The Birds You’re Likely to See for the Big Garden Birdwatch 2026

Big Garden Birdwatch is the largest garden wildlife survey in the world. Every last weekend of January, hundreds of thousands of gardeners and nature enthusiasts participate in the event. They contribute their sightings to help build a picture of how garden birds are doing.

How to Participate

It’s easy to take part. All you need to do is:

1. Pick an hour between 23 and 25 January.

2. Sit outside in your garden and count the birds.

3. Tally the birds that land in your patch, noting the highest number of each bird species you see at a time.

For example, if five house sparrows enter and leave, and then seven house sparrows arrive, you would mark down seven house sparrows. It is also important to submit a count even if you didn’t see any birds — this too is valuable information for those crunching the numbers.

Visit Big Garden Birdwatch for more information and tips on when and where to see birds.

Common Birds You Might See

Here is a list of birds you are likely to see:

• House Sparrow:

A social garden bird that nests in holes in buildings or groups of nest boxes. Males are easy to identify with their brown streaked backs and black bib. They feed on seeds and grains but require invertebrates to feed their young.

• Blue Tit:

This attractive bird has a blue cap and wings. At feeders, blue tits eat peanuts and sunflower hearts. In spring, they pick caterpillars and insects for their brood.

• Starling:

Handsome birds with black feathers that have iridescent highlights. They gather in large numbers to feed and roost. In winter, they go to garden feeders, but in summer, they eat invertebrates.

• Woodpigeon:

This beautiful bird has pale pink breasts and a grey-blue head. It is the biggest pigeon in Britain. Woodpigeons eat insects and a variety of plants.

• Blackbird:

The male blackbird has a classic tuxedo look. Blackbirds mostly feed on invertebrates and fruit, nesting in forks of trees and shrubs.

• Robin:

Robins are fiercely territorial and sing year-round. They feed on the ground and prefer seed mixes and sunflower hearts over peanuts.

• Blackcap:

This bird seldom ventures into gardens. Males have a black cap, while females have a chestnut brown one. Blackcaps eat berries and can be aggressive at feeders.

• Redwing:

Britain’s smallest true thrush, it has a creamy bar above the eye and orange-red spots under the wings. They are rarely seen in gardens but will feed on berries during hard weather.

• Fieldfare:

Bigger than the redwing, fieldfares have a grey head and chestnut body. You can see them in flocks eating berries and windfall apples.

• Long-tailed Tit:

This bird has a long tail that stands out against its blush-pink and white body. They forage for insects and worms in woodlands but visit gardens in summer for peanuts.

• Waxwing:

These winter visitors have reddish-brown plumage and a distinctive orange crest. They eat berries and come to gardens in times of food shortage.

• Greenfinch:

Similar in size to a house sparrow, the greenfinch is common in gardens, feeding on sunflower seeds. However, disease has caused a reduction in their numbers.

Enjoy your birdwatching!