Birds of Glenavy
What has actually been seen around Glenavy: 86 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 86 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 784 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Swift
- Busiest month
- March
- Elevation
- 71 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.3 h / 7.3 h
What the records say about Glenavy
86 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Glenavy (Lisburn and Castlereagh) since 2010, across 784 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Swift, Starling and Woodpigeon.
Glenavy is a garden-bird place: 73% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Starling, Woodpigeon, Magpie and Rook make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
7 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Barn Owl and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. 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 March and are lowest in December — about 6.6 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.
Crumlin, 3 km to the north, has fewer species on record (74 against 86).
Daylight runs from 17 h 17 min at midsummer to 7 h 15 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:24 in mid-April and 4:47 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Glenavy
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SwiftApus apus | 54 |
| 2 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 44 |
| 3 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 43 |
| 4 | MagpiePica pica | 42 |
| 5 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 41 |
| 6 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 37 |
| 7 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 32 |
| 8 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 28 |
| 9 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 26 |
| 10 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 26 |
| 11 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 25 |
| 12 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 24 |
| 13 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 24 |
| 14 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 22 |
| 15 | Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus | 22 |
| 16 | Great TitParus major | 20 |
| 17 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 19 |
| 18 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 19 |
| 19 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 17 |
| 20 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 15 |
Records by month
What to put out in Glenavy
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Collared Dove
Seed mix
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for Lisburn and Castlereagh
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 Glenavy?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Glenavy are Starling, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Rook and Blackbird, based on 784 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Glenavy?
86 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Glenavy?
Observation records peak in March and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:47.
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.