Discover Garden Birds in the UK: A Fun Guide [2024]
For parents of home educated kids, engaging with garden birds can be both fun and educational
It’s a great way to get your children interested in nature and the environment. Turning your garden into a lively classroom and letting the birdwatching adventures begin can pass the time in any season.
Identifying Common Garden Birds
Most UK gardens are home to a variety of feathered friends, each with its own unique features and habits. This guide will help you and your children recognise some of the most common garden birds.
Robin
Robins are one of the UK’s favourite birds, often associated with Christmas. They have a bright red breast, making them easy to spot. These birds are quite friendly and might even follow you around the garden. Listen out for their sweet, melodious song early in the morning.
Blue Tit
Blue Tits are small, colourful birds with blue and yellow feathers. They are lively and can be seen hopping from branch to branch. Their acrobatic skills are impressive, making them a delight to watch as they search for food. Keep an eye out for their characteristic blue cap and black eye stripe.
House Sparrow
House Sparrows are social birds that you’ll often find in groups. They have brown and grey feathers and a distinctive black bib. These birds are very adaptable and can be found in both urban and rural gardens. Their chirping is a familiar and comforting sound.
Blackbird
Blackbirds are larger than many garden birds and are known for their all-black appearance, although females are brown. They have a striking yellow beak and eye-ring. Blackbirds enjoy foraging on the ground for worms, making them pretty easy to observe. Their song is rich and flute-like.
Chaffinch
Chaffinches are robust birds with a bright splash of colour. Males have a blue-grey cap and rosy underparts, while females are more subdued in colour. They are often seen in pairs or small groups. Chaffinches have a distinctive call, which sounds like a fast descending note.
Goldfinch
Goldfinches are striking with their red faces and black and gold wings. They are often seen at bird feeders, eating seeds. Their song is a pleasant twitter and they often travel in small flocks.
Wren
Wrens are small, brown birds with a short, upright tail. They are often heard before they are seen, thanks to their loud and intricate song. Though tiny, they are quite bold and often hop around the garden shrubs with quick, jerky movements.
Great Tit
The Great Tit is one of the most easily recognisable garden birds. It has a black head and neck, white cheeks, and a yellow belly with a distinctive black stripe down its centre. This bird loves to snack on insects, seeds, and nuts. You might spot it flitting among trees and bushes in your garden, or even at your bird feeder. The Great Tit prefers habitats with plenty of trees, such as woodlands, gardens, and parks.
Goldcrest
The Goldcrest holds the title of the smallest bird in the UK. Despite its tiny size, it is an energetic and active bird. It has a distinctive yellow-orange crest on its head, from which it gets its name. The Goldcrest feeds mainly on tiny insects and spiders, often hovering under leaves to catch its prey. This bird is most commonly found in coniferous woodlands, but you might also spot it in gardens with plenty of shrubs and trees.
Bullfinch
The Bullfinch is a striking bird with vivid colours that make it easy to spot. Males have bright pink-red chests, while females and juveniles have a more subdued grey-brown colour. Bullfinches primarily feed on seeds and buds, making them frequent visitors to gardens with fruit trees. They are also known for their quiet and shy nature. When it comes to nesting, they prefer dense shrubbery where they can stay out of sight.
Green Finch
The Green Finch is another vibrant bird that can bring a splash of colour to your garden. Its green and yellow plumage is striking, and its song is a cheerful, twittering sound that can be heard throughout the year. Green Finches are social birds, often seen in groups, especially around feeders. They eat seeds and insects and are highly adaptable, thriving in both urban and rural environments.
Magpie
The Magpie is known for its intelligence and resourcefulness. With its striking black and white plumage and long tail, it is hard to miss. Magpies are omnivores, eating anything from insects and small animals to seeds and fruit. They are highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of environments, from urban areas to the countryside.
The birds you have just identified are featured in our Bird Bingo, while the ones below are a frequent visitor to UK gardens.
More Common UK Birds
Starling
Starlings might look black at first glance, but in good light, their feathers show an iridescent mix of purples and greens. They are noisy, mimicking the sounds around them, and are often seen in large, bustling groups. Watch their energetic foraging on lawns and gardens.
Woodpigeon
Woodpigeons are large, plump birds with a distinctive white neck patch and a grey body. They are common visitors in gardens and are often seen strutting around looking for seeds. Their cooing sound is low and soothing.
Collared Dove
With their elegant, slim bodies and soft grey plumage, Collared Doves are a delight. They have a distinctive black ‘collar’ on the back of their neck. These birds are often seen in pairs and their gentle cooing is a calming presence in any garden.
You may see some product links through this blog post, just to let you know, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Creating a Bird-Friendly Garden
A bird-friendly garden can create a small haven for birds, allowing them to thrive and bring joy to your space. To transform your garden into a paradise for feathered friends, you need to focus on essential plants and effective feeding tactics.
Essential Plants for Birds
Birds rely on plants for both food and shelter. Planting the right species can turn your garden into a bustling hub of activity and an inviting sanctuary for various birds.
Here are some key plants to consider:
- Holly: The bright red berries of holly trees are a favourite food for many birds, especially in winter.
- Sunflowers: These produce seeds that birds love, and their tall stalks can provide shelter. They are often a good source of fun when growing your own from seed.
- Cotoneaster: Another berry-producing plant that can attract birds like blackbirds and thrushes.
- Hawthorn: Offers both food and a safe place to nest.
- Lavender: While primarily known for its beautiful scent, it attracts insects, providing a food source for insectivorous birds.
- Ivy: Provides excellent cover and nesting opportunities, along with berries in late winter.
Selecting these plants can remarkably enhance the biodiversity of your garden, ensuring you see a variety of birds throughout the year.
Feeding Birds Effectively
Feeding birds extends beyond scattering some seeds. Different species have varied dietary needs, and understanding these can help you attract an array of birds to your garden.
Here are some tips for feeding birds effectively:
- Seed Mixes: Use a high-quality seed mix to attract a range of birds. Black sunflower seeds are particularly nutritious.
- Fat Balls: These are great for winter, providing the fat and energy birds need during cold months. Ensure they’re made with natural ingredients.
- Mealworms: Attract insect-loving birds like robins and blue tits. You can use dried mealworms for convenience. (NB: Hedgehogs also love these).
- Fruits: Birds like blackbirds and thrushes enjoy fruit slices. Apples, pears, and berries are all good choices.
- Peanuts: Rich in protein and fat, peanuts are a favourite, especially for woodpeckers and tits. Make sure the peanuts are unsalted and not too dry.
Maintaining feeders is equally important. Clean them regularly to prevent mould and disease.
Place feeders in sheltered spots to keep the food dry and make it harder for predators and squirrels to reach.
By putting thought into the plants you grow and the feeders you install, your garden can become a lively home for a myriad of bird species. This will not only benefit the birds but also provide a wonderful learning environment for your kids, combining nature study with fun activities.
Now that you know how to create a bird-friendly garden, and the birds should start flocking why not take it a step further and engage your kids with a really fun bird bingo game?
Bird Bingo: A Fun Learning Activity
So, how does Bird Bingo work?
Bird Bingo helps children learn to identify various bird species while keeping them entertained.
Two Ways to Play!
- Spot the Birds: Head outside to your garden, a park, or a nature reserve. Equip your child with binoculars and a notepad. Whenever they spot a bird from their bingo card, they mark it off.
- Calling Cards: On a day when you are staying at home, pull the printed calling cards out of a pile or a hat and read them to your child.
Bird Bingo can be a fantastic way to engage your child’s curiosity and improve their observation skills. Here are some additional tips to make the activity more enjoyable:
- Research Fun Facts: Researching fun facts about the birds on the bingo card helps your child learn something new each time they spot a bird.
- Take Photos: Encourage your child to take photos of the birds they see. Later, you can create a photo album or a scrapbook together, making it a creative project. You can even use the Adventure Loop Planner.
Conservation and Protection of Garden Birds
Birds face many threats and need our help. By understanding these challenges and getting involved, we can make a big difference.
Understanding Threats to Garden Birds
One of the biggest threats is habitat loss. As we build more houses and roads, birds lose the places they need to live and find food. Providing places for them to live and nest is one step.
Climate change is another significant problem. Changes in weather patterns can affect the availability of food and nesting sites. For instance, warmer winters may lead to fewer insects, which many birds rely on for food.
Pollution also poses a serious risk. Pesticides and chemicals used in gardens can poison birds. Plastic waste, if ingested, can be fatal. Air pollution can also harm their health and ability to find food.
How to Get Involved in Bird Conservation
You and your family can play a vital role in bird conservation. Here are some simple steps to start:
- Create Bird-Friendly Spaces:
- Plant native trees and bushes.
- Set up bird feeders and provide clean water.
- Avoid using chemicals and pesticides.
- Participate in Citizen Science Projects:
- Join bird surveys and counts. Organisations like the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) often have events where you can report the birds you see in your garden.
- Support Bird Conservation Groups:
- Donate to organisations that focus on protecting birds.
- Volunteer your time for local conservation projects.
- Educate and Raise Awareness:
- Teach your children about the importance of birds.
- Share information with friends and family.
By taking these steps, you can help ensure that garden birds continue to thrive and bring joy to our lives and children can be educated about their importance in our ecosystem.
