As Big Garden Birdwatch celebrates its 40th anniversary, the RSPB reveals some of the less obvious species to keep an eye out for.

This year’s Big Garden Birdwatch takes place from today, January 26, to January 28.

To take part, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days, and then send your recordings to the RSPB. For your FREE 40th anniversary Big Garden Birdwatch pack, which includes a bird identification chart, plus RSPB shop voucher and advice to help you attract wildlife to your garden, visit rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.

1. Waxwing

These starling-sized short-legged birds, with an upstanding, pointed crest, have black throats and wings, with white yellow and red markings and yellow-tipped tails. They don’t breed in the UK but are winter visitors, appearing between October and March.

2. Redwing

From the thrush family, the redwing enjoys feasting on the seasonal berries the UK’s hedgerows, gardens and parks have to offer. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red patches under its wings make it distinctive.

3. Fieldfare

The fieldfare’s UK conservation status is red, the highest conservation priority, meaning that the species is globally threatened, and that there’s been a severe decline in the UK breeding population over the last 25 years or longer.

Echo:

They are large, colourful thrushes which are very social birds, spending the winter in flocks of anything from a dozen to several hundred strong.

4. Reed bunting

Sparrow-sized but slim, with a long, deeply notched tail, the male has a black head, white collar and a drooping moustache. Females and winter males have a streaked head. In flight, the tail looks black with broad, white edges.

5. Redpoll

This tiny finch is only slightly bigger than a blue tit. It is streaky and brown with patches of red on its head and sometimes on its breast. They like to hang upside down to feed in trees. They eat seeds, particularly of birch and alder, plus plants like willow herb and sorrel, but they also visit bird feeders.