The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey.
It regularly attracts almost a million participants who spend an hour counting the birds that visit their gardens.
The records provide a vital snapshot of the UK’s birds each winter so the RSPB can monitor trends and find out how our garden birds are doing.
The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 will take place over three days from the 25th to the 25th January.
Find a suitable spot from where you can count birds. If you don’t have a garden then you can go to your local park or other green space.
Spend an hour counting the birds that you see and make a note of them. You can use pen and paper or the RSPB’s online counting tool.
Count the maximum number of birds you see at any one time. If you see 4 sparrows and then later on another 3, the number you submit is 4.
Submit your results via the RSPB’s website. Even if you didn’t see a single bird they still want to know.
Create a haven in your garden for wild birds.
Try our interactive bird identifier to help you work out which birds you see. Search by size, colour, and other identifying features and we’ll do the hard work for you.
Noisy, gregarious birds. Found all over the UK from farmland to city centres, feeding and breeding near humans. Sharp decline in their populations in recent years.
Small and acrobatic, visits trees, shrubs and bird tables. Bright blue cap surrounded by white with blue wings and tail and yellow underside.
UK’s largest and commonest pigeon. Mostly grey with a pinkish breast and white neck and wing patches. Shy birds that will not interact with humans.
Males are black with yellow bill and eye ring. Females are brown with spotted breasts. They often raise their tail on landing and have a loud, mellow, fluty song.
Appears black from afar but has glossy, iridescent green and purple feathers with white spots. Gathers in huge flocks known as murmurations over cities and farmland.
Britain’s favourite bird known as the gardener’s friend. Distinctive orange breast. Fiercely territorial and may fight to the death. Can be heard singing throughout winter and at night.
The largest of the UK’s tits. Glossy black head and green and yellow body. Can be aggressive towards other birds at feeders. Intelligent birds that can use tools to get food.
Brightly coloured with a red face and yellow wing patch. Very active. Can often appear from nowhere feeding in the same place for a few days before disappearing.
Noisy, chattering birds with striking black and white plumage. Highly intelligent they are scavengers and predators that will gather in flocks outside breeding season.
Tiny, acrobatic tit with a long, slim tail, and pink, white, and black plumage. Found in small groups flying “follow my leader” style.
