RSPB: sparrows swoop in to take top spot in NI's most common birds' survey

The humble House Sparrow is Northern Ireland's most commonly spotted bird.

It is the second year running sparrows have taken top spot in a survey of gardens across Northern Ireland.

A total of 13,000 local people took part in the UK-wide Big Garden Birdwatch - which placed Blue Tits in second place and Starlings, third.

Chaffinches and Blackbirds were also month the most recorded species.

Sara McCracken, Head of Fundraising and Communication at RSPB NI, commented, “We are delighted that 13,000 people in Northern Ireland took part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch.

"Not only is it great fun for all the family but every year it provides us with a snapshot into how garden birds are faring and help us remember how important gardens are for wildlife.”

“The Starling provides the perfect example.

"These colourful, characterful birds can be found across the UK and their numbers increase dramatically during the winter months when birds arrive from northern Europe – just in time for Big Garden Birdwatch.

"Despite coming in at number three in this year’s survey, this species is on the UK Red List of most threatened species due to a sharp decline since the 1960s in its breeding population. Gardens remain an important refuge for this species and even small actions such as putting out bird food and putting out water can benefit birds such as Starlings as well as a wealth of other garden wildlife.”