House sparrows are the most common birds in New Zealand gardens, according to counting in the second stocktake of garden birds.
The survey was conducted by Landcare Research, along with councils and science and conservation groups.
More than 2000 people spent an hour noting the greatest number of each species they saw or heard at any one time in mid-July.
Survey head Eric Spurr is thrilled by the public's interest in the survey.
"People are just so interested in birds and caring from them. They're doing the right things for them by helping them to get food and I think we will see an increase in numbers of native birds in our towns and cities," he says.
Mr Spurr also says this year's figures suggest silver eye numbers are slightly down while house sparrow tallies are marginally up.
He says the survey needs to be repeated annually for more meaningful results.
