Puffin
Fratercula arctica
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
30cm. Instantly recognizable by the bright bill and clown-like face markings. Smaller than Razorbill and Guillemot. In winter the bill is smaller and greyer, and the face is smudged.
VOICE
Growling ‘aar’.
HABITAT
Breeds on clifftops and islands with grassy slopes in north-west Europe. Far out at sea during winter.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats mainly fish, especially sand-eels, and capable of holding several at a time in its notched bill. Highly gregarious, nesting in huge colonies. Nests in burrows or rocky crevices.
Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylle
Length 35cm. Similar in shape to Guillemot, but much smaller. Breeding plumage distinctive, velvety black with red feet and a white wing patch. Non-breeding plumage variable but whiter, retaining the white wing patch. Displays with a high-pitched cricket-like ‘siirrrrp’. Breeds in crevices and caves on rocky coasts in north of Britain and in Ireland.
Little Auk
Alle alle
Length 20cm. Starling-sized auk that is dumpy and black above and white below, and has a whirring flight, often in flocks. Breeds at edge of Arctic; winters in northern north Atlantic. In Britain occurs on coasts in winter; may occur in large numbers off east coast.
Feral Pigeon
Columba livia var. domestica
Rock Dove
Columba livia
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
33cm. With black wingbars and a white rump, many feral pigeons resemble the Rock Doves from which they originate. However, colours vary from white to very dark grey, and some may be pale fawn.
VOICE
A soft cooing.
HABITAT
Feral pigeon common in Europe in towns and cities, where it breeds on buildings. Rock Dove locally common in mountains and on rocky coasts, particularly in southern Europe. In Britain local on coasts in western Scotland and western Ireland.
FOOD AND HABITS
Seeds, grain and discarded human food. Rock Dove nests in hollows and crevices, and on rock ledges.
Stock Dove
Columba oenas
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
30cm. Smaller and less chunky than Woodpigeon, with a noticeable black trailing edge to its black-tipped wings. Lacks the wingbars and white rump of feral pigeon.
VOICE
A monotonously repeated ‘roo-roo-oo’.
HABITAT
Woods and farmland, parks and gardens. Breeds across Europe. Absent from Iceland.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on seeds and grain, often in flocks with Woodpigeons. Nests in a hollow tree or burrow.
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
41cm. Largest European pigeon. Adult has white rings around neck, and a white bar across each wing. Wings make a clattering sound on take-off and landing.
VOICE
A soft, often repeated ‘coo-coo-coo-cu-coo’.
HABITAT
Woodland, farmland, parks and gardens across Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats seeds, berries and beechmast. Feeds in flocks throughout winter. Nest a platform of twigs in a tree or bush.
Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
32cm. Slimmer than other pigeons. Back is brown-buff, head and underparts pinkish-brown. Black ring around nape of neck, and wings with whitish undersides.
VOICE
A rapidly repeated ‘koo-koo, koo’.
HABITAT
Towns, gardens and farmland with hedges. Has spread across Europe from Asia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on seeds and grain. Frequent bird-table visitor. Large flocks assemble at grain stores. Nest a platform of twigs in a tree or bush, or on a ledge.
Streptopelia turtur
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
26cm. Adult rich bronze with the back and wings mottled with brown and black. Underparts pinkish-buff shading to white on the belly. Head and neck grey with chequered black-and-white collar patches.
VOICE
Distinctive gentle purring, ‘turrr, turrr’, from which the common name of the species is derived.
HABITAT
Woodland and farmland with hedges and scrub. Breeds over much of Europe except far north. Winters in tropical Africa.
FOOD AND HABITS
European population has declined substantially, partly because of changing farming practices resulting in scarcity of plants on which it feeds, and partly due to shooting of migrating birds in Mediterranean. Nest a platform of twigs in a bush.
Ring- necked Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
40cm. Sleek parrot introduced to many parts of Europe from Asia. Male brilliant green with a long tail, pink nape band, black chin and red bill. Female plainer with an all-green head.
VOICE
Very noisy; loud screeching call in flight or when perched.
HABITAT
In Europe mainly parks with old trees. Locally common and increasing in south-east England, especially London.
FOOD AND HABITS
Diet consists of buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds. Nests mainly in tree hollows.
Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
34cm. Slim-looking bird with long sweptback wings and a long rounded tail. Grey with a pale, barred breast. Some females may be rufous. Juvenile barred, brown, with a white patch on the nape.
VOICE
Male gives well-known ‘cuckoo’ call; female has a bubbling trill.
HABITAT
Wide range of habitats, including moorland, heathland, open woodland, parks and large gardens. Summer visitor to Europe except Iceland, arriving from Africa in April and leaving in late summer.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats insects and is capable of swallowing hairy caterpillars. Females lay eggs in other birds’ nests.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
34cm. Golden-spangled back, heart-shaped pale face and white underparts. Longer wings and legs than Tawny Owl.
VOICE
Call is a screech; also makes hissing and snoring sounds.
HABITAT
Fields, meadows and marshes; needs open country with rough grassland for hunting.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds mainly on rodents, especially rats and voles. Often nests in buildings, usually old barns and farm outhouses. Largely nocturnal, and often seen in car headlights as it searches verges for prey.
Long- eared Owl
Asio otus
Length 34cm. Cryptic brown plumage, long ear-tufts usually flattened in flight and an orange iris. Underparts more densely streaked than those of Short-eared Owl, and wingtips and tail more finely barred. Voice a long low hoot during breeding season; juvenile utters a high-pitched ‘squeaky gate’ call. Breeds mainly in coniferous forests across Europe, often nesting in old crows’ nests. In Britain uncommon
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Length 37cm. Paler than Long-eared Owl with less obvious ear-tufts and yellow eyes ringed with black feathers. In flight shows more uniform dark wingtips, white trailing edges to the wings and coarse barring on tail. Voice a hollow ‘boo boo boo boo’ in breeding season; call ‘tchee-op’. Occurs on moors, heaths, wet meadows and open areas, nesting on the ground. Winters in southern and western Europe. In Britain breeds in north and is widespread in winter.
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
38cm. Woodland owl more likely to be heard than seen as it is almost entirely nocturnal. Brown plumage, broad rounded wings, feathered feet, dark eyes and a round face mask.
VOICE
Song consists of familiar hooting, ‘hooh, hu-huhu hooh’, call a sharp ‘kewick’.
HABITAT
Deciduous woodland, forests and parks with mature trees across Europe except north and Ireland.
FOOD AND HABITS
Mostly eats small mammals such as Wood Mice, and small birds. Nests in holes in trees. May be betrayed at roost in daylight by small birds mobbing it.
Little Owl
Athene noctua
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
22cm. More likely to be seen in daylight than Tawny or Barn Owls. Yellow eyes, a ‘fierce’ expression, long legs and brown upper parts spotted with white. Flight a fast flap and glide.
VOICE
Call a ringing ‘kiew, kiew’.
HABITAT
Open country and farmland with scattered trees, and open woodland. An introduced species now widespread in much of Europe, including Britain, except north and north-west.
FOOD AND HABITS
Diet is chiefly large insects and other invertebrates, such as worms. Nests in holes in trees.
European Nightjar
Caprimulgus europaeus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
27cm. Species with cryptic camouflage resembling bark and leaves that allows bird to conceal itself very well on the ground or on a branch. Male shows bold white flashes on the wingtips and tip of tail during flight, which is falcon-like.
VOICE
Sings at night with a regular deep, rather mechanical churring. Call a frog-like ‘kruu-ik’; in flight ‘fiorr-fiorrr-fiorr’ with clapping of wings.
HABITAT
Breeds on heaths and moors, and in forest edges and clearings. Summer visitor to much of Europe except far north. Winters in Africa.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on insects caught on the wing. Nests in a well-concealed simple scrape on the ground.
Common Swift
Apus apus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
17cm. Long and narrow crescent-shaped wings, a torpedo-shaped body, a short forked tail and very short legs. Plumage is dark brown with a pale throat.
VOICE
Shrill monotone scream, often uttered by tight flocks flying around buildings at roof-top height.
HABITAT
Breeds in towns and villages, but feeds in the sky, often several kilometres from nest sites. Summer visitor to northern Europe (except Iceland), usually arriving in May and leaving in August.
FOOD AND HABITS
Adapted to feed on high-flying insects, which it catches in its wide gaping mouth. Shuffles around nest site on short legs. Most of its life is spent on the wing.
Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
18cm. Although brightly coloured, Kingfishers are well camouflaged when perched among leaves. Bill is black, but female has a reddish base to lower mandible. Juvenile has a pale spot at the tip of its bill.
VOICE
Distinctive whistle, ‘tee-eee’ and ‘tsee’.
HABITAT
Rivers, streams and lakes. Visits garden ponds to take small ornamental fish.
FOOD AND HABITS
Fish are the main food. Hunts by diving into water from a perch, or by hovering and then diving. Excavates breeding tunnels in steep sandbanks.
Hoopoe
Upupa epops
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
27cm. Upperparts sandy-fawn with black-and-white barred wings and tail. Bill curves downwards. Crest is raised and fanned when the bird lands, or when it is startled. Wings are broad and flight is flappy, often low over the ground. Walks jerkily with a Starling-like gait.
VOICE
A repeated ‘poo-poo-poo’.
HABITAT
Gardens, vineyards, olive groves, and farmland with bushes. Visits northern Europe in late April to September, moving south to North Africa and southern Spain in winter.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on insects, worms and small reptiles. Nests in tree hollows, stables, rock piles or earth heaps.
Green Woodpecker
Picus viridis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
33cm. Green plumage, but with a distinctive yellow rump and a red cap. Juvenile is speckled and appears more grey. Flight is deeply undulating. A pale eye and black face and moustachial stripe give the bird a ‘fierce’ appearance. Male has a red centre to his moustachial stripe, while female’s is black. Undulating flight.
VOICE
An unmistakable shrill laughing call. Rarely drums.
HABITAT
Deciduous and mixed forest edges, woodland, farmland, parkland and large gardens.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on insect grubs and ants, for which it probes soil and rotten wood. Often seen feeding on large open areas of grass. Nests in a hole made in a tree.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos minor
Length 26cm. Miniature version of Greater Spotted Woodpecker, size of a House Sparrow. Fine white barring on the back, and longer and more high-pitched drumming than that of Greater. Lives in deciduous forests, often close to wetlands. In Britain occurs in southern England and Wales, and declining.
Wryneck
Jynx torquilla
Length 17cm. Small woodpecker more often seen on branches than clinging to tree trunks. Cryptic plumage gives good camouflage. Does not drum. Occurs in open forests, orchards and old parks, and feeds on ants. Does not excavate its own nest hole. Winters in Africa – the only migratory woodpecker species. In Britain scarce on south and east coasts; a few possibly breeding in Scottish Highlands.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
24cm. A Blackbird-sized bird with white shoulder patches and red under the tail. Male has a red patch on the nape. Juvenile has a red crown. Flight is undulating.
VOICE
A short sharp ‘tchak’ call, which may be repeated at 1-second intervals. In spring drums very fast on rotten branches.
HABITAT
All kinds of woodland, large gardens and parks.
FOOD AND HABITS
Insects and grubs, and conifer seeds in winter. Visits garden feeders. Also steals eggs and young from other birds’ nests. Nests in a hole made in a tree.
Skylark
Alauda arvensis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
18cm. Streaked brown upperparts, short crest not always obvious, white outer tail feathers. Walks rather than hops. Towering and hovering song flight.
VOICE
Lengthy warbling song delivered in flight as bird rises vertically, then drops through the air.
HABITAT
Farmland, grassland, meadows and moorland throughout most of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats insects, worms and seeds. Nests on the ground. Flocks in winter, when numbers are swollen by European migrants. Nest a grassy cup well hidden on the ground. Common but declining.
Shore Lark
Eremophila alpestris
Length 17cm. Breeding plumage includes black-and-yellow head pattern. Male develops two small feathered black ear-tufts, or ‘horns’, as he attains breeding plumage. Breeds on mountain meadows, tundra and fells; winters mainly on North Sea coasts; resident only in Balkans. In Britain scarce and mainly on east coast in late autumn and winter.
Woodlark
Lullula arborea
Length 14cm. Slightly smaller than Skylark and with a shorter tail. Face and head have a much stronger pattern, with a conspicuous white stripe above the eye and a white patch on the leading edge of the outer wing. Occurs in mountain meadows and clearings, and on heathland, across Europe except far north. Uncommon in Britain; increasing in south.
Swallow
Hirundo rustica
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
19cm including tail of 3–6.5cm. Wings long and pointed, tail deeply forked. Pale cream underparts, dark blue wings and back, and a red th
roat with a blue-black neck band. Fast flight with powerful wingbeats.
VOICE
High-pitched ‘vit-vit’ call in flight. Warning call for cats and other ground predators a sharp ‘sifflit’; for birds of prey, ‘flitt-flitt’. Song a rapid rattling twitter.
HABITAT
Breeds in farmyards and small-village gardens with surrounding open country. Often seen near water. Summer visitor to northern Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on insects, which it catches in flight by flying low over fields and water. Cup-shaped clay nest built in buildings.
Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
12cm. Small brown bird with white underparts, a brown breast-band and a short forked tail.
VOICE
Twittering song, not as musical as that of Swallow.
HABITAT
Open country with fresh water. Summer visitor and migrant across Europe except far north.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats insects such as midges caught in flight. Nests colonially in burrows excavated in sandbanks. On migration may roost in large numbers in reed beds.
House Martin
Delichon urbica
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
14cm. Wings broader than Swallow’s and forked tail shorter, giving a stubbier appearance. Rump white, and wings, head and tail dark blue. Flight more fluttery than Swallow’s, with flaps often interspersed with glides. Underparts of juvenile usually duskier white than adult’s.