Birds of Kilkeel
What has actually been seen around Kilkeel: 59 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 59 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 156 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Blackbird
- Busiest month
- March
- Elevation
- 16 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.2 h / 7.4 h
What the records say about Kilkeel
59 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Kilkeel (Newry Mourne and Down) since 2010, across 156 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Blackbird, Robin and Chaffinch.
Kilkeel is a garden-bird place: 72% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch and Wren make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel 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.
Annalong, 9 km to the north-east, has more species on record (67 against 59).
Daylight runs from 17 h 10 min at midsummer to 7 h 22 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:25 in mid-April and 4:50 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Kilkeel
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 10 |
| 2 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 8 |
| 3 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 6 |
| 4 | SwiftApus apus | 6 |
| 5 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 6 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 6 |
| 7 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 6 |
| 8 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 5 |
| 9 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 5 |
| 10 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 5 |
| 11 | Great TitParus major | 5 |
| 12 | Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea | 4 |
| 13 | Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus | 4 |
| 14 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 3 |
| 15 | GoldcrestRegulus regulus | 3 |
| 16 | BlackcapSylvia atricapilla | 3 |
| 17 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 3 |
| 18 | White-throated DipperCinclus cinclus | 3 |
| 19 | European StonechatSaxicola rubicola | 3 |
| 20 | MagpiePica pica | 3 |
Records by month
What to put out in Kilkeel
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
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 Kilkeel?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Kilkeel are Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Wren and Starling, based on 156 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Kilkeel?
59 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Kilkeel?
Observation records peak in March and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:50.
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.