Farmland birds often have a bit of a reputation as being hard to see and identify, but some of them do come to gardens. Big Garden Birdwatch is a great time to look out for them, as you might spot something you didn’t even realise was visiting.
Birds are often put into groups based on the types of places they live, but nature doesn’t always fit into neat boxes. Some birds we think of as garden birds are also considered to be farmland birds, while some farmland birds will visit gardens, but only in the right situation.
Some farmland birds have been forced to adapt to living in our gardens, often because their rural homes have been swallowed up by new developments. Other species have learned that our gardens can actually be good places to live, as they offer food sources and safe places to nest.
But not all farmland birds are able to adapt. Species like Corn Buntings and Twites are almost never seen at feeders. When the habitats they rely on disappear, there’s nowhere for them to go.
Even birds that can adapt to gardens are still seeing drops in their populations. That’s one of the reasons Big Garden Birdwatch is so important, as it helps us monitor how all garden birds are faring over many years.
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They’re loud, boisterous, and travel in gangs. They’re also a bird that’s long been associated with people: feeding on our lawns, nesting around our houses, and singing out their beautiful, weird, mimicking songs throughout the year.
With all this, and the fact they still rank highly in Big Garden Birdwatch, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Starlings are doing fine. But the truth is they’re in big trouble, and their numbers have gone down by about 60% since the 1980s.
We still don’t know the exact reasons why, but it’s probably linked to changes in farming that have reduced the amount of food available for them, particularly earthworms and leatherjackets.
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Our largest pigeons, and much chunkier than either Collared Doves or Feral Pigeons, Wood Pigeons are a common sight now in all but the most urban gardens, having lost much of their fear of people.
They’re one of the few birds in the UK that can breed all year round, and they’re also one of the few seed-eating birds that can switch to eating greenery (as vegetable gardeners will know already…)
They’ve bucked the trend in farmland bird declines, probably because many farmers now grow winter wheat, which gives Wood Pigeons a particularly good source of food. Their numbers are estimated to have gone up by as much as 150% in the last 50 years.
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It really wasn’t so many years ago that Goldfinches were exciting rarities in most UK gardens. Now they’re commonplace, and some people are even lucky enough to see big groups (called ‘charms’) coming regularly to their feeders.
Goldfinches are seed-eating birds, and you may also see them in your garden attacking the fluffy heads of dandelions or perched on teasels, which are a particular favourite. These sorts of ‘weeds’ are missing from a lot of farmland now, but Goldfinches have been able to adapt to feeding in our gardens.
They’re a fan of Nyjer seeds, but will also happily take sunflower seeds – as well as enjoying your dandelions, so make sure to leave them a few if you can!
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The country cousins of House Sparrows, Tree Sparrows are nearly always associated with farmland. But they will come into gardens for an easy meal and sometimes even to use nest boxes.
You’re most likely to see them in the winter, but only in some parts of the UK, and if you live in a rural village or the edge of a town bordering farmland.
They like a bit of company, so you’ll often see them mixed in with House Sparrows. If it’s just one or two with a big group of House Sparrows, they can be very easy to miss, so keep a careful lookout for that cheek spot during your Birdwatch!
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Yellowhammers are most obvious in the spring and summer, when the brightly coloured male scan be seen on the highest twigs in a hedgerow singing out their famous ‘bread and cheese’ song.
In the winter months, they’re a duller brown, and start mixing with flocks of different farmland buntings and finches, making them harder to see.
They’re not common garden visitors, but if you live near farmland, you may see them popping in to join other birds at feeders, particularly if the weather has been cold and snowy. If you don’t spot any during the Birdwatch, keep a look out towards spring, when food shortages might tempt them in.
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As the name implies, Reed Buntings are most commonly associated with wetland areas, but they’re also a farmland bird, particularly in winter, and will sometimes visit gardens. The females are quite similar to female House Sparrows or Dunnocks, but the males stick out a bit more due to the black markings on their faces.
As with Yellowhammers, you’re most likely to see Reed Buntings if you’re in quite a rural area, and if the weather is harsh, as that’s when they may be struggling to find food. Big Garden Birdwatch is a great time to look out for them.
Despite the confusion caused by a certain Christmas carol (!) Turtle Doves are never seen in the UK in winter. So while you might see Collared Doves (which look a bit similar) you won’t see a Turtle Dove during your Big Garden Birdwatch. That’s because they’re all in West Africa right now enjoying a bit of sunshine, and won’t be returning to our shores until spring.
Turtle Doves are struggling in the UK but there is hope. Through Operation Turtle Dove, we're working with farmers and communities to protect them where populations still remain.
We need your sightings of Turtle Doves, so if you think you have them visiting your garden in summer, please record your sighting with Operation Turtle Dove.
