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...

Here’s another pale phase Booted Eagle seen a few days ago on the coast near Nice. Like the one I saw in January, (below), it seems a little out of range to be a resident, although it was circling and appeared to be hunting.

Typically a few dozen migrate along the coast towards Spain and Africa, so it may have been migrating. In 2004, exceptionally, 500 Booted Eagles were seen travelling up the coast from Spain, through the Pyrenees, along the Côte d’Azur eastwards and then presumably heading down through Italy to Africa.

Since then a few have still been coming this way. Although this is not the “normal” migration direction, this year, which is the first year I have observed migrating birds, quite a few birds appeared to be migrating “the wrong way”, including wood pigeons and birds of prey.

Other observers noticed similar behaviour, though whether the birds in question really were heading down Italy or were just flying back to the mountains for a thermal or another reason before continuing their journey to Spain, we had no way of knowing.

Booted Eagles can be much darker than these two individuals but always have pale patches around the inner primary feathers. Notice 6 “fingers” on wing tip, compared to buzzards 5.


Photos copyright: monacoeye • Vaugrenier - October • Camargue - January • France

Bird name: Booted Eagle
Latin: Aquila pennata
Other: Hieraaetus pennatus • Aigle Botté
Family: Accipitridae • Birds of Prey

I have it on good authority this was a Booted Eagle… Unusual for this area in the winter.More photos...

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

Bird name: Greater Flamingo
Latin: Phoenicopterus roseus
Other: Flamingo • Phoenicopterus ruber
Family: Phoenicopteridae • Flamingos

Surprisingly perhaps, the Greater Flamingo is native to France and can be seen quite easily in certain areas such as the Camargue. Flamingos are unmistakeable.

Juveniles have the brown and white colouring. Adults have reddish pink legs and yellow irises, reddish wings with a black border of primary feathers.

There are six flamingo species in the world, four in the Americas and two in the Old World. As a genetic family they are somewhat unique and are not easily grouped in with other birds - currently they usually fall under the larger heron group Ciconiiformes. It's not clear if Greater Flamingos themselves are a separate species, P. roseus, or a subspecies of P. ruber.

The outstretched wings and necks form part of their courtship display. Flamingos are well known for sleeping on one leg, but never toppling over.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Europe • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Eurasian Coot
Latin: Fulica atra
Other: Coot • Foulque Macroule • Focha Común • Blässhuhn • Folaga • Galeirão-Comum
Family: Rallidae • Coots • Rails

The Coot is probably the bird you are most likely to see near a lake or slow waterway in Europe, after the Mallard.

Easy to identify from its bobbing head movement and white shield that extends from the bill, which on closer inspection can be slightly pinkish. Plumage generally appears black.

There are about 11 Coot species worldwide, mostly in South America. The Eurasian Coot is the only one you are likely to see in Europe, though the Red Knobbed Coot can be found in southwest Spain.

The Coots are parts of the Rail family, which includes the larger Moorhen, which has a red bill with yellow tip, and is often seen in the same riverside habitat.

Notice the long lobed toes, even on the Coot chick, seen in Geneva, in June. The photo of several hundred on a lake was taken in the Camargue in January.More photos...

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

Bird name: Common Moorhen
Latin: Gallinula chloropus
Other: Moorhen • Common Waterhen (UK) • Common Gallinule (US) • Gallinule Poule d'Eau (Fr) • Teichralle (De) • Polla Gris (Es), Polla de Agua, Pollona Negra, Gallareta Común, Tiqui, Taca-taca, Gallineta • Galinha-d'água, Frango-d'água (Pt)
Family: Rallidae • Coots • Rails

The Moorhen, or Common Gallinule as it’s known in the US, with its distinctive red beak with yellow tip, is found on most continents, and is thus probably the most common Rail outside of Europe. Rails are aquatic birds but Moorhens' toes are not lobed, unlike Coots.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Western Marsh Harrier
Latin: Circus aeruginosus
Other: Busard des Roseaux • Eurasian Marsh Harrier
Family: Accipitridae • Birds of Prey

There were many Marsh Harriers seen in the Camargue when I visited in March.

September 2009: The Marsh Harriers have started their migration. Below was one flying above Monaco today.
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Photo copyright: monacoeye.com • France • 2009 • Do not copy

Bird name: Common Kestrel
Latin: Falco tinnunculus
Other: Faucon Crécerelle
Family: Falconidae • Birds of Prey

The male Kestrel has a grey cap and tail (below), while the female is brown (above). Their region is Europe and around the Mediterranean, and some parts of Asia.

Kestrels, with the Common Buzzard, are the most abundant and visible birds of prey in Europe - they are often seen hovering in mid air before swooping down to catch a lizard or small mammal.

They are small birds, a little larger than pigeons.

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Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Sacred Ibis
Latin: Threskiornis aethiopicus
Other: Ibis sacré (Fr)
Family: Threskiornithidae - Ibises

The Sacred Ibis was introduced in France in the 1970’s. This group is established and free-flying, seen here in the Camargue, with Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Avocet
Latin: Recurvirostra avosetta
Other: Avocette Elégante
Family: Recurvirostridae • Waders
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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 • Cote d’Azur, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Ringed Plover
Latin: Charadrius hiaticula
Other: Pluvier Grand Gravelot • Grand Gravelot
Family: Charadriidae
Tags: Plovers & Lapwing • Waders

A better shot (top) of the Ringed Plover in flight as they swept past the mouth of the Var in Nice…More photos...

I came across these two dead birds on my last visit to the Camargue in March 2009. The Barn Owl was beside the path in La Capellière and the Flamingo was beside the path at the Pont de Gau bird centre.More photos...

Bird name: Dunlin & Little Stint
Latin: Calidris alpina & Calidris minuta
Other: Bécasseau Variable & Bécasseau Minute
Family: Scolopacidae
Tags: Waders

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009

A mixed bag of Dunlin and Little Stint, I am reliably informed …More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Little Ringed Plover
Latin: Charadrius dubius
Other: Petit Gravelot • Pluvier Petit Gravelot
Family: Charadriidae
Tags: Plovers & Lapwing • Waders

The Little Ringed Plover is principally distinguished from the similar Ringed Plover by its dark beak (vs orange for Ringed) and duller legs. The Little Ringed also has less of a white stripe on the wings. Both Ringed and Little Ringed were seen together a couple of weeks ago in the Camargue.More photos...

Bird name: Grey Plover
Latin: Pluvialis squatarola
Other: Black Bellied Plover (US) • Pluvier argenté
Family: Charadriidae
Tags: Waders

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009

A distant shot of what look like Grey Plovers.More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Dunnock
Latin: Prunella modularis
Other: Accenteur Mouchet
Family: Prunellidae or Passeridae - AccentorsMore photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: House Sparrow
Latin: Passer domesticus
Other: Moineau domestique
Family: Passeridae • Sparrows

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009

A ringed female House Sparrow above. Detail of male below. Widespread in Europe and even quite visible in Americas.More photos...

Bird name: Greylag Goose
Latin: Anser anser
Other: Oie cendrée
Family: Anatidae • Subfamily: Anserinae • Geese

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009 More photos...

Bird name: Reed Bunting
Latin: Emberiza schoeniclus
Other: Bruant des roseaux
Family: Emberizidae • Buntings

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009

Some slightly distant shots of a couple of male Reed Buntings, one with full summer plumage (black head), the other half way there.More photos...

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009

Bird name: White Stork
Latin: Ciconia ciconia
Other: Cigogne blanche
Family: Ciconiidae • Storks

This White Stork nest was high in a tree, right behind La Capelliere in the Camargue. Four White Storks were seen flying nearby.More photos...

Bird name: Tufted Duck
Latin: Aythya fuligula
Other: Fuligule morillon
Family: Anatidae
Tags: Ducks

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009

A male Tufted Duck. There were many at La Capelliere - the first I have seen this year.More photos...

Bird name: Common Buzzard
Latin: Buteo buteo
Other: Buse Variable
Family: Accipitridae • Birds of Prey

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • Jan - Mar 2009

I saw these Common Buzzards by the side of the road in the back roads of the Camargue region, where they are not uncommon. More photos...

The Black Headed Gull is in the foreground. The other gulls are Mediterranean Gulls, in summer plumage. Photos taken May 2009, Camargue.

Head: Med Gull is black, Black Headed Gull is chocolate
Legs and beak: Med Gull bright red, BHG off red
Wing tips: Med Gull white, BHG dark
Size: Med Gull slightly larger than BHGMore photos...

Bird name: Mediterranean Gull
Latin: Larus melanocephalus
Other: Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
Family: Laridae • Gulls

Photo: monacoeye • Monaco • Mar 2009

Photo: March 2009, CamargueMore photos...

Bird name: Black Headed Gull
Latin: Larus ridibundus
Other: Chroicocephalus ridibundus • Laughing Gull
Family: Laridae • Gulls

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • March 2009More photos...

Bird name: Northern Shoveler
Latin: Anas clypeata
Other: Canard Souchet
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

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

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

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

Bird name: Red Crested Pochard
Latin: Netta rufina
Other: Nette Rousse
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

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

Bird name: Common Shelduck
Latin: Tadorna tadorna
Other: Tadorne de Belon
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

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

Bird name: Common Pochard
Latin: Aytha ferina
Other: Fuligule Milouin
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

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

Bird name: Gadwall
Latin: Anas strepera
Other: Canard Chipeau
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

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

Bird name: Common Teal
Latin: Anas crecca
Other: Sarcelle d’Hiver
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

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

Bird name: Grey Heron
Latin: Ardea cinerea
Other: Héron Cendré (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae
Tag: Herons, Storks & Ibises

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • December 2008 & January 2009More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • January 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Other: Héron Garde-Boeuf (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae • EgretsMore 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...