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Dunnock, Nuthatch, Starling, Treecreeper, Wren
These birds all fall into different families and are all the sole representatives in Britain.
Dunnock - Certainly not a showy bird, but nice natured, to us, and very widespread. Seen on the ground mainly. Quite approachable and easy to photograph. They have a sweet little song but brief. One of our early garden bird songs.
Nuthatch - Slightly larger than most song birds and they stamp their authority around feeders.Usually seen head down on tree trunks and branches. A striking bird when in fresh plumage.
Starling - I used to think of starlings as a nuisance, but as I watch them more closely and consider how they've declined in number I've developed a real appreciation for them. An intelligent bird and when you get close up you really appreciate their wonderful plumage. Watching a good starling murmuration (pre-roost group flight) should be on most people's bucket list. It's an incredible sight.
By late summer you will notice that a good proportion of them are much browner. Those are this year's crop of juveniles. In winter the adults bills become black.
If you look at the base of an adult starling's bill you can tell their sex. Pink for the girls and blue for the boys. Yes really. My pictures 1& 2 show females, 3 shows a male.
Treecreeper - I always think of treecreepers as mouse-like. The way they scurry around tree trunks. Always a special sighting when you spot one. Not easy to find as a rule, usually a case of just seeing one move out of the corner of your eye.
Spot the treecreeper
Wren - Not a bird you see every day yet very numerous and extremely widespread. Males are prolific singers and when they are singing they're fairly easy to photograph.
Fledgling
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