The Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is a common and widespread sylviid warbler which breeds throughout temperate Europe, western Asia (east to about 85°E) and northwestern Africa, and winters from northwestern Europe south to tropical Africa. Its colour pattern is unique in the genus Sylvia; the Blackcap's closest living relative is the Garden Warbler which looks different but has a fairly similar song. These two, whose ranges extend farther northeastwards than most other Sylvia species (except for Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat), seem to form sister species well distinct from the other typical warblers.

Blackcap, Zwartkop, Mönchsgrasmücke, Toutinegra-de-barrette-preto, Curruca Capirotada

It is a robust typical warbler, mainly grey in plumage. Like most Sylvia species, it has distinct male and female plumages: The male has the small black cap from which the species gets its name, whereas in the female the cap is brown. 

It is a bird of shady woodlands with ground cover for nesting. The nest is built in a low shrub, and 3–6 eggs are laid. The song is a pleasant chattering with some clearer notes; it can be confused with that of the Garden Warbler, but in the Blackcap, it is slightly higher pitched, more broken into discrete individual songs (more continuous rambling song in Garden Warbler) and characteristically ends with an emphatic fluting warble.

In isolated Blackcap populations (such as in valleys or on peninsulas and small islands), a simplified song can occur; this song is said to have a Leiern-type ("drawling") ending after the term used by German ornithologists who first described it.

The introduction is like that in other Blackcaps, but the final warbling part is a simple alteration between two notes, as in a Great Tit's call but more fluting.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Swartkroonsanger
Asturian: Papuda
Breton: An devedig kabell du
Catalan: Busqueret de capell, Tallarol de casquet
Catalan (Balears): Busqueret de capell
Welsh: Lleian benddu, Penddu, Penlöyn, Telor bach penddu, Telor penddu
Danish: Munk
German: Moenchsgrasmuecke, Mönchsgramücke, Mönchsgrasmücke, Mönchsgrassmücke, Schwarzplättchen
English: Blackcap, Black-cap Warbler, Black-capped Warbler, Eurasian Blackcap, European Blackcap
Spanish: Curruca Capirotada, Curruca mosquitera
Estonian: Mustpea-poosalind, Mustpea-põõsalind
Basque: Tallarol de casquet , Txinbo kaskabeltz, Txinbo kaskabeltza
Finnish: Mustapääkerttu, Mustapääkertut
Faroese: Munkur
French: Fauvette à tête noire
Frisian: Nettelkrûper
Irish: Caipín Dubh
Gaelic: Ceann-Dubh
Galician: Papuxa das amoras, Tallarol de casquet
Manx: Bayrn Dhoo, Kione doo ny yeeiginyn
Croatian: Crnoglava grmuša, Crnokapa Grmuša
Hungarian: Barátposzáta
Icelandic: Hettusöngvari
Italian: Capinera
Japanese: zuguromushikui, Zuguro-mushikui
Cornish: Telor pendu
Latin: Sylvia atricapilla
Lithuanian: Juodagalve devynbalse
Maltese: Kapinera
Dutch: Zwartkop
Norwegian: Munk, Munken
Polish: kapturka
Portuguese: toutinegra de barrete negro, Toutinegra-de-barrete-negro, Toutinegra-de-barrete-preto, Toutinegra-de-barrette-preto
Romansh: Fustgetta dal chapitsch
Russian: Slavka-chernogolovka
Sardinian: Conca de oro, Conchinigheddu, Deddea, Filormena, Prabarissa
Scots: Ceann dubh
Northern Sami: Gahpervizar
Slovenian: crnoglavka
Albanian: Bilbilth kokëzi, Bilbilthi kokëzi
Serbian: crnoglava grmuša
Swedish: Svarthätta
Swahili: Kucha Utosi-mweusi
 

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

The Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) is a small member of the wagtail family, Motacillidae. The species looks similar to the Yellow Wagtail but has the yellow on its underside restricted to the throat and vent. Breeding males have a black throat. The species is widely distributed, with several populations breeding in Europe and Asia and migrating to tropical regions in Asia and Africa. They are usually seen on open marshy ground or meadows where they walk solitarily or in pairs along the ground, capturing insects that are disturbed. Like other wagtails, they frequently wag their tail and fly low with undulations and they have a sharp call that is often given in flight.

Grey Wagtail, Grote Gele Kwikstaart, Gebirgsstelze, Alvéola-cinzenta, Lavandera Cascadeña

This slim wagtail has a narrow white supercilium and a broken eye ring. The upperparts are grey and the yellow vent contrasting with whitish underparts makes it distinctive. The breeding male has a black throat that is edged by whitish moustachial stripes. They forage singly or in pairs on meadows or on shallow water marshes. They also use rocks in water and will often perch on trees. They have a clear sharp call note and the song consists of trills.

The bird is widely distributed across the Palearctic region with several well marked populations. The nominate form (includes caspica of Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus) is from western Europe including the British Isles, Scandinavia and Mediterranean region. Race melanope, which is not well separated from the nominate subspecies, is described as the population breeding in eastern Europe and central Asia mainly along the mountain chains of the Urals, Tien Shan and along the Himalayas. They winter in Africa and Asia. Race robusta breeds along the northeastern parts of Asia in Siberia extending to Korea and Japan. These winter in Southeast Asia. Island forms include patriciae of the Azores, schmitzi of Madeira and canariensis of the Canary Islands.

They sometimes occur on the islands to the West of Alaska but have been known to occur further south in California as a vagrant.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Gryskwikkie
Asturian: Xingalrau
Breton: Ar gannerez-dour
Catalan: Cuereta torrentera, Cueta groga, Xàtxero cendrós
Catalan (Balears): Xàtxero cendrós
Valencian: Cueta groga
Cebuano: bangkiyod
Czech: Konipas horský
Welsh: Brith y fuches lwyd, Siglen las, Siglen llwyd, Siglen lwyd, Tinsigl lwyd
Danish: Bjergvipstjert
German: Bergstelze, Gebiergsstelze, Gebirgsstelze, Gebirgstelze
Emiliano-romagnolo: Buvarena
English: European Gray Wagtail, European Grey Wagtail, Gray Wagtail, Grey Wagtail
Esperanto: montarmotacilo
Spanish: Lavandera Cascadeña, Lavandera de cascada
Estonian: Jõgivästrik
Basque: Buztanikara horia, Buztinikara hori, Cuereta torrentera
Finnish: Virtavästäräkki, Vuorivästäräkki
Faroese: Áarerla
French: Bergeronnette boarule, Bergeronnette des ruisseaux
Frisian: Winterboumantsje
Irish: Glasóg cheannliath, Glasóg Liath
Gaelic: Breac Bain tighearna, Breacan-Baintighearna
Galician: Cuereta torrentera , Lavandeira real
Manx: Skibbag ny mulleeyn, Ushag Ghlass
Croatian: Gorska Pastirica, Gorska pliska
Hungarian: Hegyi billegeto, Hegyi billegetõ
Indonesian: Entut leuncang, Kicuit batu
Icelandic: Straumerla
Italian: Ballerina gialla
Japanese: kisekirei, Ki-sekirei
Karelian: Keldavästäräkki
Latin: Calobates cinerea, Motacila cinerea, Motacilla boarula, Motacilla caspica, Motacilla cinerea
Lithuanian: Kalnine kiele
Mamasa: bi lolo
Malay: Burung Pipit Batu, Kedidi Kepala Kelabu
Maltese: Zakak tad-Dell
Dutch: Grote Gele Kwikstaart
Norwegian: Alpeerle, Gråerle, Vintererle
Napoletano-calabrese: Cudàstra
Polish: Pliszka cytrynowa, pliszka górska
Portuguese: alvéola cinzenta, Alvéola-cinzenta
Romansh: Ballacua da muntogna
Russian: Gornaya Tryasoguzka
Scots: Breac bain tighearna
Northern Sami: Dálvebeštor
Slovak: Trasochvost horský
Slovenian: siva pastirica
Albanian: Bishtatundësi i malit
Serbian: Gorska pliska, planinska pastirica, planinska pliska
Swedish: Forsärla
Swahili: Tikisa Kijivu

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

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

Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes.

Quail, Kwartel, Wachtel, Codorniz, Codorniz Común

Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae. The buttonquail are not quail at all, are named more for their appearance superficially resembling quail, and are members of the Turnicidae family, more closely related to the Charadriiformes. The King Quail, a member of the Old World quail, is often sold in the pet trade and is commonly referred to there as a "button quail". Many of the common larger species are farm raised for table food or egg consumption, and are hunted on game farms or in the wild, where they are sometimes artificially stocked to supplement the wild population, or extend into areas they are normally not found naturally.

The collective noun for a group of quail is a covey.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Afrikaanse Kwartel
Asturian: Parpayuela
Azerbaijani: Bildirçin
Breton: Ar goailh-soul, Goailh, koailh
Catalan: Guàtlera, Guatlla
Catalan (Balears): Guàtlera
Welsh: Rhinc, sofliar
Danish: Vagtel
German: Wachtel, Wachtel-coturnix
English: Common quail, Eurasian Common Quail, European Migratory Quail, European Quail, Quail
Esperanto: koturno
Spanish: codorniz, Codorníz, Codorniz Comun, Codorniz Común, Codorniz europea-coturnix, guatla
Estonian: Poldvutt, Põldvutt , vutt
Basque: galeper, Galeperra, Guatlla
Finnish: Viiriäinen
Faroese: Lynghani, Pippus, vaktil
French: Caille commune, Caille des blés, Caille d'Europe
Friulian: cuaie
Frisian: kwartel
Irish: gearg, paspallás
Gaelic: Gearradh Gort
Galician: Guatlla, Paspallás
Manx: Eean Feie, quayl
Croatian: Prepelica
Hungarian: fürj
Icelandic: Kornhæna
Italian: quaglia, Quaglia comune, Quaglia dx
Japanese: yoaroppauzura, Yooroppa uzura
Cornish: rynk
Kwangali: Erurumbe
Latin: Coturnix coturnix, Coturnix coturnix africana, Coturnix coturnix coturnix
Ladino: caia
Lithuanian: Piepala, putpele
Latvian: paipala
Malagasy: Papelika
Macedonian: potpološka
Maltese: summiena
Dutch: Kwartel
Norwegian: vaktel
Sotho, Northern: Sekhwiri
Occitan: catla
Polish: przepiórka, przepiórka (zwyczajna), przepiórka zwyczajna
Portuguese: Codorniz, Codorniz comum, Codorniz-comum
Romansh: quacra, quaiglia
Romanian: prepelita
Romany: dropya
Russian: obyknovennyj perepe
Sardinian: bebberecche, cancarau, Circùiri, cìrcuri, concarada
Scots: gearradh-gort
Northern Sami: goaktil
Slovak: prepelica
Slovenian: prepelica
Shona: Huta
Albanian: shkurta
Serbian: prepelica
Sotho, Southern: Koekoe
Swedish: Vaktel
Swahili: Tombo, Tomboo, Tomboro, Tomboroko
Tswana: Tshosabannê
Tsonga: Khevezi
Zulu: isiGwaca

Birding Holiday Packages and Bird Tours.

Your stay in Portugal is hosted at Monte Horizonte, a small 6 houses self catering family-run eco-resort on the hills 5 kilometers south of Santiago do Cacém.  The lodge is in the middle of nowhere, very peaceful, surrounded by its own gardens and, with a complete absence of any traffic noise at all, is a real break from the hustle and bustle with a friendly, helpful atmosphere.  For the active, swimming, bicycling and walking are always on offer and the beach is only 15 minutes away. We offer several Bird Tours in the region and below are two examples.  Of course we can also plan tours according to your wishes and duration.

Bird Tours:

Bird tour 1: We offer half day and full day tours to the Lagoa de Santo André.

We will make a round tour and stay at several spots near the Lagoa de Santo André for 3 hours. The full day tour does include lunch and has a duration of 8 hours of which we will spent 6 hours at the Lagoa de Santo André.

Best season: All year

List of Special Birds:

 Purple Heron ( Ardea purpurea ), Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus roseus ), Gadwall ( Anas strepera ), Garganey ( Anas querquedula ), Red-Chrested Pochard ( Netta rufina ), Pochard ( Aythya ferina ), Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ), Hobby ( Falco subbuteo ), Little Tern ( Sterna albifrons ), Great Reed Warbler ( Acrocephalus scirpaceus ), Savi´s Warbler ( Locustella luscinioides ), Purple Swamhen ( Porphyrio porphyrio ), Squacco Heron ( Ardeola ralloides ). 

List of Other Birds:

Little Greb ( Tachybaptus ruficollis ), Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo ), Glossy Ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus ), Teal ( Anas crecca ), Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ), Marsh Herrier ( Circus aeruginosus ), Coot ( Fulica atra ), Moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus ), Black-winged Stilt ( Himantopus himantopus ), Kentish Plover ( Charadrius alexandrinus ), Snipe ( Gallinago gallinago ), Black-tailed Godwit ( Limosa limosa ), Yello-legged Gull ( Larus michahellis ), Green Woodpecker ( Picus viridis ), Great Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ), Great Reed Warbler ( Acrocephalus arundinaceus ), Nuthatch ( Sitta europaea ), Short-toed Treecreeper ( Certhia brachydactyla ), Azure-winged Magpie ( Cyanopica cyanus )

List of Rare Birds:

Black-throated Loon ( Gavia arctica ), White Pelican ( Pelecanus onocrotalus ), Barnacle Goose ( Branta leucopsis ), Brent Goose ( Branta bernicla ), Blue-winged Teal ( Anas discors ), Marbled Duck ( Marmaronetta angustirostris ),
Green-winged Teal ( Anas carolinensis ), Ruddy Duck ( Oxyura jamaicensis ), Ferruginious Duck ( Aythya nyroca ), 
Ring-necked Duck ( Aythya collaris ), Red-knobbed Coot ( Fulica cristata ), Cream-coloured Courser ( Cursorius cursor ), Pectora Sandpiper ( Calidris melanotos ), Red-necked Phalarope ( Phalaropus lobatus ), Slender-billed Gull ( Larus genei ), Ring-billed Gull ( Larus delawarensis ), White-winged Tern ( Chlidonias leucopterus ), Richard´s Pipit ( Anthus richardi ), Red-throated Pipit ( Anthus cervinus ), Citrine Wagtail ( Motacilla citreola ), Paddyfield Warbler ( Acrocephalus agricola ), Aquatic Warbler ( Acrocephalus paludicola ), Moustached Warbler ( Acrocephalus melanopogon ), Little Bunting ( Emberiza pusilla ), Pallas´s Reed Bunting ( Emberiza pallasi )

Prices:
Half Day Private Tour
1 person – 70 €
2 persons – 110 €
3 persons – 150 €
4 persons – 190 €

Full Day Private Tour  (including lunch)
1 person – 120 €
2 persons – 160 €
3 persons – 210 €
4 persons – 240 €

Bird tour 2: We offer full day tours ( 8 hours) to the Alentejo Plains (inland) including lunch.

During our tour we will visit the Special Protection Area Castro Verde area famous of it´s Great Bustards.

This SPA also holds important populations of Black-bellied sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis), Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra), Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) and Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus) and, furthermore, it is a breeding area for the Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) as well as the main breeding area of the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) in Portugal.

During the winter we can find important densities of Cranes (Grus grus), Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus), Golden plovers (Pluvialis apricaria) and Skylarks (Alauda arvensis). There is a regular presence of winter birds of prey such as the Red Kite (Milvus milvus) and the Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus). The fallow lands and pastures are important feed zones for the Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), the Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) and the Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus). 

Full Day Private Tour  (including lunch)
1 person – 160 €
2 persons – 200 €
3 persons – 240 €
4 persons – 280 €

Bookings: The months July, August and September at least five nights.

Pricelist 2012, VAT included

Price per Night	Extra bed 25 euros/night	Extra bed 25 euros/night	Extra bed 25 euros/night	Extra bed 25 euros/night	Extra bed 25 euros/night	Extra bed 25 euros/night	Extra bed 25 euros/night
January	60	60	60	80	80	90	160
Februari	60	60	60	80	80	90	160
March	65	65	65	85	85	95	170
April	70	70	70	90	90	100	180
May	75	75	75	95	95	105	190
June	80	80	80	100	100	110	200
July	90	90	90	125	125	135	250
August	110	110	110	150	150	170	300
September	90	90	90	125	125	135	250
Oktober	70	70	70	90	90	100	180
November	60	60	60	80	80	90	160
December	60	60	60	80	80	90	160

The Christmas holidays, Carnival and Easter are considered peak season with the same price as the month of July.

Eco resort Monte Horizonte is a licensed rural tourism by Turismo de Portugal and located in the wonderful Alentejo region of Portugal at only 15 kms from the beach and just five kms to the historic city Santiago do Cacém. It is run completely on solar and wind energy.

Birdwatching tours and trips in the Alentejo region of Portugal.

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

The Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) is a small wader (shorebird) of the Old World. It represents an ancient lineage of the genus Tringa; its only close living relative is the Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria). They both have brown wings with little light dots and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern. In addition, both species nest in trees, unlike most other scolopacids.

Green Sandpiper, Witgatje, Waldwasserläufer, Pássaro-bique-bique, Andarríos Grande

Given its basal position in Tringa, it is fairly unsurprising that suspected cases of hybridisation between this species and the Common Sandpiper (A. hypoleucos) of the sister genus Actitis have been reported.

This species is a somewhat plump wader with a dark greenish-brown back and wings, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. The back is spotted white to varying extents, being maximal in the breeding adult, and less in winter and young birds. The legs and short bill are both dark green.

It is conspicuous and characteristically patterned in flight, with the wings dark above and below and a brilliant white rump. The latter feature reliably distinguishes it from the slightly smaller but otherwise very similar Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitaria) of North America.

In flight it has a characteristic three-note whistle.

It breeds across subarctic Europe and Asia and is a migratory bird, wintering in southern Europe and Asia, and tropical Africa. Food is small invertebrate items picked off the mud as this species works steadily around the edges of its chosen pond.

This is not a gregarious species, although sometimes small numbers congregate in suitable feeding areas. Green Sandpiper is very much a bird of freshwater, and is often found in sites too restricted for other waders, which tend to like a clear all-round view.

It lays 2–4 eggs in an old tree nest of another species, such as a Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). The clutch takes about three weeks to hatch.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Witgatruiter
Asturian: Andarríu Prietu, Mazaricu Prietu
Azerbeidzjaans: Qara trinqa
Bretons: Ar strelleg pastellek
Catalaans: Becassineta, Garsa de mar, Xivita
Catalan (Balears): Becassineta
Valencian: Garsa de mar
Tsjechisch: Vodouš kropenatý
Welsh: Pibydd gwyrdd, Pibydd gwyrdd y traeth
Deens: Svaleklire
Duits: Waldwasserlaeufer, Waldwasserläufer
Engels: Green Sandpiper
Esperanto: blankpuga tringo
Spaans: Andarrios grande, Andarríos Grande
Ests: Metstilder
Baskisch: Kuliska ilun, Kuliska iluna, Xivita
Fins: Metsäviklo
Faeröers: Flykrustelkur
Frans: Chevalier culblanc, Chevalier cul-blanc
Iers (Gaëlisch): Gobadán Glas
Schots (Gaëlisch): Luatharan Uaine
Galicisch: Bilurico alinegro, Xivita
Manx: Looyran mooar
Kroatisch: Crnokrila Prutka, Pjegava prutka
Hongaars: Erdei cankó
Indonesisch: Trinil Hijau
IJslands: Trjástelkur
Italiaans: Piro piro culbianco, Piro-piro culbianco
Japans: kusashigi, Kusa-shigi
Cornish: Pyber gwer
Latijn: Helodromas ocrophus, Helodromas ocropus, Totanus ochropus, Totanus ocropus, Tringa ochrophus, Tringa ochropus, Tringa ocrophus
Litouws: Brastinis tilvikas, Titilvikas
Maleis: Kedidi Pasir Hijau
Maltees: Swejda
Nederlands: Witgat, Witgatje
Noors: Skogsneppen, Skogsnipe
Pools: Brodziec samotny, Brodziec zóltonogi
Portugees: bique bique, Bique-bique, Maçarico-bique-bique, Pássaro-bique-bique, Perna-verde-fino
Romaans: Trintga da guaud
Schots: Luatharan uaine
Slovaaks: Kalužiak perlavý
Sloveens: pikasti martinec
Albanees: Qyrylyku këmbëpërhimë
Servisch: prudnik pijukavac
Zweeds: Skogssnäppa
Swahili: Chamchanga Kijani

The Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor is a passerine bird in the starling family Sturnidae. It is closely related to the Common Starling S. vulgaris, but has a much more restricted range, confined to the Iberian Peninsula, northwest Africa, southernmost France, and on the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica. It is largely non-migratory.

Spotless Starling, Zwarte Spreeuw, Einfarbstar, Estorninho-preto, Estornino Negro

The adult Spotless Starling is very similar to the Common Starling, but marginally larger (21–23 cm length; 70–100 g weight), and has darker, oily-looking black plumage, slightly purple- or green-glossed in bright light, which is entirely spotless in spring and summer, and only with very small pale spots in winter plumage, formed by the pale tips of the feathers. It also differs in having conspicuously longer throat feathers (twice the length of those on Common Starlings), forming a shaggy 'beard' which is particularly obvious when the bird is singing. Its legs are bright pink. In summer, the bill is yellow with a bluish base in males and a pinkish base in females; in winter, it is duller, often blackish. Young birds are dull brown, darker than young Common Starlings, and have a black bill and brown legs. Confusion with the Common Starling is particularly easy during the winter when Common Starlings are abundant throughout the Spotless Starling's range, but also in summer where their breeding ranges overlap in northeastern Spain and the far south of France. It can also be confused with the Common Blackbird Turdus merula, which differs most obviously in its longer tail and lack of plumage gloss.

Like the Common Starling, it walks rather than hops, and has a strong direct flight, looking triangular-winged and short-tailed. It is a noisy bird, and a good mimic; its calls are very similar to the Common Starling's, but are louder.

The Spotless Starling uses a wide range of habitats, and can be found in any reasonable open environment from farmland and olive groves to human habitation. The highest population densities are in open grazed Holm Oak woods, and in urban habitats such as Gibraltar, where it is common. The population has grown in recent decades with a northward expansion in range, spreading to the whole of Spain (previously absent from the northeast) between 1950–1980, and colonising locally along the south coast of mainland France since 1983. Like its commoner relative, it is an omnivore, taking a wide variety of invertebrates, berries, and human-provided scraps. It is gregarious, forming sizeable flocks, often mixed with Common Starlings, of up to 100,000 in winter.

Like most starlings, it is a hole-nesting species, breeding in tree holes, buildings and in cliff crevices. It typically lays three to five eggs.

Other synonyms:

Asturian: Estornín
Catalan: Estornell negre
Catalan (Balears): Estornell negre
Danish: Ensfarvet Stær
German: Einfarbstar
Greek: Μαυροψ?ρονο
English: Black Starling, Mediterranean Starling, Sardinian Starling, Spotless Starling
Spanish: Estornino Negro
Estonian: ibeeria kuldnokk
Basque: Araba zozo beltza, Estornell negre
Finnish: Kustakottarainen, Mustakottarainen
French: Etourneau unicolore, Étourneau unicolore
Galician: Estornell negre , Estorniño negro
Icelandic: Gljástari
Italian: Storno nero
Japanese: mujihoshimukudori
Latin: Sturnus uniaolor, Sturnus unicolor
Maltese: Sturnell Iswed
Dutch: Zwarte Spreeuw
Norwegian: Middelhavsstær
Polish: szpak jednobarwny
Portuguese: Estorninho, estorninho preto, Estorninho-preto
Slovak: Ékorec jednofarebný, škorec jednofarebný
Slovenian: crni škorec
Swedish: Svart stare, Svartstare

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

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

The Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Northern Shoveller in British English, sometimes known simply as the Shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America, wintering in southern Europe, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Central and northern South America. It is a rare vagrant to Australia. In North America, it breeds along the southern edge of Hudson Bay and west of this body of water, and as far south as the Great Lakes west to Colorado, Nevada, and Oregon.

Northern Shoveler, Slobeend, Löffelente, Pato-trombeteiro, Cuchara Común

The Northern Shoveler is sometimes referred to by hunters as the "spoony". Other disparaging names, as compared to the mallard, are the "smiling mallard" and the "Poor Man's Mallard".

The Northern Shoveler is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. The conservation status of this bird is Least Concern.

This species is unmistakable in the northern hemisphere due to its large spatulate bill. The breeding drake has an iridescent dark green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by a white border. In early fall the male will have a white crescent on each side of the face. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake resembles the female.

The female is a drab mottled brown like other dabblers, with plumage much like a female Mallard, but easily distinguished by the long broad bill, which is gray tinged with orange on cutting edge and lower mandible. The female's forewing is gray.

They are 19 inches (48 cm) long and have a wingspan of 30 inches (76 cm) with a weight of 600 grams (1.3 lb).

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Europese Slopeend
Asturian: Coríu Cuyar, Cuchareta
Breton: An houad beg-golvazh
Catalan: Ànec cullerot, Cullerot
Catalan (Balears): Cullerot
Valencian: Cullerot
Welsh: Hwyaden biglydan, Hwyaden lydanbig
Danish: Skeand
German: Europäische Löffelente, Löffelente
English: Broad-nosed Duck, Common Shoveler, European Shoveler, European Shoveller, Northen Shoveller, Northern Shoveler, Northern Shoveler/Shoveler, Northern Shoveller, Shoveler, Shoveller, Spoonbill Duck
Esperanto: Kuleranaso
Spanish: Cuchara Común, Cuchareta, Pato Chucara, pato chucharón-norteño, Pato Cuchara, Pato cuchara común, Pato Cuchareta, Pato Cucharo, pato cucharón norteño, Pato Cucharón-norteño, Pato pico de cuchara
Estonian: Luitsnokk-part
Basque: Ahate mokozabala, Ànec cullerot
Finnish: Lapasorsa
Faroese: Skeiðont, Skeið-ont, Spónont, Spón-ont
French: Canard souchet, Canard souchet ordinaire, Souchet, Souchet ordinaire
Frisian: Slob
Irish: Slapaire, Spadalach
Gaelic: Gob-Leathann, Lach a'ghuib Leathainn
Galician: Ànec cullerot, Cullerete
Manx: Thunnag ny Sleryst, Thunnag y cleayst
Haitian Creole French: Jeneral
Croatian: Patka Žlicarka
Hungarian: Kanalas réce, Kanalasréce
Icelandic: Skeiðönd
Italian: Mestolone, Mestolone comune
Japanese: hashibirogamo, Hashi-biro-gamo, Hashibiro-gamo, Kuchi-gamo
Cornish: Gelvyn ledan
Latin: Anas clypeata, Anas spathula, Spatula clypeata
Malay: Itik Paruh Sudu
Maltese: Palettuna
Dutch: Slobeend
Norwegian: Skjeand, Skovland
Polish: plaskonos
Portuguese: pato trombeteiro, Pato-colhereiro, Pato-trombeteiro, Pato-trombeteiro-europeu
Romansh: Anda da la palutta
Russian: Shirokonoska
Scots: Lach a'ghuib leathainn
Northern Sami: Bastesuorsi
Slovenian: raca žlicarica
Albanian: Sqepluga
Serbian: patka kašikara, Plovka kašikara
Swedish: Skedand
Swahili: Sepeto

The Little Tern, Sternula albifrons or Sterna albifrons, is a seabird of the tern family Sternidae. It was formerly placed into the genus Sterna, which now is restricted to the large white terns (Bridge et al., 2005). The former North American (S. a. antillarum) and Red Sea S. a. saundersi subspecies are now considered to be separate species, the Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) and Saunders's Tern (Sternula saundersi).
.

Little Tern, Dwergstern, Zwergseeschwalbe, Andorinha-do-mar-anã, Charrancito Común

This bird breeds on the coasts and inland waterways of temperate and tropical Europe and Asia. It is strongly migratory, wintering in the subtropical and tropical oceans as far south as South Africa and Australia.

There are three subspecies, the nominate albifrons occurring in Europe to North Africa and western Asia; guineae of western and central Africa; and sinensis of East Asia and the north and east coasts of Australia (Higgins and Davies, 1996).

The Little Tern breeds in colonies on gravel or shingle coasts and islands. It lays two to four eggs on the ground. Like all white terns, it is defensive of its nest and young and will attack intruders.

Like most other white terns, the Little Tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, usually from saline environments. The offering of fish by the male to the female is part of the courtship display.

This is a small tern, 21–25 cm long with a 41–47 cm wingspan. It is not likely to be confused with other species, apart from Fairy Tern and Saunders's Tern, because of its size and white forehead in breeding plumage. Its thin sharp bill is yellow with a black tip and its legs are also yellow. In winter, the forehead is more extensively white, the bill is black and the legs duller. The call is a loud and distinctive creaking noise.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Kleinseeswael , Kleinsterretjie
Asturian: Garrochín Nanu
Azerbaijani: Kiçik sterna
Breton: Ar skravig c'hwiton
Catalan: Llambritja menuda, Xatrac d'albufera, Xatrac menut
Catalan (Balears): Llambritja menuda
Valencian: Xatrac d'albufera
Czech: Rybák malý
Welsh: Morwennol fechan, Morwennol lleiaf
Danish: Dværgterne
German: Zwergseeschwalbe
English: Least Tern, Little Tern
Spanish: Charrancito, Charrancito Común, Gaviota golondrina común, Gaviotín Chico, Gaviotín golondrina, Golondrina-marina Comun
Estonian: Väiketiir
Basque: Txenada txikia, Xatrac menut
Finnish: Pikkutiira
Faroese: Fruntaterna
French: Sterne naine
Irish: Geabhróg Bheag
Guadeloupean Creole French: Petite mauve
Gaelic: Steàirdean, Steàrnag Bheag
Galician: Carrán pequeno, Xatrac menut
Manx: Gant Beg
Haitian Creole French: Ti Mòv piti
Croatian: Mala Cigra
Hungarian: Kis csér
Indonesian: Dara laut kecil, Daralaut Kecil, Dara-laut kecil
Icelandic: Dvergþerna
Italian: Fraticello
Japanese: koajisashi, Ko-ajisashi
Cornish: Morwennol lyha
Latin: Sterna albifrons, Sternula albifrons
Lithuanian: Mažoji žuvedra
Malay: Camar Kecil
Dutch: Dwergstern
Norwegian: Dvergterne
Polish: rybitwa bialoczelna
Portuguese: andorinha do mar anã, Andorinha-do-mar-anã, Gaivina-pequena, Trinta-reis, Trinta-reis-boreal
Romansh: Pestgarel pitschen
Russian: Malaya Krachka
Scots: Stearnag bheag
Slovenian: mala cigra
Albanian: Dallëndyshe deti ballëbardhë
Serbian: mala cigra
Swedish: Småtärna
Swahili: Shakwe Mdogo

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a small heron, 44–47 centimetres (17–19 in) long, of which the body is 20–23 centimetres (7.9–9.1 in), with 80–92 centimetres (31–36 in) wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.
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Squacco Heron, Ralreiger, Rallenreiher, Papa-ratos, Garcilla Cangrejera

The squacco heron is a migrant, wintering in Africa. It is rare north of its breeding range. This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back.

In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.

The squacco heron's breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries. The birds nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. 3-4 eggs are laid.

They feed on fish, frogs and insects.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Ralreier
Asturian: Garcina de Cámbaros
Breton: Ar gerc'heiz-kranked
Catalan: Martinet ros, Toret
Catalan (Balears): Toret
Czech: Volavka vlasatá
Welsh: Crëyr melyn
Danish: Tophejre
German: Rallenreiher
English: Common Squacco Heron, Squacco Heron, Squacco Pond Heron, Squacco Pond-Heron
Esperanto: Ralardeo
Spanish: Garcilla Cangrejera
Estonian: Koldhaigur, koldhaigur (tiigihaigur)
Basque: Lertxuntxo karramarrozalea, Martinet ros
Finnish: Rääkkähaikara
Faroese: Topphegri
French: Crabier chevelu, Héron crabier, Héron crabier chevelu
Irish: Corr Scréachach
Galician: Garza caranguexeira, Martinet ros
Croatian: Žuta Caplja, Žuta ?aplja
Hungarian: Üstökös gém, Üstökösgém
Icelandic: Relluhegri
Italian: Sgarza ciuffetto
Japanese: kammurisagi, kanmurisagi
Kwangali: Hakaruu
Latin: Ardeola ralloides, Ardeola ralloides ralloides
Lithuanian: Geltonasis garnelis
Malagasy: Andevondangoro, Fiandrivoditatatra, Fiandrivoditatratra, Mpiandrivoditatatra, Mpiandrivoditatra, Mpiandrivodytatatra, vano
Maltese: Agrett Isfar
Dutch: Ralreiger
Norwegian: Topphegre
Polish: czapla modronosa
Portuguese: garça-carangueijeira, Garça-caranguejeira, papa ratos, Papa-ratos
Romansh: Irun brin
Russian: Zholtaya Tsaplya
Albanian: Çapka e verdhë
Serbian: žuta caplja
Sotho, Southern: Kokolofitoe
Swedish: Rallhäger
Swahili: Kingoyo Njano

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia. The group is treated either as a single family, Alcedinidae, or as a suborder Alcedines containing three families, Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). There are roughly 90 species of kingfisher. All have large heads, long, sharp, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. Most species have bright plumage with little differences between the sexes. Most species are tropical in distribution, and a slight majority are found only in forests. They consume a wide range of prey as well as fish, usually caught by swooping down from a perch. Like other members of their order they nest in cavities, usually tunnels dug into the natural or artificial banks in the ground. A few species, principally insular forms, are threatened with extinction.

Common Kingfisher, Ijsvogel, Eisvogel, Guarda-rios-comum, Martín Pescador Común

The smallest species of kingfisher is the African Dwarf Kingfisher (Ispidina lecontei), which averages at 10.4 g and 10 cm (4 inches). The largest overall is the Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima), at an average of 355 g (13.5 oz) and 45 cm (18 inches). However, the familiar Australian kingfisher known as the Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) may be the heaviest species, since large individuals exceeding 450 g (1 lb) are not rare.

The plumage of most kingfishers is bright, with green and blue being the most common colours. The brightness of the colours is neither the product of iridescence (except in the American kingfishers) or pigments, but is instead caused by the structure of the feathers, which causes scattering of blue light (the Tyndall effect). In most species there are no differences between the sexes, when there are differences they are quite small (less than 10%).

The kingfishers have a long, dagger-like bill. The bill is usually longer and more compressed in species that hunt fish, and shorter and more broad in species that hunt prey off the ground. The largest and most atypical bill is that of the Shovel-billed Kookaburra, which is used to dig through the forest floor in search of prey. They generally have short legs, although species that feed on the ground have longer tarsi. Most species have four toes, three of which are forward pointing.

The irises of most species are dark brown. The kingfishers have excellent vision; they are capable of binocular vision and are thought in particular to have good colour vision. They have restricted movement of their eyes within the eye sockets, instead using head movements in order to track prey. In addition they are able to compensate for the refraction of water and reflection when hunting prey underwater, and are able to judge depth underwater accurately. They also have nictitating membranes that cover the eyes when they hit the water in order to protect them; in the Pied Kingfisher has a bony plate which slides across the eye when the bird hits the water.

While kingfishers are often associated with fish, most species also consume other prey. Here a Collared Kingfisher in Saipan has caught a lizard.

The kingfishers feed on a wide variety of items. They are most famous for hunting and eating fish, and some species do specialise in catching fish, but other species take crustaceans, frogs and other amphibians, annelid worms, molluscs, insects, spiders, centipedes, reptiles (including snakes) and even birds and mammals. Individual species may specialise in a few items or take a wide variety of prey, and for species with large global distributions different populations may have different diets. Woodland and forest kingfishers take mainly insects, particularly grasshoppers, whereas the water kingfishers are more specialised in taking fish. The Red-backed Kingfisher has been observed hammering into the mud nests of Fairy Martins to feed on their nestlings. Kingfishers usually hunt from an exposed perch, when a prey item is observed the kingfisher swoops down to snatch it, then returns to the perch. Kingfishers of all three families beat larger prey on a perch in order to kill the prey and to dislodge or break protective spines and bones. Having beaten the prey it is manipulated and then swallowed. The Shovel-billed Kookaburra uses its massive wide bill as a shovel in order to dig for worms in soft mud.

Kingfishers are territorial, some species defending their territories vigorously. They are generally monogamous, although cooperative breeding has been observed in some species. In a few species cooperative breeding is quite common, for example the laughing Kookaburra, where helpers aid the dominant breeding pair in raising the young.

Like many forest living kingfishers, the Yellow-billed Kingfisher often nests in arboreal termite nests

Like all Coraciiformes, the kingfishers are cavity nesters, with most species nesting in holes dug in the ground. These holes are usually in earth banks on the sides of rivers, lakes or man-made ditches. Some species may nest in holes in trees, the earth clinging to the roots of an uprooted tree, or arboreal nests of termites (termitarium). These termite nests are common in forest species. The nests take the form of a small chamber at the end of a tunnel. Nest-digging duties are shared between the sexes. During the initial excavations the bird may fly at the chosen site with considerable force, and birds have injured themselves fatally while doing this. The length of the tunnels varies by species and location, nests in termitariums are necessarily much shorter than those dug into the earth, and nests in harder substrates are shorter than those in soft soil or sand. The longest tunnels recorded are those of the Giant Kingfisher, which have been found to be 8.5 m long.

The eggs of kinfishers are invariably white and glossy. The typical clutch size varies by species; some of the very large and very small species lay as few as two eggs per clutch, whereas others may lay 10 eggs, the average is around three to six eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs.

Other synonyms:

Asturian: Verderríos
Breton: An diredig sant Gwennole, Evn-glas, Labous-sant-Nikolaz, Labous-sant-Wennole
Catalan: Arner, Blauet, Falcia
Catalan (Balears): Arner
Valencian: Falcia
Cebuano: uwak-bata
Welsh: Glas y dorlan, Glas y geulan, Pysgotwr
Danish: Isfugl
German: Eisvogel
English: Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Kingfisher, European Kingfisher, Kingfisher, River Kingfisher, Ruddy kingfisher, Small Blue Kingfisher
Esperanto: alciono
Spanish: Martin Pescador, Martín Pescador, Martín pescador común, Martín Pescador de Eurasia
Estonian: Jäälind, lõuna-jäälind
Basque: Blauet, Martin arrantzale, Martin arrantzalea
Finnish: Kuningaskalastaja
Faroese: Ísfuglur, Kyrrfuglur
French: Martin-pêcheur, Martin-pêcheur d'Europe
Irish: Cruidín, Iscaire cóirneach, Murlach
Gaelic: Biorra-Crùidein
Galician: Birrio, Blauet, Picapeixe
Manx: Eeasteyr beg ny hawin, Ushag Awiney
Croatian: Vodomar, Vodomar ribar
Hungarian: Jégmadár
Indonesian: Idjowelanda, Idju-idju walanda, Raja udang sungai, Rajaudang Erasia, Raja-udang Erasia
Icelandic: Bláþyrill
Italian: Martin pescatore, Martin pescatore comune, Martin pescatore eurasiatico
Japanese: kawasemi, kawa-semi
Latin: Alcedo atthis
Lithuanian: Tulžys, Žuvininink?lis
Dutch: IJsvogel
Norwegian: Isfugl, Kongsfisker
Polish: Jerzyk maly, Jerzyk ma?y, zimorodek, zimorodek (zwyczajny), Zimorodek obro?ny, Zimorodek zwyczajny
Portuguese: guarda rios comum, Guarda-rios, Guarda-rios-comum, Martim-pescador
Romansh: Pestgaderin
Russian: Obyknovenny Zimorodok
Sardinian: Aciufa aciufa
Scots: Biorra cruidein
Slovenian: vodomec
Albanian: Bilbil uji, Bilbili peshkatar
Swedish: Kungsfiskare
Swahili: Mbayuwayu
Turkmen: Zaply

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), also known as the African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule or Purple Coot, is a large bird in the family Rallidae (rails). From its name in French, talève sultane, it is also known as the Sultana Bird. This chicken-sized bird, with its huge feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily-recognisable in its native range. It should not be confused with the American Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica.

Purple Swamphen, Purperkoet, Purpurhuhn, Caimão, Calamón Común

There are 13 or more subspecies of the Purple Swamphen (depending on the authority) which differ mainly in plumage colour. The subspecies groups are: P. p. porphyrio in the Mediterranean, P. p. madagascariensis in Africa, P. p. poliocephalus in tropical Asia, P. p. melanotus in much of Australasia, P. p. indicus in Indonesia and P. p. pulverulentis in the Philippines. European birds are overall purple-blue, African and south Asian birds have a green back, and Australasian and Indonesian birds have black backs and heads.

The species is highly dispersive. Purple Swamphens are considered to be the ancestors of several island species including the extinct Lord Howe Swamphen and two species of Takah? in New Zealand. On islands where closely related species have become extinct or declined due to human interference, such as New Zealand or New Caledonia, this species has established itself relatively recently.

The species has a very loud explosive call described as a "raucous high-pitched screech, with a subdued musical tuk-tuk". It is particularly noisy during the breeding season. Despite being clumsy in flight it can fly long distances, and it is a good swimmer, especially for a bird without webbed feet.

The Purple Swamphens are generally seasonal breeders, but the season varies across their large range, correlating with peak rainfall in many places, or summer in more temperate climes. The Purple Swamphen breeds in warm reed beds. The male has an elaborate courtship display, holding water weeds in his bill and bowing to the female with loud chuckles. In the western parts of the range the pattern of social behaviour tends to be monogamy, but cooperative breeding groups are more common in the eastern parts of the range. These groups may consist of multiple females and males sharing a nest or a male female pair with helpers drawn from previous clutches.

Pairs nest in a large pad of interwoven reed flags, etc., on a mass of floating debris or amongst matted reeds slightly above water level in swamps, clumps of rushes in paddocks or long unkempt grass. Multiple females may lay in the one nest and share the incubation duties. Each bird can lay 3–6 speckled eggs, pale yellowish stone to reddish buff, blotched and spotted with reddish brown.

A communal nest may contain up to 12 eggs. The incubation period is 23–27 days, and is performed by both sexes as well as any helpers that might be present. The precocious chicks are feathered with downy black feathers and able to leave the nest soon after hatching, but will often remain in the nest for a few days. Young chicks are fed by their parents (and group members) for between 10–14 days, after which they begin to feed themselves.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Grootkoningriethaan
Catalan: Gall faver, Polla blava
Catalan (Balears): Gall faver
Czech: Grootkoningriethaan
Danish: Sultanhøne
German: Purpurhuhn
English: European Purple Gallinule, Purple Gallinule, Purple Swamphen, Purple Swamp-hen, West Mediterranean Purple Swamphen, Western Swamphen
Spanish: Calamón Común
Estonian: Sultantait
Basque: Polla blava, Uroilo urdina
Finnish: Sulttaanikana
Faroese: Brandnev
French: Porphyrion bleu, Poule sultane, Talève sultane
Irish: Cearcóg chorcra
Galician: Polla blava
Hindi: Tanneer kozhi
Hungarian: Kék fú
Indonesian: Mandar Besar
Icelandic: Bláhæna
Italian: Pollo sultano
Japanese: Seikei
Latin: Porphyrio porphyrio, Porphyrio porphyrio porphyrio
Malagasy: Talecana, Talevanabe, Vatry
Maori: pukeko
Malay: Pangling
Dutch: Purperkoet
Norwegian: Sultanhøne
Polish: modrzyk
Portuguese: Caimão
Romansh: Pulsauna sultana
Slovak: sliepo?ka modrá, sultánka modrá 
Slovenian: afriška sultanka, sultanka
Swedish: Purpurhöna
Swahili: Shaunge Zambarau
Turkish: Sazhorozu
Vietnamese: Xít

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle or fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts, with a black eye patch and wings.

Osprey, Visarend, Fischadler, Águia-pescadora, Aguila Pescadora

The Osprey tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant.

As its other common name suggests, the Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It has evolved specialised physical characteristics and exhibits unique behaviour to assist in hunting and catching prey. As a result of these unique characteristics, it has been given its own taxonomic genus, Pandion and family, Pandionidae. Four subspecies are usually recognised. Despite its propensity to nest near water, the Osprey is not a sea-eagle.

The Osprey is 0.9–2.1 kg (2.0–4.6 lb) in weight and 50–66 cm (20–26 in) with a 127–180 cm (50–71 in) wingspan. The upperparts are a deep, glossy brown, while the breast is white and sometimes streaked with brown, and the underparts are pure white. The head is white with a dark mask across the eyes, reaching to the sides of the neck. The irises of the eyes are golden to brown, and the transparent nictitating membrane is pale blue. The bill is black, with a blue cere, and the feet are white with black talons.  A short tail and long, narrow wings with four long, finger-like feathers, and a shorter fifth, give it a very distinctive appearance.

The sexes appear fairly similar, but the adult male can be distinguished from the female by its slimmer body and narrower wings. The breast band of the male is also weaker than that of the female, or is non-existent, and the underwing coverts of the male are more uniformly pale. It is straightforward to determine the sex in a breeding pair, but harder with individual birds.

The juvenile Osprey may be identified by buff fringes to the plumage of the upperparts, a buff tone to the underparts, and streaked feathers on the head. During spring, barring on the underwings and flight feathers is a better indicator of a young bird, due to wear on the upperparts.

In flight, the Osprey has arched wings and drooping "hands", giving it a gull-like appearance. The call is a series of sharp whistles, described as cheep, cheep or yewk, yewk. If disturbed by activity near the nest, the call is a frenzied cheereek

Other synonyms:

Czech: Orlovec rícní
Welsh: Gwalch y Pysgod
Danish: Fiskeørn
German: Fischadler
English: Osprey, Western Osprey
Spanish: Aguila Pescadora, Águila Pescadora, gavilán pescador, Guincho
Faroese: fiskiørn
French: Balbuzard pêcheur
Hungarian: Halászsas
Indonesian: Elang Tiram
Icelandic: Gjóður
Latin: Pandion haliaetus
Lithuanian: Žuvininkas
Dutch: Visarend
Norwegian: Fiskeørn
Portuguese: águia-pescadora
Slovak: kršiak rybár 
Swedish: Fiskgjuse
Vietnamese: Chim ó cá

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium to large bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is usually resident all year, except in the coldest parts of its range, and in the case of one subspecies.

Common Buzzard, Buizerd, Mäusebussard, Águia-d'asa-redonda, Ratonero común

The Common Buzzard measures between 40 and 58 cm (16 and 23 in) in length with a 109–136 cm (43–54 in) wingspan and a body mass of 427–1,364 g (0.94–3.01 lb), making it a medium-sized raptor.

This broad-winged raptor has a wide variety of plumages, and in Europe can be confused with the similar Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) and the only distantly related Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), which mimics the Common Buzzard's plumage for a degree of protection from Northern Goshawks[citation needed]. The plumage can vary in Britain from almost pure white to black, but is usually shades of brown, with a pale 'necklace' of feathers.

The Common Buzzard breeds in woodlands, usually on the fringes, but favours hunting over open land. It eats mainly small mammals, and will come to carrion. A great opportunist, it adapts well to a varied diet of pheasant, rabbit, other small mammals to medium mammals, snakes and lizards, and can often be seen walking over recently ploughed fields looking for worms and insects. The birds have incredible strength and are therefore able to pick up food of all weights.

Buzzards do not normally form flocks, but several may be seen together on migration or in good habitat. The Victorian writer on Dartmoor, William Crossing, noted he had on occasions seen flocks of 15 or more at some places. Though a rare occurrence, as many as 20 buzzards can be spotted in one field area, approximately 30 metres apart, so cannot be classed as a flock in the general sense, consisting of birds without a mate or territory. They are fiercely territorial, and, though rare, fights do break out if one strays onto another pair's territory, but dominant displays of aggression will normally see off the interloper. Pairs mate for life. To attract a mate (or impress his existing mate) the male performs a ritual aerial display before the beginning of spring. This spectacular display is known as 'the roller coaster'. He will rise high up in the sky, to turn and plummet downward, in a spiral, twisting and turning as he comes down. He then rises immediately upward to repeat the exercise.

The call is a plaintive peea-ay, similar to a cat's meow.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Bruinjakkalsvoel, Bruinjakkalsvoël
Asturian: Pardón, Zaperu
Azerbaijani: Adi sar
Bulgarian: obiknoven mišelov
Breton: Ar vaou boutin, baou, Zapelatz arrunt
Catalan: aligot, Aligot comú
Catalan (Balears): Aligot
Valencian: Aligot comú
Welsh: Bod teircail, Boda, Boda llwyd, Boncath, bwncath
Danish: Musvåge
German: Bussard, Maeusebussard, Mäusebussard, Mäusebussard-buto
Emiliano-romagnolo: Puiàn
English: Buzzard, Common buzzard, Eurasian buzzard, European Common Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard
Esperanto: buteo
Spanish: Aguila ratonera, buharro, Busardo Común, Busardo Ratonero, Ratonero común
Estonian: hiireviu
Basque: Aligot comú, zapelatz, Zapelatz arrunt, Zapelatz arrunta
Finnish: Hiirihaukka
Faroese: músvákur
French: buse, Buse des steppes, Buse variable, Épervier d'Europe
Friulian: cagne, poiane
Frisian: Mûzebiter, mûzefalk
Irish: bexato, clamhán, miñato
Gaelic: Clamhan
Galician: Aligot comú, Bexato, Miñato, Miñato común
Manx: shirragh
Croatian: mišar, Škanjac, Škanjac mišar
Hungarian: Egerészölyv, ölyv
Indonesian: Elang Buteo
Icelandic: Músvákur
Italian: Matàs, Poiana, Poiana comune, Poiana delle steppe, Poiana eurasiatica
Brescian: Matàs, Poiana
Japanese: Kuso-tobi, nosuri
Karelian: Hiirihaukku
Cornish: bargos
Kwangali: Siimbi
Latin: Buteo buteo, Buteo buteo buteo, Buteo vulpinus
Ladino: gabinel
Ladin: Gabinel
Lithuanian: Klykuolis, Paprastasis suopis, Piepis, suopis, Vakarinis suopis
Malay: Helang Gempal
Dutch: buizerd
Norwegian: musvåk, Ormhauk, Skjorvengje, Vasspip
Occitan: tartana
Polish: myszolów
Portuguese: águia de asa redonda, Águia-d'asa-redonda, Águia-de-asa-redonda, Bútio-comum, milhafre
Romansh: girun da mieurs
Romanian: sorecar
Romany: Worla, Worolo, worolo worla
Russian: kanjuk
Sardinian: Apayoni, atturistu, istore pudarzu, lepperadore, Pigana, pilloni farrancau, Spraperi, stori furapuddas, sutzulia, tappàiu, Tappayu,  tzampaghe, tzueddia, tzurrulliu, tzurulia, Zueddìa
Scots: àrmhaigh, Clamhan
Northern Sami: sáhpánboaimmáš, sáhpánfálli
Slovak: Myšiak hôrny, myšiak lesný, myšiak lesný (myšiak hôrny)
Slovenian: kanja, navadna kanja
Albanian: huta
Serbian: Jastreb mišar
Sotho, Southern: Khajoane
Swedish: Ormvråk
Swahili: Shakivale-nyika
Tswana: Phakwê
Venetian: Poia
Sorbian, Lower: pašturlica
Sorbian, Upper: paskulica, pašturlica

Birdwatching Alentejo Portugal

The marsh harriers are birds of prey of the harrier subfamily. They are medium-sized raptors and the largest and broadest-winged harriers. Most of them are associated with marshland and dense reedbeds. They are found almost worldwide, excluding only the Americas.

Marsh Harrier, Bruine Kiekendief, Rohrweihe, Tartaranhão-ruivo-dos-pauis, Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental

Until recently two species were generally recognized: the Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and the African Marsh Harrier (C. ranivorus). The Marsh Harrier is now usually split into several species, sometimes as many as six. These are the Western Marsh Harrier (C. aeruginosus), Eastern Marsh Harrier (C. spilonotus), Papuan Harrier (C. spilonotus spilothorax or C. spilothorax), Swamp Harrier (C. approximans), Réunion Harrier (C. maillardi maillardi or C. maillardi) and Madagascar Marsh Harrier (C. maillardi macrosceles or C. macrosceles).

The Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), often simply called the Marsh Harrier, breeds widely across Europe and Asia. It is migratory except in the mildest regions, and winters mainly in Africa. It hunts small mammals, insects and birds, surprising them as it drifts low over fields and reedbeds.

The Western Marsh Harrier is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages, but its plumages are quite different from those of its relatives. The male has wings with grey and brown sections and black wingtips. Its head, tail and underparts are greyish, except for the chestnut belly. The female is mainly brown with a cream crown and cream leading edge to her wings.

The Eastern Marsh Harrier (C. spilonotus) breeds in the grasslands and wetlands of southern Siberia, northern Mongolia, north-east China, Manchuria and Japan, and migrates for the northern winter to South-east Asia, the Philippines and northern Borneo.

Like all marsh harriers, it favours open, wet environments, and is frequently seen drifting low over ricefields, interspersing long, watchful circling glides with two or three slow, powerful wingbeats. Two subspecies are recognised: C. s. spilonotus of east Asia, and C. s. spilothorax, of New Guinea and the islands nearby, which is sometimes thought to be a separate species and is often called the Papuan Harrier.

The Swamp Harrier (C. approximans) at about 50 to 58 cm is slightly larger than C. spilonotus, often a little darker, and has less heavily barred wings and tail. It is commonly found in suitable habitat anywhere in Australasia, particularly in the higher rainfall areas to the east, south-east, and south-west, of Australia and throughout New Zealand, but also in the tropical north of Australia and the island groups of New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and the Society Islands. It is also known as the Australasian Harrier or Pacific Marsh Harrier.

The Madagascar Marsh Harrier or Madagascar Harrier (C. maillardi) is found on the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Réunion and the Comoros. It is sometimes split into two species: Madagascar Harrier (Circus macrosceles) and Réunion Harrier (C. maillardi).

The African Marsh Harrier (C. ranivorus) is a distinct non-migratory species that has not usually been included as a subspecies of C. aeruginosus. It inhabits southern and eastern Africa.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Europese Paddavreter, Europese Vleivalk
Asturian: Aguiluchu Prietu, Aiglina Llagunera
Breton: Ar skoul-korz
Catalan: Arpella, Arpella vulgar, Arpellot de marjal
Catalan (Balears): Arpella
Valencian: Arpellot de marjal
Czech: Moták pochop, pochop rákosný
Welsh: Bod y gwerni, Bod y wern, Boda'r gwerni, Boda'r y gors, Hebog y gors
Danish: Rørhøg
German: Europäische Rohrweihe, Rohrweihe
English: Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, European Marsh Harrier, European Marsh-Harrier, Marsh Harrier, Northern Marsh Harrier, Swamp Harrier, Western Marsh Harrier, Western Marsh-Harrier
Spanish: Aguillucho Lagunero, Aguilucho lagunero, Águilucho lagunero, Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental, Águilucho Lagunero Occidental
Estonian: Roo-loorkull
Basque: Arpella vulgar, Zingira mirotz, Zingira-mirotza
Finnish: Ruskosuohaukka
Faroese: Blotaheykur, Blotheykur
French: Busard des roseaux, Busard harpaye, Circaète Jean-le-Blanc
Irish: Cromán mona, Cromán Móna, Préachán na gcrearc
Gaelic: Clamhan Loin
Galician: Arpella vulgar, Tartaraña das xunqueiras
Manx: Shirragh ny bogleeyn
Hungarian: Barna rétihéja
Indonesian: Elang rawa, Elangrawa Katak
Icelandic: Brúnheiðir
Italian: Falco di palude
Japanese: chuuhi, yoaroppachuuhi, Yooroppa chuuhi, Youroppa-Chuuhi
Cornish: Helghyer gwern
Latin: Circus aeruginosus
Lithuanian: Nendrine linge
Latvian: Niedru lija
Maori: kahu
Dutch: Bruine Kiekendief
Norwegian: Brun kjerrhøk, Sivhauk
Polish: blotniak stawowy
Portuguese: tartaranhão dos pauis, Tartaranhão-dos-pauis, Tartaranhão-dos-pauis-africano, Tartaranhão-ruivo-dos-pauis, Tartaranhão-ruivo-dos-paúis
Romansh: Melv da channa
Scots: Clamhan loin
Slovenian: rjavi lunj
Albanian: Shqipja e kënetës
Serbian: eja mocvarica
Swedish: Brun kärrhök
Swahili: Kipondya wa Ulaya

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

The Pintail or Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) is a widely occurring duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator. Unusually for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies if the possibly con-specific Eaton's Pintail is considered to be a separate species.

Northern Pintail, Pijlstaart, Spießente, Arrabio, Ánade Rabudo

This is a fairly large duck, with a long pointed tail that gives rise to the species' English and scientific names. The Northern Pintail's many names describe the male's two long black tail feathers, which in flight look like a single pin or twig (thus, the nickname sprig). These feathers are very distinctive, accounting for a quarter of the total length of the drake when in full plumage.

Fast and graceful fliers, pintails are equipped with long wings, small heads, and long necks that seem built for streamlined aerodynamics. Both sexes have blue gray bills and gray legs and feet. The drake is more striking, having a thin white stripe running from the back of its chocolate-colored head down its neck to its mostly white undercarriage.

The drake also has attractive gray, brown, and black patterning on its back and sides. The hen's plumage is more subtle and subdued, with drab brown feathers similar to those of other female dabblers. Hens make a coarse quack and the drakes a flute-like whistle.

The Northern Pintail is a bird of open wetlands which nests on the ground, often some distance from water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting season. It is highly gregarious when not breeding, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck.

This duck's population is affected by predators, parasites and avian diseases. Human activities, such as agriculture, hunting and fishing, have also had a significant impact on numbers. Nevertheless, this species' huge range and large population mean that it is not threatened globally.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Pylsterteend
Asturian: Coríu Rabullargu, Coríu Raullargu
Azerbaijani: Bizquyruq
Catalan: Ànec cuallarg, Coer, Cua de jonc
Valencian: Cua de jonc
Welsh: Hwyaden gynffonfain, Hwyaden lostfain
Danish: Spidsand
German: Spießente, Spiessente-acuta
Emiliano-romagnolo: Culanz
English: Common Pintail, Common Pintail Duck, Holarctic Northern Pintail, Northern Pintail, Pintail
Esperanto: Pintvostanaso
Spanish: Anade rabudo, Ánade rabudo, Pato golondrino, Pato Golondrino Norteño, Pato Guineo, Pato Pescuecilargo, Pato rabilargo, Pato Rabo-de-gallo, Pato rabudo
Estonian: pahlsaba-part, Soopart, Soopart, pahlsaba-part 
Basque: Ahate buztanluze, Ahate buztanluzea, Ànec cuallarg
Finnish: Jouhisorsa
Faroese: Brimont, Brim-ont, Røtugás, Røtu-gás, Snælduont, Snældu-ont, Stikkont, Stikk-ont
French: Canard pilet, Canard pilet ordinaire, Pilet
Frisian: Pylksturt
Irish: Biorearrach, Lacha stiúrach
Gaelic: Lach Stiùireach
Galician: Ànec cuallarg, Pato rabilongo
Manx: Laagh Fammanagh
Haitian Creole French: Kanna pilè
Croatian: Patka Lastarka
Hungarian: Nyílfarkú réce
Indonesian: Itik Utara
Icelandic: Grafönd
Italian: Codone, Codone comune
Inuktitut: Ivurak, Kashluak
Japanese: onagagamo, O-naga-gamo, Onaga-gamo
Cornish: Hos Gwaf
Latin: Anas acuta, Anas acuta acuta, Dafila acuta acuta
Latvian: Garkaklis
Malay: Itik Ekor Runcing
Maltese: Silfjun
Dutch: Pijlstaart, Pijlstaart eend
Norwegian: Stjertand
Polish: rozeniec
Portuguese: Arrabio, marreca-arrebio
Romansh: Anda gita
Scots: Lach stiuireach
Northern Sami: Codone, Vuojaš
Slovak: Ka?ica ostrochvostá
Slovenian: dolgorepa raca
Albanian: Rosa bishtgjele
Swedish: Stjärtand
Swahili: Bata Kipini
Turkish: Kilkuyruk, kylkuyruk

The Crested Lark, Galerida cristata, breeds across most of temperate Eurasia from Portugal to northeast China and eastern India, and in Africa south to Niger. It is non-migratory, and the sedentary nature of this species is illustrated by the fact that it is only a very rare vagrant to Great Britain, despite breeding as close as northern France.  

Crested Lark,Kuifleeuwerik, Haubenlerche, Cotovia-de-poupa, Cogujada Común

The Crested Lark, Galerida cristata, breeds across most of temperate Eurasia from Portugal to northeast China and eastern India, and in Africa south to Niger. It is non-migratory, and the sedentary nature of this species is illustrated by the fact that it is only a very rare vagrant to Great Britain, despite breeding as close as northern France.

This is a common bird of dry open country and cultivation. It nests on the ground, laying two or three eggs. Its food is weed seeds and insects, the latter especially in the breeding season.

This is a smallish lark, slightly larger and plumper than the Skylark. It has a long spiky erectile crest. It is greyer than the Skylark, and lacks the white wing and tail edges of that species.

In flight it shows reddish underwings. The body is mainly dark-streaked grey above and whitish below. The song is melodious and varied, with mournful whistles and mimicry included.

Some care must be taken to distinguish this lark, which has many subspecies, from its close relatives in areas where they also occur. In the west of its range the Thekla Lark, Galerida theklae, is very similar, as is the Malabar Lark, Galerida malabarica, in western India.

Other synonyms:

Asturian: Crestellina
Catalan: Cogullada vulgar, Oroneta cua-blanca
Valencian: Oroneta cua-blanca
Czech: Chocholouš obecný
Welsh: Ehedydd copog
Danish: Toplærke
German: Haubenlerche
Emiliano-romagnolo: Rundanéna
English: Common Crested-Lark, Crested Lark
Esperanto: tufalaûdo
Spanish: Cagujada Común, Cogujada Comun, Cogujada común, Cojugada Común
Estonian: Tuttlõoke
Basque: Cogullada vulgar , Kutturlio arrunt, Kutturlio arrunta
Finnish: Töyhtökiuru, Työhtökiuru
Faroese: Topplerkur
French: Alouette cochevis, Cochevis huppé
Galician: Andoriña de cú branco, Cogullada vulgar , Cotovía cristada
Manx: Ushag happagh
Croatian: Kukmasta Ševa, Kukuljava ševa
Hungarian: Búbos pacsirta, Búbospacsirta
Icelandic: Topplævirki
Italian: Capellaccia, Cappellaccia, Cappellaccia comune
Japanese: kammurihibari, kanmurihibari, Kanmuri-hibari
Latin: Galerida cristata
Ligurian: Çeneento
Lithuanian: Kuoduotasis vieversys
Maltese: ?uqlajta tat-Toppu
Dutch: Kuifleeuwerik
Norwegian: Topplerke
Polish: dzierlatka, dzierlatka 
Portuguese: cotovia de poupa, Cotovia-de-poupa
Romansh: Lodola da la cresta
Russian: Khokhlaty Zhavoronok
Slovak: Pipíška chochlatá
Slovenian: copasti škrjanec
Albanian: Çerdhukull, Dervishi
Serbian: cubasta ševa
Swedish: Tofslärka
Swahili: Kipozamataza Kishungi, Suzanne
Turkish: Tepeli Tarla Ku?u, Tepeli toygar
 

The Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild), also known as the St Helena Waxbill, is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa but has been introduced to many other regions of the world and now has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km². It is popular and easy to keep in captivity. 

Common Waxbill, Sint-helenafazantje, Wellenastrild, Bico-de-lacre, Pico de Coral

It is a small bird, 11 to 13 centimetres in length with a wingspan of 12 to 14 centimetres and a weight of 7 to 10 grams. It has a slender body with short rounded wings and a long graduated tail. The bright red bill of the adult is the colour of sealing wax giving the bird its name. The plumage is mostly grey-brown, finely barred with dark brown. There is a red stripe through the eye and the cheeks and throat are whitish. There is often a pinkish flush to the underparts and a reddish stripe along the centre of the belly depending on the subspecies. The rump is brown and the tail and vent are dark. Females are similar to the males but are paler with less red on the belly. Juveniles are duller with little or no red on the belly, fainter dark barring and a black bill.

Similar species include the Black-rumped, Crimson-rumped and Black-lored Waxbills. The Black-rumped Waxbill is black rather than brown on the rump and has a pale vent (area underneath the tail). The Crimson-rumped Waxbill has a dark bill, red rump and some red on the wings and tail. The Black-lored Waxbill (found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo) has a black rather than red stripe through the eye.

The Common Waxbill has a variety of twittering and buzzing calls and a distinctive high-pitched flight-call. The simple song is harsh and nasal and descends on the last note.

There are about 17 subspecies distributed widely across much of Africa south of the Sahara. They are present in most parts of East, Central and Southern Africa except for regions of desert or dense forest. In West Africa they are more local with the main population centred on Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast. Common Waxbills inhabit open country with long grass and rank vegetation. They are often found near water in marshes and among reeds. They can be tame and will enter gardens, parks and farmland.

Birds have often escaped from captivity or been deliberately released. Breeding populations have become established in many places where the climate is sufficiently warm and where there is a sufficient supply of grass seeds. They are now found on many islands around Africa: Saint Helena, Ascension Island, the Cape Verde Islands, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, the Seychelles and Ile Amsterdam. They may possibly be native on some of these islands. In Europe the Common Waxbill has become widespread in Portugal and is spreading through Spain. There are small populations on Madeira and Gran Canaria and it has recently appeared on Tenerife and the Azores. In the Americas waxbills are found in Trinidad, several parts of Brazil and there are a few on Bermuda. In the Pacific there are populations on New Caledonia, Efate Island in Vanuatu, Tahiti and the Hawaiian Islands.In Spain ,in the largest cities it has been introduced in last ten years , now it's quite common to see it in Madrid , Barcelona, Valencia , and in Spanish-Portuguese boarders.

The nest is a large ball of criss-crossed grass stems with a long downward-pointing entrance tube on one side. It is built in a cavity, usually low down amongst dense vegetation. A rudimentary second nest ("cock's nest") may be built on top where the male sleeps. Four to seven white eggs are laid. They are incubated for 11 to 13 days and the young birds fledge 17 to 21 days after hatching. Both parents take part in incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks. The timing of the breeding season varies in different parts of the world. Nests may be parasitized by the Pin-tailed Whydah which lays its eggs in the nests of estrildid finches. In captivity they will breed in an aviary and can raise four broods in a year.

The diet consists mainly of grass seeds but insects are also eaten on occasions, especially during the breeding season when more protein is needed. The waxbills typically forage in flocks which may contain hundreds or even thousands of birds. They usually feed by clinging to the stems with their long, spindly claws and picking from the flower heads but they will also search for fallen seeds on the ground. They need to drink regularly as the seeds contain little water.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Rooibeksysie
Catalan: Bec de corall senegalès
Catalan (Balears): Bec de corall senegalès
Czech: astrild vlnkovaný
Danish: Helenaastrild
German: Wellenastrild
English: Common Waxbill
Spanish: Estrilda Común, Pico de Coral
Spanish (Uruguay): Pico de Lacre
Estonian: vahanokk-amadiin
Basque: Bec de corall senegalès
Finnish: vahanokka
French: Astrild ondulé
Galician: Bico de coral común
Icelandic: Fagurstrildi
Italian: Astrilde comune
Japanese: onagakaedechou
Kwangali: Katjikilili
Latin: Estrilda astrild
Lithuanian: Raiboji astrilda
Dutch: Sint-helenafazantje
Norwegian: Vatreastrild
Polish: astryld falisty
Portuguese: Bico-de-lacre
Portuguese (Brazil): Bico-de-lacre
Russian: ????????? ????????
Sotho, Southern: Borahane
Swedish: Helenaastrild
Swahili: Mshigi Kawaida
Turkish: Mumgaga
Tsonga: Xindzingiri bhanga
Xhosa: Intshiyane
Zulu: iNtiyane

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The Red Phalarope (called Grey Phalarope in Europe), Phalaropus fulicarius, is a small wader.

Red Phalarope, Rosse Franjepoot, Thorshunchen, Falaropo Picogrueso, Falaropo-de-bico-grosso

This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. It is migratory, and, unusually for a wader, migrating mainly on oceanic routes and wintering at sea on tropical oceans.

Red Phalarope is about 21 cm (8 inches) in length, with lobed toes and a straight bill, somewhat thicker than that of Red-necked Phalarope. The breeding female is predominantly dark brown and black above, with red underparts and white cheek patches. The bill is yellow, tipped black. The breeding male is a duller version of the female. Young birds are light grey and brown above, with buff underparts and a dark patch through the eye. In winter, the plumage is essentially grey above and white below, but the black eyepatch is always present. The bill is black in winter. Their call is a short beek.

The typical avian sex roles are reversed in the three phalarope species. Females are larger and more brightly coloured than males. The females pursue males, compete for nesting territory, and will aggressively defend their nests and chosen mates. Once the females lay their olive-brown eggs, they begin their southward migration, leaving the males to incubate the eggs and care for the young. Three to six eggs are laid in a ground nest near water. The young mainly feed themselves and are able to fly within 18 days of birth.

When feeding, a Red Phalarope will often swim in a small, rapid circle, forming a small whirlpool. This behaviour is thought to aid feeding by raising food from the bottom of shallow water. The bird will reach into the outskirts of the vortex with its bill, plucking small insects or crustaceans caught up therein. They sometimes fly up to catch insects in flight. On the open ocean, they are found in areas where converging ocean currents produce upwellings and are often found near groups of whales. Outside of the nesting season they often travel in flocks.

This species is often very tame and approachable.

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

Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Grysfraaiingpoot, Grysfraiingpoot
Asturian: Falaropu Picogordu, Mazaricu Picugordu
Breton: An teleg beg ledan
Catalan: Escuraflascons becgròs, Siseta cendrosa
Valencian: Siseta cendrosa
Czech: Lyskonoh ploskozobý
Welsh: Llydandroed llwyd, Pibydd llydandroed, Pibydd llydandroed glas, Pibydd llydandroed llwyd
Danish: Thorshane
German: Thorshühnchen, Thorswassertreter
English: Gray Phalarope, Gray Phalarope/Red Phalarope, Grey Phalarope, Grey Phalarope/Red Phalarope, Red Phalarope
Spanish: Falárapo Piquigrueso, Falaropa Picogrueso, Falaropo Colorado, Faláropo de Pico Grueso, Falaropo Pico Grueso, Falaropo Picogruesco, Falaropo picogrueso, Falaropo rojo, Faloropo pico grueso, Pollito de mar rojizo
Estonian: puna-veetallaja
Basque: Escuraflascons becgròs, Mendebal-txori mokolodi, Mendebal-txori mokolodia
Finnish: Isovesipääsky
Faroese: Sundgrælingur
French: Phalarope à bec large, Phalarope roux
Irish: Falaróp Gobmhór
Gaelic: Liathag Allt
Galician: Escuraflascons becgròs, Falaropo bicogroso
Guarani: Chululu
Manx: Coar ghlass
Croatian: Plosnokljuna liskonoga
Hungarian: Laposcsoru víztaposó, Laposcsõrû víztaposó
Icelandic: Þórshani
Italian: Falaropo a beccolargo, Falaropo beccolargo
Inuktitut: Kajuaraq, Shutgak
Japanese: haiirohireashishigi, Haiiro-hireashi-shigi, Haiirohireashi-shigi
Cornish: Pyber los
Latin: Crymophilus fulicarius, Phalaropus fulicaria, Phalaropus fulicarius
Lithuanian: Plokšciasnapis plaukikas, Plokš?iasnapis plaukikas, Rudasis plaukikas
Dutch: Grauwe franjepoot, Rosse Franjepoot
Norwegian: Polarsvømmesnipe
Polish: platkonóg plaskodzioby, Platkonóg szydlodzioby
Portuguese: Falaropo-de-bico-grosso, Macarico-sovela
Portuguese (Brazil): Falaropo-de-bico-grosso, Macarico-sovela
Romansh: Rivarel curt
Russian: Ploskonosy Plavunchik
Scots: Liathag allt
Slovak: Lyskonoh ploskozobý
Slovenian: ploskokljuni liskonožec
Serbian: Plosnokljuna liskonoga, Ridja (plosnokljuna) liskonoga, Ridja liskonoga
Swedish: Brednäbbad simsnäppa

The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.

Glossy Ibis, Zwarte Ibis, Sichler, Ibis-preta, Morito Común

This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas. It is thought to have originated in the Old World and spread naturally from Africa to northern South America in the 19th century. This species is migratory; most European birds winter in Africa, and in North America birds from north of the Carolinas winter farther south. Birds from other populations may disperse widely outside the breeding season. While generally declining in Europe it has recently established a breeding colony in Southern Spain.

The Glossy Ibis nests colonially in trees, often with herons. It is also gregarious when feeding in marshy wetlands; it preys on fish, frogs and other water creatures, as well as occasionally on insects.

This species is 55–65 centimetres (22–26 in) long with an 88–105 centimetres (35–41 in) wingspan. Breeding adults have reddish-brown bodies and shiny bottle-green wings. Non-breeders and juveniles have duller bodies. This species has a brownish bill, dark facial skin bordered above and below in blue-gray (non-breeding) to cobalt blue (breeding), and red-brown legs. Unlike herons, ibises fly with necks outstretched, their flight being graceful and often in V-formation.

Sounds made by this rather quiet ibis include a variety of croaks and grunts, including a hoarse grrrr made when breeding.

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

 Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Glansibis
Asturian: Morín, Picambau
Azerbaijani: Qaranaz, Qaravay
Breton: An ibiz du
Catalan: Capó reial, Ibis negre
Catalan (Balears): Ibis negre
Czech: Ibis hnedý
Welsh: Chwibanogl ddu, Crymanbig ddu
Danish: Sort Ibis
German: Brauner Sichler, Braunsichler, Sichler
English: Eastern Glossy Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Northern Glossy Ibis
Spanish: Cigüeña Prieta, Coco Oscuro, Coco Prieto, Cuervillo, Ibis Brillante, Ibis cara oscura, ibis cara-oscura, Ibis Castaña, Ibis Lustroso, Ibis morito, Ibis Pico-de-hoz, Morito, Morito Común
Spanish (Colombia): Ibis Pico-de-hoz
Spanish (Costa Rica): Ibis morito
Spanish (Cuba): Coco Prieto
Spanish (Dominican Rep.): Coco Oscuro, Coco Prieto
Spanish (Mexico): ibis cara oscura, ibis cara-oscura, Ibis Lustroso
Spanish (Nicaragua): Ibis Brillante
Spanish (Paraguay): Cuervillo
Spanish (Uruguay): Cuervillo Común
Spanish (Venezuela): Corocoro Castaño
Estonian: Tõmmuiibis, tõmmuiibis (läikiibis), Tõmmuiibis, läikiibis
Basque: Beltzarana, Capó reial
Finnish: Mustaiibis, Pronssi-iibis
Faroese: Bognev, Svartur spóggvi
French: Ibis falcinelle, Ibis luisant
Irish: Íbis Niamhrach
Galician: Capó reial, Mazarico negro
Guarani: Karâu'i
Haitian Creole French: Ibis pechè
Croatian: Blistavi Ibis
Hungarian: Batla
Indonesian: Ibis hitam, Ibis Rokoroko
Icelandic: Bognefur
Italian: Mignattaio
Japanese: buronzutoki
Latin: Plegadis autumnalis, Plegadis falcinellus, Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus
Lithuanian: Rudasis ibis, Rudasis ibisas
Malagasy: Famakisifotra
Malay: Sekendi Kilat
Maltese: Velleran
Dutch: Zwarte Ibis
Norwegian: Bronseibis
Polish: Ibis kasztanowaty
Portuguese: ibis preto, Íbis-preta, Ibis-preto, Maçarico-preto
Portuguese (Brazil): Caraúna-de-cara-branca
Romansh: Ibis dal bec tort
Slovak: Ibis hnedý, ibisovec hnedý
Slovenian: plevica
Albanian: Kojliku i zi
Serbian: Crni ibis
Swedish: Bronsibis
Swahili: Kwarara Mweusi
Turkish: Çeltikçi, Parlak Ibis
 

The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small falcon. This species breeds from the Mediterranean across southern central Asia to China and Mongolia. It is a summer migrant, wintering in Africa and Pakistan and sometimes even to India and Iraq. It is rare north of its breeding range, and declining in its European range. The scientific name of this bird commemorates the German naturalist Johann Andreas Naumann.

Kleine Torenvalk, Rötelfalke, Peneireiro-das-torres, Cernícalo Primilla

It is a small bird of prey, 27–33 cm in length with a 63–72 cm wingspan. It looks very much like the larger Common Kestrel but has proportionally shorter wings and tail. It shares a brown back and barred grey underparts with the larger species. The male has a grey head and tail like male Common Kestrels, but lacks the dark spotting on the back, the black malar stripe, and has grey patches in the wings.

The female and young birds are slightly paler than their relative, but are so similar that call and structure are better guides than plumage. The call is a diagnostic harsh chay-chay-chay, unlike the Common Kestrel's kee-kee-kee. Both sexes do not have dark talons as usual in falcons; those of this species are a peculiar whitish-horn color. This, however, is only conspicuous when seen birds at very close range, e.g. in captivity.

Despite its outward similarity, this species appears not to be closely related to the Common Kestrel. The morphological similarity with the Common Kestrel is most puzzling, but still it appears to betray the present species' actual relationships: the lack of a malar stripe seems ancestral for kestrels, and the grey wing colour unites the Lesser Kestrel with most other Falco species, but not the other true kestrels.

The Lesser Kestrel is, as the name implies, a smaller and more delicate bird than the Common Kestrel, and it is entirely sympatric in its breeding range with it; they compete to a limited extent. Thus, the possibility that there is some form of adaptive advantage to the similar coloration deserves study. Considering that the Lesser Kestrel would in fact have an advantage if some would-be predators confuse it with the larger species and consequently avoid it, it might be a case of Müllerian mimicry.

The Lesser Kestrel eats insects, but also small birds, reptiles and rodents (especially mice), which are often taken on the ground. It nests colonially on buildings, cliffs, or in tree holes, laying up to 3-6 eggs. No nest structure is built, which is typical for falcons. Recent surveys (January 2007) by LPO have revealed that in their wintering grounds, Lesser Kestrels roost communally – sometimes in huge numbers. A roost discovered in Senegal during one of these surveys held 28,600 birds, together with 16,000 African Swallow-tailed Kites Chelictinia riocourii.

 It is widespread and plentiful on a global scale, but in many areas of its range, it seems to be undergoing a marked and possibly accelerating decline. The IUCN has thus classed it as a vulnerable species. This means that the global population and range have declined by some 30% in the last 10 years, and is expected to continue to do so for at least another decade. Apart from possible habitat destruction, it appears that indiscriminate use of pesticides has a strong effect on this species due to its insectivorous habits.

Other synonyms

Afrikaans: Kleinrooivalk
Azerbaijani: Çöl muymulu
Catalan: Falco cama-roig, Xoriguer petit
Catalan (Balears): Xoriguer petit
Valencian: Falco cama-roig
Czech: Poštolka jižní
Welsh: Cudyll coch lleiaf
Danish: Lille tårnfalk
German: Rötelfalke
English: Eastern Lesser Kestrel, European Lesser Kestrel, Lesser Kestrel, Western Lesser Kestrel
Esperanto: Malgranda turfalko
Spanish: Cernicalo Primilla, Cernícalo Primilla
Estonian: stepi-tuuletallaja
Basque: Etxe belatza, Xoriguer petit
Finnish: Pikkutuulihaukka
Faroese: Reyðsmyril
French: Crécerelle de Naumann, Crécerellette, Faucon crécerellette, Faucon cresserine, Faucon de Naumann
Irish: Mionphocaire Gaoithe
Galician: Lagarteiro das torres, Xoriguer petit
Croatian: Bjelonokta Vjetruša
Hungarian: Fehérkarmú vércse
Icelandic: Kliðfálki
Italian: Grillaio
Japanese: Hime-choogenboo, himechougembou, himechougenbou, Hime-chougenbou
Kwangali: Kakodi
Latin: Cerchneis naumanni, Falco naumanni, Falco naumanni naumanni, Falco naumanni pekinensis
Lithuanian: Stepinis pelesakalis
Maltese: Spanjulett Sekond
Dutch: Kleine Torenvalk
Norwegian: Rødfalk
Polish: pustuleczka
Portuguese: peneireiro das torres, Peneireiro-das-torres
Romansh: Crivel pitschen
Russian: Stepnaya Pustelga
Slovak: Sokol bielopazúravý, sokol bielopazúrový
Slovenian: južna postovka
Albanian: Skifteri kthetraverdhë
Serbian: Belonokta vetruša, Belonokta vetruška, Belonokta vetruška (vetruša)
Sotho, Southern: Seotsanyana
Swedish: Rödfalk
Swahili: Kozi Mdogo
Turkish: Küçük kerkenez