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I'm disappointed that two of my favourite birds missed out on the shortlist.
I would vote for crow and pigeon with sparrow and moorhen for a place. And wagtails.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31904842
The "official list"
Mute Swan
Red kite
Hen Harrier
Puffin
Barn Owl
Kingfisher
Wren
Robin
Blackbird
Blue Tit
I would consider a national bird one that most people have some opportunity to see in the wild.
Puffin? Barn Owl? Lovely but hard to see in daily life.
Kingfishers are sublime, but I saw my first one in the flesh (fleetingly) last summer.
I am a great fan of our local red kites, who are astonishing.
Never seen a hen harrier in the wild.
Most people will see the others - swan, robin, wren, blackbird and blue tit.
Robin is apparently favourite....
I'm in a flap about this. I'm spitting feathers. Where is the market?
I would vote for crow and pigeon with sparrow and moorhen for a place. And wagtails.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31904842
The "official list"
Mute Swan
Red kite
Hen Harrier
Puffin
Barn Owl
Kingfisher
Wren
Robin
Blackbird
Blue Tit
I would consider a national bird one that most people have some opportunity to see in the wild.
Puffin? Barn Owl? Lovely but hard to see in daily life.
Kingfishers are sublime, but I saw my first one in the flesh (fleetingly) last summer.
I am a great fan of our local red kites, who are astonishing.
Never seen a hen harrier in the wild.
Most people will see the others - swan, robin, wren, blackbird and blue tit.
Robin is apparently favourite....
I'm in a flap about this. I'm spitting feathers. Where is the market?
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Robin is a full bank job. Associated with Christmas cards etc.
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Carol from Essex a shocking omission.
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Dodo might be the most similar in character.
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I see your point Mr E but if it is greeting card PR why not the stork or easter chick?
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Kingfisher for me with the Blue Tit first reserve.
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Surely the thieving Magpie would be the most representative of a Nation that seems to encourage the 'entitlement' culture so prevalently these days?
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I'm not aware that magpies steal.
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Para, they are a bit like your average Chav as they like to decorate their home with shiny things.
Apparently a myth though according to this article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28797519 |
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Did a magpie ruin your life Big Issue?
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Birdwatchers are spoiled around my neck of the woods, we have a huge variety. There are loads of buzzards, kestrels and owls; puffins, waxwings, and even the odd peregrine or swan. The local mafia of the feathered kind around here, however, are the jackdaws, none of the other birds dare mess with them.
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 Sorry aka  |
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Magpies are vermin ,due to a few reasons they are well out of control and were never so prevalent than they are now .
between them and cats there is hardly a song bird left in the country cull long overdue ...cats first  |
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We had a Robin visit 3 times a day. Brave wee thing. Got nearer and nearer and eventually started to eat out of my hand. Didn`t appear one morning and neighbour told me her cat had brought a dead Robin into the house
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I vote for the Starling. Beautiful colour plumage but hardly anybody notices. Sticks with us all the year round and there is nothing more spectacular in the sky than a murmuration.
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Worst thing you can do mac even worse than people who put bread out everyday. Best that birds remain wary of humans same as every other wild creature.
With bread the same birds visit every day gorging themselves on the bread but don't get the vitamins their natural diet gives them. That's part of the reason for the demise in our more popular birds.  |
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You`re probably right aka.
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I used to do it
 but got put wise when I joined the RSPCB.Now I have nesting boxes up but only supply food (bought from the pet shop) in severe weather. |
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Bula (Brilliant horse by the way), I`m long term member of RSPB too. Does that mean I can call you "brother"
 I don`t feed birds bread either. I buy bird food in bulk from http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/birdfood.html You are probably aware of it, with it being most popular site of it`s kind, but if not you may save yourself a few bob long term. |
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I'd go for goldfinch or nuthatch - for colouring.
Robin must be strongly odds on. Everyone knows what it looks like. Garden friendly. Red colour also in Union Jack/Flag. |
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Robin is nailed on, I would have thought. Glad to see no vermin on the list
My choice would be the feisty Wren - I like his property-developing, estate agency style, starts several nests, chooses a mate then shows her round the sites and she chooses one she likes. If there is plenty of food around he repeats the process with another mate. |
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Cant remember the last time a seen one .
cats prob got them all |
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I would have thought a manky Pigeon shitting on your back would represent Britain rather well.
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Surprised there is not a decent pair of t1ts in this
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Cuckoo would have been a good outside bet, where's the imagination of the people who did the list?
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Cuckoo = Opportunistic greedy immigrant squatter. Excellent choice
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The way this country is going down the tubes i would have thought " a lame duck" would be most appropriate.
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Jay.
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Jay = Pretty but vermin.
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Surprised there are no fans of swallows on here
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I fink she drinks in my pub...............
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They come over here scaring native birds , raiding feed tables ........Ring Necked Parakeet for me.
Very few of us see a Puffin for goodness sake . Where is the magnificent collared dove , the stomach on legs that is the Wood Pigeon and as for the halfwit who calls the wonderful Jay names...... |
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Oozlum Bird
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Running around with you
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sixtwosix - this halfwit has been a bird-watcher for nearly 60 years
 . Jays are beautiful birds but they are among the ruthless thugs of the bird world |
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It is strange I suppose that population wise for a lot of people the birds they are most likely to see day to day are pigeons, but they aren't not on that list. I suppose it's because unlike their pretty cousins like wood pigeons and doves, urban pigeons tend to be dirty scavenging mutant bird zombies with bits of their feet missing, filled with a lust for brains.
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Nonsense , Jays are constantly harassed by magpies ........
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Saw a documentary on pigeons .
The suggestion was they must be aware of what they are (akin to mankind) as they only mate with different versions of pigeon to themselves, so strengthening the gene pool. |
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Perhaps you just choose a poor word in vermin .
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Not my recent experience here in Sussex, Sixtwosix. They increasingly seem to get along better than they used to. In any event, the Magpies are preoccupied with attacks by crows (and avoiding getting shot!).
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