Rude birds: A guide to tits, cocks, shags and more

You’ve heard of rude botany, now it’s all about rude birds as we celebrate the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 2023! 

Admit it, we’ve all giggled at some point at the word ‘tit’, but there are so many more possibilities for your cheeks to go red when it comes to the world of birds! From cocks to hooters, someone was definitely having a laugh when they came up with some of our feathered friends’ common names.

If you’re taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch this year you’ll want to look out for some of the species I’ve listed below. You could even play rude bird bingo!

 

About the Big Garden Birdwatch Taking place on 27th to 29th, this annual birdwatching event aims to help the RSPB understand how the UK’s birds are faring. It’s free to take part, and you don’t need a garden – just head to an outdoor space, such as a balcony or local park, and count how many species of birds you see in one hour. Then, tell the RSPB what you saw. Even if you saw nothing, that still counts. Sign up for the birdwatch here.

 

Now, onto those rude birds…

Rude birds of the UK

Tits

Small birds with short legs and beaks, tits are pretty common in the UK. There are eight species of tit here, with the most common being the great and blue tit, and the rarest being the willow tit. Four types of tit are avid visitors to UK gardens, and due to their similar appearances, they’re commonly confused. Here are four to look out for:

Great tit

 

Blue tit

 

Coal tit

 

Long tailed tit

 

Cocks

A cock is a male chicken (also known as a rooster), while young male chickens are labelled cockerels. However, the term ‘cock’ can also be applied to males of other bird species, while females of certain species can be called hens. It’s all a bit confusing, so let’s just cover some male chickens that you might spot in the UK if you were to wander around some farmland.

 

Rhode Island Red

 

Leghorn

 

Silkie

 

Hooters

Definitely not a scientific term, ‘hooter’ is just a bit of a comedic name for an owl. There are only five resident species of owl in the UK, and these are:

 

Barn owl

 

Little owl

 

Long eared owl

 

Short eared owl

 

Tawny owl

 

If you’re lucky enough to spot one of these evasive creatures, you’ll no doubt find yourself watching in awe!

 

Shags

Closely related to cormorants, these two types of birds are often confused due to their similar appearances. Shags are coastal birds that are similar in size to geese. During the breeding season, you’ll see adults with deep green plumage and a little tufted crest on their foreheads. They have long beaks, which are a bit more delicate-looking than a cormorant’s. Here’s what they look like in comparison:

 

Cormorant (left) and shag (right)

 

Shags are found all year round, and are resident along the coasts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and the south west of England.

 

How to attract birds to your garden

It’s easy to make an outdoor space more attractive to birds! Small actions such as putting out food, putting up shelters and planting bird-friendly plants can make a huge difference. If you’re wondering where to get your supplies from, CJ Wildlife offer an extensive range of bird food, houses and more – and orders over £35 are shipped free!

A few of my recommendations from CJ Wildlife include:

 

National Trust Birch Log Nest Box, £12.45

 

Peanut cake with mealworms, £3.85

 

Vaccinum Goldtraube ‘Blueberry Bush’ £14.95

 

Share your rude birds with me!

Know any more rude birds that are residents of, or perhaps visitors to, the UK? Let me know in the comments section below, and don’t forget to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch!