Spring days: April Garden Birds
- hiddeninnaturedesi
- May 6, 2025
- 5 min read
This is the second of three blog posts themed around the flora and fauna of spring. In March, I focused on common wildflowers of springtime and how you can identify them. In this post, I wanted to feature the beautiful garden birds we have. Since April began, it feels like I have all the birds in Britain crowding out my feeders, chattering in the holly bush, and darting across the garden. Of course, it’s mostly the sparrow mob that lives in the rhododendron, but it’s wonderful to hear the dawn chorus so loud and full of life again.
The Big Garden Birdwatch
In January, I took part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, a citizen science project that encourages people to count and record the birds they see in their gardens over a single hour during one weekend in January. This project has been running in some form since 1976. This year, the RSPB reported that 9.1 million birds were counted during the garden birdwatch.
I observed a modest number of birds in my garden: half a dozen tree sparrows, several jackdaws, a couple of blackbirds, two or three blue tits, one dunnock, and a wood pigeon. These are the regular residents of my somewhat wild garden in the Scottish Borders, and I love them. The tree sparrows are a particular favorite of mine, as they constantly chatter to each other in the bushes and often squabble over the feeders.
House Sparrows featured highly in the nationwide birdwatch, maintaining their position at the top of the big garden bird count for the 22nd year in a row. They were followed by blue tits, wood pigeons, starlings, and blackbirds. Although this may suggest that House Sparrows are thriving, the RSPB has reported a dramatic decline in their numbers over the past 50 years. As a result, they are now included on the UK Red List of birds that are of high conservation concern.
Birdwatching can be a lot of fun, even though it's sometimes considered a bit uncool. There is nothing more exciting than spotting a rare bird at your feeder; I once had two siskins visiting. However, watching the regular birds can be just as enjoyable.
In this post, I will highlight four birds that I frequently see in my garden throughout April.
Tree Sparrows
Tree sparrows are country birds, often spotted in woodlands, farmland, and hedgerows. These birds tend to be shy and are rarely seen in urban environments. Their diet mainly consists of seeds, cereals, weeds, and occasionally insects. One of the potential reasons for the decline of tree sparrow populations is modern farming practices, which have led to a decrease in food sources available on agricultural land.
It's hard to tell the difference between a Tree Sparrow and a House Sparrow, they look very similar. However, you can identify the Tree Sparrow by the brown cap on its head and the black spot on its cheek. In contrast, House Sparrows have grey caps and no black spot. Additionally, male and female Tree Sparrows look alike, while female House Sparrows are buff-colored, which makes them different from the brown and black male.
I am lucky to have a lively crowd of Tree Sparrows living in my garden, usually over the winter months. They are very social birds, living and nesting in groups. Whenever I put out a fresh feeder, they are the first to arrive and spend all day jostling for position on the perches with the House Sparrows.
Dunnocks
Dunnocks are also known as Hedge Sparrows, this is an old English name and comes from their preference to dwell in hedges, they are not actually part of the Sparrow family. Dunnocks are commonly found in both rural and urban gardens. Typically seen alone or in pairs, they forage among bushes and scurry along the ground in search of food. Their primary diet consists of insects and worms, but during the winter months, they will also eat seeds.
Dunnocks have a similar colouring to Sparrows, with flecked grey and brown wings, while their chest and head are grey. Both male and female look the same. The female Dunnock is unusual in her mating, where they may mate with multiple males, resulting in a brood of chicks that can have different fathers.
I've spotted a pair of Dunnocks in my garden, and though they are typically shy birds, my two are quite bold at times. They hop about the foot of the bird feeder when I am out gardening and are happy to come within a few feet of me as they search for food.
Blue tits
Blue Tits are a vibrant splash of yellow and blue in the garden during spring. Weighing only 11 grams, they are highly acrobatic both in the air and while perching, often hanging upside down from feeders to reach seed. Their diet primarily consists of caterpillars, but they also enjoy bird seed, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.
Blue Tits nest in small cavities and holes, often found in rotten trees or cracks in walls. They are also quick to take over nest boxes, preferring small, narrow entrances to protect their eggs from predators. The male and female are identical in appearance, but it's easier to tell them apart during the nesting season. The female is the primary builder of the nest and can be seen carrying moss in her beak.
A few years ago, I placed a nest box on the side of my shed, and I believe that this spring it has finally been occupied by a family of Blue Tits. I've seen one of the birds flying in and out several times over the past few weeks. If I keep an eye out, I might be fortunate enough to witness the chicks taking their first flight.
Blackbirds
The Blackbird is one of the most commonly seen garden birds in Britain, easily recognized by its distinctive song. There is nothing more lovely than hearing a blackbird sing first thing in the morning or last thing at night. Blackbirds can be spotted throughout the year across most of Britain, except in the higher peaks of Scotland.
The Blackbird is easy to recognise. Males have glossy black feathers and bright yellow beaks, in full breeding plumage they also have a yellow ring around their eye. The female blackbird is brown in colour, with a yellow beak. Blackbirds have a varied diet that includes berries, worms, insects, and fruit.
I have many blackbirds in my garden. During the day, I often hear them giving their trilling alarm call when something startles them. At dusk, I see them sitting on the ariel of my neighbour's house, singing into the approaching night. In Welsh folklore, the goddess Rhiannon has three magical birds, sometimes depicted as blackbirds, that are said to wake the dead and lull the living to sleep.
Are we losing our garden birds?
The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch has reported a decline in certain bird species, such as greenfinches and thrushes, alongside a steady decrease in house sparrow numbers. However, there is some positive news as well; the number of long-tailed tits and great tits has increased. There are many potential reasons for the decline in garden bird populations. Key factors that have been considered include a decrease in insect numbers caused by pesticide use, modern housing developments, the loss of grassland habitat, and modern farming practices. All of these could be contributing to the reduction in bird numbers.
According to the RSPB, many birds rely on our gardens to find food, water, and shelter during winter. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help make your garden bird-friendly.
Useful links for advice on creating a wildlife-friendly garden:
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