Concise Bird Guide Read online

  There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. Together The Wildlife Trusts are the largest UK voluntary organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places everywhere – at land and sea. They are supported by 791,000 members, 150,000 of whom belong to their junior branch, Wildlife Watch. Every year The Wildlife Trusts work with thousands of schools, and their nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors.

  The Wildlife Trusts work in partnership with hundreds of landowners and businesses across the UK in towns, cities and the wider countryside. Building on their existing network of 2,250 nature reserves, The Wildlife Trusts’ recovery plan for the UK’s wildlife and fragmented habitats, known as A Living Landscape, is being achieved through restoring, recreating and reconnecting large areas of wildlife habitat. As well as protecting wildlife this is helping to safeguard the ecosystems that we depend on for services like clean air and water.

  The Wildlife Trusts are also working to protect the UK’s marine environment. They are involved with many marine conservation projects around the UK, often surveying and collecting vital data on the state of our seas. Every year they run National Marine Week in August – a two-week celebration of our seas with hundreds of events taking place around the UK.

  All 47 Wildlife Trusts are members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (Registered charity number 207238). To find your local Wildlife Trust visit wildlifetrusts.org

  Contents

  Introduction

  Wildfowl

  Grouse

  Pheasants, Quails & Partridges

  Divers

  Grebes

  Fulmar & Shearwaters

  Storm-petrels

  Gannet

  Cormorants

  Herons

  Spoonbills

  Hawks & Allies

  Osprey

  Falcons

  Rails

  Oystercatchers

  Stilts & Avocets

  Stone-curlews

  Plovers

  Waders

  Skuas

  Gulls

  Terns

  Auks

  Pigeons

  Parrots

  Cuckoos

  Barn Owls

  Typical Owls

  Nightjars

  Swifts

  Kingfishers

  Hoopoe

  Woodpeckers

  Larks

  Swallows & Martins

  Pipits & Wagtails

  Waxwings

  Dippers

  Wrens

  Accentors

  Thrushes

  Kinglets

  Warblers & Allies

  Flycatchers

  Chats

  Bearded Tit

  Long-tailed Tit

  Typical Tits

  Nuthatches

  Treecreepers

  Orioles

  Shrikes

  Crows

  Starlings

  Sparrows

  Finches

  Buntings

  Introduction

  Birds are probably the most familiar class of animal in Britain and Ireland. Of the world’s 10,000 or so species about 420 breed in Europe, and of these over 200 species regularly breed in Britain and Ireland.

  Recognizing Birds

  This handy and portable book provides basic practical information, including variations in plumage colours, to enable quick identification of species in the field. The size of each species is given in average lengths. As you become more experienced you will be able to recognize some species very quickly and at a distance. Recognizing birds involves answering a number of questions. How does it fly? What is its shape? Are there any distinguishing characteristics, such as the shape of the bill, the length of the tail or the length of the legs? What are the colours? Are there any characteristic plumage patterns? How does the bird behave? What noise does it make? Where is it? The answers to all these questions will help you to identify the species to which a bird belongs.

  The flight of species or groups of birds can be a major clue to their identity. Woodland birds such as woodpeckers have a distinctly undulating flight, which is particularly noticeable when they are flying across an open area. Kingfishers have a fast and direct flight often close to the surface of water. The shape in flight may also be distinctive: ducks have pointed wings that move rapidly and necks that are outstretched.

  Colour is not always a good guide, because the quality of light and the effect of local colour can cause variations that no book can cater for. The patterns of the plumage are probably more important. Note that the plumage of birds can vary at different times of the year and at intermediate stages, for example between juveniles and non-breeding birds.

  Behaviour of birds differs between species. Ducks, for example, can be divided into two groups depending on their feeding behaviour. One group dives beneath the surface to feed, while the other feeds from the surface. Many species are likely to be seen in flocks, while others are generally seen singly. Some, such as Bullfinches, are frequently seen in pairs. To assist in recognition, look at the way a bird is feeding and relating to other birds.

  The songs, calls and other noises that birds make are obvious, if difficult identification characteristics. Everyone is familiar with the call of the male Cuckoo, a bird more often heard than seen, but how many of us can recognize the bubbling call of the female? The call of the Kingfisher may be the first clue to its presence, and the skulking Nightingale is recognized more frequently by its song than visually.

  The best way to build your identification skills is to become familiar with the birds you see or hear often. This will give you a series of yardsticks with which to compare other species. Build up your portfolio of species, and if you cannot identify a bird you may still be able to identify the group to which it belongs.

  Bird Topography

  The illustration of a female Reed Bunting below shows some of the key terms used to describe the main features of birds.

  Mute Swan

  Cygnus olor

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  152cm. Largest flying bird in Britain. Adult is all white, juvenile grey-brown. Distinguished from wintering Bewick’s and Whooper Swans by orange bill with black knob at base (smaller in female) and more graceful curve to neck.

  VOICE

  Generally silent; hisses when angry or disturbed.

  HABITAT

  Almost any still or slow-moving inland water body; also estuaries and sheltered coastal regions. Found across northern and western Europe. Resident in Britain.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Usually feeds on water by dipping its neck below the surface, sometimes up-ending. Nest a large mound of plant matter on the edges of water bodies.

  Bewick’s Swan

  Cygnus columbianus

  Whooper Swan

  Cygnus cygnus

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Bewick’s 125cm; Whooper 150cm. Bewick’s has a slightly shorter and thicker neck, and a neater bill with the yellow area smaller and rounder than in Whooper. In the latter, the shape of the yellow on the bill is more pointed and extends further towards the bill tip.

  VOICE

  Whooper makes bugle-like whooping calls. Bewick’s calls are shorter and less echoing.

  HABITAT

  Bewick’s breeds on lakes on the Russian arctic tundra, wintering on wet meadows in the Low Countries and Britain. Whooper breeds on north European lakes, and winters on meadows, fields and wetlands in central and western Europe, and the Black Sea.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Mainly feeds on aquatic plants and grasses; in winter also grain and vegetables from fields. Nest a large mound of plant matter on small islands or the edges of water bodies.


  Brent Goose

  Branta bernicla

  Barnacle Goose

  Branta leucopsis

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Brent 60cm; Barnacle 65cm. Small and neat dark geese with stubby bills and black necks. Brent has an all-black head, Barnacle a pale face. Two races of Brent occur in Britain: Light-bellied (B. b. hrota) on the west coast and in Ireland, and Dark-bellied (B. b. bernicla) in the east and south.

  VOICE

  Brent makes a subdued ‘rrott’, Barnacle a barking ‘kak’.

  HABITAT

  Breed in northern Europe; winter in north-west Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Brent feeds on intertidal eelgrasses and other vegetation. Barnacle eats mainly grass.

  Canada Goose

  Branta canadensis

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  97cm. A large grey-brown goose with a black head and neck, and a white patch on the chin that extends up the head. Distinguished from Barnacle and Brent Geese by larger size, longer neck and preference for inland habitats.

  VOICE

  Loud trumpet-like call, ‘ah-honk’.

  HABITAT

  Inland waters including park lakes and ponds; also coasts and marshes during winter. Introduced to Britain and now common and widespread; also some vagrants from North America.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Feeds mainly on grass. Nest a down-lined cup, usually near water.

  Greylag Goose

  Anser anser

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  83cm. Large grey goose with an orange bill and flesh-coloured legs.

  VOICE

  Calls in flight ‘aahng-ung-ung’.

  HABITAT

  Marshy moorland during breeding season. Winter visitor to salt-water and freshwater marshes, grasslands and estuaries. Feral birds present in Britain throughout the year, but wild birds are mostly winter visitors.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Diet mostly grass, but also cereals in autumn and winter. Nest a down-lined cup on the ground.

  Pink-footed Goose

  Anser brachyrhynchus

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  70cm. Small and neat grey goose with a rounded head and short neck that are darker than the rest of its body. The legs are pink, and there is a pink band on the bill.

  VOICE

  Vocal; call a ringing ‘ung unk’ and ‘wink wink wink’.

  HABITAT

  Breeds in Iceland and Spitsbergen. Winters on coastal meadows in Britain and the Low Countries. In Britain found predominantly in Norfolk, Lancashire and eastern Scotland).

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Diet is almost entirely vegetarian.

  SIMILAR SPECIES

  Bean Goose (A. fabalis). 75cm long. Orange legs, narrow orange band on bill and darker plumage than that of Pink-footed Goose. Breeds in north-east Europe and Siberia; winters in coastal wetlands in north-west Europe. Scarce in Britain; mainly on east coast.

  White-fronted Goose

  Anser albifrons

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  70cm. Two races appear in large wintering flocks in Britain. Greenland White-fronts (A. a. flavirostris) winter in Ireland and Scotland, smaller Russian birds (A. a. albifrons) in Wales and southern England. Greenland birds have orange bills and legs, Russian ones pink bills and orange legs. Adult of both races has a white forehead and black belly markings.

  VOICE

  Call higher pitched than that of other grey geese, and with a whinnying quality.

  HABITAT

  Breeds on tundra. Winters on rough grassland, salt-water and freshwater marshes, and fields.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Feeds on herbs, grasses and sedges, as well as agricultural grain, potatoes and sprouting cereals (the latter particularly in winter).

  Mandarin Duck

  Aix galericulata

  Length 45cm. Male in breeding plumage is a vivid mixture of clearly defined orange, green, white and other colours. Female is grey-brown with spots on the flanks and a fine stripe behind a white eyering. Naturalized species originating in the Far East. Found throughout Britain in small numbers; increasingly common in south. Feeds on plant matter, insects, worms and small aquatic animals; partial to acorns. Breeds in holes in mature trees. Threatened in original habitat, so European populations are of conservation significance.

  Egyptian Goose

  Alopochen aegyptiaca

  Length 70cm. Sexes are alike. Variations in plumage, from light to dark, not sex or age related. An African species introduced to north-west Europe, with Britain, the Netherlands and Germany having self-sustaining populations. Found in rivers, lakes and ponds in parks. Uncommon in Britain, but increasing in south-east. Feeds on plant matter; also sometimes small animals. Often nests in holes in mature trees.

  Shelduck

  Tadorna tadorna

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  61cm. Large duck with bold markings: head and neck dark green, wide chestnut breast band, black on wingtips and end of tail, and white underparts. Sexes are similar.

  VOICE

  Generally silent, but drake can give a whistle when in flight. Female quacks.

  HABITAT

  Estuaries, sandy shores and salt marshes. Breeds mainly on coasts, and occasionally also on rivers and lakes.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Feeds chiefly on small molluscs caught by sweeping bill through soft estuarine mud. Nests in dunes in rabbit burrows.

  Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  58cm. Britain’s most common duck. Drake has a dark rich brown breast, and a dark green head with a white collar in breeding season. Speculum (a bright, often iridescent patch of colour on the wings of some birds, especially ducks) is purple.

  VOICE

  Ducks give the familiar ‘quack’; drake has a higher-pitched call.

  HABITAT

  Resident and widespread throughout Europe, occurring on almost any inland waters other than fast-flowing rivers. Often more coastal in winter.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Surface feeding, it can be seen dabbling and up-ending. Eats a variety of food, including invertebrates, fish and plants. Usually nests on the ground under bushes, close to water.

  Gadwall

  Anas strepera

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  51cm. Male grey with a blackish rump and bill. Female similar to female Mallard, but smaller. Both sexes have a characteristic white speculum. Legs are orange-yellow.

  VOICE

  A wooden ‘errp’.

  HABITAT

  Mainly inland waters, and occasionally coastal marshes or estuaries. Present in Britain throughout the year, but rarely breeds.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Diet consists of seeds, leaves, roots and stems of aquatic plants, as well as grasses and stoneworts; occasionally also cereal grains on land. Not as gregarious as some other dabbling ducks outside breeding season, tending to form only small flocks.

  Wigeon

  Anas penelope

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  18cm. Drake has a chestnut head with a creamy yellow stripe from the bill over the crown, pinkish breast and short black-tipped blue bill. Speculum is green. White patches on the wings are visible in flight.

  VOICE

  Drake has a whistling ‘whee-oo’ call.

  HABITAT

  Marshes. Breeds in north. Winter visitor to much of central and southern Europe, including Britain, often on coastal marshes and estuaries, but also inland.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Eats mostly plant matter, which it takes from the water’s surface. Often seen in flocks grazing on land.

  Common Teal

  Anas crecca

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  35cm. Smaller and neater in appearance than Mallard. Drake has a chestnut head with a green eyestripe, speckled breast and creamy undertail. Speculum is green.

  VOICE

  Drake gives a whistling ‘crr
ick, crrick’ call.

  HABITAT

  Prefers still or slow-moving fresh water with dense fringing vegetation. Resident in much of Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  A dabbling duck, eating mostly plants and seeds. May nest some distance from water. Fast in flight; springs up from water.

  Shoveler

  Anas clypeata

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  51cm. Surface-feeding duck easily recognized by its very large spatulate bill. Drake has a dark green head, white breast and chestnut flanks. Forewing is blue. Speculum is green.

  VOICE

  Drake calls ‘took-took’; females ‘quack’.

  HABITAT

  Lakes and reservoirs; favours creeks, reed beds and marshy areas with plenty of cover. Summer visitor to northern and eastern Europe, year-round resident in western Europe and winter visitor to southern Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Feeds in shallow muddy water; sieves seeds through bill. Nest a down-lined grass cup well hidden on the ground.

  Pintail

  Anas acuta

  SIZE AND DESCRIPTION

  Female 56cm; male 66cm. Elegant male has a black tail, chocolate head and pure white breast. Female has a slim neck, dark bill, short pointed tail and overall brownish plumage.

  VOICE

  Rarely vocal; drake has a low whistle, female a low quack and churring growl.

  HABITAT

  Breeds on moors and freshwater marshes in north-east Europe. Winters on sheltered coastal waters and sometimes inland in southern and western Europe.

  FOOD AND HABITS

  Dabbles and upends in shallow water. Winter diet includes aquatic plants, and roots, grains and other seeds. During nesting season eats mainly invertebrate animals. Gregarious, forming flocks with other ducks outside breeding season.

  Garganey

  Anas querquedula

  Length 40cm. A dabbling duck. Male has a vivid white supercilium, and grey flanks and upper forewings. Female similar to female Teal, but with stripier face pattern. Occurs on lakes and freshwater marshes in pairs or small parties, but never in large flocks. Mainly a summer visitor to Britain.