Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Mercantour, France • May 2011

Bird name: European Honey Buzzard
Latin: Pernis apivorus
Other: Bondrée Apivore (Fr) • Wespenbussard (De) • Wespendief (Nl) • Falco pecchiaiolo occidentale (It) • Halcón abejero (Es) • Tartaranhão-apívoro (Pt) • Bivråk (Sv)
Family: Accipitridae • Honey Buzzards, Birds of Prey
Range: Breeding - most of Europe, Russia. Migrates to sub-Saharan Africa.
Similar: Common Buzzard

The European Honey Buzzard, although not closely related to the Common Buzzard, does look rather similar to it. The main difference is a longer tail (equal to the width of wings) and neck, and a pigeon-like head.

Pictured above and below is a female I saw in the Mercantour in May.

Unlike adults, juveniles (see “more photos”) have vertical, not horizontal, lines on the belly, and dark, not yellow, irises. They also have wider secondaries, yellow ceres and more barring in the wings.

The adult male pictured in “more photos” below has much white on the underside, but there are also dark morphs.

Another good identification mark for Honey Buzzards is the two dark bands near the underside base of the tail. They also tend to have more of an angle in the wing than Common Buzzards.

Honey Buzzards feed wasps to their young. They are believed to have a deterrent against wasp stings - hence their name.

Hundreds of Honey Buzzards fly down the coast past Monaco towards Spain and Africa every September - a magnificent sight.

Directly below, an adult female European Honey Buzzard, Mercantour, France, May.
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: 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...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Monaco, February

Bird name: Great Tit
Latin: Parus major
Other: Mésange Charbonnière (Fr) • Kohlmeise (De) • Carbonero común (Es) • Cinciallegra (It) • Chapim-real (Pt)
Family: Paridae • Tits
Range: Europe, Asia, North Africa
SImilar: Coal Tit

The Great Tit is one of the most visible small birds in Monaco and the Cote d’Azur all year round, and the most common tit in Europe. This one was taken through the window glass on my balcony.

The male Great Tit has a larger black stripe down the chest and belly than the female. The Coal Tit is similar but has a white patch on back of head and no chest and belly stripe.

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
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 • Nice, 2010

Bird name: Bar Headed Goose
Latin: Anser indicus
Other: Oie à tête barrée (Fr) • Oca indiana (It)
Family: Anatidae • Geese
Range: Central Asian plateau, but feral birds in Europe

This Bar-headed Goose were seen at the Parc Phoenix in Nice. Although they keep a “collection” of ducks and geese, this may have been feral, as I have also seen one on the river in nearby Ventimiglia.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Danube Delta • May 2009

Bird name: Purple Heron
Latin: Ardea purpurea
Other: Héron pourpré (Fr) • Garza imperial (Es) • Airone rosso (It) • Garça-vermelha (Pt)
Family: Ardeidae • Herons
Range: Europe, tropical Africa, Asia

These Purple Heron photos were taken in the Danube Delta in Romania - Purple Herons are found throughout southern Europe during the spring and summer. I have also seen them in river estuaries in Nice, the Camargue and Ventimiglia.

They are large birds, very similar to Grey Herons, but with deeper brown and rufous tones and stronger markings.

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...

Photos copyright: VM/monacoeye • Treviso, Italy • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Spotted Flycatcher
Latin: Muscicapa striata
Other: Gobe-Mouche Gris (Fr) • Pigliamosche (It)
Family: Muscicapidae • Flycatchers

A nice picture of a Spotted Flycatcher above sent in by Valerie from her garden in Italy. Note the faintly streaked chest and head and slightly lighter supercilium. Otherwise not much in the way of prominent features.

While most birds cannot distinguish between their own eggs and others, the Spotted Flycatcher can discriminate well. This suggests it was once parasitised by the Cuckoo but successfully adapted its defence though egg recognition.

I saw half a dozen Spotted Flycatchers in the Danube Delta region, particularly near the coastal area - numbers have reportedly fallen off in the UK.More photos...

Photos: VM/monacoeye • Treviso, Italy • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Redstart
Latin: Phoenicurus phoenicurus
Other: Redstart • Rouge-queue à front blanc (Fr) • Codirosso (It)
Family: Muscicapidae • Flycatchers
Range: Europe, Asia, Africa

Above, lovely bright colours of the male Common Redstart in northern Italy, from Valerie.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: Italy - Romania • May 2009

Bird name: Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Latin: Passer montanus
Other: Moineau friquet (Fr)
Family: Passeridae • Sparrows

The Tree Sparrow is far less common than the similar House Sparrow and can be easily differentiated by the small patch of black on its cheek and wholly rufous top of head. Also found throughout Europe and much of Asia.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Italy - Croatia • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Eurasian Jay
Latin: Garrulus glandarius
Other: Jay • Geai des chênes (Fr)
Family: Corvidae • Crows, Jays
Range:
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...

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...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • NW Italy • Feb 2010 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Chaffinch
Latin: Fringilla coelebs
Other: Pinson des Arbres
Family: Fringillidae - Finches

The Chaffinch is one of the more common birds along the Cote d’Azur, especially in the winter.

The Chaffinch has a flat haircut, forming an angle at the back of the head.The female Chaffinch does not have the pink and blue colouring of the male, but both can be recognised by their characteristic wing markings, which form a white “T”. Similar looking to the Brambling.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Danube Delta + • November 2009

Bird name: Mute Swan
Latin: Cygnus olor
Other: Cygne tuberculé • Cygne muet • Cigno reale (It) • Cigno bianco
Family: Anatidae • Swans
Range:
Similar:

Does everyone know the Mute Swan? It’s certainly what most people know as a swan in the UK and much of Europe, but its range only extends a little further into Asia. I wonder if it has been introduced around the world.

Anyway, it is familiar as the large white swan with orange bill and black knob. As can be seen below, the young are mottled brown with dark bill. Large numbers can be found in the Danube Delta in Romania, but they are also common in pairs on lakes and rivers in the UK, France, Italy etc.

More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Lake Garda, Italy. May 2009

Bird name: Italian Sparrow
Latin: Passer italiae
Other: Passer hispaniolensis • Passera d'Italia (It), passero italiano • Italiensperling (De)
Family: Passeridae • Sparrows
Range: Mainland Italy, Corsica, Sicily

The Italian Sparrow is sometimes considered a subspecies of Spanish Sparrow or hybrid with House Sparrow.

The male has a full chestnut cap and white cheeks like the Spanish Sparrow but pale belly without black spotting, so unlike the Spanish Sparrow in that respect.

The female (below) looks like the female House Sparrow, but identified here by proximity to males.

Some possible photos of courtship below in “more photos”. She pecks him on the head, they both bow and display plumage.
Alternatively, It seems these may not be courtship scenes at all. Two other theories are that the female may be competing aggressively for food (I had a sandwich), which happens the during breeding season. Or she may be an invasive House Sparrow and attacking the male Italian Sparrow for territory.

These photos were taken by Lake Garda in Northern Italy, a typical location for the Italian Sparrow.

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 • Etang de Villepey St Aygulf • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Great Reed Warbler
Latin: Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Other: Rousserolle turdoïde (des rivières)
Family: Acrocephalidae • Reed Warblers

Pleased to observe this Great Reed Warbler in Hyeres at the weekend. It alerted us to its presence by its loud song and soon appeared to collect bedding material for its nest in the reeds from the salt lake. Later it flew to a high point and started singing loudly. Quite a large bird, about the size of a starling.More 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: Domestic Goose
Latin: Anser anser domesticus
Other:
Family: Anatidae • Geese

Photo: monacoeye • SE France • Jan 2009

I believe (but am not sure) that these are Domestic Geese, or mixtures of Domestic Geese and their wild counterparts, Greylay Geese. Less sure about the white one - taken in Brazil.More photos...

Bird name: Brambling
Latin: Fringilla montifringilla
Other: Pinson du Nord
Family: Fringillidae - Finches

Photo: monacoeye • SE France • Feb 2009

The Brambling is a winter visitor to southern Europe, migrating from Northern breeding grounds. A female is pictured above, distinguished from the Chaffinch principally by its orange upper chest.More photos...

Bird name: Long Tailed Tit
Latin: Aegithalos caudatus
Other: Mésange à Longue Queue
Family: Aegithalidae
Tag: Tits

Photo: monacoeye • Ventimiglia • Feb 2009

The Long Tailed Tit is a small fluffy bird, distinguished by its white markings and long tail. Seen here in woodland - it was eating the insects on the underside of the leaves.More photos...

Bird name: Blue Tit
Latin: Parus caeruleus
Other: Cyanistes caeruleus • Mésange Bleue
Family: Paridae
Tag: Tits

Photo: monacoeye • SE France • Jan 2009More photos...

Bird name: Mallard
Latin: Anas platyrhynchos
Other: Canard Colvert
Family: Anatidae • Ducks
More photos...