Results

Top 10

Here's how the UK's top 10 garden birds stand:

1. House sparrow

There were an average of 3.70 sparrows per garden. Although they stay at the top of the table, house sparrow numbers have fallen by 63% since 1979.

BGBW 2008 USE ONLY Male house sparrow standing on fence

2. Starling

An average of 3.21 starlings were seen per garden and they have suffered a decline of 79% since 1979. Starlings are noisy characters usually seen foraging in small flocks.

Starling on concrete

3. Blackbird

An average of 2.84 seen per garden, the blackbird is a non-mover from 2008.

D_2007_23134_0026 - Blackbird standing in long grass

4. Blue tit

Blue tits are another non-mover from 2008, with an average of 2.45 seen per garden. An agile bird, blue tits are most often seen flitting onto bird feeders. In winter, family flocks are joined by great tits, long-tailed tits and other woodland species, as they search for food.

D_2007_21301_5581 - BGBW 2008 USE ONLY Blue tit on broken plant pot in garden

5. Chaffinch

With an average of 2.01 per garden, the chaffinch held its 5th position. Since 1979, numbers have fallen by 33%.

D_2006_11799_5552 - BGBW 2008 USE ONLY Female chaffinch standing on fench

6. Woodpigeon

An average of 1.85 seen per garden, the woodpigeon continues its success in the UK. It's increased by 825% since 1979. The largest of the pigeon family. In flight they have distinctive white wing patches and the tail has a dark band at the end.

BGBW 2008 USE ONLY Woodpigeon perched on fence

7. Collared dove

With an average of 1.44 seen per garden, the collared dove continues to increase in numbers with a rise of 414% since 1979. Collared doves originally came from southern Asia and spread from there to the extreme south-east of Europe. They were first recorded in Britain in 1953 and have since become a common garden bird throughout Great Britain and Ireland. 		Collared dove profile

8. Great tit

Great tits are another species continuing to enjoy an increase in numbers with a 56% increase since 1979, and an average of 1.40 seen per garden this year. Great tits feed on seeds and scraps either left on the ground, or on bird tables and in nut feeders.

D_2006_20438_0026 - Great tit perched on moss covered branch

9. Robin

An average of 1.36 per garden robins have dropped one place from last year. Robins are the only garden birds to sing throughout the winter, with both males and females holding winter territories.

D_2006_20445_0026 - Robin singing from tree

10. Long-tailed tit

And sneaking in at number 10 is the long-tailed tit with an average of 1.34 seen per garden.

Long-tailed tit looking behind

Big Garden Birdwatch 2009 full results

Over the Big Garden Birdwatch 2009 weekend 73 different species were seen, but what were they? Download the Big Garden Birdwatch 2009 full results to find out.

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