10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2013

This gull is closely related to, and necessary to separate from, the Black-headed Gull , a bird familiar to any birder from Europe (or even just anyone from Europe!). The Brown-headed Gull is a bird of Asia, breeding from Turkmenistan to Mongolia, and winters along the coasts of Asia. Notice the white iris.

Turkmenistan 157

Turkmenistan Mongolia Asia Europe 157

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

I am not entirely sure whether most birders outside Germany know or realize that Germany still has a decent population of one of Europe’s most attractive and desired bird species: the Great Bustard Otis tarda. I’ve once seen Grey Partridges there, and the meadows have breeding Montague’s Harriers.

Germany 102

Germany Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 102

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2023

If such human food is not available, the Yellow-billed Chough goes back to its original diet of (at least in Europe) grasshoppers, as described here. This species might indeed merit a bit more research – the only paper I found on its breeding looked at only 7 nests (of which 3 failed). Being wet seems to help, though.

Birds 130

Birds China Science Research 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

I am not sure about the security situation in Iraq these days but at least some people do ornithological research there – resulting in papers such as one titled “Breeding observations of the Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines , 1789) in Iraq” Impressive.

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2016

Baicalensis inhabits southern Siberia around lake Baikal and ranges into the northern half of Mongolia. Now, if you quickly call to mind the pattern of Asian species reaching Europe as vagrants, you will remember that most are from Siberia. Any other region, even central Asia, scarcely provides us with vagrants here in Europe.

Germany 100

Germany Sharks Morocco Europe 100