Year-round calendar
Month-by-month UK garden bird calendar
A practical UK garden bird calendar from January to December: what to watch, seasonal feeding dates, water, nesting care and garden jobs.
January–April and November–December are the current seed-and-peanut period.
May–October is the current pause; favour natural food and small suitable alternatives.
Water, hygiene and occupied-nest protection matter throughout the year.
What should you do for garden birds each month in the UK? Keep clean shallow water available, manage natural planting and protect active nests. Feeding changes at two key dates under the RSPB's 2026 update and BTO guidance: seeds and peanuts are paused 1 May–31 October and can restart 1 November–30 April. Weather, region and species shift the details; this is a practical routine, not a migration timetable.
January: keep cold-weather provision manageable
Check feeders for frozen or damp food, offer modest fresh portions in contained equipment and change water daily. Clear ice without chemicals. Our winter-feeding guide has the full routine, while the winter-water guide covers frost.
February: watch demand, not the calendar alone
Some birds may sing or investigate nest sites, but cold weather can still dominate. Continue small fresh fills and weekly feeder cleaning. Check nest boxes from outside without opening occupied ones. Nest-box placement matters more than rushing to move a box once birds show interest.
March: make space for natural food
Early flowers and emerging insects begin to matter. Keep an eye on feeder turnover and remove leftovers. Delay hedge cutting where nest activity may begin; active nests are protected. Spring feeding explains the approaching date change.
April: prepare for the seed pause
This is the final month of the current November–April seed-and-peanut period. Use up only what you can keep fresh rather than stockpiling a large open pack. Leave garden cover undisturbed where birds are nesting and refresh shallow water daily. The breeding-season guide separates adult feeding from chick care.
May: pause seeds and peanuts
From 1 May, follow the current May–October pause. Clean and dry seed feeders before storage. If you offer suitable mealworms or suet, give only small fresh portions in contained equipment. Let parents find natural invertebrates for young birds; do not hand-feed chicks.
June: give fledglings room
A fully feathered youngster hopping in a shrub may still be under parental care. Watch from a distance and keep pets away rather than collecting it. Follow our fledgling decision guide for genuine danger or injury. Continue daily water changes.
For the full warm-weather food and hygiene routine, see feeding garden birds in summer.
July: check water and food more often in heat
Move a portable shallow bath into safe shade if needed, refill it daily and check it again when very hot. Remove softened fat food. Avoid heavy work around active nests. The heatwave checklist gives a short response plan.
August: leave some cover and seedheads
Do not strip every faded flower or tidy every hedge. Seedheads, berries and insects support natural foraging. Keep water clean and do not restart seeds or peanuts early. Why seedheads help explains what to retain.
September: expect changing garden visitors
Autumn movement and natural food can make feeder use variable; a quiet feeder is not necessarily a problem. Maintain water, leave suitable berries and continue the seed pause. The autumn guide covers how to prepare a clean winter setup.
October: clean before the restart
The pause still applies through 31 October. Dismantle stored feeders, clean and dry them, check hangers and choose a manageable food pack for November. Do not add new food to old residue. When to start feeding again answers the date directly.
November: restart cautiously
From 1 November, seeds and peanuts can return under current advice. Start with one clean contained feeder and a small fresh fill. Check what birds actually take before increasing. Use rigid mesh for whole peanuts and remove netting from fat products.
December: combine food, water and hygiene
Cold spells can increase demand, but a full feeder that remains wet is worse than a small fresh portion. Check baths for ice, change water daily and clean feeders at least weekly. Natural fruit may also help winter thrushes; see what to feed winter thrushes.
The routine that does not change
The RHS advice recommends fresh water daily and a weekly bath clean. The BTO hygiene guidance emphasises small portions and regular cleaning whenever food is offered. Avoid conventional flat bird tables and clear spill beneath feeders. Never disturb an occupied nest; government guidance explains protection for wild birds and active nests.
Do I have to feed birds every month?
No. A wildlife-friendly garden can provide plants, insects, cover and clean water without supplementary food. If you cannot maintain a hygienic feeding point, pause feeding rather than leaving old food outside.
Does every UK garden follow the same timing?
No. Birds and plants vary by region and year. The May and November feeding dates above reflect current national guidance; sightings, nesting and weather are local and less predictable.
Helpful products
Two year-round maintenance basics
A refillable shallow bath and a brush for any feeders you use are useful across seasons. The best purchase is still the one you can clean and maintain.
Jacobi Jayne AnyPlace ceramic bird bath
A low ceramic dish with sloping sides, a stated 35cm diameter and 1-litre capacity.
For a wide, low water dish on a stable surface. Its listed 35mm overall height is not a measured water depth; check grip and usable shallows before filling.
Jacobi Jayne long bird feeder cleaning brush
A long-handled natural-bristle brush made for reaching inside bottle-shaped and tubular bird feeders.
Best for cleaning the length of feeder tubes. Drawback: a smaller detail brush may still be useful around ports and threads.