Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)

OTHER NAMES: Brown Owl
Latin Etymology: Strix ("owl") aluco (Italian species specific name)

Adult Tawny Owl (subspecies S. a. sylvatica) at Eldernell, Cambridgeshire - February 2024

Featured Subspecies: Strix aluco sylvatica
Weight: 470g  /  Length: 37-46cm  /  Wingspan: 81-105cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The UK's largest and most common established owl, the Tawny owl is the typical brown owl found in the UK. It is also the most obligate nocturnal of the five species, and can be one of the more difficult species to see in daylight. For the most part however, this is a bird far more often heard than seen, with it's iconic "twit-tuwoo"call, both at night and in the day, though it should be noted that this call is actually that of the male and female birds calling together.

Related Species:
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Strix
Subspecies: S. a. aluco, S. a. siberiae, S. a. sylvatica, S. a. mauritanica, S. a. willkonskii, S. a. sanctinicolai, S. a. harmsi, S. a. biddulphi  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but secretive resident (50,000 pairs)

 - Seen at Kensington Gardens, Nene Washes  and Geddington.    

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

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Mandarin (Aix galericulata)

OTHER NAMES: Mandarin Duck

Latin Etymology: Aix (bird mentioned by Aristotle) galericulata ("wig")

Adult male Mandarin (Aix galericulata) at Oundle, Northants - April 2026

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 430-690g  /  Length: 41-49cm  /  Wingspan: 65-75cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Like the Ruddy Duck and Red Crested Pochard, Mandarins are a species which have established themselves from escapees in collections. Now, ironically they are potentially more successful here than in some of their native countries. The genders look incredibly different - the male is quite easily the most ornate duck (if not bird in general) to live in the British Isles compared to the grey female. Mainly living in the south of the country, by my reckoning Hyde park is possibly one of the best places to see them - the nearby Regeant's park also has them, but filtering which ones are or not part of the collection there adds to the hassle. Photography wise they are a pretty standard duck - often less shy than most birds in urban settings, more likely to be a bit further out on the water in rural ones.

Related Species:

Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aix
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce feral breeding species (2300 pairs) and scarce Wintering species (7000 birds)

 - Resident population seen at Kensington Gardens.

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

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Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

OTHER NAMES: Shoveler

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") clypeata ("shield bearing")

Juvenile Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) at Kensington Gardens, London - March 2010

Mixed group of adult Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) with Grey Plover and Common Teal at Oare Marshes, Kent - January 2013

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 600g  /  Length: 48cm  /  Wingspan: 76cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Shoveler is probably one of my favourite ducks, it has a lovely colour scheme combined with that comically enormous bill that it uses to filter the water for small invertebrates using filter like structures on the inside of the beak.   They are also one of the largest ducks in Europe, making them fairly distinctive for that alone.  While they will be most numerous on invertebrate rich and fairly undisturbed bodies of water, you can actually get some close views of them in certain city parks of them if you are lucky.

Related Species: 

Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas 
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce breeding species (300-1000 pairs) and locally common Wintering species (18,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir and Eyebrook Reservoir.

SPAIN - Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A few seen at Laguna Navaseca.

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

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Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

OTHER NAMES: Canadian Goose, Tundra Goose, Ring-neck Goose

Latin Etymology: Branta (Old Norse for burnt) canadensis ("of Canada")

Two feral adult Canada Goose (Branta canadensis - unknown subspecies) at London Wetland Center, London - June 2018

Featured Subspecies: *unknown*

Weight: 2.5-6.5kg  /  Length: 75-110cm  /  Wingspan: 130-180cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Canada Geese are by far one of the easiest species to see in the UK. After Mallard, they are probably the most easily seen waterbird in the country. They will be present at most lakes of any notable size. The only limiting factor is that they do have localised habitat (water) as opposed to being present across habitats, although it isn't uncommon to see and/or hear them flying over in the distinctive 'V' formation or birds across countryside while travelling between sites.

As with many park based waterbirds, they can be encouraged to come very close through giving them feed. Quite often they may approach of their own volition, possibly in case you do have something to give them, although obviously be careful about aggression in this case. Either way they are a very easy species to photograph.

Related Species:

Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Genus: Branta
Subspecies: B. c. moffitti, B. c. interior, B. c. canadensis, B. c. maxima, B. c. occidentalis, B. c. fulva, B. c. parvipes    

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common feral resident (62,000 pairs) and common Winter visitor (190,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Northern States, migrating to South Coast ones, resident in coastal California
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Francisco 

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

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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") platyrhynchos ("broad billed")

Adult male Mallard (subspecies A. p. platyrhynchos) at Geddington, Northants - April 2010

Featured Subspecies: Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos
Weight: 700-1600g  /  Length: 50-65cm  /  Wingspan: 81-98cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The mallard is almost certainly the most recognisable duck in the UK, if not much of the wider world, and is also the most common. It can be found on many rivers, ponds, lakes and assorted other bodies of water - it also is likely to be easily bribed to very close views by use of feed if in a public sort of location where they are used to humans.  It is also the genetic base stock of almost all domestic ducks, and as such you will likely also encounter a lot of "muddy mallards" - ones where various domestic breeds have bred together producing some fairly variable result.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes 
Family: Anatidae 
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: A. p. platyrhynchos, A. p. conboschas, A. p. diazi  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally abundant breeding resident (61,000-146,000 pairs) and common Winter visitor (719,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.

JAPAN - Japanese - マガモ / Ma-gamo ("True Wildduck")

A fairly common resident.

 - KYOTO 2013 TRIP: A few seen on the Kamo River in Central Kyoto.

UNITED STATES 
Found throughout.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in  Berkeley

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

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European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

OTHER NAMES: Starling
Latin Etymology: Sturnus ("starling") vulgaris ("common")

Adult European Starling (subspecies S. v. vulgaris) at Kensington Gardens, London - March 2010

Featured Subspecies: Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris
Weight: 75g  /  Length: 22cm  /  Wingspan: 31-44cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Starling is a very common bird, despite beginning to decline in the UK. It is bold, and will frequently scavenge food in car-parks, outdoor cafes or wherever it can find it. Realistically, it should be one of the easiest of all birds to photograph, although for particular close up views I seem to have had the best luck near water for some reason.  They are one of our most communal birds, and often travel in small flocks.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
Genus: Sturnus
Subspecies: S. v. granti, S. v. vulgaris, S. v. faroensis, S. v. zetlandicus, S. v. tauricus, S. v. purpurascens, S. v. caucasicus, S. v. nobilior, S. v. poltaratskyi, S. v. porphyronotus, S. v. humii, S. v. minor    

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Abundant resident (804,000 territories)

 - Birds seen commonly at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Geddington, Rutland Water, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir and Ditchford Gravel Pits

ITALY - Italian - Storno comune ("Common Starling")

An fairly common resident in Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  Fairly throughout.

SPAIN - Spanish - Estornino pinto ("Painted Starling")
Winter visitor

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A number seen around Seville.

UNITED STATES 
Common introduced species throughout.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Francisco and Berkeley

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

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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

OTHER NAMES: Tame Swan

Latin Etymology: Cygnus ("swan") olor (species specific name)

A flock of assorted aged Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) at Wellingborough, Northants - May 2013

Local Name (Japan): Kobu haku-chō (コブハクチョウ) - "Lump White-bird"
Weight: 8.5-12kg

Length: 120-170cm

Wingspan: 200-240cm

UK AMBER LIST  / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most common and easily seen of all British waterbirds, it is also one of the heaviest flying birds on earth and thus fairly difficult to miss.  They are found on most bodies of water, including lakes, rivers and parks even in urban areas and so should be one of the first waterbirds many people come across in their lives. Unlike the other two swans naturally occurring in Britain, the Mute Swan is identifiable by its orange beak with a raised black knob, and its "s" shaped neck, in addition to being the only one which occurs throughout the year rather than just wintering.  They are generally fairly approachable, so therefore should be very easy to photograph, though they may be aggressive so treat them with the respect that wild animals deserve.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Cygnus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident (6000 pairs) and common Winter visitor (79,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.
JAPAN - A rare feral species

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: One pair seen in central Tokyo.

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