© monacoeye • Camargue, France • December 2008 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Grey Heron
Latin: Ardea cinerea
Other: Gray Heron (US). Héron Cendré (Fr), garza real europea (Es), Graureiher (De), Aiirone cenerino (it)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Europe, Asia, Africa
Similar: Purple Heron, Black-headed Heron, Western Reef Egret

The Grey Heron is one of the more visible birds in wetlands in the south of France. Large and prominent - will circle or fly off when flushed. Juveniles are well camouflaged when standing on shingle.

Below, Grey Heron in flight, Camargue, France


Below, Grey Heron, Arma di Taggia, Italy, April 2013.
More photos...

© monacoeye. All rights reserved. Pantanal, August

Bird name: Great Egret
Latin: Ardea alba
Other: Grande Aigrette (Fr) • Kotuku (NZ) • Great White Egret • Common Egret • Garça-branca-grande (Br)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons, Egrets
Range: Worldwide
Similar: Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, White Stork

The Great Egret is a prominent large heron with all-white plumage, large wingspan, yellow bill, dark feet. Neck retracted in flight. In breeding plumage (see below in Romania), bill can be black, lores green, tibia red.

Seen regularly by rivers, lakes etc. France, Brazil, Africa etc.

The subspecies Ardea alba alba (Europe) (see “more photos”), Ardea alba egretta (Americas), Ardea alba melanorhynchos (Africa) and Ardea alba modesta (Asia & Australasia) were split by the IOC and then relumped.

Great Egret standing on tree, Pantanal, August


Great Egret in flight showing streamers, Mostardas, RS, Brazil, November


Great Egret in breeding plumage, green lores, black bill, red tibia. Danube Delta, May.
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved • Cattle Egret, Camargue, March.

Bird name: Western Cattle Egret
Latin: Bubulcus ibis
Other: Héron Garde-Boeuf (Fr) • Garcilla bueyera (Es) • Garça-vaqueira (Pt) • Airone guardabuoi (It)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons, Egrets
Range: North America, South America, Africa, Southern Europe to Central Asia
Similar:

The IOC (1.6) split the Cattle Egret into Western and Eastern forms, the latter being found in Australasia.

The Western Cattle Egret has a short yellowy orange bill, hairy under bill, yellow iris, orange patches in breeding plumage. Smallest of the white egrets. Often follows cattle and large mammals. Abundant in some areas. Hundreds at Kotu, Gambia.

Cattle Egrets roost, Regua, Brazil, September.


Cattle Egret, Gambia, February 2013.
More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Danube Delta, May • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: White Stork
Latin: Ciconia ciconia
Other: Cigogne blanche (Fr), Weißstorch (De), cigüeña blanca (Es), cicogna bianca (It), cegonha-branca (Pt)
Family: Ciconiidae • Storks
Range: France, Germany, Spain, E Europe to Africa. Also Asia.
Similar:

The White Stork is a large stork, seen in rural wetlands in Romania and France. Large numbers seen south of Madrid, nest building on train stations, mobile phone masts, towers etc. March 2013.



Below, a White Stork in the nest at La Capelliere, Camargue, March.


Below, White Stork nesting on train station, S Madrid, Spain, Mar 2013

More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved. Camargue, France

Bird name: Common Shelduck
Latin: Tadorna tadorna
Other: Tadorne de Belon (Fr),
Family: Anatidae • Ducks, Shelducks
Range: Eurasia
Similar:

The Common Shelduck is fairly widespread in France year round. These were seen in the Camargue and in Nice. A large attractive duck.

Below, Common Shelducks fly past Flamingos in Camargue, France, January.


More photos...

© GW - monacoeye.com, all rights reserved. Camargue, France • Mar 2009

Bird name: African Sacred Ibis
Latin: Threskiornis aethiopicus
Other: Ibis sacré (Fr)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises
Range: Sub-saharan Africa, Iraq, Egypt, France
Similar:

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

I also saw Sacred Ibis at Kotu Sewage Ponds, in the Gambia.

Below, African Sacred Ibis, Gambia, Feb 2013
More photos...

© monacoeye • Camargue, France • All rights reserved

Bird name: Western Marsh Harrier
Latin: Circus aeruginosus
Other: Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Helm) • Busard des Roseaux (Fr) • Rohrweihe (De) • Aguilucho lagunero (Es) • Falco di palude (It) • Bruine kiekendief (Nl) • Brun kärrhök (Sv) • Tartaranhão-ruivo-dos-pauis (Pt)
Family: Accipitridae • Birds of Prey, Harriers
Range: Eurasia, India, Central Africa
Similar: Male Hen Harrier

Marsh Harriers can be seen in the Camargue all year round and many fly east-west past Monaco on autumn migration in September.

The adult male Marsh Harrier is fairly easy to recognise. From below it has black wing tips, white wings, brown body and head.

Females are quite variable and thus more difficult to recognise - they typically have brown body and coverts and darkish wing tips. Dark mark through eye. Can have white cap and neck, white shoulder.

Juveniles are very dark with whitish head.

Below, Marsh Harrier, Camargue, January 2012.


Below, Western Marsh Harrier, Gambia, Feb 2013
More photos...

© monacoeye • Female kestrel hovering, France • 2009

Bird name: Common Kestrel
Latin: Falco tinnunculus
Other: Kestrel (UK), Faucon Crécerelle (Fr), Turmfalke (De), Cernícalo vulgar (Es), Gheppio comune (It), Torenvalk (Nl), Tornfalk (Sv), Peneireiro-vulgar (Pt)
Family: Falconidae • Falcons, Kestrels
Range: Europe, Asia, India, Africa
Similar: Lesser Kestrel

The male Kestrel has a grey cap and tail, while the female is brown. Both have the dark malar stripe characteristic of falcons.

There are many races of Kestrel each with slightly different patterning. In France the nominate tinnunculus race is present, while in Gambia the rufescens race is found (see below). Male rufescens have more heavily barred upperside than tinnunculus; female rufescens are deeper brown and more barred than tinnunculus.

Kestrels are one of the most abundant and visible birds of prey in Europe - 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.

Below, male Common Kestrel wing pattern. Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus, France


Common Kestrel brings agama lizard to juv? Falco tinnunculus rufescens


Below, Common Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus rufescens. Gambia, Feb 2013
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye • Gambia, Feb 2013.

Bird name: Grey Plover
Latin: Pluvialis squatarola
Other: Black Bellied Plover (US) • Pluvier argenté (Fr), chorlito gris (Es), tarambola-cinzenta (Pt), Kustpiparen (Sv), Tundralo (No)
Family: Charadriidae • Lapwings & Plovers
Range: Worldwide
Similar: American Golden Plover

Above, Grey Plover feeding on exposed rocks at low tide, in the Gambia, February.

Below, Grey Plover (or Black-Bellied Plover) were seen on the beach by the airport in Panama City in good numbers, mixed with other seabirds, in May.

In full breeding plumage they have a well-defined black band running from face to belly. The others are in non-breeding plumage.

Grey Plover breed in the Arctic and migrate to southern coastlines worldwide in the northern winter.

Costa del Este, Panama, 9 May 2010
More photos...

© GW - monacoeye, all rights reserved • Gambia, Feb 2013.

Bird name: Common Ringed Plover
Latin: Charadrius hiaticula
Other: Pluvier Grand Gravelot (fr), chorlitejo grande (Es), borrelho-grande-de-coleira (Pt), Sandregenpfeifer (De), Större strandpipare (Sv)
Family: Charadriidae • Lapwings & Plovers
Range: N Eurasia, Arctic Canada, migrating S to Africa etc
Similar: Little Ringed Plover, Semipalmated Plover

Above, Common Ringed Plovers on beach in Gambia. Identified by orange legs, broad white supercilium (non-breeding plumage), orange bill base (breeding plumage).

Common Ringed Plover in flight as they swept past the mouth of the Var in Nice…

Common Ringed Plover in flight, Var in Nice… France • Mar 2009


Common Ringed Plover with Sanderling behind, Gambia, Feb 2013.
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Gambia, Mar 2013

Bird name: Common Sandpiper
Latin: Actitis hypoleucos
Other: Andarríos chico (Es) • Chevalier guignette (Fr) • Piro piro piccolo (it) • Flussuferläufer (De) • Maçarico-das-rochas (Pt)
Family: Scolopacidae • Sandpipers
Range: Breeding widespread Eurasia - migrates to Africa, Asia, Australasia, also Middle East

I saw the Common Sandpiper several times in the Gambia - Fajara, Tendaba etc.More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2011

Bird name: White Wagtail
Latin: Motacilla alba
Other: Bergeronnette Grise (Fr) • Lavandera blanca (Es) • Ballerina bianca (It) • Sädesärla (Sv) • Alvéola-branca (Pt)
Family: Motacillidae • Wagtails
Range: Iceland, Widespread Eurasia, also Alaska, Morocco
Similar:

This White Wagtail is quite a common bird all along the coast, especially near water. Not uncommon even in Monaco in one or two locations. The wagtails pictured are the Motacilla alba alba subspecies, found in continental Europe and Iceland.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • Jan 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Common Reed Bunting
Latin: Emberiza schoeniclus
Other: Reed Bunting (UK) • Bruant des roseaux (Fr) • Rohrammer (De) • Escribano palustre (Es) • Migliarino di palude (It) • Rietgors (Nl) • Sävsparv (Sv) • Escrevedeira-dos-caniços (Pt) • 
Family: Emberizidae • Buntings
Range: Europe, N. Asia, to S Europe, N Africa
Similar: Various buntings, linnet etc

Above female or juvenile winter Common Reed Bunting, Camargue. The adult summer male has a black head, as below in Romania.

Below, male Reed Bunting, Danube Delta, Romania, May.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • March • All rights reserved

Bird name: Corn Bunting
Latin: Emberiza calandra
Other: Miliaria calandra • Bruant proyer (Fr) • Grauammer (De) • Triguero (Es) • Strillozzo (It) • Grauwe gors (Nl) • Kornsparv (Sv) • Trigueirão (Pt)
Family: Emberizidae • Buntings
Range: Europe esp south, Asia, N Africa
Similar: Yellowhammer, buntings, linnet

A couple of record shots of Corn Buntings in the CamargueMore photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Camargue Jan 2012

Bird name: Meadow Pipit
Latin: Anthus pratensis
Other: Pipit farlouse (Fr), Pipit des prés • Wiesenpieper (De) • Bisbita pratense (Es) • Pispola (It) • Graspieper (Nl) • Ängspiplärka (Sv) • Petinha-dos-prados (Pt)
Family: Motacillidae • Pipits
Range: Europe, Asia, North Africa
Similar: Water Pipit

Meadow Pipits seem fairly common on remote beaches on the South coast of France.

I saw dozens in the Camargue in January - every few yards along some beaches - with White Wagtails.

Difficult to differentiate the various types of Pipit, so treat ID with caution, but I understand the Meadow Pipit is the only one locally likely to inhabit beaches.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Camargue, France • January 2012 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Buzzard
Latin: Buteo buteo
Other: Buse Variable (Fr) • Mäusebussard (De) • ratonero común (Es) • poiana comune (It) • Buizerd (Nl) • Ormvråk (Sv) • Águia-de-asa-redonda (Pt)
Family: Accipitridae • Buzzards, Birds of Prey
Range: Europe, Asia
Similar: Honey Buzzard, Rough-legged Buzzard

The Camargue has many Common Buzzards in the winter - most of these photos were taken there. Adults are usually rich brown with light marks under wings, especially near tips, as pictured.

They’re often perched on lamp-posts or trees overlooking the road. Also seen near Monaco all year round.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Camargue, Jan 2012

Bird name: Hen Harrier
Latin: Circus cyaneus
Other: Northern Harrier (US, IOC) • Busard Saint-Martin (Fr) • Kornweihe (De) • Aguilucho pálido, Gavilán rastrero (Es) • Albanella reale (It) • Blauwe kiekendief (Nl) • Blå kärrhök (Sv) • Tartaranhão-azulado (Pt)
Family: Accipitridae • Harriers, Birds of Prey
Range: Europe, Asia
Similar: Male Marsh Harrier

Record shots of a female Hen Harrier seen in January in the Camargue, flying low over salt marshes.

The IOC name is Northern Harrier, which also describes the US subspecies; Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus cyaneus, is the name used in the UK and describes only the Eurasian bird.

Note white band on rump - a good indicator.

Copyright: monacoeye • France • Mar-Jun 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Tufted Duck
Latin: Aythya fuligula
Other: Fuligule morillon (Fr) • Porrón moñudo(Es) • Reiherente (De) • Moretta (It)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range: Widespread Eurasia - Africa, N Asia
Similar: Greater Scaup

Wild Tufted Ducks winter in the Camargue, but I’ve also seen them in a park in Nice in the summer, perhaps feral.

The male Tufted Duck (above) has a round purple head and bright yellow iris, with long tuft at back of head, bluish bill and white flanks.

The female Tufted Duck (directly below) and juveniles have dark plumage. Males in eclipse plumage also have dark flanks (see “more photos”).

Directly below, female Tufted Duck, Iceland, May, 2011


Directly below, male and female, Iceland, May.
More photos...

Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Do not copy • Iceland • May 2011

Bird name: Gadwall
Latin: Anas strepera
Other: Canard Chipeau (Fr) • Schnatterente (De) • Anade friso (Es) • Canapiglia (It) • Krakeend (Nl) • Snatterand (Sv) • Frisada (Pt)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
Range:
Similar: Mallard (female)

A couple of very nice shots of Gadwalls in Iceland near Reykjavik in May, sent in by Alexia.

Pictured above, a male Gadwall, fine lines on side and white speculum. In flight (see “more photos”) a chestnut patch is visible on the wing. The female, directly below, is similar to a female Mallard, but with more orange on the bill.

Below, a female Gadwall near Reykjavik, Iceland, in May.
More photos...

© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Monaco • February

Bird name: Common Starling
Latin: Sturnus vulgaris
Other: European Starling, Starling (UK) • L'Étourneau sansonnet (Fr) • Star (De) • Estornino pinto (Es) • Storno (It) • Estorninho-comum (Pt)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: Temperate Europe, W Asia, migrates south in the winter.
Similar: Blackbird, Spotless Starling (Spain, Portugal, Corsica)

Migrating Starlings are a common sight in cities in the winter, gathering in very large flocks and filling the trees of city squares. Large numbers arrive in Monaco in the winter, but authorities set up an anti-starling campaign over the last few years, with vans blasting hawk sounds, which seems to have had an effect.

Starlings are not just city birds, but also found in very large groups in the countryside and are a common garden bird. Like many other winter residents, near Monaco they favour olive trees and clear trees of all remaining olives in the winter months.

In the winter, birds are spotted: glossy dark with light tips to feathers. In the summer they lose this spotting. They have yellow bills, which darken in the winter, and so can be confused with blackbirds if only seen quickly.

A Common Starling in Reykjavik, May.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Camargue, Jan 2012

Bird name: Northern Harrier
Latin: Circus cyaneus
Other: Hen Harrier (UK) • Busard Saint-Martin (Fr) • Kornweihe (De) • Aguilucho pálido, Gavilán rastrero (Es) • Albanella reale (It) • Blauwe kiekendief (Nl) • Blå kärrhök (Sv) • Tartaranhão-azulado (Pt)
Family: Accipitridae • Harriers, Birds of Prey
Range: Europe, Asia
Similar:

Record shots of a Hen Harrier, the Circus cyaneus cyaneus subspecies of Northern Harrier, seen in January in the Camargue, flying low over salt marshes.

The IOC lump both US and Eurasian subspecies as Northern Harrier - the latter also describes just the US subspecies, C. c. hudsonius, split by some taxonomies.

Note white band on rump. More photos...

Photo: monacoeye • Nice, Ventimiglia • Summer 2009

Bird name: Common Moorhen
Latin: Gallinula chloropus
Other: Gallinule Poule d'Eau (Fr) • Teichralle (De) • Polla Gris (Es), Polla de Agua • Galinha-d'água (Pt)
Family: Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules
Range: Eurasia, Africa, Indian Ocean islands, S, SE Asia to Philippines, N Mariana Is.

The Common Moorhen, has a distinctive red beak with yellow tip. Rails are aquatic birds but Moorhens' toes are not lobed, unlike Coots. One of the most commonly seen waterbirds - seen in Cote d’Azur, France, Danube Delta etc.

See Common Gallinule for the similar bird found in the Americas, recently split.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, France • Dec 2010

Bird name: European Serin
Latin: Serinus serinus
Other: Serin • Serin cini (Fr) • Verzellino (It) • verdecillo (Es) • Girlitz (De)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Serins
Range: Central Europe, north Africa

The Serin is a small yellow bird, with very small bill and streaked flanks. It is the smallest of the Finches and closely related to the Canary.

At this time of year, many birds suddenly become more visible. More have migrated to the south coast for the winter, there is less foliage cover while at the same time food is scarce and needed to survive the cold weather.

With the Serin above, I saw Black Redstarts, Wrens, Alpine Accentors, a Kestrel and Common Buzzard in a very short space of time.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Cote d’Azur • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Yellow Legged Gull
Latin: Larus michahellis
Other: Goéland leucophée (Fr), Gabian • Gaviota patiamarilla (Es) • Gabbiano reale zampegialle (It)
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: Mediterranean coastline

The Yellow-legged Gull is a large gull, common in Monaco and along the Côte d’Azur in the summer.

It is closely related, and similar in appearance to, the Herring Gull and Caspian Gull, and even more closely related to the Great Black Backed Gull and Armenian Gull.

The adult (4th year) Yellow-legged Gull has black wing tips with small white windows at tips, grey upper wing, yellow bill and legs, with a large red spot on beak, pale irises with red eye-ring and red gape.

Juveniles (1st years) have dark beaks and mottled brown feathers, pink legs and feet, and dark irises.

2nd years have less brown in feathers, dark bill and irises.

3rd years have some yellow and some black on bill, pale yellow legs, pale irises, and quite a bit of grey adult feathers.

Many more Yellow-legged Gull photos here




More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Monaco • April 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Chiffchaff
Latin: Phylloscopus collybita
Other: Common Chiffchaff • Pouillot véloce (Fr) • Luì piccolo (It) • Mosquitero común (Es) • Zilpzalp (De), Weidenlaubsänger
Family: Phylloscopidae • Leaf Warblers

The Chiffchaff is the archetypal cute 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.

Chiffchaffs have a lightish supercilium and light lower eyering, with yellowish-white chest and belly feathers. Dark legs.

A small bird, and generally difficult to photograph in nature, but I have recently discovered they are regular visitors to my balcony! This is a good time to observe the little fellas up close.

Chiffchaffs seem prone to bill deformities - I have a few pics, which I may upload later, of several “different-looking” chiffchaffs.

The range of chiffchaffs is quite large: Spain to Siberia in the summer and sub-Saharan Africa, Spain, Morocco, India, Middle East, Mediterranean coast, and parts of France and the UK in the winter.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
Range:
Similar:

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 • Crows, Magpies
Range:
Similar:

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 • Eagles, Birds of Prey

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

© monacoeye • Camargue, France • May 2009 • All rights reserved

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. 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 - Rails, Coots

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 • Camargue, France • Mar 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Pied Avocet
Latin: Recurvirostra avosetta
Other: Avocette Elégante
Family: Recurvirostridae • Waders
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...

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 • Geese

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009 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
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Bird name: Mallard
Latin: Anas platyrhynchos
Other: Canard Colvert
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
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Bird name: Red Crested Pochard
Latin: Netta rufina
Other: Nette Rousse
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
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Bird name: Common Pochard
Latin: Aytha ferina
Other: Fuligule Milouin
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
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Bird name: Common Teal
Latin: Anas crecca
Other: Sarcelle d’Hiver
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
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Bird name: Little Egret
Latin: Egretta garzetta
Other: Aigrette Garzette (Fr)
Family: Ardeidae
Tag: Herons, Storks & Ibises

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