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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE See below for detailed species information Great Grey Shrike comprises nine subspecies. Nominate excubitor occurs in northern and central Europe whilst homeyeri (sometimes known as ‘Steppe Shrike’) breeds from south-east Europe through the Ural mountains into western Siberia. Further east, sibiricus (‘North Siberian Shrike’) breeds in central and eastern Siberia, with leucopterus, mollis, bianchii and funereus occupying restricted areas in Central and East Asia. Two subspecies – borealis and invictus (known collectively as ‘Northern Shrike’) – occur in North America. A further eleven grey shrike forms are currently treated as ‘Southern Grey Shrike’ Lanius meridionalis (Cramp et al. 1993).The taxonomy of the ‘Great Grey Shrikes’ is in a state of considerable flux. DNA evidence fails to support the current two species split, and at least six potential species have been identified though not formally proposed (Olsson 2010). In particular, a deep genetic divide is identified between a clade containing (amongst others) excubitor, homeyeri and leucopterus and one containing (amongst others) sibiricus, mollis, bianchii, funereus,borealis and invictus. This suggests a split between a new more tightly-defined ‘Great Grey Shrike’ encompassing the former three subspecies and ‘Northern Grey Shrike’ Lanius borealis encompassing the latter five. See full text reference at http://www.bbrc.org.uk/species-information-riact/owls-to-shrikes |
Wednesday 13 May 2015
SOUTHERN GREY SHRIKE (Lanius meridionalis subspecies L. m. koenigi) La Oliva, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
Thursday 7 May 2015
COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo buteo subspecies B. b. insularum) La Oliva, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
Monday 4 May 2015
COMMON LINNET [Male] (Linaria cannabina subspecies L. c. harterti) La Oliva, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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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 Linnet (Linaria cannabina) or Common Linnet is of the family Fringillidae which is in the genus Linaria. It derives its name from its fondness for the seeds of the flax plant which is used to make linen. This small finch occurs in Europe as well as Western Asia but is absent from northern latitudes and has a limited
distribution in North West Africa and the Middle East.
There are seven subspecies :
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_linnet |
Saturday 2 May 2015
Tuesday 28 April 2015
TRUMPETER FINCH (Male) (Bucanetes githagineus subspecies B. g. amantum) Las Parcelas, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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The Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) occurs mainly in North West Africa and the Middle East. There is a small breeding population in South East Spain and it has recently expanded its breeding range into Turkey. This stocky, heavy billed finch is normally found in arid, stony, semi desert type habitat. Bucanetes githagineus subspecies B. g. amantum is endemic to the Canary Islands and is one of four subspecies recognised. On Fuerteventura, the track which runs alongside the goat farm at Las Parcelas and the surrounding plain are well-known area for them. Trumpeter Finches normally occur in small flocks but become dispersive during the breeding season (April) and they then can be difficult to locate. This striking male is in full breeding plumage. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Sunday 26 April 2015
TRUMPETER FINCH (Female) (Bucanetes githagineus subspecies B. g. amantum) Las Parcelas, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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The Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) occurs mainly in North West Africa and the Middle East. There is a small breeding population in South East Spain and it has recently expanded its breeding range into Turkey. This stocky, heavy billed finch is normally found in arid, stony, semi desert type habitat. Bucanetes githagineus subspecies B. g. amantum is endemic to the Canary Islands and is one of four subspecies recognised. On Fuerteventura, the track which runs alongside the goat farm at Las Parcelas and the surrounding plain are well-known area for them. Trumpeter Finches normally occur in small flocks but become dispersive during the breeding season (April) and they then can be difficult to locate. The female depicted here is collecting goat hairs presumably as nest lining material. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
LAS PARCELAS CHURCH Las Parcelas, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE The plain to the rear of Las Parcelas Church is a good area for a number of sought after bird species on Fuerteventura including Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara), Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) and Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus). Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis), a very scarce species on Fuerteventura, is regularly recorded in the surrounding area. Text © www.rawbirds.com |
Monday 13 April 2015
BROWN RAT Rattus norvegicus Betancuria Marker Mirador, Municipio de Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
Friday 10 April 2015
BARBARY GROUND SQUIRREL Atlantoxerus getulus Betancuria Marker Mirador, Municipio de Betancuria, Fuerteventura, The Canary Islands, Spain
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| CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE HIGHER QUALITY IMAGE Click here for detailed species information |
The Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) is native to the North West African countries of Algeria, Morocco and Western Sahara. Due to their isolation, less than twenty land mammals which include six species of bat are found on The Canary Islands. Over 50 years ago Barbary Ground Squirrel was introduced to Fuerteventura where it is quiet commonly encountered.
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