Our Guide To The Top 10 British Garden Birds

1. Blackbird

If you see a male blackbird then you’ll get what the name suggests; a beautiful glossy black bird with a bright yellowish-orange beak. However, if a female blackbird visits your garden, you might not recognise her so easily. This is because the females have different colourings and are usually brown with spotted markings on the breast. 

According to the RSPB, there are currently more than five million breeding pairs of blackbirds in the UK, so you’re likely to see them every day. These birds can be spotted at any time of the year and are found across the country. The only place they tend to avoid is high up in the mountains. 

2. House Sparrow

The house sparrow is another bird that you’ll likely see on a daily basis in your garden. They’re smaller than the blackbird at just 14cm-15cm and are feisty little birds with a huge amount of character. 

These feathered friends are widespread across the entire world and in the UK alone, there are currently around 5.3 million pairs. That said, this is nowhere near as many as there used to be and it’s thought that since 1971, the species has declined by as much as 71%!

The house sparrow is a noisy little bird that will fill your garden with its chirpy song. Both males and females have similar colouring with the male being slightly bolder and more striking. 

HANDY LITTLE BOOK

RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds

If your looking to identify the birds as you see them this handy little book is great and fits into your pocket, giving you some good detail and great pictures you should be able to easily check what bird you just saw and with a handy map also of the uk stating where abouts these birds are usually spotted, here are a few photos from our copy.

3. Wood Pigeon

Many people sadly see the wood pigeon as a pest as they’ll feed on crops and can be pretty wild in large groups. If you see them in towns and cities, you’ll notice how tame and friendly they are, wanting to get in on the action. 

You can attract wood pigeons to your garden by planting things like peas and cabbages. They’re also partial to nuts and grains. Sunflowers are a huge draw for these birds and will brighten up your garden.

The wood pigeon can be distinguished by its grey feathers and a white patch around the neck. Some adults also have pinkish, greenish or blue markings particularly around the back of the neck and around the wings. Much like many of the other most common UK garden birds, the wood pigeon can be spotted at any time of the year.

4. Great Tit

There are several species of tit in the UK and the great tit is the largest of them all, as its name may suggest. These brightly coloured birds are truly one of the most striking visitors to your garden and will visit throughout the year. They’re found all over the country apart from the most northerly isles in Scotland.

The great tit has a deep black and bright white head with blue and yellow feathers across the body. They’re very easy to tell apart from other birds and are sprightly animals often known for their aggression towards other birds. 

5. Blue Tit

Another of the most common species of tit in the UK is the blue tit with more than 3.6 million breeding pairs currently believed to live here. They have a somewhat similar appearance to their cousins, the great tit but have more white colouring on the face with blue, green and yellow feathers covering the body. 

While you can spot a blue tit at any time of the year and in all areas of the UK, you’re more likely to see them in woodland areas and gardens. During winter, you may see flocks of the stunning little birds as they work together to gather food as the cold sets in. 

High Definition Binoculars

6. Starling

If looking at a starling from afar, you might mistakenly think you’re seeing a blackbird. That’s because, at a distance, these birds appear to be black. However, they’re not and instead have a speckled appearance featuring browns, purples and green hues. 

This is one of the top ten birds you’ll see in a UK garden but it’s far less in number than some other species with just 1.8 million remaining in the country. For this reason, it’s considered a red list bird. You’ll see them more commonly in winter when they gather together but they can be spotted all year round. More starlings live in southern parts of the UK than up north and they’re pretty much non-existent in the Highlands. 

7. Robin

One of the most easily recognisable birds in the country, if not worldwide is the robin. Not only is this a common garden bird but it’s also seen as a symbol to many people with a whole host of different meanings depending on where you come from. But for many, a robin is a sign that a loved one that has passed is trying to contact you or is a symbol of good luck and fortune. 

With brown feathers and a striking red patch on the breast, you’ll probably think of Christmas when you see this bird. That said, robins don’t only appear in winter, you can see these birds throughout the entire year. 

One thing that makes the robin so popular is that as far as wild birds go, they’re pretty friendly. Robins have been known to approach humans and show little fear around them. Why not try befriending a local robin; it would be a truly rewarding experience. 

8. Goldfinch

If you want to spot a colourful bird in your garden then you might want to keep an eye out for the goldfinch. These birds have yellow patches on the wings and a bright red face; you certainly won’t miss them when they come to visit. 

But one of the things that makes the goldfinch so well loved by wildlife lovers is its beautiful song. These birds twitter and sing so ornately and are well worth listening out for. 

You’ll likely be able to see goldfinches all year round but in the winter, there may be less. Many of these birds will migrate to the continent for winter and head to places like Spain and Belgium. 

9. Chaffinch

It is thought that there are more than 6 million chaffinches in the UK making them one of the most common. You can tell them apart from other birds by their unique colours. These birds have white patches under the wings and a pinkish/reddish colour to the breast as well as black and brown areas on the body and wing. 

The chaffinch likes to feed in privacy and safety so you’ll probably not see them on a feeder table. Instead, these birds can be found under hedges or even under the bird table so if you want to attract them to your garden, make sure that you have lots of safe spaces for them.

Look for the chaffinch at any time of the year and since there are so many of them, you won’t have trouble spotting one. 

10. Magpie

One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl and four for a boy. Five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told. If I said this rhyme to you, you’d automatically know which bird I was referring to and that’s likely because the magpie is so abundant in the UK. While there are less than other species, with an estimated 600,000 currently living here, you’ll still see them far and wide. 

These are large birds that can grow up to 46cm with a wingspan up to 60cm. What’s fascinating is that these birds can live as long as 30 years and while they have something of a reputation, they’re actually very friendly and have been known to bond with humans.

If you’re looking for a magpie in your garden then you’re in luck as they’re hanging around at all times of the year. They’re found across the UK with the exception of the Scottish Highlands.