The return of the goldfinch has been hailed as a success story, bringing a touch of Mediterranean atmosphere to Britain’s back gardens.

The tiny finch has become the 11th most common bird seen in gardens thanks to improvements in the quality and quantity of seeds left out for them. In 1970, the bird was such a reluctant visitor that goldfinches were seen in only 3 per cent of gardens across the country and was ranked in 33rd place.

They are now estimated to appear in 81 per cent of gardens in winter, joining robins, blackbirds and blue tits among the most familiar species.

The finding was made by the British Trust for Ornithology in its garden-bird feeding survey, which started in 1970 and is the longest-running survey of its type in Europe. David Glue, a research ecologist with the trust, said: “This is a wonderful success story. Our gardens now ring with the goldfinches’ wind-chime like song, making them sound more like those in the south of France. The delightful goldfinch is becoming one of the commonest visitors to our gardens.”

Research identified improvements in the bird food industry as the most likely reason for the bird’s greater presence in gardens. High-energy nyjer seed and sunflower hearts have proved a particular boon to goldfinches and with more householders prepared to provide specialist bird food the species has found an alternative source of food.

It is thought that bird tables have made the difference between life and death for many of the birds, which if reliant on dwindling seed sources in the countryside over winter and spring would face greater rates of starvation. The rise of the goldfinch over almost 40 years was described as meteoric by the trust, but it expressed concerns about other species. House sparrows and starlings were among the birds identified as losers in the survey after recording their lowest attendance levels.

The findings emphasised research that suggested house sparrows and starlings were declining, though the reasons for the slump remain unclear. “Whether this is a true reflection of their declining numbers, or our milder winters allowing them to feed elsewhere, only time will tell,” said Paul Stancliffe of the trust.

In 1970, the house sparrow was recorded in 97 per cent of gardens but has now fallen to 82 per cent. Starlings have suffered a greater decline, with the survey showing that they were present in 96 per cent of gardens in 1970 but are now found in 79 per cent.

The survey is regarded by researchers as providing a valuable source of data on bird populations in helping to gauge their rises and falls.

Goldfinches are widespread in Britain but prefer lowland areas where they can find plants suited to their dietary needs. In the 19th century their population suffered because the species became a popular caged bird. Slumps followed in the 20th century when weed-killers became widely used, destroying essential food supplies.

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