10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

Germany is underrated as a birding destination. Nestled right in the middle of Europe, we have a little bit of everything, a nice cross section of Europe’s avifauna. Greater Rheas, a species the Germans call Nandu, are very popular in Germany and frequently kept in zoos as well as private enclosures.

Germany 254

Germany Birds 2000 South America 254

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2015

I still know my audience - this is primarily a blog read by birders in North America, who see the term “squirrel” as little more than a synonym for house sparrow, starling, pest and cholera. Germany, like most of Europe and very much unlike North America, is home to only one species of squirrel.

Squirrels 162

Squirrels North America Germany Europe 162

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2016

Of course such a clear case of misjudgement would never have happened here in the Olde Europe. You’ve done it, America, you have willingly invited an Acrocephalus warbler into your territory! Here in Europe, we have the dull green and challenging leaf warblers of the genus Phylloscopus. There, I said it. Millerbird!

Hawaii 163

Hawaii Albatross Europe America 163

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

Mandarin Ducks, Munich, Germany. Sure, it is an introduced species in Germany. These two shorebirds are exceedingly common in western Europe. But the Great Swallow-tailed Swift is one of the largest Swifts in North America. Plus a few truly difficult species. But they were still Mandarin Ducks!

Austria 153

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 153

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2012

Here in Germany, we don’t wish we had. Yes, Germany has parrots, or parakeets to be more precise. Unlike North America, Germany has never had naturally occurring psittacines that went extinct, and the one we have is a true and complete invasive alien introduction. Because we never have had.

Germany 251

Germany Netherlands Zoos Geese 251

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2015

Known as the Great Egret in the Americas, it was commonly referred to as the Great White Heron in the Old World. You see, the Great (White) Heron/Egret is a polytypic species with four subspecies: alba in Europe, egretta in the Americas, melanorhynchos in Africa, and modesta in Asia and Oceania. Just so you know.

Asia 185

Asia Europe Germany Breeding 185

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

Birding in Germany was okay during the first half of the year but essentially came to an end in June due to several issues, most significantly a move to a different appartment within Heidelberg. You can see my birding activities abroad and within Germany on the maps at the top of this post. Great Bustard , Havelland, Germany.

2016 101

2016 Germany Italy Netherlands 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Chamois is an agile goat-antelope with short hooked horns, found in mountainous areas of Europe from Spain to the Caucasus. A Sage Thrasher – a vagrant from western North America and only one of a handful of New York State records – was found on the other side of the Hudson River over in Columbia County in early November. Preposterous!

2020 245

2020 Birds Costa Rica Germany 245

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2015

Germany is currently experiencing its hottest June and July ever, and temperatures in the last few weeks have rarely been below 33°C (91°F), sometimes reaching nearly 40°C (103°F). This is particularly interesting for birders in North America and Europe (duh!), egretta (Americas): legs always, invariably and completely black.

North America 173

North America Europe America Asia 173

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2011

After all, Hooded Crows are a bird of eastern and northern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East and are not known as long distance migrants. Prior to that trip to Kazakhstan the only other time I had seen Hooded Crows was in Germany in 2007, when my best looks at a Hooded Crow were along the shore of the Baltic Sea. … a.

New York 226

New York Kazakhstan North America New York City 226

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Its natural range in Europe was restricted the the surroundings of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and in Asia it ranged from Asia Minor to central China. Contradicting this relentless shooting were efforts to establish feral populations in many regions of Europe, both within and outside its natural range. Now, enjoy the pictures.

Feral 171

Feral Europe Asia North America 171

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2013

They were once a widespread and diverse group, however, with many fossils known from what are now North America and Europe.

Kenya 176

Kenya Parrots Africa North America 176

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

the development of field-based ornithological research in Europe and Great Britain; a quick step back through the history to look at bird protection, conservation, and our precarious future, with a focus on Birkhead’s long-term (50 years!) Birkhead knows that these are sensitive topics.

Dissection 234

Dissection Birds Research Europe 234

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2019

Even the names we give to some birds reflect their dependence on the cultivated landscape – we have Barn Owls ( Tyto alba ) and Barn Swallows ( Hirundo rustica ) over much of the world, and Orchard Orioles ( Icterus spurius ) in the Americas really do have a fondness for fruit groves.

Vermont 121

Vermont Belgium Farming Europe 121

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2017

After all, neither Bill nor Jeff had ever seen one before despite having each birded in Europe more than I had. I don’t know when I will get to Europe again but look forward to the day that I get back, deep into a forest, and see the mythical creature that is a Black Woodpecker. And if I dip again?

Woodpeckers 100

Woodpeckers Austria Europe Hungary 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2011

For birders especially in America, this landscape will soon provide doom, destruction, death, and decay. If you are mildly interested, proceed and read the caption. Despite being taken in Europe, this image exemplifies why forest birding in North America might soon be rated NC-17. Yes, there is a bird in this picture.

North America 145

North America Europe America Asia 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2016

Indeed, and here I am showing my age, there once was a time when all the large gulls of Eurasia and North America with a pale grey mantle and a black wing-tip were labelled as “Herring Gulls”, and the gulling was easy.

Germany 103

Germany North America Europe Game 103

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2015

Birders in the Americas may not be aware of it, but from the higher ground of a European perspective the American “warblers” are intensely overrated. The genus Passer has several well-recognized and recognizable species in Europe, and still holds several enigmas. Bird blogging in May always gives me the creeps.

Sparrows 227

Sparrows Italy Asia Austria 227

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2012

Over much of North America, the Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis is more than just common. It was thus with much delight that I found myself in the position of going to see a fine male Lesser Scaup in the lunch break of a business trip to the far south-west of Germany. And see it I did, as the pictures below will plainly show.

Switzerland 125

Switzerland Germany France Ducks 125

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Some time after the Spanish encounter with the Turkey, birds were brought back to Europe where they were raised and became an important source of food and fancy feathers. Dates of first arrival listed by Schorger (1966) are: Italy 1520, Germany 1530, France 1538, England 1541, Denmark and Norway 1550, Sweden 1556. According to R.D.

Turkey 210

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 210

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2014

Now, having the female-thing fly in between two Garganeys made it easy to be sure it was of the exact same size, and there are only two species of dabbling duck the size of a Garganey in Germany: the Teal and – well – the Garganey. I mean, the Gadwall is one of the most common ducks in Germany. The bird is a male Gadwall.

Ducks 160

Ducks Germany North America Species 160

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2011

As a result of the gradual westward expansion across Europe from it’s origins on the Black Sea coast a number of ringing schemes have been operating allowing birders to trace the origins of many of the individuals that turn up in Britain.

Poland 157

Poland 2009 Europe France 157

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

I have caught a bus across Europe, but I can’t really claim to have “been” to Germany or Belgium. A guide once told me that they were related to the Bald Eagle of North America and I dismissed him, claiming it was convergent evolution, I was wrong, and guide who’s name I have forgotten, I’m sorry.

Botswana 162

Botswana Birds Lesotho Elephants 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

While mainly an Asian bird, the Red-flanked Bluetail has recently been seen in parts of Europe (particularly Finland and Scotland) more frequently, indicating a possible range extension ( source ). This research was actually done only about 10 km away from a place I once lived for a couple of years, in Radolfszell, Germany.

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Beautiful Blue Backyard Bird Beautiful Blue Backyard Bird By Jochen • March 10, 2011 • 9 comments Tweet Share There is a lot of whining associated with colours and Europe’s birds. Then they get dangerous!

2011 167

2011 Birds Deer Europe 167

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Originally from India and the vicinity, it is believed that they had already undergone two major expansions – through Asia Minor in the 1600s, and then across Europe in the 1900s – when they first appeared in North America. Renato Mar 13th, 2011 at 8:36 am Nice post, the Collared Doves also make it to South America.

Montana 138

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 138

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2011

It is also familiar at inland sites in winter, especially reservoirs and refuse tips, and breeds in the relatively-Northerly regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Germany had lost one of its most promising ornithological researchers, and one of its most active birders.

2011 157

2011 Cyprus Deer Species 157