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  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    155550.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    155551.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike - Lanius senator - Juvenile. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    125944.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153633.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    119638.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    119737.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    120714.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    129359.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    134064.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    143837.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    145390.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland. Observation tips Easy to find.
    145829.jpg
  • Nightjar - Caprimulgus europeus - Chicks in nest. (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    156479.jpg
  • Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus - male. (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    156328.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    155549.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    145982.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153713.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153629.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153632.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153635.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153643.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153645.jpg
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    153644.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    122238.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    127291.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    127295.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    128089.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    128945.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    129358.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    143106.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    143296.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
    143716.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    144004.jpg
  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
    144005.jpg
  • Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator. L 17-19cm. A bulky and well-marked bird. The Woodchat Shrike often perches on barbed-wire fences as well as low bushes, using these as lookouts. The sexes are separable with care. Adult Male has a chestnut cap and nape, a broad black mask running from the forecrown through the eye, and white underparts that are flushed faintly with peachy-buff on the flanks and breast. Note also the striking white patch on the scapulars, the white patch at the base of the primaries and the buffish white patch at the base of the bill. In flight, the pale rump and white-margined black tail are obvious. Adult Female is similar, but the black and chestnut elements of the plumage are less intense, the white patch at the base of the bill is more extensive and there is faint barring on the underparts. Juvenile has scaly grey-brown upperparts and paler underparts with faint vermiculations; note also the pale patch on the scapulars. Voice - utters a harsh, trilling call when agitated. Habitat and Status - the Woodchat Shrike is a scarce visitor to the region, with most records at migration times; 15 or 20 are recorded in a good year. In spring, adult birds appear here, while in late summer and autumn, dispersing juvenile birds sometimes turn up in coastal areas. Visiting Woodchat Shrikes favour areas of coastal scrub.
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  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland. Observation tips Easy to find.
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  • Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 55-90cm. Male is colourful and unmistakable; female is also hard to confuse. Takes to the wing noisily and explosively when flushed. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male typically has orange-brown body plumage, blue-green sheen on head, large and striking red wattle and long, orange barred tail; some birds have a white collar. Violet-blue birds are sometimes released. Adult female is mottled buffish brown with shorter tail than male. Juvenile resembles a small, short-tailed female. Voice Territorial male utters a loud, shrieking call, followed by bout of vigorous wing beating. In alarm, a loud ke-tuk, ke-tuk, ke-tuk is uttered as bird flies away. Status Introduced and established here since 11th Century. Widespread and commonest in wooded farmland.
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  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
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  • Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus - Male. (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
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  • Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus - Male. (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
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  • Ferruginous Duck - Aythya ferruginea. L 38-42cm. Attractive diving duck. In flight, all birds show striking white wingbar on upperwing, white underwings and white belly. In all birds, cap is peaked and bill is mainly grey; pale band separates grey from dark tip. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has rich, reddish brown plumage, darkest on back, almost black on rump and tail. Has white stern and white belly (latter only visible in flight) and white eye. Adult female is similar to adult male but reddish colouration is duller and eye is dark. Juvenile is similar to adult female but duller colours. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce visitor, mainly outside breeding season. Species’ status is confused by presence of undoubted escapees from captivity. Favours lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca L 38-42cm. Attractive diving duck. In flight, all birds show striking white wingbar on upperwing, white underwings and white belly. In all birds, cap is peaked and bill is mainly grey; pale band separates grey from dark tip. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has rich, reddish brown plumage, darkest on back, almost black on rump and tail. Has white stern and white belly (latter only visible in flight) and white eye. Adult female is similar to adult male but reddish colouration is duller and eye is dark. Juvenile is similar to adult female but duller colours. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce visitor, mainly outside breeding season. Species’ status is confused by presence of undoubted escapees from captivity. Favours lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca L 38-42cm. Attractive diving duck. In flight, all birds show striking white wingbar on upperwing, white underwings and white belly. In all birds, cap is peaked and bill is mainly grey; pale band separates grey from dark tip. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has rich, reddish brown plumage, darkest on back, almost black on rump and tail. Has white stern and white belly (latter only visible in flight) and white eye. Adult female is similar to adult male but reddish colouration is duller and eye is dark. Juvenile is similar to adult female but duller colours. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce visitor, mainly outside breeding season. Species’ status is confused by presence of undoubted escapees from captivity. Favours lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Ferruginous Duck - Aythya ferruginea. L 38-42cm. Attractive diving duck. In flight, all birds show striking white wingbar on upperwing, white underwings and white belly. In all birds, cap is peaked and bill is mainly grey; pale band separates grey from dark tip. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has rich, reddish brown plumage, darkest on back, almost black on rump and tail. Has white stern and white belly (latter only visible in flight) and white eye. Adult female is similar to adult male but reddish colouration is duller and eye is dark. Juvenile is similar to adult female but duller colours. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce visitor, mainly outside breeding season. Species’ status is confused by presence of undoubted escapees from captivity. Favours lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis - 1st winter. L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
    154155.jpg
  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
    154156.jpg
  • Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca L 38-42cm. Attractive diving duck. In flight, all birds show striking white wingbar on upperwing, white underwings and white belly. In all birds, cap is peaked and bill is mainly grey; pale band separates grey from dark tip. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has rich, reddish brown plumage, darkest on back, almost black on rump and tail. Has white stern and white belly (latter only visible in flight) and white eye. Adult female is similar to adult male but reddish colouration is duller and eye is dark. Juvenile is similar to adult female but duller colours. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce visitor, mainly outside breeding season. Species’ status is confused by presence of undoubted escapees from captivity. Favours lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
    129472.jpg
  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Ferruginous Duck (male) Aythya nyroca L 38-42cm. Attractive diving duck. In flight, all birds show striking white wingbar on upperwing, white underwings and white belly. In all birds, cap is peaked and bill is mainly grey; pale band separates grey from dark tip. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has rich, reddish brown plumage, darkest on back, almost black on rump and tail. Has white stern and white belly (latter only visible in flight) and white eye. Adult female is similar to adult male but reddish colouration is duller and eye is dark. Juvenile is similar to adult female but duller colours. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce visitor, mainly outside breeding season. Species’ status is confused by presence of undoubted escapees from captivity. Favours lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
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  • Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti. When high pressure builds over Scandinavia in the autumn, a strong easterly flow of air usually floods across Europe and brings with it a scattering of unusual passerine birds from as far away as Siberia or central Asia. Typically records relate to juveniles whose migratory instincts have failed them. Easterly winds continue to bring unusual sighting right through to the start of winter. Just when it seems that autumn migration has finished, a spell of easterly winds in November will sometimes bring a surprise in the form of a Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, which by rights should be spending the winter in Africa, the Middle East or south Asia.
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  • Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica L 60-70cm. Swims buoyantly with bill held level. Dives frequently. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has blue-grey nape and head, and black throat; sides of neck have black and white lines. Back is dark with white spots; underparts are white. In winter, upperparts mainly grey-black and underparts whitish; note white patch on flanks at water level in swimming birds. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but grubby-looking. Voice Mostly silent. Status Rare breeding species on large Scottish lochs. Scarce in winter, mainly in coastal waters.
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  • Birds at Bharatpur, India
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  • Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti. When high pressure builds over Scandinavia in the autumn, a strong easterly flow of air usually floods across Europe and brings with it a scattering of unusual passerine birds from as far away as Siberia or central Asia. Typically records relate to juveniles whose migratory instincts have failed them. Easterly winds continue to bring unusual sighting right through to the start of winter. Just when it seems that autumn migration has finished, a spell of easterly winds in November will sometimes bring a surprise in the form of a Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, which by rights should be spending the winter in Africa, the Middle East or south Asia.
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  • Great Skua Stercorarius skua L 48-52cm. Bulky seabird. Gull-like but note large head, dark legs and dark bill. In flight, shows striking white wing patch. Part scavenger, part predator and food parasite of Gannet. Sexes are similar. Adult is brown with buff and golden-brown streaks. Juvenile is uniformly dark brown and rufous. Voice Mostly silent. Status Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant. Nests near seabird colonies in Scotland; Orkney and Shetland are strongholds. Passage birds invariably seen at sea.
    154233.jpg
  • Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti. When high pressure builds over Scandinavia in the autumn, a strong easterly flow of air usually floods across Europe and brings with it a scattering of unusual passerine birds from as far away as Siberia or central Asia. Typically records relate to juveniles whose migratory instincts have failed them. Easterly winds continue to bring unusual sighting right through to the start of winter. Just when it seems that autumn migration has finished, a spell of easterly winds in November will sometimes bring a surprise in the form of a Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, which by rights should be spending the winter in Africa, the Middle East or south Asia.
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  • American White Pelican Flock od adult birds in flight pelicanus erythrorhynchos
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  • Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti. When high pressure builds over Scandinavia in the autumn, a strong easterly flow of air usually floods across Europe and brings with it a scattering of unusual passerine birds from as far away as Siberia or central Asia. Typically records relate to juveniles whose migratory instincts have failed them. Easterly winds continue to bring unusual sighting right through to the start of winter. Just when it seems that autumn migration has finished, a spell of easterly winds in November will sometimes bring a surprise in the form of a Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti, which by rights should be spending the winter in Africa, the Middle East or south Asia.
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  • Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis. L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Woodcock - Scolopax rusticola. L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Great Skua Stercorarius skua L 48-52cm. Bulky seabird. Gull-like but note large head, dark legs and dark bill. In flight, shows striking white wing patch. Part scavenger, part predator and food parasite of Gannet. Sexes are similar. Adult is brown with buff and golden-brown streaks. Juvenile is uniformly dark brown and rufous. Voice Mostly silent. Status Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant. Nests near seabird colonies in Scotland; Orkney and Shetland are strongholds. Passage birds invariably seen at sea.
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  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
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  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
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  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
    137846.jpg
  • Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos L 16-17cm. Secretive bird, best known for its powerful, musical song, sometimes sung at night. Silent birds are easily overlooked. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have rich brown upperparts overall; tail and rump are warmer reddish chestnut than back and note hint of grey on face and sides of neck. Underparts are greyish white, suffused pale buffish brown on breast. Voice Song is rich and varied and includes fluty whistles and clicking sounds; typically the bird starts with a rich, whistling tu-tu-tu-tu. Status Local and declining summer visitor, favouring coppiced woodland and scrub.
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  • "Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva L 11-12cm. Charming little bird. Often unobtrusive but more obvious when flycatching from exposed branch. All birds have diagnostic white sides to otherwise black tail. Sexes are dissimilar.<br />
Adult male has brown back, blue-grey face, an orange-red throat and upper breast, and whitish underparts; note whitish eyering. Adult female has brown upperparts and whitish underparts, smudged buffish on sides of breast. 1st winter bird is similar to adult female but throat and breast are buffish and has pale tips to wing coverts. Voice Utters a rattling, Wren-like call. Status Scarce passage migrant, mostly in autumn and in 1st winter plumage. "
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