Concise Bird Guide Page 2
Scaup
Aythya marila
Length 46cm. A diving duck. Male similar to male Tufted Duck, but with a grey back and no crest on the head. Female also similar to Tufted Duck, but with white at the base of the bill; upperparts and flanks greyish in winter, brownish in summer. In Britain locally common on coasts in winter; rarely breeds.
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina
Length 55cm. Large diving duck with a round head. Breeding male has a bright orange head, black breast and neck, coral red bill and white flanks. Non-breeding male is brown with a red bill. Female is brownish with pale cheeks and a grey bill. Favours well-vegetated wetlands. Scarce resident in Britain with growing feral population in southern England.
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
43cm. A jaunty little diving duck. Drake is black and white with a drooping crest on the back of the head; duck is dark brown with the suggestion of a crest. Bill is blue with a dark tip.
VOICE
Tends to be silent.
HABITAT
Medium-sized or large fresh waters with fringing vegetation. More widespread in winter, when it occurs on more open gravel pits and reservoirs without cover. Widespread in Europe, wintering south to Mediterranean.
FOOD AND HABITS
Dives deeper than Pochard, eating mostly insects and molluscs. Nests on the ground a few metres from the water’s edge.
Pochard
Aythya ferina
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
46cm. Drake has a chestnut head, black breast, and grey back and flanks. Light-blue bill. Female is brown with a pale throat.
VOICE
A quiet bird; male gives a soft whistle, female growls.
HABITAT
Large ponds, lakes and slow-flowing streams with fringing vegetation. Outside breeding season can be seen on a wide range of freshwater bodies. Summer migrant in northern and eastern Europe, wintering in south and west.
FOOD AND HABITS
A diving duck more active at night than during the day, and often seen resting on the water by day. Nest a down-lined grass cup well hidden on the ground.
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
60cm. The male of this large sea duck is unmistakable in breeding plumage. Heads of both sexes have a characteristic wedge shape with a long triangular bill. Non-breeding male may appear almost black, or chequered black and white. Female has brown-barred plumage.
VOICE
Male makes a surprised-sounding ‘ah-hoo’, female stuttering ‘kokokok’ calls.
HABITAT
Sea and rocky coastal areas. Much more common in north and Scotland and Ireland, where it breeds, than in southern Britain. Very rare inland.
FOOD AND HABITS
Dives for crustaceans and molluscs. Nests on coastal islands in colonies of 100–15,000 individuals.
Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
46cm. A diving duck. Conspicuous male is bright white and black with a glossy dark green head that has a circular white patch below the eye. Female and juvenile are grey with a brown head. In flight, makes a whistling noise with the wings.
VOICE
Rarely vocal. Male sometimes makes a disyllabic nasal call, female a harsh growl.
HABITAT
Found almost equally on coastal and inland waters. Mainly a winter visitor to Britain, also breeding occasionally in Scotland.
FOOD AND HABITS
Diet consists mainly of aquatic invertebrates, as well as amphibians, small fish and some plant material (mainly in autumn). Nests in hollows of mature trees.
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigra
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
48cm. A sea duck. Male is black with a patch of bright yellow on the beak. Female is dark brown with pale cheeks.
VOICE
A whistling ‘pheeuu’ in flight and while displaying.
HABITAT
Most likely to be seen on the sea, and sometimes on large inland reservoirs. Breeds in north-east Europe, and winters in North Sea, Baltic and Atlantic. In Britain occasionally breeds on remote lochs in Scotland and Ireland; otherwise found mainly off coasts in winter.
FOOD AND HABITS
Diet consists mostly of molluscs, and insects and fish eggs in freshwater habitats. Dives to 30m to hunt for shellfish. Congregates in large bobbing rafts of hundreds or thousands of birds well offshore.
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
Length 58cm. A sea duck. Adult male has a very long tail. Plumage complex, with dark brown-and-white pattern of male almost reversed from non-breeding to breeding bird. Female and juvenile duller, brownish above and white below, with white blotches on the face. Breeds in north European tundra. Winters at sea south to Britain, where it is mainly coastal and more common in north than south.
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca
Length 55cm. A sea duck often found with Common Scoters. Male similar in size and shape to Common Scoter, but has yellow on sides of beak, a white patch below the eye and a white speculum on the wings that may be visible when swimming. Female and juvenile have sooty plumage with pale patches on the head. Breeds in Scandinavia. Winters near coasts in Baltic, North Sea and Atlantic. In Britain occurs mainly along coasts.
Goosander
Mergus merganser
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
62cm. Largest sawbill. Male is vivid white with a dark green head that looks black from a distance, and a slender hooked bright red bill. Female and juvenile are grey with a white breast and a brown head that has a slightly shaggy crest.
VOICE
A quacking ‘orr’ during display.
HABITAT
Lakes, rivers and shores. In Britain resident in north and winter visitor in south.
FOOD AND HABITS
Diet consists mainly of fish, which it may pursue by swimming short distances. Nest down-lined in burrow or hollow tree.
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
55cm. Striking sawbill similar to Goosander, but less common. Male black above with flanks finely marked with grey, a white belly and a chestnut breast specked with dark brown. Head and crest are dark green, the throat white and the nape black. Female and juvenile are grey above, with a white belly and chestnut breast, nape and spiky crest.
VOICE
Generally silent.
HABITAT
Breeds beside rivers and lakes, and along sheltered coasts in northern Europe. Winters south to Black Sea. In Britain breeds in north and found around coasts in winter.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds mainly on small fish; also small amounts of plant material and aquatic invertebrates. Nest down-lined in hollow or burrow.
Smew
Mergellus albellus
Length 42cm. A small sawbill that has a relatively short bill. Male white with black stripes and a black eye-patch, and grey flanks. Female and juvenile grey with a red-brown cap, and white cheeks and throat. Breeds in tree hollows near lakes in taiga. Winters on rivers, lakes and sea south to England and Black Sea.
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Length 40cm. North American diving duck introduced to Britain. Small and dumpy with a raised stiff tail. Breeding male has a red-brown body, white cheeks and a blue bill that fades in winter. Female and juvenile are greyish-brown with a paler face and cheek-stripe. Male’s courtship display includes producing a drumming sound by slapping the bill against the chest, and ‘bobbing’ and creating b u b b le s front of it.
Ptarmigan
Lagopus muta
Length 34cm. In winter all white except for black tail-tip and black lores (region between eye and bill on side of head) in male. In summer the head and upperparts are mottled grey and brown. A high-alti
tude species found year-round in northern tundra and high-altitude areas of Europe. In Britain occurs only on high mountains in Scotland.
Red Grouse
Lagopus lagopus
Length 38cm. Adult male is mottled rich reddish-chestnut all over with red fleshy wattles over the eyes. Female is similar but with no wattles. In Britain found only on open treeless heather moorland in northern and western areas.
Capercaille
Tetrao urogallus
Length, male 85cm; female 60cm. A large game bird. Male dark with a metallic blue-green sheen on the head and underparts, and brown wings. Smaller female cryptically marked grey-brown with rusty orange breast. Male renowned for spring display, which involves fanning out the tail and issuing a crescendo of rattling sounds, followed by a ‘plop’ and hissing. Occurs in old coniferous forests in mountains. In Britain occurs only in old pine forests in the Scottish Highlands.
Black Grouse
Tetrao tetrix
Length, male 52cm; female 42cm. Male black with a distinctive lyre-shaped tail, and white undertail coverts and wingbar. Female similar to female Red Grouse. Males gather at leks in spring, where they display and utter clucking and hissing sounds. In Britain occurs on moors, heaths and mountains at edge of tree line, in northern England, Scotland and north Wales, where it is now very rare.
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Male 75–90cm; female 53–64cm. Male has a long, barred golden tail, a green head and red wattles. Some have a white ring around the neck. Female has a shorter tail and is buffish-brown.
VOICE
A loud and hoarse metallic call, ‘koo-krock’, then usually whirring wingbeat.
HABITAT
Woodlands, farmland with hedges, big gardens and reed beds in much of Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Feeds on seeds, fruits, nuts and roots. Nest a grassy cup on the ground.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Several species of exotic pheasant have been introduced to Britain. Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) from China is scarce in England and Northern Ireland. Even rarer Lady Amherst’s Pheasant (C. amherstiae) from China is found only in England.
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufa
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
34cm. An introduced species that is a little larger than the native Grey Partridge. White cheeks and throat, flanks barred with white, black and chestnut, and a red bill and legs separate it from Grey Partridge.
VOICE
Harsh ‘chucka, chucka’.
HABITAT
Open country and farmland; found in rather drier areas than Grey Partridge.
FOOD AND HABITS
Mainly eats seeds and plant matter. Nests on the ground among grass or tall vegetation, or under a bush.
Grey Partridge
Perdix perdix
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
30cm. A grey-brown bird. Male has a horseshoe-shaped chestnut patch on the breast. Whirring flight.
VOICE
Loud ‘kar-wit, kar-wit’; rapid cackling when startled into flight.
HABITAT
Farmland, open country, moorland and heath across much of Europe, but becoming increasingly rare.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats mainly seeds, cereals and flower buds; insects an important food for chicks. Substantial population decline due to use of herbicides.
SIMILAR SPECIES
Quail (Coturnix coturnix). At 18cm long Britain’s smallest game bird, and the only migrant one. Plumage basically pale yellow-brown. Conceals itself in dense vegetation in meadows and fields; usually only identifiable from call, ‘whip whip-whip’. Scarce summer visitor to Britain.
Red- throated Diver
Gavia stellata
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
60cm. Distinctive breeding plumage includes a brick-red throat, and a grey head and neck. At other times mainly grey-brown above, with white on the face that extends to above the eye. Slender upturned bill; swims with head mostly tilted upwards.
VOICE
Song an eerie wailing, heard in breeding areas. Flight call a goose-like ‘ak ak’.
HABITAT
Breeds on lakes in northern Europe, including Scotland, and winters on coasts and large inland lakes.
FOOD AND HABITS
Primarily a fish-eater; may also feed on molluscs, crustaceans, frogs and plant material. Spears prey underwater, diving to 2–9m in depth. Nest is always close to water.
Black-throated Diver
Gavia arctica
Length 70cm. Elegant diver that swims with its head and straight bill kept horizontal. Plumage of breeding bird includes a black chin and throat, and a grey hind-neck. Non-breeding bird basically black above and white below. Song an eerie wailing uttered in breeding season. In Europe breeds on northern lakes; winters at sea, and sometimes on lakes and reservoirs. In Britain breeds rarely on Scottish lochs.
Great Northern Diver
Gavia immer
Length 80cm. Similar to Black-throated Diver, but with a stouter bill and steeper forehead. Breeding plumage is black with white neck-bands and chequering on the mantle. In Europe breeds in Iceland; winters in North Sea and north Atlantic. In Britain found on sea and coastal estuaries, and rarely on inland waters.
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
48cm. Unmistakable in breeding plumage; both sexes have a large horned crest and ruff, which are lost in winter. Chicks are striped.
VOICE
Generally silent. Call usually a harsh bark; crooning song.
HABITAT
Breeds on still waters, lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and slow-flowing rivers. May be found on coasts and estuaries in winter. Occurs in much of Europe except far north.
FOOD AND HABITS
Dives for food, which consists mostly of fish and invertebrates, and some plant matter. Often ingests feathers. Nests on a floating mat of reeds and other water plants near the water’s edge.
Slavonian Grebe
Podiceps auritus
Length 35cm. Breeding bird has a splendid black head, erect yellow ear tufts and a red neck. On the Continent breeds on reed-fringed ponds in north-east; winters in north-west and south-east. Uncommon in Britain, breeding only on a few Scottish lochs.
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
Length 32 cm. Breeding bird has distinctive yellow ear-tufts and a black head. Non-breeding plumage similar to Slavonian’s. Breeds further south, in colonies on shallow lakes. Winters on lakes and coasts south to Mediterranean. Uncommon in Britain; rarely breeds.
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegena
Length 45cm. Similar to but considerably smaller than Great-crested Grebe. Red neck and no head ornament in breeding plumage. On the Continent breeds on reed-fringed lakes in north-east. Winters on coasts of North and Black Seas, and Adriatic. Uncommon in Britain.
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
27cm. The Little Grebe, or Dabchick, in breeding plumage has bright chestnut cheeks and throat, and dark brown upperparts. In winter it is grey, but still has the abrupt ‘powder-puff’ rear. Sexes are similar.
VOICE
Whinnying song.
HABITAT
Still and slow-moving waters from ponds to rivers in much of Europe except far north.
FOOD AND HABITS
Dives for food, mostly small fish. Rather skulking. Nests among waterside vegetation such as rushes, or under overhanging branches.
Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
47cm. Seabird that resembles a gull, usually having grey upperparts and white underparts, but with a rather thick neck. Wings are held straight and stiff in flight. Nostrils are located in short tubes halfway down the bill.
VOICE
Guttural chuckles and growls mainly at nest.
HABITAT
Coasts, cliffs and sea.
FOOD AND HABITS
Eats fish, offal and molluscs. Nests in colonies on cliff faces. Returns to breeding sites from November onwards, dispersing in late summer. Flight interspersed with frequent glides.
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinus
Sooty Shearwater
Puffinus griseus
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Manx 32cm; Sooty 45cm. Manx is black above, white below, with a stiff-winged flight. It glides low over the waves, well out at sea. Sooty is larger and much darker, and has silvery underwings.
VOICE
Howling calls when visiting colony at night.
HABITAT
Manx: coastal islands mainly off Britain. Nests in burrows in the ground, but otherwise pelagic. Sooty: breeds in island burrows in southern hemisphere, passing through north Atlantic in late summer. Rare in Britain, occuring most often off south-west headlands.
FOOD AND HABITS
Food mainly small fish, squid and crustaceans.
European Storm-petrel
Hydrobates pelagicus
Leach’s Storm-petrel