Would you like to know which bird has settled in your garden? Here you can identify it using pictures and special features.
The garden is full of life. Not only is it green and blooming, it is also chirping and fluttering. Many birds visit the home garden throughout the year. But who actually perched there on the cherry tree or which bird does the chirping belong to, which can be heard from the neighbor's spruce?
In the following you will find out how native birds can be identified. Get to know the profiles of the most important native songbirds and find out what you should consider when identifying birds and how this can be simplified.
By what criteria are birds identified
| Point of View | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Size | The size can be equated with well-known species such as tit, great spotted woodpecker, magpie or mallard. |
| Coloring and Drawing | Pay attention to the coloring of the head, abdomen and back. Drawings, ribbons, patterns and the color of the beak or eyes are also important. |
| Form | Determine whether the bird appears small, elongated or rather compact. |
| Movement | Do the animals fly evenly and in a straight line, or rather hop and wave? The movement on the ground is also of interest, some birds strut upright, others hop across the ground. |
| Voice | Pay special attention to the singing, which is usually distinctive and varies from species to species. |
Overview - The most common birds in the garden
❖ Blackbird
Appearance:
The birds are 24 to 29 cm long, the male is black and has an orange-yellow beak. The females are dark brown with a lightly spotted chest. The beak is brownish.
Voice:
The singing varies greatly. The melodious voice can be heard from treetops mostly in the morning and evening hours. Blackbirds can also make noises like whistling or the ringing of a cell phoneimitate. When in danger, the blackbird scolds loudly.
Occurrence:
Blackbirds are found throughout Europe. They can be observed all year round. In Russia and Scandinavia they are considered migratory birds.
Special Features:
Until the middle of the 19th century, blackbirds were considered shy forest birds. Today they are among the most frequent guests in the home garden. Territorial disputes can often be observed. The males then hop along their territory boundary to impress their neighbors. Fights can also occur. In winter, the animals are more sociable and seek sleeping places together.
❖ Blue Tit
Appearance:
At ten to twelve centimetres, the blue tit is smaller than the great tit. The head is blue and white. The top appears greenish to bluish. The underside is yellow. A black band runs across the eyes, neck and cheeks.
Voice:
The song is similar to that of the great tit, but can be recognized by the high-pitched introductory elements. This is followed by a lower trill (tii-ti-ti-tirrr). The contact call is rather quiet. If the blue tit sees itself in danger, it can clamor loudly.
Occurrence:
Blue tits can be observed all year round. In winter they can also be found with other tit species.
Special Features:
Blue tits are frequent visitors to the aviary in winter. In summer, the birds mainly eat insects.
❖ Great Tit
Appearance:
Great tits reach a size of 13 to 15 cm. The black head features a large white cheek patch. The top is greenish to bluish. The yellow underside is interrupted by a black central stripe.
» Tip: Males are easily recognizable by a wide central stripe. The markings on the female are only faint.
Voice:
The birds are very vocal and use an extensive repertoire of sounds and songs. The singing appears rhythmic and mostly consists of "zita, zita, zita" or "zizibaä, zizibaä"
Occurrence:
Great tits can be found in gardens all year round and breed there very frequently.
Special Features:
Nest boxes are very popular with great tits. Nests have also been found in mailboxes. The birds usually nest in tree cavities. Great tits incubate eight to nine eggs up to three times a year.
❖ Tree Sparrow
Appearance:
By a brown headstock and a black oneA spot on the cheeks allows the tree sparrow to be distinguished from the house sparrow. With a length of 13 to 14 cm, the tree sparrow is slightly smaller than the house sparrow.
Voice:
The song is higher than that of the house sparrow and consists of a monosyllable "Tschip".
Occurrence:
The tree sparrow is a guest in gardens all year round and is more common there than the house sparrow.
Special Features:
Set up a nest box in the garden, the tree sparrow will gratefully accept it. When observing, you should proceed calmly and prudently, because the birds are very shy.
❖ Magpie
Appearance:
With its black and white plumage and long tail, the magpie is easy to identify. The birds can reach lengths of up to 50 cm. The coat can take on a bluish tinge in favorable light conditions.
Voice:
Typical for the magpie is a characteristic "schrä-äk-äk-äk-äk-äk". The singing can contain different elements. Magpies like to imitate other birds.
Occurrence:
Magpies can be found in gardens, parks and residential areas all year round.
Special Features:
The occurrence of magpies in towns and villages has increased in recent years. The spherical large nests are easily recognizable in deciduous trees.
❖ House Sparrow
Appearance:
Sparrows are about 15 cm long and have a relatively large head and a strong beak. With their brownish back, which is provided with black stripes, the males have quite a striking pattern. The black throat and the brown stripes on the sides of the head also distinguish the males from the brown and rather inconspicuous females.
Voice:
Mostly the singing consists of a monotonous chirping. The birds also often make simple warning calls.
Occurrence:
House sparrows can be seen in towns and villages all year round.
Special Features:
House sparrows are very sociable and often breed in large groups. The stocks have been declining in recent years due to a lack of breeding sites and an insufficient supply of food.
❖ Jay
Appearance:
The jay is easy to identify with its black, white and blue patterned wings. The pink-brown body is also striking. When excited, the birds raise their crown feathers.
Voice:
The jay's voice is like onehoarse calls, which can escalate into loud screeches in the event of danger. The jay also often makes the typical "hijäh" sound, reminiscent of a buzzard.
Occurrence:
Jays are perennial forest birds, but they also increasingly find their way into parks and gardens.
Special Features:
Jays are omnivores. They prefer acorns, which are collected and hidden as winter supplies. Several acorns can be collected in the crop.
❖ Great Spotted Woodpecker
Appearance:
You will also quickly spot the great spotted woodpecker in your garden. The animals have black and white plumage and a white belly. The male is distinguished by a red nape patch from the female, which is shown in black at this point.
Voice:
A bright and sharp "kix" serves as a warning call for the great spotted woodpecker.
Occurrence:
The great spotted woodpecker is found in forests, parks and gardens all year round.
Special Features:
Females are attracted by a fast "drumming" during the mating season. Up to 15 beak strokes are performed within two seconds. Females also drum to attract males.
❖ Star
Appearance:
Starlings grow to 19 to 22 cm. Young birds are uniform grey-brown. In late summer, the plumage appears covered with a pearl pattern. The dark brown feathers get white tips during this time. In the course of winter, the white spots recede and the coat appears uniformly brown-black again.
Voice:
The star's singing is not immediately discernible. Instead of a sequence of melodies, the birds make hissing, whistling and clicking sounds. The tones can vary greatly.
Occurrence:
We can see the starling in the garden every year. In northern Europe, the starling is a migratory bird.
Special Features:
Starlings are gregarious and often breed in colonies. Starlings nest in tree cavities and parts of buildings and are also happy to accept nest boxes.
Life at the feeding place - the most common winter birds
- Blackbird
- Blue Tit
- Chaffinch
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Jay
- Magpie
- Hawfinch
- Gimple
- Robin
Life at the pond - the most common waterfowl
- Coot
- Great Crested Grebe
- Mallard
Birds on the move - the most common migratory birds
- Redstart
- grey heron
- Swift
- Town Swallow
- Star
- White Stork
Watching birds - you should pay attention to this
The best time to see songbirds in the garden is in the morning and evening hours. Bird calls can be heard until around 10 a.m. You can also take up your observation post a few hours before dusk sets in. With a night vision device, observation is also possible in the dark.
» Tip: Birds of prey and owls are active at noon and in the afternoon.
We could only give you a small overview of the birds in your home garden. Identification books are ideal for regular bird watching. All species are listed there in detail and you will find information on their appearance, song and characteristics typical of the species.
» Tip: A bird song CD or a corresponding app will help to tell the birds' songs apart.
Please kindly - photograph birds in the garden
Would you like to share your bird watching with others? Then lure the local birds in front of the camera. A natural garden with trees, shrubs and places to retreat will help you. Provide feeding points and hang up nest boxes. Then you have a good chance of getting the birds in flight or while they are eating.
» Tip: You can observe and recognize the birds better with a spotting scope. Some devices even have a cell phone adapter so you can photograph the birds from a distance.