10 birds that you can spot this winter
Wildlife lovers across the UK are being asked to count birds this weekend for the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.The wildlife charity wants people to spend one hour in their garden, or local park, and record the highest number of each bird spotted at the same time. We've listed 10 of the birds you could expect to see if you're getting involved this year!
Yellowhammer
Male yellowhammers are unmistakable with a bright yellow head and breast and a brown back streaked with black. They are often seen perched singing on top of a hedge or bush.
When to see them: All year round.
Where to see them: Found across the UK but less so in the north, west and upland areas, such as the Pennines and Highlands of Scotland. Look in open countryside with bushes and hedgerows.
Robin
With their bright red breast robins can be spotted throughout the year but especially in the winter! Males and females look identical and they will often sing at night next to street lights.
When to see them: All year round.
Where to see them: Across the UK in woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens.
Kestrel
Kestrels have pointed wings and long tail, often spotted hovering beside a roadside verge. They have adapted to man-made environments and are even known to survive right in the centre of cities!
When to see them: All year round.
Where to see them: Kestrels are found in a wide variety of habitats, from moor and heath, to farmland and urban areas.They can often be seen perched on a high tree branch, or on a telephone post or wire, on the look out for prey.
Blue Tit
A colourful mix of blue, yellow, white and green makes the blue tit one of the most vibrant and most recognisable garden visitors. In winter, family flocks join up with other tits as they search for food.
When to see them: All year round.
Where to see them: Blue tits are common in woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens. They're widespread and found across the whole of the UK with the exception of some Scottish islands.
Waxwing
The waxwing is a plump bird, which is slightly smaller than a starling. It has a big crest and is reddish-brown with a black throat, yellow and white in the wings and a yellow-tipped tail. It does not breed in the UK, but is a winter visitor.
When to see them: October to March.
Where to see them: Waxwings arrive each winter and are usually seen first on the east coast from Scotland to East Anglia, but birds move inland in search of food, increasing your chances of seeing one!
Rook
Rooks' bare, greyish-white faces, thinner beaks and peaked heads make it easier to tell them from crows and other black birds. Rooks are very sociable, and you're not likely to see one on its own. They feed and roost in flocks in winter, often together with jackdaws.
When to see them: All year round; during the day, but best at dusk.
Where to see them: Rooks are most usually seen in flocks in open fields, or feeding in small groups along a roadside. They will come into town parks and villages but largely keep clear of the middle of big towns and cities.
Barn Owl
With a heart-shaped face, buff back and wings and pure white underparts, the barn owl is a distinctive and much-loved countryside bird.
When to see them: All year round; during the day, but best at dusk.
Where to see them: Open country, along field edges, riverbanks and roadside verges.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
About blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. Great spotted woodpeckers spend most of their time clinging to tree trunks and branches, often trying to hide on the side away from the person watching.
When to see them: All year round.
Where to see them: Woodlands, parks and large gardens. Will come to peanut feeders and birdtables.
Magpie
Known for their noisy chattering, black-and-white plumage and long tail, with a purplish-blue sheen to the wing feathers, and a green gloss to the tail. Magpies are jacks of all trades - scavengers, predators and pest-destroyers.
When to see them: All year round.
Where to see them: Found across England, Wales and N Ireland, in a range of habitats from lowland farmland to upland moors.
Grey Heron
Grey herons are unmistakeable: tall, with long legs, a long beak and grey, black and white feathering. They can stand with their neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunched down with their neck bent over their chest.
When to see them: At any time of year – our grey herons do not migrate.
Where to see them: Around any kind of water – garden ponds, lakes, rivers and even on estuaries. Sometimes, grey herons circle high up into the sky and can be mistaken for large birds of prey.
For advice on how to get bird-watching check out Newsround's handy guide, or get top tips from young bird-enthusiast - Findlay.
Have you been bird-watching recently? What did you see? Are you taking part in this year's Big Garden Birdwatch? Let us know below!