By June, the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is heard only faintly in the background. The demands of the breeding season and the need to remain inconspicuous while incubating eggs cause it to fall quiet and keep a low profile. In contrast, anyone strolling through a garden or park on a spring morning usually knows the… Continue reading European Robin and Its “Quiet” Song
Category: Birds of Western Palaearctic
The song of spring: the Common Nightingale
Anyone strolling through a park, riverside thicket, or open floodplain forest on a mild May evening may occasionally experience a truly special moment. From deep within the dense undergrowth rings out a song—so varied and powerful that even those who otherwise take little interest in birds are compelled to stop and listen. The Common Nightingale… Continue reading The song of spring: the Common Nightingale
Black-winged Stilt in one of Brandenburgs meadows
Amidst shallow pools, wet meadows, and resting wading birds, two elegant birds with strikingly long, red legs suddenly catch the eye. Wandering along the Ungeheuerwiesen near Trebbin you can perform an extraordinary sighting. A Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is spending time here together with its mate. The scene does not go unnoticed: a Northern Lapwing… Continue reading Black-winged Stilt in one of Brandenburgs meadows
Common Redstart with Nestling Down
A young bird with distinctive, light-colored feathers on its head crouches low in a Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). It’s barely out of the nest when its first flight into freedom begins. The young Common Redstart still wobbles a bit as it releases itself from the fork in the branch. Its feathers are almost like those… Continue reading Common Redstart with Nestling Down
Rock Partridge in the breathtaking Nockberge in Austria
Last weekend, I embarked on a hiking adventure in the beautiful Nockberge region of Austria, driven by the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca). Known for its northern distribution limit in the Alps, the Rock Partridge makes its home on the steep, rocky, south-facing slopes of this unique area.… Continue reading Rock Partridge in the breathtaking Nockberge in Austria
Birdwatching in Sicily: Lago Preola e Gorghi Tondi NR
The wetlands lie hidden amidst intensively farmed land. When traveling in western Sicily and suddenly finding yourself before a still expanse of water framed by reeds and dense undergrowth, everything seems almost unrealistically peaceful for a moment. Only the rhythmic calls of the Hoopoe (Upupa epops) provide a background sound. This is exactly what a… Continue reading Birdwatching in Sicily: Lago Preola e Gorghi Tondi NR
Is it correct to call Italian Sparrow a species?
It starts like a simple question on a walk through an Italian village: that small brown bird hopping between café tables, is it just another House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), or something more? Many bird enthusiasts have had this moment. The Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) looks familiar, yet slightly different. That subtle difference opens a much… Continue reading Is it correct to call Italian Sparrow a species?
Vagrant Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Capo Murro di Porco in Sicily
I’m standing at Capo Murro di Porco, the southern edge of Sicily, where – quite close to Syrakus – the land gives way to open sea and the wind never really settles. I’ve come here for seawatching, scanning the horizon for shearwaters, but something unexpected should pull my attention furthermore. Near the parking area, a… Continue reading Vagrant Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Capo Murro di Porco in Sicily
European Bee-eaters: Spontaneous life artists
The first European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) will soon be seen again. Then these colorful birds will demonstrate their flying acrobatics a few meters away. With their high, distinctive call, their brilliant, exotic colors and their sociability, they are wonderful to observe and very nice to photograph. Like all Meropidae, the European Bee-eater is characterized by… Continue reading European Bee-eaters: Spontaneous life artists
Goshawks as idols
I catch only a glimpse at first, a shadow slipping between trunks, fast and silent. It vanishes almost as soon as it appears. Moments later, the forest reacts, small birds scattering in alarm. Encounters like this are what make the Eurasian Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis or Astur gentilis) so compelling. It feels less like observing a… Continue reading Goshawks as idols
White-tailed Eagles in Spring Courtship Flight
A clear, cloudless spring day with only a few high clouds against a steel-blue sky. Your gaze is involuntarily drawn. If you stop, look up, and suddenly spot two large birds circling seemingly effortlessly, your curiosity is piqued. At first, it seems like chance, but then it becomes clear: something special is happening here. Two… Continue reading White-tailed Eagles in Spring Courtship Flight
Black Grouse in the Czech Mountains of Rudne Hory
The roaring of the cocks can be heard from the edge of village, high on the Ore Mountains ridge. You don’t have to travel far to witness the wild spectacle of Black Grouse on their courtship display. Every spring, before and about two hours after sunrise, something wild happens in Europe’s remaining natural open moorlands.… Continue reading Black Grouse in the Czech Mountains of Rudne Hory