Bird song identification: UK garden birds 

Spring and summer are soundtracked by music. But who's taking centre stage at your garden party?

Tune into some of these likely songsters and you’ll soon get your ear in. Once you’ve mastered some of the most common songs, you’ll notice other tuneful tweeters piping up too.  

Song

A melodious, crystal song that becomes more wistful during winter.

Call

When alarmed, robins produce a rapid, urgent 'tic' call.

Best time to hear

Robins sing all year round, especially at dusk. Often sing long into the evening thanks to artificial lighting.

Song

Rich, mellow and languid. Fluty notes with short pauses between each phrase.

Call

When alarmed, blackbirds deliver a harsh, scolding outburst, often in flight.

Best time to hear

During spring and throughout summer, typically first thing in the morning as part of the dawn chorus, and throughout long evenings.

Song

Loud burst of song with consistent phrases, finished with a tell-tale machine gun rattle.

Call

Wrens produce a loud, rapid 'tititic' when alarmed.

Best time to hear

Most often heard during spring, especially during the dawn chorus, but can be heard all year round.

Song

A tuneful warble that's flatter and less silvery than that of the robin or blackbird. Can be confused with the wren's song, but the dunnock's is less forceful and higher pitched.

Call

A repetitive 'tseep' sound, often heard from dense bushes or undergrowth.

Best time to hear

Some dunnocks start singing as early as January and continue into summer.

Song

Twittery and light, similar to the goldfinch, but with an unmistakable wheeze when in flight.

Call

Greenfinch produce a characteristic, distinctive nasal wheeze when perched, often high up in treetops.

Best time to hear

Most likely to be heard during the breeding season, which runs from April to June.

Song

A short, fast, descending song ending with a 'diddieoo' or repetitive, insistent single notes known as the chaffinch's rain song.

Calls

Produces an abrupt 'pink, pink' contact call.

Best time to hear

Heard singing throughout spring and summer.

Song

Light, twittery and tuneful, with melodious phrases, often heard while in flight.

Call

Produces lots of different calls, which can be fluttery or shrill, particularly when travelling in groups.

Best time to hear

Listen for goldfinches singing from late April and throughout the warmer months.

Song

A short, high-pitched, repetitive phrase that sounds a bit like 'tsee tsee tsee chu-chu-chu'.

Call

Has a number of contact and alarm calls, from softer peeps to an angry 'churr'.

Best time to hear

You can hear blue tits throughout the year, but especially from late winter to the end of the breeding season.

Song

A clear, repetitive 'tea-cher, tea-cher, tea-cher'.

Calls

Has a range of calls that can be tricky to identify, even for seasoned birdwatchers.

Best time to hear

Great tits start singing in early spring as the buds begin to burst. Often heard during the dawn chorus.

Song 

A variety of short, high-pitched phrases that are usually repeated three or four times in quick succession.

Call

A sharp 'tsip' given while in flight.

Best time to hear

Male song thrushes start singing as early as January, sometimes before, particularly in the early morning.

Song

A repeated cooing to the rhythm of 'my toe bleeds, Bet-ty'.

Call

A deep, throaty coo. Listen out for tell-tale wing claps made during display flights.

Best time to hear

All year round.

Song

A repetitive, monotonous coo with just three parts – 'hoo hooooo-hoo' – that's much shorter and simpler than that of the woodpigeon.

Call

Produces a forceful, nasal sounding 'whurr'.

Best time to hear

All year round.

Song

Starlings have a huge repertoire of whistles, clicks, trills and chatters, and clack their bills. They're also excellent mimics and will imitate other birds.

Call

Use several different sounds for contact and alarm calls, from harsh screeches and rattles to softer purrs.

Best time to hear

All year round but particularly noisy in autumn and winter when they roost communally.

Song

A series of cheeps and chirps, which can get quite loud when these gregarious birds are vocalising as a group, usually from hedgerows or thick shrubs.

Call

A simple 'cheep' that they use to communicate with each other.

Best time to hear

All year round.

Song

Great spotted woodpeckers don't sing to defend their territory and attract a mate. Instead, they drum their strong beaks against trees, producing a rapid, echoing sound.

Call

A loud, strident 'tchik tchik', usually produced in flight. 

Best time to hear

Listen for drumming in early spring, just as leaves are about to burst.