Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

OTHER NAMES: Adalbert's Eagle, Spanish Eagle

Latin Etymology: Aquila ("eagle") adalberti (named for Prince Heinrich Wilhelm Adalbert of Prussia)

Adult Spanish Imperial Eagle at Oropesa, Spain - April 2016 

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 2.5-3.5kg  /  Length: 78-82cm  /  Wingspan: 180-210cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable 

A large and powerful Eagle species that breeds exclusively in the Iberian peninsula, almost purely in Spain, the Spanish Imperial Eagle is thus one of the most threatened raptor species in Europe.  Until comparatively recently, it was considered to be the same species as the (now renamed Eastern) Imperial Eagle found from Central Europe to Central Asia.  Though you can differentiate the two on location alone, the while marks on the forewing make the Spanish Imperial visually distinctive.  Still at risk from illegal poisoning and collisions with power-lines, the Spanish Imperial Eagle is recovering, and can even be seen comparatively close to some of Spain's biggest cities like Madrid and Seville.

 - Related Species -
ORDER: Accipitriformes  
FAMILY: Accipitridae
GENUS: Aquila
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Águila Imperial - ("Imperial Eagle")
Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at Oropesa (1 adult, perched), El Pardo (2 juveniles, flying) and Monfrague (1 adult perched, 1 flying)

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

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)

OTHER NAMES: Bee-eater

Latin Etymology: Merops ("bee-eater" from Greek) apiaster ("bee eater" from Latin)

                                         Adult European Bee-eater (subspecies Merops apiaster) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 55g  /  Length: 25-29cm  /  Wingspan: 36-40cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The European Bee-eater is probably the most colourful species on the entire continent - a brilliant bird of yellow, turquoise, green and orange.  They are primarily found in Mediterranean in sandy banks on cliffs or river sides, often in large colonies.  As colourful as they are, they are equally noisy a species, with their distinctive liquid sounding call often alerting you to their presence long before you actually see them.  A feeder of large insects like wasps and bees which make up the majority of their diet, they apparently can eat around 250 a day.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Meropidae
Genus: Merops
Subspecies: none (monotypic)

 - Sighting Locations -
ITALY - Italian - Il gruccione comune ("Common Bee-eater")
A locally reasonably common Summer migrant.
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - One at Fiume Ciane 

SPAIN - Spanish - Abejaruco común ("Common Bee-eater")

Fairly common Summer migrant, usually seen in flight passing through.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Single individuals seen distantly in flight at Patones and the farmland surrounding Madrid
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A small flock perched around El Pardo and various other sightings including at Arrocampo and Monfrague.

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

Western Subalpine Warbler (Curruca iberiae)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Curruca (bird mentioned by Juvenal) iberiae ("of Iberia")

                            Adult male Western Subalpine Warbler (subspecies C. i. cantillans) at Monfrague National Park, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 9-13g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: 16-20cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Western Subalpine Warbler is a migratory species found throughout the Mediterranean which Winters primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Its colour resembles that of a Dartford Warbler, but on a more classic warbler frame, with the distinctive feature being a little white moustache on the males.  The individuals I saw seemed to associate with rocky and scrubby riverside habitats, and usually seemed to present in male-female pairs, but obviously this may vary with the time of year and will likely not always be true.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sylviidae
Genus: Curruca
Subspecies: C. i. cantillans, C. i. albistriata, C. i. albistriata

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Curruca carrasqueña ("Carrasquan Warbler")

Locally common Summer Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Pair seen at El Pardo, fairly abundant at Monfrague National Park (a number of pairs seen)

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

Common Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)

OTHER NAMES: Little Bittern

Latin Etymology: Ixobrychus ("reed like plant") minutus ("little")

                                           Adult Common Little Bittern (subspecies I. m. minutus) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Ixobrychus minutus minutus

Weight: 59-150g  /  Length: 25-36cm  /  Wingspan: 40-58cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Common Little Bittern is easily the smallest member of the Heron Family found in Europe - my first glimpse of this species flying away from me up a river and my first thought was some species of crake until I saw it's face.  They are a secretive species, yet seemingly not so much as the great Bittern, and their smaller size allows them to be present in smaller reed-beds than it's relative could hide in.  At El Pardo I saw my first individual which was fairly showy in that it stayed in the open for an extended amount of time once it had landed - I saw far more at Arrocampo reserve near Monfrague National Park, but these individuals were really only seen in transit from one reed-bed to the next.

Related Species: 
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Ixobrychus
Subspecies: I. m. minutus, I. m. payesii, I. m. podiceps

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Avetorillo común ("Common Bittern")

Locally common resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen in small numbers at El Pardo (one or two birds seen) and Arrocampo (at least 2 individuals)

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

Short-Toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Certhia (bird mentioned by Aristotle) brachydactyla ("short toed")

                                       Adult Short-Toed Treecreeper (subspecies C. b. megarhyncha) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Certhia bracydactyla megarhyncha

Weight: 7.5-11g  /  Length: 12.7cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

While visually very similar to Eurasian Treecreeper, the Short-Toed Treecreeper is a subtly cifferent and related species found on mainland Europe.  Personally, this isn't a species I wold feel confident separating in the field in the many parts of Europe where they overlap, but, fortunately for me the Short-Toed Treecreeper is absent from the British Isles (though it is found on the Channel Isles) while in much of Spain, including Madrid, the Short-Toed is the only species present.  However, with this picture you can see one of the more obvious diagnostic features; compared to the Common Treecreeper, the white bar on the wing has even serrations rather that erratic ones. There are also subtle differences in colour and dimensions and a different song.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Certhiidae
Genus: Certhia
Subspecies: C, b, megarhyncha, C. b. brachydactyl, C. b mauritanica, C. b dorotheae, C. b. harterti

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish -  Agateador común ("Common Crawler")

Locally common resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP:  Seen in small numbers around the river at El Pardo 

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

Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)

OTHER NAMES: Monk Vulture, Cinereous Vulture

Latin Etymology: Aegypius ("Vulture") monachus ("monk" ie hooded)

Adult Eurasian Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 6-13kg  /  Length: 98-120cm  /  Wingspan: 2.5-3.1m
ABSENT FROM UK / Red List: Near Threatened 

The Eurasian Black Vulture (or whichever name you choose to call it by) is a very impressive bird by a lot of metrics - it's enormous for a start - larger than any raptor in the Old World and only exceeded by the Condors in the new.  As such, it has the only wingspan of any bird I have seen thus far to exceed 3 metres, and is in the region of the top 10 for both heaviest and largest wingspan of all flying birds.  Not only that, but they have been recorded flying at spectacular heights of nearly 7 miles - one of the highest flying of all birds.  Their European stronghold is in Spain, but the bulk of their range is Central Asia.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aegypius
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Buitre Negro ("Black Vulture")

Locally fairly common resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen around bundant at Valdetorres Del Jarama and Patones
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen at each of El Pardo and Monfrague National Park.

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

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)

OTHER NAMES: Woodchat 

Latin Etymology: Lanius ("to tear to pieces") senator ("senator")

 Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)  near Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025

Featured Subspecies: Lanius senator senator

Weight: 25-35g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: 26cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This handsome little bird is found throughout the Mediterranean and occassionally found as a vagrant most years in the UK.  It is fairly distinctive from the other European Shrikes - with bold chestnut markings on the head and no distinctive back colour unlike the other species.  Luis spotted this bird perched on a wire as we were driving along the road towards Patones.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius
Subspecies: L .s senator, L. s. badius, L. s. niloticus

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Alcaudón común ("Common Shrike")

Widespread in low densities.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Single individual seen on a wire near Torrelaguna.
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Individuals seen at various points including El Pardo and the roads approaching Monfrague. 

TURKEY  -   Turkish:Kızıl başlı örümcek kuşuu ("Red-headed shrike")
 - ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - Common in the coastal area near Side.

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

.

European Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis rufula)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Cecropis ("Athenian woman") rufula ("rufous")

                                            Adult Red-rumped Swallow (subspecies C. r. rufula) at Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Cecropis daurica rufula

Weight: 24g  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: 33cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Red-rumped swallow is largest hirundines found in Europe, being longer than Barn Swallows.  They are however a bit more limited in habitat and smaller in range - it is less colonial than Barn Swallows and seems to prefer rock faces to buildings, and has a differing nest construction.  Although known as the Red-rumped swallow, this name is a bit misleading - it's colouring is more orange than red and the face is more noticeably coloured than the rump.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirunidinidae
Genus: Cecropis
Subspecies: C. d. daurica, C. d. japonica, C. d. nipalensis, C. d. erythropygia, C. d. rufula, C. d. domicella, C. d. domicella, C. d. kumboensis, C. d. emini, C. d. melanocrissus

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Golondrina dáurica ("Daurian Swallow")

Locally common Summer migrant.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Patones and Toledo
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen at El Pardo  and near the entrance to Monfrague

ITALY - Italian - Rondine rossiccia ("Reddish swallow")

A Summer visitor

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - A few seen at Capo Murro di Porco 

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

Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)

OTHER NAMES: Griffon Vulture 

Latin Etymology: Gyps ("vulture") fulvus ("tawny or brown")

Five Eurasian Griffon Vultures (subspecies G. f. fulvus) at Monfrague National Park, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Gyps fulvus fulvus

Weight: 6.5-10.5kg  /  Length: 93-122cm  /  Wingspan: 280cm

ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Eurasian Griffon is a massive typical vulture with a massive 2.8m wingspan - bigger even than the largest eagles in Europe, yet not the biggest vulture by a good margin.  It has a vast range - spreading from Spain to the Himalayas but it's range is patchy due to appropriate habitat and food sources.  It suffered a bit in the EU due to certain legislation preventing leaving dead animals out in the open as had traditionally been done, but it has subsequently been amended to make allowances.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Gyps
Subspecies: G. g. fulvus, G. f. fulvescens

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Buitre común ("Common Vulture")

Widespread and locally common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common on farmland North of Madrid and around Patones and two above Toledo 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Abundant in El Pardo and Monfrague National Park 

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

Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei)

OTHER NAMES: Iberian Woodpecker

Latin Etymology: Picus ("woodpecker") sharpei (named for Orithologist Dr Richard Bowdler Sharpe)

Adult female Iberian Green Woodpecker (Picus sharpei) at Parque Oeste, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 180-220g  /  Length: 31-33cm  /  Wingspan: 45-51cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Iberian Woodpecker is a close relation of the more widespread Green Woodpecker, which until recently it was considered part of the same species.  Visually, it differs in that it lacks the black mask that Green Woodpeckers normally have.  It seems to be fairly common in the forested parks of Madrid, I heard them calling or caught glimpses on a number of occasions before this very obliging individual landed on a tree in front of me where I could get clear views.

Related Species:
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picus
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Pito reál ("Royal Whistle")

Fairly common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen at Parque Oeste and heard at El Retiro 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Heard at El Pardo

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

European Serin (Serinus serinus)

OTHER NAMES: Serin

Latin Etymology: Serinus ("serin/canary") serinus ("serin/canary")

                                           Adult male European Serin (Serinus serinus) at El Retiro, Madrid, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 8.5-14g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 20-23cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The vibrant colours might give it away, but this species is a close relation of the Canary.  It is found widely throughout almost all of Europe, although it is largely absent from Scandinavia and the British Isles, favouring more of a Mediterranean habitat.  In Spain it is fairly common resident found in a variety of habitats up to and including inner-city parks.  I saw a good number across the holiday, but how readily I could get views of them depended very much on where they were - urban birds being less shy than rural.  Prior to seeing them in Spain, I did look for this species in the UK as it is a rare breeding species and vagrant, but failed to locate them each time.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Serinus
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Verzellino

A resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  A few at Aci Castello.

SPAIN - Spanish - Verdecillo ("Greenish")

Common to locally abundant resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common at various locations including El Retiro and Patones
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Fairly common throughout, particularly noted at El Pardo

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