Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Nice & Monaco Summer 2009

Bird name: Common Swift
Latin: Apus apus
Other: Martinet noir (Fr) • Rondone (It) • Mauersegler (De) • Vencejo común (Es)
Family: Apodidae • Swifts

It’s difficult to differentiate between the Common Swift and Pallid Swift, both of which are present in large numbers on the Côte d’Azur in summer.

The lowest photo below (“more photos”) may be a Pallid Swift. The Pallid Swift has a larger white patch on the throat than the Common Swift and is slightly browner and stockier, with ribbed markings on the belly and less pointed wings.

The Pallid Swift does not occur north of the Mediterranean belt but the Common Swift is widespread throughout Europe.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: La Turbie Summer 2009

Bird name: Alpine Swift
Latin: Apus melba
Other: Tachymarptis melba • Martinet Alpin / Royal / à Ventre Blanc (Fr)
Family: Apodidae • Swifts

The Alpine Swift is a large swift, generally found at higher altitudes, in a band around the Mediterranean and into Turkey and beyond, in the summer. It migrates to southeast Africa in the northern winter.

The Alpine Swift is distinguished by its white stomach and throat, although the latter is not always visible in certain angles and light. These swifts return to the mountains above Monaco in April and spend the summer there.

Notice how they fill their throat pouch with insects, causing it to bulge.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Cote d’Azur, France • October 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: European Stonechat
Latin: Saxicola torquatus
Other: Saxicola rubicola • Saxicola torquata • Common Stonechat • Tarier pâtre (Fr)
Family: Muscicapidae • Chats

The Stonechat is a small bird, present throughout the year on the Cote d’Azur, and found throughout most of Europe, especially in the summer. The similar Whinchat has a stronger white supercilium and an extra patch of white on the wing (male).

The name of this bird seems to be in flux currently. S. torquatus, torquata and rubicola all are used. Common Stonechat is the older broader name, European Stonechat is narrower grouping. The Chats used to be grouped with Thrushes, but now are considered Old World Flycatchers.

More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Cote d’Azur, France • October 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Wren
Latin: Troglodytes troglodytes
Other: Winter Wren (US) • Troglodyte mignon (Fr)
Family: Troglodytidae • Wrens

Placeholder photos for the Wren until I get some better ones. The Wren is widespread throughout Europe, but small and shy!More photos...

Photo copyright: VM/monacoeye • Do not copy • Image: Treviso, Italy

Bird name: European Goldfinch
Latin: Carduelis carduelis
Other: Goldfinch • Chardonneret élégant (Fr) • Cardellino (It)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches

Many thanks to Valerie for sending in the above photo of a Goldfinch in her garden in northern Italy.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: France • 2009

Bird name: Carrion Crow
Latin: Corvus corone
Other: Corneille noire (Fr)
Family: Corvidae • Crows

It’s generally difficult to distinguish the Carrion Crow from other similar corvids, such as the juvenile Rook. The Carrion Crow has a more rounded bill than the juvenile Rook. The adult Rook has a bare base to its bill.

The Raven is a larger version of the Carrion Crow - though to be honest the photo above (taken in the Camargue) looks rather raven-like to me - and the bird seemed very large when I photographed it.

The Hooded Crow, which substitutes the Carrion Crow in Eastern Europe and Ireland, is often thought to be a subspecies of Carrion Crow. In addition to Western Europe, the Carrion Crow is also found throughout Northeast Asia.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • France • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Magpie
Latin: Pica pica
Other: European Magpie • Pie bavarde (Fr)
Family: Corvidae • Magpies

The Magpie is the one bird that everyone (in Europe) can recognise immediately. It is found throughout Europe and much of Asia and northwest Africa. Common in most locations, throughout the year.

It is large, black and white, with some blue on wing. The only other magpie in Europe is the Azure-winged Magpie, found in Spain.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Images: Alpes Maritimes, France Jan Feb 2009 2010

Bird name: Alpine Accentor
Latin: Prunella collaris
Other: Accenteur Alpin (Fr)
Family: Prunellidae • Accentors

The Alpine Accentor is a good bird to see in the winter in the Alpes Maritimes, near the coast or in the mountains. I saw a couple again today (top shot) about one kilometre from the coast. The blue background is the Mediterranean Sea.

The Alpine Accentor has a yellow lower bill, black and white stippled throat, rufous streaking to belly, two rows of white triangles on black on wings and greyish streaked upperparts.

More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Menton, France • September, 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Tree Pipit
Latin: Anthus trivialis
Other: Pipit des Arbres
Family: Motacillidae • Pipits

A presumed Tree Pipit during migration season in the Autumn. There's quite an art to differentiating Tree Pipits from their rather similar-looking cousins the Meadow Pipits. One that I do not claim yet to have mastered. However the principal differences are that the Tree Pipit has a whiter supercilium (mark above the eye), with a whitish dot around where his ear might be. And the Meadow Pipit has a much more strongly marked back - the Tree Pipit's back looks dull in comparison. They both have pinkish legs, unlike the Water Pipit which has dark legs.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Mercantour, France • October, 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Water Pipit
Latin: Anthus spinoletta
Other: Pipit spioncelle
Family: Motacillidae • Pipits

This presumed Water Pipit was seen in the Mercantour at an altitude of about 2000 metres, in a waterlogged meadow with a mountain stream running through it, which is a typical location.

Water Pipits have dark legs whereas Meadow and Tree Pipits have light pinkish legs.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice, France • May, 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Flycatcher
Latin: Ficedula hypoleuca
Other: Gobe-mouche noir • European Pied Flycatcher
Family: Muscicapidae • FlycatchersMore photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Monaco + • May, 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Chiffchaff
Latin: Phylloscopus collybita
Other: Pouillot véloce • Common Chiffchaff
Family: Phylloscopidae • Leaf Warblers

The Chiffchaff is the archetypal little brown bird - fairly featureless and easily confused with several other warblers, especially the Willow Warbler. Many winter here on the coast, whereas the Willow Warbler all migrate, allowing the former to be identified more easily.

A small bird, and difficult to photograph!More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Peregrine Falcon
Latin: Falco peregrinus
Other: Faucon pèlerin
Family: Falconidae • Falcons • Birds of Prey

The Peregrine Falcon is a powerful and fast bird which preys on other smaller birds. There is one that lives nearby and sometimes get a view of him here in Monaco.
More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Alpes Maritimes • September 2009

Bird name: Honey Buzzard
Latin: Pernis apivorus
Other: Bondrée Apivore
Family: Accipitridae • Birds of Prey

It's the Honey Buzzard season in the mountains above Monaco.

Hundreds of Honey Buzzards will be flying down the coast in the next few days towards Spain and Africa.

I saw this one yesterday - my first - and several more today, flying very high, east to west.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Alpes Maritimes • September 2009

Bird name: Short Toed Eagle
Latin: Circaetus gallicus
Other: Short Toed Snake Eagle • Circaète Jean le Blanc • Schlangenadler • Alangenarend • Biancone • Aguila Culebrera
Family: Accipitridae • Birds of Prey

The Short Toed Eagle preys mainly on snakes, but also small reptiles like lizards. It is predominantly light-coloured from below, with a dark head.

More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Ventimiglia • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Wagtail
Latin: Motacilla alba
Other: Bergeronnette Grise (confusingly !)
Family: Motacillidae • Wagtails

This White Wagtail is quite a common bird all along the coast, especially near water.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice • April 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Barn Swallow
Latin: Hirundo rustica
Other: Hirondelle Rustique
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows

In the winter the most visible bird along the coast is probably the Crag Martin - omnipresent at all altitudes in towns and country alike. But at this time of year the Crag Martins are much less visible and the Barn Swallows have taken up residence, especially in wetlands.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Indian Silverbill
Latin: Lonchura malabarica
Other: White Throated Munia
Family: Sternidae • Terns

Another introduced species, the small Indian Silverbill is common in Nice, and nests among the reeds. Quite easy to see, as it is not shy. Probably originally from escaped cagebirds.More photos...

Bird name: Mallard
Latin: Anas platyrynchos
Other: Canard Colvert
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Nice, France • Jan 2009

Bird name: Northern Lapwing
Latin: Vanellus vanellus
Other: Peewit • Green Plover • Vanneau Huppé (Fr)
Family: Charadriidae
Tag: Plovers & Lapwing

A large group of Lapwing often gather on an island in the middle of the Var during the winter.More photos...

Bird name: Little Egret
Latin: Egretta garzetta
Other: Aigrette Garzette (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae
Tag: Herons, Storks & Ibises

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue, France • December 2008More photos...

Bird name: Great Egret
Latin: Ardea alba
Other: Grande Aigrette (Fr) • Kotuku (NZ)
Family: Ardeidae
Tag: Herons, Storks & Ibises

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue, France • December 2008More photos...