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Sunday, 5 April 2020

7-5-2017 SEVILLE , ANDALUCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)


The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.
The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

7-5-2017 SEVILLE , ANDALUCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)


Male Mallards have a dark, iridescent-green head and bright yellow bill. The gray body is sandwiched between a brown breast and black rear. Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange-and-brown bills. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue “speculum” patch in the wing.
Unlike larger waterfowl such as the Tundra Swan, which mate for life, Mallard pairs only stay together for a season. Courtship and pair formation begin each fall and winter. Groups of males display for a hen with a variety of behaviors, including head and tail shaking, head-bobbing, dipping, and whistling.

The female Mallard has between five and 14 light green eggs that she incubates for 30 days.

The ducklings are lead to water as soon as their soft, downy feathers are dry. ...

Most Mallard ducks live for one or two years, but some can live as long as 16 years!

Mallards swim with their tail held above the water.

29-2-2020 SAN CARLOS PARQUE, MADRID - EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica)




Saturday, 4 April 2020

13-4-2017 HUELVA, SPAIN - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)


The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and a large part of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.
The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, polar regions, and hot, dry deserts far away from human development. For sustenance, the house sparrow routinely feeds at home and public bird feeding stations, but naturally feeds on the seeds of grains, flowering plants and weeds. However, it is an opportunistic, omnivorous eater, and commonly catches insects, their larvae, caterpillars, invertebrates and many other natural foods.

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FALSE BLISTER BEETLE (Family Oedemeridae)


4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG JOINTED BEETLE (Lagria grenieri)

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BURROWING BUG (Cydnus aterrimus)

4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREY LEAVED CISTUS (Cistus albidus)


4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer domesticus)


4-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE ROCK THRUSH (MALE) (Monticola solitarius)








Friday, 3 April 2020

21-5-2017 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer montanus)


The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a charming passerine bird, easily recognized by its rich chestnut crown and nape, and a distinctive black patch on each pure white cheek. Both sexes are similarly adorned, and the juveniles mirror the adults, albeit with slightly duller hues. This species is somewhat smaller than the closely related house sparrow, and its size is approximately 12.5–14 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 21 cm.

To identify the Eurasian tree sparrow, look for the kidney-shaped black ear patch on each white cheek, the black chin and throat, and the light brown upperparts streaked with black. The wings bear two narrow white bars, and the legs are pale brown. The bill is lead-blue in summer, darkening almost to black in winter. Unlike the house sparrow, there is no sexual dimorphism in plumage, making both males and females equally easy to identify.

In Europe, the Eurasian tree sparrow is typically found in lightly wooded open countryside, while in eastern Asia, it is more common in urban settings. It prefers nesting in natural cavities, holes in buildings, or even the abandoned nests of other large birds. This species is not typically found in mountainous regions, despite its scientific name suggesting otherwise.

The Eurasian tree sparrow has a broad distribution across temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, and it has been introduced to other regions such as the United States. Its range extends from Europe across Asia to the Lena River and south to the northern regions of Turkey, the Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and North Korea.

29-4-2020 PARQUE NAT DE CABANEROS, CIUDAD REAL - LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni)





 

10-3-2020 THATTEKAD BIRD SANCTUARY, INDIA - ROCK DRAGON (Psammophilus dorsalis) PHOTO COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

3-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)








3-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CATALONIA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis liolepis)


Wednesday, 1 April 2020

4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta) PHOTO COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER


4-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - INDIAN PEAFOWL (Pavo cristatus) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER



7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa)


1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - MEDITERRANEAN HOUSE GECKO (Hemidactylus turcicus)



1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE APHYLLANTHES (Aphyllanthes monspeliensis)

1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - BLUE ROCK THRUSH (FEMALE) (Monticola solitarius)

1-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - COAL TIT (Periparus ater)



7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - BLACK RUMPED FLAMEBACK WOODPECKER (Dinopium benghalense)


The black-rumped flameback (Dinopium benghalense), also known as the lesser golden-backed woodpecker or lesser goldenback, is a woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the few woodpeckers that are seen in urban areas. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight. It is the only golden-backed woodpecker with a black throat and a black rump.

This flameback is found mainly on the plains going up to an elevation of about 1200m in Pakistan, India south of the Himalayas and east till the western Assam valley and Meghalaya, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It is associated with open forest and cultivation. They are often seen in urban areas with wooded avenues. It is somewhat rare in the Kutch and desert region of Rajasthan.

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - MALABAR TROGON (Harpactes fasciatus)