Birds of Hoddesdon
What has actually been seen around Hoddesdon: 225 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 225 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 417,906 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Woodpigeon
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 46 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Hoddesdon
225 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Hoddesdon (Hertfordshire) since 2010, across 417,906 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull and Mallard.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Hoddesdon are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, Mallard and Eurasian Coot lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
15 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red Kite, Common Buzzard and Common Kestrel. 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 September — about 1.5 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.
Roydon, 4 km to the east, has a similar number of species on record (225 against 225).
Daylight runs from 16 h 41 min at midsummer to 7 h 47 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:05 in mid-April and 4:40 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Hoddesdon
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 9,647 |
| 2 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 9,538 |
| 3 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 9,520 |
| 4 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 9,456 |
| 5 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 9,280 |
| 6 | MagpiePica pica | 9,259 |
| 7 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 9,092 |
| 8 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 9,074 |
| 9 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 9,034 |
| 10 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 8,965 |
| 11 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 8,839 |
| 12 | GadwallMareca strepera | 8,838 |
| 13 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 8,637 |
| 14 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 8,541 |
| 15 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 8,391 |
| 16 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 8,332 |
| 17 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 8,262 |
| 18 | Common PochardAythya ferina | 8,005 |
| 19 | Great TitParus major | 7,980 |
| 20 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 7,864 |
Records by month
What to put out in Hoddesdon
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Hertfordshire
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 Hoddesdon?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Hoddesdon are Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Robin and Blue Tit, based on 417,906 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Hoddesdon?
225 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Hoddesdon?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in September. Sunrise in late June is around 4:40.
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.