Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Ardea ("heron" - named for mythical town of Ardea) purpurea ("purple coloured")

                                                  Purple Heron (subspecies A. p. purpurea) at Arrocampo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Ardea purpurea purpurea

Weight: 0.5-1.35kg  /  Length: 88-94cm  /  Wingspan: 120-152cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The closest relation of the Grey Heron in Europe, the Purple Heron is however far more localised and secretive that it's grey cousin; a species of reed-beds found primarily in Mediterranean countries in Europe.  It is another widely distributed species however, found in addition to Southern Europe across India, South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.  This is one of those species where the name doesn't necessarily make that much sense when examined; while there is a sort of purple quality to it if you squint at it, the more general impression is one of a coppery-orange and grey.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ardea
Subspecies: A. p. purpurea, A. p. bournei, A. p. madagascariensis, A. p. manilensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name: ក្រសាធ្នង់

A fairly common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Several at Prek Toal

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Seen at  Bishan Park

SPAIN - Spanish - Garza Imperial - ("Imperial Heron")

Widespread but local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at Navaseca (2 individuals flying into reeds), Arrocampo (numerous) and Rivas Vaciamadrid (2 birds)

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

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis)

OTHER NAMES: Willow Sparrow

Latin Etymology: Passer ("sparrow") hispaniolensis ("Spanish")

                                       Male Spanish Sparrow (subspecies P. h. hispaniolensis) at Laguna Campillo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Passer hispaniolensis hispaniolensis

Weight: 22-36g  /  Length: 15-16cm  /  Wingspan: 23-26cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Despite the name, this is a species found over a wide range from Iberia to Central Asia and a close relation of the House Sparrow.  However, in comparison to that species, they are considerably less accustomed to human presence, being far more rural to the point of even generally avoiding human buildings.  I saw small numbers in several locations on my second trip to Madrid, but generally they seemed to be associated with the borders of grassland and trees.  The female is basically indistinguishable from that of the House Sparrow, but the very black streaked chest makes the male distinctive.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Passer
Subspecies: P. h. hispaniolensis, P. h. transcaspicus 

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Gorrión Moruno - ("Moorish Sparrow")

Widespread but local resident in rural habitats, often associating with House Sparrow.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at Navaseca (1 male), Monfrague (3 males) and Rivas Vaciamadrid (1 male).  Females may have been present, but are indistinguishable from female House Sparrow in the field.

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

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Oxyura ("sharp tail") leucocephala ("white headed")

                                  Adult male White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 510-900g  /  Length: 43-48cm  /  Wingspan: 60-70cm

ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Endangered

The White-headed Duck is one of the rarest Ducks of Europe, a victim of over hunting and loss of habitat.  It is found in the Iberian peninsula, North Africa and Central Asia.  In terms of British Ornithology though, it has another major significance, despite not being recorded as a vagrant here - it is the reason the feral population of Ruddy Duck is being eradicated. The two species are close relations, originally from North America (the Ruddy Duck) and Eurasia (the White-headed Duck) respectively, and it is claimed that interbreeding between the two species threatens the continued existence of the White-headed Duck.  I've also seen claims to the contrary, but haven't seen specific data on the subject either way.  Nonetheless, the White-headed Duck in Spain does seem to be showing some signs of recovery, though I suspect that is more immediately due to protection from hunting.  Note that the dark markings on the beak in this photo are mud from diving, the beak is normally entirely blue.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Malvasía 

Rare but locally abundant resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Laguna Navaseca (dozens of Summer plumage birds)

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

Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)

OTHER NAMES: Purple Gallinule, European Swamphen, Western Swamphen

Latin Etymology: Porphyrio ("water hen") porphyrio ("water hen")

                                            Western Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 725-870g  /  Length: 38-50cm  /  Wingspan: 90-100cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern*

A huge, distinctively coloured rail which in Europe is almost entirely found only in Iberia, with a good look at this species, it's unmistakable with it's indigo plumage and bright red beak and legs.  It is however, impressively secretive species for it's bulk, only emerging briefly.  It's also part way through a taxonomic split that makes it's identity a bit more elaborate.  Originally regarded as a single species - the Purple Gallinule/Purple Swamphen across it's range, the European/North African population is now though to represent the earliest divergent lineage of a species that divided by successive waves of expansion with enough gap in between to create new species each time.  My main feeling on this matter is that really the Western Swamphen is far too dry a name for a huge dopey looking purple bird, and thus it's a shame to lose the name Purple Swamphen.

Related Species:
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Porphyrio
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Calamón 

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: One at Laguna Navaseca and abundant at Arrocampo (good number seen and heard)

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

* The Purple Swamphen is a species in a partial stage of recognition of a major set of splits - the websites marked with an asterisk regard it as a single species, the others as split into various species across the range of "the Purple Swamphen". .

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Chlidonias ("swallow-like") hybrida ("hybrid")

                                             Whiskered Tern (subspecies C. h. hybrida) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Chlidonias hybrida hybria

Weight: 80-100g  /  Length: 23-25cm  /  Wingspan: 74-78cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The palest of the three "Marsh Terns" found regularly in Europe, the Whiskered Tern more resembles a "classical" tern with a dark underbelly than the other two when in full breeding plumage. This is in fact reflected in the latin name "hybrida" - which suggests it does look like a hybrid of Marsh and "Sterna" terns.  A rare visitor to the UK, and I once attempted to see a juvenile that was present at Rutland Water, but was unable to positively pick it out without the more distinctive plumage at the great distances.  In Laguna Navaseca in Toledo province they were a common and easy to see presence, fishing in front of hides in the same way Common Terns do in wetlands in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Chlidonias
Subspecies: C. h. hybrida, C. h. delalandii, C. h. javanicus

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer Name: រំពេរពោះប្រផេះ ("? Grey Belly")

A locally common Winter visitor and passage migrant.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common approaching Prek Toal

SPAIN - Spanish - Fumarel cariblanco ("White-cheeked tern")

Locally common Summer migrant

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Laguna Navaseca (dozens seen) and one flock seen at Laguna del Longar distantly.

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

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

OTHER NAMES: Flamingo

Latin Etymology: Phoenicopterus ("red winged") roseus ("rosy")

Seven adult Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2-4kg  /  Height: 1-1.5m  /  Wingspan: 1.4-1.7m
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Flamingos are perhaps one of the most famous bird groups in the world, their pink colouration being the main reasons I suspect.  The Greater Flamingo is probably the most easily found species in Europe, although it is by no means common, being limited to a few areas such as the Camargue in France, and the Donana National Park in Southern Spain, where I encountered them the first time.  They are huge birds, dwarfing even the massive White Storks that were feeding alongside them.  Despite their fame, these fellows were really more white than pink.  They are an incredibly long lived species by the standard of birds - the oldest currently known is 70 years and counting.

Related Species:
Order: Phoenicopteriformes
Family: Phoenicopteridae
Genus: Phoenicopterus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY -  Italian: Fenicottero Rosa ("Pink Flamingo")

A very local resident breeder,

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen flying over at Capo Murro di Porco and Siracusa. 

SPAIN - Spanish - Flamenco  ("Flamingo")

Scarce but locally abundant resident where suitable habitat exists.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Numerous around El Rocio
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant around Laguna Navaseca.

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

Garganey (Anas querquedula)

OTHER NAMES: Cricket Teal

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") querquedula (duck mentioned by Varro and Columella)

Adult male Garganey (Anas queruedula) at Summer Leys Reserve, Northants - March 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 300-400g  /  Length: 37-41cm  /  Wingspan: 59-67cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the Gadwall, possibly one of the most drably coloured duck species found in the UK. The male is primarily notable for the prominent white stripe over its eye, while the female is a rather forgettable brown. Perhaps the rarest and most secretive of UK Ducks - only around a hundred pairs breed in the UK a year, and those that do are quite secretive. They are also barely bigger than a teal, so finding them is potentially the hardest of all British freshwater Ducks.  They do seem to turn up fairly regularly on passage, so being quick on the uptake of reports in the Spring and Autumn may be the best bet for seeing them.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare Summer migrant and breeding species (14-90 pairs)

 - Seen at Summerleys in May 2011 and March 2022

SPAIN - Spanish - Cerceta carretona ("Marbled Teal")

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A single bird seen fleetingly at Laguna Navaseca

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

Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)

OTHER NAMES: Mediterranean Black Headed Gull

Latin Etymology: Ichthyaetus ("fish eagle") melanocephlus ("black headed")

Two adult breeding plumage Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 220-380g  /  Length: 38cm  /  Wingspan: 98-105cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Mediterranean Gull at first glance looks very similar to the far far more common black headed gull - but a closer view, particularly in Summer plumage will reveal the differences. Most notably the head is (perhaps slightly ironically) actually matte black rather than the dark brown of the black headed gull - the bird behind them in the photo demonstrates this well. Also note the white wing-tips; a unique feature among the dark-headed gulls found in the UK.. Identification in Winter is almost certainly harder, the strong contrasting colours are no longer present to pick them out from the crowd. This species is only now beginning to gain a foothold in the UK along the South, and further afield it might be easier to watch for reports of them.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Ichthyaetus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce breeding species (600-630 pairs) and uncommon Winter Visitor (1800 birds)

 - A pair seen at Rutland Water in April 2010.

SPAIN - Spanish - Gaviota cabecinegra ("Black headed Gull")

Resident on coastal Eastern Spain, Feeds and Winters along the Southern coast. 

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A pair in breeding plumage at Laguna Navaseca.

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

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Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

OTHER NAMES: Eared Grebe

Latin Etymology: Podiceps ("vent-foot") nigricollis ("black-collared")

Summer plumage adult Black-necked Grebe (subspecies P. n. nigricollis) at Laguna Navaseca, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Podiceps nigricollis nigricollis

Weight: 200-735g  /  Length: 28-34cm  /  Wingspan: 57cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Black-necked Grebe is one of our rarer grebes - of the three less common species in the UK, it has by far the smallest wintering population, and thus finding one might be a matter of chance (or the ability to check for reports of them). Black-necked grebes seem to congregate on reservoirs and lakes during the winter (and occasionally in Summer), but it is during the former time of the year that you probably have the best chance of finding them. Differentiating between black-necked and slavonian may be difficult at range while in Winter plumage but the black-neck of its name is the deciding factor, with the throat of the Slavonian being white.  In Japan, it seems like a bit more of a common species in Winter; I found birds on the sea on both Honshu and Hokkaido while at Laguna Navaseca in Spain is was positively abundant.

 - Related Species -
ORDER: Podicepiformes
FAMILY: Podicipedidae
GENUS: Podiceps
SUBSPECIES: P. n. nigricollis, P. n. gurneyi, P. n. californicus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce Breeding Species (40-60 pairs) and Scarce Winter Migrant (approx. 130 birds)

 - Migrant birds seen at Rutland Water (2 Winter plumage adults in 2009) and Pitsford Reservoir (1 Summer plumage adult 2011), .

JAPAN - Japanese - ハジロカイツブリ / Ha-jiro kaitsuburi ("White-winged Grebe")
Widespread Winter Migrant

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Seen at Kamakura (1 Winter plumage adult, on the sea) and Akkeshi (1 Winter Plumage adult, on the sea)

SPAIN - Spanish - Zampullín Cuellinegro - "Black-necked Grebe"

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant at Laguna Navaseca (dozens of Summer plumage birds)

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

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Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

OTHER NAMES: Pochard

Latin Etymology: Aythya (a seabird named by Aristotle) ferina ("wild game")

Adult male Common Pochard (Falco naumanni) in Castille-La-Mancha, Spain - April 2016

Local Name (Spain): Porrón común ("Common Pochard")

Weight: 930g  /  Length: 44-48cm  /  Wingspan: 77cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The pochard is mainly seen in the UK as a Winter visitor on lakes of reasonable size. It isn't particularly notably easy, or for that matter notably common when compared to other ducks. It does however seem slightly more wary of humans than many other ducks making it slightly easier to photograph - tending to prefer deeper water where it is harder to get good views.  This particular individual was seen on its own on a small lake at Italica near Seville where the Pochard is actually a bit rarer than in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aythya

Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (350-630 pairs) and Common Winter Visitor (48000 birds)

 - Seen at various sites including Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Eyebrook Reservoir. 

SPAIN - Spanish - Porrón común ("Common Pochard")

Widespread Summer migrant to most of the country, though resident in a few locations in the South.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: A single bird seen around central Italica 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Fairly common at Laguna Navaseca

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

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

OTHER NAMES: Swallow, Common Swallow

Latin Etymology: Hirundo ("swallow") rustica ("rural")

Adult Barn Swallow (subspecies H. r. rustica) at Geddington, Northants - May 2013

Featured Subspecies: Hirundo rustica rustica
Weight: 16-22g  /  Length: 17-19cm  /  Wingspan: 32.34cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely spread bird, the Swallow is almost certainly one of the easier species to see in the UK and they Summer right across Eurasia; I also saw this species feeding over rivers on my visit to Japan. In the Winter they migrate southwards, in the case of the UK birds, to Sub-Saharan Africa. Swallows are insectivores and next under eaves and in barns - they are perhaps not quite as common as the smaller sand martin, but their very forked tail, glossy blue coloration and red throat makes them easy to distinguish if you get a good view. As with other high speed aerial feeders - photographing them is substantially harder than seeing them - for a compact camera like mine, I would recommend manually focusing to the approximate height at which they are flying and then taking photos until you get them. Alternatively, just wait until you catch them landed - they often perch on wire fences or overhead cables.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Hirundo
Subspecies: H. r. rustica, H. r. transitiva, H. r. savignii, H. r. tytleri, H. r. gutturalis, H. r. mandschurica, H. r. erythrogaster

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common Summer migrant (860,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at sites including Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Elmley Marshes, and Geddington.

CAMBODIA  - Khmer name: ត្រចៀកកាំ

- A localised resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Common at Prek Toal

ITALY -  Italian - La Rondine Comune ("Common Swallow")

A common Summer migrant.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  Very common throughout.

JAPAN - Japanese - ツバメ  /  Tsubame ("Swallow")
Fairly common Summer migrant.  Subspecies H. r. gutturalis.

 - KYOTO 2013 TRIP: Several seen at Arashiyama. 

SPAIN - Spanish - Golondrina común ("Common Swallow")

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen flying over Laguna Navaseca.

UNITED STATES 
Found across the entire Lower 48 and Hawai'i
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley, San Francisco, San Jose etc

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

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