Britain's Birds: An Identification Guide to the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland

580 Pages·2020·195.56 MB·English

by  Rob Hume, Robert Still, Andy Swash, Hugh Harrop, David Tipling

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First published 2016
2nd Edition 2020
Copyright © 2016, 2020 Princeton University Press
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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The parts of a bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
How to use this book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The species accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The types of bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Wildfowl (swans, geese, ducks) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Waterbirds (cormorants, divers, grebes and pelicans) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Seabirds (Gannet, Fulmar, shearwaters, petrels) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Auks (puffins, guillemots, Razorbill, murrelets) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Gulls and terns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Skuas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Waders (plovers, sandpipers, curlews, godwits, snipe and related species) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Crakes and rails (includes Moorhen, coots, gallinules) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Large waterside birds (herons, bitterns, egrets, Spoonbill, cranes, storks, ibis) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
‘Gamebirds’ (partridges, grouse, pheasants and Quail) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Bustards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Pigeons and doves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Sandgrouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Owls and nightjars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Birds of prey
(eagles, kites, Osprey, buzzards, harriers, hawks, falcons and related species) . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Kingfishers, cuckoos, Hoopoe, bee-eaters, Roller and parrots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Woodpeckers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Aerial feeders (swifts, swallows, martins) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Larks, pipits and wagtails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Dipper, Wren, accentors, oriole, starlings and waxwings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Thrushes, chats and wheatears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Flycatchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
Warblers, cisticola and crests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Shrikes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458
Tits, nuthatches and ‘creepers’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465
Corvids (crows, Jay, Magpie, Nutcracker) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478
Sparrows and finches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 488
Buntings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510
Vagrant landbirds from North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 524
Birds of uncertain origin and escapes/introductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 538
British & Irish Lists, status and legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540
Acknowledgements and photo credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 557
Identification and beyond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 566
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 568
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Introduction
This complete, authoritative photographic guide to the wild birds of Britain and Ireland has been
fully revised and updated since the first edition in 2016 . The opportunity to add more pictures and
to improve on some of those used before has been enjoyable and exciting . More than 800 new
images have been used . Together with improved reproduction techniques and valuable advice
generously given by many people, this has resulted in a substantial advance .
The book now covers all 631 species accepted onto the British and Irish lists up to the end of 2019
and details all the plumages likely to be seen in the region . It also covers one species recorded
during 2019 that has not yet been officially added to the Irish list, 15 that are still under review,
and four that were clearly one of two or three near-identical species, but not specifically identified .
Another 13 species are illustrated . These have been introduced, or escaped from captivity, and
have bred in the wild and may become established, or may lead to confusion with regular species .
While many people have helped in various ways, special mention must be made of the
contribution made by Chris Batty, who has spent countless hours examining thousands of
photographs and verifying the identification, age and sex of the birds shown .
It is these photographs that make this book stand out . While a substantial number were taken
by the authors (Harrop, Tipling and Swash), bird photographers worldwide have enthusiastically
offered images to help fill the inevitable gaps . Most photographs were taken in Britain or Ireland
and include images of many individual rarities that have occurred . Each image is specifically
credited to the photographer in the acknowledgements section on pages 557–565 . A special
mention must go to the staff at the Agami Picture Library in the Netherlands . Without their
invaluable and enthusiastic assistance, the book could not have been produced .
Each regularly occurring species has a map, adapted from base maps kindly supplied by BirdLife
International, the international authority on the status of wild birds . Our treatment of species
and subspecies follows the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) and Irish Rare Birds Committee
(IRBC) (which follow the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) recommendations), but
other authorities, such as BirdLife International, treat some differently (e.g. Hooded and Carrion
Crows) . This book illustrates and describes all of the forms; whether species or subspecies is of no
consequence for their identification . The scientific names used are those on the BOU/ IRBC/IOC
lists, but where some are still not universally accepted or not well known to birdwatchers, earlier,
more familiar, names are shown in brackets .
Up-to-date population estimates for regular breeding, wintering and migrant birds, and the
number of records of rarities in Britain and in Ireland, are summarized . For the increasing number
of species that are of conservation concern, information is included on their status based on
current knowledge and assessments up to June 2019 .
All species on the British or Irish lists are listed in taxonomic (scientific) order according to the
BOU/IRBC/IOC . Uniquely, this list summarizes the conservation status and relevant conservation
legislation relating to each species (see pages 540–567) and has been verified by experts at
Biocensus ecological consultants and the RSPB .
Recent studies and events reinforce the need to take action to conserve birds and habitats
worldwide . This book is intended to help people identify what they see, but if it also brings more
people to appreciate birds, and so to understand the need to ensure their survival in a fast-
changing world, it will have been worth the effort .
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THE PARTS OF A BIRD
The parts of a bird
These annotated images show the basic, essential terms used throughout this book (other terms
specific to a particular group are covered in the relevant introductory section).
Wingbars: The term ‘wingbar’ is used to describe any obvious ‘bar’ along the stripe over eye
spread wing . This is typically formed of contrasting tips to the wing coverts and/ (supercilium)
or pale bases to the flight feathers . On some species such as Blue Tit (right) this eyestripe cap
bar is obvious on the closed wing, in others, such as Sanderling (below), it is
barely discernible or not visible – particularly any pale bases to the flight feathers .
Note that the term ‘bar’ usually refers to a ‘crosswise’ pattern or line, whereas
‘streak’ means a ‘lengthwise’ mark along the wing .
SANDERLING wingbar
covert tips
BLUE TIT
covert tips barely pale bases to covert tips
discernible flight feathers (visible on closed wing)
innerwing
midwing UNDERWING
uppertail rump back greater coverts anwdi nsegc coonvdearrtise s flight feathers
PRIMARIES
coverts
SECONDARIES
forewing
lesser and ‘wingpit’
UPPERWING median coverts (axillaries)
SECONDARIES
PRIMARIES primary coverts
outerwing
hindwing
primary coverts
secondaries and
and primaries trailing edge
inner primaries
back
wingtip FIELDFARE
wing coverts
outer primaries ‘shoulder’ neck
nape
greater median lesser
crown
wingtip (closed) eyering
forehead
lore
rump upper mandible
bill
uppertail coverts throat chin
tail ‘moustache’ cheek
alula
flank belly breast
thigh
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INTRODUCTION
How to use this book
The book will help birdwatchers, whatever their level of experience and expertise, to identify
the birds they see, using a simple step-by-step approach, comprehensive descriptions, essential
comparisons and an unparalleled set of photographs .
First, search the gallery of thumbnail images . Decide roughly what bird you are looking at –
perhaps a duck, a gull, a woodpecker, or a small songbird . Then turn to the relevant section where
possibilities can be narrowed down using the introductions to broad groups of birds . These briefly
outline the species within each section, and subdivide them to focus more closely onto the right
bird (and to highlight others that might need to be excluded) .
Alternatively, especially with more experience, simply scan through the book to find the most
likely group, or to pinpoint the bird that looks like the best fit . The book’s 3,500+ photographs
provide an incomparable set of images of British and Irish birds . They enable detailed comparisons
of birds in similar poses and similar lighting and to scale . Browsing the pages will be a rewarding
experience – but it is all too easy to go wrong . Bear in mind that colours can be affected by many
factors, such as bright sunlight, dull conditions, or reflections from water or foliage . Close-up
pictures showing such great detail also require careful interpretation . More distant birds (such as
ducks on a lake on a dull day) show broader ‘patterns’ . Occasionally, look at the pictures with half-
closed eyes, reducing colour and detail to more of a tonal pattern .
Given a likely answer to your identification problem, check all the material on the pages – is the
bird in the right location, in the right habitat, at the right season? Is there a commoner, or more
likely, alternative? One feature might seem just right, but is it overruled by others – the tail colour,
the wingbar, the bird’s size, or the shape of its bill? A single feature is never as reliable as an overall
assessment . Mistakes are easily made by jumping to a wrong conclusion without checking all
available facts, or looking carefully at all the bird’s features .
Checking the texts and pictures against the bird as you watch is invaluable, but you may not have
time: concentrate on the bird while you can . Taking photographs is helpful but may reduce the
time you spend actually watching and enjoying the bird . Making notes and sketches ensures you
look at the bird closely and systematically (you cannot note down the colour of the legs or bill, or
undertail coverts, without looking at them first!), helps to build up an overall assessment of what it
looks like, how it behaves and how it calls or sings, and, importantly, embeds this in your memory
far more than pressing a camera shutter button .
Many behavioural features are best learned by experience: for example, a small flock of black birds
flying closely together may be Starlings, but not Blackbirds, which fly solitarily . A pair of finches
flying side-by-side may be Bullfinches, or Goldfinches, but will be less likely to be Chaffinches .
A flock of small birds flying fast and close together may be finches or sparrows, but not wagtails or
pipits, which fly in much looser groups . Many species have distinctive behaviours or movements,
such as wing and tail flicks, not all of which can be described in the space available .
The book is arranged to allow close comparison of similar species . It begins with water birds
(those that swim habitually) and moves via seabirds (from Gannet through shearwaters, petrels
and auks to gulls and terns) to waterside birds, including those conventionally termed ‘waders’ (or
shorebirds), followed by herons and egrets and ‘crakes and rails’ . Following these are the grouse
and partridges, pigeons, owls and birds of prey, a mixed group including kingfishers, cuckoos and
woodpeckers, then the large and varied grouping known as Passerines, or ‘perching birds’ .
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HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
A note on ageing
This book uses a traditional terminology for the age of birds, rather than a ‘calendar year’ system,
which may be less informative . If, for example, a young bird hatches in June, it will grow its first
feathers – juvenile plumage – ready for its first flight . Much of this plumage is quickly replaced,
usually all of the head and body feathers but with many of the wing and tail feathers retained .
This is now ‘1st-winter’ plumage, which may last from August to March . There follows another
moult, usually into a ‘1st-summer’ stage, which may be easily recognizable or only subtly different
from an adult . An autumn moult, at just over one year old, produces a fully adult plumage or a
further intermediate stage, ‘2nd-winter’ . Thus, in its first calendar year, a bird may be in juvenile or
1st-winter plumage; in its second calendar year, it may be 1st-winter, 1st-summer or 2nd-winter
(hence the calendar year does not indicate the bird’s appearance unless the date and stage of
moult are known) . The book has many pictures captioned ‘1st-winter’ and ‘1st-summer’, which
may seem unnecessarily confusing . While wishing simply to show ‘breeding’ (or summer) and
‘non-breeding’ (winter) plumages, photographs reveal such detail that other plumage stages can
often be identified, which have been labelled as accurately as possible . Most small birds have a
short lifespan, high mortality and a high ‘turnover’, so in any breeding population in summer, a
substantial proportion will be one-year old (‘1st-summer’ birds) . These are labelled as ‘1st-summer’
rather than ‘Adult’, with minor differences described . For example, you may see male Blackbirds
breeding in their first-summer, essentially looking like adults but with browner wings than older
individuals .
Note that some species, especially gulls, take two, three or four years to become fully mature:
these are indicated by a ‘roundel’ symbol (e.g. 3 ) with the number of years indicated .
The book has been designed with identification in mind, by grouping together similar-looking birds
for ease of comparison and highlighting key features. It is structured to help you put a name to a
bird by taking the minimum number of steps combined with careful observation .
The identification process
1 When you first see an unfamiliar bird, look carefully and try to note all the points relevant to
an identification: if you can write them down, all the better . Now go to The types of bird (pages
10–15), a gallery that shows the range of birds found in Great Britain and Ireland . Glance through
the relevant images and look for the one that most closely matches your bird, to get to the
relevant group .
2 The page reference from your chosen image will take you to a group introduction or
species account . For larger groupings, the introduction may refer you to a sub-group and, if
needed, further subdivisions, gradually reducing the options before referring you to a handful of
possibilities .
3 By now you should be in the part of the book that matches your bird . Details in the accounts
should enable you to put a name to the species you are looking at .
If something is not right then:
a) refer back to the introductory section for that species group, where information on commonly
confused groups/species can be found .
b) consider the possibility of an exotic ‘escape’ or a rare bird . In the case of rare birds that look
similar to more common species a page reference is given on a species accounts page .
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INTRODUCTION
The species accounts
The species accounts are divided into 30 broad sections . Each has an introduction summarizing the
number of species recorded and their features common to the group . A few species have been introduced
(e.g. Canada Goose, Pheasant, Little Owl) . Casual ‘escapes’ from collections cannot be predicted but some
have ‘escaped’ from captivity and have bred ‘in the wild’ . Brief details are included of those that might
become established, such as Black Swan . The categories are listed and explained on p. 538 . Technical
jargon is avoided and everyday terms are used in the book, but a few specialist terms do help – for
example ‘pale tips to the greater coverts’ is more precise than ‘spots on the wing’ . Sometimes judging
relative lengths of tail, wingtip and tertials, for example, must be attempted – so knowing such feather
groups is interesting, informative and invaluable (see page 5) . Such terms are explained in a group
introduction where they are of particular relevance . As far as possible each species account is presented in
a consistent manner, as explained below .
Using the accounts
A combination of factors is more likely to give an accurate identifi cation than one or two features . Study
the photographs, read the descriptions, but also check the status and habitat preferences . You may fi nd
that, for example, a ‘yellow’ wagtail is likely to be a Grey Wagtail at certain times of year; or that the brown
owl in an Irish wood is probably a Long-eared, not a Tawny Owl . Any bird could occur almost anywhere,
but overwhelmingly often the bird you see will be in the right place, in its proper habitat, at the right time
of year .
English name |Scientifi c name
Group (‘type’ of bird)
Conservation status:
‘Rare beware’
Conservation status: BoCC (see opposite)
IUCN Red List (see below) CORMORANTS | DIVERS | GREBES | PELICANS Divers in fl ight p. 79
VUGreat Northern Diver Gavia immer I 544 Legal protection
Measurements LLtaa7pr3ge–ree8std8 r, c edmgau g|l gaWre r d1-is2vh2ear–.p1 Be4id8ll, cdhmeeledp ,h orizontally;W fohrieteh-ebaildle odft D eivne hr as ‘bump’ AuSgc–aMrcaey w);r ifanertwee irsn vulaimsnitmdo re (r3 i,n0 0fa0r, N; Status
Overview and description bAwthDehrUfooiLtTare etB. e RBcdErEa oDDcwIkNi vGnce.hhre e(qapud. 8 eb3rle)a)dc. kNwO, iwNt-hiBt RwhE EhpDiaItNtecG h (rb eoacfra wrlelshd iC toeov rsatmlr pioparetacsn hote n(s p no. en8c0 Bk); l babucrkte -absitll fGroremenland Icferolamnd Distribution map
Conservation status codes pdoarinkt eudp,p tearil etdingye; (ntehvicekr esrta tnhdans oBulat cokn- tdhrryo pateerdc hD. iBvielrl ’sg)r.e Wy/whihteit eisyhe,r winigth
IUCN Red List athnrdo athterdo aDt;i vcaerp) ;a bnldac hki nhdalnf-eccokl lbarla; cbkaecrk thhaasn s qbuacakre ( preavlee rbsaer os;f flB alnackk a-ll- Status/distribution map
dark. JUVENILE/IMMATURE like non-breeding adult but barred with square codes
(black/red border = included on buff feather edges above and browner head.
VOICE Calls sometimes heard away from breeding range in summer, n All-year-round
European Red List) especially quick, laughing sequence; also loud wails.
PE PE Possibly Extinct JUVENILE prIosNWetr tbFiu nwaLdgrIiiGenbnlgHeyga s Tdf;te, rs dbeo awitogr. hkpL, iheoflp denapa;ng ilevk,a yrc rb gethhaneena,ta rndad .l ly Mostly one ssetau,a inri essandy bays, nn n WSuimntmere vri sviitsoitror
smaller divers, but large bill and
RE Regionally Extinct bulk best clues. nn Migrant
n Rare migrant/vagrant
ECNR ECNR CEnridtiacnalglye Erendd angered bJurUonVpaEtlNdialI L iMpnE/aea1lrSre T/l -iAbkWpaeINrr AsT wD EaRUhb LhTeoanvs e psaqleu abraer s 1JJSUUTV[-LFEW–eNbAIINL]PTERE/R ipmlummataugreein so sicnuc m‘ansomionen-rbalrleye sdeienng ’ Amaprirpgolrwiactasi obshnleo p .wat bhrso wadh ere
VUVU Vulnerable IIddeeaallllyy aadddd ‘bump’ on forehead
LLaappwwiinngg
NTNT Near Threatened hheeaadd cap and hindneck Habitat
darker than back
BoCC (Red/Amber listed) ADULTO NCOTN–-MBARREEDING bbltuhiilrsl ohtha ttihcekaden Dr ,B ilvleaescrsk - Annotations
Highlighting key features
/ in Britain (blue text if in fl ight)
I / I in Ireland back covered with
white squares Captions
Comparison species on same ADUALPTR B–ROECEDTING Age of image shown: a ♂
page are within a coloured or♀symbol = an adult or
background box 8844 breeding bird .
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date ranges, such as sep–mar, indicate the months in which a particular plumage may be seen (no range means all-year) .
[Dates] in square brackets indicate the month when photo was taken (for transitional plumages and where helpful) .
‘Rare beware’
The ‘rare beware’ or ‘go to’ symbol indicates other species that are very similar or may be mistaken in some
circumstances, and similar rare species that should be checked .
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THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS
English and scientific names The term ‘adult’ on its own may be taken to mean
Each species has a common English name and that sexes look alike; similarly, breeding/non-breeding
scientific name (in italics) . Different font sizes are plumages will be the same unless specified . Where
used to distinguish regular, scarce and rare species . helpful, a description of the bird IN FLIGHT follows,
l English names vary between authorities . This as well as VOICE, giving an approximation of calls
book generally uses those names recommended and/or song . While vocalizations can be essential,
by the British Ornithologists’ Union Records writing them in words is difficult – they serve as
Committee (BOURC) and adopted for the Irish useful aide mémoires if you have heard the bird
List, as these are best known to most people . already, or give a indication of what to expect .
Other English names are shown (in brackets) if
Conservation status, legal protection and Irish
thay are in frequent usage .
records
l The scientific name consists of two words
l Species or subspecies on the Red or Amber list,
– the first refers to the genus, which classifies
as a Bird of Conservation Concern (BoCC) in
those species that are closely related, the
Britain or Ireland (see p. 541), are indicated by an
second refers to the species . The combination
appropriate colour-coded dot .
of these two words is unique to a species
l Species listed by the International Union for
and applicable worldwide . A species can be
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Threatened
variable in appearance and voice across its
or Near Threatened, globally or in Europe, and
range and often these variations are classified
that are on the IUCN Red List (see p. 542) have
as subspecies . These are identified using a third
a colour-coded square . Squares with a black
word and are covered in the relevant species
border indicate the European Red List status .
accounts . In some cases where scientific names
l Species afforded legal protection are indicated
have changed as a result of recent taxonomic
by a black square with a number referring to
research the former name is included in brackets
the page on which information regarding that
to prevent confusion .
species can be found .
NB a ◆ symbol after a name indicates that the
Status
species has only been recorded in Ireland .
The Status box indicates how common (or
Measurements otherwise) the species is in Britain and Ireland, with
The length (bill-tip to tail-tip laid out on a flat an estimate of the population, and the time of year
surface) and wingspan of the species are given it is generally seen . Birds referred to as ‘migrants’
as a range, (with male and female separate if travel to and from Britain and Ireland, or pass
appropriate) . NB A very long bill or tail feathers, through or close by, on an annual cycle .
can give a misleading indication of size in some l Rare migrant: >1,000 records in total, or usually
cases; and a slim bird that is the same length as a >100 recorded each year .
rounded one may look much ‘smaller’ in reality . l Very rare migrant: >300 records, or
>50 recorded each year .
Overview and description
l Vagrant describes a species that is off its usual
A summary of general appearance and behaviour
migration route . The area of origin for these
leads into detailed notes on different plumages
species is given . Numbers of records are given in
(where relevant) according to age, sex and
close approximations (e.g. <5, <25, <50, <100) .
time of year . Important or diagnostic points are
highlighted in bold . Descriptions begin with Distribution map and habitat
male, where appropriate qualified with adult and/ Maps for all regular breeding, wintering and
or breeding (summer) plumage, followed by non- migrant species show summer, winter or all-year-
breeding, then female, and immature birds: round distribution, and typical migration routes
l juvenile indicates a bird with feathers grown for where relevant . A box below the map gives most
its first flight . likely habitats in which to find a species . For rare
l 1st-winter indicates a bird that has undertaken migrants and vagrants this information is given in
its 1st-winter partial moult . Subsequent age their status box .
definitions vary according to species, some Area modifiers are as follows: C = Central, E = East,
being almost indistinguishable from older N = North, NE = North-east, NW = North-west, S
individuals when just one year old, while others = South, SE = South-east, SW = South-west, W =
take several years to mature . West . Note that ‘N Europe’ includes Scandinavia .

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