Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

OTHER NAMES: Golden Oriole, European Golden Oriole, Western Golden Oriole
Latin Etymology: Oriolus ("golden") oriolus ("golden")

Adult male Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus) at Fiume Ciane, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Local Name (Italian): Rigogolo ("Oriole")
Weight: 68-84g  /  Length: 24cm  /  Wingspan: 43cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Golden Oriole is one of the most colourful birds in Europe, but despite both that and a fairly loud and distinctive call, it's surprisingly difficult to see.  Despite being able to hear the birds are there, and them being so brightly coloured, I was able to spend 20 minutes looking for them and not see a sign.  It was only later when we returned back down the track that we noticed one drinking from the river in short burst flights.  The Oriole family is actually fairly large, but the Eurasian is the only member of the entire family found in temperate countries, including a very tiny population in the UK.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Oriolidae
GENUS: Oriolus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - A locally reasonably common Summer migrant.
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Several heard and one seen at Fiume Ciane 

Further Notes: 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 .

Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)

OTHER NAMES: Hoopoe 

Latin Etymology: Upupa (phononym of call) epops (Greek name for species)

Adult Eurasian Hoopoe (subspecies - U. e. epops) near Side, Antalya, Turkey - March 2025

Featured Subspecies: Upupa epops epops
Weight: 67g  /  Length: 25-32cm  /  Wingspan: 44-48cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

I would consider the Hoopoe to be quite easily one of the most attractive species of birds in Europe - a orange with dramatic black and white wings which form long stripes across it's entire back when in flight.  More notable is the large crest on its head which it can display forward or fold back.  In the UK it is a rare but annual vagrant often only staying for a few days at a time, but the odd individual like this one may over winter in the country.  It is much more common in the rest of the old world, being found across most of Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and temperate to tropical Asia.  Subsequently, my guided birding trip from Madrid with Luis Sitges found several Hoopoe throughout the morning, giving some excellent views without the twitching required in this country.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Upupidae
Genus: Upupa
Subspecies: U. e. epops, U. e. orientalis, U. e. ceylonensis, U. e. saturata, U. e. longirostris, U. e. major, U. e. senegalensis, U. e. waibeli

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A regular vagrant.

 - A single bird at Snodland which Wintered in 2013-2014.

ITALY - Italian - L'upupa

A locally reasonably common Summer migrant.

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - One seen at Fiume Ciane 

SPAIN - Spanish - Abubilla 

A fairly common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen in Patones 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Individuals seen throughout at various locations including El Pardo, Laguna Campillo and Monfrague..

TURKEY  -   Turkish:İbibik ("Hoopoe")
 - ANTALYA 2025 TRIP - Seen in most locations.

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

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

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Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

OTHER NAMES: Marsh Harrier

Latin Etymology: Circus ("circling") aeruginosus ("rusty")

 Adult male Western Marsh Harrier (subspecies C. a. aeruginosus) at Blakenham, Norfolk - May 2022

Featured Subspecies Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus
Weight: 400-650g  /  Length: 43-54cm  /  Wingspan: 115-130cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite being by far the most common of the UKs three regular harriers, the Marsh Harrier still isn't a particularly common bird in most places. AS the name suggests, it favours marshland, although it can occasionally be sighted over less specialised wetland. I cannot recommend Elmley Marshes RSPB enough for seeing this species, on my visits I can often see 15+ of these birds in an afternoon. This however does not mean that the views you get of them are as good it must be noted, and unfortunately, despite the number of sightings, they don't necessarily tend to be that close range unless its in fairly low light anyway.  I also encountered this species in Spain, where it appears much more content to hunt over arable fields than it is in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Circus
Subspecies: C. a. aeruginosus, C. a. harterti

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce but locally common breeding resident. (400 pairs)

 -  Stronghold around the Swale,notably Elmley Marshes and Oare Marshes, Also seen at Rainham Marshes, Nene Washes, Blakenham, Thornham Harbour and other wetland and saltmarsh sites. 

ITALY - Italian - Falco di Palude ("Swamp Falcon")

A localised resident, non-breeder and passage migrant.
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Two seen at Fiume Ciane 

SPAIN - Spanish - Aguilucho lagunero ("Lagoon Fight-eagle")

Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Several seen in the vicinity of Madrid 

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen frequently throughout most notably at Laguna Del Longar

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

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