Spotted at Monte Horizonte in the Alentejo region of Portugal.     Red-rumped Swallow song    

The Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It breeds in open hilly country of temperate southern Europe and Asia from Portugal and Spain to Japan, India and tropical Africa. The Indian and African birds are resident, but European and other Asian birds are migratory. They winter in Africa or India and are vagrants to Christmas Island and northern Australia.

Red-rumped Swallow, Roodstuitzwaluw, Rötelschwalbe, Andorinha-dáurica, Golondrina Dáurica 

Red-rumped Swallows are somewhat similar in habits and appearance to the other aerial insectivores, such as the related swallows and the unrelated swifts (order Apodiformes). They have blue upperparts and dusky underparts.

They resemble Barn Swallows, but are darker below and have pale or reddish rumps, face and neck collar. They lack a breast band, but have black undertails. They are fast fliers and they swoop on insects while airborne. They have broad but pointed wings.

Red-rumped Swallows build quarter-sphere nests with a tunnel entrance lined with mud collected in their beaks, and lay 3 to 6 eggs. They normally nest under cliff overhangs in their mountain homes, but will readily adapt to buildings such as mosques and bridges.

They do not normally form large breeding colonies, but are gregarious outside the breeding season. Many hundreds can be seen at a time on the plains of India.

The Red-rumped Swallow breeds across southern Europe and Asia east to southern Siberia and Japan, These populations, along with Moroccan birds, are migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa or south Asia. There are resident races in Africa in a broad belt from West Africa east to Ethiopia and then south to Tanzania, and most Indian and Sri Lanka breeders are also year-round residents. The African and Asian subspecies may undertake local seasonal movements. This species is a regular vagrant outside its breeding range.

Other synonyms:

Catalan: Oreneta cua-rogenca
Czech: Vlaštovka skalní
Danish: Rødrygget Svale
German: Rötelschwalbe
English: Lesser Striated Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow (Red-rumped)
Spanish: Golondrina Dáurica
Estonian: Roostepääsuke
Finnish: ruostepääsky
French: Hirondelle rousseline
Hungarian: Vörhenyes fecske
Indonesian: Layang-layang besar
Icelandic: Brandsvala
Italian: Rondine rossiccia
Japanese: koshiakatsubame, Koshiaka-tsubame
Latin: Cecropis daurica, Cecropis daurica
Dutch: Roodstuitzwaluw
Norwegian: Amursvale
Polish: dymówka zwyczajna
Portuguese: Andorinha-dáurica
Swedish: Rostgumpsvala
 

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted near Torrão in the Alentejo region of Portugal     Long-tailed Tit song    

The Long-tailed Tit or Long-tailed Bushtit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. There are several extensive accounts of this species, most notably Cramp and Perrins, 1993; Gaston, 1973; and Harrap and Quinn, 1996. The majority of relevant research has been directed at its social and breeding behaviour.

Long-tailed Tit, Staartmees, Schwanzmeise, Chapim-rabilongo, Mito Común 

This species has been described as a tiny (at only 13–15 cm in length, including its 7–9 cm tail), round-bodied tit with a short, stubby bill and a very long, narrow tail. The sexes look the same and young birds undergo a complete moult to adult plumage before the first winter. The plumage is mainly black and white, with variable amounts of grey and pink.

The Long-tailed Tit is globally widespread throughout temperate northern Europe and Asia, into boreal Scandinavia and south into the Mediterranean zone. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favouring edge habitats. It can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes and hedges, in farmland and riverine woodland, parks and gardens. The bird's year-round diet of insects and social foraging bias habitat choice in winter towards deciduous woodland, typically of Oak (Quercus sp.), Ash (Fraxinus sp.) and locally Sycamore species. For nesting, strong preference is shown towards scrub areas. The nest is usually built in thorny bushes less than 3 metres above the ground.

The nest of the Long-tailed Tit is constructed from four materials – lichen, feathers, spider egg cocoons and moss, over 6000 pieces in all for a typical nest. The nest is a flexible sac with a small, round entrance on top, suspended either low in a gorse or bramble bush or high up in the forks of tree branches. The structural stability of the nest is provided by a mesh of moss and spider silk. The tiny leaves of the moss act as hooks and the spider silk of egg cocoons provides the loops; thus forming a natural form of velcro. The tit lines the outside with hundreds of flakes of pale lichens – this provides camouflage. Inside, it lines the nest with more than 2000 downy feathers to insulate the nest.

Vocalisations are a valuable aid to locating and identifying these birds. When in flocks they issue constant contact calls and are often heard before they are seen. They have three main calls, a single high pitched ‘pit’, a ‘triple trill’ eez-eez-eez, and a rattling ‘schnuur’. The calls become faster and louder when the birds cross open ground or if an individual becomes separated from the group.

Other synonyms:

Breton: Ar binoter lostek
Catalan: Mallerenga cuallarga
Catalan (Balears): Senyoreta
Czech: Mlynarík dlouhoocasý
Welsh: Titw cynffon-hir, Titw Gynffon-hir
Danish: Halemejse, Nordlig Halemejse
German: Schwanzmeise
English: Long-tailed Tit, Northern Long-tailed Tit
Esperanto: longvosta paruo
Spanish: Mito, Mito Común, Satrecito de Cola Larga
Estonian: Sabatihane
Basque: Buztanluzea
Finnish: pyrstötiainen
Faroese: Veltita, veltíta
French: Mésange à longue queue
Irish: Meantán Earrfhada
Gaelic: Ciochan
Galician: Ferreiriño rabilongo
Manx: Caillagh Veg yn Arbyl
Croatian: Dugorepa Sjenica
Hungarian: Oszapó
Icelandic: Skottmeisa
Italian: Codibugnolo
Japanese: enaga
Cornish: Lostek
Latin: Aegithalos caudatus
Limburgish: Whiteliester
Lithuanian: Ilgauodege zyle
Dutch: Staartmees
Norwegian: Stjertmeis
Polish: raniuszek zwyczajny
Portuguese: Chapim-rabilongo
Romansh: Sbrinzlina
Scots: Ciochan
Slovak: Mlynárka dlhochvostá
Slovenian: dolgorepka
Albanian: Trishtili bishtgjatë
Serbian: dugorepa sjenica
Swedish: Stjärtmes

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal     Stone Curlew song    

The Stone-curlews, also known as Dikkops or Thick-knees are a group of largely tropical birds in the family Burhinidae. Despite the group being classified as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia.

Stone Curlew, Griel, Triel, Alcaravão, Alcaraván Común

They are medium to large birds with strong black or yellow black bills, large yellow eyes—which give them a reptilian appearance—and cryptic plumage. The names Thick-knee and Stone-curlew are both in common use, the preference among authorities for one term or the other varying from year to year. The term Stone-curlew owes its origin to the broad similarities with true curlews (which are not closely related). Thick-knee refers to the prominent joints in the long yellow or greenish legs and apparently originated with a name coined in 1776 for B. oedicnemus, the Thick-kneed Bustard.

They are largely nocturnal, particularly when singing their loud wailing songs, which are reminiscent of true curlews.

The diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates. Larger species will also take lizards and even small mammals.

Most species are sedentary, but the Stone Curlew is a summer migrant in the temperate European part of its range, wintering in Africa.

Other synonyms:

Asturian: Chepu, Gachegu
Azerbaijani: Çobanaldadan
Breton: Ar bourlagad kirie
Catalan: Hubara, Sebel·lí, Torlit
Catalan (Balears): Sebel·lí
Valencian: Hubara
Czech: Dytík úhorní, Dytík žhorní
Welsh: Cwtyn llwyd, Gylfinir y garreg, Rhedwr y moelydd
Danish: Triel
German: Dickfuß, Triel
English: Common Stone Curlew, Common Stone-Curlew, Common Thick-knee, Eurasian Stone Curlew, Eurasian Stone-Curlew, Eurasian Thick-knee, European Stone Curlew, European Stonecurlew, European Thick-knee, Northern Stone Curlew, Northern Stonecurlew, Northern Stone-Curlew, Northern Thick-knee, Stone Curlew, Stone Thick-knee, Stonecurlew, Stone-Curlew, Thicknee
Esperanto: trielo
Spanish: Alcaravan, Alcaraván, Alcaraván Común
Estonian: Jämejalg
Basque: Atalar, Atalarra, Torlit
Finnish: Paksujalka
Faroese: Læmingur
French: Oedicnème criard
Irish: Crotach Cloch
Gaelic: Cuilbneach nan Clach
Galician: Alcaraván, Torlit
Hindi: Kannadi al katti
Hungarian: Ugartyúk
Icelandic: Tríll
Italian: Chiurlo delle petraie, Occhione, Occhione comune, Occhione eurasiatico
Japanese: ishichidori, Ishi-chidori
Cornish: Glynbras
Latin: Burhinus [oedicnemus or indicus], Burhinus oedicnemus, Burhinus oedocnimus
Lithuanian: Storkulnis
Maltese: Tellerita
Dutch: Griel
Norwegian: Triel
Polish: kulon, Kulon zwyczajny
Portuguese: Alcaravão
Romansh: Burbin
Russian: Avdotka
Scots: Cuilbneach nan clach
Slovenian: prlivka
Albanian: Gjelaci symadh
Serbian: nocni potrk
Swedish: Tjockfot
Swahili: Chekehukwa wa Ulaya
Vietnamese: Burin

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal     Pallid Swift song    

The Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) is a small bird, superficially similar to a Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since the swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.

Pallid Swift, Vale Gierzwaluw, Fahlsegler, Andorinhão-pálido, Vencejo Pálido

Swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Ancient Greek απους, apous, meaning "without feet". They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks. They drink on the wing.

The Pallid Swift was first described by English naturalist George Ernest Shelley in 1870.

This 16-17 cm (6.4-6.8 in) long species is very similar to the Common Swift, and separation is only possible with good views. Like its relative, it has a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang.

It is entirely dark except for a large white throat patch which is frequently visible from a distance. It is chunkier and browner than Common Swift, and the slightly paler flight feathers, underparts and rump give more contrast than that species. It also has a scalier looking belly and subtly different flight action. The call is a loud dry scream similar to that of its relative, though possibly more disyllabic.

Pallid Swifts breed on cliffs and eaves around the Mediterranean and on the Canary Islands and Madeira, laying two eggs. Like swallows, they are migratory, winter in southern Africa or southeast Asia.

They are rare north of their breeding areas, although they are likely to be under-recorded due to identification problems. Because of its more southerly range, Pallid Swift arrives earlier and leaves later than the closely related Common Swift, so particularly early or late swifts north of the normal range should be carefully observed.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Bruinwindswael
Asturian: Andarón Pálidu
Catalan: Falciot pàl·lid, Falzia pàl·lida
Catalan (Balears): Falzia pàl·lida
Welsh: Gwennol ddu welw, Gwennol welw-ddu
Danish: Gråsejler
German: Fahlsegler
English: Mouse-colored Swift, Mouse-coloured Swift, Nyanza Swift, Pale Brown Swift, Pallid Swift
Spanish: Vencejo Pálido
Estonian: Randpiiritaja, randpiiritaja (rand-piirpääsuke)
Basque: Falciot pàl·lid
Finnish: Vaaleakiitäjä
French: Martinet pâle
Irish: Gabhlán Bánlíoch
Galician: Cirrio pálido, Falciot pàl·lid
Hungarian: Halvány sarlósfecske
Icelandic: Fölsvölungur
Italian: Rondone pallido
Japanese: uruamatsubame, usuamatsubame
Latin: Apus murinus, Apus pallidus
Maltese: Rundun Kannelli
Dutch: Vale Gierzwaluw
Norwegian: Gråseiler
Polish: jerzyk blady
Portuguese: andorinhão pálido, Andorinhão-pálido
Romansh: Randurel fustg
Slovak: dáždovník plavý
Slovenian: bledi hudournik, sivi hudournik
Albanian: Dejka e zbehtë
Serbian: blijeda ciopa
Swedish: Blek tornseglare

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal     Cetti´s Warbler song    

Cetti's Warbler, Cettia cetti, is an Old World warbler which breeds in Europe, northwest Africa and east southern temperate Asia as far as Afghanistan and NW Pakistan. It is the only bush warbler to occur outside Asia. It is a recent colonist to southern England and Wales, with the first breeding records for the UK in 1973.

Cetti's Warbler, Cetti’s Zanger, Seidensänger, Rouxinol-bravo, Ruiseñor Bastardo de Cetti

In Europe this small passerine bird is mainly resident throughout the year, but eastern populations migrate short distances, wintering within the breeding range.

It is a bird of dense vegetation with scrub, usually close to water, such as a reedbed with bushes, or a small area of riverside woodland. The nest is built in a bush near water, and 3-6 eggs are laid.

This is a medium-sized warbler, 13–14 cm (5–6 in) long. The adult has a plain reddish-brown back, a pale stripe over the eye, whitish grey underparts, a broad tail and short wings. Structurally, it resembles an oversized Wren. The sexes are identical, as with most old world warblers. Like most warblers, it is insectivorous.

Other synonyms:

Asturian: Charreta
Breton: Devedig an drez
Catalan: Rossinyol bord
Catalan (Balears): Rossinyol bord
Czech: Cetie jižní
Welsh: Telor Cetti
Danish: Cettisanger, Cettissanger
German: Seidensaenger, Seidensänger
English: Cetti's Bush Warbler, Cetti's Bush-Warbler, Cetti's Warbler
Spanish: Cetia Ruiseñor, Ruiseño bastardo, Ruiseñor Bastardo, Ruiseñor Bastardo de Cetti
Estonian: kalda-rädilind
Basque: Errekattxindorra, Rossinyol bord
Finnish: Silkkikerttu, silkkikerttunen
French: Bouscarle de Cetti
Irish: Ceolaire Cetti
Galician: Rossinyol bord, Rousinol bravo
Croatian: Svilorepa
Hungarian: Berki poszáta
Icelandic: Blæsöngvari
Italian: Usignolo di fiume
Japanese: yoaroppauguisu, yo-roppauguisu
Latin: Cettia cetti
Dutch: Cetti’s Zanger, Cettis zanger, Cetti's Zanger, Cetti-zanger
Norwegian: Cettisanger
Polish: Gajówka czarnouzda, wierzbówka, wierzbówka
Portuguese: rouxinol bravo, Rouxinol-bravo
Romansh: Channarel da flum
Russian: Solovinaya Shirokokhvostka
Slovak: cetia, cetia južná , cetia západná
Slovenian: svilnica
Albanian: Bilbili i kënetave
Serbian: svilorepi cvrcic
Swedish: Cettisångare
Swedish: Vattenrall
 

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal     Water Rail song    

The Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a bird of the rail family which breeds in well-vegetated wetlands across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Northern and eastern populations are migratory, but this species is a permanent resident in the warmer parts of its breeding range. The adult is 23–28 cm (9–11 in) long, and, like other rails, has a body that is flattened laterally to allow it easier passage through the reed beds it inhabits. It has mainly brown upperparts and blue-grey underparts, black barring on the flanks, long toes, a short tail and a long reddish bill. The eastern subspecies, R. a. indicus, has distinctive markings and a call that is very different from the pig-like squeal of the western races, and is sometimes split as a separate species. Immature birds are generally similar in appearance to the adults, but the blue-grey in the plumage is replaced by buff. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails.

Water Rail, Waterral, Wasserralle, Frango-d’água, Rascón Europeo

The Water Rail breeds in reed beds and other marshy sites with tall, dense vegetation, building its nest a little above the water level from whatever plants are available nearby. The off-white, blotched eggs are incubated mainly by the female, and the precocial downy chicks hatch in 19–22 days. The female will defend her eggs and brood against intruders, or move them to another location if they are discovered. This species can breed after its first year, and it normally raises two clutches in each season. Water Rails are omnivorous, although they feed mainly on animals. They are territorial even after breeding, and will aggressively defend feeding areas in winter.

These rails are vulnerable to flooding or freezing conditions, loss of habitat and predation by mammals and large birds. The introduced American mink has exterminated some island populations, but overall the species' huge range and large numbers mean that it is not considered to be threatened.

The rails are a bird family comprising nearly 150 species. Although the origins of the group are lost in antiquity, the largest number of species and the most primitive forms are found in the Old World, suggesting that this family originated there. However, the genus Rallus, the group of long-billed reed bed specialists to which the Water Rail belongs, arose in the New World. Its Old World members, the Water, African and Madagascar Rails, form a superspecies, and are thought to have evolved from a single invasion from across the Atlantic. Genetic evidence suggests that the Water Rail is the most closely related of its genus to the Pacific Gallirallus rails,and is basal to that group. The Water Rail was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae in 1758 under its current scientific name, Rallus aquaticus. The binomial name is the Latin equivalent of the English "Water Rail".

The adult of the nominate subspecies is a medium-sized rail, 23–28 cm (9–11 in) long with a 38–45 cm (15–17.7 in) wingspan. Males typically weigh 114–164 g (4.0–5.8 oz) and females are slightly lighter at 92–107 g (3.2–3.8 oz). The upperparts from the forehead to tail are olive-brown with black streaks, especially on the shoulders. The sides of the head and the underparts down to the upper belly are dark slate-blue, except for a blackish area between bill and eye, and brownish sides to the upper breast. The flanks are barred black and white, and the undertail is white with some darker streaks. The long bill and the iris are red, and the legs are flesh-brown. The sexes are similar; although the female averages slightly smaller than the male, with a more slender bill, determining sex through measurements alone is unreliable. The juvenile has a blackish crown and a white chin and throat. The underparts are buff or white with darker bars, and the flank markings are brown and buff, rather than black and white. The undertail is buff, and the eye, bill and leg colours are duller than the adult. The downy chick is all black apart from a mainly white bill. After breeding, the rail has an extensive moult, and is flightless for about three weeks. Individual adults can be identified by the markings on the undertail, which are unique to each bird. Adult males have the strongest black undertail streaks. It has been suggested that the dark barring on the undertail of this species is a compromise between the signalling function of a pure white undertail, as found in open water or gregarious species like the Common Moorhen, and the need to avoid being too conspicuous.

The Water Rail can readily be distinguished from most other reed bed rails by its white undertail and red bill; the latter is a little longer than the rest of the rail's head (55–58% of the total) and slightly down-curved. The somewhat similar Slaty-breasted Rail of tropical Asia has a stouter bill, a chestnut crown and white-spotted upperparts. Juvenile and freshly moulted Water Rails may show a buff undertail like Spotted Crake, but that species' plumage is spotted with white, and it has a much shorter, mainly yellowish bill. The range of the Water Rail does not overlap with that of any other Rallus species, but vagrants could be distinguished from their American relatives by the lack of rufous or chestnut on the closed wing. The larger African Rail has unstreaked darker brown upperparts and brighter red legs and feet.

Other synonyms:

Czech: Chrástal vodní
Danish: Vandrikse
German: Wasserralle
English: Water Rail
Spanish: Rascón Europeo
Estonian: Rooruik
Finnish: Luhtakana
Faroese: jarðarkona
French: Râle d'eau
Hungarian: Guvat
Icelandic: Keldusvín
Italian: Porciglione eurasiatico
Latin: Rallus aquaticus
Lithuanian: Ilgasnape vištele
Dutch: Waterral
Norwegian: Vannrikse
Polish: wodnik (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: narceja, Narceja-comum
Swedish: Vattenrall
 

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal     Common Snipe song    

The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World. The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows throughout northern Europe and northern Asia. It is migratory, with European birds wintering in southern and western Europe and Africa (south to the Equator), and Asian migrants moving to tropical southern Asia.

Common Snipe, Watersnip, Bekassine-gallinago, Narceja-comum, Agachadiza común

Adults are 25–27 cm in length with a 44–47 cm wingspan and a weight of 80–140 g (up to 180 g pre-migration). They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long (5.5–7 cm) straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown with straw-yellow stripes on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed.

It is the most widespread of several similar snipes. It most closely resembles the Wilson's Snipe G. delicata of North America, which was until recently considered to be a subspecies G. g. delicata of Common Snipe. They differ in the number of tail feathers, with seven pairs in G. gallinago and eight pairs in G. delicata; the North American species also has a slightly wider white edge to the wings. Both species breed in the Aleutian Islands. It is also very similar to the Pin-tailed Snipe G. stenura and Swinhoe's Snipe G. megala of eastern Asia; identification of these species there is complex.

There are two subspecies of Common Snipe, G. g. faeroeensis in Iceland, the Faroes, Shetland and Orkney (wintering in Britain and Ireland), and G. g. gallinago in the rest of the Old World.

It is a well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. When flushed, they utter a sharp note that sounds like scape, scape and fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. They forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also some plant material.

The male performs "winnowing" display during courtship, flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a "drumming" sound by vibrating its tail feathers. This sound has been compared by others to the bleating of a sheep or goat; hence in many languages the Snipe is known by names signifying “Flying Goat,” “Heaven's Ram,” as in Scotland by “Heather-bleater” and in Finnish the name taivaanvuohi, "sky goat". Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, laying four eggs of a dark olive colour, blotched and spotted with rich brown, which are incubated by the female for 18–21 days. The young when freshly hatched are covered in down of a dark maroon, variegated with black, white and buff. The young are cared for by both parents, each parent looking after half the brood, with fledging in 10–20 days.

Overall, the species is not threatened. Populations on the southern fringes of the breeding range in Europe are however declining with local extinction in some areas (notably in parts of England and Germany), mainly due to field drainage and agricultural intensification. The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies to the species. It is still hunted as a gamebird in much of its range.

Other synonyms:

Asturian: Gacha
Breton: Ar gioc'h lann, Gioc'h
Catalan: Becadell comú, Bequet, Cegall
Catalan (Balears): Cegall
Valencian: Bequet
Czech: Bekasina otavní, Bekasína otavní
Welsh: Dafad y gors, Gafr y gors, Gïach, Gîach gyffredin, Gïach gyffredin, Gîach myniar, Ysniden, Ysniten
Danish: Dobbeltbekkasin
German: Bekassine, Bekassine-gallinago
Emiliano-romagnolo: Cavartén
English: Common Snipe, Eurasian Snipe, European Snipe, Fantail Snipe, Palearctic Common Snipe, Snipe
Esperanto: galinago
Spanish: Agachadiza Comun, Agachadiza Común, Becacina común, Becardón
Spanish (Argentine): Becasina Común
Spanish (Costa Rica): Becacina común
Spanish (Mexico): agachona común
Spanish (Nicaragua): Agachadiza Común
Estonian: Taevasikk, Tikutaja, Tikutaja e. taevasikk, Tikutaja, taevasikk
Basque: Becadell comú, Istingor, Istingor arrunta
Finnish: heinäkurppa, Taivaanvuohi
Faroese: Døggreyv, Mýrisnípa
French: Bécassine des marais
Frisian: Waarlamke
Irish: Meath gabhar, Mionnán aeir, Naosach, Naoscach
Gaelic: Budagochd, Croman Loin, Gabhar-Adeir, Naosg
Galician: Becacina, Becadell comú
Manx: Coa r Heddagh, Coa y r Heddagh, Coar heddagh, Coayr Heddagh
Croatian: Šljuka Kokošica
Hungarian: Sárszalonka
Indonesian: Berkik Ekor-kipas
Icelandic: Hrossagaukur
Italian: Beccaccino
Japanese: Tashigi, Ta-shigi
Cornish: Kyogh
Latin: Capella gallinago, Gallinago gallinago, Gallinago gallinago gallinago
Malay: Berkek Ekor Kapas
Dutch: Watersnip
Norwegian: Enkeltbekkasin, Mekregauk
Polish: (bekas) kszyk, Bekas, bekas kszyk, kszyk, kszyk (bekas)
Portuguese: narceja, Narceja-comum
Portuguese (Brazil): narceja
Romansh: Becassina da palì
Scots: An meannan-adhair, Budagochd, Croman loin, Gabhar-adheir, Naosg
Northern Sami: Meahkástat
Slovenian: kozica, kozice
Albanian: Shapka e ujit, Shapkë uji
Serbian: Barska šljuka, Barska šljuka, bekasina, bekasina
Swedish: Enkelbeckasin
Swahili: Sululu

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal     Night Heron song    

The night herons are medium-sized herons in the genera Nycticorax, Nyctanassa and Gorsachius. The genus name Nycticorax derives from the Greek for “night raven” and refers to the largely nocturnal feeding habits of this group of birds, and the croaking crow-like call of the best known species, the Black-crowned Night Heron. 

Night Heron, Kwak, Nachtreiher, Socó-taquari, Martinete Común

In Europe, Night Heron is often used to refer to the Black-crowned Night Heron, since it is the only member of the genus in that continent.

Adults are short-necked, short-legged and stout herons with a primarily brown or grey plumage, and, in most, a black crown. Young birds are brown, flecked with white. At least some of the extinct Mascarenes taxa appear to have retained this juvenile plumage in adult birds.

Night herons nest alone or in colonies on platforms of sticks in a group of trees, or on the ground in protected locations such as islands or reedbeds. 3-8 eggs are laid.

Night herons stand still at the water's edge, and wait to ambush prey, mainly at night. They primarily eat small fish, crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, and small mammals. During the day they rest in trees or bushes.

There are seven extant species. The genus Nycticorax has suffered more than any other ciconiiform genus from extinction, mainly because of their capability to colonize small, predator-free oceanic islands, and a tendency to evolve towards flightlessness.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Gewone Nagreier
Asturian: Garcina de Nueche, Garcina de Nuechi
Breton: Ar gerc'heiz kein du
Catalan: Martinet de nit, Orval
Catalan (Balears): Orval
Czech: Kvakoš nocní, Kvakoš no?ní, kvakoš noèní
Welsh: Crëyr y nos
Danish: Nathejre
German: Nachtreiher
English: American night Heron, Black-capped Night Heron, Black-capped Night-Heron, Blackcrowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Common Night Heron, Night Heron, Night-heron, Qua Bird, Quawk
Esperanto: Noktardeo
Spanish: Garza bruja, Garza nocturna corona negra, Garza Nocturna Coroninegra, Garza-nocturna Coroninegra, Guaco Común, Guanabá de la Florida, Huairavo, Huairavo del Norte, Martinete, Martinete Capinegro, Martinete Comun, Martinete Común, Martinete coroninegro, Pedrete Corona Negra, pedrete corona-negra, Rey Congo Cabeza Negra, Yaboa Real
Spanish (Argentine): Garza bruja
Spanish (Chile): Huairavo
Spanish (Colombia): Guaco Común
Spanish (Costa Rica): Martinete Coroninegro
Spanish (Cuba): Guanabá de la Florida
Spanish (Dominican Rep.): Garza Nocturna Coroninegra, Rey Congo, Rey Congo Cabeza Negra
Spanish (Honduras): Garza nocturna corona negra
Spanish (Mexico): Garza-nocturna Coroninegra, pedrete corona negra, pedrete corona-negra
Spanish (Nicaragua): Martinete Capinegro
Spanish (Paraguay): Garza bruja
Spanish (Uruguay): Garza bruja
Spanish (Venezuela): Guaco
Estonian: Ööhaigur
Basque: Amiltxori arrunta, Martinet de nit
Finnish: Yöhaikara
Faroese: Nátthegri
French: Bihoreau à couronne noir, Bihoreau à couronne noire, Bihoreau gris, Héron bihoreau, Héron bihoreau à calotte noire
Irish: Corr Oíche
Guadeloupean Creole French: Crabier bois, Crabier grosse tête
Galician: Garza da noite, Martinet de nit
Guarani: Tajasu guyra
Haitian Creole French: Kòk lannwit kouwòn nwa
Hawaiian: 'Auku'u
Hindi: Vakka
Croatian: Gak
Hungarian: Bakcsó
Indonesian: Kowak, Kowakmalam Abu
Icelandic: Nátthegri
Italian: Nitticora, Nitticora comune
Japanese: goisagi, Goi-sagi
Cornish: Kerghyth nos
Kwangali: Hakaruu Gomasiku
Latin: Nycticorax nycticorax
Lithuanian: Naktikovas, Naktikovis
Latvian: Nakts g?rnis
Malagasy: Doaka, Goadrano, Goaka, Koaka, Rahoaka
Mamasa: dakko-dakko
Malay: Pucong Kuak, Pucung Kuak
Maltese: Kwakka
Dutch: Kwak
Norwegian: Natthegre
Polish: slepowron
Portuguese: arapapá-de-bico-comprido, dorminhoco, garça-cinzenta, Garca-dorii-iinhoca, garça-dorminhoca, Garça-nocturna, Goraz, guacuré, guacuru, guarucu, savacu, socó, socó-dorminhoco, socó-galinha, Socó-taquari, taiassu, tajaçu, taquari, taquiri
Portuguese (Brazil): arapapá-de-bico-comprido, dorminhoco, garça-cinzenta, garça-dorminhoca, guacuré, guacuru, guarucu, Savacu, socó, socó-dorminhoco, socó-galinha, socó-taquari, taiassu, tajaçu, taquari, taquiri
Romansh: Irun stgarvunà
Russian: Kvakva
Slovenian: kvakac
Albanian: Çapka e natës
Serbian: gak, Nocna caplja, Nocna caplja, gak
Sotho, Southern: Kokolofitoe
Swedish: Natthäger
Swahili: Kingoyo Utosi-weusi
Zulu: uSiba

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Campilhas lake near Monte Horizonte in the Alentejo region of Portugal.     Common Sandpiper song    

The Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper (A. macularia), make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize. Hybridization has also been reported between the Common Sandpiper and the Green Sandpiper, a basal species of the closely related shank genus Tringa.

Common Sandpiper, Oeverloper, Flußuferläufer, Macarico-das-rochas, Andarríos Chico

The adult is 18–20 cm long with a 32–35 cm wingspan. It has greyish-brown upperparts, white underparts, short dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill with a pale base and dark tip. In winter plumage, they are duller and have more conspicuous barring on the wings, though this is still only visible at close range. Juveniles are more heavily barred above and have buff edges to the wing feathers.

This species is very similar to the slightly larger Spotted Sandpiper (A. macularia) in non-breeding plumage. But its darker legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern (visible in flight) tend to give it away, and of course they are only rarely found in the same location.

It is a gregarious bird and is seen in large flocks, and has the distinctive stiff-winged flight, low over the water, of Actitis waders. The Common Sandpiper breeds across most of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia, and migrates to Africa, southern Asia and Australia in winter. The eastern edge of its migration route passes by Palau in Micronesia, where hundreds of birds may gather for a stop-over. They depart the Palau region for their breeding quarters around the last week of April to the first week of May.

The Common Sandpiper forages by sight on the ground or in shallow water, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates; it may even catch insects in flight. In the Nukumanu language of the Nukumanu Islands (Papua New Guinea), this species is usually called tiritavoi. Another Nukumanu name for it, matakakoni, exists, but this is considered somewhat taboo and not used when children and women are around. The reason for this is that matakakoni means "bird that walks a little, then copulates", in reference to the pumping tail and thrusting head movements the Actitis species characteristically perform during foraging.

It nests on the ground near freshwater. When threatened, the young may cling to their parent's body to be flown away to safety.

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

It is widespread and common, and therefore classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN but is a vulnerable species in some states of Australia.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Gewone Ruiter
Asturian: Andarríu Mazaricu, Cimblarraos
Breton: Ar bistroll kof gwenn, Drolu
Catalan: Xivitona, Xivitona vulgar
Catalan (Balears): Xivitona
Czech: Pisík obecný
Welsh: Pibydd y dorlan, Pibydd y traeth
Danish: Mudderklire
German: Flussuferlaeufer, Flußuferläufer
English: Common Sandpiper, Eurasian Sandpiper
Esperanto: blankventra tringo
Spanish: Andarrios Chico, Andarríos Chico, ndarríos Chico
Estonian: jogitilder, jõgitilder, Vihitaja, vihitaja (jõgitilder), Vihitaja e. jõgitilder, Vihitaja, jõgitilder
Basque: Kuliska txiki, Kuliska txikia, Xivitona
Finnish: Rantasipi
Faroese: Fjørustelkur
French: Chevalier guignette
Irish: gobadán, Gobadán Coiteann, Ladhrán locha, Saidhlín aeir
Gaelic: Luatharan
Galician: Bilurico das rochas, Xivitona
Manx: Looyran
Hindi: Kottan
Croatian: Mala Prutka
Hungarian: Billegeto cankó
Indonesian: Kindu-kindu-boné, Trinil pantai
Icelandic: Lindastelkur
Italian: Piro piro piccolo, Piro-piro piccolo
Japanese: isoshigi, Iso-shigi
Latin: Actitis hypoleucos, Tringa hypoleucos
Lithuanian: Krantinis tilvikas
Malay: Kedidi Pasir, Kedidi Paya
Maltese: Beggazzina tar-Rokka
Dutch: Oeverloper
Norwegian: Fiskelite, Strandsnipe, Strømsnip, Strømsnipe
Palauan: Bengobaingukl
Polish: brodziec piskliwy, Kuliczek, Kuliczek piskliwy, Piskliwiec, Terekia
Portuguese: maçarico das rochas, Maçarico-das-rochas
Romansh: Privaun cumin, rivaun cumin
Russian: Perevozchik
Scots: Luatharan
Northern Sami: Gáddebuvvet
Slovak: Kalužiak malý
Slovenian: mali martinec
Albanian: Qyrylyku i vogël
Serbian: mali prudnik, polojka
Sotho, Southern: Koe-koe-lemao
Swedish: Drillsnäppa
Swahili: Kiulimazi

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.

Spotted at the Santo André Lagoon in the Alentejo region of Portugal.     Black-necked Grebe song    

The Black-necked Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis, known in North America as the Eared Grebe, is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It occurs on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. 

Black-necked Grebe, Geoorde Fuut, Schwarzhalstaucher, Mergaulhão-de-pescoço-preto, Zampullín Cuellinegro

The Black-necked Grebe is 28–34 centimetres (11–13 in) long. The adult is unmistakable in summer with a black head and neck and yellow ear tufts. In winter, this small grebe is white with a poorly defined black cap, which distinguishes it from the crisper-looking Slavonian Grebe (Horned Grebe in America).

In courtship the male gives a mellow poo-ee-chk call to the female.

This species breeds in vegetated areas of freshwater lakes across Europe, Asia, Africa, northern South America and the southwest and western United States. The North American subspecies, P. n. californicus is known as the Eared Grebe (or "eared diver"). These birds migrate in winter, mostly to the Pacific Coast where they range south to El Salvador on a regular basis; vagrants may occur as far as Costa Rica.

Black-necked Grebes of the nominate subspecies P. n. nigricollis in the cooler temperate regions of the Old World also winter further south, with many European birds moving to the Mediterranean area. The isolated southern African race, P. n. gurneyi is sedentary. It was named by South African ornithologist and author Austin Roberts in honour of the English bankers and amateur ornithologists John Henry Gurney and John Henry Gurney Jr..

Sadly the large breeding population in County Roscommon, Ireland discovered about 1915 fell victim to a drainage scheme in the late 1930s; at its peak there were an estimated 250 pairs.

The Black-necked Grebe is an excellent swimmer and diver, and pursues its prey underwater, eating mostly fish as well as small crustaceans, aquatic insects and larvae. It prefers to escape danger by diving rather than flying, although it can easily rise from the water.

Like all grebes, the Black-necked Grebe nests on the water's edge, since its legs are set very far back and it cannot walk well. Usually two eggs are laid, and the striped young are sometimes carried on the adult's back.

Interestingly, the eared grebe is essentially flightless for most of the year (9 to 10 months), and serves as an example of one of the most inefficient flier among avifauna. Generally, this bird avoids flying at all costs and reserves long distance flight exclusively for migration. However, when migrating, it will travel as much as 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) to reach prosperous areas which are exploited by few other species.

Other synonyms:

Afrikaans: Swartnekdobbertjie
Asturian: Parrulu Cuelluprietu, Semerguyu Oreyudu
Breton: Ar plomer gouzoug du
Catalan: Cabussó collnegre, Cabussó coll-negre, Cabussonera
Catalan (Balears): Cabussonera
Valencian: Cabussó coll-negre
Czech: Potápka cernokrká
Welsh: Gwyach gwddfddu, Gwyach gyddfddu, Gwyach yddfddu
Danish: Sorthalset lappedykker
German: Schwarzhalstaucher
English: American Eared Grebe, Back-necked grebe, Black grebe, Blacknecked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Black-necked or Eared Grebe, Black-necked Podic, Black-necked Podiceps, Eared Grebe
Esperanto: Nigrakola grebo
Spanish: Somormujo de Cuello Negro, Zambullidor Mediano, Zambullidor Orejudo, Zampulín cuelinegro, Zampullin Cuellinegro, Zampullín Cuellinegro
Spanish (Costa Rica): Zambullidor Mediano
Spanish (Mexico): Zambullidor Orejudo
Estonian: Mustakael-pütt, mustkael-pütt
Basque: Cabussó collnegre, Txilinporta lepabeltz, Txilinporta lepabeltza
Finnish: Mustakaulauikku
Faroese: Hálssvarta gjør, hálssvørt gjør
French: Grèbe à cou noir, Grèbe à cou noire
Frisian: Swarthalsdûker
Irish: Foitheach Píbdhubh
Gaelic: Gobhlachan Dubh, Gobhlachan na h-Amhaiche Duibhe
Galician: Cabussó collnegre, Mergullón de pescozo negro
Manx: Eean kereen cleayshagh
Croatian: Crnogrli Gnjurac, Zlatouhi gnjurac
Hungarian: Feketenyakú vöcsök
Icelandic: Stargoði
Italian: Svasso piccolo
Japanese: hajirokaitsuburi, Hajiro-kaitsuburi
Cornish: Gryb conna du
Latin: Colymbus caspicus, Colymbus nigricollis, Podiceps caspicus, Podiceps nigricollis
Lithuanian: Juodakaklis kragas
Dutch: Geoorde Fuut
Norwegian: Svarthalsdykker
Polish: perkoz zausznik, Zausnik, zausznik
Portuguese: mergulhão de pescoço preto, Mergulhão-de-pesco, Mergulhão-de-pescoço-preto
Romansh: Sfunsella naira
Russian: Chernosheynaya Poganka
Scots: Gobhlachan dubh
Slovenian: crnogrli ponirek
Albanian: Kredharaku gushëzi
Serbian: Crnogrli (crnovrati) gnjurac, Crnogrli gnjurac, crnovrati gnjurac
Swedish: Svarthalsad dopping
Swahili: Kibisi Shingo-nyeusi
 

Travel Birdwatching Holiday Alentejo, Vacation Portugal for birders to see birds on your trip.