Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Alternate Latin Name: Larus audouinii
Latin Etymology: Ichthyaetus ("fish eagle") audouinii (named for naturalist Jean Victoire Audouin)

Adult Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies - N/A
Weight: 770g  /  Length: 44-52cm  /  Wingspan: 117-128cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large graceful gull found mainly in the Mediterranean. It is unique among large European gull species for having a red bill and also has an unusual soft edges to the grey sections.  It is also notably a notable success story in terms of recovering from 1000 pairs in 1975 to over 21000 currently, along with colonising new places.  However, it still remains vulnerable in that 67% of the World's population breeds at only a single site - the Ebro Delta in Spain, which makes in vulnerable should something happen there.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Ichthyaetus or Larus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian -  Gabbiano Corso ("Tide Gull")

A rare breeder

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen from Capo Murro di Porco 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Scopoli's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Calonectris ("Good swimmer") diomedea (named after mythical King Diomedes)

Two Adult Scopoli's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Local Name (Italian): Berta Maggiore ("Greater Shearwater")
Weight: 560-730g  /  Length: 45cm  /  Wingspan: 112-122cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Another species which has experienced a bit of wrangling taxonomically in recent years - traditionally it was considered the Mediterranean subspecies of the larger Cory's Shearwater - a bird that is found across the Atlantic.  However, deeper within the Mediteranean, it is the smaller and paler Scopoli's which is now treated as it's own species by most authorities.  They are named after Giovanni Antonio Scopoli - an Italian naturalist who lived in the 1700s who corresponded with Linnaeus.

Related Species:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Calonectris
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Fairly commonly seen from headlands
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen from Capo Murro di Porco in several small flocks

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Hippolais (derrived from Greek huplolais - a small bird) icterina ("marked with yellow)

Adult Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 11-16g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: 20-24cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A close relation of the Melodious Warbler, this is a species found in more to the Easter side of Europe through to Iran.  They are a species of deciduous woodland and winter in southern Africa.  In Sicily they are a passage migrant, and one of the later species to pass through each year. 

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Acrocephalidae
Genus: Hippolais
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian -  Canapino maggiore ("Greater Melodious Warbler")

A passage migrant

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Two passage migrants at Capo Murro di Porco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan)

OTHER NAMES: Levantine Shearwater, Mediterranean Shearwater
Latin Etymology: Puffinus (Shearwater) yelkouan ("Wind Chaser")

Six Adult Yelkouan Shearwater at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 395g  /  Length: 30-38cm  /  Wingspan: 76-89cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

There probably hasn't been such a dramatic reappraisal of species in recent decades as that undertaken by the shearwaters.  Bird books from the 90s just list Manx Shearwater and perhaps describe regional differences.  However, more recent analysis has in Europe alone has split the species from 1 to three, with more around the world.  The Yelkouan Shearwater is the species of this complex found more in the Eastern Mediterranean where it largely breeds on smaller islands where it is less disturbed by humans.

Related Species:
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Puffinus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian: Berta Minora Mediterranea ("Lower Mediterranean Shearwater")
Fairly commonly seen from headlands
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen from Capo Murro di Porco in several small flocks

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

European Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis rufula)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Cecropis ("Athenian woman") rufula ("rufous")

                                            Adult Red-rumped Swallow (subspecies C. r. rufula) at Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Cecropis daurica rufula

Weight: 24g  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: 33cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Red-rumped swallow is largest hirundines found in Europe, being longer than Barn Swallows.  They are however a bit more limited in habitat and smaller in range - it is less colonial than Barn Swallows and seems to prefer rock faces to buildings, and has a differing nest construction.  Although known as the Red-rumped swallow, this name is a bit misleading - it's colouring is more orange than red and the face is more noticeably coloured than the rump.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirunidinidae
Genus: Cecropis
Subspecies: C. d. daurica, C. d. japonica, C. d. nipalensis, C. d. erythropygia, C. d. rufula, C. d. domicella, C. d. domicella, C. d. kumboensis, C. d. emini, C. d. melanocrissus

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Golondrina dáurica ("Daurian Swallow")

Locally common Summer migrant.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Patones and Toledo
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen at El Pardo  and near the entrance to Monfrague

ITALY - Italian - Rondine rossiccia ("Reddish swallow")

A Summer visitor

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - A few seen at Capo Murro di Porco 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)

OTHER NAMES: Hoodie, Scotch Crow, Danish Crow

Latin Etymology: Corvus ("raven") cornix ("crow")

Hooded Crow (subspecies Corvus cornix) at  Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025

Featured Subspecies:  Corvus cornix pallescens
Weight: 510g  /  Length: 48-52cm  /  Wingspan: 98cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Hooded Crow is a close relation of the Carrion Crow, and they they tend to be dispersed throughout Europe in such a way as that usually one species replaces the other in any one place with a bit of overlap.  In the British Isles, Hooded Crows are found in North West Scotland, the Isle of Man and Ireland, but the bulk of their range is throughout Eastern Europe.  I have made attempts to see vagrant Hooded Crows before, but this individual was seen at Vienna airport while waiting for a plane.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Subspecies: C. c. cornix, C. c. pallescens, C. c. sharpii, C. c. capellanus

 - Sighting Locations -

AUSTRIA - Austrian: Nebelkrähe - "Fog Crow"

Common breeding resident

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP - STOPOVER: Two birds seen at Vienna Airport 

 - VIENNA 2024: Common throughout.

ITALY - Italian: Cornacchia Grigia ("Grey Crow")
An fairly common resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  Fairly common - seen at Capo Murro di Porco and Mount Etna.

TURKEY  -   Turkish:Başlıklı karga ("Noble Crow")
 - ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - Very common.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

OTHER NAMES: Butcher bird

Latin Etymology: Lanius ("butcher") collurio (a bird mentioned by Aristotle)

Adult Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 25-35kg  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: 24-27cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Red-backed Shrikes are the smaller of the two shrikes which regularly turn up in the UK - they used to be a breeding species in the UK but became extinct as a breeding bird in 1989.  It is however making a small comeback and breeding pairs have been recorded again in recent years.  My first sighting, like the majority of its species seen in this country, was presumably a passage migrant. A second bird I saw later was in Sicily, which is more within their usual range. Although they are passerines, shrikes are predatory and notable for the way they store their prey in "larders" which consist of thorny bushes on which they impale their small animal food.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius
Subspecies: None - monotypic

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare passage migrant and occassional breeder

 - A single passage migrant bird at Hayes in July 2012

ITALY - Italian - Avèrla Piccola ("little shrike")

 A passage migrant
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - A single bird at Capo Murro di Porco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-Canto  
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Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Curruca (bird mentioned by Juvenal)  melanocephala ("black headed")

Adult male Sardinian Warbler (subspecies C. m. melaocephala) at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: Curruca melanocephala melanocephala
Weight: 12-25g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: 18m
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A rather striking little warbler, which looks kind of like a strange mix of a whitethroat and a Dartford warbler, the female having the colouration of the former, with a long tail and red eye making it more reminiscent of the Dartford Warbler. The red ring around the eye is the main diagnostic feature, and this species will tend to fly up onto a perch before quickly diving back into cover.  The male has a black head and a grey body, as opposed to the pictured dark grey and brown.  These birds are found throughout the Mediterranean where they are one of the more common warblers.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sylviidae
Genus: Curruca
Subspecies: C. m. melanocephala, C. m. momus, C. m. norrisae (extinct)

- Sighting Locations -
ITALY - Italian - L'occhiocotto ("The Warbler")
A fairly common resident
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Abundant at Capo Murro di Porco

SPAIN - Spanish - Curruca cabecinegra  ("Black-headed Warbler")

A fairly common resident.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: A few seen around Italica

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-Canto    .

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Saxicola ("stone dweller") macularius (species specific name)

Adult female Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 16-24g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Whinchats are one of the least common of the chat species found in the UK, found in much lower densities than species such as wheatear or stoenchat. Like wheatears, they are a summer migrant, returning to Winter in Africa. Normally found on the north and west, this individual turned up at Rainham marshes. They are identified by the prominant white eyestripe, the rusty coloured chest and brown back.  I encountered my second individual in Italy, where it was presumably on passage along Capo Murro di Porco.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Saxicola
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly numerous but very local breeding Summer migrant (approx. 47,000 pairs)

 - A passage female seen at Rainham Marshes RSPB in July 2011.

ITALY - Italian - stiaccino

A passage migrant
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Passage migrant at Capo Murro di Porco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

OTHER NAMES: Mediterranean Herring Gull
Latin Etymology:  Larus ("Gull") michahellis (after Dr. Karl W, Michahelles)

Adult Yellow-legged Gull (subspecies L. m. michahellis) at Rainham Marshes, London - September 2010

Featured subspecies: Larus michahellis michahellis 
Weight: 800-1500kg  /  Length: 52-58cm  /  Wingspan: 140-155cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Yellow-legged Gull is one of the more recent additions to the British list on the basis that it was only separated out from Herring Gull in recent memory. In appearance it resembles a Herring Gull with bright yellow legs rather than the Herrings Gull's normal pink. It also has prominent amounts of red around the eye. It is certainly one of the most difficult birds to separate out, and juveniles even more so lacking the yellow leg namesakes. The best bet if it doubt is to ask someone who might know at the site, or take a photo and stick it on a website where people might know. Yellow Legged Gulls are frequently mixed in with Herring and Lesser Black backed, and generally speaking the only way to find them is trawl through those birds until you get lucky. I would recommend looking at sites where you know them to be present to avoid a rather sisyphusian task otherwise.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Larus

Subspecies: L. m. michahellis, L. m. atlantis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A recent colonist (1 pair) and scarce Wintering bird (approx. 1100 birds)

 - Seen at Rainham Marshes and Rutland Water. 

ITALY - Italian - Gabbiano Reale Zampegialle ("Seagull Royal Yellow Legs")

A rare breeder

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen from Syracuse and Capo Murro di Porco 

Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, Wikipedia, RSPB, Xeno-canto

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Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

OTHER NAMES: Tree Sparrow

Latin Etymology: Passer ("sparrow") montanus ("of the mountains")

Adult Eurasian Tree Sparrow (subspecies P. m. saturatus) at Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens, Kyoto, Japan - June 2013

Featured Subspecies: Passer montaus saturatus
Weight: 24g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Tree Sparrow is the rarer cousin of the near omnipresent house sparrow with a patchy distribution and generally quite rare. It is apparently just as widely spread as the house sparrow outside of Britain, but elsewhere it is far more localized in occurrence. I've seen them at Rutland Water and in hedgerows in Geddington. Since I originally photographed this one, interestingly they seem to be increasing their numbers near me.  In East Asia, including Japan and Malaysia, it replaces the house sparrow as the common urban sparrow species, and is found widely in inner city environments.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passidae
Genus: Passer
Subspecies: P. m. montanus, P. m. transcaucasicus, P. m. dilutus, P. m. dybowskii, P. m. kansuensis, P. m. iubilaeus, P. m. obscuratus, P. m. saturatus, P. m. malaccensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An localised resident breeding species (200,000 territories) - subspecies P. m. montanus

 - Seen at Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and in some years, Geddington.

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name:  ចាបផ្ទះ ("House Sparrow")

A common urban resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: seen around  Siem Reap,

JAPAN - Japanese - スズメ / Suzume ("Sparrow")

Abundant resident - one of the most common urban birds.

 - KYOTO 2013 TRIP: Commonly throughout, seen in Kyoto and at Arashiyama. 

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Seen in Central Tokyo.

ITALY - Italian - Passero Mattugio ("Morning Sparrow")

A widespread resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen on Capo Murro di Porco 

MALAYSIA - Malay - Ciak Rumah ("House Cheep")

A locally common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: A common resident of Kuala Lumpur and Malacca

SINGAPORE - A  common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen in a number of locations throughout. 

SPAIN - Spanish - Gorrión molinero ("Miller Sparrow")

A reasonably common resident,

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen near Laguna Campillo.
       
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .