MISSING in the South West!
The following 3 birds are most at risk, and MISSING in YOUR region!
Cuckoo -83%
Starling -71%
Mistle Thrush -57%
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Songbirds Are Friends Not Food
#FindOurFriends
Please help us find them by looking out of your window, or going for a walk or hike in your local area.
Download and share our handy ‘missing’ posters below.
They help to find out important facts about the species:
1. Appearance
2. Where it's found
3. What it eats & how to feed them
4. How to help them
Starling -71%
(Sturnus vulgaris)
Alert Status: Red
Identifying Features: Smaller than blackbirds, with a short tail, pointed head, triangular wings, starlings look black at a distance but when seen closer they are very glossy with a sheen of purples and greens.
Average Length: 22 cm
Average Lifespan: 5 years
Average Wingspan: 37 – 42 cm
Beak type: Generalist
Eats: Insects, spiders, worms and fruit
How to feed: Bird tables, feeders
What to feed: Starlings seem to feed on just about anything: berries, fruit, scraps, suet. However, they feed only invertebrates - not "junk" food - to their young
Nesting: The male builds the nest from grass in a hole in a wall, tree or building, but the female lines it with feathers, wool and moss. The male may decorate the nest with leaves and petals in order to deter parasites and improve his chances of attracting a mate.
Where to see: Starlings are conspicuous and widespread in the UK, occurring everywhere except for the highest parts of the Scottish Highlands. They are most abundant in southern England and are more thinly distributed in upland areas with moorland. Still one of the UK's commonest garden birds. In winter, huge roosts can be found in plantations, reedbeds and city centres.
Cuckoo -83%
(Cuculus canorus)
Alert Status: Red
Identifying Features: The cuckoo is a dove-sized bird with blue grey upper parts, head and chest with dark barred white under parts. With their sleek body, long tail and pointed wings they are not unlike kestrels or sparrowhawks.
Average Length: 32–36 cm
Average Lifespan: 4-5 years
Average Wingspan: 54-60 cm
Beak type: Insects
Eats: Mainly insects and hairy caterpillars
Nesting: The Cuckoo is a brood parasite, it lays its eggs in other birds' nests and leaves the host birds to incubate and rear its young. Dunnocks, Robins and Meadow Pipits are frequent host birds. Each female Cuckoo specialises in using a particular host species and will lay eggs with similar markings to the host bird's eggs, and the young Cuckoo will imitate the begging calls of the host's chicks. When the Cuckoo nestling hatches, it instinctively pushes the other eggs and nestlings out of the nest.
Where to see: Cuckoos can be seen throughout the UK, but are especially numerous in southern and central England.
Mistle Thrush -57%
(Turdus viscivorus)
Alert Status: Amber
Identifying Features: Larger than a song thrush with rounded spots on its belly
Average Length: 27 cm
Average Lifespan: 3 Years
Average Wingspan: 42 - 48 cm
Beak type: Generalist
Eats: insects, worms, slugs (but rarely snails), berries
How to feed them: Ground feeders
What to feed: Raisins, peanut granules, sunflower hearts, apples
Nesting: Large messy nest often found in high woodland
Where to see: Widespread across the UK. Woodland & gardens