22-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Agriopis bajaria)

The Geometer Moth (Agriopis bajaria) is a Eurasian species belonging to the family Geometridae. Best known for the looping, "inchworm" locomotion of their caterpillars, adults of this species exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism (males are winged and fly at night, while females are flightless with severely reduced wings).

Key Facts and Characteristics

Appearance & Dimorphism: Males have a wingspan of 30–32 mm with grayish-brown to tan patterns, whereas females are apterous (wingless/reduced wings) and measure only 12–14 mm.

Habitat: These moths typically inhabit deciduous and mixed forests, warm scrublands, sunny slopes, gardens, and city parks across Europe and Central Asia.

Life Cycle: Adults are generally active in the late autumn. The larvae are polyphagous, meaning they feed on the leaves of a wide variety of plants and trees, including:Rosaceae (Apples, hawthorn, roses, and brambles)Leguminosae (such as brooms)Oleaceae (Privet)Inchworm 

Locomotion: The larvae move in a distinct looping fashion because they possess a reduced number of prolegs (only on the hind end). They anchor their front legs, pull their rear legs forward, and loop their mid-section into an arc, giving them the "measuring the earth" namesake.

Taxonomy: They are part of the subfamily Ennominae within the super-family Geometroidea.

1-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - PALE EMERALD SPOTTED WOOD DOVE (Turtur chalcospilos ssp. zambesiensis)

The emerald-spotted wood dove or emerald-spotted dove (Turtur chalcospilos) is a bird of the family Columbidae, resident across eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of open drier deciduous woodland and second growth. It is absent from evergreen rainforests and semidesert areas.

At Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, South Africa, showing the bluish-emerald wing spots

Calling in woodland during autumn

The emerald-spotted wood dove is a small plump pigeon, typically 20 cm in length. Its back, hindneck, wings, and tail are pale grey-brown, and the folded wings have green metallic patches. There are blackish bands on the lower back and tail. The forehead, crown, and nape are bluish-grey, fading to pinkish-grey on the throat. The underparts are mauve-pink, becoming whiter on the belly.

The bill of this dove is blackish with a red base. The sexes are similar, but the female may be slightly duller than the male. The immature has duller green spots and buff fringes to the feathers. When flying, the black-billed wood dove is told from this species by its bright chestnut underwings.

1-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - RED BILLED FRANCOLIN (Pternistis-adspersus)

The Red-billed Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus), or Red-billed Francolin, is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird in the family Phasianidae found in Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe). They inhabit open savanna, woodland, and thorn scrub areas. Known for being noisy and having a bright red bill, they are often found in pairs or small groups. 

The Red-billed Spurfowl, or Pternistis adspersus, presents a striking figure with its barred underparts and a distinctive yellow eye-ring. This bird, also known as the Red-billed Francolin, is a member of the Phasianidae family. Exhibiting sexual dimorphism, the males are notably larger, reaching lengths of 38 cm and weights between 340-635 grams, while the females are slightly smaller at 33 cm in length and weighing 340-549 grams.

When observing the Red-billed Spurfowl, look for the characteristic barred pattern on the underparts, which sets it apart from similar species such as the Natal Spurfowl. The yellow eye-ring is a conspicuous feature to aid identification. Males are larger than females, which can be a helpful distinction in the field.

The Red-billed Spurfowl is native to Southern Africa, where it frequents a variety of habitats.

This species is widely distributed across Southern Africa, with its range encompassing Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Red-billed Spurfowl is known for its terrestrial habits, often seen foraging on the ground.

The Natal Spurfowl is similar in appearance but can be distinguished by the lack of barred underparts which are present in the Red-billed Spurfowl.

The IUCN Red List has classified the Red-billed Spurfowl as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.

1-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SMITH'S BUSH SQUIRREL (Paraderus Cepapi)

Smith's bush squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi), also known as the yellow-footed squirrel or tree squirrel, is an African bush squirrel which is native to woodlands of the southern Afrotropics.

It is found in Angola, Botswana, the DRCongo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is a common rodent which is diurnal by nature.

Its total length is 350 mm (14 in), half of which is tail; weight 200 g (7.1 oz). The coat colour varies throughout the region. In the western and arid parts of its range, it is pale grey, and in the eastern localities, more brown. Its head and legs are a rusty colour. Colouration on the chest varies from yellowish to buff in the east, to white in the west. This squirrel's belly is white. These alert and ever busy creatures carry their long tails extended backwards.

Smith's bush squirrels are primarily vegetarian, but like most rodents, they take insect prey and use their front feet to manipulate food items when feeding. They scatter-hoard seeds next to tree trunks or grass tufts, thereby facilitating tree regeneration.

Essentially arboreal animals, they also spend a great deal of time on the ground, foraging for food. When disturbed, Smith's bush squirrels always seek the refuge of trees. At night, territorial family groups nest together in holes in trees. Offspring become sexually mature between six and nine months old, when they are forcibly evicted by the breeding pair. The males are mainly responsible for territorial defense, although females also chase intruders when they care for dependent pups. To promote group cohesion, a common scent is shared by mutual grooming, which is an important facet of the social fibre of this species. Smith's bush squirrels are diligent in their grooming and a mother tree squirrel holds her offspring down with her fore legs while grooming it with licks, nibbles, and scratches with her claws.

A conspicuous feature of their behaviour when under threat is 'mobbing': all the members of the colony make harsh clicking sounds while they flick their tails, building up momentum and gradually getting louder. In some areas, they are solitary, or are found in small family groups; a lone tree squirrel relies on its wits when in danger and always keeps a branch or the trunk of a tree between it and the enemy. Smith's bush squirrels are always alert, and when alarmed, run away with great speed, making for the nearest tree where they lie motionless, flattened against a branch.

18-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FUNNEL WEAVER SPIDER (Genus Textrix)

Textrix is a genus of funnel weavers first described by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1833. They have a mainly European distribution, with one species in Ethiopia. The type species of the genus is Textrix denticulata.

The spiders in the genus Textrix have a strongly recurved posterior row of eyes with the medial eyes larger than the lateral eyes. They have a narrow head which is distinct from the thorax. These spiders may resemble wolf spiders as they are often recorded running about in sunshine, but their long and segmented posterior spinners are very marked and identify them as funnel web weavers.

Species

As of August 2023 it contains six species:

Textrix caudata L. Koch, 1872 – Macaronesia, Northern Africa, Southern Europe, Syria

Textrix chyzeri de Blauwe, 1980 – Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Bulgaria

Textrix denticulata (Olivier, 1789) (type) – Europe, Turkey

Textrix nigromarginata Strand, 1906 – Ethiopia

Textrix pinicola Simon, 1875 – Portugal to Italy

Textrix rubrofoliata Pesarini, 1990 – Spain, France, Italy

20-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - RUSTY DOT PEARL MOTH (Udea ferrugalis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/324928-Udea-ferrugalis

20-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HAIRY ROSE BEETLE (Tropinota squalida)

Tropinota squalida is a species of beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Cetoniinae.

These beetles are mainly found in France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, former Yugoslavia, Spain, in the Near East and in North Africa.

Larvae feed on roots, while the adults can be encountered from May through July feeding on flowers. They are 10–15 millimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long.

Head, scutellum and elytra are dark-brown, with a thick and long tawny hair on elytra and abdomen. Elytra show two series of white spots on the sides of the central hull. Scutellun is rounded and hairy, but glabrous in the posterior.

 The fifth humeral slot is bifurcated.

20-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - FRENCH PAPER WASP (Polistes gallicus)

Polistes gallicus is a species of paper wasp found in various parts of Europe, excluding England, Denmark, and Scandinavia, from warmer climates to cooler regions north of the Alps. Nests of these social insects are created in these various conditions. The Polistes species use an oral secretion to construct their nests, which consist of a combination of saliva and chewed plant fibers. This structural mixture physically protects the nest from various harsh elements and from weathering over time.

P. gallicus, like other members of the subgenus Polistes (Polistes), has recognizable, bright yellow and black markings. They have smaller bodies than many of its allies that overlap in range, and their bodies are largely hairless. The species may be separated from allies through the following traits.

The range of P. gallicus extends across much of Europe, where it is a common species. It can be found from northern Italy and southern Switzerland south into northwest Africa and east to Croatia and Corfu. The species inhabits a variety of climates and habitats throughout this range, although it more frequently nests in warm and dry regions, where its nests are built hanging in the open with the cells towards the ground. In cooler regions north of the Alps, its nests are often built in more protective enclosures such as in pipes or metal scraps.

20-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

The Great tit (Parus major) is a widespread and common songbird throughout Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and east across the Palearctic to the Amur River, south to parts of North Africa. It has adapted well to human changes in the environment and is a common and familiar bird in urban parks and gardens. It is also an important study species in ornithology.

The Great tit has a distinctive appearance that makes it easy to recognize. The nominate race has a bluish-black crown, black neck, throat, bib, and head, and white cheeks and ear coverts. The breast is bright lemon-yellow and there is a broad black mid-line stripe running from the bib to the vent. There is a dull white spot on the neck turning to greenish yellow on the upper nape. The rest of the nape and back are green-tinged with olive. The wing-coverts are green, and the rest of the wing is bluish-grey with a white wing bar. The tail is bluish-grey with white outer tips. The plumage of the female is similar to that of the male except that the colors are overall duller.

Great tits have a wide distribution across much of Eurasia. They can be found across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, including numerous Mediterranean islands. In North Africa, they live in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. They also occur across the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia from northern Iran and Afghanistan to Mongolia, as well as across northern Asia from the Urals as far east as northern China and the Amur Valley. Great tits inhabit open deciduous woodland, mixed forests, forest edges, and gardens. In northern Siberia, they live in boreal taiga. In North Africa, they prefer oak forests as well as stands of Atlas cedar and even palm groves. In the east of their range, Great tits favor riverine willow and birch forest, as well as low scrubland and oases. 

21-12-2021 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - MEADOW PIPIT (Anthus pratensis)

The meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis) is a small passerine bird, which breeds in much of the Palearctic, from southeastern Greenland and Iceland east to just east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, and south to central France and Romania; an isolated population also occurs in the Caucasus Mountains. It is migratory over most of its range, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa, and south-western Asia, but is resident year-round in western Europe, though even here many birds move to the coast or lowlands in winter.

This is a widespread and often abundant small pipit, 14.5–15 cm (5+1⁄2–6 in) long and 15–22 g (0.53–0.78 oz) weight. It is an undistinguished-looking species on the ground, mainly brown above and buff below, with darker streaking on most of its plumage; the tail is brown, with narrow white side edges. It has a thin bill and pale pinkish-yellow legs; the hind claw is notably long, longer than the rest of the hind toes. The call is a weak tsi-tsi. The simple repetitive song is given in a short song flight. Birds breeding in Ireland and western Scotland are slightly darker coloured than those in other areas, and are often distinguished as the subspecies A. p. whistleri, though it intergrades clinally with nominate A. p. pratensis found in the rest of the species' range.

It is similar to the red-throated pipit A. cervinus, which is more heavily streaked and (in summer only) has an orange-red throat, and to the tree pipit A. trivialis, which is slightly larger, less heavily streaked, and has stronger facial markings and a shorter hind claw. The song of the meadow pipit accelerates towards the end while that of the tree pipit slows down.

21-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SHIELD BACKED KATYDID (Subfamily Tettigoniinae)

Shield-backed katydids (subfamily Tettigoniinae) are robust, ground-dwelling bush crickets distinguished by a large, shield-like pronotum extending over their short wings. Found widely across the Americas and Eurasia, these drab, earthy insects are known for early summer choruses and omnivorous diets.

Physical Traits & Appearance

Look like bulky, robust crickets or long-horned grasshoppers.Feature a flared, saddle-like pronotum (the shield) covering the thorax and small wings.Display neutral shades of brown, gray, or dark tones, with rare green or yellow variants.Possess extremely long antennae that stretch well past their bodies.

21-12-2021 EL PALMAR, VALENCIA - EURASIAN GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)

The great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), a robust seabird, is cloaked in predominantly black plumage. It is a member of the cormorant family, with a widespread distribution. The species exhibits considerable size variation across its range, with males generally larger than females. Notable features include a longish tail and a distinctive yellow throat-patch. During the breeding season, adults boast white patches on their thighs and throat.

To identify the great cormorant, look for its large size, heavy build, and thick bill. It lacks a crest and its plumage does not have a green tinge, distinguishing it from the common shag. In North America, it is bulkier than the double-crested cormorant and has less yellow on the throat and bill. The white thigh patches are a key identifier.

21-12-2021 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/14850-Sturnus-vulgaris

 

21-12-2021 EL PALMAR, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4954-Ardea-cinerea

1-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SMITH'S BUSH SQUIRREL (Paraderus Cepapi)

Smith's bush squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi), also known as the yellow-footed squirrel or tree squirrel, is an African bush squirrel which is native to woodlands of the southern Afrotropics.

It is found in Angola, Botswana, the DRCongo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is a common rodent which is diurnal by nature.

Its total length is 350 mm (14 in), half of which is tail; weight 200 g (7.1 oz). The coat colour varies throughout the region. In the western and arid parts of its range, it is pale grey, and in the eastern localities, more brown. Its head and legs are a rusty colour. Colouration on the chest varies from yellowish to buff in the east, to white in the west. This squirrel's belly is white. These alert and ever busy creatures carry their long tails extended backwards.

Smith's bush squirrels are primarily vegetarian, but like most rodents, they take insect prey and use their front feet to manipulate food items when feeding. They scatter-hoard seeds next to tree trunks or grass tufts, thereby facilitating tree regeneration.

Essentially arboreal animals, they also spend a great deal of time on the ground, foraging for food. When disturbed, Smith's bush squirrels always seek the refuge of trees. At night, territorial family groups nest together in holes in trees. Offspring become sexually mature between six and nine months old, when they are forcibly evicted by the breeding pair. The males are mainly responsible for territorial defense, although females also chase intruders when they care for dependent pups. To promote group cohesion, a common scent is shared by mutual grooming, which is an important facet of the social fibre of this species. Smith's bush squirrels are diligent in their grooming and a mother tree squirrel holds her offspring down with her fore legs while grooming it with licks, nibbles, and scratches with her claws.

1-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is a species of elephant native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of three extant elephant species and, along with the African forest elephant, one of two extant species of African elephant. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with fully grown bulls reaching an average shoulder height of 3.04–3.36 metres (10.0–11.0 ft) and a body mass of 5.2–6.9 tonnes (5.7–7.6 short tons); the largest recorded specimen had a shoulder height of 3.96 metres (13.0 ft) and an estimated body mass of 10.4 tonnes (11.5 short tons). The African bush elephant is characterised by its long prehensile trunk with two finger-like processes; a convex back; large ears which help reduce body heat; and sturdy tusks that are noticeably curved. The skin is grey with scanty hairs, and bending cracks which support thermoregulation by retaining water.

The African bush elephant inhabits a variety of habitats such as forests, grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. It is a mixed herbivore feeding mostly on grasses, creepers, herbs, leaves, and bark. The average adult consumes about 150 kg (330 lb) of vegetation and 230 L (51 imp gal; 61 US gal) of water each day. A social animal, the African bush elephant often travels in herds composed of cows and their offspring. Adult bulls usually live alone or in small bachelor groups. During the mating season, males go through a process called musth, a period of high testosterone levels and heightened aggression. For females, the menstrual cycle lasts three to four months, and gestation around 22 months, the longest of any mammal.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - RED BILLED FRANCOLIN (Pternistis-adspersus)

The red-billed spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus), also known as the red-billed francolin, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size. Males are larger, measuring 38 cm (15 in) in length and weighing 340–635 g (12.0–22.4 oz), whereas females measure 33 cm (13 in) in length and weigh 340–549 g (12.0–19.4 oz). The species has barred underparts (in contrast to the related Natal spurfowl) and a conspicuous yellow eye-ring.

The red-billed spurfowl was described in 1838 by the English naturalist George Robert Waterhouse from specimens collected by James Edward Alexander on his expedition to Namaqualand and Damaraland. Waterhouse coined the binomial name Francolinus adspersus and noted that the specimens had come near the Fish River in what is now Namibia. The specific epithet adspersus is Latin for "sprinkling". The species is now placed in the genus Pternistis that was introduced by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832. The red-billed spurfowl is considered as monotypic: the proposed subspecies mesicus is not recognised.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN SACRED IBIS (Threskiornis aethiopicus ssp. aethiopicus)

The African sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus ) is a wading bird native to Africa and the Middle East. It is especially known for its role in the religion of the Ancient Egyptians, where it was linked to the god Thoth; despite this, the species is currently extirpated from Egypt.

African sacred ibises have all-white body plumage apart from dark plumes on the rump. Males are generally slightly larger than females.

The bald head and neck, thick curved bill, and legs of these birds are black. The white wings show a black rear border in flight. The eyes are brown with a dark red orbital ring. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have dirty white plumage, a smaller bill and some feathering on the neck, greenish-brown scapular, and more black on the primary coverts.

6-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TRUE CRICKET (Genus Petaloptila)

Petaloptila is a genus of true crickets (family Gryllidae) in the subfamily Gryllomorphinae, commonly known as glandular crickets. Erected by José Pantel in 1890, this genus is predominantly found on the European mainland, with a high concentration of endemic species in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and parts of Italy.

Key Biological FeaturesGlandular 

Structures: A defining characteristic of the genus is the presence of a specialized abdominal tubercle or gland. This features prominently in reproductive interactions, earning them the common name "glandular crickets".

Reduced Wings (Micropterous): These crickets have highly reduced wings (tegmina). In males, the tegmina are modified into tiny, rectangular lobes with variable veins, and they lack a functional stridulatory (chirping) apparatus. In females, the wings are practically invisible, remaining hidden beneath the pronotum.

Physical Appearance: They generally feature pale straw-to-brown coloration, elongated legs, long antennae, and females possess a long, straight ovipositor for laying eggs in soil or crevices.

Habitat and Ecology

Cave and Subterranean Bias: Many species are troglobitic or troglophilic, meaning they live in limestone caves, rocky chasms, and subterranean environments.

Microclimate Preferences: They thrive in environments with total darkness, low temperatures, and exceptionally high humidity levels (often exceeding 95%).

Aseasonal Reproduction: Because cave environments lack strict seasonal signals, adult and nymph populations frequently coexist throughout the year, suggesting continuous, aseasonal reproductive cycles.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - FLORIDA RED BELLY TURTLE (Pseudemys nelsoni)

The Florida Red-Bellied Cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni) is a large, herbivorous freshwater turtle in Florida, known for its reddish-orange belly, yellow-striped dark skin, and preference for basking in sunny spots on logs in lakes, rivers, and marshes, often sharing habitats with alligators, whose nests they sometimes use for laying eggs, growing large (females up to 14+ inches) and living for decades. 

Appearance & Size

Shell: Brown/olive carapace (top) with light streaks; reddish-orange plastron (bottom) that fades with age.

Head/Limbs: Olive to black skin with bright yellow stripes; males have longer foreclaws and tails.

Size: Females are larger, reaching up to 35-40 cm (14-15 inches) long, while males are smaller. 

Habitat & Behavior

Home: Permanent fresh waters like ponds, swamps, canals, and slow rivers across Florida.

Basking: Loves to sunbathe on logs/rocks to regulate body temperature, quickly diving when disturbed.

Diet: Primarily aquatic plants (waterweed, duckweed), but juveniles eat insects; adults may eat algae and carrion.

Nesting: Females nest spring-fall, sometimes laying eggs in alligator nests for protection. 

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - RED CRESTED POCHARD (FEMALE) (Netta rufina)

The Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina, is a striking large diving duck. Its name is drawn from the Greek word for duck, 'Netta', and the Latin 'rufina', meaning 'golden-red', a nod to the male's vibrant plumage.

Males are resplendent with a rounded orange head, a red bill, and a contrasting black breast. Their sides are a crisp white, with a brown back and a black tail. Females, on the other hand, are clad in more subdued tones, primarily pale brown with a darker back and crown, and a whitish face. During eclipse, males resemble females but retain their red bills.

These ducks favor lowland marshes and lakes, thriving in the wetland habitats of southern Europe.

The Red-crested Pochard breeds from the steppe and semi-desert regions near the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia. It is a somewhat migratory species, with northern populations wintering in the Indian Subcontinent and Africa.

Gregarious by nature, Red-crested Pochards form large flocks in the winter, often mingling with other diving ducks such as the Common Pochard. They are known to both dive and dabble for their food.

The red-crested pochard (Netta rufina) is a large diving duck. The scientific name is derived from Greek Netta "duck", and Latin rufina, "golden-red" (from rufus, "ruddy"). Its breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and it extends from the steppe and semi-desert areas on the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia, wintering in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. It is somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south into north Africa.

The adult male is unmistakable. It has a rounded orange head, red bill and black breast. The flanks are white, the back brown, and the tail black. The female is mainly a pale brown, with a darker back and crown and a whitish face. Eclipse males are like females but with red bills. They are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks, such as common pochards. They feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants, and typically upend for food more than most diving ducks.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta)

The pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta, presents a striking silhouette with its bold black and white plumage. This large wader, belonging to the avocet and stilt family, Recurvirostridae, is adorned with a distinctive black cap and black markings on its wings and back, contrasting sharply against its otherwise white body. The species is noted for its elegant, upturned bill and elongated, bluish legs, which add to its graceful demeanor.

Adult pied avocets measure approximately 16.5–17.75 inches in length, with a wingspan stretching around 30–31.5 inches. Their long legs and upturned bills, measuring about 2.95–3.35 inches and 3–4 inches respectively, are key features for identification. Both sexes appear similar, while juveniles can be distinguished by their more greyish and sepia tones.

These birds favor shallow lakes with brackish water and exposed mudflats, which provide ideal foraging and breeding grounds.

The pied avocet breeds across temperate Europe and extends across the Palearctic to Central Asia and the Russian Far East. It is a migratory species, with most individuals wintering in Africa or southern Asia. Some, however, remain in the milder parts of their range during winter, such as southern Spain and southern England.

Pied avocets forage in shallow waters or on mudflats, often employing a unique side-to-side scything motion with their bills to capture prey. They primarily consume crustaceans and insects. During the breeding season, they nest on open ground, often forming small groups and sometimes associating with other wader species. Their nests are typically lined scrapes or mounds of vegetation, where they lay three to five eggs.

The avocet's call is a distinctive, melodious "kluit kluit," which carries far across their watery habitats.

Pied avocets establish breeding territories in shallow brackish waters, where they lay their eggs in simple ground nests. These nests may be lined with materials or placed on mounds of vegetation to protect them from flooding.

The pied avocet breeds across temperate Europe and extends across the Palearctic to Central Asia and the Russian Far East. It is a migratory species, with most individuals wintering in Africa or southern Asia. Some, however, remain in the milder parts of their range during winter, such as southern Spain and southern England.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - RED CRESTED POCHARD (FEMALE) (Netta rufina)

The Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina, is a striking large diving duck. Its name is drawn from the Greek word for duck, 'Netta', and the Latin 'rufina', meaning 'golden-red', a nod to the male's vibrant plumage.

Males are resplendent with a rounded orange head, a red bill, and a contrasting black breast. Their sides are a crisp white, with a brown back and a black tail. Females, on the other hand, are clad in more subdued tones, primarily pale brown with a darker back and crown, and a whitish face. During eclipse, males resemble females but retain their red bills.

These ducks favor lowland marshes and lakes, thriving in the wetland habitats of southern Europe.

The Red-crested Pochard breeds from the steppe and semi-desert regions near the Black Sea to Central Asia and Mongolia. It is a somewhat migratory species, with northern populations wintering in the Indian Subcontinent and Africa.

Gregarious by nature, Red-crested Pochards form large flocks in the winter, often mingling with other diving ducks such as the Common Pochard. They are known to both dive and dabble for their food.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - BLACK NECKED SWAN (Cygnus melancoryphus)

An unmistakable bird with bold patterns, Black-necked swans are characteristic and majestic inhabitants of southern South Americas wetlands. They are easily distinguished by their immaculate white body feathers that contrast sharply with their velvety black head and neck. The bill is blue-gray in color and has a noticeable, double-lobed scarlet-colored knob, called a caruncle, at its base. The eyes are surrounded by a thin white line which goes along the sides of the head to the rear. Males and females are similar in appearance, though females are generally slightly smaller. The juvenile does not have a caruncle, and has a head and neck that is more brownish-black, with varying amounts of brownish-tipped and grayish-flecked feathers.

The Black-necked swan inhabits southern South America, from Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands northwards to Paraguay, central Chile, and southern Brazil. It lives in a wide variety of freshwater and saline habitats such as shallow coastal regions along the Pacific Ocean, estuaries, inland lakes, lagoons, and marshes. Particularly important are places that are rich with submerged aquatic vegetation.

These swans are highly social birds, and are gregarious outside of the time of the breeding season. They become territorial during the breeding season and divide up into mated pairs, nesting in small colonies or as solitary pairs, but they regroup once the young have hatched, each flock numbering thousands of birds. 

These flocks may move around, dependent on the climate and resources, but usually stay in the south of South America until migrating north. 

The black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus ) is the largest waterfowl native to South America.

Black-necked swans are diurnal and most of their time is spent in water. If males need to defend their territory, they display aggressive behavior such as lowering their neck and thrusting the head forward. After fighting with beating its wings, the male returns to the female in triumph, continuously lifting its chin and calling.

9-12-2021 CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, VALENCIA - RED KNOBBED COOT (Fulica cristata)

The red-knobbed coot (Fulica cristata), also known as the crested coot, is a distinctive waterbird belonging to the rail family, Rallidae. While it shares a nearly identical black-bodied profile with its close relative, the common Eurasian coot, it features striking unique anatomical details.

Key Identification Features

• The Red Knobs: The most diagnostic feature is the pair of small, dark-red fleshy knobs at the top of its white frontal shield. Note that these knobs swell and become much more prominent during the breeding season.

• Plumage & Bill: It possesses entirely slate-black plumage contrasting sharply with a bright white bill and facial shield.

• Feather Shape: The lower edge of its white frontal shield rounds into a smooth, seamless curve where it meets the feathers—unlike the Eurasian coot, which has a distinct angular wedge shape cutting into the plumage.

Habitat & Behavior

• Distribution: This species is a resident breeder across much of Africa and survives in heavily fragmented, rare pockets of southern Spain and Portugal.

• Habitat: They inhabit freshwater lakes, wetlands, ponds, and slow-moving rivers with plentiful marginal vegetation.

• Diet: Primarily herbivorous, they dive underwater or graze along the shoreline to feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates.

• Nesting: They build large floating platforms constructed out of dead reeds and aquatic vegetation anchored near the water's edge.