The story Only a very few specimens of this striking duck are in existence, and virtually nothing is known of it in life. Even the limits of its original range are a matter of speculation; there is an assumption that it bred in eastern Siberia and migrated to Korea and Japan, but this may be […]
Rodrigues Night-heron (Nycticorax megacephalus)
The story During 1691 a small band of Huguenots, fleeing from religious persecution in France, ended up marooned for around two years on the Mascarene island of Rodrigues, far out in the Indian Ocean. Their leader was one Francois Leguat, and this gentleman made notes on the things he saw during his stay on the […]
White-eyed Prinia (Prinia leontica)
[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Cisticolidae | [latin] Prinia leontica | [UK] White-eyed Prinia | [FR] Prinia du Sierra Leone | [DE] Weissaugen-Prinie | [ES] Prinia de la Sierra Leone | [NL] Witoogprinia Subspecies Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range Physical charateristics 14-15 cm. Small, grey, long-tailed warbler. Overall grey with […]
Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens)
[order] CHARADRIIFORMES | [family] Laridae | [latin] Larus livens | [UK] Yellow-footed Gull | [FR] Goeland de Cortez | [DE] Gelbfussmowe | [ES] Gaviota de Cortes | [NL] Mexicaanse Meeuw Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics This large gull closely resembles the Western Gull, but the adult has yellow (not pinkish) feet. wingspan min.: 150 cm […]
Western black-eared wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica)
[order] PASSERIFORMES | [family] Muscicapidae | [latin] Oenanthe hispanica | [UK] Black-eared Wheatear | [FR] Traquet oreillard | [DE] Mittelmeer-Steinschmatzer | [ES] Collalba rubia | [NL] Blonde Tapuit Subspecies Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range Oenanthe hispanica EU sw w, ne AF Oenanthe hispanica hispanica Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca Physical charateristics […]
Whiskered Auklet (aethia pygmaea)
[order] CHARADRIIFORMES | [family] Alcidae | [latin] aethia pygmaea | [UK] Whiskered Auklet | [FR] Starique pygmee | [DE] Bartalk | [ES] Mergulo bigotudo | [NL] Geoorde Dwergalk Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics Similar to the larger Crested Auklet, but in addition to the curled black plume on the forehead this bird has three thin […]
South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki)
[order] CHARADRIIFORMES | [family] Stercorariidae | [latin] Stercorarius maccormicki | [UK] South Polar Skua | [FR] Labbe de Mac Cormick | [DE] Antarktikskua | [ES] Pagalo Polar | [NL] Zuidpooljager Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics Near size of Western and Herring gulls, but stockier, with a deep-chested, hunch-shouldered look. Dark, with a short, slightly wedge-shaped […]
Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)
[order] CHARADRIIFORMES | [family] Scolopacidae | [latin] Numenius borealis | [UK] Eskimo Curlew | [FR] Courlis esquimau | [DE] Eskimo-Brachvogel | [ES] Zarapito esquimal | [NL] Eskimo-wulp Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics 29-34 cm. Small cinnamon-coloured curlew. Similar spp. Little Curlew N. minutus is similar, but N. borealis is larger, longer winged (extending beyond tip […]
Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis)
[order] CHARADRIIFORMES | [family] Scolopacidae | [latin] Numenius tahitiensis | [UK] Bristle-thighed Curlew | [FR] Courlis d’Alaska | [DE] Borsten-Brachvogel | [ES] Zarapito del Pacifico | [NL] Zuidzee-wulp Subspecies Monotypic species Physical charateristics Very similar to the Whimbrel, but tawnier, especially about tail; tawny, unbarred rump. Breast less streaked, bill paler. Listen to the sound […]
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
[order] CHARADRIIFORMES | [family] Recurvirostridae | [latin] Himantopus mexicanus | [UK] Black-necked Stilt | [FR] Echasse d’Amerique | [DE] Schwarznacken-Stelzenlaufer | [ES] Candelero Americano | [NL] Subspecies Genus Species subspecies Breeding Range Breeding Range 2 Non Breeding Range Himantopus mexicanus NA, LA w, s USA to Peru and e Brazil, Hawaiian Islands Himantopus mexicanus knudseni […]