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1. House Sparrow.

A well-known urban bird with a heavy, conical bill. Adults feed mainly on seeds, but raise their young on a diet of insects which are nutritious, softer and easier to digest.

Previously occupying the number two spot on Derbyshire's top ten garden birds, on average the numbers of House Sparrow spotted per garden has almost halved. Its rise to the top spot is only because the decline in Starling numbers has been even more dramatic!

Starling

2. Starling.

Another well-known urban bird, larger than the House Sparrow, and often seen probing in lawns for invertebrates, being especially fond of 'leatherjackets'. It is also very fond of fruit and berries, but will take fat, seeds, nuts and most food scraps.

Over the last 25 years, from an average of 10-11 per garden, the numbers of Starlings in 2007 had dropped to only three per garden.

Many of the starlings that breed in Scandinavia migrate to the UK in autumn, to spend the winter in our milder climate.

Blue tit

3. Blue Tit.

Easily identified, this colourful garden bird is a frequent visitor to feeders and bird tables.

Research has shown that during the winter months some Blue Tits obtain 95% of their food entirely from garden feeders.

They also take readily to artificial nest boxes and time their breeding with precision. This is to ensure that their chicks hatch at the same time as the green caterpillars upon which the young are fed.

Male Blackbird

4. Blackbird.

The male bird is instantly recognisable with its uniform black feathering and bright yellow bill. Females are brown, often with a slightly paler, mottled chest. Consequently, the female is sometimes mistaken for a Song Thrush – whose chest is much paler, with clear, dark spots.

Being a bird that jealously defends its territory, you wouldn't expect more than one pair in the average garden. However due to winter visits from Scandinavian blackbirds, numbers recorded could be at least doubled.

Collared Dove

5. Collared Dove

This species is a great success story! Originating in East Asia, it has enjoyed a rapid increase in numbers as it has spread westwards to colonise almost the whole of Europe.

Unknown in the UK in the early 1950s, it is now common throughout the country. Its successful spread is thought to be partly due to the instinct of juvenile birds to move westwards after fledging.

Most people will know this species as the bird that wakes them up in the morning with its continuous 'cooing', whilst perched on their neighbour’s TV aerial.

Chaffinch

6. Chaffinch

This (along with the Wren) is probably the commonest bird in Britain (although not the commonest garden bird).

It rarely occurs in large flocks, like the House Sparrow or Starling, but it can thrive in almost every type of land habitat throughout the UK due to its varied diet.

Like other finches, it feeds mainly on seeds and possesses a stout bill for this purpose.

Its bill is smaller than that of many finches, however, reflecting the fact that it also eats insects.

Great Tit

7. Great Tit

As its name implies, this is the largest member of the tit family in Europe – but it is still smaller than the House Sparrow.

It is easily recognised by its yellow under-parts with black central band, black head, white cheeks and moss green back.

The black band running down its front is broader on male birds. The width of the black band seems to influence females in their choice of mate – it appears that size does matter!

Robin

8. Robin

Possibly the best known British bird, this species needs no introduction. Popularly regarded, in the UK, as a cheerful, friendly bird, in reality it is aggressive and territorial.

It is the only species to sing throughout the year – most birds sing only to attract a mate and to establish and maintain a breeding territory.

The Robin's winter song is different from the one it sings in spring, and warns both males and females to stay clear of its feeding territory. Its red face and bib act as a warning signal to other Robins, and 'border' disputes often erupt if a bird strays into its neighbour's territory.

So strong is this instinct to attack an intruder that juvenile Robins have no red in their plumage. They are light brown and covered in yellow-buff spots. Only later in the year, long after they become independent of their parents, do they acquire the red face and bib.

Many Robins migrate southwards for the winter, often being replaced in our gardens by Scandinavian visitors. In continental Europe Robins skulk in woodland and rarely visit gardens. Surprisingly, though, they behave like the British birds, while wintering here!

Dunnock

9. Dunnock

This species was formerly known as a Hedge Sparrow – although it is not a member of the sparrow family. When studied closely, it is very different from a sparrow, mainly on account of its fine bill, which it uses to catch small insects. Otherwise, its markings are superficially similar to those of a sparrow – hence its former name – and it is probably under-recorded, by being mistaken for a sparrow.

Relatively unobtrusive, the dunnock, spends much of its time scurrying around, mouse-like, hunting its food under bushes and shrubs. Nevertheless, it is notorious, within the bird world, for its promiscuous sex life.

Typically, a female bird will flirt and copulate with a second male while her partner (the alpha male) hides nearby. Once this mating is complete, and the second male flies off, the alpha male comes out of hiding and pecks at the female's genitals until she ejects the sperm from the second male. The alpha male will then mate with the female, to ensure that her offspring carry his genes.

Meanwhile, the second male, believing the subsequently laid eggs to be his, will help to feed the chicks. However, this second male will probably have his own mate, whilst the alpha male will almost certainly be 'playing away' with some other female(s).

It must get very confusing, with male birds feeding chicks at several different nests. The only obvious advantage of this behaviour is to provide insurance that the chicks will still be fed in the event of the untimely death of the alpha male. It does, however, make most TV soap operas seem rather tame, by comparison!

Goldfinch

10. Goldfinch

A strikingly handsome bird, the Goldfinch is a relative newcomer to the 'top ten'.

Formerly considered a 'farmland' bird, which fed on the seeds of thistles and other weeds, intensive farming has resulted in a reduction in its natural food supply.

Fortunately for the Goldfinch (and for us!) it has adapted to take advantage of garden feeders, being especially fond of niger seed and sunflower hearts. Because it feeds its chicks on regurgitated seed, garden feeders can play an important role in its breeding success. It often raises two or three broods each year.

Juvenile birds initially lack the red face of the adult, acquiring adult plumage over a period of several months.

Could you help to compile the top ten for 2009?

The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch takes place on 24 & 25 January 2009 and YOU can get involved. All it takes is an hour of your time. Find out more by using the link on the right.

And don't forget to head over to Derby Market Place on Saturday 7th February 2009 for Derby's Garden Bird Bonanza.

There will be lots of bird-related activities for all the family and the opportunity to find out more about feeding and encouraging birds into your garden.

For more information, use the link below: