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 .

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Hieraaetus ("hawk-eagle") pennatus ("feathered")

 Pale morph adult Booted Eagle (subspecies H. p. pennatus) at Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Hieraatus pennatus pennatus*
Weight: 0.5-1kg  /  Length: 46cm  /  Wingspan: 120cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Booted Eagle is a small, buzzard sized eagle found in a wide range across Southern Europe, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.   It seemed to be the most easily seen of the five Eagle species found in Spain - we saw at least 3 separate individuals, including one "dark phase" individual - that makes up only a small percentage of the birds found in Spain, which are mostly "light phase".  They feed mostly on small mammals, reptiles and birds.  This one here was holding something that looked suspiciously like it could have been a snake.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Hieraaetus (or Aquila)*
Subspecies: H. p. harterti*, H. p. pennatus*, H. p. milvoides*, H. p. minisculus*

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Águila calzada ("Road Eagle")

Widespread but scarce resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Two in the vicinity of Patones 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Single individual seen in Monfrague. 

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

* There is a bit of uncertainty with several aspects of the Booted Eagles' taxonomy - it is variously considered part of Hieraaetus or Aquila for genus, and considered to have either zero, two or four subspecies.  I can't find much information on which of these is supported by who, if it gets resolved in future I'll amend this page. .

Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Emberiza ("bunting") cia (Italian name for the species)

Male Rock Bunting (Subspecies E. c. cia) at Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Emberiza cia cia
Weight: 25-29g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: 24cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

 A handsome little bunting that Luis spotted for us in the valley above Patones - it shares the same basic markings as the Cirl Bunting that is found in the UK, but with the yellow removed from the plumage.  They live on rocky hillsides with limited vegetation, though this bird proved fairly showy - boldly crossing the path in front of us in plain view until startled off by a cyclist coming down the hill.  They are found throughout the Mediterranean through to the mountains of Pakistan and India.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Genus: Emberiza
Subspecies: E. c. cia, E. c. hordei, E. c. prageri, E. c. par

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Escribano montesino ("Mountain Scribe")

Locally common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Pair seen at Patones 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A number seen at Monfrague National Park 

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

Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Oenanthe (specific name for Northern Wheatear) leucura ("white-tailed")

                                               Pair of Black Wheatear (subspecies O. l. leucura) at Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Oenanthe leucura leucura

Weight: 37-44g  /  Length: 18cm  /  Wingspan: 26-29cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Although fairly small, the Black Wheatear I would personally say is one of the most handsome birds I saw on my trip to Madrid - very similar in form (and white rump) to the Northern Wheatear that British birdwatchers would be more familiar with.  It's plumage is clearly very different to that bird though, and unlike that species, the male and female are very similar with only a slight variation in tone of the "black" on the back to differentiate this.  One major difference is more behaviour based - while the Northern Wheatear is very bold and often can be approached quite closely, the Black Wheatear is apparently quite flighty and shy from humans - this pair staying safely at the top of the cliff away from us.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Oenanthe
Subspecies: O. l. leucura, O. l. riggenbachi

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Collabra negra ("Black Wheatear")

Scarce and local Resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Pair at Patones 

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

Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)

OTHER NAMES: Crag Martin

Latin Etymology: Ptyonoprogne ("fan swallow") rupestris ("rock dwelling/montane")

Adult Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupetris) on the nest at Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 23g  /  Length: 14-15cm  /  Wingspan: 32-34cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern  

The Crag Martin is the most limited distribution of all the Martins found in Europe and the most specialized in habitat - only found on rock faces in Mediterranean countries.  Compared to the other two species it it browner  and without the clean white paneling that Sand and House Martins have.  Like the House Martin, they construct mud and spit nests on sheltered vertical faces,  Unlike the other two though, the European population is resident, staying in it's Southern European range throughout the year.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Ptyonoprogne
Subspecies: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Rondine montana ("mountain swallow")

A scarce resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  A few at Aci Castello.

SPAIN - Spanish - Avión roquero ("Rock Martin")
Locally common resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common at Patones - a number of individuals seen, including some visibly nesting.

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Common at Monfrague National Park - individuals seen throughout.

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

Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Hippolais (derrived from Greek huplolais - a small bird) polyglotta ("loud voiced, harmonious")

Adult Melodious Warbler (Hipploais polyglotta) at Patones, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 8-14g  /  Length: 12-13cm  /  Wingspan: 18-20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Melodious Warbler is a species of Warbler that Summers in Western Europe - it is the equivalent of the Eastern European Icterine Warbler - both species are primarily insectivorous and have a yellow chest with brown upper-parts.   We saw a number of individuals of this species in the valley above Patones near Madrid, though they were fairly flighty, only emerging from bushes briefly and at a distance.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Acrocephalidae
Genus: Hippolais
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Zarcero común ("Common Warbler")

Locally common Summer migrant

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common at Patones

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 .

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 .

Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea)

OTHER NAMES: European Carpenter Bee, Carpenter Bee

Latin Etymology: Xylocopa ("Woodcutter") violacea ("violet")

Adult Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: 25mm  /  Wingspan: 65mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The violet carpenter bee is one of the largest bee species of Europe - dwarfing the species found regularly in the UK.  It is named for it's big iridescant wings which make it a very distinctive species.  A common resident in Spain, it is also beginning to become established in the UK.  The carpenter bee family is also notable for having the largest eggs of any insect, although the violet carpenter bee is not the largest.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Xylocopa
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Abejorro Carpintero Europeo ("European Carpenter Bumblebee")

Common to locally abundant resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common at Patones

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Fairly common throughout, particularly noted at El Pardo

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