A great tit © Caroline Legg, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr
Would you like to identify the variety of birds visiting your garden, or perhaps you are keen to monitor a particular species and report your findings?
On this page you can find bird identification resources and suggested surveys for beginners. For more advanced birders, we have listed monitoring surveys that require more of a time commitment.
Download the full list (PDF 1.3MB), or read the highlights below.
Nature Recording Hub
Discover how to record the wildlife in your urban environment.
Bird survey methods and ID guides list
Download the full list of bird surveys and ID guides
Highlighted surveys
Big Garden Birdwatch
RSPB
Spend one hour recording the birds in your garden or local park. Check the RSPB's website for the survey dates.
When: a specific weekend in January
Equipment: binoculars would be useful but aren't essential
Garden BirdWatch
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
Send in weekly lists of garden birds and other wildlife using the resources in your garden. You can download recording forms and upload your findings to an online system.
When: year-round. There is a time commitment of a minimum of about 20 minutes a week.
Equipment: you need to be able to identify at least a few garden birds to do this survey.
Swift Mapper
RSPB
Report sightings of swifts and nest sites. Watch for groups of swifts flying fast at roof height, often making a screaming sound - this means they are breeding nearby.
When: the best time to look for swifts is from late May to late July, around dusk on warm evenings.