Birds of Downpatrick
What has actually been seen around Downpatrick: 127 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 127 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 1,885 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Mallard
- Busiest month
- September
- Elevation
- 11 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.2 h / 7.3 h
What the records say about Downpatrick
127 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Downpatrick (Newry Mourne and Down) since 2010, across 1,885 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Mallard, Mute Swan and Black-headed Gull.
Water shapes this list. 53% of records near Downpatrick are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Mallard, Mute Swan and Black-headed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Robin is still the most logged garden bird.
7 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in September and are lowest in August — about 2.6 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.
Crossgar, 8 km to the north, has fewer species on record (87 against 127). Birds logged far more often around Downpatrick than there include Mallard, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull and Little Grebe.
Daylight runs from 17 h 13 min at midsummer to 7 h 19 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:23 in mid-April and 4:47 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Downpatrick
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 87 |
| 2 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 83 |
| 3 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 70 |
| 4 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 67 |
| 5 | Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis | 57 |
| 6 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 55 |
| 7 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 53 |
| 8 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 48 |
| 9 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 48 |
| 10 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 42 |
| 11 | Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope | 42 |
| 12 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 41 |
| 13 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca | 41 |
| 14 | MagpiePica pica | 40 |
| 15 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 40 |
| 16 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 38 |
| 17 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 37 |
| 18 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 36 |
| 19 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 34 |
| 20 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 34 |
Records by month
What to put out in Downpatrick
Seasonal bird notes for Newry Mourne and Down
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 Downpatrick?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Downpatrick are Robin, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Magpie and Wren, based on 1,885 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Downpatrick?
127 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Downpatrick?
Observation records peak in September and are lowest in August. 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.