Thousands vote for Britain's best bird

Tens of thousands of people have been voting for what they think is the best bird in Britain.

Many countries already have a national bird symbol and although many think the Robin is Britain's, the UK doesn't actually have one.

The US has the Bald Eagle, New Zealand has the Kiwi and India has the Peacock.

The idea to search for Britain's national bird came from bird blogger and birdwatcher David Lindo.

The winning bird will be announced next month.

The Contenders:

Barn Owl

When barn owls fly they are almost silent, which helps them when hunting for prey.

Black Bird

Blackbirds are one of the most common birds in the UK.

Blue Tit

The blue tit is easily recognisable by its blue and yellow feathers.

Hen Harrier

During the breeding season male hen harriers perform a spectacular sky dance, with a collection of steep climbs, twists and rolls.

Kingfisher

The kingfisher doesn't have a calling song but does have a distinctive flight call which consists of a shrill whistle.

Mute Swan

The name mute comes from being a lot quieter than the common swan species.

Puffin

Puffins are excellent fliers, flapping their wings at up to 400 beats per minute and can reach speeds of 55 mph.

Red Kite

The red kite is very rare and there has been a 20 year conservation project to raise the population.

Robin

The robin is part of the thrush family which means they are related to the blackbird and nightingale.

Wren

Wrens were first recorded in Anglo-Saxon times but there is fossil evidence showing that they were around during the last Ice age which is 10-120,000 years ago.