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The blackbird is a common sight across Britain. These birds have a lovely singing voice that you'll hear in gardens and parks. The males are entirely black with bright yellow beaks and rings around their eyes. The females are brown rather than black. Blackbirds nest in bushes and trees, making cup-shaped nests from grass and mud. They mainly eat insects, worms, and berries. You'll often see them hopping about on lawns hunting for food. In winter, blackbirds will visit bird tables and feeders looking for seeds and fats to eat. Though they look quite plain, their beautiful songs make them a favourite for many people. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/buy/zeiss-victory-sf-10x42-binoculars/

The Black-Throated Diver is a striking water bird found in the northern parts of Europe, Asia and North America. These elegant divers have a thick, straight bill and a long neck. In the summer, they have a black head and throat with white stripes on the neck. Their backs are chequered black and white. In winter, their plumage is mostly grey above and white below. These powerful birds dive impressively to catch fish, using their feet for propulsion underwater. They nest beside freshwater lakes and pools, laying two olive-brown eggs. The eerie wailing calls of these divers carry for miles across the remote northern wilderness. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/black-throated-diver/

The Black-Headed Gull is a medium-sized seabird found across Europe, Asia and North Africa. In summer, their heads are a rich chocolate brown rather than black. These gregarious gulls breed in large, noisy colonies near water like lakes and marshes. They mainly eat insects, worms, and scraps but will take almost anything edible. In winter, their heads are white like their bodies. Though numerous, their numbers have declined due to habitat loss, pollution and human disturbance near nesting areas. These tough, adaptable gulls have learnt to thrive in towns and cities, scavenging food from bins and parks. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/black-headed-gull/

The Black-Tailed Godwit is a wading bird species found in wetland areas across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. These elegant birds have long legs, a straight beak, and a beautiful reddish-brown plumage during the breeding season that turns a drab grey in the winter months. Their name comes from the distinctive black tail feathers that make them stand out. Black-Tailed Godwits feed on insects, worms, and small crustaceans that they find in muddy areas near water sources. They build their nests on the ground, and both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs. Sadly, their numbers have declined due to habitat loss and hunting, making conservation efforts crucial for their survival. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/black-tailed-godwit/

A widespread water bird across the UK, Europe, Asia and North Africa is the delightful Black-Necked Grebe. Their lobed feet allow them to be expert swimmers and divers, chasing fish underwater with ease. During breeding season, the birds grow striking black head plumage and rich chestnut neck feathers. They construct floating nests from wet plants near water where the female lays around 4 pale green eggs. Both parents share incubating duties. Soon after hatching, the chicks can swim though ride on their parents' backs at first. While they migrate to coasts for winter, they return inland to breed each spring. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/black-necked-grebe/

The Black Tern is a beautiful bird species found in many parts of the world. These birds are quite small, only about 25 centimetres long, with a black head and belly during the breeding season. Their wings are grey and they have a forked tail. Black Terns breed in marshes and on lakes, making their nests on floating vegetation or small islands. They eat mostly insects and small fish, which they catch by diving into the water. After breeding, they migrate long distances to spend the winter in coastal areas or on large inland lakes. Unfortunately, their numbers have declined due to habitat loss and pollution, so they're considered a vulnerable species that needs protection. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/black-tern/

The Black Redstart is a small but striking bird found across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. These little chaps are quite the lookers, with their jet-black plumage contrasted by vibrant red tails and underbellies. You'll often spot them hopping about on walls and rooftops in towns and cities, nesting in little holes and cracks. Although they seem right at home in urban areas, they actually prefer open, rocky habitats like mountains and quarries. Come breeding season, the male birds put on a fancy display, flashing their red tails to catch a female's eye. These tough little birds can handle some pretty harsh environments, even braving the winter in many regions. Their main grub is insects, but they'll also nibble on the occasional berry or seed. Overall, the Black Redstart is a hardy, adaptable little bird that brings a splash of colour to city life. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/black-redstart/

The Black Grouse is a chunky game bird found naturally across parts of Europe and Asia. The blokes are the real lookers, decked out in purple-blue plumage along with a reddish-brown tail and vibrant red wattle above their eyes. The ladies on the other hand are camouflaged in drab browns to keep them hidden when nesting. These grouse make their homes in areas like young pine forests and moorlands. Every spring the males gather at special arenas called leks to put on a courtship display, fanning their tails and squawking to try and attract female mates. Sadly, their numbers have declined quite a bit in recent decades, mainly due to habitat loss, though conservation efforts are helping protect what populations remain. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/black-grouse/

The Bewick's Swan is a migratory bird that visits the UK during the winter after breeding in the Arctic regions of Russia. These elegant swans are easily identified by the yellow patches on their black bills. Smaller than other swan species, they still cut an impressive figure with wingspans around 1.9 metres and weights up to 9 kilograms. In Britain, you can spot flocks of Bewick's Swans at special wetland reserves like Slimbridge in Gloucestershire where they gather. Known for their loud trumpeting and honking calls, these vocal swans have faced population declines but are recovering thanks to conservation work protecting their habitats. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/bewicks-swan/

The Bearded Tit, scientifically known as Panurus biarmicus, is a fascinating little bird that calls the reedbeds of Europe and Asia home. These feathery friends are easy to spot with their long tails and distinctive black moustache-like markings on their faces, giving them a rather dashing appearance. Despite their name, they're not actually tits but are part of the parrotbill family. Bearded Tits are social birds, often seen flitting about in small family groups, chattering away merrily. They're particularly fond of reed habitats, where they skilfully construct their intricate nests suspended between the reed stems. These birds are true acrobats, clinging upside down to pluck reed seeds and insects with their slender bills. While not endangered, their specialised habitat preferences make them a bit of a special sighting. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/bearded-tit/

The Barnacle Goose is a striking bird found in the Arctic regions. These geese have a black head, neck, and chest with a white face patch. Their back is grey with black and white bars across the wings. They breed in remote Arctic islands like Svalbard and migrate to places like the UK for winter. Barnacle Geese mate for life and return to the same nest site each year. They mainly eat grass and plants but will also munch on berries, insects, and even molluscs like mussels. Highly social birds, they live in flocks and make a repetitive 'kronk kronk' call. Unfortunately, their numbers declined due to overhunting but conservation efforts have helped populations recover. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/barnacle-goose/

The Barn Owl, scientifically known as Tyto alba, is a fascinating bird found across the globe. These nocturnal hunters have a distinctive heart-shaped facial disc that aids in their exceptional hearing abilities, allowing them to locate prey with incredible precision. Their silent flight is made possible by their soft, fringed feathers, making them incredibly stealthy hunters. Barn Owls primarily prey on small mammals like mice, voles, and shrews, playing a crucial role in controlling rodent populations. These birds are known for their eerie screeches, which can be heard during the night. They often nest in barns, hence their name, but can also be found in hollow trees or man-made nest boxes. Despite their widespread distribution, Barn Owl populations face threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, and road casualties. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/barn-owl/

The Bar-Tailed Godwit is a incredible long-distance migrant bird. Every year, these wading birds fly over 11,000 km from their Arctic breeding grounds to locations like Australia and New Zealand. That's one of the longest non-stop journeys of any bird! During migration, they can double their body weight by storing huge fat reserves. On the breeding grounds, their long upturned bills help them pull worms and insects from muddy tundra pools. Though currently widespread, Bar-Tailed Godwit numbers are declining due to habitat loss along their migration routes and at overwintering sites. Protecting these vital stopover points is crucial for their conservation. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/bar-tailed-godwit/

You can't miss an Avocet with its bold black and white plumage and incredibly long, upturned bill. These wading birds nest together in wetland colonies found all over the world. The male and female Avocet take turns sitting on the eggs and caring for their chicks. Avocets get their food by swinging that curved bill through shallow water to grab insects, tiny shrimps and other little water creatures. They migrate away for the winter months after breeding but have been recovering well from historical low numbers due to efforts to protect their wetland homes. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/avocet/

The Arctic Tern, or Sterna paradisaea, is a remarkable bird known for its incredible migratory journey. It holds the record for the longest migration of any animal, covering about 71,000 kilometers annually. This journey stretches from its breeding areas in the northern Arctic and sub-Arctic to the Antarctic shores for wintering, allowing it to enjoy more daylight hours than any other being on the planet. The Arctic Tern is medium in size, recognizable by its black-capped head, white body, and greyish wings. Its diet mainly consists of fish and small sea creatures, which it catches by skillfully diving into the water. These birds can live for up to 30 years and usually breed on sandy coastal areas, where they lay between one and three eggs. The Arctic Tern's ability to thrive in varied climates and its epic migratory pattern are truly impressive. Learn more: https://binocularbase.com/bird/arctic-tern/

Blue Tits, known scientifically as Cyanistes caeruleus, are a familiar sight across the UK, delighting birdwatchers with their vivid blue and yellow feathers. These small birds are not just beautiful; they're also among the most adaptable and intelligent of British garden birds. Found everywhere from the busy gardens in cities to the quiet expanses of countryside forests and even upland areas, Blue Tits thrive in a variety of environments. They are particularly common in woodland areas but are just as happy in ornamental gardens and parks, making them one of the most widespread bird species in the country. What makes Blue Tits a favourite among bird enthusiasts is their acrobatic skills. They can hang from twigs and branches in seemingly impossible positions. This agility helps them hunt for their favourite food—small insects and spiders hidden in bark crevices. During the colder months, they also visit bird feeders, where they're known for their clever ways of accessing food, sometimes even figuring out how to open feeder lids! Blue Tits are not just charming; they are also very clever. They quickly learn new ways to find food and are known for their problem-solving abilities, often being observed using twigs as tools to extract insects from tight spots. This intelligence helps them adapt to changing conditions, whether it's a harsh winter or a scarcity of their usual food sources. Besides their beauty and brains, Blue Tits play a crucial role in our understanding of the environment. By monitoring their numbers and behaviours, scientists can gain insights into the broader health of ecosystems. Changes in Blue Tit populations can indicate shifts in climate or habitat quality, making them important indicators of ecological health. Next time you see a Blue Tit flitting about, take a moment to appreciate this small bird's big impact on our understanding of the natural world. They are not just a delight to watch but also a vital part of the ecosystem. For more info: https://binocularbase.com/bird/blue-tit/ For binoculars: https://binocularbase.com/uk/binoculars/