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Whatever the size of your garden, the space offers the opportunity to attract and observe different species of wild bird. Whilst you’ll inevitably see more species of bird out in the countryside and especially in areas of woodland and wetland, the range of different species which will readily come into gardens – and even in urban areas – often surprises people.

Observing birds in your own garden is also a great way to get into birdwatching more generally – or ‘birding’ as it’s also often referred to. And for some people who may have a disability, are elderly or just can’t easily travel to somewhere like a nature reserve, watching birds from the comfort of their home can hugely add to the quality of life.

Where do you start in bringing birds to your garden?

The majority of bird species which come into gardens are songbirds – meaning birds which perch and, obviously, have some sort of song (some more musical than others). Songbirds represent a very diverse range of families, with common ones in gardens being finches, thrushes (and note that Blackbirds are a species of thrush) and tits. There are also some common species of garden birds which don’t belong in those three family groups, with examples being Robins, Dunnocks and Starlings.

What all these bird families and individual species of bird have in common, is that they’d typically be in woodland or woodland edges in the absence of human habitation, with this meaning that gardens which have trees, bushes and hedges will always be more attractive to them. If you have a large garden then the possibilities for creating suitable habitat are almost endless, but even in a tiny garden a single evergreen shrub will help attract birds. Have a look here for more details on what to plant. 

How do I identify different garden birds? 

With about 30 species of bird being regular visitors to gardens in the UK but many more being a possibility, identifying what they all are can be a little bewildering if you’re new to birdwatching. Our bird library will help you with the identification, plus also give you details about each species and including what types of food will attract them. 

Another really useful way to identify which species of bird you’re looking at, is to use a process of elimination to determine the family. So something basic like this:

Bill shape 

  • If the bill is a triangle shape then it’s likely to be a finch, bunting or sparrow, as all these bird families need a more chunky bill for cracking open seeds. 
  • If the bill is more thin and pointed, then the bird is likely to be a thrush or a tit, or a specific species like Robin or Dunnock – the shape of the bill meaning that these birds will naturally also eat insects, worms and other invertebrates 

Size of the bird  

  • All species of thrush that come to gardens, and notably Blackbirds and Song thrushes, are relatively large – so about twice the size of a Robin. 
  • All species of tit are much smaller than thrushes and nearer to the size of a Robin, so if the bill shape is pointed and the bird is quite small, then you can immediately eliminate it being a species of thrush.

Colour can also be a good guide, though generally more to help identify a species once you’ve got a good idea on the family. For example, if the bird is relatively small, has a fairly triangle shaped bill and is green overall, then it could only be a Greenfinch or Siskin – both being species of finch. 

Use different foods to attract different species of bird to your garden 

Using a range of different foods and in different types of feeder, is a sure way to attract more birds to your outdoor space. Different food types include straight seeds like sunflower hearts, seed mixes like our Robin & Friends MIx, peanuts, suet products and live mealworms. 

A range of different types of feeder will ensure that each family of bird and individual species are able to easily feed in a way that suits their natural behaviour. For example, finches will typically prefer hanging tube feeders, whereas ground feeding species like Robin, Dunnock and Blackbird will use ground trays and bird tables. 

Overall, there is a lot to this subject if you’re to get the combination of different foods paired with the right type of feeders, so to help you further have a watch of the video on this page. 

Always provide clean water for garden birds 

Especially in the summer months, birds can really struggle to find a supply of clean water for bathing and drinking – with both those requirements being vital to a bird’s health and survival. Therefore, by providing clean water in a bird bath or just a simple shallow dish placed on a patio, you’ll not only attract more birds but also help increase survival rates. For more information on the importance of providing clean water and details on best practice, have a read here. 

Final thoughts on garden birdwatching 

There are other steps you can take to attract different species of birds to your garden, and one way to keep some of them there for further interest and enjoyment is by installing suitable nest boxes. Nest boxes are a big subject on their own, so have a read and watch the two videos on our guide to nest boxes page

Another really important factor to take into account when you’ve attracted more birds to your garden in order to watch them, is doing your part to keep them healthy. It is therefore vital to keep feeders and feeding areas clean, so hygiene is another area to be very aware of. 

We have a dedicated page with all you need to know about feeder hygiene, and there’s a really good short video on there as well. 

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