Garden birdlife: Who can I hear singing?

Blackbirds are hard to miss, neither by sight or sound. You cannot miss these birds, with their deep black colour with orange beaks, as they perch on a branch and sing their distinctive song. The female has a more modest brown coloured set of feathers. Blackbirds are best observed after rainfall, when they can be seen hunting earthworms in the grass.

This black and white bird with a red feathered cape can be found anywhere with plenty of old trees. They are commonly found living in parks and cemeteries, but also in urban areas. The characteristic drumming noise they make as they seek out insect larvae under tree bark is unmistakeable. To spot them you will need a little of luck and a good eye: They spend much of their time in the thick tops of trees.

Magpies are also songbirds. Many people are in two minds about magpies. These large black and white, bright blue-green birds have a reputation for swiping shiny objects and plundering the nests of smaller birds. Magpies are usually found in larger groups: Their fascinating social interactions and uniquely incredible intelligence can be observed.

Greenfinch, chaffinch, goldfinch: How do you tell these small species apart? This is easy in the case of the goldfinch: The unusual colour of their feathers with a red face is very distinctive. Blue banding on the wings is characteristic of the chaffinch, and the yellow-green feathers of the greenfinch. All of them have a powerful beak that they use to break open seeds.

You will need a bit of luck to catch sight of a bullfinch: This round-shaped, brown-grey bird, the male of which has a bright pink breast, doesn’t easily attract attention. This seed eating bird enjoys feeding from flowers that have finished blooming and eats berries with its powerful beak.

Often seen only by chance in the corner of your eye, and often mistaken for a mouse whizzing past: The hedge sparrow is a master of camouflage, hiding itself in bushes or between tall plants. There they search for small beetles, other insects, worms and snails.

Tits are among the most well-known wild bird species. These compact, social birds are not fearful of humans and recognise the benefits of fat balls and nesting aids. This makes them a popular visitor to your garden throughout the year.

These fine grey coloured animals with a white collar appear to have slightly odd proportions with their short legs and comparatively large head. The wild relative of the common pigeon that is found in all urban areas, these large native songbirds can be very docile creatures.

Robins, with their famous red bib, is a very conspicuous representative of the native birdlife and enchants with its melodic song. Robins primarily feed on insects and other animals. Robins are also highly territorial, meaning they don’t tend to get along well with other birds.

Whether house sparrow or tree sparrow: The population of common sparrows has been falling for many years. These small brown-grey birds are always found in groups and have a characteristic fearlessness that almost borders on being outright cheeky. Unfortunately they are finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable breeding spaces and insects for feeding their young.

Dark feathers with a beautiful shine and an impressive talent for singing: Every garden needs starlings. This sociable bird can even imitate voices and enjoys a diet of fruits and berries.

Blaring out its song from their high vantage point, this small round-shaped brown bird is the king of his territory. Wrens are easily recognised by their small upward pointing tail.