EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLE (Aquila heliaca) immature Bihar Plain, Furta, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click external link here for detailed species information

Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

 

The Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) is of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Aquila. This very large uncommon bird of prey which breeds in central and south eastern Europe as well as western and central Asia. The European population winters in north east Africa. The Asian population winters in the Middle East, northern Indian and South East Asia. Small numbers remain in the breeding areas all year round. Major prey items include hares, rabbits, susliks (a type of ground squirrel), birds and carrion. 

 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

PALLID HARRIER (Circus macrourus) male Bihar Plain, Furta, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click external link here for detailed species information

Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) is of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Circus.This is a scarce summer breeding resident in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In recent times, it has expanded its range to the west and north in Europe. Its preferred habitats are open steppes, agricultural areas and grassland plains. Prey items include insects, rodents and small birds. The European population winters in sub Saharan Africa and the Asian population winters in the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. 

 

 

  Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

EURASIAN PENDULINE TIT (Male) (Remiz pendulinus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Eurasian Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) is found in southern and central Europe as well as central and south western Asia. The northern population is migratory and in late autumn, retreats south to spend the winter in the warmer part of its range. It is generally found near fresh water with marginal trees and shrubs. It weaves an elaborate enclosed suspended nest with an angled downward facing tunnel entrance. Food items include a wide variety of small invertebrates and seeds. Text © www.rawbirds.com 

PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

There are 65 species of heron (which includes Bitterns and Egrets). The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) is resident in Africa and southern Asia. It is also a summer breeding resident in eastern and and western Asia as well as central and southern Europe. The northern populations are migratory and with the onset of colder weather in late autumn, they migrate south to Africa and to southern Asia to spend the winter there. This secretive species can at times be difficult to locate. Its preferred habitats are reed beds or ditches and unlike most other species of heron, it is generally no found out in the open. Text © www.rawbirds.com

BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click external link here for detailed species information

Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls

  The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is of the family Hirundinae which is in the genus Hirundo . It is a summer resident which breeds in the Northern Hemisphere. There are small sedentary populations in some of the tropical parts of this range but during the summer it is mainly absent from the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. This common and widespread insectivorous species feeds exclusively on small flies and midges. 

In late autumn with the onset of colder weather, when its prey items begin to diminish, it migrates south to its wintering areas. The North American population winters in Central and South America. The Eurasian population winters in sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian sub-continent, South East Asia and parts of Northern Australia. In early spring the return migration north begins. At least races are recognised.  

There are 74 species of hirundines which includes Swallows and Martins. In additional, the only known record of the Red Sea Cliff Swallow (Hirundo perdita) was of one found dead at Sanganeb Lighthouse, Sudan in May 1984.

  Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear call

The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a species of marsh tern. There are three races recognised; Chlidonias hybrida hybrida breeds in Eurasia - Chlidonias hybrida delalandii is found in eastern and southern Africa - Chlidonias hybrida javanicus occurs on the Java Peninsula south to Australia  The northern  population is migratory and winters in West Africa, the Middle East, East Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. This fresh water species has a scattered distribution through out its range and is in decline due to the drainage of wetlands. Text © www.rawbirds.com

WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear call

The Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) is a species of marsh tern. There are three races recognised; Chlidonias hybrida hybrida breeds in Eurasia - Chlidonias hybrida delalandii is found in eastern and southern Africa - Chlidonias hybrida javanicus occurs on the Java Peninsula south to Australia  The northern population is migratory and winters in West Africa, the Middle East, East Africa, the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia. This fresh water species has a scattered distribution through out its range and is in decline due to the drainage of wetlands. Text © www.rawbirds.com

RED FOOTED FALCON (Male) (Falco vespertinus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) breeds in eastern Europe and west, central and north-central Asia, with its main range from Belarus south to Hungary, northern Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Moldova and east Bulgaria, eastward through Ukraine and north-west and south Russia and north Kazakhstan to extreme north-west China and the upper Lena river (Russia). It winters in southern Africa, from South Africa northwards to southern Kenya (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001).  Text © iucnredlist.org (see full species status at  http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22696432/00)

LONG EARED OWL (Roosting) (Asio otus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) is a widespread northern hemisphere species which occurs in North America, Europe and Asia. There are four subspecies generally recognised:  Asio otus tuftsi is found in western Canada south to northern Mexico - Asio otus wilsonianus breeds in central and eastern Canada south to eastern USA - Asio otus otus occurs in Asia, Europe and North Africa - Asio otus canariensis is endemic to the Canary Islands. The northern part of the population is migratory and disperses south before the onset of winter. Breeding habitat includes both deciduous woodland and conifer plantations with access to open country side for hunting. Prey items include a wide variety of small vertebrates, mainly mice, voles, shrews, rats and to a lesser extent reptiles and birds.  Text © www.rawbirds.com

MOUSTACHED WARBLER (Acrocephalus melanopogon) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon) is an Old World reed bed species of the family Acrocephalidae which is in genus Acrocephalus. It is predominantly a Eurasian species that breeds in southern Europe and in south western Asia. There is also a small scattered population in northwest Africa. It feeds on a wide variety of small invertebrates. In the northern part of the range birds migrate south to spend the winter in the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and in the north western part of the Indian sub-continent. 

 Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

RED FOOTED FALCON (Male) (Falco vespertinus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) breeds in eastern Europe and west, central and north-central Asia, with its main range from Belarus south to Hungary, northern Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Moldova and east Bulgaria, eastward through Ukraine and north-west and south Russia and north Kazakhstan to extreme north-west China and the upper Lena river (Russia). It winters in southern Africa, from South Africa northwards to southern Kenya (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001).  Text © iucnredlist.org (see full species status at  http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22696432/00)

BLACK REDSTART [Juvenile] (Phoenicurus ochruros) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small perching bird in the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae) which is the genus Phoenicurus. It is a locally common resident in central and southern Europe and northern Africa. It also occurs in western and central Asia. In the warmer parts of its range it is sedentary. The northern populations migrate in the autumn to spend the winter in southern and western Europe, northern Africa and the Indian sub continent. 

Text © www.rawbirds.com

RED FOOTED FALCON (Female) (Falco vespertinus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) breeds in eastern Europe and west, central and north-central Asia, with its main range from Belarus south to Hungary, northern Serbia and Montenegro, Romania, Moldova and east Bulgaria, eastward through Ukraine and north-west and south Russia and north Kazakhstan to extreme north-west China and the upper Lena river (Russia). It winters in southern Africa, from South Africa northwards to southern Kenya (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001).  Text © iucnredlist.org (see full species status at  http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22696432/00)

LARGE SKIPPER BUTTERFLY (Ochlodes sylvanus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

The Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) is a Eurasian species of butterfly. It occurs quiet commonly in a wide band which extends east from the Atlantic coast of Europe to Japan on the Pacific coast. In Europe, it is absent from Iceland, Ireland, Northern Scandinavia and the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula.Typical habitats where it occurs include sheltered grassland areas and woodland clearings. In the warmer parts of its range it is on the wing from early May. In colder regions it emerges later in the season where it can be seen up until late August. There is one generation per year. Text © www.rawbirds.com

SQUACCO HERON (Ardeola ralloides) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

Click here to see distribution map and to hear calls

The Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) is resident south of the Sahara Desert in western, eastern and south eastern Africa, including Madagascar. There is also a small population in Morocco and in Algeria on the North West African coast. This small heron also occurs as a summer resident in central and southern Europe as well as in western central Asia. In the autumn, it migrates back to Africa to spend the winter months there. Its diet includes frogs, lizards, small fish and a wide variety of invertebrates. Text © www.rawbirds.com

BEARDED REELING (Female) (Panurus biarmicus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

The Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) occurs in the temperate parts of Europe and Asia. Alternative names include Bearded Tit and Bearded Parrotbill. This species is found in reed beds and feeds on a wide variety of small invertebrates. In late autumn with the onset of colder weather, it develops a gizzard. This allows it to feed on seeds during the winter months when its normal food source is mainly absent. With the rise in temperature in late spring, invertebrates become more abundant again and its gizzard gradually dissolves. It then reverts back to being a totally insectivorous species.  Text © www.rawbirds.com

WHITE TAILED SKIMMER DRAGONFLY (Female) (Orthetrum albistylum) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

See below for detailed species information

The White-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum albistylum) is a Eurasian species of dragonfly. It occurs in a wide band which stretches across central and parts of southern Europe from France in the west to Japan in eastern Asia. This medium sized dragonfly has a patchy distribution but can be locally common. Warmer summers as a result of climate change has seen this species, in common with some other dragonflies, expanded its range further north in Europe.  Care needs to be taken when identifying this species as it can be easily confused with its more common relative and very similar looking Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum). It is on the wing from late May to early September. Text © www.rawbirds.com

CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is commonly found across most of the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It also occurs in northern Africa as far south as Niger. It is sedentary by nature and is only a rare vagrant outside the normal range. 

EUROPEAN TREE FROG (Hyla arborea) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

The European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea) is a widespread species which occurs from Iberia eastwards to western Russia and southwards to the Balkans and Turkey. It reproduces from late March to June. when up to 1000 eggs are laid in clumps the size of a walnut. After 10–14 days, the eggs hatch into tadpoles. Then, after three months, metamorphose into frogs. They can live for up to 15 years
 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_tree_frog

Distribution map: European Tree Frog (Hyla arborea)

SEDGE WARBLER (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) Hortobágy National Park - The Puszta, Hortobágy, Debrecen, Hajdú-Bihar megye, Hungary

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE

Click here for detailed species information

The Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) is a summer resident in Europe and in Asia which migrates south to spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa. It arrives back to it's breeding areas from Africa in late March and remains there until mid September when the return migration begins. Text © www.rawbirds.com