Registration has opened for the RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch. Discover why the survey is so important, the winner and losers in the garden bird world from previous years, how to take part, and the top five birds spotted across the UK last year.
Photo above: Person filling out their Big Garden Birdwatch form from their balcony, looking out over a carpark, by Sam Turley (rspb-images.com)
December marks the start of the RSPB's biggest calendar moment - today registration has opened for our annual Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, which takes place on the 24, 25, and 26 January, 2025. Sign up now, here.
Now in its 46th year, the Big Garden Birdwatch is the largest garden wildlife survey in the world. In 2024 over 600,000 people took part across the UK, counting more than 9.7 million birds and we hope we can all come together to beat those figures next month.
Thanks to residents across the UK, the RSPB can use the data you gather across the Big Garden Birdwatch weekend, to create a vital snapshot of our garden birds throughout the country. Our science experts can then highlight the winners and the losers in the garden bird world. The Blue Tit and Great Tit, much-loved garden species, have seen their average numbers rise by 24% and 61% respectively since the survey began. But sadly, while species like the Starling is currently at number two in the Big Garden Birdwatch charts, its numbers have dropped by more than 80% since 1979.
Photo above: Great Tit perched in a tree by Sam Turley (rspb-images.com)
By registering now to take part in January’s Big Garden Birdwatch you can help us better target our conservation efforts and advice to the public, towards those species which are really in need of our support.
Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive, said: “At its heart, Big Garden Birdwatch is an opportunity for people to spend an hour watching, enjoying, and connecting with the wildlife on their doorstep. From chirpy House Sparrows to acrobatic Blue Tits, the entertaining antics of our garden birds can brighten even the dullest day and bring a welcome dose of nature into our everyday lives. By taking part in the Birdwatch, you and hundreds of thousands of other nature lovers across the UK, play an important role in helping us understand how garden birds are doing. With the nature and climate emergency threatening even our most familiar birds, every count matters. It’s good for wildlife and evidence shows it’s good for our own wellbeing.”
Top five birds spotted UK wide in the 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch:
Lookout for these popular visitors...
1. House Sparrow - these noisy, energetic birds have celebrated 21 years at number one on the Big Garden Birdwatch. Despite their top position, they’ve sadly suffered severe declines, with numbers in gardens dropping by nearly 60% since 1979. They’re sociable and live/nest communally in crevices in buildings, or Sparrow nestboxes. Males have a grey head and black bib with chestnut sides and white cheeks. The bigger the bib, the more dominant the male will be within its flock. Females have pale brown feathers all over, with a pale stripe behind the eye. House Sparrows may be small, but they’re sturdy little birds with a stout beak designed for eating seeds. Fun Fact: Have lived next to humans since the stone age.
Photo above: Male House Sparrow perched on a roof by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
2. Starling - Noisy, sociable, and wonderful mimics, when seen close-up Starlings boast an incredible sheen of metallic purple and green plumage. Their feathers are also flecked with white, which is especially noticeable in their winter plumage. Starlings spend a lot of the year in flocks. In the winter our resident birds are joined by those migrating from mainland Europe. You may be lucky enough to witness their mesmeric murmuration displays, as they undulate and dance across the twilight before settling into their chosen roosting spot for the night. The males’ beak will start to turn yellow from November, caused by pigments from their diets, readying them for breeding turf wars next spring. Fun Fact: They are fantastic mimics and can copy other bird calls and even mechanical noises.
Photo above: Starling perched on cafe chair by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
3. Blue Tit - Once nicknamed ‘Tom Tit’ and ‘Titmouse’, their colourful mix of blue, yellow, white, and green makes the Blue Tit one of our most attractive and recognisable garden visitors. In winter, family flocks join up with other Tits as they search for food. Research by the British Trust for Ornithology has found that during the colder months, Blue Tits need to consume the daily calorific equivalent of 300 insects – just to produce enough energy to survive the cold! Did you know, they were infamous for following milkmen to take sneaky sips from milk bottles by pecking through the foil tops? This phenomenon has practically died out now with the introduction of semi-skimmed and skimmed milk and the decrease of doorstop deliveries. Fun Fact: Weighs only 11g, half the size of a Robin
Photo above: Blue Tit perched on branch by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
4. Woodpigeon - The UK's largest and commonest pigeon, Woodpigeons are 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. Large numbers of Woodpigeons migrate to the UK in the winter from the continent. You may see more of them in your gardens during the winter as they move from the countryside in search of food, and they’ll eat almost anything vegetarian. Unlike other garden birds, who scoop up water and throw their heads back to allow the water to drop down their throats, Woodpigeons suck up the water using their beak as a straw. Fun Fact: Their crops can stash A LOT of food - 150 acorns, 1,000 grains of wheat or 200 beans.
Photo above: Wood Pigeon perched on bush eating rose hips, by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
5. Blackbird - one of the most common and most striking UK birds with the males’ bright orange-yellow beak and yellow eye-ring, its jet plumage lives up to its name. Confusingly, females are brown, often with spots and streaks on their breasts. Their melodic song brings a sense of calm and conjures memories of summer afternoons. They can sometimes be heard singing in December and January. Resident Blackbirds stay here year-round but can be partially migratory within the UK during the winter. By now, our Blackbirds are joined by cousins from Scandinavia and the Baltics, preferring our milder climate. Fun Fact: Blackbirds typically like to sing after rain and the oldest ringed Blackbird recorded was 20 years old.
Photo above: Blackbird perched on garden bench by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
How to take part in three easy steps
1. Register today here or text BIRD to 82727, you'll receive your FREE Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your Birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden.
2. Pick an hour on either 24, 25, or 26 January and spend it watching the birds on your balcony, in your garden or in your local green space. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell us the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.
3. Submit your results to the RSPB
It's really that simple, but helps us and our feathered garden friends so much.
Beccy added: “Whether you live in a city or the countryside, anyone, anywhere can take part in Big Garden Birdwatch – even if you don’t have a garden! All you need is an hour to spend watching the birds in your local green space. When we come together for nature, we can do great things. Join us for Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 and together let’s take action to help birds and other wildlife thrive for generations to come.”
Photo above: Mother and daughter taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch at their allotment by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
The parallel event RSPB Big Schools’ Birdwatch takes place during the first half of spring term, 7 January – 14 February 2025. For more than 20 years, the Birdwatch has helped to connect children and their teachers with nature in their school grounds. Registration for Big Schools’ Birdwatch will go live mid-September. Further information can be found here.
Follow us on @RSPBEngland Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more top tips on how to make your #BigGardenBirdwatch a huge success!
Photo above: Children from Wigmore Primary School taking part in the RSPB's annual Big School's Birdwatch, by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)