Birds Flashcards
characteristics of a tree sparrow?
Smaller than a house sparrow and more active, with its tail almost permanently cocked. It has a chestnut brown head and nape (rather than grey), and white cheeks and collar with a contrasting black cheek spot. They are shyer than house sparrows in the UK
The tree sparrow is scarcer in the uplands, and the far north and west of the UK. The main populations are now found across the Midlands, southern and eastern England. It is almost absent from the south west, Wales and the north west. Best looked for in hedgerows and woodland edges
eats: seeds and insects
what is this?
female house sparrow
characteristics of a male house sparrow?
what is this?
blue headed wag tail
what is this?
grey wagtail
what is this?
Meadow Pipit
what is this?
tree pipit
Tree Pipits are characteristically birds of heathland, forest clearings and young forestry plantations, with scattered trees and bushes usually a prerequisite. Meadow Pipit is a bird of open country, particularly common in upland areas.
Plumage differences between Meadow and Tree Pipits are subtle, but key among them is how the breast streaking extends boldly down the flanks. The rather plain, bland face is dominated by the pale eyering. The bill is slimmer and the wing markings are not very prominent.
The two species are of course similar, but in fresh plumage Tree Pipit usually shows rich buff tones to the face and breast, which Meadow Pipit lacks, having instead a colder buff background colour to the face and underparts. Most significant is that Tree Pipit has only fine ‘pencil’ streaking on the flanks. This means that, from any distance, it looks as though the underpart streaking is confined to a broad band across the rich orange-buff breast and this contrasts with a whiter belly. Meadow Pipit’s breast streaking extends quite noticeably down the flanks, so it fails to show Tree Pipit’s more discrete breastband. In addition, Meadow often shows a blotchy spot in the centre of the breast where the black streaking coalesces (although Tree Pipit can show a similar mark).
Tree Pipit is generally a better marked bird than Meadow, with a noticeable supercilium that is most obvious behind the eye. It sometimes shows a faint ‘supercilium drop’ – a separated pale spot at the rear of the ear coverts. It also has a stronger eye-stripe, stronger lateral crown stripes and a more obvious malar stripe. The wing markings too are more contrasting, often with a prominent black median covert bar (recalling Tawny Pipit) and with whiter and more prominent wing-bars.
In comparison, Meadow has a plainer, more open face in which the creamy supercilium and pale eyering may be the most obvious characters. It often lacks much in the way of a dark eye-stripe, particularly in front of the eye. The wings too are less contrastingly patterned
what is this?
water pipit
white wagtail
dunnock also known as hedge accentor and hedge sparrow
They are the only Accentor to live in lowland areas, all others live in upland and mountainous regions.
house sparrow
no cheek spots
tree sparrow
redwing
The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is the UK’s smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. They roam across the UK’s countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields
Latin name
Turdus iliacus
Family
Chats and thrushes (Turdidae)
Where to see them
In open countryside it likes hedges and orchards as well as open, grassy fields. Will come to parks and gardens. Often joins with flocks of fieldfares.
When to see them
Migrants arrive from September, with most in October and November. They leave again in March and April, although occasionally birds stay later.
What they eat
Berries and worms
red kite
reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest running protection programmes, and has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland.
Latin name
Milvus milvus
Family
Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)
Where to see them
At one time confined to Wales, a reintroduction scheme has brought them back to many parts of England and Scotland. Central Wales, central England - especially the Chilterns, central Scotland - at Argaty, and along the Galloway Kite Trail are the best areas to find them.
When to see them
All year round.
What they eat
Mainly carrion and worms, but opportunistic and will occasionally take small mammals.
buzzard
britains most common bird of prey
NO FORKED TAIL UNLIKE RED KITE, GREYER IN APPEARANCE
large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. When gliding and soaring it will often hold its wings in a shallow ‘V’ and the tail is fanned. Birds are variable in colour from all dark brown to much paler variations, all have dark wingtips and a finely barred tail. Their plaintive mewing call could be mistaken for a cat.
Latin name
Buteo buteo
Family
Hawks and eagles (Accipitridae)
Where to see them
Greatest numbers in Scotland, Wales, the Lake District and SW England, but now breeding in every county of the UK. Found in most habitats particularly woodland, moorland, scrub, pasture, arable, marsh bog and villages. May even be seen in towns and cities including Glasgow. Look for birds soaring over wooded hillsides in fine weather, or perched on fence posts and pylons. In some areas they are known as the tourists’ eagle, often being mistaken for this larger bird of prey.
When to see them
All year round. Birds soar, display and call most in spring.
What they eat
Small mammals, birds and carrion. And even earthworms and large insects when other prey is in short supply.
