Tuesday, 1 June 2021
24-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer montanus)
%20(Passer%20montanus)%2020.jpg)
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.
24-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - CORN BUNTING (Emberiza calandra)
%2020.jpg)
The corn bunting (Emberiza calandra) is a robust passerine bird, a member of the bunting family Emberizidae. It is distinguished by its heavily streaked buff-brown plumage. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though the male is slightly larger than the female. This bird is often likened to larks due to its streaked appearance and shares the same open habitat preference.
When observing the corn bunting, look for a large bunting with a dark eye and yellowish mandibles. The bird's lack of showy colors, particularly on the head, sets it apart from other Emberiza species. The underparts are streaked across the flanks and breast, with the streaking forming a gorget around the throat. Notably, the lesser wing coverts are dark with white tips, and the tail is a plain brown.
The corn bunting is typically found in open country with trees, such as farmland and weedy wasteland. It prefers areas where it can forage for seeds and insects on the ground.
%2021.jpg)
This species has a wide range, extending from Western Europe and North Africa to northwestern China. It is mainly resident, but some populations in colder regions migrate southwards in winter.
The corn bunting is known for its territorial behavior during the breeding season. Males can be polygynous, with some having up to three females. The sex ratio is generally balanced, leading to some males remaining unmated each season. Males contribute minimally to parental care, only feeding the chicks when they are more than half-grown.
The male corn bunting's song is a distinctive metallic sound, often compared to the jangling of keys. This song is typically delivered from an elevated perch such as a low bush, fence post, or telephone wire.
The corn bunting's nest is constructed from grass and lined with hair or fine grass, usually situated on the ground. Clutch sizes average four eggs but can range from three to six. Males are not involved in nest building or incubation but may feed the chicks at later stages.
The diet of the corn bunting consists mainly of seeds, supplemented by insects like crickets, which are particularly important when feeding young.
The corn bunting is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, it has experienced significant declines in parts of north-west Europe due to intensive agriculture. Conservation efforts, such as those by Natural England, offer grants to support measures that help conserve this species.
24-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia)
%2020.jpg)
The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. Its plumage is mainly white, with black on the bird's wings. Adults have long red legs and long pointed red beaks, and measure on average 100–115 cm (39–45 in) from beak tip to end of tail, with a 155–215 cm (61–85 in) wingspan. The two subspecies, which differ slightly in size, breed in Europe north to Finland, northwestern Africa, Palearctic east to southern Kazakhstan and southern Africa. The white stork is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa from tropical Sub-Saharan Africa to as far south as South Africa, or on the Indian subcontinent. When migrating between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea and detours via the Levant in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in the west, because the air thermals on which it depends for soaring do not form over water.
%2021.jpg)
A carnivore, the white stork eats a wide range of animal prey, including insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and small birds. It takes most of its food from the ground, among low vegetation, and from shallow water. It is a monogamous breeder, and both members of the pair build a large stick nest, which may be used for several years. Each year the female can lay one clutch of usually four eggs, which hatch asynchronously 33–34 days after being laid. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and both feed the young. The young leave the nest 58–64 days after hatching, and continue to be fed by the parents for a further 7–20 days.
%2022.jpg)
The white stork has been rated as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It benefited from human activities during the Middle Ages as woodland was cleared, but changes in farming methods and industrialisation saw it decline and disappear from parts of Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Conservation and reintroduction programs across Europe have resulted in the white stork resuming breeding in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It has few natural predators, but may harbour several types of parasite; the plumage is home to chewing lice and feather mites, while the large nests maintain a diverse range of mesostigmatic mites. This conspicuous species has given rise to many legends across its range, of which the best-known is the story of babies being brought by storks.
%2023.jpg)
The white stork is a large bird. It has a length of 100–115 cm (39–45 in), and a standing height of 100–125 cm (39–49 in). The wingspan is 155–215 cm (61–85 in) and its weight is 2.3–4.5 kg (5.1–9.9 lb). Like all storks, it has long legs, a long neck and a long straight pointed beak. The sexes are identical in appearance, except that males are larger than females on average. The plumage is mainly white with black flight feathers and wing coverts; the black is caused by the pigment melanin. The breast feathers are long and shaggy forming a ruff which is used in some courtship displays. The irises are dull brown or grey, and the peri-orbital skin is black. The adult has a bright red beak and red legs, the colouration of which is derived from carotenoids in the diet. In parts of Spain, studies have shown that the pigment is based on astaxanthin obtained from an introduced species of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and the bright red beak colours show up even in nestlings, in contrast to the duller beaks of young white storks elsewhere.
As with other storks, the wings are long and broad, enabling the bird to soar. In flapping flight its wingbeats are slow and regular. It flies with its neck stretched forward and with its long legs extended well beyond the end of its short tail. It walks at a slow and steady pace with its neck upstretched. In contrast, it often hunches its head between its shoulders when resting. Moulting has not been extensively studied, but appears to take place throughout the year, with the primary flight feathers replaced over the breeding season.
Monday, 31 May 2021
31-5-2021 CARRION DE CALATRAVA, LA MANCHA - SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE (Aquila adalberti)
%2022.jpg)
The Spanish imperial eagle, known scientifically as Aquila adalberti and also referred to as the Iberian imperial eagle, is a majestic bird of prey native to the Iberian Peninsula. This large raptor is adorned with distinctive white "epaulettes" on its shoulders, a feature that has led to its historical moniker, the white-shouldered eagle. The species is named in honor of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria.
Adult Spanish imperial eagles are darker than their eastern imperial and golden eagle counterparts, with a rich blackish-brown plumage extending from throat to belly. The white band on their shoulders and leading edge of the wing is more pronounced than in the eastern species. Their nape and crown are a pale tawny color, contrasting with the golden-yellow of the golden eagle. Juveniles are markedly different, with a pale straw-sandy color and broad black bands on their wings. In flight, they exhibit a flatter wing profile compared to the golden eagle's upturned dihedral.
The Spanish imperial eagle favors the dehesa woodlands of central and southwest Spain, where it finds mature trees for nesting and open shrubby areas for hunting.
This species is predominantly found in central and southwest Spain and parts of Portugal. It is a resident bird, not known for migration. While stable presence in Morocco is debated, immature birds are known to visit during dispersion.
%2021.jpg)
Spanish imperial eagles are shy and territorial, preferring areas with minimal human disturbance. They breed from February to April, constructing large nests in mature trees, often near wetlands. The average clutch size is two to three eggs, but typically only one to two fledglings survive per nest.
Nesting occurs in dry, mature woodlands, with nests built close to areas rich in prey. The species is sensitive to human disturbance, which can lead to nestling mortality alongside other factors such as predation and siblicide.
The diet of the Spanish imperial eagle primarily consists of European rabbits. Following a decline in rabbit populations, the eagles have adapted to hunt a variety of vertebrates, including water birds, partridges, pigeons, crows, and occasionally larger mammals like foxes.
The Spanish imperial eagle is classified as Vulnerable. Conservation efforts have led to a recovery from near extinction in the 1960s to a population of over 300 pairs by 2011. Threats include habitat loss, human encroachment, collisions with powerlines, and a decline in rabbit populations, their primary prey.
Sunday, 30 May 2021
30-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - EUROPEAN ROLLER (Coracias garrulas)
%2020.jpg)
The European roller (Coracias garrulus) is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East, Central Asia and the Maghreb.
The European roller is found in a wide variety of habitats, avoiding only treeless plains. Nests usually in tree holes. It winters in Southern Africa - primarily in dry wooded savanna and bushy plains.
The European roller is a bird of warmer regions. The nominate subspecies breeds in northern Africa from Morocco to Tunisia, in southern and east-central Europe, and eastwards through northwestern Iran to southwestern Siberia. The subspecies C. g. semenowi breeds from Iraq and southern Iran east through Kashmir and southern Kazakhstan to Xinjiang. The European range was formerly more extensive, but there has been a long-term decline in the north and west, with extinction as a nesting bird in Sweden and Germany. The European roller is a long-distance migrant, wintering in Africa south of the Sahara in two distinct regions, from Senegal east to Cameroon and from Ethiopia west (with observations in the Degua Tembien mountains) to Congo and south to South Africa. Some populations migrate to Africa through India.
30-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - EUROPEAN ROLLER (Coracias garrulas)
%201.jpg)
This species is assessed as Least Concern. The population size and range are large and do not approach the thresholds for listing as Vulnerable and, although the population is still believed to be declining, the declines are not thought to be sufficiently rapid to warrant listing as Near Threatened. The European population is still thought to be declining but at a less severe rate and the Central Asian population is not thought to be suffering significant declines. Conservation actions in several countries have contributed to national recoveries.
%2010.jpg)
In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 75,000-158,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015). The European population is thought to hold around 40% of the global breeding range; therefore a very approximate estimate of the global population is 188,000-395,000 mature individuals or 282,000-593,000 individuals. The species is here placed in the band 100,000-499,999 mature individuals and 200,000-600,000 individuals.
%2020.jpg)
Spectacular and distinctive: overall brilliant blue, with a rusty back and a stout, crowlike bill; juvenile plumage duller overall. Favors open and semiopen country with scattered trees and wooded patches; often takes larger insects, such as grasshoppers. Mostly seen singly or in small groups, perched on prominent perches, such as bare snags and wires, as well as on the ground. Quiet outside of the breeding season, when birds give harsh rasping calls.
%2030.jpg)
Friday, 28 May 2021
28-5-2021 MERIDA, ESTEMADURA - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)
%2021.jpg)
The Goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It's a very sociable bird, often breeding in loose groups. It has a delightful twittering song and call. Their fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly, they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter, many UK Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.
The European goldfinch is illegally trafficked and can be found in countries worldwide, including the United States.
%2022.jpg)
The Goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It's a very sociable bird, often breeding in loose groups. It has a delightful twittering song and call. Their fine beaks allow them to extract otherwise inaccessible seeds from thistles and teasels. Increasingly, they are visiting bird tables and feeders. In winter, many UK Goldfinches migrate as far south as Spain.
The European goldfinch is illegally trafficked and can be found in countries worldwide, including the United States.
Thursday, 27 May 2021
27-5-2021 MERIDA, EXTRAMADURA - EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Chloris chloris)
%2020.jpg)
The European greenfinch, or simply greenfinch, is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family Fringillidae. Exhibiting a predominantly green plumage with yellow accents on the wings and tail, the male is a vibrant sight, while the female and juveniles are more subdued with brownish tones. This bird measures approximately 15 cm in length with a wingspan ranging from 24.5 to 27.5 cm, resembling the size and shape of a house sparrow.
To identify the European greenfinch, look for its thick and conical bill, a characteristic of seed-eating birds. The male's plumage is a striking green with yellow flashes on the wings and tail, whereas the female and young birds are more muted with brownish backs. The male's display flight is akin to a butterfly, a dance to charm its mate.
%2021.jpg)
The greenfinch favors woodland edges, farmland hedges, and gardens with dense vegetation for breeding. It nests in trees or bushes within these habitats.
This bird has a broad range across Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. It is mainly sedentary, but some populations in the northernmost regions migrate southwards in colder months. The species has also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Tuesday, 25 May 2021
20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL (Lophoceros nasutus)
The African grey hornbill (Lophoceros nasutus) is a notable member of the hornbill family, a group of mainly tropical near-passerine birds. This species, with a length of 45–51 cm (18–20 in), is considered large, though it ranks among the smaller hornbills. Exhibiting a plumage of subdued grey and brown, the bird is darker on the head, flight feathers, and elongated tail. A distinctive white line graces each side of the crown, extending down the back and becoming visible only during flight.
Males can be distinguished by their dark upper mandible adorned with a creamy-yellow mark or stripe, while females boast a tricoloured, red-tipped mandible. Both sexes have a small casque on the upper bill, more pronounced in males. Juveniles resemble adults but initially have uniformly blackish bills. The flight of the African grey hornbill is characterized by a distinctive undulating pattern.
The African grey hornbill is partial to open woodlands and savannahs, where it can be found perched or in flight, traversing the expansive African skies.
This species is a widespread resident breeder across sub-Saharan Africa and extends its range into the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula.
The African grey hornbill is a sociable bird, often seen in pairs or small family groups. It is known for its piping "pee-o pee-o pee-o" call, a sound that resonates through its preferred habitats.
The call of the African grey hornbill is a distinctive and repetitive piping sequence, often rendered as "pee-o pee-o pee-o," which it uses to communicate within its habitat.
%2020.jpg)
During the breeding season, the female lays two to four white eggs in a tree hollow. The entrance is sealed with a mixture of mud, droppings, and fruit pulp, leaving only a narrow slit for the male to pass food to the enclosed female and later, the chicks. As the nest becomes crowded, the female breaks free to assist in feeding the growing brood.
An omnivorous bird, the African grey hornbill's diet consists of insects, fruits, and occasionally reptiles. It predominantly forages in the trees, plucking its varied diet from the foliage.
The IUCN Red List categorizes the African grey hornbill as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)