Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Sylvia ("woodland sprite") curruca (bird mentioned by Juvenal)

Adult Lesser Whitethroats (subspecies S. c. curruca) at Alexandra Palace, London - September 2015

Featured Subspecies: Sylvia curruca curruca

Weight: 12g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: 18cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Lesser Whitethroat is perhaps the most difficult to see species relative to how common it is - it is perhaps the most skulking of the widespread warblers of the UK, much easier to hear than it is to see with it's vaguely belligerent harsh sounding repeated "jut" sounds.   It also suffers from being similar to the related common whitethroat, there are some features which can be used to separate it out - dark coloured legs, a pale "milky" breast (rather than pinkish), a dark mask (rather than a uniformly grey head) and a cool brown back (rather than warm russet).  I'd actually seen this species a couple of times prior to finally managing to photograph it, generally glimpses before vanishing into a thicket. However, while in Alexandra Park in Autumn I ended up getting easily identifiable views on several occasions throughout the morning - this could tie into the fact that as their migration approaches they apparently are less skulking.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sylvdiidae
Genus: Sylvia
Subspecies: S. c. curruca, S. c. blythi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Widespread but secretive breeding Summer migrant (74,000 birds) 

 - Seen in late Summer at Rutland Water and Alexandra Palace, heard in various other locations

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

Common Swift (Apus apus)

OTHER NAMES: Swift, Screamer, Devil-bird, Screech Martin

Latin Etymology: Apus ("swift") apus ("swift")

Adult Common Swift (subspecies A. a. apus) at Geddington, Northants - July 2012

Featured Subspecies: Apus apus apus
Weight: 35-56g  /  Length: 16-17cm  /  Wingspan: 38-40cm

UK AMBER STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The swift is a widespread and common Summer visitor to the UK - it is larger than the unrelated swallows and martins and can be distinguished by having no easily visible white on it and it's long scythe blade shaped wings. The trick with this species is that it's very hard to photograph - the fundamental problem being that it is a species which it's a species which rarely willingly lands to the point where they sleep on the wing and furthermore is one of the fastest birds in the UK. In the end I have had to settle with manually focusing on somewhere where they are feeding and taking sequential photo's until a legible one turns up - quite possibly the most difficult "common" bird to photograph.

Related Species:

Order: Apodiformes

Family: Apodidae

Genus: Apus
Subspecies: A. a. apus, A. a. pekinensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common Summer migrant breeder (87,000 pairs)

 - Seen at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Geddington, Kettering. Rutland Water and Rainham Marshes.

ITALY - Italian - Rondone

An abundant Summer migrant.

SICILY 2018 TRIP -  Very common throughout.

SPAIN - Spanish - Vencejo común ("Common Swift")

Abundant Summer breeding migrant

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Abundant over Madrid and Toledo.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Common in Madrid and Monfrague National Park.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Redlist, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)

OTHER NAMES: Storm-Cock, Thrice-thrush, Screech-thrush

Latin Etymology: Turdus ("thrush") viscivorus ("mistletoe eating")

 Adult Mistle Thrush (subspecies T. v. viscivorus) at Geddington, Northants - December 2009

Featured Subspecies: Turdus viscivorus viscivorus
Weight: 110-140g  /  Length: 27cm  /  Wingspan: 42-28cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Personally, I've found the Mistle Thrush to be the least easy to find of the resident thrushes, and indeed, also harder to find than both Redwing and Fieldfare. This may well be due to the decline in it's population. The Mistle Thrush is a large thrush, differentiated from the song thrush by drabber colours on top and a more contrasting difference between the pale belly and dark speckling. It is also more likely to appear in small groups than its counterpart.

Related Species:

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Subspecies:  T. v. viscivorus, T. v. deiichleri, T. v. bonapartei

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident breeding species (170,000 territories)

 - Birds seen in Geddington and a few assorted other locations.

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

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Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

OTHER NAMES: Felts

Latin Etymology: Turdus ("thrush") pilaris ("to deprive of hair" )

Adult Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) at Geddington, Northants - April 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 80-120g  /  Length: 25cm  /  Wingspan: 39-42cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The fieldfare is the largest British thrush, and possibly also the most noisy - it can often be detected by its rather raucous call, which can often alert you to its presence long before you see them. Unfortunately for the sake of photographing them, it is also the most flighty of all the regular thrushes and will unfortunately most often be seen flying away from calling loudly as it has been disturbed from its perch.  On the plus side, when it does perch it is usually a fairly clear vantage point allowing it to be viewed from larger distances fairly easily. It usually travels in flocks, sometimes up to the hundreds, often mixed with redwing, and is almost exclusively winter visitor.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Occasional breeding species (1-2 pairs) and Common Winter Visitor (720,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at various sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes and Geddington.

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

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Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

OTHER NAMES: Rose-ringed Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") krameri (after Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer)

Adult Rose-ringed Parakeet (subspecies P. k. borealis) on Regent's Park, London - October 2009

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula krameri borealis
Weight: 94-180g  /  Length: 40cm  /  Wingspan: 42-48cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Britain's only fully established Parrot species - these parakeet established themselves at some point in the last 50 years and have been increasing ever since. Widespread within London (and apparently other places) they are however still restricted in range for now. In central London Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens seems to be a hot-spot - you can hear them shrieking from the trees a lot of the time just to the west of the Serpentine.  As with in Britain, in Spain the Rose-Ringed Parakeet is abundant in some Spanish cities - Seville in particular, though a few were seen in Madrid, although the Monk Parakeet was more prevalent in the latter.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula
Subspecies: P. k. krameri, P. k. parvirostris, P. k. borealis, P. k. manillensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common to Locally abundant Breeding Resident (8600 pairs)

 - Locally common in South East England including Regent's Park and Kensington Gardens.

SPAIN - Spanish - Cotorra de Kramer

Common in some cities.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Common around Seville    

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

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Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major)

OTHER NAMES: Pied Woodpecker, Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Latin Etymology: Dendrocopus ("tree striking") major ("greater")

Left: Adult female Great Spotted Woodpecker (subspecies D. m. pinetorum) at Warnham, Sussex - March 2015

Right: Adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker (subspecies D. m. japonicus) at Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan - December 2014

Featured Subspecies: Dendrocopus major pinetorum AND Dencrocopus major japonicus

Weight: 70-90g  /  Length: 22-23cm  /  Wingspan: 34-39cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a relatively common bird which will sometimes come into gardens. It has distinctive colouration making it easy to spot (compare against the much more difficult to see Lesser Spotted Woodpecker) and hearing a loud tapping call in woodland will very often mean that either this species or the Green Woodpecker will be near. Most easy to photograph at bird tables, or failing that, in Winter when there are no leaves on the trees to block views.  They are found right across Eurasia and I also encountered this species in the centre of the town of Kushiro in Hokkaido.

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes

Family: Picidae

Genus: Dendrocopus

Subspecies: D. m. major, D. m. pinetorum, D. m. harterti, D. m. hispanus, D. m. canariensis, D. m. D. m thanneri, D. m. maurittanus, D. m. numidus, D. m. poelzami, D. m. brevirostris, D. m. kamtschaticus, D. m japonicus, D. m. cabansi

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common breeding resident (140,000 pairs)

 - Birds seen at a large number of sites often at feeders, including but not limited to Rutland Water, Regent's Park and Geddington.

JAPAN - Japanese - アカゲラ  /  Aka-gera ("Red Woodpecker")

A fairly widespread resident.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A single bird seen in Kushiro.

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

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Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

OTHER NAMES: Long-tailed Titmouse, Mum Ruffin, Mufflin, Huck-Muck
Latin Etymology: Aegithalos ("tit") caudatus ("tailed")

Adult Long-tailed Tit (subspecies A. c. rosaceus) at Geddington, Northants - March 2010

Featured Subspecies: Aegithalos caudatus rosaceus

Weight: 7-9g  /  Length: 15cm  /  Wingspan: 17-19cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the blue tit and great tit, the long tailed tit holds the distinction of being probably the UK's third most visible of the tits. It is however, not strictly speaking, particularly related to the others and is in a separate genus. It is also unlike the "standard" tits in other ways - it is inherently communal and is almost always seem in flocks, ranging from only a few to several dozen, or even potentially more. It also very rarely comes to bird tables, instead to prefer to feed while moving through trees and hedges. It can prove very frustrating to photograph, as it is a very "flitty" bird, but perseverance can get some great results.

Related Species:

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Aegithalidae
Genus: Aegithalos
Subspecies: A. c. caudatus, A. c. rosaceus, A. c. aremoricus, A. c. taiti, A. c. europaeus, A. c. macedonicus, A. c. tauricus, A. c. irbii, A. c. italiae, A. c. siculus, A. c. tephronotus, A. c. major, A. c. alpinus, A. c. passekii, A. c. magnus, A. c. trivirgatus, A. c. kiusiuensis 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident (340,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at many locations including Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.        

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

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Coal Tit (Periparus ater)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Periparus ("very tit") ater ("black/dark/dull")

Adult Coal Tit (subspecies P. a. britannicus) at Brigstock, Northants - March 2012

Featured Subspecies: Periparus ater britannicus

Weight: 8-10g  /  Length: 11.5cm  /  Wingspan: 17-21cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Coal Tit is probably the third most likely of the tits to turn up at your bird feeder, although trailing a long way behind Blue and Great. It is actually adapted to feed in conifers and as such it is probably more likely to come into the garden if you are relatively nearby some. It is most easily differentiated from other tits by the white streak on the back of its head, which easily separates it from the otherwise comparably coloured Marsh and Willow tits, although the more blue-tit like proportions and the blue-grey rather than brown back are the other big hints..

Related Species:

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Paridae

Genus: Periparus
Subspecies: P. a. hibernicus, P. a. britannicus, P. a. ater, P. a. vieirae, P. a. sardus, P. a. atlas, P. a. ledouci, P. a. cypriotes, P. a. moltchanovi, P. a. derjugini, P. a. michalowskii, P. a. phaeonotus, P. a. rufipectus, P. a. aemodius, P. a. pekinensis, P. a. kuatunensis, P. a. ptilosus, P. a. insularis, P. a. melanolophus   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common and widespread resident (760,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Rutland Water, Brigstock and Geddington.

SPAIN - Resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Single bird seen in Madrid.          

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

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Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)

OTHER NAMES: Jay
Latin Etymology: Garrulus ("chattering") glandarius ("of acorns")

Adult Eurasian Jay (subspecies G. g. jordansi) at Siracusa, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: Garrulus glandarius jordansi
Weight: 160g  /  Length: 32-36cm  /  Wingspan: 56cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Out of the generally bold crow family, the jay is a bit of an anomaly - firstly it is not black, but in fact quite a colourful woodland bird with a brilliant iridescent blue patch. In contrast to this, it is actually a very secretive bird, and if you encounter it in the countryside, the best you are likely to see is it flying away from you in the opposite direction. For much better views, I strongly recognise parks in Cities, the Jays I've encountered in London are not easier to see, at times they aren't bothered by you at all. Listen out for their distinctive raucous call to tell when they are nearby.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Garrulus
Subspecies: G. g. rufitergum, G. g. hibernicus, G. g. hibernicus, G. g. severtzowi, G. g. lusitanicus, G. g. fasciatus, G. g. corsicanus, G. g. albipectus, G. g. jordansi, G. g. ichnusae, G. g. graecus, G. g. cretorum, G. g. glaszneri, G. g. fernandi, G. g. minor, G. g. cervicalis, G. g. whitakeri, G. g. atricapillus, G. g. anatoliae, G. g. samios, G. g. iphigenia, G. g. krynicki, G. g. hyrcanus, G. g. japonicus, G. g. tokugawae, G. g. hiugaensis, G. g. orii, G. g. namiyei, G. g.s sinensis, G. g. taivanus, G. g. persaturatus, G. g. bispecularis, G. g. interstinctus, G. g. oatesi, G. g. leucotis, G. g. haringtoni  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common resident breeding species (170,000 territories) 

 - Birds seen at a number of sites including Regent's Park and Geddington.  

ITALY - Italian -  Ghiandaia

A common resident.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen at Syracuse     

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

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Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)

OTHER NAMES: Treecreeper, Common Treecreeper

Latin Etymology: Certhia (bird mentioned by Aristotle) familiaris ("familiar/friendly")

Adult Eurasian Treecreeper (subspecies C. f. britannica) at Brigstock, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Certhia familiaris britannica
Weight: 8-12g  /  Length: 12.5cm  /  Wingspan: 17-21cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Eurasian Treecreeper is a woodland specialist most often found climbing up the trunks of trees from where it picks its food. It is a well camouflaged bird, and can be a bit difficult to spot if you aren't used to them, but once you are used to it it often seems like they can turn up on any tree anywhere. As they are often in the thick of branches they can be a bit tricky to photograph, but persevere and you'll almost certainly eventually encounter a more approachable one. In colder months, look near tit flocks, which they sometimes seem to accompany.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Certhiidae
Genus: Certhia
Subspecies: C. f. britannica, C. f. macrodactyla, C. f. corsa, C. f. familiaris, C. f. daurica, C. f. orientalis, C. f. japonica, C. f. persica, C. f. tianschanica, C. f. bianchii  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Breeding resident (200,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at sites including Geddington and Brigstock.

   

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

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