Birds of Scarborough
What has actually been seen around Scarborough: 231 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 231 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 29,312 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 48 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.2 h / 7.3 h
What the records say about Scarborough
231 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Scarborough (North Yorkshire) since 2010, across 29,312 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Scarborough are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Mallard lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
12 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel.
Records peak in January and are lowest in November — about 2.1 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.
East Ayton, 5 km to the south-west, has fewer species on record (204 against 231). Birds logged far more often around Scarborough than there include House Sparrow, Black-legged Kittiwake, Ruddy Turnstone and Common Murre.
Daylight runs from 17 h 13 min at midsummer to 7 h 19 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:02 in mid-April and 4:26 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Scarborough
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,718 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,306 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,185 |
| 4 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 873 |
| 5 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 858 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 778 |
| 7 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 749 |
| 8 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 713 |
| 9 | Gray HeronArdea cinerea | 691 |
| 10 | MagpiePica pica | 690 |
| 11 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 689 |
| 12 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 632 |
| 13 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 617 |
| 14 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 610 |
| 15 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 591 |
| 16 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 586 |
| 17 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 489 |
| 18 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 485 |
| 19 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 480 |
| 20 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 460 |
Records by month
What to put out in Scarborough
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
- Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for North Yorkshire
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 Scarborough?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Scarborough are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Robin and Magpie, based on 29,312 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Scarborough?
231 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Scarborough?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:26.
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.