Archive for May, 2010

Spotted on Monte Horizonte                       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 Nightingale, 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                       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