Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Himantopus (species specific name) himantopus (species specific name)

Adult Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) at Frampton Marshes, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 180g  /  Length: 38cm  /  Wingspan: 75cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Personally, I would consider the Black-winged stilt one of the most striking looking species in Europe - it has by far the longest leg-body ratio of any species found on the continent, and in bright pink too.  It can be found regularly as near as Northern France, but remains a vagrant in the UK, although I caught a glimpse of a flock when I visited El Rocio in Spain.  These birds were seen during an influx of the species into the UK, where a number of them were scattered around the Southern half of England at once.  Slightly frustratingly, the views here were distant, while if I had been at home, some great views were being had by people at the hides of Summerleys at fairly close range.  However, it is a stunning species either way.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae
Genus: Himantopus
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A regular vagrant that occasionally attempts breeding

 - A vagrant pair at Cliffe Pools which attempted breeding in 2014.

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ជើងទៀន ("Candle legs")

Locally common resident

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - Several at Phnom Krom

SPAIN - Spanish - Ciguëñuela ("Stilt")

A locally common resident.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: A flock seen flying away at El Rocio 
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A few birds at Laguna del Longar, abundant at Laguna Navaseca

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 .

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

OTHER NAMES: Black Curlew

Latin Etymology: Plegadis ("sickle" in Greek) falcinellus (derived from sickle in Latin)

  Adult Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) in non-breeding plumage at Lowdam, Nottinghamshire - March 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 485-580g  /  Length: 48-66cm  /  Wingspan: 80-95cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern

The Glossy Ibis is the only Ibis species which naturally occurs in the UK - it is an approximately mallard sized bird that arrives in this country as a vagrant, although increasingly so.  It seems to settle in marshland and wet meadows where it probes the ground with its long curved beak.  It is a cosmopolitan species, found on every continent but declining across Europe - apparently the British individuals are from Spain, one of the few places where the population is increasing.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Plegadis
Subspecies: None - monotypic

UNITED KINGDOM - A regular vagrant, getting increasingly common

 - A single vagrant bird seen at Lowdam seen in March 2014.

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

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Podiceps ("vent-foot") grisegena ("grey cheek")

Adult Winter-plumage Red-necked Grebe (subspecies P. g. grisegena) at Richmond Park, London - October 2013

Featured Subspecies: Podiceps grisegena grisegena

Weight: 692-925g  /  Length: 40-50cm  /  Wingspan: 77-85cm

UK AMBER LIST  /  LEAST CONCERN - IUCN Red List

The Red-necked Grebe is by far the hardest of Britain's regular Grebes to track down, while the other species have at least small breeding populations, the Red-necked is only an occasional breeder with a small number of attempts in the last few decades.  It is also seemingly far more marine based than the other grebes, often found around the coast.  It took quite a few visits to different sites before I finally managed to catch up with this species, it seems to stay in one location for smaller lengths of time than the other migrant grebes.

Related Species:
Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Genus: Podiceps
Subspecies: P. g. grisegena, P. g. holboelii

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare Winter migrant (55 individuals) and occasional breeder.

 - A single vagrant at Richmond Park in October 2013,

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

Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)

OTHER NAMES: Stone Curlew, Eurasian Thick-Knee

Latin Etymology: Burhinus ("rhino nose") oedicnemus ("swelling-leg")

Two adult Eurasian Stone Curlew (subspecies B. o. oedicnemus) on Farmlands near Madrid, Spain - April 2013

Featured Subspecies: Burhinus oedicnemus oedicnemus
Weight: 290-535g  /  Length: 38-46cm  /  Wingspan: 76-88cm
UK AMBER LIST  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Stone-curlew is a fairly strange member of the waders, unusual in several regards.  It is a heathland dwelling, largely nocturnal and about the size of a crow and intensely shy.  It is also one of the rarest breeding species found in the UK, to the point where there is only a single site which is made known to the public: Weeting Heath.  There are other sites in the Brecks and on Salisbury Plain, but the specifics are not public for their protection.  They can however with some extreme luck be seen on migration, particularly during the spring.  Whatever the case, as Summer migrants, you can only see them from April onward, and even then their supreme camouflage makes them a difficult prospect to pick out even at Weeting.  In Spain they are much more widespread, but still scarce and difficult to see - I spotted a pair on fields on my tour of the steppe near Madrid.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Burhinidae
Genus: Burhinus
Subspecies: B. o. distinctus, B. o. insularum, B. o. saharae, B. o. oedicnemus, B. o. harterti

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare and very local Summer migrant 

 - Breeding birds seen at Weeting Heath in May 2013.

SPAIN - Spanish - Alcaraván

Scarce and local Summer migrant.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Two individuals seen on farmland near Madrid

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A pair flushed from farmland in Castille La Mancha from moving car.

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

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Coccothraustes ("seed break") coccothraustes ("seed break")

Two adult Hawfinch (subspecies C. c. coccthraustes) at El Parod, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Coccothraustes coccothraustes coccothraustes
Weight: 46-70g  /  Length: 18cm  /  Wingspan: 29-33cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Hawfinches are simultaniously by far the biggest finch, and, strangely, the hardest to locate of all the species in the UK.  Theoretically, they are very widespread, but they are very secretive and generally will hide from humans long before you know they are there.   They are more easily seen in the Winter when leaves are off the trees, but even then it's probably easiest to go see one that has been reported as being around for a while like my first bird at Rutland Water.  On the Continent they are far more common, and I came across this pair along the river at El Pardo entirely by coincidence - something that in the UK would be a massive highlight of the day.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Coccothraustes
Subspecies: C. c. coccothraustes, C. c. buvryri, C. c. nigricans, C. c. hummii, C. c. schulpini, C. c. japonicus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce breeding species (500-1000 pairs) and Wintering species (10-15,000 birds)

 - A single bird at Rutland Water in December 2012, 

SPAIN -  Spanish - Picogordo ("Fat beak")

Locally fairly common resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Two seen at El Pardo

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

Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)

OTHER NAMES: Velvet Duck

Latin Etymology: Melanitta ("black duck") fusca ("dusky/black/brown")

Two female Velvet Scoter (subspecies M. f. fusca) at Swithland Reservoir, Leicestershire - December 2012

Featured Subspecies: Melanitta fusca fusca
Weight: 1.1-2.1kg  /  Length: 51-58cm  /  Wingspan: 86-99cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

The Rarest of the UK's Seaducks, and for me at least, the most difficult of the British ducks to see in general (although the Ruddy Duck with its ongoing cull may take that role soon).  Velvet Scoters are large dark ducks which are often seen mingled with the (more numerous but still comparatively rare) Common Scoter.  They can be differentiated by the white patches on their wings in flight, or smaller ones on the faces of both genders and towards the back end of males.  They do occasionally turn up inland (such as these ones) but, are mostly found at sea on the East coast North of the Wash during Winter.  They are considered internationally endangered although their population here is only listed as Amber List.  A handsome bird, be sure to look for some good photos of them as these don't do them justice.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Melanitta
Subspecies: M. f. fusca, M. f. deglandi, M. f. stejnegeri

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare and local Wintering species (2500 birds)

 - Vagrant birds seen at Swithland Reservoir (2 adults in December 2012) .

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

Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Porzana (species specific name) porzana (species specific)

Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana) at Birstall Meadows, Leicestershire - August 2012

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 57-147g  /  Length: 19-22.5cm  /  Wingspan: 37-42cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Spotted Crakes, unfortunately for the prospective viewer, fall squarely in the middle of the category of birds that are both very rare and very secretive.  Reed-bed species are generally among the most frustrating anyway because they can be feet away from you and you'd never know they are there, but spotted crakes are also by far the rarest of the rails in the UK.  There are only about 70 breeding males in the UK and the number only rises by about 50 in Winter.  While, they have similar habits to Water Rails, if anything my impression was slightly more secretive.  In this particular case the starling sized bird was on the opposite side of a field which obviously does not make it a very good photography subject.  However, if you do get to see one better than these photos (which I did thanks to the kind gentleman who lent me the use of his telescope), they are a rather endearing and pleasantly patterned little bird.  Several years later, I believe I saw a second bird briefly at Oare Marshes in Kent (and it fits with a widely reported showy bird that appeared there a few weeks later) but it wasn't a clear enough view for me to be happy counting it, and I didn't get a photo.

Related Species:
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Porzana
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Very rare breeding species (80 males) and vagrant

 - One vagrant bird seen at Birstall Meadows in 2012

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

African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

OTHER NAMES: Sacred Ibis

Latin Etymology: Threskiornis ("religious worship bird") aethiopicus ("Ethiopian")

 Adult Sacred Ibis (probably subspecies T. a. aethiopicus) at Stanwick Lakes - August 2012

Featured Subspecies: Threskiornis aethiopicus aethiopicus (?)
Weight: 1.5kg  /  Length: 65-89cm  /  Wingspan: 112-124cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Sacred Ibis holds a fairly dubious spot on this blog due to this individuals potentially complex origin: the general assumed origin of any Sacred Ibis in the UK is that of an escapee from a collection - however, as this individual apparently has no rings to identify its origin as definitely captive, I may as well discuss the alternative. 

Sacred Ibis are native to Africa, but not Europe, however, their popularity as a bird for collections and having the specimens free flying has, inevitably, led to escapees - this is particularly an issue in France and Italy where not only have individuals escaped but enough have done so that there is now a viable breeding population which has become a bit of a conservation risk due to Ibises taste for eating the eggs of other birds - they have been known to decimate tern colonies and, still on the increase, they may need to be culled to ensure the survival of native species.   It's not beyond reason that this bird could have come from one of these populations and if so, is is as valid an addition to this blog as Ring-necked Parakeets, Ruddy Duck and Little Owl.

Ammendment: This individual was later confirmed as an escapee.

Related Species:
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Genus: Threskiornis
Subspecies: T. a. aethiopicus, T. a. bernieri, T. a. abbotti

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Only present as an escapee, though vagrants may be possible with it's expanding range

 - A single escapee bird seen at Stanwick Lakes in August 2012,

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

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

OTHER NAMES: Butcher bird

Latin Etymology: Lanius ("butcher") collurio (a bird mentioned by Aristotle)

Adult Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) at Capo Murro di Porco, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 25-35kg  /  Length: 16-18cm  /  Wingspan: 24-27cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Red-backed Shrikes are the smaller of the two shrikes which regularly turn up in the UK - they used to be a breeding species in the UK but became extinct as a breeding bird in 1989.  It is however making a small comeback and breeding pairs have been recorded again in recent years.  My first sighting, like the majority of its species seen in this country, was presumably a passage migrant. A second bird I saw later was in Sicily, which is more within their usual range. Although they are passerines, shrikes are predatory and notable for the way they store their prey in "larders" which consist of thorny bushes on which they impale their small animal food.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Laniidae
Genus: Lanius
Subspecies: None - monotypic

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare passage migrant and occassional breeder

 - A single passage migrant bird at Hayes in July 2012

ITALY - Italian - Avèrla Piccola ("little shrike")

 A passage migrant
 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - A single bird at Capo Murro di Porco

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

Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Sternula ("diminutive of Sterna - black tern) albifrons ("white forehead")

Adult Little Tern (subspecies S. a. albifrons) at Rye Harbour, Kent - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Sterna albifrons albifrons
Weight: 50g  /  Length: 20-28cm  /  Wingspan: 45-55cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Little Tern is the smallest and one of the rarest species of Tern in the UK - it requires undisturbed shingle on while to nest which is difficult to find in this modern age - with dog walkers and the like disturbing them preventing them from nesting, and as a species which is a notoriously poor breeder this is a bit of a problem.  They are much smaller than other terns found in the UK, and the telltale sign is their yellow beak with a black tip which gives them away.   A charming little bird, the best places to see them are protected sites where fences keep them safe from predators and humans.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Sternidae
Genus: Sternula
Subspecies: S. a. albifrons, S. a. guineae, S. a. sinensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare and very local breeding Summer migrant (1,900 pairs)

 - Birds seen at publicized colony at Rye Harbour in May 2015

ITALY - Italian - Fraticello

A rare breeder

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP - Seen from Syracuse 

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

Common Crane (Grus grus)

OTHER NAMES: Eurasian Crane, Crane

Latin Etymology: Grus ("crane") grus ("crane")

Adult Common Crane (Grus grus) at Willow Tree Fen, Lincolnshire - August 2023

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 3-6.1kg  /  Height: 100-130cm  /  Wingspan: 1.8-2.4m
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A huge bird, and one that has only recently returned from extinction in the UK after an absence since the 17th Century, the breeding population is still very small and localised to Eastern England with only around 6 pairs breeding.  There is however a slight influx of Wintering birds to a wider area - these birds here have apparently been around the Nene Washes near Peterborough this Winter, bizarrely for an incredibly endangered bird - visible from a cafe on a motorway feeding on the field opposite.  This is very much a bird which you'll have to track down to see, and as the breeding site is not made public, it might take a little bit of luck.

Related Species:
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Gruidae
Genus: Grus
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Very rare resident breeder (9-14 pairs), rare Wintering species (c.52 birds) and very rare passage migrant.

 - A number of birds seen on several occasions in and around Nene Washes 

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