© 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...

© monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania • May 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Common Cuckoo
Latin: Cuculus canorus
Other: Cuckoo (UK) • Coucou gris (Fr) • Kuckuck (De) • cuco común (Es) • cuculo (It) • koekoek (Nl) • Gök (Sv) • cuco-canoro (Pt)
Family: Cuculidae - Cuckoos
Range: Widespread Europe summer migrant from Sub-saharan Africa; widespread Asia.
Similar: Hawk colouring

The brown cuckoos are female and the grey ones here are probably male, although there is both a brown and a grey female form.

The juvenile cuckoo, which we saw above 2000m in the Mercantour (photo further below), is identifiable by the small white patch on back of head, and some white streaks to upperside.

In the Danube Delta in May, you are never out of earshot of a cuckoo, and they are a fairly common sight, flying over the reedbeds and settling in trees.

Below, probably male cuckoo, Danube Delta.


More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, December

Bird name: Mistle Thrush
Latin: Turdus viscivorus
Other: Grive draine (Fr) • Misteldrossel (De) • Zorzal charlo (Es) • Tordela (It) • Grote lijster (Nl) • Dubbeltrast (Sv) • Tordoveia (Pt)
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: Europe, to North Africa and Central Asia
Similar: Song Thrush, Fieldfare

Mistle Thrushes are found in the Mercantour and most of southern Europe and the UK throughout the year.

Here they had been feeding on a rowan bush near habitations (1800m, 0°C) in December. In July we saw pairs in the forest at a similar altitude.

Mistle Thrushes have a more upright posture than Song Thrushes and a vertical light patch on the cheek, a dark smudge on the side of the chest, pale outer coverts. Call a characteristic “rrrrrrrr” trill. Overall lighter and larger than Song Thrushes.More photos...

© monacoeye • Mercantour, November, 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Fieldfare
Latin: Turdus pilaris
Other: Fr: Grive litorne • De: Wacholderdrossel • Es: zorzal real • It: cesena • Nl: Kramsvogel • Sv: Björktrast • Pt: tordo-zornal • Tr: Tarla ardıç kuşu • Po: Kwiczoł • Ru: Рябинник
Family: Turdidae • Thrushes
Range: N Europe & Asia, migrating south to France, Italy, Spain, Turkey etc.
Similar: Redwing, Mistle Thrush

We saw hundreds of Fieldfares in the Mercantour last weekend at about 1900m just below the tree line. They perched in the upper branches of larch, which have shed most of their needles now, before resuming feeding on the many colourful rowan bushes. When startled they fly off in large flocks, much like starlings, before alighting a hundred yards away near other rowans. This was my first view of Fieldfare - I have never seen large flocks of thrushes like this. I don’t know if they stay all winter.

The adult Fieldfare has some orange on the chest, differentiating it from the Redwing which has orange on the flank. The 1st winter Fieldfare, pictured above, has very little colour on neck and chest. Fieldfare are quite white underneath, with light grey rump, brown shoulders and white underwings. Mostly yellow bill. A plump thrush.

Below, Rowan berries late November provide food for Fieldfare arriving from the north.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Mercantour, France, October 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: European Green Woodpecker
Latin: Picus viridis
Other: UK: Green Woodpecker; Fr: Pic vert; De: Grünspecht; Es: pito real; It: Picchio verde; Nl: Groene specht; Sv: Gröngöling; Pt: Pica-pau-verde
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Most of Europe, Pt, Es, Fr, De, It, UK, Be, Nl, Ch, E Europe, around Black Sea
Similar:

Record shot of Green Woodpecker in Mercantour.

© monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania • May 2009 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Great Spotted Woodpecker
Latin: Dendrocopos major
Other: Fr: Pic épeiche • De: Buntspecht • Es: pico picapinos • It: Picchio rosso maggiore • Nl: grote bonte specht • Sv: Större hackspett • Tr: Göknar ağaçkakanı • Pl: Dzięcioł duży • Ru: Большой пёстрый дятел • Ko: 오색딱따구리 • Ja:アカゲラ • Zh: 大斑啄木鸟
Family: Picidae • Woodpeckers
Range: Europe Asia to Japan, Korea
Similar: Syrian Woodpecker

See Syrian Woodpecker for differences. These are both females from lack of red patch on back of head.More photos...

© monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France, October 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Red Billed Chough
Latin: Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Other: Chough (UK)• Crave à bec rouge (Fr) • Chova piquirroja (Es) • Gracchio corallino (It) • Alpenkrähe (De), Gralha-de-bico-vermelho (Pt)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Choughs
Range: Ireland, UK, Portugal, Spain, Fance, Italy, Balkans, Greece, Turkey, N Africa. Mid East to Himalayas, China
Similar: Alpine Chough

The Red-billed Chough is not common in central Europe but can be found in scattered populations.

A large group was seen in the winter in the Gorges du Verdon, 1200m alt, where they live on the vertical walls of the gorge. Also a few in the Mercantour, 2200m alt. October, alongside Alpine Chough.

The range of the Chough extends from Spain to the eastern Himalayas, with a few colonies in Africa.

Choughs are typically high mountain birds, but will breed on steep rock walls even on the coast.

They can be distinguished from the similar Alpine Chough by their long, thin, curved red (not short, yellow) bills, though juvenile Choughs have yellowish bills. Feet are red.

Below, Red-billed Chough in Mercantour, October.
More photos...

© monacoeye • France, October 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Northern Raven
Latin: Corvus corax
Other: Common Raven, Raven • Grand Corbeau (Fr) • Kolkrabe (De) • cuervo común, cacalote (Es) • Corvo imperiale (It) • Raaf (Nl) • Korp (Nl) • Corvo-comum (Pt)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Ravens
Range: Widespread North America, Middle America, Eurasia, Iceland
Similar: Carrion Crow

The Northern Raven is a large bird - the size of a medium to large bird of prey. In flight, the pointed tail and long pointed wings distinguish it from the Carrion Crow, which has a square-cut tail and squarer wings. The Raven has a very heavy bill.

There are no crows on Iceland - the bird pictured below must be a Raven. Possibly Corvus corax varius, the Icelandic subspecies, which has whitish feathers on the neck.

Below, Northern Raven in Iceland, May 2011.
More photos...

© monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France, October 2012 • All rights reserved

Bird name: Alpine Chough
Latin: Pyrrhocorax graculus
Other: Yellow-billed Chough • Chocard à bec jaune (Fr) • Chova piquigualda (Es) • Gracchio alpino (It) • Alpendohle (De)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Choughs
Range: Spain, Fance, Italy, Switzerland, Balkans, Greece, Turkey, N Africa. Mid East, Himalayas
Similar: Red-billed Chough

Record shot of an Alpine Chough which I saw with a few Red-billed Choughs in the Alpes Maritimes in southeast France at 2200m altitude.

The range of the Chough extends, in isolated populations, from Spain to the Himalayas, where it lives at very high altitudes.

Alpine Choughs have shorter and yellower bills than Red-billed Choughs. Feet are red.More photos...

© monacoeye • Mercantour, August 2011 • All rights reserved.

Bird name: White Throated Dipper
Latin: Cinclus cinclus
Other: European Dipper, Dipper (UK), Cincle plongeur (Fr), Wasseramsel (De), Mirlo acuático europeo (Es), Merlo acquaiolo (It), Strömstare (Sv), Melro-d’água (Pt)
Family: Cinclidae • Dippers
Range: Parts of Europe and Asia, incl Alps, Scandinavia, Ireland, Scotland, Balkans
Similar:
Habitat: Montane, shallow, fast-moving streams.

We saw many White-throated Dippers along fast-moving streams, away from towns and busy paths, in the Mercantour.

Behaviour: They swim in small, shallow mountain rivers, dive and swim underwater, perch mid stream, hide in small crannies under rocks, fly in and out of small waterfalls or perch nearby, hide in the shade of overhanging riverbank plants, and usually seem to be heading either upstream or downstream, often in pairs. Charasmatic birds. Also seen around banks of stiller lakes that adjoin these streams - perhaps their nests?

Observation: They are not easy to see, because they are easily flushed, well-camouflaged and fast moving, but fairly abundant, in my experience, so a walk along a suitable stream, scanning for movement or birds perched midstream, often produced one or more, especially in October. Sometimes flushed when crossing bridges. We saw them in August and October between 1600 and 1900 m altitude.

Food: The floor of the clear stream where we often see them, in certain areas was covered in large insects in August - presumably dragonfly nymphs or similar. Seemed like a possible food source.

Below, a White-throated Dipper, beside a small waterfall in the Mercantour.
More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye. Alpes Maritimes, France, July

Bird name: Lesser Whitethroat
Latin: Sylvia curruca
Other: Fauvette grisette (Fr) • Klappergrasmücke (De) • Bigiarella (It) • Braamsluiper (Nl) • Ärtsångare (Sv)
Family: Sylviidae • Warblers
Range: UK, NE France, Europe, to Africa, India
Similar:

Record shot of a Lesser Whitethroat seen just below the tree line in the Alpes Maritimes, France, July.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, July.

Bird name: Willow Tit
Latin: Poecile montanus
Other: Mésange boréale (Fr)
Family: Paridae • Tits
Range: Europe, Asia, North Africa
SImilar: Marsh Tit

Another new local bird I found in high mountain pine forests this summer. Distinguished from the Coal Tit by lack of white on back of head. The Willow Tit is very similar to Marsh Tit, but wider bib and light marks on secondaries (wings) can be used to differentiate it.

Was often seen in mixed flocks with crossbills etc. Was not too shy.

Below, Willow Tit, Mercantour, July 2012.
More photos...

© Alexia W - monacoeye • Iceland, May 2011

Bird name: Northern Wheatear
Latin: Oenanthe oenanthe
Other: Wheatear • Stenskvätta (Sv) • tapuit (Nl) • Culbianco (It) • Collalba Gris (Es) • Steinschmätzer (De) • Traquet motteux (Fr)
Family: Muscicapidae • Old World Flycatchers, Wheatears
Range: Widespread Eurasia, also N North America, NW Africa
Similar:

The Wheatear is a long-distance migrant for such a small bird. These breed in Iceland and winter in North Africa. Seen around Rejkyavik. Also seen in Alpes Maritimes.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Mercantour, July.

Bird name: Spotted Nutcracker
Latin: Nucifraga caryocatactes
Other: Nutcracker • Casse-noix moucheté (Fr) • Tannenhäher (De) • nocciolaia (It) • Nötkråka (Sv)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Nutcrackers
Range: Europe (Alps mostly) to Japan.
Similar:

Another new local bird for me this summer, the Spotted Nutcracker. We saw these attractive birds regularly in July and August in Mercantour forests between 1500 and 2500 m.

Inquisitive and intelligent, often in pairs like the Jay. Repopulates deforested areas with new trees by hiding (and “forgetting”) seeds in the ground.

The white vent is a good identifying feature. Call is similar to Jay.

Below, Spotted Nutcracker, July.

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 • Monaco March 2009

Bird name: Grey Wagtail
Latin: Motacilla cinerea
Other: Bergeronnette des ruisseaux (Fr)
Family: Motacillidae - Wagtails
Range:
Similar: Yellow Wagtail

The above adult male Grey Wagtail was photographed this morning in the Casino Gardens in the centre of Monaco.

The juvenile below is distinguished from the similar Yellow Wagtail by its short light-coloured legs, grey nape and bright yellow vent.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, July 2012

Bird name: Red Crossbill
Latin: Loxia curvirostra
Other: Common Crossbill (UK) • Bec-croisé des sapins (Fr) • Fichtenkreuzschnabel (De) • piquituerto común (Es) • crociere (It) • Kruisbek (Nl) • Mindre korsnäbb (Sv) • cruza-bico-comum (Pt)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Crossbills
Range: Widespread Eurasia, esp Alps etc, Asia, North America, M America
Similar: Other crossbills

Another new local bird for me this year, the Red Crossbill or Common Crossbill. Large flocks seen in the Mercantour in July, in pines, usually around 1500m to the treeline at about 2000m. Always busy feeding on the small unopened pine cones, sometimes seen with Willow Warblers. Not excessively shy.

Unmistakeable in France because of its large powerful crossed mandibles. Adult males are reddish, females yellowish and juveniles greyer and more streaked.


Above, a female Red Crossbill feeding on pine kernels in the Mercantour, July.More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France • Aug 2012

Bird name: Golden Eagle
Latin: Aquila chrysaetos
Other: Aigle royal (Fr) • águila real (Es) • Aquila reale (It) • Steinadler (De) • Kungsörn (Sv) • águia-real (Pt)
Family: Accipitridae • Eagles, Birds of Prey
Range: Europe, Asia, North America, especially mountainous areas.
Similar: Griffon Vulture in Mercantour, other Aquila eagles.

Record shot of my first sighting of a Golden Eagle, in the Mercantour. A very large bird flying near a mountain ridge above us, at about 2500 m, mobbed by crows. In the Mercantour, one confusion species could be Griffon Vulture, which is also very large, but far more common.

Copyright: monacoeye • Monaco • January • All rights reserved

Bird name: Rock Bunting
Latin: Emberiza cia
Other: Bruant fou (Fr) • Zippammer (De) • Escribano montesino (Es) • Zigolo muciatto (It) • Grijze gors (Nl) • Klippsparv (Sv) • Escrevedeira-de-garganta-cinzenta, cia (Pt)
Family: Emberizidae • Buntings
Range: Around Mediterranean: N Africa, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy etc; Balkans, Turkey etc to Himalayas
Similar: Various buntings

Two record shots - likely to be Rock Buntings. Above, Monaco winter; below Mercantour summer. The Rock Bunting lives in mountainous areas around Mediterranean and Black Sea, ranging over to Himalayas.More photos...

Copyright monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Verdon • August 2009 Sep 2010

Bird name: Griffon Vulture
Latin: Gyps fulvus
Other: Eurasian Griffon Vulture • Vautour fauve (Fr) • Buitre leonado (Es) • Grifone (It)
Family: Accipitridae • Old World Vultures, Birds of Prey
Range: Southern Europe into Middle East and northern India
Similar:

The Griffon Vulture is a very large old world vulture with a two-and-a-half-metre wingspan - so quite a bit larger than a Golden Eagle.

These magnificent scavengers have been successfully reintroduced in the Gorges of Verdon, in the South of France. In the summer some of the Verdon vultures move a little further east to the Mercantour region.

They are scattered throughout southern Europe, having been successfully reintroduced in several locations, and are found in larger numbers in central Asia and northern India.

The Griffon Vulture can be distinguished from the Black Vulture by its light coverts, the triangular area from the shoulder along the frontmost part of the wing. The tail of these European vultures appears proportionally short when compared to the Golden Eagle and other smaller birds of prey.

More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Croatia

Bird name: Eurasian Jay
Latin: Garrulus glandarius
Other: Jay • Geai des chênes (Fr)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range: All Europe, Siberia, Himalayas to China, Japan, SE Asia
Similar:

The Eurasian Jay, a beautiful bird, is widespread throughout Europe, and beyond into Asia and Africa, but rather shy so frustratingly difficult to photograph, or even observe with the naked eye.

The Jay has striking blue stripes on the wing, a black moustachial stripe, and streaked top of head.More photos...