Autumn and Winter Birds in the Garden
In this post, you can read a bit about many of the bird species that visit your garden during the cold months of the year. Which birds visit your garden also depends on where in the country you live. Below, we have made a list of the most common birds seen in Danish gardens. In our little overview, you can also read about which food attracts the different bird species to your bird-friendly feeding table.
Turdus Merula – Blackbird
Turdus Merula, also known as the Blackbird, is one of the most common thrushes that visit Danish gardens all year round. The Blackbird is about 23.5-29 cm in size and is particularly fond of apples – so if you have an apple tree, you are almost guaranteed to have a visit from the Blackbird. Alternatively, you can place old apples on your feeding table.
The male is characterized by its black feathers and orange beak, whereas the female and young birds are known for their brown plumage and black beak.
Passer Montanus – Tree Sparrow
The Tree Sparrow can easily be mistaken for a House Sparrow but is characterized by its beautiful brown and copper-colored plumage. The Tree Sparrow is about 12.5-14 cm and is far from picky - it eats almost everything you put on the feeding table or in the feeding house. You can find this charismatic bird in the garden all year round, provided you welcome it.
Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow
The House Sparrow, which also resembles the Tree Sparrow, can be recognized by its gray chest and cap on its head. The House Sparrow is about 16 cm in size and is unfortunately no longer as common in nature, as it is losing its place to the Tree Sparrow. The sparrow can be somewhat described as a scavenger, as it gladly eats grains and other leftover scraps.
Prunella Modularis – Dunnock
Prunella Modularis is a sweet little gray-brown bird that is a descendant of the dunnock family. The little sparrow, at 15 cm, is very reserved and, like the other sparrows, is on the lookout for smaller grains and scraps.
Columba Palumbus – Wood Pigeon
Columba Palumbus is known both as the Wood Pigeon and the Ring Dove and is characterized by being large and clumsy. The pigeon is about 38-43 cm in size, making it one of the larger friends that come to visit your garden. In the cold winter months, the Wood Pigeon is often seen in larger flocks when they are hunting for food in Danish gardens.
Pica Pica – Magpie
It's not for nothing that Pica Pica is called the Magpie, as it often causes great harm to other animals in the garden. The Magpie can be somewhat described as a baboon, as it eats everything from young birds to eggs and other small animals. This bird has a very beautiful black and white plumage and a long elegant tail, though this species can sometimes chirp a bit too loudly.
Garrulus Glandarius – Jay
The Jay is a very aesthetic bird with a beautiful light brown plumage combined with a striking black and bluish wing. This species is often seen near forests, hence the name Jay, and it eats almost everything like its relative, Pica Pica.
Accipiter Nisus – Sparrowhawk
This bandit is one of the other bird species' worst nightmares, as the Sparrowhawk is a bird of prey that hunts all the smaller birds that come to visit your garden to eat. Interestingly, the male (28 cm) in this case is smaller than the female (38 cm).
Accipiter Gentilis – Goshawk
The Goshawk is somewhat the big brother to the Sparrowhawk, as it is slightly larger (48-62 cm). This predator, however, does not appear as frequently in Denmark as the Sparrowhawk, but it can often be found near forests and other larger natural areas. The bird looks incredibly intimidating but is also incredibly aesthetic and beautiful to look at.
Parus Major – Great Tit
This species can grow up to 15 cm, making it the largest in the tit family. It is distinguished by its beautiful yellow chest and white cheeks. This tit can be found throughout Denmark and happily eats sunflower seeds from your feeding table or feeding house.
Erithacus Rubecula – Robin
The Robin should almost be called the Orange-breast because it is easily recognized by its charismatic orange chest. A beautiful little sneak of about 16 cm, which sneaks around under the feeding area to pick up leftovers from the other birds' feasting.
Carduelis Spinus – Siskin
The Siskin is one of the very small birds at just 11-12.5 cm.
Despite its size, you can easily spot the little flutterer from a long distance, as it has a very distinct yellow-green color with small white spots. The bird is quite common in Denmark and gladly eats tit balls, grains, or other small scraps.
Emberiza Citrinella – Yellowhammer
The Yellowhammer is considered one of the most beautiful birds you can attract to the garden. It has a fine size of 16.5 cm and also has a beautiful golden plumage. You can find the Yellowhammer throughout Denmark, and you can most easily attract it with either grains or bread scraps.
Turdus Pilaris – Fieldfare
This fine thrush can be found throughout Northern Scandinavia and can be recognized by its fine white chest with brown spots. If you have apple trees, there is a good chance that the apple-loving Fieldfare will visit your garden.
Cyanistes Caeruleus – Blue Tit
The Blue Tit is one of the smaller tits that fly around all over Denmark. The Blue Tit gladly eats sunflower seeds from feeding balls or on the feeding table.
Poecile Palustris – Marsh Tit
The Marsh Tit, like the other tits, is a frequent guest at the feeding house or on the feeding table. It happily eats smaller seeds and grains. The Marsh Tit is a bit rarer than the Blue Tit but can still be found throughout Denmark.
Books about Birds
Do you want to know more about the birds flying around in Denmark, or maybe just in general about the animals that visit the garden? Then we have a large selection of garden books that can give you an insight into the ecosystem in your garden. If you want to read more about the birds in the garden, we can also recommend the book on the feeding table, which is a fine reference book covering the 40 most common birds in the country.