Birds of Magherafelt
What has actually been seen around Magherafelt: 47 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 47 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 180 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Swift
- Busiest month
- November
- Elevation
- 76 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.3 h / 7.2 h
What the records say about Magherafelt
47 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Magherafelt (Mid Ulster) since 2010, across 180 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Swift, Woodpigeon and Robin.
Magherafelt is a garden-bird place: 77% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Woodpigeon, Robin, Rook and Blackbird make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
Castledawson, 4 km to the north-east, has more species on record (95 against 47).
Daylight runs from 17 h 19 min at midsummer to 7 h 13 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:25 in mid-April and 4:48 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Magherafelt
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SwiftApus apus | 13 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 11 |
| 3 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 10 |
| 4 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 8 |
| 5 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 8 |
| 6 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 8 |
| 7 | MagpiePica pica | 8 |
| 8 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 8 |
| 9 | Great TitParus major | 7 |
| 10 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 7 |
| 11 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 5 |
| 12 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 5 |
| 13 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 5 |
| 14 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 5 |
| 15 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 5 |
| 16 | GoldcrestRegulus regulus | 4 |
| 17 | Common CuckooCuculus canorus | 4 |
| 18 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos | 4 |
| 19 | Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major | 3 |
| 20 | Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus | 3 |
Records by month
What to put out in Magherafelt
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Great Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Mid Ulster
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 Magherafelt?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Magherafelt are Woodpigeon, Robin, Rook, Blackbird and Chaffinch, based on 180 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Magherafelt?
47 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Magherafelt?
Observation records peak in November and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:48.
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.