The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch

Images credit rspb-images.com

This January, let holidaycottages.co.uk and the RSPB help you find your happy place. The Big Garden Birdwatch survey takes place between 24–26 January 2025 and you can help by spending as little as an hour watching the little winged wonders that frequent your garden patch.

However, the aims of the campaign are of a more serious nature, with the survey helping the RSPB to build a picture of how our birds are faring. The importance of protecting our birds, some of which are in decline, has never been more important – now’s your chance to get involved in the world’s largest garden wildlife survey.

Many of these birds can be found in our gardens so you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your living room or conservatory. Click the button below to find out how you can take part.

The Big Garden Birdwatch

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Images credit rspb-images.com

How you can support birds in your garden throughout winter

The problems faced by birds in the UK are many and varied, which means we need to take action in all sorts of areas. From gardening for wildlife to the way we farm and manage our rivers, it all impacts nature.

House sparrows, starlings and skylarks are some of the worst-affected birds. But the overall picture for birds is just as concerning – since 1980, one out of every six birds has been lost!

But you can help British birds near you. Whatever your outdoor space, be it a balcony or courtyard, garden or window box, there are lots you can do to support birds and other wildlife in your local area.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

House sparrow

These noisy and sociable birds are found worldwide, thanks to their cheerful ability to make the most of humanity's rubbish. However monitoring suggests a severe decline in the UK house sparrow population, and it has recently been estimated that between 1977 and 2008, both rural and urban populations have dropped by 71%.

Their numbers are still dropping in England, but Breeding Bird Survey data by the British Trust for Ornithology indicates recent population increases in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Starling

Smaller than blackbirds, starlings have short tails, pointed heads and triangular wings. In their breeding plumage, they look black at a distance. When seen closer, they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens. Their feathers are also flecked with white, and this is especially noticeable in their winter plumage, which is browner with many bright white spots.

Starling flight is fast and direct, and they walk and run confidently on the ground. Noisy and social, starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks. They are fantastic mimics and can make a huge variety of tweets, cheeps, clicks and burrs. Still one of the most common garden birds, its decline elsewhere makes it an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List species.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Greenfinch

Its twittering, wheezing song and flash of yellow and green as it flies make this finch a truly colourful character. Nesting in a conifer, or feasting on black sunflower seeds, the greenfinch is a regular garden visitor, who is able to take advantage of food in rural and urban gardens. Although quite sociable, they may squabble among themselves or with other birds at the bird table.

Greenfinch populations declined during the late 1970s and early 1980s but increased dramatically during the 1990s. A recent decline in numbers has been linked to an outbreak of trichomonosis, a parasite-induced disease that prevents the birds from feeding properly. To help stop the spread, make sure you keep your bird feeders clean.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Tree sparrow

Tree sparrows are smaller than house sparrows, and are more active, often sticking their tails up. The tree sparrow has a chestnut brown head and back of the neck (rather than grey) and white cheeks and collar with a contrasting black cheek spot. They're shyer than house sparrows in the UK, and are rarely associated with people, although in continental Europe, they often nest in buildings just like house sparrows.

The UK tree sparrow population has suffered a severe decline, thought to have decreased by 93% between 1970 and 2008. However, recent Breeding Bird Survey data is encouraging, suggesting that numbers may have started to increase, although from a very low point.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Song thrush

A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers have declined significantly on farmland and in towns and cities. Although its numbers are far from the healthy highs of the past, there have been signs of slight recovery recently.

It's smaller and browner than a mistle thrush with smaller spotting. Its habit of repeating song phrases sets it apart from singing blackbirds, with each song made up of multiple parts that are repeated two to three times. It likes to eat snails, breaking into them by smashing their shells against a favourite stone with a flick of the head.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Woodpigeon

The UK's largest and most common pigeon, the woodpigeon is largely grey with a white neck patch and white wing patches, clearly visible in flight. Although shy in the countryside, it can be tame and approachable in towns and cities. Its cooing call is a familiar sound in woodland as is the loud clatter of its wings when it flies away.

Despite being the fourth most-spotted bird of 2024’s Big Garden Birdwatch, woodpigeon populations have declined since 2010 and, in 2022, moved to the amber list on the UK’s Bird of Conservation Concern, a review published by the British Trust for Ornithology.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Bullfinch

The male Bullfinch is unmistakable with his bright pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail, and bright white rump. The flash of the rump in flight and piping whistled ‘pew pew’ call are usually the first signs of bullfinches being present. Bullfinch numbers are around 40% lower than in the 1970s which may be attributed to the loss of orchard habitat.

They feed heavily on the buds of various trees in spring and were once considered a pest of fruit crops. Be aware, the bullfinch is a shy bird that is quick to flee when people are near so be sure to remain still if you see one. 

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Wren

The wren is a tiny brown bird, although it's heavier and not as slim as the goldcrest, which is known as the UK’s smallest bird. Wrens are almost round in shape with a fine bill, quite long legs and toes, very short round wings and a short, narrow tail, which is sometimes stuck up vertically.

For such a small bird, it has a remarkably loud voice. It's the most common UK breeding bird, and a common garden visitor, although its numbers suffer a decline during prolonged, severely cold winters, due to the temperature and also the lack of insect prey available.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Dunnock

The dunnock is a small brown and grey bird. Quiet and shy, it's often seen on its own, creeping along the edge of a flower bed or near a bush. It moves in a rather nervous, shuffling way, often flicking its wings as it goes. When two rival males come together, they become animated with lots of wing-flicking and loud calling.

There are approximately 2 million pairs of dunnocks in the UK, but numbers have fallen by an estimated 30% since the 1970s, due, in part, to loss of woodland. Since the 1990s, numbers have been steadily increasing but its conservation status remains a concern.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Robin

The UK's favourite bird. Thanks to its bright red breast, the iconic robin is familiar throughout the year, especially at Christmas. Males and females look identical, but young birds have no red breasts, which are instead spotted with golden brown. Robins sing nearly all year round and despite their cute appearance, they are aggressively territorial and are quick to drive away intruders. They will sing at night next to streetlights; it has been suggested that this is because, in urban areas, the lights convince the birds there is no end to the day

The conservation status of the robin is good, and their population levels are thought to be stable. However, they are at threat during severe winters, with some losing up to 10% of their body weight just staying warm in a single night.

Images credit Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) 

Goldfinch

The goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It's 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, but in the winter, many UK goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.

Populations of goldfinches are thriving and are thought to have doubled since the 1970s, with 1.2 million breeding pairs visiting the UK each year. However, they are not immune to threats, and the loss of habitat through woodland clearance presents many challenges.

Further bird-spotting opportunities

By now, we hope you’ve got your eagle eyes ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch 2025. While you’re waiting for birds to arrive on your patch, why not browse our ‘Near RSPB Reserves Showcase Collection’ to find a holiday cottage where you can continue birdwatching into 2025?

Also, keep your eyes peeled on our Instagram and Facebook pages for an exciting Big Garden Birdwatch competition coming soon.