Each year when the RSPB invites people across the UK to join the Big Garden Birdwatch 2025, I find myself wishing I could take part.
Living in mainland Europe, I’m technically outside their counting zone—but that doesn’t stop me from watching birds in my own garden at the same time. While I can’t submit results to the RSPB, I still feel connected to the event and the idea behind it.
This year’s results are in, and as always, they tell an interesting story about the birds that call the UK home.
A Look at the UK’s Favourite Garden Birds
In 2025, over 590,000 people across the UK joined in, counting an incredible 9.1 million birds. That’s a lot of eyes on feeders, bird tables, and hedgerows! The survey is run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), one of the leading conservation organisations in Europe. The event has been held every year since 1979, giving them a huge dataset to track long-term changes in bird populations.
The UK’s Top 10 Birds in 2025
The Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 results give us a big-picture view of what’s happening in our gardens. Here’s the UK-wide top 10 for 2025:
- House Sparrow – 1,211,260
- Blue Tit – 946,698
- Woodpigeon – 859,780 (moved up one place)
- Starling – 784,741 (dropped one)
- Blackbird – 732,472
- Robin – 518,312
- Great Tit – 484,606
- Goldfinch – 465,766
- Magpie – 449,674
- Long-tailed Tit – 379,285 (entered the top 10)
The House Sparrow once again holds the number one spot. Despite long-term declines in urban areas, it remains a fixture in many gardens.
The Blue Tit, a cheerful favourite on feeders, keeps its second-place rank, while Woodpigeons continue their upward trend—likely helped by their adaptability to suburban and city life.
Starlings dropped one spot but are still going strong. These fluctuations may seem small, but they often reflect bigger patterns.
What About the Four Nations?
The UK is rich in regional variety, and the results show it. While the House Sparrow tops the national chart, the order changes slightly depending on where you live.
- England: Mirrors the UK’s list, but shows higher numbers for woodpigeons and goldfinches.
- Scotland: Fewer house sparrows overall; chaffinches and coal tits appear more often here.
- Wales: Blue tits are especially strong here, and robins do well.
- Northern Ireland: Starlings perform better here than in the rest of the UK, and jackdaws make a regular appearance.
You can check the top 10 for each nation and even by county via the RSPB’s official full results PDFs.
The Power of Citizen Science
The Big Garden Birdwatch isn’t just a fun activity—it’s real science. The data helps the RSPB understand which species are doing well and which ones need more help. When combined with longer-term efforts like the Breeding Bird Survey and tools like eBird, the picture becomes even clearer.
Organisations like BirdLife International, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and national groups like Birdwatch Ireland also run similar counts. Their work—along with millions of everyday birdwatchers—feeds into global databases that help protect birds across borders.
Can You Join from Outside the UK?
If you’re like me and live elsewhere in Europe, you can’t submit results to the RSPB, but you can still join in spirit. I often follow the same weekend and use it as a personal garden bird count. It’s a great way to connect with nature and feel part of a bigger movement.
There are also many other birdwatching events you can officially join:
- Great Backyard Bird Count (Global) – February
- Spring Alive (Europe + Africa) – Run by BirdLife International
- Birdwatch Ireland’s Garden Bird Survey – Winter
- eBird Global Big Day – May and October
- Australian Backyard Bird Count – October
And of course, anytime is a good time to log sightings on eBird or use the Merlin Bird ID app by the Cornell Lab.
Final Thoughts
Even though I can’t submit to the Big Garden Birdwatch myself, I still take part every year in my own small way. I follow the UK results, compare what I see here in my own backyard, and take a few quiet moments to appreciate the birds that stop by.
Whether you’re in the UK or not, watching birds brings joy, curiosity, and connection. So if you missed the official count—don’t worry. Just step outside, listen, and look. The birds are always there, waiting to be noticed.
Explore the full UK, country, and county results through the official RSPB results page. And don’t forget to subscribe to updates on gotobirding.com for more garden birdwatch tips, seasonal guides, and gear recommendations.