Birds
Residents and frequent visitors
PASSERINES, SONGBIRDS
Robin [Erithacus rubecula] 5½ in.
Orange-red breast, white belly, brown back.
Wren [Troglodytes troglodytes] 3¾ in.
Brown back, lighter belly, cocked tail.
Dunnock, Hedge sparrow [Prunella modularis] 5¾ in.
Silvery grey belly, varying brown shades on back.
TITMICE
Great tit [Parus major] 5½ in.
Green back with blue, yellow breast with black stripe marking down front, black & white head.
Blue tit [Parus caeruleus] 4½ in.
Blue & green back, yellow front, blue & white on head.
Long-tailed tit [Aegithalos caudatus] 5½ in, 3 in tail.
Black back with pink & white patches, pink & white front, long black tail.
FINCHES
Chaffinch [Fringilla coelebs] 6 in.
Buff pink chest, grey head, black on wings with green & white, buff pink on back.
Greenfinch [Carduelis chloris] 5¾ in.
Olive green back, yellowy green breast, yellow flash on wing bars.
Goldfinch [Carduelis carduelis] 4¾ in.
Brown back, light brown front, black & white tail, black wings with bright yellow bands, distinctive red face.
SPARROW
House sparrow [Passer domesticus] 5¾ in.
Brown back streaked with black, grey chest, male has prominent black throat; female plane lighter brown plumage all over.
THRUSHES
Blackbird [Turdus merula] 10 in.
Male black with yellow bill; female brown.
Mistle thrush [Turdus viscivorus] 10½ in.
Brown back, chest whitish with round dark brown spots.
Song thrush [Turdus philomelos] 9 in.
Brown back, chest whitish-cream buff with brown speckles.
PIGEON
Woodpigeon [Columba palumbus] 16 in.
Blue-grey body with purplish chest, white patch on side of neck.
Feral pigeon [Columba livia] 13 in.
Many variations to plumage, mostly grey body with black wing bars, pink-green iridescent patch on side of neck, pink feet.
STARLING
Starling [Sturnus vulgaris] 8½ in.
Black iridescent body plumage with bright specks.
CROWS [CORVIDAE]
Magpie [Pica pica] 18 in, 8 – 10 in tail.
Contrasting iridescent black & white, black head & upper chest, white rump, long iridescent green-blue & black tail.
Crow [Corvus corone corone] 18½ in.
Large totally black bird.
Jay [Garrulus glandarius] 13½ in.
Pinkish-buff brown body plumage, blue flashes on black & white wings, black on face, white throat, buff crest.
PARROT
Ring-necked Parakeet [Psittacula krameri] 15-17 in.
Originally from Africa and southern Asia, plumage is bright emerald green, with a crimson hooked bill & a long blue-green tail.
WOODPECKER
Great spotted woodpecker [Dendrocopos major] 9 in.
Black & white back with white patches, white belly, striking red rump.
SWALLOW
House martin [Delichon urbica] 5 in.
Blue-black back & head, white chest & rump.
SWIFT
Swift [Apus apus] 6½ in.
Brown, long scythe shaped wings, forked tail.
GULLS
Black-headed gull [Larus ridibundus] 15 in.
Chocolate brown head in summer, grey back, black wing tips, rest of plumage white, red legs.
Herring gull [Larus argentatus] 23 in.
Grey back, black wing tips, rest of plumage white, yellow beak, pink legs.
Winter visitors
Fieldfare [Turdus pilaris] 19 in.
Like a thrush, blue-grey head, rich brown back, speckled brown chest.
Redwing [Turdus iliacus] 8 in.
Smaller than a Song Thrush with red flanks under their wings and a prominent yellow stripe above each eye.
Blackcap [Sylvia atricapilla] 5½ in.
Rich brown back, pale grey belly, black cap on head in males, brick red cap on females.
Waxwing [Bombycilla garrulous] 7½ in.
Brown body, pinkish buff chest, black throat, yellow markings on wings & yellow tail tip; Prominent buff crest.
Infrequent visitors
Kestrel [Falco tinnunculus] 13½ in.
Sparrowhawk [Accipter nisus] Male 11 in. female 15 in.
Tawny owl [Strix aluco] 15 in.
Collard dove [Streptopelia decaocto] 12½ in.