Birds of Downton
What has actually been seen around Downton: 136 species, the most recorded garden birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 136 within 5 km
- Observation records
- 5,115 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 35 m
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.5 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Downton
136 bird species have been recorded within 5 km of the centre of Downton (Wiltshire) since 2010, across 5,115 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Swift.
Downton is a garden-bird place: 69% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and garden trees. Woodpigeon, Wren, Blackbird and Robin make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
14 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Common Buzzard, Red Kite and Common Kestrel.
Records peak in May and are lowest in October — about 9.5 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.
Alderbury, 6 km to the north, has fewer species on record (129 against 136). Birds logged far more often around Downton than there include Nuthatch, Common Reed Bunting, Tawny Owl and Sedge Warbler.
Daylight runs from 16 h 33 min at midsummer to 7 h 55 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:14 in mid-April and 4:51 in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Downton
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus | 317 |
| 2 | WoodpigeonColumba palumbus | 154 |
| 3 | SwiftApus apus | 154 |
| 4 | WrenTroglodytes troglodytes | 147 |
| 5 | BlackbirdTurdus merula | 146 |
| 6 | RobinErithacus rubecula | 141 |
| 7 | ChaffinchFringilla coelebs | 138 |
| 8 | Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus | 119 |
| 9 | ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita | 117 |
| 10 | GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis | 116 |
| 11 | Common BuzzardButeo buteo | 96 |
| 12 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 96 |
| 13 | Great TitParus major | 89 |
| 14 | Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major | 86 |
| 15 | Carrion CrowCorvus corone | 83 |
| 16 | GreenfinchChloris chloris | 82 |
| 17 | Red KiteMilvus milvus | 77 |
| 18 | RookCorvus frugilegus | 76 |
| 19 | BlackcapSylvia atricapilla | 76 |
| 20 | Song ThrushTurdus philomelos | 70 |
Records by month
What to put out in Downton
Foods for the most recorded garden birds here, from our species notes.
Seasonal bird notes for Wiltshire
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 Downton?
The most recorded garden birds within 5 km of Downton are Woodpigeon, Wren, Blackbird, Robin and Chaffinch, based on 5,115 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Downton?
136 species have at least one record within 5 km of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Downton?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in October. Sunrise in late June is around 4:51.
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.