HOUSE sparrows are the most spotted birds in Cumbria despite being on a conservation ‘red list’, according to an RSPB survey.

The birds are highlighted by Birds of Conservation Concern as being of ‘highest conservation priority – species needing urgent action’.

The RSPB said the fact that they were the most common birds spotted by the 6,000 Cumbrian participants of the Big Garden Birdwatch “shows just how valuable our gardens can be.”

More than 585,000 people across the country took part in this year’s Birdwatch, spending an hour over the weekend of January 24-25 watching their gardens.

Sightings of every bird that featured in this year’s national top 20 increased on the numbers recorded in 2014, apart from the three finches - chaffinch, goldfinch and greenfinch

This trend was seen in Cumbria, with lower numbers of chaffinch and greenfinch spotted in people’s gardens compared to last year.

Similar numbers of goldfinch were recorded in Cumbria, but the bird fell from sixth to ninth in the region’s rankings.

However, the average number of robins seen visiting gardens nationally was at its highest since 2011, helping it climb three places to number seven. The robin also climbed up the sightings table in Cumbria, moving up from tenth position to seventh.

Blackbirds became the UK’s most widespread garden bird after being spotted in more than 90 per cent of UK gardens. In Cumbria, blackbirds held onto fourth position but were seen in 94 per cent of gardens – an increase on last year.

In Cumbria, the wren flew into 23rd position after being spotted in 37 per cent of gardens compared to 21 per cent last year.

Despite the Big Garden Birdwatch results showing a drop in finch numbers this year, scientists believe there is no need to panic just yet.

Dr Daniel Hayhow, RSPB Conservation Scientist, said: “Birds such as goldfinch, greenfinch and chaffinch may not have been as reliant on food found in our gardens during the cold snap because of a decent natural seed supply found in the wider countryside this winter following a good summer.”

Meanwhile, in the RSPB's Big Schools' Birdwatch, Cumbria bucked the national trend with starlings stealing the show, ahead of blackbirds - which were the most often spotted birds in playgrounds nationally.