Big Garden Birdwatch 2027

Dates, the rules, last year's top 10, and how to get more birds in front of you on the day.

Updated 20 October 2026

Key dates

2027 is the 49th Big Garden Birdwatch. It started in 1979. Since then people have spent more than 13.4 million hours counting and logged over 212 million birds. The RSPB calls it the world's largest garden wildlife survey.

How to take part

• Pick one hour at any time over the weekend.
• Watch one spot. A garden, a balcony, an allotment or a park. You don't need a garden.
• Count the highest number of each species seen at one time. If 3 Blackbirds land, then 2, then 4, your count is 4, not 9. This stops you counting the same bird twice.
• Only count birds that land. Gulls and geese flying over don't count.
• Send it in even if you see nothing. A blank hour is still data. It tells the RSPB where birds are missing.
• Submit online at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or by post with the paper form.

The 2026 top 10

650,279 people took part in January 2026 and counted 9,473,932 birds of more than 80 species. House Sparrow came top for the 23rd year in a row.

Starling's move to third is down to fewer Woodpigeons, not more Starlings. The RSPB says the Starling's average count actually fell 3%. Blue Tits were likely helped by a good 2025 breeding season. Redwing and Fieldfare also moved up, probably because a cold snap pushed them into gardens during count week.

Winners and losers since 1979

The real value of the count is the long run. Nearly 50 years of the same one-hour method shows which garden birds are in trouble.

• Song Thrush: down more than 83%.
• Starling: down around 85% per garden.
• Chaffinch: down 73%.
• Greenfinch: down 67%. It was 7th in 1979 and 18th in 2026. Now Red-listed. The RSPB links the fall to trichomonosis, a disease spread at dirty feeders.
• House Sparrow: still number one, but its average count is down 64%.
• Great Tit: up 58%.
• Woodpigeon: a big riser. Its 2025 average was its highest ever.
• Goldfinch and Long-tailed Tit: both now fixtures in the top 10.

How to see more on the day

• Start feeding two weeks before. Birds need time to find a new feeder. One put out the night before often gets little. See our feeder guide and bird food guide.
• Mix the food. Sunflower hearts for finches and tits. Fat balls for Long-tailed Tits. Apples or mealworms on the ground for Blackbirds and thrushes.
• Keep it clean. Wash feeders weekly and skip flat bird tables. This is the RSPB's own advice after the Greenfinch crash.
• Add water. A shallow dish, ice-free on frosty mornings. Our bird bath guide has options.
• Pick your hour. Many birders find early to mid morning busiest, when birds refuel after a cold night.
• Sit where you can see the feeders without moving. A window works. Keep binoculars and a notepad to hand.
• Watch the ground and the hedge, not just the feeder. Dunnock, Robin and Wren often stay low.

Birds that could surprise you

Most gardens get the same two dozen or so species. A cold spell can bring in something better. Look for these in late January:

• Redwing and Fieldfare on lawns and berry bushes, especially in frost or snow.
• Waxwing on rowan, cotoneaster and other berries. Some winters bring hundreds. Others bring almost none. Listen for a soft, high trill.
• Brambling mixed in with Chaffinches under feeders. Look for the orange shoulder and white rump.
• Siskin on sunflower hearts, often in small flocks.
• Sparrowhawk. If every bird vanishes at once, look up. It doesn't count unless it lands, but it's still a great hour.

Not sure what's singing? Point Bird Hear at it. It's free and gives you a likely match in about ten seconds.

Questions people ask

When is the Big Garden Birdwatch 2027?

Friday 29 to Sunday 31 January 2027. You pick one hour at any point over the weekend. Registration with the RSPB opens on 9 December 2026.

How do you count for the Big Garden Birdwatch?

Watch for one hour. For each species, write down the highest number you see at any one time, not a running total. Only count birds that land, not ones flying over. Send your count even if you see nothing.

Do I need a garden to take part?

No. A balcony, an allotment, a local park or any green space counts.

What was the top bird in the 2026 Big Garden Birdwatch?

House Sparrow, for the 23rd year in a row. Blue Tit was second and Starling third. 650,279 people counted 9.47 million birds.

How long has the Big Garden Birdwatch been running?

Since 1979. 2027 is its 49th year. The RSPB calls it the world's largest garden wildlife survey.

Is there a version for schools?

Yes. Big Schools' Birdwatch 2027 runs from 4 January to 22 February 2027. Classes count for one hour and submit online by 22 February.