Diary for my daughter 16.10.2024 - List of birds of Moldova

Hello, my beautiful daughter!

Tata here!

Hope you're well!

Tata is fine today! I had a nice day today. We have been in the countryside all day to make Zacusca (that's mean boiled and mashed vegetables and put them into jars), and it is very tasty. I vas helping at but with the house which we gonna build it here. I been to the town to buy some stuff which we forgot. Now we just eat, and we wait for the jars to naturally seal and after we gonna go to Rovinari. So.. let's go to your today story...

List of birds of Moldova

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Moldova. The avifauna of Moldova include a total of 339 species, none of which are endemic.

This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account.

The following tags highlight several categories of occurrence other than regular migrants and residents.

(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Moldova

(Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Moldova although populations exist elsewhere

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.

Graylag goose, Anser anser

Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons

Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus

Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A)

Red-breasted goose, Branta ruficollis

Mute swan, Cygnus olor

Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A)

Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus

Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea

Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna

Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata (A)

Garganey, Spatula querquedula

Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata

Gadwall, Mareca strepera

Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope

Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

Northern pintail, Anas acuta

Green-winged teal, Anas crecca

Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina

Common pochard, Aythya ferina

Ferruginous duck, Aythya nyroca

Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula

Greater scaup, Aythya marila

Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A)

Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca

Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis

Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula

Smew, Mergellus albellus

Common merganser, Mergus merganser

Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator

White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

The Phasianidae are a family of terrestrial birds which consists of quails, partridges, snowcocks, francolins, spurfowls, tragopans, monals, pheasants, peafowls and jungle fowls. In general, they are plump (although they vary in size) and have broad, relatively short wings.

Common quail, Coturnix coturnix

Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Gray partridge, Perdix perdix

Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix (Ex)

Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus (A)

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis

Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (A)

Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena

Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus

Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

Rock pigeon, Columba livia

Stock dove, Columba oenas

Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus

European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur

Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.

Pallas's sandgrouse, Syrrhaptes paradoxus (A)

Bustards

Order: Otidiformes   Family: Otididae

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Great bustard, Otis tarda (A)

Little bustard, Tetrax tetrax (extirpated)

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.

Great spotted cuckoo, Clamator glandarius (A)

Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.

Eurasian nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus

Swifts

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

Alpine swift, Apus melba (A)

Common swift, Apus apus

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Water rail, Rallus aquaticus

Corn crake, Crex crex

Spotted crake, Porzana porzana

Eurasian moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian coot, Fulica atra

Little crake, Zapornia parva

Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (Ex)

Common crane, Grus grus

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

Eurasian thick-knee, Burhinus oedicnemus

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus

Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola

European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria

Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus

Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus

Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula

Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius

Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus

Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A)

Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A)

Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa

Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (A)

Red knot, Calidris canutus (A)

Ruff, Calidris pugnax

Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus

Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea

Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii (A)

Sanderling, Calidris alba (A)

Dunlin, Calidris alpina

Little stint, Calidris minuta

Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus

Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola

Great snipe, Gallinago media

Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago

Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A)

Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (A)

Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (A)

Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos

Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus

Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus

Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia

Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis

Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola

Common redshank, Tringa totanus

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards.

Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola

Black-winged pratincole, Glareola nordmanni

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants.

Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A)

Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)

Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds, the gulls, terns and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (A)

Slender-billed gull, Chroicocephalus genei (A)

Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus

Mediterranean gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus (A)

Pallas's gull, Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus (A)

Common gull, Larus canus

Herring gull, Larus argentatus (A)

Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis (A)

Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans

Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (A)

Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus

Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (A)

Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (A)

Little tern, Sternula albifrons

Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica

Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia

Black tern, Chlidonias niger

White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus

Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida

Common tern, Sterna hirundo

Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons, known as divers in Europe, are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated.

Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata

Arctic loon, Gavia arctica

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Cory's shearwater, Puffinus diomedea

Yelkouan shearwater, Puffinus yelkouan (A)

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory.

Black stork, Ciconia nigra

White stork, Ciconia ciconia

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium to large coastal, fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black-and-white and a few being colourful.

Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus

Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

European shag, Gulosus aristotelis (A)

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes.

Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus

Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus (A)

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Great bittern, Botaurus stellaris

Little bittern, Ixobrychus minutus

Gray heron, Ardea cinerea

Purple heron, Ardea purpurea

Great egret, Ardea alba (A)

Little egret, Egretta garzetta

Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (A)

Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides

Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers.

Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus

Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus

European honey-buzzard, Pernis apivorus

Cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus

Eurasian griffon, Gyps fulvus

Short-toed snake-eagle, Circaetus gallicus

Lesser spotted eagle, Clanga pomarina

Greater spotted eagle, Clanga clanga

Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus

Steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis (extirpated)

Imperial eagle, Aquila heliaca

Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos

Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata (A)

Eurasian marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus

Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus

Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus

Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus

Levant sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes (A)

Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus

Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis

Red kite, Milvus milvus

Black kite, Milvus migrans

White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla

Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus

Common buzzard, Buteo buteo

Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus (A)

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

The typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Eurasian scops-owl, Otus scops

Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo

Little owl, Athene noctua

Tawny owl, Strix aluco

Ural owl, Strix uralensis (A)

Long-eared owl, Asio otus

Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus

Hoopoes

Order: Bucerotiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head.

Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails.

Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

Bee-eaters

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Meropidae

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar.

European bee-eater, Merops apiaster

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not.

European roller, Coracias garrulus

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla

Middle spotted woodpecker, Dendrocoptes medius

White-backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos

Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major

Syrian woodpecker, Dendrocopos syriacus

Lesser spotted woodpecker, Dryobates minor

Gray-headed woodpecker, Picus canus

Eurasian green woodpecker, Picus viridis

Black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni

Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus

Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus

Merlin, Falco columbarius

Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo

Saker falcon, Falco cherrug

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus

Old World orioles

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Oriolidae

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles.

Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio

Great gray shrike, Lanius excubitor

Lesser gray shrike, Lanius minor

Masked shrike, Lanius nubicus (A)

Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator (A)

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius

Eurasian magpie, Pica pica

Eurasian nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes (A)

Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula

Rook, Corvus frugilegus

Carrion crow, Corvus corone (A)

Hooded crow, Corvus cornix

Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

Coal tit, Periparus ater

Crested tit, Lophophanes cristatus

Sombre tit, Poecile lugubris

Marsh tit, Poecile palustris

Willow tit, Poecile montana

Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus

Great tit, Parus major

Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The penduline-tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores.

Eurasian penduline-tit, Remiz pendulinus

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla

Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra

Black lark, Melanocorypha yeltoniensis (A)

Dupont's lark, Chersophilus duponti

Mediterranean short-toed lark, Alaudala rufescens

Wood lark, Lullula arborea

White-winged lark, Alauda leucoptera (A)

Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis

Crested lark, Galerida cristata

Bearded reedling

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Panuridae

The parrotbills are a group of birds native to East and Southeast Asia, though feral populations exist elsewhere. They are generally small, long-tailed birds which inhabit reed beds and similar habitats.

Bearded reedling, Panurus biarmicus

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but it also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

Eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida

Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina

Aquatic warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola

Moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon (A)

Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Paddyfield warbler, Acrocephalus agricola (A)

Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (A)

Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris

Eurasian reed warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Grassbirds and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over.

River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis

Savi's warbler, Locustella luscinioides

Common grasshopper-warbler, Locustella naevia

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Bank swallow, Riparia riparia

Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica

Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica

Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.

Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus

Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita

Greenish warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides (A)

Bush warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia. Their taxonomy is in flux, and some authorities place some genera in other families.

Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla

Garden warbler, Sylvia borin

Barred warbler, Curruca nisoria

Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca

Eastern Orphean warbler, Curruca crassirostris (A)

Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala (A)

Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice.

Goldcrest, Regulus regulus

Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapillus (A)

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet.

Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris

Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla (A)

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements.

White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus (A)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

European starling, Sturnus vulgaris

Rosy starling, Pastor roseus (A)

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus

Song thrush, Turdus philomelos

Redwing, Turdus iliacus

Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula

Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris

Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus (A)

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata

Rufous-tailed scrub-robin, Cercotrichas galactotes

European robin, Erithacus rubecula

Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia

Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos

Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica

Red-breasted flycatcher, Ficedula parva

European pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca

Collared flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis

Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros

Rufous-tailed rock-thrush, Monticola saxatilis

Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra

European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola

Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe

Isabelline wheatear, Oenanthe isabellina (A)

Eastern black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe melanoleuca (A)

Pied wheatear, Oenanthe pleschanka

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows.

Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

House sparrow, Passer domesticus

Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis

Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (A)

Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava

Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)

White wagtail, Motacilla alba

Tawny pipit, Anthus campestris

Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis

Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis

Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus

Water pipit, Anthus spinoletta (A)

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs

Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla

Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (A)

Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula

European greenfinch, Chloris chloris

Eurasian linnet, Linaria cannabina

Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea

Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (A)

European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

European serin, Serinus serinus

Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds which had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus (A)

Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

Old World buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Black-headed bunting, Emberiza melanocephala

Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra

Rock bunting, Emberiza cia

Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus (A)

Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella

Ortolan bunting, Emberiza hortulana

Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus

Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A)

Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)

And that was your today story. Tomorrow, we will learn about Battle of Bosworth Field.

Until tomorrow..

Be nice!

I'm so sorry that another day passed and I didn't hug you! Please forgive me!

I miss you the most!

I love you infinite!