BOHEMIAN WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulous) December 2012, at Kilbarrack, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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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

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

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus) male standing on freshly killed Greenfinch, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

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The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), alternative names include Northern Sparrowhawk or simply Sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey of the family Accipitridae which is in the genus Accipiter. It has a widespread distribution across the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World. It is a partial migrant and in the more northern and colder parts of its range, it disperses south for the winter. The preferred habitats include open type wood land, hedge rows, parks and gardens where a wide variety of small to medium sized perching birds are preyed upon. Males are up to 25% smaller than females and tend to prey upon sparrow sized passerines but can include starlings and thrushes. Females, on the other hand, can tackle larger prey including doves, pigeons and magpies.
This species is the most commonly encountered bird of prey in Ireland.

  Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea subspecies A. f. caberet) male, Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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 The Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) or more simply known as a Redpoll is of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Acanthis. 

 There are several subspecies recognised including the Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis flammea caberet) which is resident in Ireland and Britain. It also breeds in Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia where it is a partial migrant, which moves south and west to more temperate regions for the winter.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

BRAMBLING (Fringilla montifringilla) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland

 

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The Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) is a member of the finch family Fringillidae which is in the genus Fringilla. It breeds in the northern birch and coniferous forests of Scandinavia and Russia. With the onset of colder weather, this migratory species moves south to winter in western and southern Europe, North Africa, the northern part of the Indian sub continent, China, and Japan. During migration, it regularly occurs in Alaska and as far south as the western United States.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds