AUTUMNGUIDE

WINTER GARDEN BIRDS
Our gardens form a massive network of potential wildlife havens, famously loved by a
whole range of birds. Here are some of the birds which you may have in your backyard
during the autumn and winter months
As autumn transitions into
winter, the summer birds
depart, leaving us with
resident birds and winter
visitors. This is true in the
wider country as well as in our gardens,
where our familiar garden ‘residents’ are
joined by less familiar visitors. The word
‘residents’ is in inverted commas, as
many of our birds which are present all
year are supplemented in numbers by an
‘invisible’ influx of visitors from the
nearby continent.
Take Blackbirds, for instance; many of
the Blackbirds which abound in
autumnal gardens (notably the all-black
first-winter males) are not UK-bred birds,
but visitors from overseas.
Here are 13 birds which you may see in
your garden this autumn and winter,
which you may not see there in the rest
of the year. Of course, as always, where
you live will play a big part in what you
do or don’t see. Some species will arrive
from nearby woodlands, others from
local open country.
Mistle Thrush
The Mistle Thrush is our largest thrush and generally a bird of mature
woodlands, which will also feed in open fields. They are generally scarcer and
much less sociable than the two true winter thrushes (Redwing and Fieldfare),
and will defend a winter berry supply vigorously against all rivals of any
species! Big and pale brown, with white underwings and white in the outer tail
corners. Listen for the rattling call and the mournful song from high in a tree.
imageBROKER/Alamy Stock Photo*
Chaffinch
A bird which is present all year,
but often becomes more noticeable
in winter. Wintering males have
duller plumage than breeding
birds, with toned down pinks and
blues. But all ages and sexes share
the distinctive ‘complex’ white
wing-bars, white ‘shoulders’ and
white outer tail feathers. Females
are a bit like female House
Sparrows, apart from this wing and
tail pattern.
Chaffinches readily visit
birdfeeders, mainly for mixed seed;
they will feed on hanging feeders,
bird tables and also on the ground.
Nuthatch
The distinctive and handsome
Nuthatch can’t resist nutty treats and
will readily come to gardens providing
such attractions, if these gardens are
situated near the sort of mature
woodland where the Nuthatches are
already present. They are chunky,
robust birds with a front end shaped
a bit like a woodpecker's, with a
powerful long ‘chisel’ bill; but with a
short square tail, not used as a prop.
The plumage is distinctive, with
blue-grey upperparts, white and buff
underparts and a long black ‘mask’.
Nuthatches mainly come to gardens
with hanging nut feeders.
WILDLIFE GmbH/Alamy*
Our Wild Life Photography/Alamy*
birdwatching.co.uk 11