Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)

OTHER NAMES: Crow, Corbie, Gor Crow

Latin Etymology: Corvus ("raven") corone ("crow")

Left: Adult Carrion Crow (subspecies C. c. corone) at Regent's Park, London - April 2010

Right: Adult Carrion Crow (subspecies C. c. orientalis) at Akan Crane Centre, Hokkaido, Japan - December 2014

Featured Subspecies: Corvus corone corone AND Corvus corone orientalis
Weight: 370-650g  /  Length: 45-47cm  /  Wingspan: 93-104cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The carrion crow is probably the most visible of the already (mostly) highly visibly crow family, it can be found across a wide number of habitats, but it probably most easily seen in parks and towns. In my experience, the best views are actually built up areas where the birds have become accustomed to scavenging from humans, for instance, the car parks of service stations. How approachable they are varies depending on population, with crows from more urban areas seeming less flighty than their more rural counterparts. The photo here was taken in London where I was able to get to within a few feet of the bird, whereas the previous photo taken in Bewick-Upon-Tweed was from a greater distance of a more flighty set of birds.  Internationally - in Austria they are at the edge of the Hooded and Carrion Crow range, so both are found, while in Japan it is less common in most places than the ubiquitous Large-billed Crow, but more common in Hokkaido.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Corvus
Subspecies: C. c. corone, C. c orientalis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Very common resident (1,000,000 territories)

 - Birds seen at most sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park,Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

AUSTRIA - Common breeding resident

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP - STOPOVER: Several birds around Vienna Airport 

JAPAN - Japanese - ハシボソガラス  / Hashi-boso garasu ("Slender-billed Crow")

Locally common resident.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A few seen around Hokkaido including Akan Crane Centre, Kushiro and Shiranuka

SPAIN - Spanish - Corneja negra ("Black crow")
A fairly common resident.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A few seen around Monfrague National Park.

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

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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

OTHER NAMES: Tame Swan

Latin Etymology: Cygnus ("swan") olor (species specific name)

A flock of assorted aged Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) at Wellingborough, Northants - May 2013

Local Name (Japan): Kobu haku-chō (コブハクチョウ) - "Lump White-bird"
Weight: 8.5-12kg

Length: 120-170cm

Wingspan: 200-240cm

UK AMBER LIST  / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most common and easily seen of all British waterbirds, it is also one of the heaviest flying birds on earth and thus fairly difficult to miss.  They are found on most bodies of water, including lakes, rivers and parks even in urban areas and so should be one of the first waterbirds many people come across in their lives. Unlike the other two swans naturally occurring in Britain, the Mute Swan is identifiable by its orange beak with a raised black knob, and its "s" shaped neck, in addition to being the only one which occurs throughout the year rather than just wintering.  They are generally fairly approachable, so therefore should be very easy to photograph, though they may be aggressive so treat them with the respect that wild animals deserve.

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

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common resident (6000 pairs) and common Winter visitor (79,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.
JAPAN - A rare feral species

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: One pair seen in central Tokyo.

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

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

OTHER NAMES: Barley Bird
Latin Etymology: Motacilla ("wagtail") cinerea ("ash-grey")

  Adult Grey Wagtail (subspecies M. c. cinerea) at Geddington, Northants - October 2009

Featured Subspecies: Motacilla cinerea cinerea
Weight: 12-26g  /  Length: 16.5cm  /  Wingspan: 25-30cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly common wagtail, although no way near as prevalent as the very common pied wagtail. The grey wagtail is identified by it's grey chest and yellow chest, compared against the complete greyscale of the pied and the complete yellow of the yellow. It shouldn't be that hard to find, I've occassionally seen it in urban areas, but more often along streams and rivers. All the wagtails are comparatively bold so this shouldn't be too difficult a species.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
Genus: Motacilla
Subspecies: M. c. cinerea, M. c. patriciae, M. c. schmitzi, M. c. melanope, M. c. robusta, M. c. canariensis    

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Fairly common resident (38,000 pairs)

 - Seen in several locations including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir and Geddington.

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

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