Birds of Caernarfon
What has actually been seen around Caernarfon: 182 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 182 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 5,918 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- March
- Elevation
- 33 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17 h / 7.5 h
What the records say about Caernarfon
182 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Caernarfon (Gwynedd) since 2010, across 5,918 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Carrion Crow.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Caernarfon are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Little Egret lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
14 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in March and are lowest in December — about 4.2 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.
Dwyran, 5 km to the north-west, has more species on record (197 against 182).
Daylight runs from 16 h 58 min at midsummer to 7 h 32 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:20 in mid-April and 4:49 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Caernarfon
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 380 |
| 2 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 210 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 185 |
| 4 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 160 |
| 5 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 147 |
| 6 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 144 |
| 7 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 141 |
| 8 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 137 |
| 9 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 129 |
| 10 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 128 |
| 11 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 127 |
| 12 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 124 |
| 13 | MagpiePica pica | 117 |
| 14 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 117 |
| 15 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 116 |
| 16 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 108 |
| 17 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 105 |
| 18 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna | 100 |
| 19 | House MartinDelichon urbicum | 95 |
| 20 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 93 |
Records by month
What to put out in Caernarfon
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for Gwynedd
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 Caernarfon?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Caernarfon are Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Blackbird, House Sparrow and Barn Swallow, based on 5,918 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Caernarfon?
182 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Caernarfon?
Observation records peak in March and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:49.
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.