Torbay · 50.46°N

Birds of Torquay

What has actually been seen around Torquay: 159 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 159 within 5 km
Observation records: 5,427 since 2010
Most recorded bird: European Herring Gull
Busiest month: June
Elevation: 8 m
Daylight, June / December: 16.5 h / 8 h

What the records say about Torquay

159 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Torquay (Torbay) since 2010, across 5,427 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Swift.

The records split between garden birds (54%) and waterbirds (37%), so a feeder in Torquay sees the familiar Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and Robin, while European Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.

10 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. 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 June and are lowest in October — about 3.3 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.

Paignton, 4 km to the south-west, has more species on record (180 against 159).

Daylight runs from 16 h 27 min at midsummer to 8 h 0 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:22 in mid-April and 5:01 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Torquay

#	Bird	Records
1	European Herring GullLarus argentatus	390
2	Carrion CrowCorvus corone	264
3	SwiftApus apus	259
4	WoodpigeonColumba palumbus	242
5	RobinErithacus rubecula	210
6	BlackbirdTurdus merula	177
7	MagpiePica pica	164
8	European ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis	144
9	Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus	139
10	Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo	133
11	Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus	123
12	Cirl BuntingEmberiza cirlus	119
13	Rock PigeonColumba livia	116
14	Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus	115
15	MallardAnas platyrhynchos	109
16	WrenTroglodytes troglodytes	107
17	Mute SwanCygnus olor	103
18	House SparrowPasser domesticus	100
19	Great TitParus major	100
20	DunnockPrunella modularis	94

Records by month

What to put out in Torquay

Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.

Woodpigeon
Seed mix
Robin
Mealworms · Suet pellets · Sunflower hearts
Blackbird
Soaked sultanas · Apples · Mealworms
Blue Tit
Sunflower hearts · Peanuts (mesh feeder only) · Suet
Wren
Mealworms · Suet pellets
House Sparrow
Seed mix · Sunflower hearts · Suet

Seasonal bird notes for Torbay

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 Torquay?

The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Torquay are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Robin, Blackbird and Magpie, based on 5,427 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Torquay?

159 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).

When is the best month for birds in Torquay?

Observation records peak in June and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 5:01.

Sources

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.