If you want to really help your garden birds, it’s a good idea to know which ones already visit and think about those you’d like to attract. Different birds have very different needs in terms of food as well as nesting and roosting sites. Not all birds will visit your bird feeders, some prefer to forage in the leaves or scuffle in the undergrowth. Once you start to understand their different behaviour and feeding needs, your garden bird care becomes far more exciting. And the best way to get to know your garden birds and their unique behaviour is to really start to take notice. Keep your eyes peeled for some of these birds in your garden and get to know how they feed.
Bird Watching Tips
- You don’t need to be in the garden to watch your garden birds. Find somewhere indoors where you can see the bird feeders through the window or where you have a good view of some trees and shrubs.
- Buy or borrow some binoculars so that you can see your garden birds close-up.
- Find a good bird book or use a wild bird app or website, so that you can correctly identify your garden birds.
- Use a variety of different birdfeeders that present the food to the birds and cater for the different ways that your garden birds feed.
- Make sure there is always fresh water by using a birdbath, birds need fresh water to drink and bathe daily.
- When it comes to bird food, buy a quality product with less fillers that feeds the birds better and creates less mess. If you want a mix that attracts a much wider range of garden bird species you can’t go wrong with Richard’s Premium Bird Food.
Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
You can’t fail to love the comical bluetit. It’s one of the most delightful garden birds. If you put suet balls or peanuts out for the birds you are sure to attract these sassy and spectacular creatures. Blue tits have had some fantastic styling and wear their fabulous coats of yellow and blue with pride. In cold weather these little birds look out for high-energy food such as peanuts, suet and well-stocked feeders and will arrive in little flocks to feast in your garden. They have a mixed diet that includes seeds, insects and especially caterpillars which they feed to their chicks. Bluetits are great acrobats and are often seen clinging to hanging bird feeders. Richard’s High Energy Bird Food is packed full of energy rich seeds and mealworms to feed your garden blue tits.
House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
When I was growing up, we spent many hours a week watching the ‘spoggies’ squabble over food on the bird table. They were pretty common then, but recently their populations have been in sharp decline. Sparrows are pretty social and like to nest in aggregations, often in house eaves, ivy clad walls and old buildings. It seems our desire for modern buildings may have played a part in their decline.
Sparrows are a beautiful mix of beige brown and tan feathers and are quite chirpy and noisy little birds. The females are particularly beautiful and the males have a generous black bib on their chests. Sparrows are mostly seed-eaters and love sunflower seeds, millet and berries. Richard’s High Energy Bird Food is packed full of treats for your garden sparrows.
Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
The Greenfinch is a delightful visitor to many gardens, easily recognizable by its green and yellow plumage. These birds are larger than many other garden birds and have a distinctively chunky appearance. Greenfinches are often heard before they are seen, thanks to their loud and twittering song. They are primarily seed eaters and are particularly fond of sunflower seeds. In your garden, they might be seen on bird tables or feeders, especially where there’s a generous supply of seeds. They also enjoy eating some fruits and occasionally insects. In recent years, their numbers have declined due to disease, so providing a clean and well-stocked feeding station can help support their population.
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
The chaffinch is quite a common species that you should see in and around your garden. They are usually ground feeders so you will find them beneath the feeders, under the hedge edge and beneath trees where they will eat fallen seeds and insects. It’s a pretty little bird. The male is brightly coloured with dusky, rusty orange pink with brown feathers so it can be easily camouflaged. The females are similar with more subdued colours and markings.
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
You might not spot the garden wren in your garden at first, though you may have heard it. It’s a secretive little bird that hops around the garden, in a fast, erratic way throughout the undergrowth, I such a way that could make you think it’s a mouse. The wren is one of our most common garden birds. It’s small, brown and roundish, with a distinguishing sticky-up tail. The wren is a ground feeder; you won’t see it on hanging seed or nut feeders. Wrens mostly eats insects and berries but will also visit ground tables and suet feeders and absolutely love bird peanut butter that has been smeared on tree trunks. Richard’s High Energy Seed & Nut Suet Balls are perfect for your garden wrens.
Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
The Robin, with its iconic red breast, is a familiar and beloved sight in many gardens. These small, plump birds are incredibly territorial and are known for their bold behavior around humans, often coming close when gardening or sitting quietly in the garden. Robins have a beautiful, melodic song that is often heard year-round, more so during the early mornings and evenings. They are omnivores, feeding on a mix of insects, worms, seeds, and fruits. During the winter, when insects are scarce, they will visit bird tables and feeders more frequently. Robins are ground feeders, so they appreciate food scattered on the ground or on a low platform, including mealworms, suet, and finely chopped fruits. Richard’s High Energy Seed & Nut Suet Balls would be perfect.