Birds of Southport
What has actually been seen around Southport: 234 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 234 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 69,148 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-headed Gull
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 9 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.1 h / 7.4 h
What the records say about Southport
234 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Southport (Sefton) since 2010, across 69,148 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-headed Gull, Mallard and Carrion Crow.
Water shapes this list. 60% of records near Southport are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Black-headed Gull, Mallard and European Herring Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Carrion Crow is still the most logged garden bird.
15 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Kestrel and Common Buzzard.
Records peak in April and are lowest in August — about 3.2 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.
Banks, 7 km to the north-east, has fewer species on record (223 against 234).
Daylight runs from 17 h 4 min at midsummer to 7 h 27 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:13 in mid-April and 4:41 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Southport
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 2,086 |
| 2 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,985 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 1,825 |
| 4 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 1,721 |
| 5 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 1,702 |
| 6 | Little EgretEgretta garzetta | 1,689 |
| 7 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,679 |
| 8 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 1,601 |
| 9 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,575 |
| 10 | MagpiePica pica | 1,489 |
| 11 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 1,488 |
| 12 | Northern LapwingVanellus vanellus | 1,475 |
| 13 | Graylag GooseAnser anser | 1,432 |
| 14 | Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna | 1,405 |
| 15 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 1,380 |
| 16 | Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus | 1,356 |
| 17 | Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa | 1,333 |
| 18 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 1,332 |
| 19 | GadwallMareca strepera | 1,209 |
| 20 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 1,195 |
Records by month
What to put out in Southport
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Starling
Suet · Mealworms
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Pied Wagtail
Mealworms
- Jackdaw
Suet · Kitchen scraps
Seasonal bird notes for Sefton
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 Southport?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Southport are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Starling, Magpie and Goldfinch, based on 69,148 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Southport?
234 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Southport?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in August. Sunrise in late June is around 4:41.
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.