Raw Birds

Friday 8 February 2013

SARDINIAN WARBLER [Male] (Sylvia melanocephala) Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, Tavira, Portugal

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The Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) is a small mainly insectivorous warbler of the family Sylviidae which is in the genus Sylvia. It is commonly encountered in southern and eastern Europe as well as in countries bordering the Mediterranean Basin. It is also resident on the Canary Islands. Some authorities recognise up to five subspecies. The female, typical of most sylvia warblers, has drabber plumage, it is grey headed with brownish upper parts and the under parts are washed buff. This species normally occurs in shrubby type habitat as well as in parks and gardens.

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

Up to five subspecies are generally recognised:

Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala - Iberia across the northern Mediterranean to western Turkey. Extends into the Maghreb from Iberia, and into Libya from Italy via Sicily. Migrates to the Sahel and oases in the Sahara in winter.
Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra - Canary Islands, resident, probably some vagrancy between eastern islands and Maghreb.
Sylvia melanocephala momus - Near East. Resident, some local movements.
Sylvia melanocephala norissae - Fayyum Warbler - probably only a local morph of momus - Nile Delta region. Extinct since around 1940.
Sylvia melanocephala valverdei - Morocco south to the Tropic of Cancer, inland to the edge of the Sahara. Resident, but some seasonal movements.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardi

Thursday 7 February 2013

COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina El Rocío, Almonte, Huelva, Spain

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COMMON POCHARD Aythya ferina El Rocío, Huelva, Spain

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Wednesday 6 February 2013

BRAMBLING (Fringilla montifringilla) Broadmeadow Estuary, Swords, 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

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus) Broadmeadow Estuary, Sword, 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