Birds of Richmond
What has actually been seen around Richmond: 196 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 196 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 140,366 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 10 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Richmond
196 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Richmond (Greater London) since 2010, across 140,366 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Rose-ringed Parakeet, Woodpigeon and Robin.
The records split between garden birds (55%) and waterbirds (36%), so a feeder in Richmond sees the familiar Woodpigeon, Robin and Magpie, while Canada Goose and others turn up on nearby water.
13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel, Red Kite 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 April and are lowest in November — about 2.5 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.
Hounslow, 4 km to the west, has fewer species on record (175 against 196).
Daylight runs from 16 h 38 min at midsummer to 7 h 50 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:07 in mid-April and 4:43 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Richmond
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri | 5,882 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 5,840 |
| 3 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 5,366 |
| 4 | MagpiePica pica | 5,324 |
| 5 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 5,066 |
| 6 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 4,686 |
| 7 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 4,417 |
| 8 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 4,278 |
| 9 | Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca | 4,052 |
| 10 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 4,036 |
| 11 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 3,788 |
| 12 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 3,750 |
| 13 | Great TitParus major | 3,731 |
| 14 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 3,725 |
| 15 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 3,396 |
| 16 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 3,325 |
| 17 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 3,267 |
| 18 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 3,016 |
| 19 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 2,979 |
| 20 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 2,916 |
Records by month
What to put out in Richmond
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Greater London
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 Richmond?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Richmond are Woodpigeon, Robin, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw, based on 140,366 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Richmond?
196 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Richmond?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:43.
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.