BIRD SPOTTING GUIDE
| Published date | 14 September 2021 |
| Publication title | Birmingham Mail (England) |
The only goose to have genuine wild breeding populations in Britain, but in the south most descend from captive birds, and may be rather tame.
BIRD SPOTTING GUIDE 1. MUTE SWAN 2. GREYLAG GOOSE 3. CANADA GOOSE 4. SHELDUCK DESCRIPTION The classic swan, holds its neck straight or in graceful S-curve, often carries wings raised up over back. Bill orange-red with black base and prominent black bulge on forehead. Juvenile grey-brown. VOICE Various quiet calls, including a threatening hiss. In flight, wings make a rhythmic 'chuffing' noise.
DESCRIPTION Larger than a MALLARD. Has bright red bill with swelling at base, especially in breeding season, and chestnut and black markings on breast and belly. Juvenile very distinct, with brownish-grey crown contrasting with white face and throat.
DESCRIPTION Large. Brownish body, pale breast, black neck and white 'chinstrap' distinctive. Juvenile slightly duller, with head and neck more brownish-black.
DESCRIPTION Largest 'grey goose', with bulky, pinkishorange bill and pinkish legs. In flight has dark upperparts contrasting with large areas of pale grey on upperwing. VOICE A harsh cackling, similar to a farmyard goose.
Learn to identify 100 of our most common bird species with this helpful ID chart.
Strikingly piebald and halfway between a duck and a goose. Commonly seen in pairs and small flocks on sheltered estuaries and coastal lagoons.
VOICE Thin whistles., often given by male in flight. whilst chasing a female, and a hoarse k-k-k-k-krrr, krrr, krrr.
VOICE Flocks give a loud honking with clear, well-spaced notes.
female female male male 8. POCHARD This diving duck is usually seen resting in flocks on inland. waters. The rufous-headed male is striking but the female is rather drab.
Shy and nervous (even its calls sound nervous). If surprised flocks will explode upwards off the water in a 'vertical take-off'.
5. MALLARD 6. WIGEON 7. TEAL The most familiar wild duck, common on almost any waterbody and often tame. The peculiar-looking ducks you may see on village ponds and park lakes are often Mallards of domestic origin. DESCRIPTION Male distinctive. Female mottled brown, with blue wing band broadly bordered white and often visible on closed wing. Legs orange and bill dark, shading to orange at sides. VOICE Male gives a soft, nasal kreep, female gives the classic quack, often in a 'laughing' series.
A very attractive dabbling duck, often found in large flocks in winter. The drake's whistle is one of the most atmospheric of bird calls. DESCRIPTION Slightly smaller and more compact than Mallard, with pointed tail, proportionally large, rather rounded head, small pale blue-grey bill with darker tip and dark legs. Male very distinctive. Female rather dark, often quite rich brown, with neat white belly. In flight note large white patch on drake's upperwing.
DESCRIPTION Smallest dabbling duck, wingbar dark green bordered white, broadly so on leading edge. Male distinctive; female very like a small female Mallard. Very sociable; in flight forms tight flocks.
DESCRIPTION Slightly larger than TUFTED DUCK, head shape distinctive, with high crown and sloping forehead. female greyish -brown with darker and browner head, breast and rear end. Dives for food. VOICE Generally silent.
female
VOICE Call a nervous, slightly tremulous, whistled cree.
male
VOICE Male gives a loud and shrill, whistled pee-oow.
9. TUFTED DUCK 10. PHEASANT The commonest diving duck; the tuft that gives it its name is the small crest on the back of the head.
female
A supremely elegant water bird in breeding plumage, with an elaborate courtship display. Grebes are ungainly on land and cannot easily walk.
A common and striking gamebird, the male's crowing is evocative of the British countryside, but Pheasants are not native, being introduced many years ago from Asia.
11. GREAT CRESTED GREBE 12. LITTLE GREBE DESCRIPTION A little smaller than Moorhen, rotund and appearing very buoyant. Note fluffy white undertail. In breeding plumage very dark, with chestnut on neck and contrasting yellow spot at billbase. In winter duller and paler, with pale bill. Juvenile has striped head and neck. Dives frequently, often skulks in waterside vegetation.
13. FULMAR 14. GANNET A large, striking seabird. Breeds colonially in the N and W., but 'squadrons' of Gannets are common around all coasts . DESCRIPTION Very large, with long pointed wings, a pointed tail and heavy, pointed bill. Plumage of adult gleams white, with yellow head and neck, note also solid black wingtips. Juvenile dark brown all over, becoming white gradually over several years. VOICE A hoarse aar-r-r at breeding colonies.
Closely related to albatrosses, this is one of a group of seabirds know as 'tubenoses'; their tubeshaped nostrils give them an enhanced sense of smell. DESCRIPTION Smaller than a Herring Gull. Plumage gull-like but rump and tail grey, not white, and has no black on wing-tips. Bill heavy, yellowish towards tip. Sexes and ages similar. Usually seen flying to and fro around breeding colonies.
DESCRIPTION Male distinctive. Female brown with bright yellow eyes. Always shows at least a hint of a tuft on the head, and a grey bill with a 'dipped in ink' black tip.
DESCRIPTION Largest grebe, near Mallard in size. Note rather long, thin...
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