Birds of Largs
What has actually been seen around Largs: 140 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 140 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 5,692 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- July
- Elevation
- 13 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Largs
140 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Largs (North Ayrshire) since 2010, across 5,692 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Largs are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Common Eider lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in July and are lowest in February — about 4.2 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.
Fairlie, 5 km to the south, has more species on record (155 against 140). Birds logged far more often around Largs than there include Mediterranean Gull.
Daylight runs from 17 h 34 min at midsummer to 6 h 60 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:16 in mid-April and 4:33 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Largs
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 304 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 277 |
| 3 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 238 |
| 4 | MagpiePica pica | 231 |
| 5 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 223 |
| 6 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 205 |
| 7 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 204 |
| 8 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 165 |
| 9 | Common GullLarus canus | 152 |
| 10 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 148 |
| 11 | Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator | 145 |
| 12 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 143 |
| 13 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 142 |
| 14 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 137 |
| 15 | European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis | 117 |
| 16 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 104 |
| 17 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 103 |
| 18 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 103 |
| 19 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 98 |
| 20 | Common RedshankTringa totanus | 85 |
Records by month
What to put out in Largs
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for North Ayrshire
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 Largs?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Largs are Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Blackbird, based on 5,692 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Largs?
140 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Largs?
Observation records peak in July and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 4:33.
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.