INSIDE TODAY
| Published date | 11 September 2021 |
Male gives a soft, nasal kreep, helpful ID chart.
female gives the classic quack, often in male
Daily_Record female
TODAY 15. CORMORANT
The commonest diving duck; the tuft that back of the head.
gives it its name is the small crest on the
A very attractive dabbling duck, often male 10. PHEASANT in large flocks in winter. The drake's whistle
INSIDE 3. CANADA GOOSE
DESCRIPTION Male distinctive. Female is one of the most atmospheric of bird calls.
brown with bright yellow eyes. Always
Originally introduced from North America, this is the commonest goose in most of southern Britain, occurring in tame flocks
DESCRIPTION Slightly smaller and more shows at least a hint of a tuft on the
A big waterbird common on the coast and larger ink' black tip.
2. GREYLAG GOOSE in town parks.
inland. waters. The plumage is not waterproof compact than Mallard, with pointed tail, head, and a grey bill with a 'dipped in
The only goose to have genuine wild breeding populations in ' pose, wings open to dry.
proportionally large, rather rounded head, and it often sits for long periods in a 'heraldic'
Britain, but in the south most descend from captive birds, and may be rather tame.
small pale blue-grey bill with darker tip and
DESCRIPTION Large. Brownish body, pale breast, black neck and white 'chinstrap' distinctive. Juvenile slightly duller, with head and neck brownish-black.
1. MUTE SWAN
VOICE In display, male gives a series dark legs. Male very distinctive. Female
DESCRIPTION The classic swan, holds its neck straight or in growling call.
of rapid bubbling notes, female has
DESCRIPTION Largest 'grey goose', with bulky, pinkishorange bill and pinkish legs.
DESCRIPTION Large, with elongated body and on drake's upperwing.
rather dark, often quite rich brown, with neat
VOICE Flocks give a loud neck, long tail and long, straight, hook-tipped
One of Britain's largest birds and the most commonly encountered swan. Despite its name, it is far from mute.
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.
whitebelly. In flight note large white patch honking with clear, well-notes.
In flight has dark upperparts contrasting with large areas of pale grey on upperwing.
bill. Mostly blackish, but cheeks always pale, throat white and bill greyish with bare yellow whistled pee-oow.
VOICE Male gives a loud and shrill,
VOICE A harsh cackling, similar to a farmyard goose.
skin at base. Juvenile and immature have 16. GREY HERON Often seen standing, statue-like,
VOICE Various quiet calls, including a threatening hiss. In flight, wings make a rhythmic 'chuffing' noise.
GUIDe pale underparts. Swims with body low in 8. POCHARD female with a jump. Perches upright.
water, often with head raised; may dive the long legs, hunched neck and
Deep, harsh at colonies.
long bill make it easily recognisable.
fields and meadows.
SPOTTING
May be seen away from water in
Shy and nervous (even its calls sound nervous).
If surprised flocks will explode upwards off the 7. TEAL female
MOORHEN male BIRD water in a 'vertical take-off'.
DESCRIPTION Smallest dabbling duck, wingbar dark green bordered white, broadly so on
DESCRIPTION Adult has white head
Learn to identify 100 of our most common bird species with this helpful ID chart.
and neck with a black stripe leading leading edge. Male distinctive; female very like
A common and striking gamebird, the male's female back from eye and line of blackish a small female Mallard. Very sociable; in flight streaks on foreneck; bill yellowish, 17. COMMON BUZZARD
A very attractive dabbling duck, often found forms tight flocks.
years ago from Asia.
crowing is evocative of the British countryside, but
VOICE Call a nervous, slightly tremulous, in large flocks in winter. The drake's whistle is one of the most atmospheric of bird calls.
legs dull brown, shows elongated
PHEASANTs are not native, being introduced many shoulder plumes in breeding 6. WIGEON male whistled cree.
DESCRIPTION Slightly smaller and more compact than Mallard, with pointed tail, season. Juvenile has grey crown.
proportionally large, rather rounded head, small pale blue-grey bill with darker tip and
DESCRIPTION Male has glossy green head with
Holds neck pulled in when flying.
13. FULMAR 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.
dark legs. Male very distinctive. Female rather dark, often quite rich brown, with neat extensive bare red skin. Otherwise rather variable, male 12. LITTLE GREBE DESCRIPTION A little smaller than
VOICE Flight call a harsh frank.
The most familiar wild duck, common on almost any waterbody and often tame.
FREE brilliant birdspotting wallchart white belly. In flight note large white patch on drake's upperwing.
many have a white collar and greyish rump. Female uniformly brown with dark spots and chevrons,
DESCRIPTION Pigeon-sized.
male
The peculiar-looking ducks you may see on village ponds and park lakes are often Mallards of domestic origin.
A medium-sized bird of prey, usually 5. MALLARD male 23. COOT
VOICE Male gives a loud and shrill, whistled pee-oow.
11. GREAT CRESTED GREBE juvenile similar but smaller and shorter-tailed.
Overall dark slate with back,
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, wings and tail tinged brown.
seen soaring high in the sky, giving its
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.
VOICE Call a single crowing kookor kru-kook, female accelerating into a cackle in flight.
characteristic cat-like mewing or sitting
Note yellow-tipped red bill, bare
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.
A2double- hunched on a tree or fence post.
red forehead, long greenish 18. RED KITE
A supremely elegant water bird in breeding plumage, with an elaborate courtship display. Grebes are ungainly on land and cannot easily walk.
DESCRIPTION Largest grebe, near Mallard in size. Note rather long, thin neck, pinkish bill and, in flight, striking white wing-patches. In winter upperparts grey-brown, underparts and face white, including above eye. Juvenile often skulks in waterside vegetation.
VOICE A croaking...
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