Who can resist the charm and cheer of our British garden birds? For those just starting to appreciate the pleasure of watching these daily visitors to your garden, this page features the five most common species and how to spot them with facts on diet and behaviour. Hopefully you will have seen most of these already. If you wish to know more, click on the RSPB links below each image to get more information from the RSPB website and listen to each of the birds' songs.
My favourite! The Robin is a small insectivorous passerine bird, known for its distinctive red breast. Males and females look identical. Often found in gardens across the UK, the Robin is a common sight year-round though despite its cute appearance, it is aggressively territorial. It is known for its friendly demeanor and melodious song.
The Blue Tit is a small, vibrant bird with a striking appearance. Its plumage features a brilliant blue crown, wings, and tail, complemented by a yellow belly and a distinctive black line running through its eye. Found throughout Europe, this agile and curious bird frequents gardens, woodlands, and parklands, known for its acrobatic feeding habits and cheerful chirps. Its adaptability and charming behavior make it a favourite among bird watchers. In winter, family flocks join up with other tits as they search for food and bird feeding tables will be noticeably more popular!
Male Blackbirds are black with a bright orange-yellow beak and yellow eye-ring. Females are brown often with spots and streaks on their breasts and brown beak. Known for its melodious and rich song, the Blackbird often sings from rooftops or treetops, particularly at dawn and dusk. This adaptable bird is a frequent visitor to gardens, feeding on a variety of insects, berries, and fruits. Its cheerful presence and distinctive song make it a favorite among bird enthusiasts.
The House Sparrow is a small, sturdy bird with a short, stout beak and a distinctive blend of brown, black, and grey plumage. Males typically have a grey crown, black bib, and chestnut-brown upperparts, while females and juveniles are more uniformly brown and streaked. Commonly found in urban and suburban areas, the House Sparrow is highly social and often seen in flocks. It feeds on seeds, grains, and insects, often foraging on the ground or around human habitation. Despite its small size, the House Sparrow is known for its bold and adaptable nature. Sadly, monitoring suggests a severe decline in the UK House Sparrow population, recently estimated as dropping by 71% between 1977 and 2008 with large falls in both rural and urban populations. Their numbers are still dropping in England but Breeding Bird Survey data indicates recent population increases in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It is a very sociable bird, often breeding in loose groups. It has a delightful twittering song and call. Their fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly, they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter, many UK Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.