Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)

OTHER NAMES: Rufous Turtle Dove

Latin Etymology: Streptopelia ("collar-dove") orientalis ("oriental")

Adult Oriental Turtle Dove (subspecies S. o. orientalis) at Arashiyama, Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: Streptopelia orientalis orientalis
Weight: 165-274g  /  Length: 33-35cm  /  Wingspan: 55cm
NO UK STATUS  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

While it closely resembles the European Turtle Dove, it's role in Japan is more consistent with that of the Collared Dove in the UK - a numerous bird found in parkland and in cities.  As with the collared dove, it is a confiding species which permits close views.  It is found throughout much of East Asia, including Japan.  I saw it a number of times on both my trips to Japan, though generally on both occasions while it was found in the more urban sections of the city, this tended to be alongside to rivers with trees.  At the Monkey Sanctuary of Arashiyama they were a bit bolder, presumably learning to be tame to get a share of the food meant for the monkeys.

Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Streptopelia
Subspecies: S. o. meena, S. o . orientalis, S. o. stimpsoni, S. o. orii, S. o . erythrocephala, S. o . agricola

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - キジバト  /  Kiji-bato ("Pheasant Pigeon")

Very common resident. 

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Common throughout Kyoto and Arashiyama

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: Fairly common in Tokyo

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

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Galerida ("lark with a crest") cristata ("crested")

Adult Crested Lark (subspecies G. c. pallida) in Farmland near Madrid, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Galerida cristata pallida
Weight: 37-55g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: 29-38cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The crested lark is a lark found widely throughout most of mainland Europe, but is absent from the British Isles. In Southern Spain at least it is fairly widespread, found on open ground, both in the countryside, or even, in this case, in the middle of cities - this particular individual was in the middle of Seville city center alongside the canal.  They get their name from their crest, which when raised is far more striking than the Skylark.  I saw this species again on my visits to Madrid, but unlike in Seville, it seemed more restricted to the countryside yet more abundant.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Alaudidae
Genus: Galerida
Subspecies: G. c. cristata, G. c. pallida, G. c. neumanni, G. c. apuliae, G. c. tenuirostris, G. c. meridionalis, G. c. caucasica, G. c. subtaurica, G. c. cypriaca, G. c. zion, G. c. cinnamomina, G. c. magna, G. c. leautungensis, G. c. coreensis, G. c. iwanowi, G. c. lynesi, G. c. kleinschmidti, G. c. riggenbachi, G. c. carthaginis, G. c. randoni, G. c. macrorhyncha, G. c. balsaci, G. c. arenicola, G. c. helenae, G. c. festae, G. c. brachyura, G. c. nigricans, G. c. maculata, G. c. halfae, G. c. senegallensis, G. c. jordansi, G. c. alexanderi, G. c. isabellina, G. c. altirostris, G. c. somaliensis, G. c. tardinata, G. c. chendoola

SPAIN - Spanish -  Cogujada común ("Common Lark")

Common to locally abundant resident, particularly in Cities.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: A number seen at Italica, and a pair in the centre of Seville itself.
 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common on farmland around Madrid.
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Common around Madrid and appropriate sites throughout, including many a round Laguna del Longar.               

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