Early birds raring to go

Spring may seem a long way off, but for some birds which breed early it has just begun, as Charlie Elder reports

Some of our resident birds are impatient – unable to wait until spring to start raising young. For a diverse range of species, preparations for the breeding season may already be under way, whether finding mates, re-establishing territories or mending nests.

The advantage of getting ahead and breeding early is that there is less competition for resources and plenty of the year left to try again if you fail first time around. However, there is also the risk that

the weather is less forgiving and the timing might not coincide with an abundance of food needed to meet the demands of hungry chicks.

Here is a selection of a few common and widespread birds that could soon be gathering building materials, singing their hearts out or even laying eggs.