Birds of Linlithgow
What has actually been seen around Linlithgow: 157 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 157 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 10,872 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Mallard
- Busiest month
- January
- Elevation
- 51 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Linlithgow
157 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Linlithgow (West Lothian) since 2010, across 10,872 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Mallard, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Linlithgow are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Mallard, Black-headed Gull and Eurasian Coot lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Woodpigeon is still the most logged garden bird.
9 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard.
Records peak in January and are lowest in August — about 4.0 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.
Whitecross, 4 km to the west, has more species on record (164 against 157).
Daylight runs from 17 h 37 min at midsummer to 6 h 57 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:11 in mid-April and 4:27 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Linlithgow
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 453 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 392 |
| 3 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 375 |
| 4 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 355 |
| 5 | Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus | 353 |
| 6 | MagpiePica pica | 352 |
| 7 | Eurasian CootFulica atra | 347 |
| 8 | Mute SwanCygnus olor | 339 |
| 9 | JackdawColoeus monedula | 333 |
| 10 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 315 |
| 11 | European Herring GullLarus argentatus | 312 |
| 12 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 289 |
| 13 | Tufted DuckAythya fuligula | 272 |
| 14 | Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus | 272 |
| 15 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 242 |
| 16 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 233 |
| 17 | Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo | 227 |
| 18 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 222 |
| 19 | Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus | 210 |
| 20 | Great TitParus major | 194 |
Records by month
What to put out in Linlithgow
Seasonal bird notes for West Lothian
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 Linlithgow?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Linlithgow are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Robin, Magpie and Jackdaw, based on 10,872 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Linlithgow?
157 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Linlithgow?
Observation records peak in January and are lowest in August. Sunrise in late June is around 4:27.
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.