Birdwatching for beginners - some species like to hang around with others.

[Deb London]

Today it would have led to a more rapid identification if I'd known that Golden Plovers "are often in the company of Lapwings" in winter (quoted from the RSPB website).

Yesterday I watched Goldfinches and Siskins feeding together in the tops of a group of Alder trees.

Now I am compiling a list of birds that might hang around together, especially in the colder months.

So I have the following:

Golden Plovers ⇔ Lapwings

Siskins ⇔ Goldfinches

Can I amend these or add any more?

[Dogghound]

Off the top of my head.

Starlings and Lapwings

Rooks and Jackdows

Song thrush and Redwing

Brambling and Chaffinch

Redpoll and Siskin

Buntings and finches often form mixed flocks

Nutchhatch, treecreeper, goldcrest, firecrest, phylloscs associate with tit flocks

As a rule migrant birds often group with similar ones if they have flocking tendancys. i.e. American wigeon are often found in large flocks of eurasian wigeon.

[Deb London]

Brilliant! I did know about one of those, now I think about it. Surprised at a couple.

Cheers Dan.

[tigertom]

Will add to those allredy mentiond, little stint and curlew sands in with dunlin makes for fun ID'ing them have also seen golden plovers with gray plovers and both with lapwings, have also seen mistle thurshs with fieldfares
MIKE

[Deb London]

Brilliant, thanks Mike!

[billybirder]

I don't know if this is usual but one amazing morning the silver birch in my front garden (always good for birds) was hosting a fall of goldcrest, chiffchaff, spotted flycatchers, pied flycatchers and blackcap .. I was so excited! (only time I have ever seen pied flycatchers)

[Shrike]

Redstart,Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler.

[Deb London]

A couple of interesting lists. Thanks both.

[billybirder]

Originally Posted by Shrike

Redstart,Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler.

Interesting, I've only ever seen wood warbler on its own.. but I've seen it in the same place as my list above.

[Shrike]

Originally Posted by Shrike

Redstart,Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler.

Though i should add that these 3 actually just like to breed in the same specific habitat(downsloping woodland in a river valley)rather than actually knocking round together.