Advice

Small brown birds and how to identify them

Have you seen a small, brown bird in your garden and you’re not sure what it is? There are lots of potential contenders, so take a look at these ID tips to help you to work out the identity of your mystery bird.

A group of three House Sparrows feeding off of a domestic birdfeeder.
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House Sparrow

UK conservation status - Red

Key features to look out for

  • Small birds, about the size of a Chaffinch 
  • Males and females look very different, juveniles look similar to females 
  • Males have a chestnut brown back with black markings, pale grey underparts and a black bib, which can vary in size. They have a chestnut brown head, grey cap and grey cheeks.  
  • Females and juveniles have a brown back with black markings, a pale chest without the bib, and much simpler markings on their heads. They usually have a pale yellow stripe behind their eyes. 
  • Short, chunky beak 
A male and female House Sparrow perched together on a branch.
Male and female House Sparrow
Size
  • Length: 14–15cm 
  • Wingspan: 21–25.5cm 
  • Weight: 24–38g 

Behaviour

House Sparrows are sociable birds that tend to live in small groups, often close to people. Adults eat seeds, as well as insects, which is what they feed to their chicks. You’ll often see them hopping around on the ground in groups, or bathing together in a birdbath or pond. They will also happily use bird feeders. House Sparrows have quite short wings and aren’t strong fliers, so they like to stick close to vegetation, ready to dash for cover if a predator appears.

A House Sparrow perched on a hedge
House Sparrow
Call/song

The commonest call is a basic, but often very loud, ‘cheep cheep’. Their song is just this cheep repeated over and over again. In spring, you might hear groups of House Sparrows calling at once from deep within hedges and bushes, making a cheery, chirpy chorus. They also sometimes make a scolding chur, which can be an alarm call.

Nesting

House Sparrows like to nest in holes or crevices in buildings, but will also nest in hedges or use nest boxes.

When to see them

All year round

Where to see them

House Sparrows have lived alongside humans for centuries, taking advantage of spilt grain and food scraps. They’re the most common bird seen during the Big Garden Birdwatch and if you put up feeders you’re almost certain to see them (they particularly love fat balls and sunflower hearts). You might also spot them hopping about on city streets, in stations and parks, as well as out in the countryside in hedgerows and on agricultural fields. 

Three House Sparrows enjoying a bird bath in the sun.
House Sparrows
Did you know?

House Sparrows are much rarer than they used to be – since 1970, almost 30 million of these little birds have vanished from the UK. 

Tree Sparrow

UK conservation status  - Red

Key features to look out for

  • Smaller than a House Sparrow 
  • Males and females look the same, juveniles look like slightly faded adults 
  • White collar and cheeks with a distinctive dark spot (which is absent in House Sparrows) 
  • Small black bib, smaller than on a male House Sparrow  
  • Chestnut brown cap, unlike the grey cap on male House Sparrows 
  • Streaky brown back and buff underparts 
  • Very unlikely to visit an urban garden, but may visit bird feeders in rural locations, especially in winter 
A group of five Tree Sparrows perched together on a snow covered branch.
Tree Sparrow
Size
  • Length: 14cm 
  • Wingspan: 20–22cm 
  • Weight: 19–25g 

Behaviour

Tree Sparrows are much more timid around people than House Sparrows, and tend to be less boisterous in general. Like House Sparrows, they’re social birds and prefer to nest and live in groups. They eat seeds from grasses and weeds, as well as cultivated grains like barley and wheat. They also eat small insects, which they feed to their young. Tree Sparrows will sometimes come to garden feeders in rural areas, particularly in winter – you might even see them mixed in with groups of House Sparrows. 

Tree Sparrow Calling from the rooftop.
Tree Sparrow
Call/song

A Tree Sparrow’s call is similar to a House Sparrow’s, but sounds more like ‘zee zee’ than a straightforward cheep. Again, the song is a continuous repeat of the call. 

Nesting

Tree Sparrows will nest anywhere with a suitable hole or crevice. They sometimes choose to nest in dense bushes or farm buildings, and will use nest boxes. They may also nest in banks and cliffs, even reusing old Sand Martin nests. Conservation projects often put up nest boxes to help support Tree Sparrows where they are struggling.

When to see them

All year round

Where to see them

Tree Sparrows are birds of the countryside, but their numbers have declined significantly and they are now absent from large parts of southern England, much of Wales, parts of Northern Ireland and most of Scotland apart from the east and south. In areas where they’re clinging on, they’re usually associated with farmland. They form small colonies in the breeding season, and then come together into larger flocks in the winter to feed in stubble fields, often mixed in with other species. In rural towns and villages, they will sometimes visit garden feeders, and even occasionally breed in garden nest boxes. It’s easy to miss one or two Tree Sparrows in amongst a big group of House Sparrows, so remember to look out for their characteristic dark cheek spots!

A Tree Sparrow perched on a lichen covered branch.
Tree Sparrow
Did you know?

The oldest known Tree Sparrow lived for more than 10 years – most live for just a few years.  

Tree Sparrows declined by 93% between 1970 and 2008.

Dunnock

UK conservation status - Amber

Key features to look out for

  • About the size of a House Sparrow 
  • Males and females look the same, juveniles are less grey than adults 
  • Beak thinner and more pointed than a House Sparrow’s 
  • Grey chest and head, with a brown crown – overall, they’re much greyer than House Sparrows 
  • Streaky brown back 
  • Pinkish legs 
  • They tend to be solitary or seen in pairs, and spend a lot of time skulking around on the ground 
Dunnock singing from the top of a gorse bush.
Dunnock
Size
  • Length: 14cm 
  • Wingspan: 19–21cm 
  • Weight: 19–24g 

Behaviour

Dunnocks spend most of their time hopping around on the ground in search of spiders and insects. They’re often described as ‘mouse-like’, because of the way they creep about in the undergrowth. Dunnocks are usually alone or in pairs, whereas similar-looking House Sparrows prefer to hang out in groups. Dunnocks will occasionally visit feeders, but you’re more likely to see them picking up spilt food on the ground underneath.  

A Dunnock perched on a moss covered log.
Dunnock
Call/song

Dunnocks have a loud, squeaky warbling song, that sounds a bit like someone writing on a whiteboard with a creaky pen. They sing from bushes or high in trees, and you’ll mostly hear them in the first half of the year. Their call is a squeaky ‘peep’. 

Nesting

For an unassuming little bird, Dunnocks have some surprisingly complicated breeding partnerships. Pairs consisting of one female and one male are unusual. Often one female will openly mate with one male and then secretly mate with another, which encourages both males to care for any chicks. But sometimes, the males will mate with multiple females, and help look after several broods at once. Even more confusingly, there are situations where both males and females end up with multiple partners across multiple territories. But whatever the set-up, they like to build their cup-shaped nests in dense shrubs or bushes, and gardens are often perfect for their needs. 

When to see them

All year round

Where to see them

You don’t have to look far to see Dunnocks, as they’re very common garden birds throughout much of the UK (except Shetland). They’re quite happy living in small gardens, even in cities and suburban areas, but they’re particularly at home in gardens where there are dense shrubs they can nest in, and bird feeders for them to pick up scraps from. You can also see them in woodland and parks, farmland and moorland, except in remote upland areas.

A lone Dunnock perched on a twig.
Dunnock
Did you know?

Dunnocks are also known as ‘hedge sparrows’ but they’re not sparrows at all – they’re actually the only UK member of the bird family called the Accentors.  

Wren

UK conservation status - Amber

Key features to look out for

  • A tiny brown bird – one of the UK’s smallest 
  • Short tail, often characteristically cocked 
  • Thin, sharply pointed beak 
  • Brown all over, with paler underparts and darker wings which have delicate barring 
  • Pale ‘eyebrow’ stripe 
  • Often looks almost round in shape  
  • Males and females look the same 
A lone Wren perched on top of yellow gorse.
Wren
Size
  • Length: 9–10cm 
  • Wingspan: 13–17cm 
  • Weight: 7–12g 

Behaviour

Wrens are always on the move, flitting about in the undergrowth, in rocky crevices and in trees, as they search for insects. They also eat seeds and berries, particularly in winter when insects are harder to find, and sometimes make the most of crumbs that have fallen from bird feeders. You might see one singing from an elevated perch. 

A close up view of a Wren singing on a thorn covered branch.
Wren
Call/song

For such little birds, Wrens have an incredibly loud voice! Their song is a succession of high-pitched whistles, ending with a trill. Their call is a loud ‘tic-tic-tic’.

Nesting

Males build several different nests in the nooks and crannies of trees, climbers, walls and banks. A female will inspect the various nest options before choosing one and lining it with feathers.

When to see them

All year round

Where to see them

Despite being the UK’s commonest breeding birds, Wrens can be surprisingly difficult to see, because of their tiny size and habit of hiding away in vegetation. They live in most habitats across the UK, including mature gardens, woodlands and farmland.

A Wren perched on the very end of a twig, looking to fly off.
Wren
Did you know?

More than 60 Wrens were once found snuggled up together in a nest box to keep warm!

Spotted Flycatcher

UK conservation status - Red

Key features to look out for

  • A small bird, about the size of a Robin 
  • Males and females look similar 
  • Grey-brown back, head, wings and tail 
  • Paler buff underparts, with brown streaking on the chest 
  • Juveniles look spotty, a bit like a juvenile Robin, but are greyer in colour 
Spotted Flycatcher perched in a tree.
Spotted Flycatcher
Size
  • Length: 14cm 
  • Wingspan: 23–25cm 
  • Weight: 14–19g 

Behaviour

As their name suggests, Spotted Flycatchers are masters at catching flies and other insects, such as butterflies, wasps and craneflies. You might see one sitting on a branch, before darting out to catch an unsuspecting insect as it flies past. 

A lone Spotted Flycatcher perched on a branch.
Spotted Flycatcher
Call/song

The Spotted Flycatcher’s call is a repetitive, high-pitched ‘tzee, tzee’. Its song is a series of scratchy warbles and higher-pitched notes. 

Nesting

Spotted Flycatchers build their open, cup-shaped nests on ledges in and around buildings and walled gardens, as well as on creepers climbing up walls and trees. 

When to see them

Spotted Flycatchers are migrant birds that arrive in the UK from May to breed, before heading back to Africa between July and September.

Where to see them

You’re most likely to see Spotted Flycatchers in woodlands, as well as mature gardens and parks with lots of trees and other vegetation that support the insects they feed on. They will also use mature hedgerows with trees in farmland. Spotted Flycatchers are widespread across much of the UK.  

Spotted Flycatcher perched on a wooden post of a front garden gate.
Spotted Flycatcher
Did you know?

Spotted Flycatchers declined by 88% between 1970 and 2018, putting them on the Red List of birds of high conservation concern. 

Other birds to consider

Juvenile Robin

A juvenile Robin perched on a branch.

With their bright red chests, adult Robins are pretty unmistakeable, but juveniles lack these characteristic red feathers and are speckly brown all over.  

Female and juvenile Chaffinch

Unlike the colourful males, females Chaffinches are yellowish brown, with a white shoulder patch and stripe on the wing. Juveniles looks similar to females. 

Female and juvenile Greenfinch

Despite their name, female Greenfinches are actually a dull brown colour, with a characteristic yellow stripe on their wings and tail. Juveniles look similar to females.   

Juvenile Goldfinch

Juvenile Goldfinch perched in a Sunflower strip.

Juvenile Goldfinches have a streaky brown body and head, and lack the red, black and white markings seen on the face of adults. However, like adults, they have black wings with a bright yellow patch and a black tail with white marks.