Archive for October, 2009

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

The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) 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).

Black Redstart, Zwarte Roodstaart, Hausrotschwanz, Rabirruivo-preto, Colirrojo Tizón

Male Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Female or immature European Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros gibraltariensis)It is a widespread breeder in south and central Europe, but very localised in Great Britain. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but northern birds winter in southern Europe or north Africa. It nests in crevices or holes in buildings.

It is more common in Britain as a bird of passage and winter visitor. On passage it is fairly common on the east and south coasts. Migrant Black Redstarts arrive in Britain in October or November and pass on or remain to winter, returning eastward in March or April[verification needed].

Reports of Common Redstarts (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) returning early from their winter quarters sometimes refer to this species.

The Black Redstart is 13-14.5cm in length. The male has no chestnut on the flanks nor white on the forehead. The female is greyer than the Common Redstart, and at any age the grey axillaries and under wing-coverts are distinctive. In the Common Redstart these are buff or chestnut.

The "fire" of the tail labels the bird as a Redstart, but it may be distinguished from the Common Redstart, which is the same size, at 14 cm length, by its sootier appearance, even when the distinctive white wing patch is not apparent, as in immature males.

They typically frequent cliffs and stony ground, but in Britain often breed and winter in industrial complexes that have the bare areas and cliff-like buildings it favours. It will catch passing insects in flight, and migrants may or hunt in the tide-wrack for flies or tiny crustaceans. Its quick ducks of head and body are robin-like, and its tail is often flicked. The male has a rattling song and a tick call.

Asturian: Raitán Moru
Azerbaijani: Qaraca odquyruq
Breton: Ar rulosteg du
Catalan: Coa-roja de barraca, Cotxa fumada, Merla roquera
Catalan (Balears): Coa-roja de barraca
Valencian: Merla roquera
Czech: Rehek domácí
Welsh: Llostrudd du, Tinboeth du, Tingoch du
Danish: Husrødstjert
German: Hausrotschwantz, Hausrotschwanz
English: Black Redstart, Black Redtail, Blackstart, Tithy's Redstart
Esperanto: nigra ro^gvostulo, Nigra ro?vostulo
Spanish: Colirrojo Tizon, Colirrojo Tizón
Estonian: Must-lepalind
Basque: Buztangorri ilun, Buztangorri iluna, Cotxa fumada
Finnish: Mustaleppälintu
Faroese: Dimmur velreyði
French: Roguequeue noir, Rougequeue noir, Rougequeue tithys
Irish: Earrdheargán Dubh
Gaelic: Ceann Dubhan
Galician: Cotxa fumada , Rabirrubio
Manx: Kiaulleyder doo
Croatian: Crvenrepka kova?, Mrka Crvenrepka
Hungarian: Házi rozsdafarkú
Icelandic: Húsaskotta
Italian: Codirosso spazzacamino
Japanese: Kuro jou-bitaki, kurojoubitaki, Kuro-joubitaki
Cornish: Tyngough du
Latin: Phoenicurus ochruros
Limburgish: Roedbroenstartrotsliester
Maltese: Kudirross Iswed
Dutch: Zwarte Roodstaart, Zwarte roostaart
Norwegian: Svart rødstjert, Svartrødstjert
Polish: Iranka, kopciuszek, kopciuszek (zwyczajny), Kopciuszek zwyczajny
Portuguese: Rabirruivo-preto, rabiruivo preto, Rabiruivo-preto
Romansh: Cuacotschna da chasa
Scots: Ceann dubhan
Slovak: Žltochvost domový
Slovenian: šmarnica
Albanian: Bishtkuqi zeshkan
Serbian: Kucna crvenorepka
Swedish: Svart rödstjärt

Spotted on our property Monte Horizonte .

The Willow Warbler (formerly called the Willow Wren) Phylloscopus trochilus, is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia.

Willow Warbler, Fitis, Felosa-musical, Mosquitero de los Sauces

It was described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae in 1758 under the genus Motacilla.

This "warbler" is strongly migratory and the majority of the population winters in sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of the first leaf warblers to return in the spring but is later than the Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita.

This is a bird of open woodlands with trees and ground cover for nesting, including birch and willow uplands. The nest is usually built in close contact with the ground, often in low vegetation. Like most Old World warblers, this small passerine is insectivorous.

This is a typical leaf warbler in appearance, greenish brown above and off-white below. It is very similar to the Chiffchaff, but non-singing birds can be distinguished from that species by their paler legs, longer paler bill, more elegant shape and longer primary projection. Its song is a simple repetitive descending whistle.

Afrikaans: Hofsanger
Asturian: Pioyín de Ríu, Pioyín de Sebe
Azerbaijani: Bahar yarpaqgüd?ni
Breton: Ar puig-haleg
Catalan: Busquereta vulgar, Mosquiter de passa, Ull de bou de passa
Catalan (Balears): Ull de bou de passa
Valencian: Busquereta vulgar
Czech: Budnícek vetší
Welsh: Cethlydd y coed, Dryw bach y ddaear, Dryw felen, Dryw wen, Dryw’r helyg, Sywider, Telor yr helyg
Danish: Løvsanger, Lundsanger
German: Fitis, Fitislaubsänger
Emiliano-romagnolo: Becafigh
English: European Willow Warbler, European Willow-Warbler, Leaf Warbler, Northern Willow-Warbler, Willow Leaf-warbler, Willow Warbler, Willow wren, Willow-Warbler
Esperanto: fitiso
Spanish: Mosquitero común, Mosquitero de los Sauces, Mosquitero Musical
Estonian: Salu-lehelind
Basque: Mosquiter de passa , Txio hori, Txio horia
Finnish: Pajulintu
Faroese: Leyvljómari
French: Pouillot chantre, Pouillot fitis
Irish: Ceolaire Sailí, Ceólaire sailí
Gaelic: Crionag Ghiuthais
Galician: Mosquiter de passa , Picafollas musical
Manx: Drean bane, Drean Vane
Croatian: Brezov Zviždak
Hungarian: Fitisz füzike, Fitiszfüzike
Armenian: Garnanayin Geghgeghik
Icelandic: Laufsöngvari
Italian: Luí grosso, Luì grosso, LuÏ grosso
Japanese: Kitayanagi mushi-kui, kitayanagimushikui
Cornish: Telor helyk
Kwangali: Niini
Latin: Phylloscopus trochilus
Limburgish: Favet, Graastäöt, Taatsj
Maltese: Vjolin Pastard
Dutch: Fitis
Norwegian: Løvsanger
Polish: piecuszek
Portuguese: felosa musical, Felosa-musical
Romansh: Fegliarel musicant
Russian: Penochka-vesnichka
Scots: Crionag ghiuthais
Northern Sami: Rievssatcizaš
Slovak: Kolibiarik spevavý, Kolibkárik spevavý
Slovenian: kovacek, severni kovacek, severni kova?ek
Shona: Timba
Albanian: Fishkëllyesi gushëverdhë
Serbian: brezov zviždak, zviždak kovacic
Sotho, Southern: Pilipili-sa-mabelete
Swedish: Lövsångare
Swahili: Kucha-mbuga
Xhosa: Unothoyi

Spotted on our property Monte Horizonte today..          Common Raven song

The Common Raven (Corvus corax), also known as the Northern Raven, is a large, all-black passerine bird in the crow family. Found across the northern hemisphere, it is the most widely distributed of all corvids. There are eight known subspecies with little variation in appearance—although recent research has demonstrated significant genetic differences among populations from various regions.

It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the Thick-billed Raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird; at maturity, the Common Raven is between 56 and 69 cm (22 to 27 inches) in length, with recorded weights ranging from 0.69 to 1.63 kg (1.5 to 3.6 pounds). Common Ravens typically live about 10 to 15 years in the wild, although lifespans of up to 40 years have been recorded. Young birds may travel in flocks, but later mate for life, with each mated pair defending a territory.

Common Raven, Raaf, Kolkrabe, Corvo, Cuervo Común

The Common Raven has coexisted with humans for thousands of years, and in some areas has been so successful that it is considered a pest. Part of its success comes from its omnivorous diet; Common Ravens are extremely versatile and opportunistic in finding sources of nutrition, feeding on carrion, insects and food waste, in addition to cereal grains, berries, fruit and small animals.

Some remarkable feats of problem-solving have been observed in the species, leading to the belief that it is highly intelligent. Over the centuries, it has been the subject of mythology, folklore, art and literature. In many indigenous cultures, including those of Scandinavia, ancient Ireland and Wales, Bhutan, the northwest coast of North America, Siberia and northeast Asia, the Common Raven has been revered as a spiritual figure or god.

The Common Raven was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae, and it still bears its original name of Corvus corax. It is the type species of the genus Corvus, derived from the Latin for "Raven". The specific epithet, corax/κοραξ, is the Ancient Greek word for "raven" or "crow". The name "raven" has been applied to several other (generally large) species of the genus Corvus, though they are not necessarily closely related to Corvus corax. Some, such as the Australian Raven and Forest Raven, are clearly closer to the other Australian crows. The original raven is now called the Common or Northern Raven.

Afrikaans: Kraai
Asturian: Cuergu, Cuervón, Cuervu
Bulgarian: garvan
Breton: Ar varc'hvran, Erroi, marc'hvran, Vran
Catalan: Corb, Cornella negra
Catalan (Balears): Corb
Valencian: Cornella negra
Czech: krakovec velký, krkavec, krkavec velký
Welsh: Brân, cigfran, Gigfran fawr
Danish: Ravn
German: Kolkrabe
English: American, American Raven, Common Raven, Holarctic Raven, Mexican Raven, Northern Raven, Ravan, Raven, Southwestern Raven, Western Raven
Esperanto: granda korvo, korako, korvo
Spanish: Corneja, Cuervo, Cuervo Común, Cuervo Grande, Cuevo Grande
Spanish (Honduras): Cuervo
Spanish (Mexico): cuervo común, Cuervo Grande, Cuevo Grande
Spanish (Nicaragua): Cuervo Común
Estonian:   ronk, kaaren, korp, Ronk, ronk (kaaren), Ronk, kaaren
Basque: Corb, erroi, Erroia
Finnish: Korppi
Faroese: bringuhvítur ravnur, Gorpur, Krunkur, ravnur, Svarti
French: corbeau, Grand Corbeau
Friulian: Çore, Cornile, corvat, Corvat piçul
Frisian: raven
Irish: corvo carnazal, fiach dubh
Gaelic: Biadhtach, Fidheach, Fitheach
Galician: Corb, Corvo grande, Corvo viaraz
Manx: feeagh, Feeagh Vooar
Croatian: Gavran, Vrana gavran
Hungarian: Holló
Icelandic: Hrafn, krummi
Italian: corvo, Corvo imperiale, Corvo imperiale comune
Inuktitut: Killugak, Tulugaq
Japanese: watarigarasu, Watari-garasu
Greenlandic: Killugak, Tulugaq
Karelian: Varoi
Cornish: Bran, bran vras, Marghvran
Latin: Corvus corax
Ladino: corf
Ladin: Agacion
Lithuanian: Juodvarnis, Krankis, kranklys, Krukas, Varnas
Latvian: krauklis
Macedonian: gavran
Dutch: Raaf
Norwegian: Korp, Ravn
Occitan: còrb, Gralha
Polish: kruk, kruk (zwyczajny), Kruk zwyczajny
Portuguese: Corvo, Corvo comum
Romansh: corv grond, Corv nair
Romanian: corb
Romany: kakarachi kakarachka, Korung
Russian: Voron
Sardinian: corbittu, corvai, crà, crobu, prinneddu, tivani
Scots: Biadhtach, Fidheach, fitheach
Northern Sami: bulddogas, gáranas, garjá
Slovak: krkavec
Slovenian: krokar
Albanian: Korb, korbi
Serbian: gavran
Swedish: Korp
Swahili: Aswadi kunguru
Turkmen: Gara garga, kuzgun
Turkish: Büyük Karga, Kuzgun
Sorbian, Lower: Garona, Karwona, rapak, wron
Sorbian, Upper: rapak, Wróna
 

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

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world.

Cattle Egret, Koereiger, Kuhreier, Carraceiro, Garça-boieira, Garcilla Bueyera

It is a stocky white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season which nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Unlike most other herons, it feeds in relatively dry grassy habitats, often accompanying cattle or other large mammals, since it catches insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the Cattle Egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.

The adult Cattle Egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species removes ticks and flies from cattle, but it can be a safety hazard at airfields, and has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.

The Cattle Egret has two geographical races which are sometimes classified as full species, the Western Cattle Egret, B. ibis, and Eastern Cattle Egret, B. coromandus.

Despite superficial similarities in appearance, the Cattle Egret is more closely related to the genus Ardea, which comprises the great or typical herons and the Great Egret (A. alba), than to the majority of species termed egrets in the genus Egretta. Rare cases of hybridization with Egretta caerulea, Egretta garzetta and Egretta thula have been recorded.

The Cattle Egret is a stocky heron with a 88–96 cm (35–38 in) wingspan; it is 46–56 centimetres (18–22 in) in length and weighs 270–512 grams (9.5–18.1 oz). It has a relatively short thick neck, sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The non-breeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. During the breeding season, adults of the nominate western subspecies develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown, and the bill, legs and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing. The sexes are similar, but the male is marginally larger and has slightly longer breeding plumes than the female; juvenile birds lack coloured plumes and have a black bill.

The positioning of the egret's eyes allows for binocular vision during feeding, and physiological studies suggest that the species may be capable of crepuscular or nocturnal activity. Adapted to foraging on land, they have lost the ability possessed by their wetland relatives to accurately correct for light refraction by water.

This species gives a quiet, throaty "rick-rack" call at the breeding colony, but is otherwise largely silent.

The Cattle Egret has undergone one of the most rapid and wide reaching natural expansions of any bird species. It was originally native to parts of Southern Spain and Portugal, tropical and subtropical Africa and humid tropical and subtropical Asia. In the end of the 19th century it began expanding its range into southern Africa, first breeding in the Cape Province in 1908. Cattle Egrets were first sighted in the Americas on the boundary of Guiana and Suriname in 1877, having apparently flown across the Atlantic Ocean. It was not until the 1930s that the species is thought to have become established in that area.

The species first arrived in North America in 1941 (these early sightings were originally dismissed as escapees), bred in Florida in 1953, and spread rapidly, breeding for the first time in Canada in 1962. It is now commonly seen as far west as California. It was first recorded breeding in Cuba in 1957, in Costa Rica in 1958, and in Mexico in 1963, although it was probably established before that. In Europe the species had historically declined in Spain and Portugal, but in the latter part of the 20th century it expanded back through the Iberian Peninsula, and then began to colonise other parts of Europe; southern France in 1958, northern France in 1981 and Italy in 1985. Breeding in the United Kingdom was recorded for the first time in 2008 only a year after an influx seen in the previous year. In 2008 cattle egrets were also reported as having moved into Ireland for the first time.

The massive and rapid expansion of the Cattle Egret's range is due to its relationship with humans and their domesticated animals. Originally adapted to a commensal relationship with large browsing animals, it was easily able to switch to domesticated cattle and horses. As livestock keeping spread throughout the world it was able to occupy otherwise empty niches. Many populations of Cattle Egrets are highly migratory and dispersive, and this has helped the species' range expansion. The species has been seen as a vagrant in various sub-Antarctic islands, including South Georgia, Marion Island, the South Sandwich Islands and the South Orkney Islands. A small flock of eight birds was also seen in Fiji in 2008.

In addition to the natural expansion of its range, Cattle Egrets have been introduced into a few areas. The species was introduced to Hawaii in 1959, and to the Chagos Archipelago in 1955. Successful releases were also made in the Seychelles and Rodrigues, but attempts to introduce the species to Mauritius failed. Numerous birds were also released by Whipsnade Zoo in England, but the species never established.

Although the Cattle Egret sometimes feeds in shallow water, unlike most herons it is typically found in fields and dry grassy habitats, reflecting its greater dietary reliance on terrestrial insects rather than aquatic prey.

Some populations of Cattle Egrets are migratory, others are dispersive, and distinguishing between the two can be difficult for this species. In many areas populations can be both sedentary and migratory. In the northern hemisphere migration is from cooler climes to warmer areas, but Cattle Egrets nesting in Australia migrate to cooler Tasmania and New Zealand in the winter and return in the spring. Migration in western Africa is in response to rainfall, and in South America migrating birds travel south of their breeding range in the non breeding season. Populations in southern India appear to show local migrations in response to the monsoons. They move north from Kerala after September. During winter, many birds have been seen flying at night with flocks of Indian Pond Herons (Ardeola grayii) on the southeastern coast of India and a winter influx has also been noted in Sri Lanka.

Young birds are known to disperse up to 5,000 km (3,100 mi) from their breeding area. Flocks may fly vast distances and have been seen over seas and oceans including in the middle of the Atlantic.

This species has a large range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10 million square kilometres (3.8 square miles). Its global population estimated to be 3.8–6.7 million individuals. For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern. On the other hand the expansion and establishment of the species over large ranges has led it to be classed as an invasive species (although little, if any impact has been noted yet).

This eastern race adult shows the red flush on the legs and bill present at the height of the breeding season. The Cattle Egret nests in colonies, which are often, but not always, found around bodies of water. The colonies are usually found in woodlands near lakes or rivers, in swamps, or on small inland or coastal islands, and are sometimes shared with other wetland birds, such as herons, egrets, ibises and cormorants. The breeding season varies within South Asia. Nesting in northern India begins with the onset of monsoons in May. The breeding season in Australia is November to early January, with one brood laid per season.The North American breeding season lasts from April to October.In the Seychelles, the breeding season of the subspecies B.i. seychellarum is April to October.

The male displays in a tree in the colony, using a range of ritualised behaviours such as shaking a twig and sky-pointing (raising bill vertically upwards), and the pair forms over three or four days. A new mate is chosen in each season and when re-nesting following nest failure. The nest is a small untidy platform of sticks in a tree or shrub constructed by both parents. Sticks are collected by the male and arranged by the female, and stick-stealing is rife. The clutch size can be anywhere from one to five eggs, although three or four is most common. The pale bluish-white eggs are oval-shaped and measure 45 mm x 53 mm. (1.8–2.1 in) Incubation lasts around 23 days, with both sexes sharing incubation duties. The chicks are partly covered with down at hatching, but are not capable of fending for themselves; they become endothermic at 9–12 days and fully feathered in 13–21 days. They begin to leave the nest and climb around at 2 weeks, fledge at 30 days and become independent at around the 45th day.

The Cattle Egret engages in low levels of brood parasitism, and there are a few instances of Cattle Egret eggs being laid in the nests of Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons, although these eggs seldom hatch. There is also evidence of low levels of intraspecific brood parasitism, with females laying eggs in the nests of other Cattle Egrets. As much as 30% extra-pair copulations have been noted.

The dominant factor in nesting mortality is starvation. Sibling rivalry can be intense, and in South Africa third and fourth chicks inevitably starve. In the dryer habitats with fewer amphibians the diet may lack sufficient vertebrate content and may cause bone abnormalities in growing chicks due to calcium deficiency. In Barbados, nests were sometimes raided by vervet monkeys, and a study in Florida reported the Fish Crow and black rat as other possible nest raiders. The same study attributed some nestling mortality to Brown Pelicans nesting in the vicinity, which accidentally, but frequently, dislodged nests or caused nestlings to fall. In Australia, Torresian Crows, Wedge-tailed Eagles and White-bellied Sea Eagles take eggs or young, and tick infestation and viral infections may also be causes of mortality.

Breeding eastern race adult with a frogThe Cattle Egret feeds on a wide range of prey, particularly insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, flies (adults and maggots), and moths, as well as spiders, frogs, and earthworms. In a rare instance they have been observed foraging along the branches of a Banyan tree for ripe figs. The species is usually found with cattle and other large grazing and browsing animals, and catches small creatures disturbed by the mammals. Studies have shown that Cattle Egret foraging success is much higher when foraging near a large animal than when feeding singly. When foraging with cattle, it has been shown to be 3.6 times more successful in capturing prey than when foraging alone. Its performance is similar when it follows farm machinery, but it is forced to move more.

A Cattle Egret will weakly defend the area around a grazing animal against others of the same species, but if the area is swamped by egrets it will give up and continue foraging elsewhere. Where numerous large animals are present, Cattle Egrets selectively forage around species that move at around 5–15 steps per minute, avoiding faster and slower moving herds; in Africa, Cattle Egrets selectively foraged behind Plains Zebras, Waterbuck, Blue Wildebeest and Cape Buffalo. Dominant birds feed nearest to the host, and obtain more food.

The Cattle Egret may also show versatility in its diet. On islands with seabird colonies, it will prey on the eggs and chicks of terns and other seabirds. During migration it has also been reported to eat exhausted migrating landbirds. Birds of the Seychelles race also indulge in some kleptoparasitism, chasing the chicks of Sooty Terns and forcing them to disgorge food.

A conspicuous species, the Cattle Egret has attracted many common names. These mostly relate to its habit of following cattle and other large animals, and it is known variously as cow crane, cow bird or cow heron, or even elephant bird, rhinoceros egret. Its Arabic name, abu qerdan, means “father of ticks", a name derived from the huge number of parasites such as avian ticks found in its breeding colonies.

The Cattle Egret is a popular bird with cattle ranchers for its perceived role as a biocontrol of cattle parasites such as ticks and flies. A study in Australia found that Cattle Egrets reduced the number of flies that bothered cattle by pecking them directly off the skin. It was the benefit to stock that prompted ranchers and the Hawaiian Board of Agriculture and Forestry to release the species in Hawaii.

Not all interactions between humans and Cattle Egrets are beneficial. The Cattle Egret can be a potential safety hazard due to its habit of feeding in large groups in the grassy verges of airports, and it has been implicated in the spread of animal infections such as heartwater, infectious bursal disease and possibly Newcastle disease.

Other synonyms

Czech: Volavka rusohlavá
Danish: Kohejre
German: Kuhreiher
English: Cattle Egret, Western Cattle Egret
Spanish: Garcilla Bueyera, Garcita Bueyera, Garza Ganadera
Spanish (Colombia): Garcita Bueyera
Spanish (Cuba): Garza Ganadera
Spanish (Mexico): garza ganadera
Faroese: kúhegri
French: Gardeboeuf d'Afrique
Hungarian: Pásztorgém
Indonesian: Kuntul Kerbau
Icelandic: Kúhegri
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Norwegian: Kuhegre
Swedish: Kohäger