Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

OTHER NAMES: Red Crossbill, Crossbill
Latin Etymology: Loxia ("crosswise") curvirostra ("curved bill")

Adult male Common Crossbill (subspecies L. c. curvirostra) at Cockley Cley, Norfolk - February 2021

Featured Subspecies: Loxia curvirostra curvirostra
Weight: 23-53g  /  Length: 14-20cm  /  Wingspan: 29cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Perhaps the center of one of the most muddy bits of avian taxonomy in Europe, the Common Crossbill as it stands is a wide ranging conifer seed specialist with a range that covers a not insubstantial chunk of the Northern Hemisphere. However, as many populations are isolated and have begun to specialise in the seeds of particular trees, the debate for dividing them into subspecies or even species is a complex issue.  They have also long been one of my most infamous "bogey-birds" - they are highly irruptive so in theory can be found anywhere, but I have missed out on them time and time again in the UK, until finally seeing the birds resident on Mount Etna.

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Loxia
SUBSPECIES: L. c. curvirostra, L. c. corsicana, L. c. poliogyna, L. c. guillemardi, L. c. mariae, L. c. altaiensis, L. c. tianschanica, L. c. himalayensis, L. c. meridionalis, L. c. japonica, L c. luzoniensis, L. c. minor, L. c. sitkensis, L. c. bendirei, L. c. benti, L. c. grinelli, L. c. stricklandi, L. c. mesamericana, L. c. pusilla

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread but localised and highly mobile resident, plus irruptive Winter visitor

 - Seen at Cockley Cley, Norfolk in February 2021 .

ITALY - Italian - Crociere Comune 
A localised resident in coniferous areas

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP: Fairly common in the conifer zone of Mount Etna - subspecies  L. c. poliogyna*

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

* The Crossbills of Etna are currently considered to be members of the North African subspecies, however, there is speculation that they might represent their own taxon due to physical differences.

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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 .

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

OTHER NAMES: Cuckoo, Gowk
Latin Etymology: Cuculus ("cuckoo") canorus ("melodious")

Adult female Common Cuckoo (subspecies C. c. canorus) at Rutland Water, Rutland - May 2024

Featured Subspecies: Cuculus canorus canorus
Weight: 115g  /  Length: 32-36cm  /  Wingspan: 55-60cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Cuckoos have numerous things of note to them - they are the only members of their genus found regularly in the UK. They are also famous for their parental techniques - they are brood parasites - they plant their eggs in the nests of other birds to get them to do them for them. They are easily found when they are around by their loud and distinctive call - the "cuckoo" sound of their name. As with many African migrant species however, there have been some harsh declines in recent history, primarily due to trapping migratory species en-route.

Related Species:
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Genus: Cuculus
Subspecies: C. c. bangsi, C. c. canorus, C. c. subtelephonus, C. c. bakeri

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An uncommon Summer breeding migrant (16,000 pairs)

 - Birds heard in Geddington most years, but rarely seen, also seen and heard at Fermyn Woods and Cliffe Pools

ITALY - Italian - Cuculo ("cuckoo")

A localised resident in coniferous areas

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP: Several heard on Mount Etna

SPAIN - Spanish - Cuco ("cuckoo")

A Summer migrant (subspecies C. c. bangsi)

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several birds heard at El Pardo

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

Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

OTHER NAMES: Pine Processionary
Latin Etymology: Thaumetopoea ("showing marvelous things") pityocampa (?)

Catepillars of Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)  at Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 31-49mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

An unusual instance where it is the caterpillar which is the far more notable and recognisable form of the species.  As adults they are small and unremarkable looking grey brown moths, but the larvae have a number of distinctive adaptations and behavioural patterns of note.  As they develop, they build a communal tent structure which they use as a base for foraging, including during Winter.  When it reaches time to pupate, they form long processions (as seen in the photo above) which are guided by pheremone trails.  It is here they are most directly of note to humans, as at this point in their life they also have allergy inducing hairs which can cause problems for humans and other animals

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Thaumetopoeidae
Genus: Thaumetopoea
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Processionaria del Pino ("Pine Processionary")
A localised resident in coniferous areas

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP: Fairly common in the conifer zone of Mount Etna

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