VOICE
Harsh twitter. Song a series of formless chirps.
HABITAT
Breeds in colonies in towns and villages, and on cliffs. Summer visitor and migrant across Europe except far north. Winters in Africa.
FOOD AND HABITS
Tends to feed on flying insects at greater altitude than Swallow. Rarely on the ground, except when collecting mud for nest. Builds rounded mud nest under protrusions on buildings, and sometimes cliffs.
Tree Pipit
Anthus trivialis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
15cm. Similar to Meadow Pipit, but slightly stockier, although best separated by voice. Walks rather than hops.
VOICE
Call a drawn-out ‘speez’, given from a tree or in flight, steeply ascending then parachuting down.
HABITAT
Meadowland and heathland with scattered trees. Summer visitor to Europe. Winters in Africa.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds mainly on insects and spiders. Nest a grassy cup well hidden on the ground.
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
15cm. Streaked brown upperparts; underparts spotted. Darker legs than Tree Pipit. Best identified by call.
VOICE
Call ‘pheet’ uttered 1–5 times. Song given from perch or in display flight as it describes an arc from the ground.
HABITAT
Open country, heathland, moorland and grassland. May be seen in lowlands or on coastal land in winter. Year-round resident, migrant or winter visitor in much of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats mostly insects; also spiders, earthworms and some seeds. Nests on the ground in a small depression.
Water Pipit
Anthus spinoletta
Length 16cm. Similar build to Rock Pipit, but with brown upperparts and a white stripe above the eye and white outer tail feathers. Breeding birds have a pinkish unstreaked breast. Breeds in mountain meadows mainly in southern Europe. Call ‘veest’; song similar to that of Meadow Pipit, but stronger. Winters in lowland wetlands and coasts from southern England to Mediterranean. Uncommon in Britain; mainly in south.
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosus
Length 16cm. Similar to Water Pipit, but with pale grey outer tail feathers. Plumage is uniform dusky brown with heavily mottled buff underparts. Call and song like that of Water Pipit. Found on rocky coasts of northern and western Europe, and relatively common on British coasts.
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
19cm. Longest tailed of European wagtails. Grey above and lemon yellow below, with colour particularly strong under the tail, and pink legs. Summer adult male has a distinctive black throat. Tail is constantly wagging.
VOICE
Call a sharp ‘tzit’. Song a simple and metallic ‘ziss-ziss-ziss’.
HABITAT
Vicinity of running water, from mountain streams to towns. Occurs year-round throughout much of Europe; summer visitor to north and north-east.
FOOD AND HABITS
Insectivorous; often chases insects over the water. Nest a grassy cup usually hidden in a cavity near water.
Pied & White Wagtails
Motacilla alba
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
18cm. Male of British race (M. a. yarrellii) has a black back and wings, female a dark grey back. In continental race (M. a. alba), both male and female have a pale grey back. In flight, which is undulating, faint double wingbars can be seen.
VOICE
Flight call a ‘chissick’, sometimes a ‘chissick-ick’. Song plain and twittery.
HABITAT
Towns, gardens and open habitats.
FOOD AND HABITS
Runs rapidly after flying insects. On the ground its gait is rapid, and its head is moved backwards and forwards while wagging its tail. Prefers feeding on lawns and roofs, and in car parks and roads, where prey is easily spotted. In winter roosts in large flocks in warm places like factories. Nest a grassy cup in a cavity.
Yellow & Blue-headed Wagtails
Motacilla flava
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
16cm. Several subspecies, with Yellow, M. f. flavissima, by far the most common in Britain. Head green with a yellow throat and supercilium; mantle a brighter yellow-green; slender black legs. Blue-headed M. f. flava male has a pale blue head.
VOICE
Call a rich ‘tseep’. Song a simple scratching ‘sri’srit sri…’
HABITAT
FOOD AND HABITS
Insectivorous. Grassy cup nest well concealed on the ground. In decline since the 1980s, probably due to loss of habitat.
Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
20cm. Starling-sized bird with overall pinkish-brown plumage, a long crest, black chin and mask, and yellow-banded tail. Male is usually brighter in colour than female.
VOICE
Call a soft sibilant trilling, ‘sirrrr’. Song a slow and soft bell-like trill with rougher notes.
HABITAT
In Europe breeds in far northern taiga with coniferous forests. In winter flocks to gardens and parks where there are berries south to Britain and the Balkans.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds mainly on berries, supplemented by insects, particularly during breeding season.
Dipper
Cinclus cinclus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
19cm. Small plump bird with a Wren-like appearance. Adult has a white bib and a red-brown belly (black-brown belly in north European subspecies). Juvenile grey and barred all over.
VOICE
Call a short ‘zit’. Song a sweet soft warble.
HABITAT
Fast-flowing freshwater rivers and streams, particularly in mountains, across much of Europe. In Britain fairly common in north and west.
FOOD AND HABITS
Forages for small animals in streams and rivers. Unique among songbirds in its ability to dive into water and walk or fly along the bottom in search of food. Nest a grassy cup in the fork of a tree.
Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
10cm. Tiny bird with a short tail often held cocked above the back, a round body and a short neck. The reddish-brown back is faintly barred, as are the paler flanks. Narrow dark eyestripe and paler stripe above the eye. Whirring flight, rather like that of a large bee.
VOICE
Calls a repeated ‘tic-tic’ and metallic ‘clink’. Song an amazingly loud series of alternately sweet and rattling trills and warbles.
HABITAT
Woodland with dense undergrowth, scrub, heathland, gardens, parks and moorland in most of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Searches mouse-like for insects and spiders on or near the ground. During cold winter nights flocks may roost together. Nest a domed grassy structure well hidden in a hollow or vegetation. Males may build several nests for females to select from.
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
14cm. Streaking and brown colouration give this bird a rather sparrow-like appearance, which is why it is often wrongly described as a Hedge Sparrow. It has a thin insect-picking bill, grey throat and face, and reddish-brown legs.
VOICE
Alarm call a strong ‘tiih’. Song clear and quite loud.
HABITAT
Gardens, parks, open woodland, heathland, farmland and hedges over most of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
An unobtrusive bird that scurries around on the ground, mouse-like, looking for seeds, berries, insects and other invertebrates. Nest a grass cup well hidden in a shrub.
Blackbird
Turdus merula
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
25cm. The all-black male, with his yellow bill and yellow eyering, is unmistakable. The sooty-brown female, with a dark-streaked pale throat, and the gingery juvenile, may be confused with other thrushes, but they have a solid build and cock their tails when landing. First-winter males have all-dark bills.
VOICE
Alarm call a harsh ‘chack-aack-aack-aack’, or a series of high metallic notes when going to roost or when a cat is seen. Song a rich melodic fluting, often rising to a crescendo.
HABITAT
Woodland, parks, orchards and gardens across Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Hops or walks over the ground, stopping and cocking its head to look for worms or other food. Takes a wide range of food, including insects, worms, fruits and berries.
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
24cm. Dull plumage, sooty black in male, sooty brown in female. White crescentic patch in male, often obscure in female and juvenile.
VOICE
Call an excitable ‘tack tack’. Song melodious, with 2–4 repeated flute-like tones.
HABITAT
Breeds in forested fells in northern Europe, and mountainous conifer forests in central Europe. Winters in southern Europe, favouring lowland fields and forest edges.
FOOD AND HABITS
Omnivorous, consuming a wide range of insects, rodents, lizards and berries. Nest a neat cup in bushes or among rocks.
Fieldfare
Turdus pilaris
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
26cm. Smaller than Mistle Thrush, but looks stockier. Grey head, red-brown back and apricot base to speckled breast. Longish tail, pale grey rump and white underwings show clearly in rather flapping flight.
VOICE
Call a dry ‘chack-chack-chack’, like that of a Magpie. Song a tuneless chattering babble.
HABITAT
Open forest, town parks, fields and gardens. Winter visitor or migrant to much of Europe; year-round in north-central areas; summer only in far north. In Britain breeds rarely in Scotland.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on worms, insects, berries and fruits. Fond of windfall fruits. Nest a grassy cup in the fork of a tree.
Redwing
Turdus iliacus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
21cm. Similar size to Song Thrush, but with visibly larger head. White stripe above the eye and black-tipped yellow bill give it a striking appearance. Red patch under the wing conspicuous in flight, which is fast and direct.
VOICE
Thin ‘tseep’ contact call. Alarm call hoarse and scolding. Song variable, with loud fluted notes and prolonged twitters.
HABITAT
Fields, open woodland, parks and gardens. Summer visitor to northern Europe, wintering in southern and western Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on worms, insects and berries. Nest a grassy cup in a shrub or tree.
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
23cm. Brown back and speckled creamy breast (speckles shaped like arrowheads, and more regular than those of Mistle Thrush). In flight, underwings show yellowish-orange. Flies rather jerkily.
VOICE
Beautiful strong song with a variety of trilling and squeaky notes and frequent repetitions, often sung at dusk. Alarm call a series of sharp scolding notes.
HABITAT
Woodland, parks and gardens across most of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on worms, insects, berries and snails. Sometimes in small flocks. Nest a mud-lined grassy cup in a shrub. Common but declining.
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
28cm. Large thrush with a comparatively longer tail than that of Song Thrush. White breast speckled with rounded blotchy spots. In flight white outer tail feathers and narrow white wingbars can be seen. Underwing is white. Stands in an upright posture. Flight more undulating than Song Thrush’s.
VOICE
Flight call a dry churring rattle. Song similar to Song Thrush’s.
HABITAT
Woodland, parks and gardens throughout Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats worms, berries and insects. Feeds alongside other birds. Nest an untidy grass and leaf cup usually high up in tree canopy. Common but declining.
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
9cm. Tiny with a greenish back and a yellow crest that becomes orange in male. Crest has a black stripe on each side. Face greyish with dark eyes surrounded by very pale grey.
VOICE
Very high-pitched thin call of 3–4 syllables, ‘see-see-see’. Song high-pitched and rhythmic, and ending with a trill.
HABITAT
Coniferous and mixed woodland; often seen in yew and cypress trees.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on tiny insects and spiders on the undersides of leaves. Nest a mossy hammock high in a tree.
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapilla
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
9 cm. Similar to Goldcrest. In all plumages has a black eyestripe and white supercilium.
VOICE
Call slightly lower pitched than Goldcrest’s, rising in pitch when notes are consecutive. Song very high-pitched and ascending, ‘si si-sisisisisihrr’.
HABITAT
Coniferous and mixed woodland and parks; also more open bushy places in winter. Occurs in much of central and western Europe. In Britain scarce and local.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on insects. Nest as Goldcrest.
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
11.5cm. Head, back and tail generally brownish-green; throat and eyebrow yellowish; legs usually pale brown. Primary feathers project beyond tertials.
VOICE
Call a soft ‘huitt’ similar to Common Chiffchaff’s. Song rather sad.
HABITAT
Upland birchwoods and other deciduous woods, and parks and gardens. Occurs across much of Europe apart from south.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on insects found among leaves. Nest a grassy dome on or near the ground.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Yellow-browed Warbler (P. inornatus) 10 cm. Petite and agile bird. Moss-green above with two distinct yellow wingbars, a long supercilium and a diffuse crown-stripe. Vagrant to Britain, but increasing and sometimes wintering.
Common Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
11cm. Small neat bird with a fine bill and thin legs. Very similar to Willow Warbler. Primaries shorter. Legs usually dark and bill even finer. Stripe above the eye less distinct, while darkish patch beneath the eye emphasizes white eyering.
VOICE
Call a soft ‘hueet’. Song a distinctively slow ‘chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff’.
HABITAT
Open deciduous woodland with some scrub. Mainly summer visitor to Britain, Scandinavia and central Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Similar to Willow Warbler.
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Length 12cm. Lemon-yellow breast, eyestripe and throat, contrasting with bright white belly and undertail. Song either a melancholy whistling sequence, ‘duh duh duh duh’, or a series ending in a high trill. Occurs in mature deciduous forests in much of Europe, wintering in Africa. In Britain most common in north and west.
Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naevia
Length 13cm. Skulking brown warbler streaked olive-brown above and with pale underparts, often with unclear streaks on the breast. Usually hides in thick low vegetation, moving mouse-like on or near the ground. Call a grasshopper-like ‘serrrrrrrrrrr�
�� lasting for minutes. Favours dense cover in open areas. Summer visitor to much of Europe including Britain.
Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
13cm. Small olive-brown warbler with slight rufous tinge to its upperparts. Buff-coloured below. Rounded tail. Sexes look similar.
VOICE
Monotonous churring song.
HABITAT
Mainly reed beds. Summer visitor to Britain.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats water insects. In autumn feeds on berries, which provide energy for its long migratory flight. Builds a nest of woven grasses slung between reed stems. Common host to Cuckoo.
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
13cm. Olive-brown streaked-backed warbler with a rounded tail and rufous-coloured rump. Conspicuous creamy-white stripe above the eye. Sexes look similar.
VOICE
Loud, jumbly and scratchy song.
HABITAT
Waterside vegetation near reed beds, rivers and lakes, and lowland marshes; also dry scrubby areas. Summer visitor to Britain, migrating to Africa in late summer.
FOOD AND HABITS
Mainly eats insects; takes berries in autumn. Nests in rank vegetation.
Dartford Warbler
Sylvia undata
13cm long. Tiny, with a very long tail. Male has a grey back and dark red-brown breast. Female is duller and browner. Soft grating ‘chirr’ call and scratchy song. On the Continent resident year-round in west, south-west and south, favouring gorse and heather heathland and scrub. In Britain quite common in suitable habitats in southern England and East Anglia.