Birds of Mallaig
What has actually been seen around Mallaig: 111 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 111 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 2,710 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 11 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.9 h / 6.7 h
What the records say about Mallaig
111 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Mallaig (Highland) since 2010, across 2,710 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and European Shag.
Water shapes this list. 63% of records near Mallaig are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and European Shag lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. House Sparrow is still the most logged garden bird.
7 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard and White-tailed Eagle.
Broadford, 27 km to the north, has more species on record (150 against 111). Birds logged far more often around Mallaig than there include Northern Gannet, Common Murre, Manx Shearwater and Black Guillemot.
Daylight runs from 17 h 54 min at midsummer to 6 h 43 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:17 in mid-April and 4:27 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Mallaig
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 263 |
| 2 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 188 |
| 3 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 131 |
| 4 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 129 |
| 5 | Northern GannetMorus bassanus | 119 |
| 6 | Common MurreUria aalge | 110 |
| 7 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 104 |
| 8 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 90 |
| 9 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 87 |
| 10 | Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus | 86 |
| 11 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 80 |
| 12 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 77 |
| 13 | Common GullLarus canus | 76 |
| 14 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 75 |
| 15 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 74 |
| 16 | Black GuillemotCepphus grylle | 64 |
| 17 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 54 |
| 18 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 51 |
| 19 | Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactyla | 47 |
| 20 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 45 |
Records by month
What to put out in Mallaig
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Collared Dove
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for Highland
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 Mallaig?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Mallaig are House Sparrow, Hooded Crow, Rock Pigeon, Pied Wagtail and Starling, based on 2,710 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Mallaig?
111 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Mallaig?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 4:27.
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.