Bird, bug, butterfly and a wild variety of photos from Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Scotland and Spain by Irish wildlife photographer Patrick J. O'Keeffe and invited guests

Showing posts with label Ficedula albicollis. passerine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ficedula albicollis. passerine. Show all posts

Wednesday 17 August 2016

RED RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece


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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a migratory member of the family Hirundinidae which is in the genus Cecropis. World wide, there are 74 species of Hirundines (Swallows and Martins). In addition, the only known record of the Red Sea Cliff Swallow (Hirundo perdita) was of one found dead at Sanganeb Lighthouse, Sudan in May 1984. 
 It is mainly a summer resident in the temperate regions of southern Europe, Morocco in northwest Africa as well as parts of western, central and eastern Asia. Its range extends from the Iberian Peninsula eastwards to Japan. There are also non migratory populations resident in tropical Africa and in South East Asia. This insectivorous species feeds exclusively on small flying insects, mainly flies and midges. Outside of the breeding season, it is a very rare but annual overshooting spring and autumn migrant to northern Europe. 
  The European, Moroccan and northern Asian populations migrate south in the autumn to spend the winter in sub Saharan Africa, the India sub-continent and northern Australia. 

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com

Thursday 10 March 2016

COLLARED FLYCATCHER (Female) (Ficedula albicollis) Moni Gouvernetou, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece


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Click here for detailed species information
Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) is an Old World flycatcher in the family Muscicapidae. It is a summer resident in central/eastern Europe and south western Asia. This species occurs in well-established deciduous woodland as well as parks and gardens where old woodpecker nesting holes are readily used. In late April/May, it returns from its wintering areas in southern Africa. Main prey items include caterpillars and small flying invertebrates. By September with its food supply in decline, the return migration south begins.
  
 Reference: Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds