Showing posts with label passerines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label passerines. Show all posts
Wednesday 3 July 2013
Sunday 23 June 2013
EUROPEAN GREENFINCH [Male] (Carduelis chloris) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co Dublin, Ireland
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The European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is a small passerine of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Chlori.
It has a widespread distribution in Europe, northern Africa and
southwestern Asia. It also occurs as an introduced species in parts of
Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Uruguay. Before the onset of
winter, northern populations migrate to the more temperate areas of its
range. In recent times, there has been a dramatic decline in numbers
due to the spread of trichomonosis disease that effects the digestive
system which results in mortality.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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Wednesday 8 May 2013
Monday 18 February 2013
MELODIOUS WARBLER (Hippolais polyglotta) Tavira, Portugal
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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 Melodious Warbler (Hippolais polyglotta) is of the warbler family Acrocephalidae which is in the genus Hippolais. It is a common breeding summer resident in southwest Europe and northwest Africa. In Mid September, it migrates south to spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ireland it's a rare but annual over shooting spring and autumn migrant to south coast headlands where it needs to be separated with care from the very similar Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) which has noticeably longer primary projections being equal in length to the tertials. Melodious Warbler primary projections are half the length of its tertials. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
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Tuesday 15 January 2013
BARN SWALLOW Hirundo rustica Belarus
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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 |
Friday 4 January 2013
AQUATIC WARBLER (Acrocephalus paludicola) Pinsk District, Belarus
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The Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is of the family Acrocephalidae which is in the genus Acrocephalus. This is a rare summer resident with a very restricted and localised breeding range in Eastern Europe including Belarus. The autumn migration south to its wintering areas in sub Saharan western Africa begins in early July extending into September. This species has been in serious decline since the 70's and there are now less than 10,000 breeding pairs. In Britain small numbers occur each autumn but in Ireland it has only been recorded on 13 occasions mainly from Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork and the most recent record is also from there on 26th September 1989. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) distribution map  Breeding Passage Non-breeding - winter Possibly passage Probably extinct SanoAK: Alexander Kürthy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons |
Wednesday 26 December 2012
Sunday 16 December 2012
SNOW BUNTING (Plectrophenax nivalis) male at Balcarrick, Donabate, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here for detailed species information Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls |
The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
is of the longspur family Calcariidae which is in the genus Plectrophenax. This circumpolar species breeds mainly in the arctic mountainous regions of North America and Eurasia. Isolated populations also breed south of this range in upland areas.
Apart from small numbers breeding in the Cairngorm Mountains in Scotland, this is an uncommon and local winter visitor, from October to March, at coastal
locations in Britain and Ireland. It occurs singularly or in small flocks at shingle beeches near edges of sand dunes, harbour piers and headlands. Feeding close to the ground, it can be easily overlooked and difficult to locate as
cryptic colouration helps it blend into the background.
Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds
BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulous) December 2012, Kilbarrack, Co.Dublin, Ireland
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Click external link here for detailed species information
Click external link here to see distribution map and to hear calls The Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) is of the family Bombycillidae which is in the genus Bombycilla. This
eruptive species breeds in the coniferous forests of North America and
Eurasia. Northern populations migrate to spend the winter in the
southern parts of its home range. In years when there is a poor winter
berry crop in northern latitudes, all of the population disperses
further south and can be found either singly or in flocks feeding on
berries or rose hips in parks, gardens and along hedgerows. In Ireland, Bohemian Waxwing is an irregular or scarce winter visitor from Scandinavia. Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds |
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