica | 817 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 749 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 735 |
| 4 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 694 |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 644 |
| 6 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 640 |
| 7 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 587 |
| 8 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 583 |
| 9 | Great TitParus major | 569 |
| 10 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 560 |
| 11 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 531 |
| 12 | Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri | 506 |
| 13 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 494 |
| 14 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 468 |
| 15 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 459 |
| 16 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 451 |
| 17 | Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus | 426 |
| 18 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 397 |
| 19 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 389 |
| 20 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 387 |
Records by month
What to put out in Chigwell
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Essex
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 Chigwell?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Chigwell are Magpie, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Robin and Blue Tit, based on 21,707 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Chigwell?
197 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Chigwell?
Observation records peak in March and are lowest in July. Sunrise in late June is around 4:41.
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.