12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - BLACK HEADED GULL (JUVENILE) (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) is a small, nimble gull with a wingspan ranging from 94 to 110 cm and a body length of 37 to 44 cm. It weighs between 190 and 400 grams. Despite its name, the adult's summer plumage features a chocolate-brown head, which can appear black from a distance. The body is pale grey, and the primary wing feathers are tipped with black. The bill and legs are a striking red. In winter, the brown head is replaced by a white one with dark spots. Juveniles are mottled with brown spots and have a black band on the tail. There is no sexual dimorphism in plumage.

In flight, the white leading edge of the wing is a distinctive field mark. The summer adult's brown head, red bill, and legs are key identifiers, while the winter plumage features two dark spots on the head. Juveniles can be recognized by their mottled brown pattern and black tail band.

This species nests in colonies on the ground in large reed beds, marshes, or islands within lakes. It is not pelagic and is seldom seen far from coasts.

The black-headed gull breeds across much of the Palearctic, including Europe and coastal eastern Canada. It is migratory, wintering further south, but some remain in the milder westernmost areas of Europe. It is also present in northeastern North America and occasionally seen as far south as Virginia and some Caribbean islands.

Highly gregarious in winter, the black-headed gull is an opportunistic feeder, consuming a wide range of food from insects to carrion. It is known for its "kree-ar" call and displays various behaviors such as eggshell removal from the nest, which is believed to reduce predation risk.

The black-headed gull is a vocal species, particularly in colonies. Its call is a familiar "kree-ar," and its scientific name suggests a laughing sound.

This gull takes two years to reach maturity. First-year birds can be distinguished by a black terminal tail band and a less developed dark hood in summer. Breeding occurs in colonies, and the species is known for its complex social behaviors, including begging coordination between siblings and conspecific brood parasitism.

The black-headed gull can be confused with the similar-looking Bonaparte's Gull in North America.

The diet includes insects, fish, seeds, worms, scraps, carrion, and invertebrates in ploughed fields. It feeds in towns and agricultural areas with equal relish.

The black-headed gull is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating it is not currently at significant risk of widespread decline.

Individuals synchronize their vigilance activities with nearby conspecifics, depending on the distance between them.

The first recorded sighting in Australia occurred in 1991 at the Broome Sewage Ponds, marking a significant range expansion for the species.

The black-headed gull has been immortalized in Richard Adams' novel "Watership Down" as the character Kehaar and is the official bird of Tokyo, Japan.

12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - FIELDFARE (Turdus pilaris)

The fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) is a member of the thrush family Turdidae. It breeds in woodland and scrub in northern Europe and across the Palearctic. It is strongly migratory, with many northern birds moving south during the winter. It is a very rare breeder in Great Britain and Ireland, but winters in large numbers in the United Kingdom, Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of molluscs, insects and earthworms in the summer, and berries, grain and seeds in the winter.

Fieldfares often nest in small colonies, possibly for protection from predators. The nest is built in a tree where five or six eggs are laid. The chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest after a fortnight. There may be two broods in southern parts of the range but only one further north. Migrating birds and wintering birds often form large flocks, often in the company of redwings.

The fieldfare is 25 cm (10 in) long, with a grey crown, neck and rump, a plain brown back, dark wings and tail and white underwings. The breast and flanks are heavily spotted. The breast has a reddish wash and the rest of the underparts are white. The sexes are similar in appearance but the females are slightly more brown. The male has a simple chattering song and the birds have various guttural flight and alarm calls.

The fieldfare is a migratory species with a palearctic distribution. It breeds in northern Norway, northern Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Siberia as far east as Transbaikal, the Aldan River and the Tian Shan Mountains in North West China. Its winter range extends through western and southern Europe to North Africa, though it is uncommon in the Mediterranean region. Eastern populations migrate to Anatolia, Israel, Iran and Northwest India, and occasionally Northeast India. It is a vagrant to Iceland, Greenland, Spitsbergen, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Madeira, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, the United States, Malta and Cyprus.

The flight of the fieldfare is slow and direct. It takes several strong beats then closes its wings briefly before flapping on. It is highly gregarious, quite shy and easily scared in the winter and bold and noisy in the breeding season. When a group is in a tree they all tend to face in the same direction, keeping up a constant chatter. When foraging on the ground, often in association with redwings, the group works its way up wind, each bird pausing every so often to stand erect and gaze around before resuming feeding. When alarmed they fly off down wind and the feeding group reforms elsewhere. In woodland they do not skulk in the undergrowth as do blackbirds or song thrushes, instead they perch in the open on bushes and high branches. They roost socially, sometimes in overgrown hedges and shrubberies but usually on the ground. Common sites are in rough grass among bushes or clumps of rushes, in young plantations, on stubble and in the furrows of ploughed fields.

12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

The great tit (Parus major) is a small passerine bird, easily recognized by its black head and neck, striking white cheeks, olive upperparts, and vibrant yellow underparts. This bird is the most widespread species in the genus Parus, found across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of North Africa.

Males are characterized by their bright plumage, with a black bib that extends down the belly, bordered by a lemon-yellow breast. Females and juveniles are similar but have duller coloration. The black line down the belly is also narrower and sometimes broken in these birds.

Great tits favor a variety of woodland habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, and even urban parks and gardens. They are also found in riverine woodlands and, in some regions, boreal taiga.

This species is resident throughout its range, which extends from the Iberian Peninsula to the Amur Valley, and from Scandinavia to the Middle East. It is generally non-migratory, except in harsh winters when it may move to more temperate areas.

Great tits are known for their intelligence and adaptability. They exhibit a range of foraging behaviors and can solve problems with insight learning. They are also cavity nesters and are monogamous, with both parents involved in raising the chicks.

12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - CARRION CROW (Corvus corone)

The carrion crow (Corvus corone) is a passerine bird of the family Corvidae and the genus Corvus which is native to western Europe and the eastern Palearctic.

The plumage of the Carrion crow is black with a green or purple sheen, much greener than the gloss of the rook. The bill, legs, and feet are also black. There is frequent confusion between the Carrion crow and the rook, another black corvid found within its range. The beak of the crow is stouter and in consequence looks shorter, and whereas in the adult rook the nostrils are bare, those of the crow are covered at all ages with bristle-like feathers. As well as this, the wings of a Carrion crow are proportionally shorter and broader than those of the rook when seen in flight. Juvenile Carrion crows can be identified by their brownish plumage and blue eyes, both of which darken to black and brown as the crow grows older.

12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (FEMALE) (Passer montanus)

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with a rich chestnut crown and nape, and a black patch on each pure white cheek. The sexes are similarly plumaged, and young birds are a duller version of the adult. This sparrow breeds over most of temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, where it is known as the tree sparrow, and it has been introduced elsewhere including the United States, where it is known as the Eurasian tree sparrow or German sparrow to differentiate it from the native unrelated American tree sparrow. Although several subspecies are recognised, the appearance of this bird varies little across its extensive range.

The Eurasian tree sparrow's untidy nest is built in a natural cavity, a hole in a building or the disused nest of a European magpie or white stork. The typical clutch is five or six eggs which hatch in under two weeks. This sparrow feeds mainly on seeds, but invertebrates are also consumed, particularly during the breeding season. As with other small birds, infection by parasites and diseases, and predation by birds of prey take their toll, and the typical life span is about two years.

12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (MALE) (Turdus merula)

The blackbird is the most numerous breeding bird in the British Isles, with a population of around 6 million pairs.

The highest breeding densities are to be found in small urban parks and residential areas.

The European population has been estimated at between 38 and 55 million pairs.

The only European country with no breeding blackbirds is Iceland; small numbers do occur there in the winter.

The reason for its success is its adaptability, for it is equally at home in a town park or suburban garden as it is in a remote Welsh wood.

Blackbirds are what is known as sexually dimorphic, which means that the plumage of the female is completely different from that of the male.

The song of the blackbird is arguably the most beautiful and best-loved of any British bird, as well as being the most familiar.

The first blackbird song of the year can usually be heard at the end of January or early February, though urban birds often start earlier.

Studies have shown that the first birds to sing are cocks that were hatched the year before. The older birds do not start singing until well into March.

Blackbirds typically like to sing after rain.

The song period continues well into the summer, but it is unusual to hear sustained song much after the middle of July.

The song Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye, four-and-twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie was actually a coded message used to recruit crew members for the notorious 18th-century pirate Blackbeard.

The majority of English blackbirds seldom move any distance from where they were hatched.

British birds are joined in winter by large numbers of migrants from Europe, mainly Scandinavia, the Baltic States, Russia and Germany.

The most common causes of death for ringed blackbirds are cats and cars.

It takes a pair of blackbirds between 11 and 14 days to make a nest. Most of the work is done by the female.

It is only the female that incubates the eggs, but the male helps feed his offspring.

Scottish blackbirds are usually two weeks behind their English counterparts when it comes to nest building and egg laying.

Blackbirds have been successfully introduced to south-eastern Australia and New Zealand.

Attempts to establish blackbirds in New York and Oregon in the 19th-century both failed.

The oldest ringed blackbird recovered was over 20 years old.

12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - EUROPEAN STAG BEETLE (MALE) (Lucanus cervus)

Lucanus cervus, known as the European stag beetle, or the greater stag beetle, is one of the best-known species of stag beetle (family Lucanidae) in Western Europe, and is the eponymous example of the genus. L. cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.

Adults appear during late May to the beginning of August, being most active in the evenings. Females lay their eggs in a piece of decaying wood deep in the soil. Stag beetle larvae, which are blind and shaped like a letter "C", feed on rotting wood in a variety of places, tree stumps, old trees and shrubs, rotting fence posts, compost heaps, and leaf mould. The larvae have a cream-coloured, soft, transparent body with six orange legs, and an orange head which is very distinct from the very sharp brown pincers. They have combs in their legs which they use for communication (stridulation) with other larvae. The larvae go through several instars (stages), taking 1 to 3 years to become pupae.

Lucanus cervus, known as the European stag beetle, or the greater stag beetle, is one of the best-known species of stag beetle (family Lucanidae) in Western Europe, and is the eponymous example of the genus. L. cervus is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.

Sexually dimorphic, the males have enlarged mandibles and are larger than the females. Although the male's mandibles seem threatening, they are too weak to be harmful. Nevertheless, females can inflict a painful bite. The resemblance of the male's mandibles to the antlers of a stag, and their use in combat between males, much like with deer, gives the species its scientific and common names.

Adult size varies between different areas of its distribution, for example beetles from Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands are larger than those from Belgium or the UK.

Lucanus cervus is widespread across Europe, though it is absent from Ireland. In Germany it is widespread, mainly in the south. In Hungary this species is widespread in the hilly and mountainous areas. In Romania it is widespread, especially in the hilly areas with sun exposed slopes. It also occurs in the European part of Turkey. In Italy it is mainly distributed in northern and central regions. In Spain and Portugal it is present only in the northern half of each country. In Britain it is largely confined to the south-east of England, where it is widespread. This species is now extinct in Latvia; it also disappeared from Denmark around 1970, but was reintroduced in 2013. It is also found in Caucasus, Asia Minor, Syria and west Kazakhstan. Its range is currently only increasing in Croatia and Slovakia.

12-8-2017 RUDESHEIM, GERMANY - COMMON WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus)

The Common Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus, is a sizable bird of the dove and pigeon family, Columbidae, native to the western Palearctic. It is a predominantly grey bird with a pinkish breast, and adults can be distinguished by the white on their neck and wing. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males typically larger than females.

Adults of this species are marked by a series of green and white patches on their necks, and a pink patch on their chest. The eye color is a pale yellow. Juvenile birds lack the white neck patches and have a greyer beak and overall lighter grey appearance.

The Common Wood Pigeon is found in woods, parks, and gardens, and has adapted well to urban environments. It is a resident in southern and western Europe and a migrant in the colder northern and eastern parts.

This species ranges from Europe to western Siberia and Iraq, and from Northwest Africa to the Azores, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, western China, northwestern India, and Nepal.

The Common Wood Pigeon is known for its quick flight, characterized by regular beats and occasional sharp flicks of the wings. It is a gregarious bird, often forming large flocks outside the breeding season. Males are known to defend their territory with aggressive displays and direct combat.

11-8-2017 MILTENBERG, GERMANY - EGYPTIAN GOOSE (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

The Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca, is a striking bird, native to Sub-Saharan Africa and the Nile Valley. It is a member of the Anatidae family, which includes ducks, geese, and swans. This species is unique in its appearance, resembling a goose more than a duck when in flight, with a heavy and robust stature. Adults typically measure between 63 to 73 centimeters in height.

Both sexes of the Egyptian goose display identical plumage, though males are generally larger. Plumage tones can vary from grey to brown, not necessarily indicative of age or sex. Mature birds boast a significant white patch on their wings, concealed by wing coverts when at rest but prominently displayed when the bird is agitated or in flight.

The Egyptian goose favors open or semi-open environments, often found near freshwater sources. Its habitat ranges from lowlands to high altitudes, such as the Ethiopian Highlands, up to 4,000 meters above sea level. It avoids dense forests and deserts.

This species is widespread and common in its native range, though numbers have dwindled in the northern Nile Valley. Historically found in southeastern Europe and parts of the Middle East, its presence in these areas has diminished.

11-8-2017 MILTENBERG, GERMANY - GREY CROSS SPIDER (Larinioides sclopetarius)

Larinioides sclopetarius, commonly called bridge-spider or gray cross-spider, is a relatively large orb-weaver spider with Holarctic distribution. These spiders are located in Europe and have been observed as south as the Mediterranean Coast and as north as Finland. They are often found on bridges, especially near light and over water. The species tends to live on steel objects and is seldom seen on vegetation. Females reach a body length of 10–14mm, and males 8–9mm. Their orb webs can have diameters of up to 70 cm.

L. sclopetarius is attracted to light. Spiders found near light sources may be in better condition and have greater reproductive success than spiders living in unlit areas. Most of these lighted areas are found in cities or other metropolitan areas. As a result, many urban areas have become saturated with these spiders. As many as 100 of these spiders can be found in a square meter in optimal feeding locations.

L. sclopetarius often hide during the day, and wait for prey in the center of their web at night. In high-density populations, spiders may remain sedentary to protect their territories. Mature females and juvenile spiders will often build webs. However, adult males generally inhabit adult female webs. Males can be found mostly during summer, while females are active until November in Central Europe.

11-8-2017 MILTENBERG, GERMANY - MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)

The mute swan, Cygnus olor, is a majestic bird, easily recognized by its all-white plumage and the distinctive orange beak bordered with black. The male, known as a cob, is noted for a prominent knob atop the beak, which is more pronounced than that of the female, or pen.

Adult mute swans measure between 125 to 160 cm in length, with a wingspan of 200 to 240 cm. The males are generally larger than females and possess a larger knob on their bill. The species is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males reaching weights up to 14.3 kg and females up to 10.6 kg. Juveniles, or cygnets, are not as bright white as adults and have a dull greyish-black bill for their first year.

Mute swans are found in a variety of wetland habitats, including lakes, ponds, rivers, and coastal areas, where they build large mounds of vegetation for nesting.

Native to Eurosiberia, the mute swan has been introduced to North America, Australasia, and southern Africa. It is partially migratory in northern latitudes, with some populations moving as far south as North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Mute swans are territorial and monogamous, often reusing the same nest each year. They are less vocal than other swan species but are known for their aggressive defense of their nests and offspring. They can be seen performing a threat display known as busking, with wings half raised and neck curved back.

While not as vocal, mute swans produce a range of sounds including grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting. They also have a rhythmic song during courtship displays and a unique throbbing sound from their wings in flight.

Mute swans lay 4 to 10 eggs, with the female brooding for around 36 days. Cygnets typically fledge at around 120 to 150 days old.

The mute swan can be distinguished from other swan species by its orange beak with a black border and the pronounced knob on the male's beak.

Their diet consists mainly of submerged aquatic vegetation, which they reach with their long necks, and they also graze on land. They may consume small amounts of aquatic insects, fish, and frogs.

The mute swan is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a native population of about 500,000 birds. However, in some introduced regions, it is considered invasive and subject to population control measures.

11-8-2017 MILTENBERG, GERMANY - RED SLUG (ARION RUFUS)

The red slug (Arion rufus), also known as the large red slug, chocolate arion and European red slug, is a species of land slug in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs.

Slugs in the genus Arion have the pneumostome (respiratory pore) in the front part of the mantle and a round back without a keel. Arion rufus is one of the largest species in the genus, up to 150 mm extended. As an adult it lacks the lateral bands found in many smaller congeners, but in some forms the sides are paler than the back. The body colour is often reddish, sometimes vividly so, but orange, yellowish, brown and greyish forms are also usual, and some individuals may be black. The foot fringe is vertically striped and is often a different colour than the back. The head and tentacles are often darker than the rest of the body. The mucus is sticky and colourless or orange. Externally the species is not reliably distinguishable from several other species, including A. ater and A. vulgaris, and can be difficult to distinguish from less closely related species such as A. flagellus, especially in the Iberian Peninsula where further similar species exist.

11-8-2017 MILTENBERG, GERMANY - CHOCOLATE ARION SLUG (Arion rufus)

The Spanish slug (Arion vulgaris, but formerly widely referred to as Arion lusitanicus owing to a misidentification) is an air-breathing land slug, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Arionidae, the roundback slugs. Other vernacular names are Lusitanian slug, Iberian slug, and killer slug.

It is a large, conspicuous slug, which has spread across much of Europe since the 1950s and now reached North America. It may attain high densities and be a serious horticultural and agricultural pest, and is considered an invasive species. The life cycle is annual, with adults appearing in summer and dying off before winter.

The Spanish slug was identified as Arion lusitanicus when it was first reported as an invading species in France in 1956, and hence it is sometimes called the Lusitanian slug. This was a case of misidentification. In slugs, it is often impossible to find external characters that distinguish closely related species using external features, as colouration can be quite variable, and the rather plastic anatomy makes diagnostic anatomical features difficult to establish. The current consensus is that the true Arion lusitanicus is a species of the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. Examination of slugs from the Serra da Arrábida mountains in Portugal from where it was originally described by Jules François Mabille in 1868 showed that the true A. lusitanicus differed from the invader in its internal anatomy, the shape of the spermatophore and the number of chromosomes. Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

The native distribution of Arion vulgaris is not exactly known. Genetic evidence (the higher incidence of rare alleles) suggests an origin in France or Spain, contrary to earlier genetic analyses that did not adequately sample these regions. In Britain the slug was first recorded in 1954, which is not an indication of it being native there. It is presumed that the specimen illustrated in Moquin-Tandon's original 1855 description was from France.

11-8-2017 MILTENBERG, GERMANY - EURASIAN BLUE TIT (Cyanistes caeruleus)

The Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is a diminutive and vibrant passerine, a member of the tit family, Paridae. It is distinguished by its striking blue and yellow plumage and compact stature.

This species exhibits an azure-blue crown with a dark blue line passing through the eye and encircling the white cheeks to the chin. The forehead and a wing bar are white, while the nape, wings, and tail are blue. The back is yellowish-green, and the underparts are predominantly sulphur-yellow with a dark abdominal line. Both sexes are similar, but males may exhibit a brighter blue crown under ultraviolet light.

Eurasian blue tits are found in temperate and subarctic Europe and the western Palearctic, favoring deciduous or mixed woodlands rich in oak. They are adaptable and can thrive in tree holes or nest boxes in various environments, including urban areas.

The species is widespread and commonly breeds across Europe, extending into parts of the Middle East. It is a resident bird, with populations found from Ireland and the United Kingdom to Iran and northern Turkey.

Eurasian blue tits are known for their agility and acrobatic feeding habits, often hanging upside down on the outermost branches. They form mixed winter flocks with other tit species and are adept at ascending tree trunks in short hops.

11-8-2017 MILTENBERG, GERMANY - GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos major)

The great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, is a medium-sized bird with a striking pied plumage. Its upperparts are glossy blue-black with white on the sides of the face and neck. A distinctive red patch adorns the lower belly, and males, as well as juveniles, boast additional red markings on the neck or head.

Adults measure 20–24 cm in length with a wingspan of 34–39 cm. The underparts are predominantly white, contrasting with the scarlet lower belly and undertail. Males can be distinguished by a crimson patch on the nape, absent in females. Juveniles appear less glossy with a red crown, more pronounced in males.

This woodpecker inhabits various woodland types, including broadleaf, coniferous, and mixed forests, as well as parks, gardens, and olive groves. It can be found from sea level up to the tree line, adapting well to both natural and modified habitats.

The great spotted woodpecker is widespread across the Palearctic, from parts of North Africa to Japan. It is generally resident, but northern populations may migrate if food sources are scarce.

The species is known for its ability to chisel into trees in search of food and to excavate nest holes. It also drums on trees for communication and territorial advertisement. These birds possess anatomical adaptations to manage the physical stresses of hammering.

Its call is a sharp "kik," which can turn into a rattling "krrarraarr" when disturbed. The woodpecker's drumming, used for contact and territorial advertisement, is rapid and can be heard from a considerable distance.

Breeding involves excavation of holes in living or dead trees, with both parents sharing the duties of incubation, feeding the chicks, and nest sanitation. The typical clutch consists of four to six glossy white eggs, and fledglings are fed by the adults for about ten days post-fledging.

An omnivorous feeder, this woodpecker's diet includes seeds, insect larvae, eggs, and chicks of other birds. It is adept at extracting seeds from pine cones and insect larvae from within trees.

30-7-2017 CENTRAL PARK, BUDAPEST - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water, or stalking its prey through the shallows.

Standing up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lb). They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.

30-7-2017 CENTRAL PARK, BUDAPEST - WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia)

The White stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It eats a wide range of animal prey and takes most of its food from the ground. It does not pair for life but both members of the pair build a large stick nest, which may be used for several years. 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.

White storks are found across Europe, Asia Minor, the northern part of Africa, and the Middle East. By the winter months, they migrate into tropical regions of Africa, some parts of the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. White storks prefer to feed in grassy meadows, agricultural fields, pastures, steppes, savannas, and shallow wetlands avoiding areas overgrown with tall grass and shrubs. Breeding grounds include open grasslands, particularly grassy areas which are wet or periodically flooded, and less in areas with taller vegetation cover such as forest and shrubland.

White storks are long-legged wading birds. 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. 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. Upon hatching, the young White stork is partly covered with short, sparse, whitish down feathers. This early down is replaced about a week later with a denser coat of woolly white down. By three weeks, the young bird acquires black scapulars and flight feathers. On hatching the chick has pinkish legs, which turn to greyish-black as it ages. Its beak is black with a brownish tip. By the time it fledges, the juvenile bird's plumage is similar to that of the adult, though its black feathers are often tinged with brown, and its beak and legs are a duller brownish-red or orange. The beak is typically orange or red with a darker tip. The bills gain the adults' red colour the following summer, although the black tips persist in some individuals. Young storks adopt adult plumage by their second summer.

30-7-2017 CENTRAL PARK, BUDAPEST - CRIMSON BELLIED PARAKEET (Pyrrhura perlata)

The crimson-bellied parakeet (Pyrrhura perlata ), more commonly known as the crimson-bellied conure in aviculture, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae.

Pyrrhura perlata adults are partly green in colour. They have yellow/green cheeks, turning to blue on lower cheeks. The breast is brown with pale off-white and dark brown barring. Crimson-bellied parakeets have a blue collar around their hindnecks, varying with each bird. They have red bend of wing, lesser underwing coverts; blue thighs to tail coverts The tail is brown/red. Pyrrhura perlata has a brown/grey beak. Its eye ring are bare and white. Its eyes are dark brown. Crimson-bellied conures weigh about 85–94 g.

It is found in the south-central Amazon rainforest in Brazil and Bolivia. It remains locally fairly common, but is threatened by accelerating deforestation in its range and consequently considered to be vulnerable by the IUCN.

This species prefers dense vegetation from the secondary forests and forest margins. Their diet consists primarily of fruits of Trema micrantha, various palms, Cecropia, and flowers like Bertholletia excelsa.

Calls made in flight are shrill.

Both adults are partly green in colour; brown breast with pale off-white and dark brown barring; yellow/green cheeks, turning to blue on lower cheeks; blue collar around hindneck which varies with each bird; red bend of wing, lesser underwing coverts and abdomen; blue thighs to tail coverts; brown/red tail. Bill brown/grey. Eye ring bare and white. Eye dark brown.

Colour Juvenile is Green lower breast and abdomen. Bill horn in colour with pale grey at base.

9-8-2017 BAMBERG, GERMANY - CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)

The Canada goose (Branta canadensis) is a large wild goose species with a distinctive black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is well-known for its black head and neck with a white 'chinstrap' that distinguishes it from all other goose species, except for the cackling goose and barnacle goose.

Adult Canada geese feature a black head, neck, and bill with a contrasting white cheek and throat patch. Their bodies are largely brown with paler underparts. They have a long neck and a large body relative to other geese. The sexes are similar in appearance, but males are generally larger. Juveniles are duller and lack the white chinstrap.

Canada geese are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, and estuaries. They thrive in both wild and human-altered environments, often seen in urban parks, golf courses, and agricultural fields.

Native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, Canada geese have a wide distribution that includes much of Canada and the United States. They have also been introduced to parts of Europe, New Zealand, and other regions.

Canada geese are known for their migratory habits, although some populations have become non-migratory. They are social birds, often found in flocks, and exhibit strong territorial behavior. They are also known for their aggressive defense of nesting sites.

The male's call is a loud honk, while the female emits a shorter, higher-pitched hrink. Canada geese have a variety of vocalizations used for communication, including honks, hisses, and grunts.

Canada geese are monogamous and typically mate for life. They build their nests on the ground near water and the female lays 2-9 eggs. Both parents protect the nest, but the female spends more time incubating the eggs. Goslings are precocial and able to walk, swim, and feed shortly after hatching.

The cackling goose is very similar in appearance but is smaller with a shorter neck and smaller bill. The barnacle goose can be confused with the Canada goose but has a black breast and gray body plumage.

Primarily herbivorous, Canada geese feed on grasses, grains, and aquatic plants. They are known to graze on lawns and agricultural fields, and in water, they may upend to reach submerged vegetation.

The Canada goose is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. While some local populations may be declining, overall numbers are stable or increasing, and in some areas, they are considered pests due to their adaptability to human environments.

9-8-2017 BAMBERG, GERMANY - MUTE SWAN (Cygnus olor)

The mute swan, Cygnus olor, is a majestic bird, easily recognized by its all-white plumage and the distinctive orange beak bordered with black. The male, known as a cob, is noted for a prominent knob atop the beak, which is more pronounced than that of the female, or pen.

Adult mute swans measure between 125 to 160 cm in length, with a wingspan of 200 to 240 cm. The males are generally larger than females and possess a larger knob on their bill. The species is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males reaching weights up to 14.3 kg and females up to 10.6 kg. Juveniles, or cygnets, are not as bright white as adults and have a dull greyish-black bill for their first year.

Mute swans are found in a variety of wetland habitats, including lakes, ponds, rivers, and coastal areas, where they build large mounds of vegetation for nesting.

Native to Eurosiberia, the mute swan has been introduced to North America, Australasia, and southern Africa. It is partially migratory in northern latitudes, with some populations moving as far south as North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Mute swans are territorial and monogamous, often reusing the same nest each year. They are less vocal than other swan species but are known for their aggressive defense of their nests and offspring. They can be seen performing a threat display known as busking, with wings half raised and neck curved back.

While not as vocal, mute swans produce a range of sounds including grunting, hoarse whistling, and snorting. They also have a rhythmic song during courtship displays and a unique throbbing sound from their wings in flight.

Mute swans lay 4 to 10 eggs, with the female brooding for around 36 days. Cygnets typically fledge at around 120 to 150 days old.

The mute swan can be distinguished from other swan species by its orange beak with a black border and the pronounced knob on the male's beak.

Their diet consists mainly of submerged aquatic vegetation, which they reach with their long necks, and they also graze on land. They may consume small amounts of aquatic insects, fish, and frogs.

The mute swan is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a native population of about 500,000 birds. However, in some introduced regions, it is considered invasive and subject to population control measures.

8-8-2017 NUREMBERG, GERMANY - MALLARD HYBRID (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

The mallard (/ˈmælɑːrd, ˈmælərd/) or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. Belonging to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae, mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes.

Males (drakes) have green heads, while the females (hens) have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes have an area of white-bordered black or iridescent purple or blue feathers called a speculum on their wings; males especially tend to have blue speculum feathers. The mallard is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long, of which the body makes up around two-thirds the length. The wingspan is 81–98 cm (32–39 in) and the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in) long. It is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb).

The female lays 8 to 13 creamy white to greenish-buff spotless eggs, on alternate days. Incubation takes 27 to 28 days and fledging takes 50 to 60 days. The ducklings are precocial and fully capable of swimming as soon as they hatch.

The non-migratory mallard interbreeds with indigenous wild ducks of closely related species through genetic pollution by producing fertile offspring. Complete hybridisation of various species of wild duck gene pools could result in the extinction of many indigenous waterfowl. This species is the main ancestor of most breeds of domestic duck, and its naturally evolved wild gene pool has been genetically polluted by the domestic and feral mallard populations.

The mallard is considered to be a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and, unlike many waterfowl, are considered an invasive species in some regions. It is a very adaptable species, being able to live and even thrive in urban areas which may have supported more localised, sensitive species of waterfowl before development.