Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.          Little Owl song

The Little Owl (Athene noctua) is a bird which is resident in much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It is not native to Great Britain, but was first introduced in 1842, and is now naturalised there. It was also successfully introduced to the South Island of New Zealand in the early 20th century.

Little Owl, Steenuil, Steinkauz, Mocho-galego, Mochuelo Europeo

This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.

The Little Owl is a small owl, 23-27.5 cm in length. It takes prey such as insects, earthworms, amphibians, but also small birds and mammals. It is partly diurnal and often perches prominently during the day.

This is a sedentary species which is found in open country such as mixed farmland and parkland. It usually nests in holes in trees or rocks, laying 3-5 eggs which are incubated by the female for 28–29 days, with a further 26 days to fledging.

Little Owls will also nest in buildings, both abandoned and those fitted with custom owl nest boxes. If living in an area with a large amount of human activity, Little Owls may grow used to man and will remain on their perch, often in full view, while humans are around.

The adult Little Owl of the most widespread form, the nominate A. n. noctua, is white-speckled brown above, and brown-streaked white below. It has a large head, long legs, and yellow eyes, and its white “eyebrows” give it a stern expression. This species has a bounding flight like a woodpecker. Juveniles are duller, and lack the adult's white crown spots. The call is a querulous kee-ik.

 Other synonyms

Breton: Ar gaouenn bihan
Catalan: Mussol comú
Catalan (Balears): Miula
Valencian: Xot
Welsh: Tylluan fach
Danish: Kirkeugle
German: Steinkauz
Emiliano-romagnolo: Chiù
English: Little Owl
Esperanto: noktuo
Spanish: Mochuelo Europeo
Estonian: Kivikakk
Basque: Mozoloa
Finnish: minervanpöllö
French: Chevêche d'Athéna
Frisian: stienûltsje
Irish: Ulchabhán Beag
Gaelic: Comhachag Bheag
Galician: Moucho
Manx: Hullad veg
Hungarian: Kuvik
Icelandic: Kattugla
Italian: Civetta comune
Japanese: kokimmefukurou
Cornish: Corula
Latin: Athene noctua
Lithuanian: peledike
Latvian: majas apogs
Malay: Burung Hantu Kuang Kuit
Maltese: Kokka tat-Tikki
Dutch: Steenuil
Norwegian: Kirkeugle
Polish: pójdzka zwyczajna
Portuguese: Mocho-galego
Romansh: Tschuetta da la mort
Romanian: cucuveaua
Sardinian: Puzone de s’istria, Puzone de s'istria
Scots: Comhachag bheag
Northern Sami: Minervaskuolfi
Slovak: kuvik placlivý
Albanian: Kukuvajka
Swedish: Minervauggla
Turkmen: kukumav
Turkish: Kukumav

Spotted on Monte Horizonte today.                      Nightingale song

The Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It belongs to a group of more terrestrial species, often called chats.

Common Nigtingale, Nachtegaal, Nachtigall, Rouxinol-comum, Ruiseñor

It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in forest and scrub in Europe and south-west Asia, but is not found naturally in the Americas. The distribution is more southerly than the very closely related Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia. It nests on the ground within or next to dense bushes. It winters in southern Africa. At least in the Rhineland (Germany), the breeding habitat of nightingales agrees with a number of geographical parameters.

The nightingale is slightly larger than the European Robin, at 15–16.5 cm (5.9–6.5 in) length. It is plain brown above except for the reddish tail. It is buff to white below. Sexes are similar. The eastern subspecies L. m. hafizi and L. m. africana have paler upperparts and a stronger face-pattern, including a pale supercilium.

Nightingales are named so because they frequently sing at night as well as during the day. The name has been used for well over 1,000 years, being highly recognizable even in its Anglo-Saxon form – 'nihtingale'. It means 'night songstress'.

Early writers assumed the female sang when it is in fact the male. The song is loud, with an impressive range of whistles, trills and gurgles. Its song is particularly noticeable at night because few other birds are singing. This is why its name includes "night" in several languages.

Only unpaired males sing regularly at night, and nocturnal song is likely to serve attracting a mate. Singing at dawn, during the hour before sunrise, is assumed to be important in defending the bird's territory. Nightingales sing even more loudly in urban or near-urban environments, in order to overcome the background noise.

The most characteristic feature of the song is a loud whistling crescendo, absent from the song of Thrush Nightingale. It has a frog-like alarm call.

Asturian: Reiseñor
Breton: An eostig kuzh, eostig
Catalan: Rossinyol
Catalan (Balears): Rossinyol
Czech: slavík, Slavík obecný
Welsh: eos
Danish: nattergal, Sydlig nattergal
German: Nachtigall
English: Common Nightingale, European Nightingale, Nightingale, Rufous Nightingale
Esperanto: najtingalo, suda najtingalo
Spanish: Ruiseñor, Ruiseñor Comun, Ruiseñor Común
Basque: Rossinyol , urretxindor, Urretxindorra
Finnish: Etelänsatakieli, satakieli
French: rossignol, Rossignol philomèle
Frisian: geal
Irish: filiméala, reiseñor
Gaelic: Spideag
Galician: Rossinyol , Rousinol
Manx: spittag oie
Croatian: Slavuj
Hungarian: Fülemüle
Icelandic: Næturgali
Italian: Usignolo, Usignolo comune
Japanese: sayonakidori
Cornish: eos
Latin: Erithacus megarhynchos, Luscinia megarhynchos
Ladino: roscignol
Dutch: Nachtegaal
Norwegian: nattergal, Sørlig nattergal, Sørnattergal
Occitan: rossinhòl
Portuguese: rouxinol, Rouxinol-comum
Romansh: luschaina
Romanian: privighetoare
Romany: chirikli-ratiaki, chiriklo-ratiako
Russian: solovej
Sardinian: arrassanajolu, arrissiuolu, beranile, cirulicorda, conchiepara, conchinigheddu, filomena, passirillanti, pilloni de beranu, puzone de riu, rusinzolu, srubiarriu
Scots: spideag
Slovak: slávik, slávik krovinový, slávik obycajný
Slovenian: mali slavec, slavec
Albanian: bilbili
Swedish: näktergal, Sydnäktergal
Swahili: Kurumbiza wa Ulaya
Turkmen: bülbül
Turkish: Bülbül

Spotted on Monte Horizonte today.                      Golden Oriole song

The Golden Oriole or European (or Eurasian) Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions. It is a summer migrant in Europe and western Asia and spends the winter season in the tropics.

Golden Oriole, Wielewaal, Pirol, Papa-figos, Oropéndola Dorada Europea

Golden Oriole inhabit tall deciduous trees in woodland, orchards or parks and spend much of their time in tree canopies. They feed on insects and fruit. They build neat nests in tree forks and lay 3-6 eggs.

The male is striking in the typical oriole black and yellow plumage, but the female is a drabber green bird. Orioles are shy, and even the male is remarkably difficult to see in the dappled yellow and green leaves of the canopy.

In flight they look somewhat like a thrush, strong and direct with some shallow dips over longer distances.

Their call is a screech like a jay, but the song is a beautiful fluting weela-wee-ooo or or-iii-ole, unmistakable once heard. Listen to an oriole singing

The name "oriole" was first used in the 18th century and is an adaptation of the scientific Latin genus name, which is derived from the Classical Latin "aureolus" meaning golden. Various forms of "oriole" have existed in Roman languages since the 12th and 13th centuries. Albertus Magnus used the Latin form oriolus in about 1250 and erroneously stated that it was onomatopoeic because of the Golden Oriole's song.

The New World orioles are similar in appearance to the Oriolidae, but are icterids unrelated to the Old World birds. 

Afrikaans: Europese Wielewaal
Asturian: Cirombella, Filomena, Munchufríu
Breton: Ar glazaour
Catalan: Capsot menut, Oriol, Ouriolo
Catalan (Balears): Oriol
Valencian: Capsot menut
Czech: Žluva hajní
Welsh: Eurgeg, Euryn, Mwyalchen felen
Danish: Pirol
German: Europäischer Pirol, Pirol, Pirole
English: Eurasian Golden Oriole, Eurasian Golden-Oriole, European Golden Oriole, Golden Oriole
Esperanto: oriolo
Spanish: Oropendola, Oropéndola, Oropéndola Dorada Europea, Oropéndola Europea, Oropéndola Oriol, Pájaro moscón
Estonian: Peoleo
Basque: Ouriolo, Urretxori, Urretxoria
Finnish: Kuhankeittäjä
Faroese: Gyllingur
French: Loriot d'Europe, Loriot jaune
Frisian: Gielegou
Irish: Óiréal Órga, Órshóileach
Gaelic: Bhuidheag Eirpach
Galician: Ouriolo
Manx: Ushag airhey
Hindi: Manja kili
Croatian: Vuga, Zlatna vuga
Hungarian: Sárgarigó
Icelandic: Laufglói
Italian: Rigogolo, Rigogolo europeo
Japanese: Nishi Kourai uguisu, nishikouraiuguisu
Cornish: Owrek
Kwangali: Nkulivere
Latin: Oriolus oriolus
Maltese: Tajra Safra
Dutch: Wielewaal
Norwegian: Pirol
Polish: wilga, wilga (zwyczajna), Wilga zwyczajna
Portuguese: papa figos, Papa-figos, Papa-figos europeu, Papa-figos-europeu
Romansh: Pirol
Russian: Ivolga
Scots: Buidheag Eirpach
Slovak: vlha hájová, vlha obycajná , Vlha oby?ajná
Slovenian: kobilar
Albanian: Bengu
Serbian: vuga, vuga zlatna
Sotho, Southern: Sebabole-hetlantšo
Swedish: Sommargylling
Swahili: Kubwilu wa Ulaya, Mramba Mweupe
Tsonga: Ndukuzani

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.          Great reed Warbler song

The Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, is an Eurasiaan songbird in the genus Acrocephalus. It used to be placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, but nowadays is recognized to be part of the marsh- and tree-warbler family (Acrocephalidae).

Great reed Warbler, Grote Karekiet, Drosselrohrsänger, Rouxinol-grande-dos-caniços, Carrecerín Tordal

This is a large thrush-sized warbler, 16-20cm in length. The adult has an unstreaked brown upperparts and dull buffish-white chin and underparts. The forehead is flattened, and the bill is strong and pointed. It looks very much like a giant Eurasian Reed Warbler (A. scirpaceus), but with a stronger supercilium.

The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are richer buff below.

The song is very loud and far-carrying. Its main phrase is a chattering and creaking carr-carr-cree-cree-cree-jet-jet, to which the whistles and vocal mimicry typical of marsh-warblers are added.

A. arundinaceus breeds in Europe and westernmost temperate Asia. It does not breed in Great Britain, but is a regular visitor. Its population has in recent decades increased around the eastern Baltic, while it has become rarer at the western end of its range. It is migratory, wintering in tropical Africa. This bird migrates north at a rather late date, with some birds still in winter quarters at the end of April.

While no subspecies are diagnosable in this bird, mtDNA haplotype data indicates that during the last glacial period there were two allopatric populations of this species. The Great Reed Warblers in southwestern and southeastern Europe were at that time apparently separated by the Vistulian-Würm ice sheets and the barren land around these. Though the data is insufficient to robustly infer a date for this separation, it suggests the populations became separated around 80,000 years ago – coincident with the first major advance of the ice sheets. The populations must have expanded their range again at the start of the Holocene about 13,000 years ago, but even today the western birds winter in the west and the eastern birds in the east of tropical Africa.

This passerine bird is a species found in large reed beds, often with some bushes. On their breeding grounds, they are territorial. In their winter quarters, they are frequently found in large groups, and may occupy a reed bed to the exclusion of almost all other birds. Like most warblers, it is insectivorous, but it will take other prey items of sufficiently small size, even including vertebrates such as tadpoles.

3-6 eggs are laid in a basket nest in reeds. Some pairs are monogamous, but others are not, and unpaired males without territory usually father some young also.

The Great Reed Warbler apparently undergoes marked long-term population fluctuations. Able to expand its range again quickly when new habitat becomes available, this common and widespread bird is considered a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Grootrietsanger
Asturian: Carricera Rial
Breton: Ar rouzard bras
Catalan: Balquer, Buscarla grossa, Xitxarra dels matolls
Catalan (Balears): Buscarla grossa
Valencian: Xitxarra dels matolls
Czech: Rákosník velký
Welsh: Telor mawr y cyrs, Telor wawr y cyrs
Danish: Drosselrørsanger
German: Drossel-Feldrohrsänger-arundinaceus, Drosselrohrsaenger, Drosselrohrsänger
English: European Great Reed-Warbler, Great reed warbler, Great Reed-Warbler
Esperanto: turdkanbirdo
Spanish: Carricerín Tordal, Carricero Tordal
Estonian: Rästas-roolind
Basque: Balquer , Lezkari karratxin, Lezkari karratxina
Finnish: Rastaskerttunen
Faroese: Trastljómari
French: Rousserolle turdoïde
Irish: Mórcheolaire Giolcaí
Galician: Balquer , Folosa grande
Croatian: Trstenjak droš?i?, Veliki Trstenjak
Hungarian: Nádirigó
Indonesian: Kerak basi ramai
Icelandic: Reyrsöngvari
Italian: Cannareccione, Cannareccione eurasiatico
Japanese: nishi ou yoshi-kiri, Nishiooyoshikiri, ooyoshikiri, Ou-yoshikiri
Kwangali: Niini
Latin: Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Acrocephalus arundinaceus arundinaceus
Limburgish: Blyths reetzenger
Lithuanian: Didžioji krakšl?
Dutch: Grote Karekiet
Norwegian: Trostesanger
Polish: Trzciniak, Trzciniak zwyczajny
Portuguese: rouxinol grande dos caniços, Rouxinol-grande-dos-caniços
Romansh: Channarel grond
Slovenian: rakar
Shona: Timba
Albanian: Bilbilthi fushor i kallamave
Sotho, Southern: Soamahlaka-kholo
Swedish: Trastsångare
Swahili: Shoro Mkuu

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

Spoonbills are a group of large, long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the Ibises.

Spoonbill, Lepelaar, Löffler, Colhereiro, Espátula Común

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia in India."Spoonbill" could also mean Northern Shoveler or Paddlefish.
All have large, flat, spatulate bills and feed by wading through shallow water, sweeping the partly-opened bill from side to side. The moment any small aquatic creature touches the inside of the bill—an insect, crustacean, or tiny fish—it is snapped shut. Spoonbills generally prefer fresh water to salt but are found in both environments. They need to feed many hours each day.

Spoonbills are monogamous, but, so far as is known, only for one season at a time. Most species nest in trees or reed-beds, often with ibises or herons. The male gathers nesting material—mostly sticks and reeds, sometimes taken from an old nest—the female weaves it into a large, shallow bowl or platform which varies in its shape and structural integrity according to species.

The female lays a clutch of about 3 smooth, oval, white eggs and both parents incubate; chicks hatch one at a time rather than all together. The newly-hatched young are blind and cannot care for themselves immediately; both parents feed them by partial regurgitation. Chicks' bills are short and straight, and only gain the characteristic spoonbill shape as they mature. Their feeding continues for a few weeks longer after the family leaves the nest. The primary cause of brood failure appears not to be predation but starvation.

 Other synonyms

Asturian: Paletón
Breton: Ar spanell gwenn
Catalan: Bec planer, Bec-pla, Becplaner, Bec-planer
Catalan (Balears): Bec planer
Valencian: Bec-pla
Czech: Kolpík bílý
Welsh: Llwybig
Danish: Skestork
German: Löffler
Emiliano-romagnolo: Spatula
English: Common Spoonbill, Eurasian Spoonbill, European Spoonbill, Spoonbill, White Spoonbill
Esperanto: Plataleo
Spanish: Espátula, Espátula Común, Espátula de Eurasia
Estonian: Luitsnokk-iibis
Basque: Becplaner, Mokozabal zuri, Mokozabala
Finnish: Kapustahaikara
Faroese: Spónnev
French: Spatule blanche, Spatule d'Europe
Frisian: Leppelbek
Irish: Corr leathadach, Corr Leitheadach, Leitheadach
Gaelic: Gob Cathainn
Galician: Becplaner, Cullereiro
Manx: Gob lhean
Hungarian: Kanalasgém
Icelandic: Flatnefur
Italian: Spatola, Spatola bianca, Spatola eurasiatica
Japanese: herasagi, Hera-sagi, Toki
Cornish: Gelvyn lo
Latin: Platalea leucorodia
Maori: Kotuku-ngutupapa
Maltese: Paletta
Dutch: Lepelaar
Norwegian: Skjestork
Polish: warzecha, Warz?cha, Warz?cha zwyczajna
Portuguese: Colhereiro, colhereiro-europeu
Portuguese (Brazil): Colhereiro-europeu
Romansh: Ibis dal bec plat
Russian: KolpitsaScots: Gob cathainn
Albanian: Çapka sqeplugë
Serbian: bijeli kašikar, Caplja kašikara
Swedish: Skedstork
Vietnamese: Cò thìa Châu âu

Spotted on our property Monte Horizonte in the Alentejo region of Portugal today.          Barn Swallow song

The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world. A distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts, a long, deeply forked tail and curved, pointed wings, it is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. In Anglophone Europe it is just called the Swallow; in Northern Europe it is the only common species called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

Barn Swallow, Boerenzwaluw, Rauchschwalbe, Adorinha-das-chaminés, Golondrina Común

There are six subspecies of Barn Swallow, which breed across the Northern Hemisphere. Four are strongly migratory, and their wintering grounds cover much of the Southern Hemisphere as far south as central Argentina, the Cape Province of South Africa, and northern Australia. Its huge range means that the Barn Swallow is not endangered, although there may be local population declines due to specific threats, such as the construction of an international airport near Durban.

The Barn Swallow is a bird of open country which normally uses man-made structures to breed and consequently has spread with human expansion. It builds a cup nest from mud pellets in barns or similar structures and feeds on insects caught in flight. This species lives in close association with humans, and its insect-eating habits mean that it is tolerated by man; this acceptance was reinforced in the past by superstitions regarding the bird and its nest. There are frequent cultural references to the Barn Swallow in literary and religious works due to both its living in close proximity to humans and its conspicuous annual migration. The Barn Swallow is the national bird of Estonia.

The adult male Barn Swallow of the nominate subspecies H. r. rustica is 17–19 cm (6.7–7.5 in) long including 2–7 cm (0.8–2.8 in) of elongated outer tail feathers. It has a wingspan of 32–34.5 cm (12.6–13.6 in) and weighs 16–22 g (0.56–0.78 oz). It has steel blue upperparts and a rufous forehead, chin and throat, which are separated from the off-white underparts by a broad dark blue breast band. The outer tail feathers are elongated, giving the distinctive deeply forked "swallow tail." There is a line of white spots across the outer end of the upper tail.

The female is similar in appearance to the male, but the tail streamers are shorter, the blue of the upperparts and breast band is less glossy, and the underparts more pale. The juvenile is browner and has a paler rufous face and whiter underparts. It also lacks the long tail streamers of the adult.

The song of the Barn Swallow is a cheerful warble, often ending with su-seer with the second note higher than the first but falling in pitch. Calls include witt or witt-witt and a loud splee-plink when excited. The alarm calls include a sharp siflitt for predators like cats and a flitt-flitt for birds of prey like the Hobby. This species is fairly quiet on the wintering grounds.

The distinctive combination of a red face and blue breast band render the adult Barn Swallow easy to distinguish from the African Hirundo species and from the Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) with which its range overlaps in Australasia. In Africa the short tail streamers of the juvenile Barn Swallow invite confusion with juvenile Red-chested Swallow (Hirundo lucida), but the latter has a narrower breast band and more white in the tail.

The preferred habitat of the Barn Swallow is open country with low vegetation, such as pasture, meadows and farmland, preferably with nearby water. This swallow avoids heavily wooded or precipitous areas and densely built-up locations. The presence of accessible open structures such as barns, stables, or culverts to provide nesting sites, and exposed locations such as wires, roof ridges or bare branches for perching, are also important in the bird's selection of its breeding range.

The Barn Swallow is similar in its habits to other aerial insectivores, including other swallow species and the unrelated swifts. It is not a particularly fast flier, with a speed estimated at about 11 m/s, up to 20 m/s and a wing beat rate of approximately 5, up to 7–9 times each second, but it has the manoeuvrability necessary to feed on flying insects while airborne. It is often seen flying relatively low in open or semi-open areas.

The Barn Swallow typically feeds 7–8 metres (23–26 ft) above shallow water or the ground, often following animals, humans or farm machinery to catch disturbed insects, but it will occasionally pick prey items from the water surface, walls and plants. In the breeding areas, large flies make up around 70% of the diet, with aphids also a significant component. However, in Europe, the Barn Swallow consumes fewer aphids than the House or Sand Martins. On the wintering grounds, Hymenoptera, especially flying ants, are important food items. When egg-laying, Barn Swallows hunt in pairs, but will form often large flocks otherwise.

The Barn Swallow drinks by skimming low over lakes or rivers and scooping up water with its open mouth. This bird bathes in a similar fashion, dipping into the water for an instant while in flight.

Swallows gather in communal roosts after breeding, sometimes thousands strong. Reed beds are regularly favoured, with the birds swirling en masse before swooping low over the reeds. Reed beds are an important source of food prior to and whilst on migration; although the Barn Swallow is a diurnal migrant which can feed on the wing whilst it travels low over ground or water, the reed beds enable fat deposits to be established or replenished.

The male Barn Swallow returns to the breeding grounds before the females and selects a nest site, which is then advertised to females with a circling flight and song. The breeding success of the male is related to the length of the tail streamers, with longer streamers being more attractive to the female. Males with longer tail feathers are generally longer-lived and more disease resistant, females thus gaining an indirect fitness benefit from this form of selection, since longer tail feathers indicate a genetically stronger individual which will produce offspring with enhanced vitality. Males in northern Europe have longer tails than those further south; whereas in Spain the male's tail streamers are only 5% longer than the female's, in Finland the difference is 20%. In Denmark, the average male tail length increased by 9% between 1984 and 2004, but it is possible that climatic changes may lead in the future to shorter tails if summers become hot and dry.

Males with long streamers also have larger white tail spots, and since feather-eating bird lice prefer white feathers, large white tail spots without parasite damage again demonstrate breeding quality; there is a positive association between spot size and the number of offspring produced each season.

Both sexes defend the nest, but the male is particularly aggressive and territorial. Once established, pairs stay together to breed for life, but extra-pair copulation is common, making this species genetically polygamous, despite being socially monogamous. Males guard females actively to avoid being cuckolded. Males may use deceptive alarm calls to disrupt extrapair copulation attempts toward their mates.

As its name implies, the Barn Swallow typically nests inside accessible buildings such as barns and stables, or under bridges and wharves. The neat cup-shaped nest is placed on a beam or against a suitable vertical projection. It is constructed by both sexes, although more often by the female, with mud pellets collected in their beaks and lined with grasses, feathers, algae or other soft materials. Barn Swallows may nest colonially where sufficient high-quality nest sites are available, and within a colony, each pair defends a territory around the nest which, for the European subspecies, is four to eight square metres (45 to 90 square feet) in size.

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Europese Swael, Swaeltjie
Asturian: Andarina
Breton: Ar simenelig, Gwennili, gwennili-siminal, Gwennol, Wennilienn
Catalan: oreneta, Oreneta vulgar, Oronella, Oroneta vulgar, Parpallò
Catalan (Balears): Oronella
Valencian: Parpallò
Czech: vlaštovka, Vlaštovka obecná
Welsh: Gwenfol, gwennol
Danish: Landsvale, svale
German: Rauchschwalbe, Rauschschwalbe, Schwalbe
Emiliano-romagnolo: Rundanena
English: Barn Swallow, Common swallow, Eurasian Swallow, European chimney Swallow, European Swallow, House Swallow, Rustic Swallow, Swallow
Esperanto: hirundo, kamphirundo
Spanish: golondrina, Golondrina bermeja, Golondrina Cola de Tijera, Golondrina Comun, Golondrina Común, Golondrina de Horquilla, Golondrina del Norte, Golondrina Ranchera, Golondrina Riberena, Golondrina ribereña, Golondrina Tijereta, Golondrina tijerita, Golondrina zapadora, Golondrna tijereta rojiza
Spanish (Argentine): Golondrina tijerita, Golondrina zapadora
Spanish (Bolivia): Golondrina zapadora
Spanish (Colombia): Golondrina Tijereta
Spanish (Costa Rica): Golondrina ribereña, Golondrina tijereta
Spanish (Cuba): Golondrina Cola de Tijera
Spanish (Dominican Rep.): Golondrina Cola de Tijera, Golondrina del Norte
Spanish (Honduras): Golondrna tijereta rojiza
Spanish (Mexico): Golondrina Ranchera, Golondrina Riberena, golondrina tijereta
Spanish (Nicaragua): Golondrina Común
Spanish (Paraguay): Golondrina tijereta, Golondrina tijerita
Spanish (Uruguay): Golondrina Tijereta
Estonian: Suitsupääsuke
Basque: enara, Enara arrunt, Enara arrunta, Oreneta vulgar
Finnish: Haarapääsky, pääskynen
Faroese: svala
French: hirondelle, Hirondelle de cheminée, Hirondelle des granges, Hirondelle rustique
Friulian: cisile, sisile
Frisian: Boeresweal, boereswel, swel
Irish: andoriña, fáinleog
Guadeloupean Creole French: Hirondelle
Gaelic: Gobhlan-Gaoithe
Galician: Andoriña, Oreneta vulgar
Guarani: Mbyju'i jetapa
Manx: gollan geayee
Haitian Creole French: Irondèl Ke Long
Croatian: Lastavica, Lastavica poku?arka
Hungarian: Füsti fecske, Füstifecske
Indonesian: [Layang-layang Asia], Layang-layang api, Layanglayang Asia, Layang-layang Asia
Icelandic: Landsvala, svala
Italian: Rondine, Rondine comune
Inuktitut: Tulugarnaq
Japanese: tsubame
Greenlandic: Tulugarnaq
Cornish: gwennel, Gwennol
Kwangali: Sisampamema
Latin: Chelidon erythrogastra, Hirundo erythrogaster, Hirundo rustica, Hirundo rustica rustica
Ladino: rondola
Malay: Burung Layang-layang, Layang-Layang Hijrah
Dutch: Boeren Zwaluw, Boerenzwaluw, zwaluw
Norwegian: Ladesvale, Låvesvale, Saksesvale, Sulu, svale
Occitan: ironda
Polish: Brzegówka
Portuguese: andorinha, andorinha das chaminés, Andorinha-da-chamine, andorinha-da-chaminé, Andorinha-das-chamin, Andorinha-das-chaminés, Andorinha-de-bando, andorinha-de-pescoço-vermelho, Andorinha-do-barranco
Portuguese (Brazil): andorinha-da-chaminé, Andorinha-de-bando, andorinha-de-pescoço-vermelho, Andorinha-do-barranco
Romansh: randulina, Randulina stgira
Romany: pitsagoy rindilashka
Russian: Derevenskaya Lastochka
Sardinian: arrùndine, mongixedda, pilloni de santa luxia, puzone de santa lughia
Scots: aileag, Gobhlan gaoithe
Northern Sami: láhtospálfu, spálfu, suorrespálfu
Slovak: lastovicka
Slovenian: kmecka lastovka, kme?ka lastovka, lastovka
Shona: Nyenganyenga
Albanian: Dallëndyshe, Dallëndyshe bishtgërshërë, dallëndyshja
Serbian: lasta, seoska lasta
Siswant: Inkonjane
Sotho, Southern: Lefokotsane
Swedish: Ladusvala, svala
Swahili: Mbayuwayu wa Ulaya
Tswana: Pêolwane
Tsonga: Nyengha
Sorbian, Lower: jaskolicka
Xhosa: Inkonjane
Zulu: iNkonjane

Spotted on our property Monte Horizonte in the Alentejo region of Portugal today.            Hoopoe song

The Hoopoe (pronounced /?hu?pu?/), Upupa epops, is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive 'crown' of feathers. It is the only extant species in the family Upupidae. One insular species, the Giant Hoopoe of Saint Helena, is extinct, and the Madagascar subspecies of the Hoopoe is sometimes elevated to a full species.

Hoopoe, Hop, Weidehopf, Poupa, Abubilla

The Hoopoe is widespread in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Most European and north Asian birds migrate to the tropics in winter. In contrast the African populations are sedentary year-round. The species has been a vagrant in Alaska; U. e. saturata was recorded as being seen there in 1975 in the Yukon Delta. Hoopoes have been known to breed north of their European range, and in southern England during warm, dry summers that provide plenty of grasshoppers and similar insects, although as of the early 1980s northern European populations were reported to be in the decline possibly due to changes in climate.

The Hoopoe has two basic requirements in its habitat; bare or lightly vegetated ground on which to forage and vertical surfaces with cavities (such as trees, cliffs or even walls, nestboxes, haystacks, and abandoned burrows) in which to nest. These requirements can be provided in a wide range of ecosystems and as a consequence they inhabit a wide range of habitats from heathland, wooded steppes, savannas and grasslands, as well as glades inside forests. The Madagascar subspecies also makes use of more dense primary forest. The modification of natural habitats by humans for various agricultural purposes has led to them becoming common in olive groves, orchards, vineyards, parkland and farmland, although they are less common and declining in intensively farmed areas. Hunting is of concern in southern Europe and Asia.

The muscles of the head allow the Hoopoe's bill to be opened when it is inserted into the ground. The Hoopoe is a medium sized bird, 25–32 cm (9.8-12.6 in) long, with a 44–48 cm (17.3–19 in) wingspan weighing 46-89 g (1.6-3.1 oz). The species is highly distinctive, with a long, thin tapering bill that is black with a fawn base. The strengthened musculature of the head allows the bill to be opened when probing inside the soil. The hoopoe has broad and rounded wings capable of strong flight; these are larger in the northern migratory subspecies. The Hoopoe has a characteristic undulating flight, which is like that of a giant butterfly, caused by the wings half closing at the end of each beat or short sequence of beats.

The song is a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop", which gives rise to its English and scientific names.

In what was long thought to be a defensive posture, Hoopoes sunbathe by spreading out their wings and tail low against the ground and tilting their head up; they often fold their wings and preen halfway through. The Hoopoe also enjoys taking dust and sand baths.

The diet of the Hoopoe is mostly composed of insects, although small reptiles and frogs as well as some plant matter such as seeds and berries are sometimes taken as well. It is a solitary forager which typically feeds on the ground. More rarely they will feed in the air, in pursuit of numerous swarming insects, where their strong and rounded wings make them fast and manoeuvrable. More commonly their foraging style is to stride on relatively open ground and periodically pause to probe the ground with the full length of their bill. Insect larvae, pupae and mole crickets are detected by the bill and either extracted or dug out with the strong feet. In addition to feeding in soil Hoopoes will feed on insects on the surface, as well as probing into piles of leaves and even using the bill to lever large stones and flake off bark. Common diet items include crickets, locusts, beetles, earwigs, cicadas, ant lions, bugs and ants. These can range from 10 to 150 mm in length, with the preferred size of prey being around 20–30 mm. Larger prey items are beaten against the ground or a preferred stone in order to kill them and remove indigestible body parts such as wings and legs.

The Hoopoe is monogamous, although the pair bond apparently only lasts for a single season. They are also territorial, with the male calling frequently to advertise his ownership of the territory. Chases and fights between rival males (and sometimes females) are common and can be brutal.] Birds will try to stab rivals with their bills, and individuals are occasionally blinded in fights. The nest is in a hole in a tree or wall, with a narrow entrance; it may be unlined or various scraps may be collected. The female alone is responsible for incubating the eggs. Clutch size varies with location, with northern hemisphere birds laying more eggs than those in the southern hemisphere and birds in higher latitudes having larger clutches than those closer to the equator. In central and northern Europe and Asia the clutch size is around 12, whereas it is between four in the tropics and seven in the subtropics. The eggs are round and milky blue on laying but quickly discolour in the increasingly dirty nest. They weigh 4.5 grams. A replacement clutch is possible.

The Hoopoes have well-developed anti-predators defences in the nest. The uropygial gland of the incubating and brooding female is quickly modified to produce a foul-smelling liquid, and the glands of nestlings do so as well. These secretions are rubbed into the plumage. The secretion, which smells like rotting meat, is thought to help deter predators, as well as deter parasites and possibly act as an antibacterial agent. The secretions stop soon before the young leave the nest. In addition to this secretion nestlings are able to direct streams of faeces at nest intruders from the age of six days, and will also hiss at intruders in a snake like fashion. The young also strike with their bill or with one wing.

The incubation period for the species is between 15 and 18 days. During incubation the female is fed by the male. The incubation period begins as soon as the first egg is laid, so the chicks are born asynchronously. The chicks hatch with a covering of downy feathers, by around day days feather quills emerge which become adult feathers. The chicks are brooded by the female for between 9 to 14 days. The female later joins the male in the task of bringing food. The young fledge in 26 to 29 days and remain with the parents for about a week.

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Hoephoep
Asturian: Pupa
Azerbaijani: Adi hop-hop, ?anapipik
Breton: Ar c'hogenan-houper, Chup, Hup, Huper, Kof an hañv, Kofig an hañv, Kogenan, Kogennan, Toupenn
Catalan: Puput
Catalan (Balears): Puput
Czech: Dudek chocholatý
Welsh: Copog, Goppog
Danish: Hærfugl
German: Wiedehopf, Wiedehopf-epops
English: Common Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Hoopoe, Hoopoe
Esperanto: upupo
Spanish: Abubilla
Estonian: Toonetutt, Vaenukägu, Vaenukägu, toonetutt
Basque: Argi-oilar, Puput
Finnish: Harjalintu
Faroese: Herfuglur
French: Huppe fasciée
Irish: Húpú
Gaelic: Calman Cathaidh
Galician: Puput
Manx: Ushag ny thorran
Hindi: Chaval kuruvi
Croatian: Pupavac, Pupavac božijak
Hungarian: Búbos banka, Búbosbanka
Indonesian: Hupo Tunggal
Icelandic: Herfugl
Italian: Upupa, Upupa eurasiatica
Japanese: Yatsugashira, Yatsu-gashira
Cornish: Hoopoo
Latin: Upupa epops, Upupa epops epops
Lithuanian: Dudutis, Kukutis, Luputis, Tutlys, Tututis, Uputis
Latvian: Bada dzeguze, Pupu?is, Puputs
Malagasy: Barao
Maltese: Daqquqa tat-Toppu
Dutch: Hop
Norwegian: Hærfugl
Polish: dudek, dudek (zwyczajny), Dudek zwyczajny, Kraska
Portuguese: Boubela, Poupa
Romansh: cot da matg
Sardinian: Opu opu, Pubusa
Scots: Calman cathaidh
Slovak: dudok chochlatý, Dudok oby?ajný
Slovenian: smrdokavra
Albanian: Pupë
Serbian: pupavac, pupavac (balin kokot)
Swedish: Härfågel
Swahili: Hudihudi wa Ulaya

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.         Red-crested Pochard song

The Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) is a large diving duck.

Their breeding habitat is lowland marshes and lakes in southern Europe and southern and central Asia. They are somewhat migratory, and northern birds winter further south and into north Africa.

Red-crested Pochard, Krooneend, Kolbenente, Pato-de-bico-vermelho, Pato Colorado

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.

These are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks, such as other pochards. They feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants, and typically upend for food more than most diving ducks.

Red-crested pochards build a nest by the lakeside among vegetation and lay 8-12 pale green eggs. The birds' status in the British Isles is much confused due to the fact that there have been many escapes and deliberate releases over the years, as well as natural visitors from the continent. However, it is most likely that they are escapees that are now breeding wild and have built up a successful feral population. They are most numerous around areas of England including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. Wild birds occasionally turn up at places such as Abberton Reservoir, Essex.

The Red-crested Pochard is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

 Other synonyms

Asturian: Coríu Roxu
Catalan: Becvermell, Sivert, Xibec
Catalan (Balears): Becvermell
Valencian: Sivert
Welsh: Hwyaden bengoch, Hwyaden gribgoch
Danish: Rødhovedet and
German: Kolbenente
English: Red crested duck, Red-crested Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Rufous-crested Duck
Spanish: Pato Colorado, Zambullidor de cresta roja
Estonian: Punanokk-vart
Basque: Ahate gorrizta, Xibec
Finnish: Punapäänarsku
French: Brante roussâtre, Nette rousse
Frisian: Readkopein
Irish: Póiseard Cíordhearg
Galician: Pato rubio, Xibec
Croatian: Patka Gogoljica
Hungarian: Üstökös réce, Üstökösréce
Icelandic: Kólfönd
Italian: Fistione turco, Germano turco
Japanese: Aka-hashi ha-jiro, akahashihajiro, Akahashi-hajiro
Latin: Netta rufina, Rhodonessa rufina
Maltese: Brajmla tat-Toppu A?mar
Dutch: Krooneend
Norwegian: Rødhodeand
Portuguese: pato de bico vermelho, Pato-de-bico-vermelho
Romansh: Anda cotschna
Slovak: Hrdzavka potápavá
Slovenian: tatarska žvižgavka
Albanian: Murrcaku
Serbian: plovka prevez, Pochard Preveza,
Swedish: Rödhuvad dykand

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.           Great Cormorant song 

The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), known as the Great Black Cormorant across the Northern Hemisphere, the Black Cormorant in Australia and the Black Shag further south in New Zealand, is a widespread member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in much of the Old World and the Atlantic coast of North America.

Great Cormorant, Aalscholver, Kormoran, Corvo-marinho-de-faces-brancas, Cormorán Grande

The Great Cormorant is a large black bird, but there is a wide variation in size in the species wide range. Weight is reported from 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)[1] to 5.3 kg (11.7 lbs)[2], with a typical range from 2.6 to 3.7 kg (5.7-8.2 lbs).[3]. Length can vary from 70 to 102 cm (28–40 in) and wingspan from 121 to 160 cm (48–63 in). It has a longish tail and yellow throat-patch. Adults have white thigh patches in the breeding season. In European waters it can be distinguished from the Common Shag by its larger size, heavier build, thicker bill, lack of a crest and plumage without any green tinge.

This is a very common and widespread bird species. It feeds on the sea, in estuaries, and on freshwater lakes and rivers. Northern birds migrate south and winter along any coast that is well-supplied with fish.

The type subspecies, P. c. carbo, is found mainly in Atlantic waters and nearby inland areas: on western European coasts and south to North Africa, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland; and on the eastern seaboard of North America, though in America it breeds only in the north of its range, in the Canadian maritime provinces.
The subspecies found in Australasian waters, P. carbo novaehollandiae, has a crest. In New Zealand it is known as the Black Shag or by its M?ori name; Kawau

The Great Cormorant breeds mainly on coasts, nesting on cliffs or in trees (which are eventually killed by the droppings), but also increasingly inland. 3-4 eggs are laid in a nest of seaweed or twigs.

The Great Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but often feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. A wide variety of fish are taken: cormorants are often noticed eating eels, but this may reflect the considerable time taken to subdue an eel and position it for swallowing, rather than any dominance of eels in the diet. In British waters, dive times of 20–30 seconds are common, with a recovery time on the surface around a third of the dive time.

The Great Cormorant is one of the few birds which can move its eyes, which assists in hunting.

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Witborsduiker
Asturian: Pucagón
Azerbaijani: Böyük qarabatdaq, Qarabatdaq
Breton: Ar vorvran bras, Morvaout, Morvran
Catalan: Corb marí gros, Corba marina grossa
Catalan (Balears): Corb marí gros
Valencian: Corba marina grossa
Czech: Kormorán velký
Welsh: Bilidowcar, Llanciau Llandudno, Morfran, Mulfran, Wil wal waliog
Danish: Skarv
German: Kormoran, Kormoran-carbo
English: Common Cormorant, Cormorant, Great cormorant, North Atlantic Great Cormorant
Esperanto: Granda kormorano
Spanish: Cormoran Grande, Cormorán grande
Estonian: karbas, Kormoran, kormoran (karbas)
Basque: Corb marí gros, Ubarroi handi
Finnish: Merimetso
Faroese: Hiplingur
French: Grand Cormoran
Frisian: Ielguos
Irish: Amplóir, Broigheall
Gaelic: Sgarbh
Galician: Corb marí gros, Corvo mariño grande
Manx: Arragh Vooar, Fannag Varrey, Feeagh Varrey, Scarroo, Shag
Croatian: Veliki Vranac
Hungarian: Kárókatona
Indonesian: Pecukpadi Besar
Icelandic: Dílaskarfur
Italian: Cormorano, Marangone
Japanese: kawau, Kawa-u
Greenlandic: Oqaatsoq
Cornish: Morvran
Latin: Phalacrocorax carbo, Phalacrocorax carbo carbo
Lithuanian: Didysis kormoranas
Maori: kawau
Malay: Dendang Air
Maltese: Margun
Dutch: Aalscholver
Norwegian: Kvitlåring, Storskarv
Polish: kormoran, kormoran (zwyczajny), Kormoran czarny, Kormoran zwyczajny
Portuguese: corvo marinho faces brancas, Corvo-marinho-de-faces-brancas, Corvo-marinho-faces-brancas
Romansh: cormoran, Cormoran grond
Scots: Sgarbh
Northern Sami: Skárfa
Slovenian: veliki kormoran
Albanian: Karabullaku i detit
Swedish: Storskarv
Turkish: Karabatak 

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small white heron. It is the Old World counterpart to the very similar New World Snowy Egret.

Little Egret, Kleine Zilverreiger, Seidenreiher, Garça-branca-pequena, Garceta Común

There are at least two subspecies of Little Egret. The nominate subspecies E. g. garzetta occurs in Europe, Africa and Asia. E. g. nigripes breeds in Indonesia and Australasia. Those in Australia are sometimes thought to represent a third subspecies E. g. immaculata.

Several other egret taxa have at times been classified as subspecies of the Little Egret in the past but are now regarded as separate species. The Western Reef-Egret, Egretta gularis occurs on the coastline of West Africa (race gularis) and from the Red Sea to India (race schistacea). The Dimorphic Egret, Egretta (garzetta/gularis) dimorpha is found in East Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros and the Aldabra Islands.

The adult Little Egret is 55–65 cm long with an 88–106 cm wingspan. It weighs 350–550 grams. Its plumage is all white. It has long black legs with yellow feet and a slim black bill. In the breeding season, the adult has two long nape plumes and gauzy plumes on the back and breast. The bare skin between the bill and eyes becomes red or blue. Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults but have duller legs and feet. The subspecies garzetta has yellow feet and a bare patch of grey-green skin between the bill and eyes, whereas nigripes has yellow skin between the bill and eye and blackish feet.

Little Egrets are mostly silent but make various croaking and bubbling calls at their breeding colonies and produce a harsh alarm call when disturbed.

Its original breeding distribution was large inland wetlands and coastal wetlands in warm temperate parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Taiwan, and Australia.

In warmer locations, most birds are permanent residents; northern populations, including many European birds, migrate to Africa and southern Asia. They may also wander north after the breeding season, which presumably has led to this egret's range expansion.

The Little Egret has now started to colonize the New World. The first record there was on Barbados in April 1954. It began breeding on the island in 1994. Birds are seen with increasing regularity and have occurred from Suriname and Brazil in the south to Newfoundland and Quebec in the north. Birds on the east coast of North America are thought to have moved north with Snowy Egrets from the Caribbean.

Until the 1950s, the Little Egret was restricted to southern Europe. Over the next few decades it became increasingly common in western France and later on the north coast. It bred in the Netherlands in 1979 with further breeding in the 1990s.

In Great Britain it was rare until the late twentieth century and almost certainly did not breed. In contrast, it has for just over a decade now become a regular breeding species and is commonly sighted, often in large numbers at favoured coastal sites. The first breeding record is generally accepted as having been on Brownsea Island in Dorset in 1996, although it has been claimed that the species bred in Sussex in the 1970s. There are now several colonies across southern England and the species bred in Wales for the first time in 2002.

In Ireland the species bred for the first time in 1997 at a site in County Cork.

The Little Egret nests in colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs or in a reedbed or bamboo grove. In some locations such as the Cape Verde Islands, the species nests on cliffs. Pairs defend a small breeding territory, usually extending around 3–4 m from the nest. The three to five eggs are incubated by both adults for 21–25 days to hatching. They are oval in shape and have a pale, non-glossy, blue-green colour. The young birds are covered in white down feathers, are cared for by both parents and fledge after 40 to 45 days.

This egret stalks its prey in shallow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling its feet. It may also stand still and wait to ambush prey. It eats fish, insects, amphibians, crustaceans, and reptiles.

At one time, the plumes of the Little Egret and other egrets were in demand for decorating hats. They had been used for this purpose since at least the 17th century but in the 19th century it became a major craze and the number of egret skins passing through dealers reached into the millions. Egret farms were set up where the birds could be plucked without being killed but most of the supply was obtained by hunting which reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels (stimulating the establishment of Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 1889). Now conservation laws protect this species, and the population has rebounded strongly.

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Kleinwitreier
Asturian: Garcia Cande, Garcina
Breton: An herlegon bihan
Catalan: Agró blanc, Martinet blanc
Catalan (Balears): Agró blanc
Czech: volavka støíbøitá, Volavka stríbritá, Volavka st?íb?itá
Welsh: Crëyr bach, Crëyr gwen lleiaf
Danish: Silkehejre
German: Seidenreiher
English: Little Egret
Esperanto: Malgranda egretardeo
Spanish: Garceta Comun, Garceta Común, Garza Chiquita, Garza Pequeña
Spanish (Dominican Rep.): Garza Chiquita
Estonian: Siidhaigur
Basque: Lertxuntxo txikia, Martinet blanc
Finnish: Silkkihaikara
Faroese: Silkihegri
French: Aigrette blanche, Aigrette garzette, Garzette blanche, Héron garzette, Petite Aigrette
Irish: Éigrit Bheag
Gaelic: Corra Gheal Bheag
Galician: Garzota, Martinet blanc
Haitian Creole French: Ti Krabye etranje
Hindi: Chinna vellai kokku
Croatian: Mala Bijela Caplja, Mala Bijela ?aplja
Hungarian: Kis kócsag
Indonesian: Bango putih kecil, Kuntul kecil, Kuntul perak kecil
Icelandic: Bjarthegri
Italian: Garzetta, Garzetta comune
Japanese: kosagi, Ko-sagi
Cornish: Kerghyth penvagas lyha
Kwangali: Samunkoma
Latin: Ardea garzetta, Egretta garzetta
Mamasa: korong ula
Malay: Bangau Kecil
Maltese: Agrett Abjad
Dutch: Kleine Zilverreiger
Norwegian: Silkehegre
Polish: czapla nadobna
Portuguese: garça branca pequena, Garça-branca-pequena
Portuguese (Brazil): Garça-negra
Romansh: Irun da saida
Russian: Malaya Belaya Tsaplya
Northern Sami: Silkeháigir
Slovak: beluša malá, volavka striebristá, volavka striebristá (beluša malá)
Slovenian: mala bela caplja, mala belacaplja
Albanian: Çapka e bardhë e vogël
Serbian: Mala bela caplja
Sotho, Southern: Leholosiane
Swedish: Silkeshäger
Swahili: Dandala
Zulu: iNgekle

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.                      Great White Egret song

The Great Egret (Ardea alba), also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret or (now not in use) Great White Heron, and called k?tuku in New Zealand, is a large egret.

Great White Egret, Grote Zilverreiger, Silbereiher, Garça-branca-grande, Garceta Grande

Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe and Asia it is rather localized. In North America it is more widely distributed, and it is ubiquitous across the sun-belt of the United States. It is sometimes confused with the Great White Heron in Florida, which is a white morph of the closely related Great Blue Heron (A. herodias). Note however that the name Great White Heron has occasionally been used to refer to the Great Egret.

The Great Egret is a large bird with all-white plumage that can reach one meter in height and weigh up to 950 grams (2.1 lb). It is thus only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Heron (A. cinerea). Apart from size, the Great Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back. Males and females are identical in appearance; juveniles look like non-breeding adults. It is a common species, usually easily seen. It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, ibises and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight.

The Great Egret is not normally a vocal bird; at breeding colonies, however, it often gives a loud croaking cuk cuk cuk.

Like all egrets, it is a member of the heron family, Ardeidae. Traditionally classified with the storks in the Ciconiiformes, the Ardeidae now, under the International Ornithological Congress, are closer relatives of pelicans and belong in the Pelecaniformes instead. The Great Egret – unlike the typical egrets – does not belong to the genus Egretta but together with the great herons is today placed in Ardea. In the past, however, it was sometimes placed in Egretta or separated in a monotypic genus Casmerodius.

There were four subspecies in various parts of the world, which differ but little. Differences are bare part coloration in the breeding season and size; the largest A. a. modesta from Asia and Australasia is now considered a full species, the Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta). The remaining three subspecies are:

Ardea alba alba from Europe
Ardea alba egretta from Americas
Ardea alba melanorhynchos from Africa
 
Parent on nest in a tree with chicks at Morro Bay, California, USA.The Great Egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with cold winters. It breeds in colonies in trees close to large lakes with reed beds or other extensive wetlands. It builds a bulky stick nest.

The Great Egret is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small birds and reptiles, spearing them with its long, sharp bill most of the time by standing still and allowing the prey to come within its striking distance of its bill which it uses as a spear. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim. 

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Grootwitreier
Asturian: Garcia Grande
Breton: An herlegon bras
Catalan: Agró blanc, Agró blanc gros
Catalan (Balears): Agró blanc gros
Valencian: Agró blanc
Creoles and Pidgins, French-based (Other): kwabye blanc
Czech: Volavka bílá
Welsh: Crëyr mawr gwyn
Danish: Sølvhejre
German: Silberreiher
English: Great Egret, Great White Egret, Western Great Egret
Esperanto: Granda egretardeo
Spanish: Garceta Grande, garza blanca, Garza Blanca Grande, Garza Grande, Garza Real, Garzón
Spanish (Argentine): Garza blanca
Spanish (Bolivia): Garza blanca
Spanish (Colombia): Garza Real
Spanish (Costa Rica): Garceta Grande
Spanish (Cuba): Garzón
Spanish (Dominican Rep.): Garza Blanca, Garza Real
Spanish (Honduras): Garzón blanco
Spanish (Mexico): garza blanca, Garza Grande
Spanish (Paraguay): Garza blanca
Spanish (Uruguay): Garza Blanca, Garza Blanca Grande
Estonian: Hõbehaigur
Basque: Lertxuntxo handia
Finnish: Jalohaikara
Faroese: Silvurhegri
French: Grande Aigrette
Irish: Éigrit Mhór
Guadeloupean Creole French: Grand crabier blanc
Gaelic: Corra Bhàn Mhòr
Galician: Garzota grande
Guarani: Guyratî
Haitian Creole French: Gwo krabye blanch
Hindi: Chennarai
Croatian: Velika Bijela Caplja
Hungarian: Nagy kócsag
Indonesian: Cangak besar
Icelandic: Mjallhegri
Italian: Airone bianco maggiore
Japanese: daisagi, Dai-sagi
Kwangali: Samunkoma Gomuzera
Latin: Ardea alba, Egretta alba
Lithuanian: Didysis baltasis garnis
Malagasy: Vanofotsy
Maori: Kotuku
Malay: Bangau Besar
Maltese: Russett Abjad
Dutch: Grote Zilverreiger
Norwegian: Egretthegre
Portuguese: Garça-branca-grande
Portuguese (Brazil): Garça-branca-grande
Romansh: Irun alv
Russian: Bolshaya Belaya Tsaplya
Scots: Corra bhan mhor
Slovak: beluša velká, Beluša vel'ká
Slovenian: velika bela ?aplja
Shona: Svorechena
Albanian: Çapka e madhe e bardhë
Serbian: velika bijela caplja
Sotho, Southern: Leholosiane
Swedish: Ägretthäger
Swahili: Msuka

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.           Blue-headed Wagtail song

The Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava, is a small passerine in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws.

Blue-headed Wagtail, Gele Kwikstaart, Schafstelze, Alvéola-amarela, Lavandera Boyera

This species breeds in much of temperate Europe and Asia and has a foothold in North America in Alaska. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, such as western Europe, but northern and eastern populations migrate to Africa and south Asia. The Beringian population winters further down the Pacific coast.
 
Immature Blue-headed Wagtail (M. f. flava)Vagrant individuals occur around the winter quarters at migration time. For example, on Palau in Micronesia migrant flocks of this species – apparently of the Bering Sea Yellow Wagtail, and including many adult males – are regularly seen, while further north on the Marianas, only the occasional stray individual – usually females or immatures as it seems – is encountered.

It is a slender 15–16 cm long bird, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. It is the shortest tailed of the European wagtails. The breeding adult male is basically olive above and yellow below. In other plumages, the yellow may be diluted by white. The heads of breeding males come in a variety of colours and patterns depending on subspecies.

The call is a characteristic high-pitched jeet.

This insectivorous bird inhabits open country near water, such as wet meadows. It nests in tussocks, laying 4-8 speckled eggs.

This species' systematics and phylogeny is extremely confusing. Literally dozens of subspecies have been described at one time or another, and some 15-20 are currently considered valid depending on which author reviews them. In addition, the Citrine Wagtail (M. citreola) forms a cryptic species complex with this bird both taxa as conventionally delimited are paraphyletic in respect to each other. The populations of the Berinigian region are sometimes separated as Eastern Yellow Wagtail (M. tschutschensis).

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Geelkwikkie
Asturian: Bruxa Mariella, Llindiadora
Breton: Ar gannerez relen penn glas
Catalan: Cuereta groga, Cuereta groga alemanya, Xàtxero groc
Catalan (Balears): Xàtxero groc
Welsh: Siglen felen
Danish: Gul Vipstjert
German: Englische Schafstelze, Schafstelze, Schafstelze-flava
English: Blue-headed Wagtail, Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail, Yellow wagtail
Esperanto: flava motacilo
Spanish: Lavandera Boyera, Lavandera Boyera centroeuropea
Spanish (Honduras): Bisbita acuática
Spanish (Mexico): Bisbita Americana
Estonian: Hänilane
Basque: Lare-buztanikara
Finnish: Keltavästäräkki
Faroese: Gulerla
French: Bergeronnette printanière, Bergeronnette printanière type
Frisian: Giel Boumantsje
Irish: Glasóg cheannghorm
Gaelic: Breac Buidhe
Galician: Lavandeira marela
Manx: Skibbag Wuigh
Croatian: Žuta Pastirica
Indonesian: Entut kerbau
Icelandic: Gulerla
Italian: Cutrettola
Japanese: tsumenagasekirei
Cornish: Stenor penglas
Latin: Motacilla flava, Motacilla flava flava
Malay: Kedidi Kuning
Maltese: Isfar
Dutch: Gele Kwikstaart
Norwegian: Gulerle, Sørlig gulerle
Polish: Siwerniak
Portuguese: Alvéola-amarela
Romansh: Ballacua da pastgira
Sardinian: Madischedda
Scots: Breac buidhe
Northern Sami: Fiskesbeštor
Slovak: Trasochvost žltý
Slovenian: rumena pastirica
Albanian: Bishtatundësi i verdhë
Serbian: žuta pliska
Swedish: Gulärla
Swahili: Tikisa Njano
Vietnamese: Chìa vôi vàng

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal. 

The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, and southern and eastern Asia. The European populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa; the more northerly Asian populations also migrate further south within Asia. It is a rare but regular wanderer north of its breeding range.

Purple Heron, Purperreiger, Purpurreiher, Garça-Roza, Garza Imperial

The Purple Heron is a large bird, 80-90 cm tall, with a 120-150 cm wingspan, but slender for its size, weighing only 0.5-1.3 kg. It is somewhat smaller than the Grey Heron, from which it can be distinguished by its darker reddish-brown plumage, and, in adults, darker grey back. It has a narrower yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults.

The Purple Heron breeds in colonies in reed beds or trees close to large lakes or other extensive wetlands. It builds a bulky stick nest.

It feeds in shallow water, spearing fish, frogs, insects, small mammals, reptiles and small birds. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim. It tends to keep within reedbeds more than the Grey Heron, and is often inconspicuous, despite its size.

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Rooireier
Asturian: Garcia Roxa
Breton: Ar gerc'heiz ruz
Catalan: Agró roig
Catalan (Balears): Agró roig
Cebuano: dugwak
Czech: Volavka ?ervená
Welsh: Crëyr porffor, Cr?yr Porffor
Danish: Purpurhejre
German: Purpurreiher, Purpurreiher-purpurea
English: Cape Verde Heron, North-western Purple Heron, Purple Heron
Esperanto: Purpura ardeo
Spanish: Garza Imperial
Estonian: Purpurhaigur
Basque: Agró roig
Finnish: Ruskohaikara
Faroese: Korkahegri
French: Héron pourpré
Irish: Corr Chorcra
Galician: Agró roig
Hindi: Peria vellai kokku
Croatian: Caplja Danguba
Hungarian: Vörös gém
Indonesian: Cangak Merah, Cangkak merah
Icelandic: Rauðhegri
Italian: Airone rosso
Japanese: murasakisagi, Murasaki-sagi
Kwangali: Samunkoma Gomugeha
Latin: Ardea purpurea, Ardea purpurea bournei, Ardea purpurea purpurea
Lithuanian: Purpurinis garnys
Malagasy: Kehambe, Langorofalafa, Langorovoanga, Vagna, Vanga, vano, Vanomena
Mamasa: korong ula
Malay: Bangau Paya, Pucung Serandau
Dutch: Purperreiger, Purpurreiger
Norwegian: Purpurhegre
Polish: czapla purpurowa
Portuguese: garça imperial, Garça-imperial, garça-roxa, Garça-vermelha, Vermelha, vermelha.
Portuguese (Brazil): garça-roxa
Romansh: irun cotschen
Northern Sami: Purporháigir
Slovak: Volavka purpurová
Slovenian: rjava caplja, rjava ?aplja, rjavacaplja
Albanian: Çapka rrudhi
Serbian: crvena caplja
Sotho, Southern: Kokolofitoe
Swedish: Purpurhäger
Swahili: Pondagundi
Tswana: Kôkôlôhutwê
Tsonga: Rikolwa
Xhosa: Ucofuza

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.           Black-winged Stilt song

The Black-winged Stilt or Common Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family (Recurvirostridae). Opinions differ as to whether the birds treated under the scientific name H. himantopus ought to be treated as a single species and if not, how many species to recognize. Most sources today accept 2—4 species.

Black-winged Stilt, Steltloper, Stelzenläufer, Pernilongo, Cigüeñuela de Alas Negras

Adults are 33–36 cm long. They have long pink legs, a long thin black bill and are blackish above and white below, with a white head and neck with a varying amount of black. Males have a black back, often with greenish gloss. Females' backs have a brown hue, contrasting with the black remiges. In the populations that have the top of the head normally white at least in winter, females tend to have less black on head and neck all year round, while males often have much black, particularly in summer. This difference is not clear-cut, however, and males usually get all-white heads in winter.

Immature birds are grey instead of black and have a markedly sandy hue on the wings, with light feather fringes appearing as a whitish line in flight.

The taxonomy of this bird is still somewhat contentious. Some believe that there are as many as five distinct species; others consider some or all of these to be subspecies. In addition, two dubious subspecies are also sometimes listed, but not as independent species.

In the most extensive circumscription, with one species and 5-7 subspecies, this bird is often called Common Stilt. The name Black-winged Stilt on the other hand can specifically refer to the Old World nominate subspecies.

The breeding habitat of all these stilts is marshes, shallow lakes and ponds. Some populations are migratory and move to the ocean coasts in winter; those in warmer regions are generally resident or short-range vagrants. In Europe, the Black-winged Stilt is a regular spring overshoot vagrants north of its normal range, occasionally remaining to breed in northern European countries, for example in Britain in 1987.

These birds pick up their food from sand or water. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans.

The nest site is a bare spot on the ground near water. These birds often nest in small groups, sometimes with Avocets.

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Rooipootelsie
Asturian: Cigoñina
Azerbaijani: Çaydaq cüllütü
Breton: Ar skaseg kof gwenn
Catalan: Avisador, Cames llargues, Remena-rocs
Catalan (Balears): Avisador
Valencian: Remena-rocs
Welsh: Hirgoes
Danish: Langbenet ryle, Stylteløber
German: Bindenstrandläufer, Eurasiatische Stelzenläufer, Stelzenlaeufer, Stelzenläufer
English: Afro-eurasian Black-winged Stilt, Black-necked Stilt, Blackwinged Stilt, Black-winged Stilt, Common Stilt, Eurasian black-winged stilt, Pied Stilt, Poaka, Stilt Sandpiper, White-headed Stilt
Esperanto: himantopo
Spanish: Cigueñuela, Cigüeñuela, Cigüeñuela Común, Cigüeñuela de Alas Negras, Correlimos zancolín, Playerito zancudo
Spanish (Argentine): Playerito zancudo
Spanish (Mexico): candelero americano
Spanish (Uruguay): Tero Real
Estonian: Karkjalg
Basque: Cames llargues, Zankaluze
Finnish: Pitkäjalka, Pitkäkoipisirri
French: Bécasseau échasse, Échasse à manteau noir, Echasse blanche, Échasse blanche
Frisian: Steltklút
Irish: Scadalach Dhubheiteach, Scodalach Dubheiteach
Gaelic: Luigneach
Galician: Cames llargues
Manx: Lurgagh
Hindi: Pavazha kaal ullan
Croatian: Crvenonoga vlastelica, Vlastelica
Hungarian: Gólyatöcs, Szalagos cankó
Icelandic: Háleggur, Vaðfæla
Italian: Cavaliere d'Italia, Cavaliere eurasiatico, Piovanello zampelunghe
Japanese: Ashinaga-shigi, seitakashigi, Seitaka-shigi
Cornish: Cornwhylen carrek
Latin: Haematopus haematopus , Himantopus himantopus, Himantopus himantopus himantopus
Malagasy: Tafaly, Takapaly, Tsakaranta
Maori: kaki
Malay: Kedidi Kaki Panjang
Maltese: Fras-servjent
Dutch: Stelkluut, Steltkluut, Steltstrandloper
Norwegian: Styleløper, Stylteløper, Styltesnipe
Polish: Biegus brod?cowaty, szczudlak, Szczud?ak, szczud?ak (zwyczajny), Szczud?ak zwyczajny
Portuguese: maçaricão, maçaricão-de-pernas-longas, Macarico pernilongo, Maçarico-de-perna-longa, Macarico-pernilongo, perna longa, Perna longa., pernalonga, Perna-longa, Perna-longa., pernalonga-comum, pernilonga, Pernilongo, pernilongo-de-costas-negras, Vira-pedras
Portuguese (Brazil): maçaricão, maçaricão-de-pernas-longas, pernalonga, pernalonga-comum, pernilonga, pernilongo, pernilongo-de-costas-negras, Vira-pedras
Romansh: gambun pitschen
Sardinian: Zurruleu, Zurruvigu
Scots: Luigneach
Slovak: Éišila bocianovitá, šišila bocianovitá, Šišila bocianovítá
Slovenian: polojnik
Albanian: Kalorësi
Serbian: dugonogi prudnik, VlastelicaSwedish: Styltlöpare, Styltsnäppa
Swahili: Msese Milonjo
Turkish: Uzunbacak
Vietnamese: Cà kheo

Spotted on Monte Horizonte today..          Common Kestrel song

The name kestrel is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. Other falcons are more adapted to active hunting on the wing. In addition, kestrels are notable for usually having much brown in their plumage.

Common Kestrel, Torenvalk, Turmfalke, Peneireiro-vulgar, Cernicalo Vulgar

Kestrels require a slight headwind in order to hover, hence a local name of Windhover for Common Kestrel.

Plumage often—but unusually for falcons—differs between male and female, and (as is usual with monogamous raptors) the female is slightly larger than the male. This allows a pair to fill different feeding niches over their home range. Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads.

Kestrels do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other species.

Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Rooivalk
Azerbaijani: Adi muymulu
Catalan: Xoriguer comú
Catalan (Balears): Xoriguer
Valencian: Xoriguer petit
Czech: poštolka obecná
Welsh: Cudyll coch
Danish: Tårnfalk
German: Turmfalke
English: Common Kestrel
Esperanto: Turfalko
Spanish: Cernícalo Vulgar
Estonian: Tuuletallaja
Basque: Belatz
Finnish: tuulihaukka
Faroese: Grýtissmyril
French: Faucon crécerelle
Frisian: reade wikel
Irish: Pocaire Gaoithe
Gaelic: Clamhan Ruadh
Galician: Xoriguer comú
Manx: Stannoir Ruy
Croatian: Vjetruša
Hungarian: Vörös vércse
Indonesian: Alap-alap
Icelandic: Turnfálki
Italian: Gheppio comune
Japanese: chougenbou
Cornish: Tygry
Latin: Falco tinnunculus
Lithuanian: pelesakalis
Latvian: lauka piekuns
Malay: Helang Kestrel
Maltese: Spanjulett
Dutch: Torenvalk
Norwegian: Tårnfalk
Polish: pustulka zwyczajna, pustu?ka zwyczajna
Portuguese: Peneireiro-vulgar
Romansh: crivel
Romanian: vânturel rosu
Sardinian: Spradderi
Scots: Clamhan ruadh
Northern Sami: Bieggafálli
Slovak: sokol myšiar
Slovenian: navadna postovka
Albanian: Skifteri kthetrazi
Swedish: Tornfalk
Swahili: Kozi Kichwa-kijivu
Turkmen: kerkenez
Turkish: Kerkenez

For birders our property is fantastic. Below you will find a list of birds spotted on our property. We are still working on it so this list will grow.

By clicking on the small photo the photo will be enlarged. Please be patient.

As soon we have photos we will upload them on this page as well.

There are many more but we have not sorted them out yet. Some help would be appreciated.

For more information about these birds please visit our BLOG

List of birds spotted on our property:

Azure-winged Magpie	Barn Swallow	Black Kite
Black Redstart	????	Black-winged Kite
Blue Tit	Booted Eagle	Cattle Egret
Chaffinch	Cirl Bunting	Common Buzzard
Common Raven	Corn Bunting	Crested Tit
European Bee-eater	European Goldfinch	European Serin
Fan-tailed Warbler	Fieldfare
Golden Oriole	Goldfinch	Gray Herin
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Great Tit	Greenfinch
Hobby	Hoopoe	Iberian Chiffchaff
Kestrel	Lesser Spotted Woodpecker	Jay
Little Bustard	Long-legged Buzzard	Marsh Tit
Quail
Nightingale	Nuthatch	Pied Flycatcher
Red Kite	Red-legged Partridge	Redstart
Robin	Sardinian Warbler	Short-toed Eagle
Short-toed Lark	Short-toed Treecreeper	Southern Grey Shrike
Spotless Sparkling	Spotted Flycatcher	Stonechat
Tawny Owl	Whinchat	White Stork
White Wagtail	Willow Warbler	Woodchat Shrike
Woodlark	Wren	Wryneck
		Imperial Eagle ?????

Alentejo, Portugal

Spotted on Monte Horizonte today.

The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are about 80 species of true wrens in about 20 genera. The genus eponymous of the family is Troglodytes. Only one species of Troglodytes occurs in the Old World, where in Anglophone regions it is commonly known simply as the "wren" as it is the originator of the name; it is called the Winter Wren in North America. The name wren has been applied to other, unrelated birds in Australia and New Zealand.

Wren, Winterkoning, Zaunkönig, Carriça, Chocin Común

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous, except for their loud and often complex songs. These birds have short wings and they cannot see at night. Several species often hold their tails upright and sleep on the ground. Wrens are insectivorous, eating insects and spiders but they will also eat fish, small rodents and lizards.

The wrens are small birds, amongst the smallest in the New World. They range in size from the White-bellied Wren, which averages under 10 centimetres (4 in) and 9 grams (0.3 oz), to the Giant Wren, which averages about 22 cm (9 in) and 50 g (2 oz). The dominating colours of their plumage are drab, composed of grey, brown, black and white, and most species show some barring, especially to tail and/or wings. One particularly distinguishing characteristic of the family, absent in most all other songbirds, is barring on the retrices. The plumage of the wrens is soft. There is no sexual dimorphism in the plumage of wrens, and little difference between young birds and adults.[3]

Cobb's Wren is an insular endemic, restricted to the Falkland Islands. The wrens are principally a New World Family, being distributed from in the Americas from Alaska and Canada to southern Argentina. A single species, the Winter Wren, is found not only in North America but also in Eastern Asia, Europe and marginally into North Africa. There are a number of insular species, including the Clarion Wren and Socorro Wren from the Revillagigedo Islands in the Pacific Ocean, Cobb's Wren in the Falkland Islands, but they are rare on the islands of the Caribbean, with only the Southern House Wren in the Lesser Antilles and the highly restricted Zapata Wren in a single swamp in Cuba.

The various species occur in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dry, sparsely wooded country to rainforest. The vast majority are found at low levels, but some members of the genus Campylorhynchus and both members of the genus Odontorchilus are commonly found at canopy height. A few species, notably the Winter Wren and the House Wren, are often associated with humans. Most species are non-migratory, remaining in Central and South America all year round, but the few temperate species typically migrate to warmer climes in winter.

Although the wrens have a reputation for extreme secretiveness, they vary from highly secretive species such as those found in the genus Microcerculus to the highly conspicuous genus Campylorhynchus, the members of which will frequently sing from exposed perches. The family as a whole exibists a great deal of variation in their behaviour. Temparate species generally occur in pairs, but tropical species may occur in parties of up to twenty birds.

Wrens build dome-shaped nests, and may be either monogamous or polygamous, depending on species.

Genus Odontorchilus
Grey-mantled Wren (Odontorchilus branickii)
Tooth-billed Wren (Odontorchilus cinereus)
Genus Salpinctes
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Genus Microcerculus
Flutist Wren (Microcerculus ustulatus)
Southern Nightingale-Wren (Microcerculus marginatus)
Northern Nightingale-Wren (Microcerculus philomela)
Wing-banded Wren (Microcerculus bambla)
Genus Catherpes
Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus)
Genus Hylorchilus
Nava's Wren (Hylorchilus navai)
Sumichrast's Wren or Slender-billed Wren (Hylorchilus sumichrasti)
Genus Campylorhynchus
Band-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus)
Bicolored Wren (Campylorhynchus griseus)
Boucard's Wren (Campylorhynchus jocosus)
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Fasciated Wren (Campylorhynchus fasciatus)
Giant Wren (Campylorhynchus chiapensis)
Gray-barred Wren (Campylorhynchus megalopterus)
Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha)
Spotted Wren (Campylorhynchus gularis)
Stripe-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus nuchalis)
Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus)
White-headed Wren (Campylorhynchus albobrunneus)
Yucatan Wren (Campylorhynchus yucatanicus)
Genus Thryomanes
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Genus Thryothorus
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
White-browed Wren (Thryothorus (ludovicianus) albinucha)
 
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)Genus Cinnycerthia
Fulvous Wren (Cinnycerthia fulva)
Peruvian Wren (Cinnycerthia peruana)
Rufous Wren (Cinnycerthia unirufa)
Sepia-brown Wren or Sharpe's Wren (Cinnycerthia olivascens)
Genus Cantorchilus (formerly included in Thryothorus)
Stripe-breasted Wren (Cantorchilus thoracicus)
Stripe-throated Wren (Cantorchilus leucopogon)
Plain Wren (Cantorchilus modestus)
Canebrake Wren (Cantorchilus (modestus) zeledoni)
Riverside Wren (Cantorchilus semibadius)
Bay Wren (Cantorchilus nigricapillus)
Superciliated Wren (Cantorchilus superciliaris)
Buff-breasted Wren (Cantorchilus leucotis) (probably not monophyletic)
Fawn-breasted Wren (Cantorchilus guarayanus)
Long-billed Wren (Cantorchilus longirostris)
Genus Thryophilus (formerly included in Thryothorus)
Gray Wren (Thryophilus griseus) (placement in genus requires confirmation)
Rufous-and-white Wren (Thryophilus rufalbus)
Niceforo's Wren (Thryophilus nicefori)
Sinaloa Wren (Thryophilus sinaloa)
Genus Pheugopedius (formerly included in Thryothorus)
Moustached Wren (Pheugopedius genibarbis)
Coraya Wren (Pheugopedius coraya)
Whiskered Wren (Pheugopedius mystacalis)
Plain-tailed Wren (Pheugopedius euophrys)
Black-bellied Wren (Pheugopedius fasciatoventris)
Black-throated Wren (Pheugopedius atrogularis)
Sooty-headed Wren (Pheugopedius spadix)
Speckle-breasted Wren (Pheugopedius sclateri)
Happy Wren (Pheugopedius felix)
Inca Wren (Pheugopedius eisenmanni)
Rufous-breasted Wren (Pheugopedius rutilus)
Spot-breasted Wren (Pheugopedius maculipectus)
Banded Wren (Pheugopedius pleurostictus)
Genus Cyphorhinus
Chestnut-breasted Wren (Cyphorhinus thoracicus)
Musician Wren (Cyphorhinus aradus)
Song Wren (Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus)
 
Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Stamp FR 345 of Postverk Føroya, Faroe Islands
Issued: 22 February 1999
Artist: Astrid AndreasenGenus Uropsila
White-bellied Wren (Uropsila leucogastra)
Genus Henicorhina – wood-wrens
Bar-winged Wood-Wren (Henicorhina leucoptera)
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren (Henicorhina leucophrys)
White-breasted Wood-Wren (Henicorhina leucosticta)
Munchique Wood-Wren, (Henicorhina negreti)
Genus Thryorchilus
Timberline Wren (Thryorchilus browni)
Genus Troglodytes (10-15 species, depending on taxonomy; includes Nannus which may be distinct however)
Genus Cistothorus
Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari)
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
Mérida Wren or Paramo Wren (Cistothorus meridae)
Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)
Genus Ferminia
Zapata Wren (Ferminia cerverai)

Asturian: Cerrica, Zarrica
Azerbaijani: Adi bilibitdan
Breton: Al laouenan troc'hanik
Catalan: Cargolet, Passaforadí
Catalan (Balears): Passaforadí
Czech: støízlík obecný, Strízlík obecný
Welsh: Dryw, Dryw bach
Danish: Gærdesmutte
German: Zaunkoenig, Zaunkönig
English: Alaska Wren, Aleutian Wren, Anaga Wren, Attu Wren, Common Wren, Holarctic Wren, Kiska Wren, Kodiak Wren, Northern Wren, Semidi Wren, Stevenson's Wren, Unalaska Wren, Willow Wren, Winter Wren, Wren, Wren Winter
Esperanto: troglodito
Spanish: Chivirín Chochín, Chochin, Chochín, Chochín Común, Saltapared Invernal
Spanish (Mexico): chivirín chochín, Saltapared Invernal
Estonian: Käblik
Basque: Cargolet , Txepetxa
Finnish: Peukaloinen
Faroese: Mortítlingur, Músabróðir
French: Troglodyte des forêts, Troglodyte mignon
Irish: Dreoilín
Gaelic: Dreathan, Dreathan-Donn, Dreollan
Galician: Cargolet , Carriza
Manx: Drean
Hungarian: Ökörszem
Icelandic: Músarrindill
Italian: Scricciolo, Scricciolo comune
Japanese: misosazai
Cornish: Gwrannen
Latin: Anorthura hiemalis, Nannus hiemalis, Nannus troglodytes, Olbiorchilus hiemalis, Troglodytes hiemalis, Troglodytes troglodytes, Troglodytes troglodytes troglodytes
Maltese: Bumistur
Dutch: Winterkoning
Norwegian: Gjerdesmett, Tommeliten
Portuguese: Carriça
Romansh: Poleschet
Russian: Krapivnik
Slovak: oriešok hnedý, oriešok obycajný , Oriešok oby?ajný
Slovenian: stržek
Albanian: Çerri
Serbian: caric
Swedish: Gärdsmyg
   

We have been birdwatching at the Santo André and Sancha lagoons which are close-by and we were just waiting for better weather. Well the weather improved so we went there 3 times. This is the second report of the 26th of March and what we spotted there. We saw a lot more but could not get a positive ID.

Below are some photos we took and here is the list:

Black-necked Grebe
Purple Heron
Shoveler (about 30)
Common Waxbill
Great Crested Grebe
Little Egret
Great White Egret Cattle Egret
Common Coot
Great Cormorant
White Stork
Grey Heron
House Sparrow
Barn Swallow
Sand Martin
Common Stonechat
Little Grebe
Southern Grey Shrike
Azure-winged Magpie
Chaffinch
European Serin
European Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Carrion Crow
Mallard
Turtle Dove
Greenfinch
Blackbird
Wood Pigeon

Purple Heron

 Purple Heron

Alentejo, Portugal

We have been birdwatching at the Santo André and Sancha lagoons which are close-by and we were just waiting for better weather. Well the weather improved so we went there 3 times. This is the first report of the 25th of March and what we spotted there. We saw a lot more but could not get a positive ID.

Below are some photos we took and here is the list:

Great Crested Grebe
Little Egret
Great White Egret
Red-crested Pochard
Cattle Egret
Common Coot
Great Cormorant
White Stork
Marsh Harrier
Wryneck
House Sparrow
Barn Swallow
Sand Martin
Common Stonechat
Golden Oriole
Southern Grey Shrike
Azure-winged Magpie
Chaffinch
European Serin
European Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Carrion Crow
Red-legged Partridge
Mallard
Turtle Dove
Common Teal
Greenfinch
Blackbird
Wood Pigeon
Spotless Starling
Grey Wagtail

Red-crested Pochard

 Great Cormorant

Little Egret

Great White Egret

Alentejo, Portugal