The RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch has revealed that Britain's smallest garden birds suffered dramatically during this year's harsh winter - 530,000 volunteers recorded 8.5 million birds in gardens across the United Kingdom.
The House Sparrow retain its position as the most sighted bird but its total recorded number is down 17% on 2009.
The coal Tit and Goldcrest were most affected as their tiny bodies failed to resist the biting and prolonged cold - these small birds have to eat throughout the day to survive and with the frozen ground staying covered in snow for several weeks, many appear to have succumbed.
The Blackbird actually rose in numbers and knocked the Starling out of the top two first the first time in ten years.
View the Big Garden Birdwatch data by countries of the British Isles and also narrowed down into counties.
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