Serin – Birds in my back garden

Have you ever been lucky enough to see a European Serin in the UK? Unfortunately, many keen birdwatchers haven't due to their scarcity in the country. But, you may occasionally see reports of sightings in the UK that have caused great excitement. In this article I will answer the question, can you see the European Serin in the UK? As a general rule, the European Serin is not a resident in the UK but can still be found on their passage to southern and central Europe. When they are spotted in the UK, it is typically during the months of March and April although they have been recorded throughout the year. Of course, you can always hope to see a European Serin in the UK but what are your chances and where can you see them? Keen Birdwatchers Travel Miles For A Sight Of A European Serin So, what are your chances of seeing a Serin, could they come to your garden, and how can you tell if it is a Serin and not another species? The European Serin is a bird that attracts a lot of interest from those that love to find rare migrants and this passion was in full effect in December of 2021. An individual was seen in County Durham, a lot further north than expected, and twitchers gathered to get a good view. The visit did divide opinion with the locals, as some were thrilled to have this rare little bird in their area and others were confused by all the fuss for something so small. Part of the drive to see this bird before it moved on was that it was claimed as the first sighing in the county for more than 60 years!. This is disputable as there are reports of Serins passing through much later than the 1960s. But, this seems to be the first confirmed time that one stopped to hang around and take advantage of the location. Do You Get Any European Serin In The UK? One of the interesting things about twitchers driving miles to see a European Serin is that they aren't as rare as they are made out to be. It all depends on where you are in the country. The reports from County Durham and other northern areas are exciting because the bird is so rarely seen that far north. You might not get another up there for another 60 years. However, there are records of the bird visiting other sites more frequently and even breeding here. The BTO estimates an average of 39 recorded sightings per year. The majority of these reports are in Southern England, around Devon, Dorset, Sussex, and East Anglia. It also isn't uncommon for people to spot them in Jersey. This makes sense as these areas are the first places the birds will see when making their journeys north. So if they find a suitable place to stay here, why go further north and waste precious time and energy? Breeding pairs are rare, so you would have to be very sure of where to look for one, but there is a stronger possibility of coming across a breeding European Serin and its offspring down in Dorset than anywhere else. In fact, the species has bred there since 1967. Where Are European Serin Normally Found? The story is a little different for the European Serin on the mainland. Here there is an estimated average of 43 million pairs. Most Serin will breed on the mainland rather than staying put in the UK. They will head to open woodland across southern and central Europe and down into North Africa. The brood sizes are quite small compared to some of the songbirds in our garden and they may only lay 3 eggs. They do so in nests in shrubs or trees. How Can You Tell If You Have Seen A European Serin? There are a few obstacles to overcome if you want to see a European Serin in the wild in the UK. The first is the large number of twitchers that may take over the site where it was last seen, potentially driving the bird away. European SerinMeasurementsLength:11-12cmWingspan:18-20cmWeight:12-15gDiet:Seeds, buds and small invertebratesFigures from RSPB.org.uk The second is the small size of this little finch, which makes it far more difficult to spot than some other migrants that pass through. When a vulture or pelican shows up, then you will know about it, but a little songbird like this can hide pretty well in a hedge or tree. The third is that there are some lookalikes among British bird species that we may end up confusing the bird with. What Does a European Serin Look Like? The chest and belly of the European Serin are a stronger shade of yellow than you usually see in the wild in the UK. There are also notable yellow markings around the face, along with the wings, and on the tail with male birds. But, these patches are broken up with brown and strong streaks. This makes it look more finch-like than the canary. Other distinguishing features on this little bird include the small finch bill for handling sees and a medium-sized tail with a V at the end. This is because of the vibrancy and extent of the yellow plumage on the back. This is to the point where if you saw a Serin but didn't know they existed, you might wonder if someone's pet bird had escaped. Still, the markings on the Serin aren't the same as the canary, which has a more uniform bright yellow across the body. As you may expect, the female European Serin doesn't have quite the same intensity of marking and colouration as her male counterpart. This is common with many bird species where the males need to be more conspicuous to attract a mate. Still, there is plenty of yellow on the female in a paler tone and many of the same markings. Juvenile birds are different again. It can take some tie for the yellow to come through and the streaked plumage is usually more pronounced. This makes it look like other fledgling birds who depend on camouflage before fending for themselves and reaching maturity. These variations mean that you might not immediately realise you have a Serin in front of you. Also, it makes it easier to mistake a Serin for something else. What does the word Serin mean? The Latin name of the Serin is Serinus Serinus, which is believed to derive from the French name for the canary. What Birds Might You Mistake A Serin For? The European Serin could be mistaken for a Siskin or Yellowhammer as they are known to have similar markings. It is hard to mistake a Serin for a Canary here in the UK. However, it is much harder to distinguish between a Serin and a Siskin or a Yellowhammer. These birds are very similar in that they have strong yellow markings on an otherwise brown and mottled body. It helps to familiarise yourself with these two birds if you ever go out looking for a Serin in the UK. Seeing a Siskin or Yellowhammer is a treat in itself because neither bird is particularly common or easy to see. But, they aren't on the same level as that rare migrant you were aiming for. Let's start with the Siskin. There are stronger similarities between a female Siskin and a Serin than any of the other yellow birds in the UK. There is a pale yellow tone to the chest with some streaking. There are also yellow bars on the wings and a stripe over the eye. But the intensity of the patterns aren't the same as a Serin and you don't get the same curve of yellow on the face. However, what you do get is a similar beak and tail shape. The male Siskin is more distinctive with the streaked blacked marks on the underside, black and yellow bars and the wings, and a black crown. It isn't as bold, but it is striking in its own way. Then there is the Yellowhammer. This bird is fairly yellow, with a nice pale yellow chest and feathers around the face. However, the saturation of yellow and the amount across the body isn't the same as the Serin. The back and wings of the Yellowhammer are a lot more plain and brown. There also isn't the same streaking on the male in its bold summer plumage. The female, meanwhile, is more streaked but paler again. The Yellowhammer is also a little bit bigger and more likely to be found around farmland where there are field margins. They are another bird with a distinct call. With some imagination, the phrasing sounds like "a little bit of bread and no cheese". Finally, we need to talk about the Greenfinch. The Greenfinch isn't as green as the name suggests and has more yellow-green tones across the body. The paler juveniles are also more yellow than green. This could cause a little confusion when watching finches flocking together. But, the lack of intensity and the size of the bird is a giveaway here. Still, Greenfinches are getting rarer due to disease, so seeing any youngsters is a cause for celebration. Could You Find A Serin In Your Garden? It isn't entirely impossible for a Serin to decide to show up in a residential garden rather than a random field or lay-by somewhere. They are finches on the lookout for safe places to rest and a good food source. So, they might take advantage of any seed going and show up next to some of the other finch species in your garden. But, again, this is where you need to be careful identifying the birds to be sure it is a Serin and not a Siskin. The chances of one appearing are marginal because of the small numbers that show up in this country. But, the odds are higher if you live close to the know breeding sites in Dorset. Those parent birds and the fledging young need somewhere safe with a reliable supply of food, and your garden might be perfect if you have the right types of seeds. A word of advice here is to be careful when mentioning any sightings of these birds, or other rare species, in your private garden. You may want to share your photos and successes on social media, but this could lead to many people wanting to find out where the bird is. Serins are predominantly seed eaters and this makes it easy for them to find food and take advantage of feeders in our gardens. They do, however, switch to insects in the breeding season. So, garden owners near those breeding sites can also try adding mealworms to the menu. This switch in diet is a common trait for small songbirds so that they and their young can get more of what they need to thrive. Insects are packed full of protein but also have the water content missing in dried out seeds. This is vital for the young who can't access water unless they fledge. Improving Your Chances Of Seeing A Serin You can increase your chances of finding a Serin if you know one is in the area by looking for flocks of other finches. Finches are quite happy to travel and feed together in larger flocks because this provides them with a little more safety in case of predators. There shouldn't be a problem as long as there is enough food to go around. So, if you see a group of finches feeding in the spring or autumn around the time of the Serin's passage to this country, it is worthwhile looking out for a flash of yellow. Another trick you can use before searching for Serin is to familiarise yourself with their call. If you have a flock of birds feeding actively in a field, they can get vocal as they communicate with each other. The Serin's call is quite distinctive and often described as a buzzing trill. This should sound distinctive enough from the other finches or other songbirds in the area that you can pick them out. Don't Give Up Hope Of Seeing A European Serin In The UK The chances of finding a European Serin in this country may be low, but they aren't down to zero. Some birds visit the country each year in some parts of England, so you may get lucky if you live in Dorset or other areas around that south-eastern coast. Or, one may drift off to County Durham again. Keep an eye out for yellow birds mixed with other finches and maybe you will find one. See Also How long do magpies live?: Australia and UK!Parakeets In The U.K. - How Did They Get Here?When do blue tits nest?Where Do Kestrels Nest In the UK?The difference between female and male blackbirds Video Birds on the feeder in my garden - Slow motion