Middle spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Dendrocoptes ("tree striking") medius ("medium") 

Adult  Middle spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius) at Vienna, Austria - October 2024

Featured Subspecies: Dendrocoptes medius medius
Weight: 50-85g  /  Length: 19-22cm  /  Wingspan: 33-34cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name suggests, the middle spotted woodpecker is intermediate in size between the lesser and greater spotted woodpecker, though ironically not in the same genus as either. Their range is limited to Europe, primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, but is absent from the UK and most of Scandinavia as it is largely sedentary. 

Related Species:

Order: Piciformes

Family: Picidae

Genus: Dendrocoptes

SUBSPECIES: D. m. medius, D. m. caucasicus, D. m. anatoliae, D. m. sanctijohannis

 - Sighting Locations -

AUSTRIA - Austrian: Leiopicus medius - "Middle Woodpecker"

Widespread breeding resident in Eastern Austria

 - VIENNA 2024: Seen in Vienna 

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

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Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

OTHER NAMES: Red Squirrel
Latin Etymology: Sciurus ("squirrel") vulgaris ("common") 

Adult Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) at Vienna, Austria - October 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 10-15g  /  Length: 34-43cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The indiginous tree squirrel of Europe, the Red Squirrel is somewhat paradoxical in that overall it has an enormous range but within the UK specifically it is significantly struggling due to competition with the non-native grey squirrel which outcompetes it and carries pathogens which are fatal to reds. The result has led to a catastrophic population collapse and Reds are largely extipirated from England. While the population in the UK does have the namesame red fur, other populations are more variable into black, grey and brown such as the individual pictured above.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Sciuridae 
Genus: Sciurus 
SUBSPECIES: S. v. alpinus, S. v. altacaicus, S. v. anadyrensis, S. v. arcticus, S. v. balcanicus, S. v. chiliensis, S. v. cinerea, S. v. dulkeiti, S. v. exalbidus, S. v. fedjushini, S. v. fusconigricans, S. v. leucourus, S. v. lilaeus, S. v. mantchuricus, S. v. martensi, S. v. ognevi, S. v. orientis, S. v. rupestris, S. v. ukrainicus, S. v. varius, S. v. vulgaris

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A localised and declining resident
 - Seen in the Lake District

AUSTRIA - Austrian: esguilu - "Squirrel"

Common resident

 - VIENNA 2024: Seen in Vienna  

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

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European Hamster (Cricetus cricetus)

OTHER NAMES: Eurasian Hamster, Black Bellied Hamster, Common Hamster
Latin Etymology:  Cricetus ("Hamster") cricetus ("Hamster")

Adult European Hamster (Cricetus cricetus) at Miedling Cemetary, Vienna, Austria - October 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 220-460g  /  Length: 20-35cm
NO UK STATUS /  IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

The largest species of Hamster in the world, and significantly larger than domesticated species, the European Hamster is a grassland specialist that is considered critically endangered due to persecution and the dramatic decline in grassland habitats due to farming. Like domestic species, they store food in their rather substantial cheeks to take it to their burrows.  In recent decades some of their strongholds have ended up being cemetaries where they are able to forage without being disturbed by farming practices.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Cricetidae
Genus: Cricetus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

AUSTRIA - Austrian: hámster euroasiáticu - "Eurasian Hamster"

Resident in North Eastern Austria

 - VIENNA 2024: Seen in Vienna 

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

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