When summer nights in the south glow and a mysterious purring echoes through the pine forests, they are never far away: the Red-necked Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruficollis) and the European Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) transform the twilight into a magical setting! The restriction of the Red-necked Nightjar to the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa is explained by… Continue reading The Red-necked Nightjar: What is the difference?
Tag: ornithology
Photo of a Eurasian Dotterel in the magazine “Der Falke” (Issue 10/2026)
A blog post published on June 2, 2014, on www.bird-lens.com attracted significant interest. The renowned ornithological journal “Der Falke” (Issue 10/2026) used a photo of a female Eurasian Dotterel (*Eudromias morinellus*)—taken at Saariselkä Kaunispää near Inari, Finland—to illustrate an article in the “Ornithologie kompakt” (Ornithology in Brief) section. In June 2003, I had headed for… Continue reading Photo of a Eurasian Dotterel in the magazine “Der Falke” (Issue 10/2026)
Siberian Nutcracker in a Baltic coastal forest
Sometimes, the wind from the Far East blows all the way to our European shores, and when the taiga’s fate strikes with an icy hand, a small ornithological miracle occurs. Suddenly, he appears—this somber yet fascinating visitor from the Siberian wilderness: the Siberian Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes macrorhynchos), whose slender, dagger-like beak speaks of vast, boundless… Continue reading Siberian Nutcracker in a Baltic coastal forest
Why a Once-Common Bird Is Disappearing: the Eurasian Tree Sparrow
In the past, it was simply part of the scenery. Anyone walking along village streets, passing by barns, or traveling through the countryside would hear the lively chirping of small sparrow flocks almost everywhere. Amidst hedges, fruit trees, and stables, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) was a familiar companion of daily life. Today, however,… Continue reading Why a Once-Common Bird Is Disappearing: the Eurasian Tree Sparrow
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