10 Common UK Backyard Birds and How to Attract Them

The UK is home to a charming array of garden birds that bring colour, song, and life to our backyards. For bird lovers, there’s nothing quite like spotting these feathered friends up close. To make the experience even better, Camojojo Hibird smart bird feeder camera allows you to observe and identify these birds in real-time.
Here’s a look at 10 of the most common UK garden birds and how to encourage them to visit your garden.

1. Robin

One of Britain’s favourite birds, the robin, is easily recognised by its curious nature and iconic red chest, especially around Christmas when it graces many a card. Robins are ground feeders and enjoy a mix of natural prey and bird feed. To attract them, plant low-growing ground cover like ivy, geraniums, and periwinkle, which offer shelter for insects they love to eat.

2. Great Tit

The Great Tit, the largest of the tit family, is distinguished by its black head and striking white cheeks. Known for its distinctive two-syllable song, it often joins other tits in flocks during winter. They’re easily drawn to garden feeders and appreciate hawthorn and elderberries if you’re able to plant some.

3. Blue Tit

This tiny, colourful bird, with its hues of blue, yellow, and green, is a common sight in UK gardens. Blue tits are very sociable, often spotted in small flocks as they forage. A variety of feeders will attract them, and they enjoy a good mix of seeds and insect-rich areas.

4. Coal Tit

The Coal Tit may lack the bright colours of its relatives, but it can be identified by the distinctive white mark on its neck. These birds join flocks in winter, mixing with other tits to search for food. Having a few feeders and insect-friendly plants, like wildflowers or salvias, can help attract these understated visitors.

5. Long-tailed Tit

Known for its fluffy pinkish plumage and long tail, the Long-tailed Tit is a friendly bird that often arrives in flocks of 20 or more. To entice them, provide feeders stocked with seeds, suet, and nuts. Wildflowers and shrubs also provide the pollen and insects they need for sustenance.

6. Goldfinch

One of the UK’s most striking birds, the Goldfinch boasts a vivid red face and yellow wing patches. Known for their gentle twittering, goldfinches are fond of fine seeds like niger seeds. They also appreciate Teasel and Verbena, which provide seed heads to nibble on in late summer.

7. Greenfinch

The Greenfinch, with its subtle green and yellow hues, is often found in rural and suburban gardens. These birds love a variety of seeds, so consider leaving sunflower heads on their plants for a late summer treat. Plants like honeysuckle and lilac also attract the insects they feed on, adding fragrance to your garden as well.

8. Chaffinch

The Chaffinch, the UK’s second most common bird, is known for its beautiful hopping movement as it searches for food on the ground. While it’s shy of table feeders, it’s often spotted below the feeder or around hedges. Plant native hedging like hawthorn, beech, or sorbus to make your garden a welcoming habitat.

9. Blackbird

With a melodious song and cheerful presence, blackbirds love foraging for insects and worms on the ground. The males are known for their coal-black colour with bright yellow beaks, while females are brown with spotted markings. To create a blackbird-friendly space, provide ground cover with ivy or low-growing geraniums.

10. Starling

Starlings, with their iridescent purple undertones, are a social and noisy species that travel in flocks. They’re a little smaller than blackbirds and have a strong preference for fruit. Planting bushes like blackberries, holly, or pyracantha can help attract them during autumn and winter.

With the Camojojo Hibird smart bird feeder camera, observing these beautiful birds has never been easier. Capture every flutter and chirp from the comfort of your home, and enjoy learning more about each species that visits your garden.