Birds of Nairn
What has actually been seen around Nairn: 170 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 170 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 18,569 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- February
- Elevation
- 20 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18.1 h / 6.6 h
What the records say about Nairn
170 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Nairn (Highland) since 2010, across 18,569 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Eurasian Oystercatcher.
Water shapes this list. 53% of records near Nairn are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
11 birds of prey are on record nearby, including .
Records peak in February and are lowest in December — about 2.2 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.
Auldearn, 5 km to the east, has fewer species on record (163 against 170).
Daylight runs from 18 h 4 min at midsummer to 6 h 34 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:08 in mid-April and 4:15 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Nairn
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 957 |
| 2 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 789 |
| 3 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 639 |
| 4 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 637 |
| 5 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 615 |
| 6 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 538 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 524 |
| 8 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 484 |
| 9 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 456 |
| 10 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 451 |
| 11 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 435 |
| 12 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 410 |
| 13 | Common GullLarus canus | 403 |
| 14 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 391 |
| 15 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 381 |
| 16 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 350 |
| 17 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 319 |
| 18 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 308 |
| 19 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 308 |
| 20 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 303 |
Records by month
What to put out in Nairn
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Pied Wagtail
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 Nairn?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Nairn are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, House Sparrow and Robin, based on 18,569 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Nairn?
170 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Nairn?
Observation records peak in February and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:15.
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.