Britain's Top 10 most common garden birds
Thursday, 4th July 2019
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We were looking forward to seeing the survey results as the mild winter has presented new feeding opportunities to wild birds. The survey results come with a bit of a health warning however, as, at a glance, they disguise the true fluctuations in bird species populations.
For example, the third most common garden bird is our suet & mealworm loving friend the Starling. He may be common in gardens but he still features on the “red list” - because the population of Starlings has fallen by over 84% since 1979 (Source: RSPB).
Whilst Blue Tits, Goldfinches & Great Spotted Woodpeckers appear to be thriving in British gardens, the Robin continues its sad decline on the top 10 most common garden bird list, and is now in tenth position. The falling population of Robins is a subject that’s infrequently discussed - perhaps partly down to the fact that we focus on them being territorial and therefore only expect to see one or two (at best) in our gardens. The RSPB survey reminds us, though, that Robin populations have fallen by over 45% since 1979 (Source: RSPB).
The House Sparrow is now our most common garden bird; however, once again, its population has declined by over 62% since 1979. We therefore need to read the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch survey thinking about the bigger picture - which is that birds still need our help! However common they might (on the face of it) appear.
Our concern (as a bird-feeding community) is for all garden birds and the best way we (Haith’s) can support nature conservation is by providing the cleanest, safest high-quality bird food we can – direct from The Bird Food Centre in Lincolnshire.
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We’re pleased that there appears to have been a deluge of more “natural” food available for wild birds due to the mild winter weather and we hope that means more birds will make it through to the breeding season! Time will tell, though, as sudden frosts may still present a challenge to garden birds as the mild temperatures may have triggered off earlier than usual breeding behaviour. Whatever the weather we can make life easier by providing high-quality, clean and nutritious foods.
Here are the top ten common birds. We’ve added a small piece about each and you can read more and find out what they eat by clicking on the link.
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The Robin is a common favourite with most people and one of the easiest to recognise. It has a bright red breast, face, throat and cheeks edged with grey, has a white belly and brown upper parts. The juvenile Robin has speckled brown upper parts and has no red feathers. In the winter they are joined by immigrants from Scandinavia and Europe, which are slightly paler than our... [More]
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Easily identified by its fawn colouration with brown flight feathers, it has a narrow black collar around the nape but which is absent in juvenile birds. The Collared Dove has only been breeding in Britain since 1955 where it had spread its range from the Balkans. It can now be found throughout the country except in very hilly areas and is especially associated... [More]
8. Great Tit
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Written by Haith's
- Comments
" Comment" by Roy Evans
31 Jan 2021
Very Interesting
":)" by anonymous
23 Jun 2020
I really enjoyed seeing these, and would love to find out about the songbirds that are around us.