House sparrow remains top of the tree in RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 survey for 20th successive year

 

Long-tailed tit - up from 15th to 10th 

THE house sparrow has retained top spot as Britain's most common garden for the 20th year in succession.

So says the RSPB based on its Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 survey conducted in January by some 540,000 observers.

The house sparrow is reckoned to have declined by more than 10 million years since the 1960s, but its population seems to have chirped up over the past couple of decades.

Says the RSPB: "Numbers have remained relatively stable with signs of increases in some parts of the UK.

Rest of the Top Ten:

2 BLUE TIT

This familiar and energetic little entertainer at the feeder has made second spot again for the third year in a row.

3 STARLING

The starling is a non-mover at number three. But like last year, this noisy, vibrant and gregarious garden visitor sadly remains in decline.

4 WOODPIGEON

With their cooing call a familiar part of the urban soundscape, woodpigeon numbers have soared in the past 40 years so unsurprisingly it still sits tight at number four.

5 BLACKBIRD

The blackbird remains at number five and remains one of our most common and striking UK garden birds.

6 ROBIN

The UK’s favourite bird retains sixth place this year. 

7 GOLDFINCH

The vibrant goldfinch is doing well but is static at number seven. 

8 GREAT TIT

The largest UK tit has stayed put at number eight, so that two-note squeaky bike pump song isn’t going away!

9 MAGPIE

Has steadily increased its numbers in urban areas in recent years and is a non-mover at number nine.

10 LONG-TAILED TIT

Up from 15th last year.

Woodpigeons - a species that has thrived over the past four decades

* Photos: RSPB