Birds of Highworth
What has actually been seen around Highworth: 120 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 120 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 79,279 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Greenfinch
- Busiest month
- March
- Elevation
- 135 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Highworth
120 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Highworth (Swindon) since 2010, across 79,279 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Greenfinch, Woodpigeon and Blue Tit.
Highworth is a garden-bird place: 96% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Greenfinch, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit and Rock Pigeon make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
10 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Red Kite and Tawny Owl. 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.
Records peak in March and are lowest in September — about 1.8 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.
Broad Blunsdon, 5 km to the west, has more species on record (130 against 120). Birds logged far more often around Highworth than there include Great Black-backed Gull and Corn Bunting.
Daylight runs from 16 h 40 min at midsummer to 7 h 48 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:12 in mid-April and 4:48 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Highworth
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GreenfinchChloris chloris | 6,846 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 6,037 |
| 3 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 5,818 |
| 4 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 5,784 |
| 5 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 5,709 |
| 6 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 5,627 |
| 7 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 4,732 |
| 8 | StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 4,442 |
| 9 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 4,318 |
| 10 | Great TitParus major | 3,459 |
| 11 | MagpiePica pica | 2,887 |
| 12 | DunnockPrunella modularis | 2,801 |
| 13 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 2,791 |
| 14 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 2,073 |
| 15 | Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 2,069 |
| 16 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 1,481 |
| 17 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 1,403 |
| 18 | Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major | 1,261 |
| 19 | Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus | 1,231 |
| 20 | BlackcapSylvia atricapilla | 1,130 |
Records by month
What to put out in Highworth
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
- Greenfinch
Sunflower hearts · Black sunflower seed
- Woodpigeon
Seed mix
- Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
- Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
- Chaffinch
Sunflower hearts · Seed mix
- Goldfinch
Nyjer seed · Sunflower hearts
Seasonal bird notes for Swindon
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 Highworth?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Highworth are Greenfinch, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Rock Pigeon and Blackbird, based on 79,279 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Highworth?
120 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Highworth?
Observation records peak in March and are lowest in September. Sunrise in late June is around 4:48.
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.