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MISSING in Yorkshire!

The following 3 birds are most at risk, and MISSING in YOUR region!

Greenfinch  -64%
Starling -63%
Cuckoo -62%

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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

Songbirds Are Friends Not Food

#FindOurFriends 
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Starling -63%

(Sturnus vulgaris)

YORKSHIRE, Greenfinch, Missing Poster, S

Greenfinch  -64%

(Carduelis chloris)

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Cuckoo -62%
(Cuculus canorus)

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. 

Common Starling by Richard Dunn, Xeno-cArtist Name
00:00 / 00:25

Alert Status: Green

Identifying Features: Mostly olive green with a yellow tinge to the underbelly with yellow to the outer wings.  Usually brighter in summer.

Average Length: 15cm

Average Lifespan: 2 Years

Average Wingspan: 25-28 cm

Beak type: Seeds

Eats: Seeds, wild fruit & berries

How to feed: Hanging feeders & bird tables

What to feed: Sunflower hearts, black sunflower seeds, seed mixtures

Nesting: Usually in colonies in dense shrubs, constructed of twigs & grass lined with fine roots & hair

Where to see: Common UK birds found in woodland, hedges and gardens.

Greenfinch by david m, Xeno-cantoArtist Name
00:00 / 00:35

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.

Common Cuckoo by Gabriel Leite, Xeno- caArtist Name
00:00 / 00:38
#FriendsNotFood
Now Plot your sightings:
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