An expert says this is the secret to attracting birds to your garden (plus how to identify each one)

Learning how to attract birds into your garden can be exciting and rewarding – and giving them a helping hand can be invaluable in protecting declining species.

Getting outside and identifying bird varieties is a fun activity for the whole family, and you’d be surprised at how many can be found in your garden. Depending on what food you put out for our feathered friends, or what habitats your garden design has to offer, you could spot a goldfinch, blue tit, robin redbreast, and many more.

Below, you'll find out how to identify the most common species of bird and ways to make your garden a welcoming environment for them.

How do I attract birds to my garden?

To attract birds into your garden, ornithologist Dr Mya-Rose Craig recommends hanging several classic bird feeders around different parts of your garden, along with a small amount of food scattered on the ground (just be mindful not to leave out food that could be toxic to your pets).

She says, "High energy food is always good for birds, but remember different birds eat different foods. Consider a range of foods; seeds, peanuts, fats, and mealworms, remembering that this doesn’t replace their natural diet, but supplements it in order to help them.

"Meat-based products, such as suet and insects, are excellent for female breeding birds, so it is recommended that these continue to be fed in summer.”

Just remember to keep your bird feeders clean and place them somewhere sheltered, away from potential predators. You may also want to install a birdbath, which should be filled with clean water.

"Trees and hedges will help any bird visitors feel safe, especially while using any bird feeders you may have out," adds Martin Chaplin, head of horticulture at Hedges Direct.

"Hedges make excellent spaces for birds, especially when designed and maintained with them in mind. The more plant species you have in your hedge, the more bird species you are likely to attract." This is one of the reasons you shouldn't trim your hedges in the spring.

Martin Chaplin

Martin brings over 35 years of experience in the horticultural world, shaped by a lifelong curiosity and deep appreciation for plant diversity. He has worked alongside high-profile nurseries, growers, and specialist breeders, contributing to new plant releases and holding senior roles across retail, garden centres, and landscape supply. 

How do I attract goldfinches to my garden?

These beauties bring vibrant colour to our gardens – you can spot them by looking out for their unmistakable golden-brown plumage, yellow wing patches, splashes of black, and bright red faces.

In your garden, they will search out thistles, teasels, and dandelions to extract the seeds with their tweezer-like bills. Keep an eye high in the trees, as that is where they will nest. They use grass, moss, and wool to build their homes, with a few flowers for decoration.

How do I attract house sparrows to my garden?

Noisy and outgoing, these cheery little birds can be found almost everywhere, from the centres of cities to farmland. So whether you're out for a walk in the country, in a local park or just in your own back garden, keep an eye out for these small light brown birds.

They like to nest in holes and crevices of buildings and readily use nest boxes. They eat seeds and scraps and will appreciate sunflower hearts and suet balls in feeders and on tables.

Think twice before blocking up any ‘irksome’ holes in buildings, where they would usually nest in colonies. Alternatively, why not build a ‘sparrow street’ of nest boxes and mount them under the eaves of your home?

How do I attract robins to my garden?

The robin, with its distinctive red breast, wears the crown of being Britain’s favourite bird. Provide an open-fronted nest box and watch them line it with leaves, grass, moss, roots and human hair, ready for egg laying. Avoid providing whole peanuts, fat and bread – all of which can choke chicks.

If you manage to keep very quiet and get a good peek at them, look at the brown marking on the robin’s forehead. In females, it’s likely to be V-shaped; in males, U-shaped.

How do I attract blue tits to my garden?

Hyperactive little birds, blue tits have striking feathers: a pale grey and white tail and wings, with a green-blue back and mantle. Their heads are predominantly white with a blue cap, dark blue collar and chin, plus a black eye stripe.

They happily nest in man-made boxes and feed on caterpillars, suet and fat balls. Avoid putting out food that has mesh or netting around it – their beaks and feet can get trapped and cause severe injury or death.

How do I attract greenfinch birds to my garden?

Its twittering song and splash of yellow and green as it flies make the greenfinch a colourful character. Where there’s a tree or bush, there are likely to be greenfinches, although sadly fewer than there used to be.

The female looks brown, but when she flies off you’ll see the yellow in her tail and wings. Greenfinches mainly eat nuts and seeds, and especially enjoy sunflower seeds and hearts, peanuts, and nyjer seed.

How do I attract blackbirds to my garden?

Male blackbirds live up to their name but, confusingly, the females are more brown. Male blackbirds are also easily recognised by their striking orange beaks and eye rings. They breed from March to July and can have up to four sets of chicks. Their nests are usually found low down in places like trees or shrubs but they also nest on buildings and occasionally even on the ground.

Their nests are a ‘cup’ shape and take two weeks to complete. They are master builders and the nests need to be strong enough to cope with their four broods! Blackbirds are great at pulling big juicy worms out of the ground and will also eat sunflower hearts, suet cake and fruity nibbles.

How do I attract starlings to my garden?

Starlings spend much of their time in flocks. They look black from a distance, but when you get closer they are glossy, with a sheen of purples and greens. One of the most common garden birds, you will surely spot them searching for worms in the grass after a wet night.

Starlings eat most seed mixes, including sunflower hearts and suet cake, and will eat from feeders and off the ground.

How do I attract chaffinches to my garden?

As one of the most colourful garden birds, chaffinches have feathers that help them to blend in when feeding on the ground. They become most obvious in flight, revealing a flash of white on the wings and tail, which complements the pink-orange colour they’re recognised for.

They aren't huge fans of bird feeders and they prefer to hop about under bird tables or hedges. They especially enjoy sunflower hearts and black sunflower seeds.

Dr Mya-Rose concludes, “Feeding birds can be as rewarding for you as it is for them. For me, I feel that birds are my connection point to nature – even when living in urban areas – and feeding them helps me to stay grounded."

Found this useful? You may also want to learn how to make your garden eco-friendly and how to zone a garden.