Deciduous woods and forest on the other hand support a wide range of birds, especially during the summer. Seed- and fruit-eaters such as finches, thrushes and pigeons abound, as do insect-eaters like tits and warblers. Tree-living birds like treecreepers, nuthatches and woodpeckers are common, and jays can gather corns. Birds of prey, such as sparrowhawks, and tawny owls feed on the smaller woodland animals. The thick bushy undergrowth brings in wrens, and provides nesting places for many of the smaller forest birds. Several birds, such as starlings and crows, gather in woods to sleep. However, winter sees the woods and forests comparatively deserted. Many of the summer birds are migrants, and most of the others leave to roam in fields. Spring is the time to see woodland birds before the tree canopy becomes to thick, later in the year birds like the pied flycatcher 'disappear' into the think leave canopy and become almost impossible to see.

Coniferous forest is a rather inhospitable place for birds, especially during the harsh winter. With the exception of the crossbill and capercaillie, few birds can feed from the trees themselves. Insect-eaters such as warblers, tits and woodpeckers may come for the summer. There are also some birds of prey, especially the goshawk, and owls like the long eared owl.

Two main kinds of woods and forests are found in Europe - coniferous and deciduous. Coniferous forest consists of stands of tall needle-leaved trees such as pines and firs. These trees do not lose their leaves in winter, and the ground beneath the thick canopy of branches overhead is perpetually cast in shadow and is consequently rather bare. Coniferous trees are adapted to cold climates, and this type of forest is found mainly in the north of Norway and Sweden, across Finland, and towards the summits of high mountain ranges, such as the Alps. However, plantations of coniferous trees may be found in many other places including Scotland and parts of England and Wales. Deciduous woods and forests are found in milder climates. Although the great forests of former times no longer cover the land, there are many areas of deciduous woods and forest to be found throughout Europe outside the Arctic and below the coniferous belt on mountain slopes. Deciduous trees are mostly broad-leaved and drop their leaves in winter. This allows light to penetrate to the forest floor, encouraging bushes to grow up.