Birds of Kirkwall
What has actually been seen around Kirkwall: 151 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 151 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 9,802 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- European Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- June
- Elevation
- 3 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 18.5 h / 6.2 h
What the records say about Kirkwall
151 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) since 2010, across 9,802 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Starling and Black-headed Gull.
Water shapes this list. 57% of records near Kirkwall are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Eurasian Oystercatcher lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Starling is still the most logged garden bird.
10 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Short-eared Owl.
Records peak in June and are lowest in December — about 115.8 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.
Saint Margaret's Hope, 18 km to the south, has fewer species on record (140 against 151). Birds logged far more often around Kirkwall than there include Rook, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow.
Daylight runs from 18 h 30 min at midsummer to 6 h 11 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:00 in mid-April and 3:57 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Kirkwall
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 465 |
| 2 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 454 |
| 3 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 410 |
| 4 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 319 |
| 5 | Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus | 317 |
| 6 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 299 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 280 |
| 8 | Hooded CrowCorvus cornix | 278 |
| 9 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 265 |
| 10 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 263 |
| 11 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 252 |
| 12 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 246 |
| 13 | Pied WagtailMotacilla alba | 243 |
| 14 | Common GullLarus canus | 239 |
| 15 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 212 |
| 16 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 208 |
| 17 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 197 |
| 18 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 195 |
| 19 | Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis | 192 |
| 20 | Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata | 188 |
Records by month
What to put out in Kirkwall
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Seasonal bird notes for Orkney Islands
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 Kirkwall?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Kirkwall are Starling, Rook, Hooded Crow, Rock Pigeon and House Sparrow, based on 9,802 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Kirkwall?
151 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Kirkwall?
Observation records peak in June and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 3:57.
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.