Not all small brown birds are the same: a garden safari.
By Eliza
2025
Before I started birding as part of the Biodiversity Literacy VIP, I was aware of birds; seagulls, pigeons, and what my Mum refers to as sparrows – anything small and brown. Not all birds are so lucky to be as distinctively handsome as a Bullfinch! As soon as I began birding, however, another world was opened up as I realized how interesting and diverse these birds species are. From your kitchen window, you might see some of these small brown birds around your garden.
In the UK, we have two types of sparrows – house and tree. They are small songbirds with stout bills for eating seeds. Regrettably, both are declining in numbers.
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House sparrow
House sparrows are commonly seen hanging out in groups in urban areas and in the countryside. Having adapted well to living alongside humans, they are found across much of the world. They make lots of noise, chatting to each other with upbeat but monotonous chirps and cheeps. The males are easiest to identify, with a grey cap and cheeks. Female house sparrows are more drab, but still have a streaky back like the males.
In St Andrews, they can be seen quite reliably in gardens and hedges on Lade Braes, or hiding in the lobster pots on the harbor. They nest in cracks in buildings as well as hedges.
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Tree sparrow
These shyer, less common relative of the house sparrow can be spotted in quieter gardens, in more rural areas. They are a smaller bird, without the grey cap present on the male house sparrow. Both male and female tree sparrows look similar, with a kidney shaped black cheek spot. Aside from hedges and buildings, they have been known to use abandoned magpie nests to raise their young. Their fluttering wingbeats is thought to have inspired the traditional Japanese dance, Suzume Odori.
Moving onto what my mum would be happy to know is also referred to as a hedge sparrow – it’s the Dunnock. Dunnocks are not actually part of the sparrow family, but are in the Accentor family.
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Dunnock
Dunnocks are a small, dark brown bird, and their name reflects this: dun meaning dingy brown, and ock meaning small. They can be easily confused with a female house sparrow, both having a streaky back. However, dunnocks have a lead grey crescent around their eye and under their bill. The bill is finer and they are more likely to be seen eating off of the ground. And, not unlike Santa after a couple rounds of mince pies, they have a round, full looking silhouette. They like to nest in gardens that have dense shrubs and hedges.
Wren
The Wren is one of the most common breeding birds in the UK. It is particularly small, and usually perches with a cocked tail – imagine a table tennis ball with a feather tail attached in a jaunty manner. They have a distinctive loud call that I have heard described as either a rattle or a sci fi laser gun – I’m inclined to choose the latter. The call leaves an impression of a somewhat feisty character, reflected in the Scottish folklore story the Eagle and the Wren. In a competition to fly the highest, the Wren rode unnoticed on the Eagle’s back.
When the Eagle got tired, he asked “Where art thou, Wren?”
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And the Wren replied “I am here above thee”
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And so was victorious.
Chiffchaff
While not a frequent visitor to my garden in St Andrews, they are abundant in Fife and certainly fit the bill of small (though not always that brown). They are often heard before they’re seen, with a characteristic song that goes chiff-chaff in a rather repetitive dual note song. Chiffchaffs weigh the same as a two pence coin, and can be hard to spot among foliage as they are mostly around in the spring and summer months. When they are not singing in your garden, they undergo the exhausting passage to sub Saharan Africa to spend their winter in the sun. Particularly when younger, they can appear quite yellow as they dart around trees in search of food.
All of these birds are attracted to places that provide them with the basics: food and habitat. To encourage them into your garden you can plant trees with berries such as rowan and hawthorn. Wildflower meadows (or even window boxes) are a cornucopia of seeds that also attract insects, giving more tasty grub for your garden birds. If you can, resist the urge to tidy (I seem to be managing with that). One of the best strategies that the Wildlife Trust recommends is to do nothing! Leaving the grass uncut for longer and the heads on flowers is beneficial, and if they have to be trimmed, avoid cutting hedges in nesting season (March to August).
So if you, like me, haven’t been aware of the range of species right under your nose here in St Andrews, keep an eye out for these in your garden. It comes with practice! And knowing what is around you is important, as you can’t see the decline in a species, or be involved in its conservation, without identifying the bird. To get involved, join a community bird walk to learn from those around you, and take part in the Big Garden Bird watch project with the RSPB. Information about biodiverse native gardening can be found through Transition and the Wildlife Trust website.