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The main UK bird nesting season runs from March to August, though some species start earlier and a few continue into September.
That range matters practically as well as biologically: it’s the window in which cutting a hedge, clearing ivy or opening a nest box can be a criminal offence.
The dates that matter
- Main nesting season: March to August
- Don’t cut hedges or dense shrubs: 1 March to 31 August
- Nest boxes up by: mid-February (autumn is better)
- Clean nest boxes: September to January only
- Legal position: it’s an offence to damage or destroy an active nest
Month by month
| Month | What’s happening |
|---|---|
| January | Territorial singing increases. Some birds prospect nest sites. Long-tailed tits may begin building late in the month |
| February | Nest building starts in earnest for early species. Last chance to put up boxes. National Nest Box Week from the 14th |
| March | Blackbirds, robins and song thrushes begin laying. Hedge cutting stops |
| April | Peak nest building. Blue tits and great tits lay. Summer migrants arrive |
| May | Peak breeding. Tit chicks hatch, timed to the caterpillar peak. First fledglings appear |
| June | Fledglings everywhere. Second broods begin for many species |
| July | Later broods. Adults begin moulting; gardens go noticeably quiet |
| August | Season winding down. Late broods still possible. Moulting continues |
| September | Nesting effectively over. Hedge cutting and box cleaning can resume — check first |
| October-December | No nesting. Best time to put up new boxes and do hedge work |
By species
| Bird | Typical laying | Broods | Nest site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackbird | March-July | 2-3 | Hedges, shrubs, ivy, sheds |
| Robin | March-July | 2-3 | Low, hidden — banks, ivy, sheds, odd containers |
| Song thrush | March-July | 2-3 | Dense shrubs and hedges |
| Blue tit | April-May | 1 | Cavities, nest boxes (25mm hole) |
| Great tit | April-May | 1 | Cavities, nest boxes (28mm hole) |
| House sparrow | April-August | 2-3 | Roof spaces, cavities, colonial |
| Starling | April-June | 1 | Roof cavities, holes in trees |
| Goldfinch | April-August | 2 | Open cup nest, often high in trees |
| Wren | April-July | 2 | Domed nest in cover, ivy, sheds |
| Long-tailed tit | March-May | 1 | Elaborate domed nest of moss, lichen and spider silk |
| Swift | May-July | 1 | Roof cavities. Arrives late April/May, leaves by August |
| House martin | May-August | 2 | Mud cup under the eaves |
The single-brood gamble
Worth understanding, because it explains why blue tits behave so differently from blackbirds.
Blue tits and great tits raise one brood a year, but a large one — often eight to twelve eggs. They time it to coincide with the caterpillar peak on oak and other trees, a window lasting only a couple of weeks.
Everything rides on hitting it. Get it right and most chicks fledge. Miss it — because a warm early spring shifted the caterpillars before the birds anticipated — and an entire brood can fail. This timing mismatch is one of the more closely studied effects of a changing climate on UK birds.
Blackbirds and robins take the opposite approach: smaller clutches, several attempts across a long season, spreading the risk.
The law
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to:
- Intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built
- Intentionally take or destroy the eggs of any wild bird
- Intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird
Species on Schedule 1 have additional protection against disturbance while nesting.
Note the wording: the protection applies while the nest is in use or being built — not to a specific calendar window. In practice, March to August is when you must assume nests are active, but a February hedge cut could still catch an early long-tailed tit.
Hedge cutting
Don’t cut hedges or dense shrubs between 1 March and 31 August. This is the most common way active nests are destroyed accidentally, usually by people with no intention of harming anything.
If work genuinely can’t wait, a thorough check for nests is required first — and if a nest is found, the work stops.
There are also separate rules for agricultural hedgerows under cross-compliance regulations, which restrict cutting between 1 March and 31 August.
Other garden work
- Ivy and climbers — prime nest sites. Leave until autumn
- Tree work — schedule for winter. Tell your tree surgeon why
- Roof and building work — sparrows, starlings, swifts and house martins all nest in buildings. See our roof nesting guide
- Strimming rough grass — check first
- Nest boxes — don’t open, move or inspect between March and August
What to do through the season
February — preparation
- Get nest boxes up if you haven’t. 25mm for blue tits, 28mm great tits, 32mm house sparrows, open-fronted for robins
- Face them between north and east
- Finish any hedge work before the end of the month
March to April — building and laying
- Leave nesting material available — leave a patch of moss, don’t clear all the leaf litter
- Stop hedge and shrub work entirely
- Keep feeding: this window still falls within the 1 November to 30 April period when the full food range is recommended
May to July — chicks and fledglings
- Seeds and peanuts pause from 1 May under current guidance. Suet, fat balls and mealworms continue in small amounts
- Mealworms are particularly valuable now — associated with better chick survival
- Keep cats indoors at dawn and dusk, especially through the fledging period
- Expect fledglings on the ground. Most don’t need rescuing — see our baby bird guide
- Don’t use insecticides. Caterpillars are what the chicks are being fed
August to September — winding down
- Gardens go quiet as adults moult. This is normal, not a problem
- From September, hedge work and box cleaning can resume — check each box is genuinely empty first
Common questions
When exactly can I cut my hedge?
Between 1 September and 28 February, and check for nests even then — some species start very early. Never between March and August.
Is it illegal to remove a bird’s nest?
While it’s in use or being built, yes. An old, genuinely disused nest can usually be removed outside the breeding season.
Birds are nesting somewhere inconvenient. What can I do?
Wait. It’s an offence to disturb an active nest, and most are occupied for only a few weeks. Then fix the underlying gap in autumn.
Is the nesting season getting earlier?
Long-term BTO monitoring indicates many UK species now lay earlier than they did several decades ago, which is linked to warmer springs. It’s one reason to be cautious about late-winter hedge work.
Should I feed birds during the nesting season?
Current guidance pauses seeds and peanuts from 1 May, keeping suet, fat balls and mealworms available. Mealworms are especially useful for chick-rearing. See our seasonal guide.
Can I watch a nest box with a camera?
Yes, provided everything is installed and tested well before the season starts. You can’t be adjusting equipment once birds are nesting.
Related guides
- When to put up a nest box (and exactly where to site it)
- I’ve found a baby bird — what should I do?
- Birds nesting in your roof or eaves: what you can and can’t do
- When to feed garden birds: the new UK guidance explained
Sources: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; RSPB nesting and nest box guidance; British Trust for Ornithology Nest Record Scheme and research on laying date trends; Defra hedgerow cutting regulations.
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