European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)

OTHER NAMES: Turtle Dove
Latin Etymology: Streptopelia ("collar-dove") turtur ("turtle dove")

Adult European Turtle Dove (subspecies S. t. turtur) at Brigstock, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: Stretopelia turtur turtur
Weight: 130g  /  Length: 24-29cm  /  Wingspan: 47-55cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The rarest of the five members of the pigeon family found in the UK, it resembles the Collared Dove but with a mottled brown and black back. Increasingly rare for reasons which include loss of habitat and poaching as it migrates over the Mediterranean. The best way to locate it is to listen for its call, which sounds like it is vibrating version of a pigeon call. It is our only migrant pigeon and thus is only found for a few months during the summer.

Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbiidae
Genus: Streptopelia
Subspecies: S. t. turtur, S. t. arenicola, S. t. hoggara, S. t. rufescens

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare and decreasing Summer migrant (14,000 territories)

 - Seen on several occasions in Summer at Fermyn Woods and heard at Rye Harbour

ITALY - Italian - Tortora Comune ("Common Turtledove")

A Summer migrant.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - One seen at Fiume Ciane 

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

.

Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin)

OTHER NAMES: Strawsmear, Small straw, Haychat, Pettychaps

Latin Etymology: Sylvia ("woodland sprite") borin (Genoese name for species)

Adult Garden Warbler (subspecies S. b. borin) in Geddington Chase, Northants - July 2012

Featured Subspecies: Sylvia borin borin
Weight: 16-22g  /  Length: 14cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

It could easily be argued that the Garden warbler is the most drab species of bird in the UK - you can even take this to the point where most guides I've seen note its lack of distinguishing features as its distinguishing feature! In general though, the slightly short beak and relatively heavy build set it apart from most warblers. Its song is very similar to the blackcap, but as that has radically different plumage if you see it it shouldn't be a problem. Supposedly quite numerous, the biggest issue with this bird is that it is a skulker.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes 
Family: Sylviidae 
Genus: Sylvia 
Subspecies: S. b. borin, S. b. woodwardi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common breeding Summer migrant (170,000 territories)

 - Seen reasonably often around Geddington and Brigstock in appropriate habitat at the right time of year,

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 .

Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)

OTHER NAMES: Siskin, Black-headed Goldfinch, Barleybird, Aberdevine

Latin Etymology: Spinus (bird mentioned by Aristophanes) spinus (bird mentioned by Aristophanes)

Adult Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) at Geddington, Northants - March 2013

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 12-18g  /  Length: 11-12.5cm  /  Wingspan: 20-23cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

For me the siskin proved to be a bit of a bogey bird for a while since I started this blog. In theory there are half as many siskins as the very common (but suffering major declines) greenfinch, plus winter migrants. In practice, despite having them on my bird table on a daily basis the winter before I started this site, I had not seen hide nor hair of one until for a year and a half after I started this blog.  Subsequently, connecting with them has become a bit easier as I've got more use to the sorts of places to look for them. As they do feed in gardens fairly readily, this is ultimately probably the place to get the best views of them, as with many finches they seem to favour niger seed for me.  In Winter they tend to travel in flocks and are most often seen in the treetops feeding on seeds - sometime accompanied by goldfinch or redpoll, most visibly in February and early March.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Spinus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally abundant breeding resident (369,000 pairs) and widely distributed Winter migrant.

 - Seen in Geddington most Winters, although in very variable numbers.

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

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 

.

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

.

Great Tit (Parus major)

OTHER NAMES: Ox-eye, Saw Whetter, Ackimule
Latin Etymology: Parus ("tit") major ("greater")

Adult Great Tit (subspecies P. m. newtoni) at Connaught Water, London - February 2022

Featured Subspecies: Parus major newtoni
Weight: 16-21g / Length: 12.5-14cm / Wingspan: 22-25cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the blue tit, the Great Tit comes into an easy second place in terms of most common tit species found in the UK. It is found widely in gardens, parks and woodland. It is also the largest tit in the UK (hence the name) and so may push other tit species off feeders, and has even been recorded predating them on rare occasion. They should be relatively easy to photograph, although I've found getting a nice photo harder than would be expected, as they seem to twitch around a bit when not in cover.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Parus
Subspecies: P. m. newtoni, P. m. major, P. m. kapustini, P. m. corsus, P. m. mallorcae, P. m. ecki, P. m. excelsus, P. m. aphrodite, P. m. niethammeri, P. m. terraesanctae, P. m. blanfordi, P. m. intermedius, P. m. bokharensis, P. m. ferghanensis, P. m. turkestanicus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Very common resident in numerous locations (2,500,000 territories) 

 - Seen at sites including Rutland Water, Regent's Park, Brigstock, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

   

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

.

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

OTHER NAMES: Yellow Bunting, Scribbler
Latin Etymology: Emberiza ("bunting") citrinella (Italian name for a small yellow bird)

Adult male Yellowhammer (subspecies E. c. citrinella) at Geddington, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Emberiza citrinella citrinella
Weight: 20-36g  /  Length: 16.5cm  /  Wingspan: 23-29cm

UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Yellowhammers are sparrow sized and shaped birds most notable for their bright yellow colouration, which makes them more or less unmistakable. They feed on seeds and insects and live in rural environments, the ones I've seen have all been in thick hedgerows, usually at the edge of fields, or on the edges of woods bordering on fields. They are the most widespread and distinctive of the buntings - a bright yellow bird perched on a hedgerow is almost inevitably a yellowhammer. A lot of countryside walks probably have a decent chance of seeing these birds, but personally I've found that I see far more of them on the footpaths around my village than I have elsewhere.

Related Species:

Order:Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Genus: Emberiza
Subspecies: E. c. caliginosa, E. c. citrinella, E. c. erythrogenys  

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A generally widespread but scarce species (710,000 territories)

 - Seen at locations including Geddington, Rutland Water and Brigstock

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

.

Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Crested Newt, Warty Newt

Latin Etymology: Triturus (unclear - possibly "Triton tail") cristatus ("crested")

Two adult Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) at Brigstock, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 6-10g  /  Length: 15cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Great Crested Newt is the longest Amphibian in Britain and is far bigger than the other two newt species, with the great crest of its name being one of the identifying features. It is threatened and has some of the most visible and widely seen conservation measures of any species in the UK: if you see a plastic fence about a foot high embedded in the ground around an area, particularly one being built on, this is a newt fence which allows newts to be removed and kept out of areas where they might be hurt.

Related Species:
Order: Caudata
Family: Salamandridae
Genus: Triturus
SUBSPECIES: unknown

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce resident

 - Seen on several occasions in Summer at Fermyn Woods

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

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Callophrys (Beautiful eyebrows) rubi ("bramble")

Adult Green Hairstreak (subspecies C. r. rubi) at Cliffe Pools, Kent - March 2014

Featured Subspecies: Callophyys rubi rubi

Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 28mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Green Hairstreak is a very attractive butterfly, most obviously distinct from the fact that its underwings are a vivid green.  It is found on Bird's foot trefoil but will rest upon small shrubs to sun itself, such as small hawthorn bushes.  It never opens its wings while resting as the green colour is part of its camoflage.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Callophrys 
SUBSPECIES: C. r. rubi, C. r. fervida, C. r. borealis, C. r. sibirica

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A localised resident

 - Seen in Geddington, Cliffe Pools and Brigstock, 

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

Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)

OTHER NAMES: Dingy Grass-Skipper

Latin Etymology: Erynnis (?) tages (after an Etruscan deity)

Adult Dingy Skipper (subspecies E. t. tages) at Brigstock, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Erynnis tages tages
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 29mm
UK Status: Vulnerable / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The skippers are a family of Butterflies which to the untrained may resemble moths, and the Dingy Skipper more than most due to its very drab appearances.  It is in decline in the UK and its distribution is wide but in patches rather than continuous.  They feed largely on Bird's-foot trefoil.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae 
Genus: Erynnis
SUBSPECIES: E. t. tages, E. t. baynesi

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A scarce resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen at sites including Brigstock

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