Birds of Fochabers
What has actually been seen around Fochabers: 94 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 94 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 819 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Western Capercaillie
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 37 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18.1 h / 6.6 h
What the records say about Fochabers
94 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Fochabers (Moray) since 2010, across 819 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Western Capercaillie, Woodpigeon and Blackbird.
The records split between garden birds (59%) and waterbirds (15%), so a feeder in Fochabers sees the familiar Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Rook, while European Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Osprey 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.
Garmouth, 6 km to the north, has more species on record (169 against 94). Birds logged far more often around Fochabers than there include Western Capercaillie and Swift.
Daylight runs from 18 h 4 min at midsummer to 6 h 34 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:05 in mid-April and 4:11 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Fochabers
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western CapercaillieTetrao urogallus | 152 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 31 |
| 3 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 29 |
| 4 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 24 |
| 5 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 21 |
| 6 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 21 |
| 7 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 21 |
| 8 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 21 |
| 9 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 21 |
| 10 | SwiftApus apus | 20 |
| 11 | Tree SparrowPasser montanus | 18 |
| 12 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 18 |
| 13 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 17 |
| 14 | YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella | 16 |
| 15 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 15 |
| 16 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 15 |
| 17 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 14 |
| 18 | Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra | 13 |
| 19 | Coal TitPeriparus ater | 12 |
| 20 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos | 12 |
Records by month
What to put out in Fochabers
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Moray
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 Fochabers?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Fochabers are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Rook, Robin and Chaffinch, based on 819 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Fochabers?
94 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Fochabers?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:11.
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.