How to use this book This pocket field guide aims to help you identify the birds you observe in the British Isles. It includes full-page accounts for our regularly occurring breeding and wintering species, plus 16 pages with shorter accounts on birds that are rarer visitors to the UK and some domestic birds, hybrids and aberrant forms that are regularly seen in the wild here. On each full-page account, you will find introductory information and illustrations for each species at the top, followed by sections on key features, songs and calls, where to see it, movement and population, ID pitfalls, and a map showing its British distribution. INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION English name The usual name by which the species is known in UK English. Scientific name The two-word scientific name by which the species is known worldwide. The first word denotes the bird’s genus, or group of closely related species to which it belongs. The second word is the specific name, which distinguishes the individual species within the genus. Conservation status in the UK The RSPB classifies birds’ conservation status by a traffic light system. Green indicates there is no current concern; amber indicates moderately declining populations, and/or moderately contracting or localised range, and/or historical population decline but now recovering; and red indicates that the species is globally threatened, and/or in severe decline in its UK population, and/or under severe contraction of its UK range. Birds that are not native to the UK, and most of those that occur only as rare visitors, do not have a conservation status. You can read more about this on the RSPB website. Conservation status in this book is indicated through the coloured tabs on each species page.
no concern moderate concern greatest concern introduced species or information not available
Size The bird’s body length, from bill-tip to tail-tip, in centimetres. ILLUSTRATIONS The illustrations have been chosen to clearly show as many distinct plumage phases as possible in the space available, as well as the bird’s appearance in flight and (where relevant) in characteristic display postures. KEY FEATURES This section gives a short physical description of the bird, highlighting any particular plumage features that aid identification and describing the differences between males and females, adults and juveniles, and breeding and non-breeding plumages, where appropriate. Key behavioural traits are also covered here. SONGS AND CALLS The bird’s voice (its song and most frequently heard calls), along with any non-vocal sounds it habitually produces, are described in this section. WHERE TO SEE IT This section outlines where in the UK the bird is most likely to be found and describes its preferred habitat types, including any seasonal variations. MOVEMENTS AND POPULATION This section outlines the bird’s occurrence pattern in the UK, along with migration timings, where relevant. It may be classed as a resident (present in the UK all year), a summer visitor (migrating to the UK to breed,
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then departing before winter), a winter visitor (migrating to the UK in autumn, after completing its breeding season elsewhere) or a passage migrant (stopping off in the UK during its migration between two other places). Note that a few species fit more than one of these categories. For example, Blackcap occurs as both a winter visitor and summer visitor, but cannot be considered a year-round resident because our breeding population leaves the UK in winter and migrants from eastern Europe arrive here at this time. This section also includes up-to-date population data, sourced from the fifth edition of the RSPB Handbook of British Birds (published 2021). Unless otherwise stated, numbers are given for breeding pairs (BP) and, where relevant, wintering individuals (WI). For a few species, data is available only for the number of individuals present year-round or for the number of territory-holding males. Where this is the case, this information is provided. For passage migrants, recording methods are much less accurate, so numbers recorded are generally too variable to be useful; the same goes for wintering populations of some seabirds. ID PITFALLS This section explains the most important differences between the bird and the main species it is likely to be confused with to help you correctly identify it. Key Map
DISTRIBUTION MAP The colour-coded distribution map covers the entire British Isles and provides a visual representation of where you are most likely to see the bird at different times of year. Green: resident, areas where the species may be seen throughout the year and where it breeds. Yellow: summer visitor, areas where the species may be seen in summer and usually breed. Blue: winter visitor, areas where the species spends the winter, but does not breed. Pink: passage migrant, areas that the species visits at times of migration – generally spring and autumn. For distribution at sea, colours are restricted to areas where the species will be visible to observers on land, and therefore only inshore waters have been mapped.
Razorbill (left) and Guillemot (right) can be easily confused from a distance.
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Parts of birds sides of crown
upperparts
eyebrow (supercilium)
ear-coverts
crown
nape
TYPICAL SMALL BIRD
throat
bill rump
orbital ring
breast
belly
flight feathers
underparts
TYPICAL BIRD OF PREY
primaries wrist (carpal)
secondaries undertail-coverts arm
flight feathers = primaries and secondaries combined tail-bands
crown-stripe
TYPICAL WADER mantle hand wing-tips
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bill
tertials
breast
tail flank
belly legs
feet
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Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus L 37–42cm female
male
KEY FEATURES A round-bodied, short-tailed grouse. Males have a large, prominent red eye-comb, which is small or absent in females. Both sexes have uniform dark red-brown plumage, with subtle barring and mottling visible at close quarters, and a blackish tail (though the tail feathers are mostly concealed by the long uppertail-coverts when the bird is at rest). The legs and feet are covered with white downy feathers, and the wing arm underside is also white. Has a fast, whirring, direct flight; the wings are short and broad, but with well-separated finger-like primary feathers, and birds show a black tail in flight. Forages inconspicuously on the ground, but territorial males may call from prominent rocks or other landscape features. May be shy or approachable, depending on location. SONGS AND CALLS Territorial males give a fast series of harsh, rasping clucks, running together into a rattle. In flight, gives a sharp, clucking ‘go-back’ call. WHERE TO SEE IT Found in upland areas of Scotland, Wales, Ireland and northern and western England, on open heather moorland; grouse-shooting estates are managed specifically to encourage a very high population density. MOVEMENTS AND POPULATION Resident (BP 265,000). ID PITFALLS Ptarmigan (page 16) always has a white belly and wings, is greyer-toned, and is smaller and longer-tailed. The female Pheasant (page 21) has a long, narrow tail, is paler yellow-brown in tone with a more contrasting mottled pattern, and has a slimmer shape; it also does not have feathered feet. Grey Partridge (page 19) and Red-legged Partridge (page 18) are both smaller, with more colourful, variegated plumage.
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Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa L 32–34cm adult
adult
KEY FEATURES A smallish gamebird with a round body and short, pointed tail; usually has a hunched posture. The sexes are similar, although males are slightly more brightly coloured. Predominantly ash grey and brown. Has a striking head and breast pattern, with a black eye-stripe, white eyebrow, and a white lower face and throat with a black border that extends onto the breast in a streaky black ‘necklace’. Also note the red legs, orbital ring and bill; boldly barred reddish, grey-and-white flanks; and dark eyes. Feeds on the ground and is rather inconspicuous. Reluctant to take flight and more likely to run away when disturbed. When it does take to the air, its flight is fast and whirring. Usually seen in groups. SONGS AND CALLS Gives a short, throaty double cluck, repeated and then followed by a more drawn-out rasping sound. WHERE TO SEE IT Native to south-western Europe; introduced to the UK. Found in lowland areas in much of England, and also in parts of Wales, eastern Scotland and eastern Northern Ireland and Ireland. Occurs on managed estates and in the wider countryside. Prefers open mixed farmland with hedgerows or other areas of long vegetation, but may turn up in suburban and even urban areas. MOVEMENTS AND POPULATION Resident (BP 72,500). ID PITFALLS Grey Partridge (page 19) lacks the bold blackand-white face pattern, and most birds have a dark mark on the lower breast and a more variegated upperside. Occasionally, the closely related Chukar Partridge from southern Europe is seen in the wild in the UK; it is very similar to the Red-legged but lacks streaky black markings on the breast.
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Grey Partridge Perdix perdix L 30cm
female
male
KEY FEATURES A small, dumpy, short-tailed gamebird. From a distance, looks rather plain grey-brown, but closer views reveal orange face markings. The flanks have whitish and reddish barring; the back and wings are subtly mottled and barred reddish brown and grey. The bill and legs are greyish and the eyes dark. Males are slightly brightercoloured, with more contrasting patterning and a dark brown horseshoe-shaped mark on the lower breast/belly, which they display in their standing-tall courtship posture; this marking is reduced or absent in females. Groups feed inconspicuously on the ground in a hunched posture, usually in small parties, and rarely mix with Red-legged Partridges. Usually runs but may make a short, low flight when disturbed. SONGS AND CALLS The call is a short, squeaky note that tails off with a low creak. The wings whirr loudly in flight. WHERE TO SEE IT Found widely across lowland England and eastern Scotland, and sparsely in Wales and Ireland. Prefers mixed farmland with hedgerows or long vegetation for cover, and is less likely to be found in gardens than the Red-legged Partridge. MOVEMENTS AND POPULATION Resident (BP 37,000). ID PITFALLS Red-legged Partridge (page 18) is best separated by its boldly contrasting black-and-white face pattern, plainer back and wings, and less coarse flank barring. A short-tailed juvenile Pheasant (page 21) may appear similar, but is lighter yellowish brown with dark, scaly barring. Quail (page 20) is much smaller, with different proportions (a larger head) and a distinctive face pattern. The rare, unrelated Corncrake (page 63) is superficially similar, but has a larger head, longish pink legs and a larger pink bill; it also displays different behaviour.
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Quail Coturnix coturnix L 16–18cm
adult
adult
KEY FEATURES Much smaller than any other gamebird, this species is round-bodied and short-tailed, with proportionately long, pointed wings and a large head compared to other gamebirds. The plumage is streaked and barred in black, white and shades of brown, with a complex black-and-white face pattern (bolder in males). Extremely elusive and difficult to see, it is most often located by its song but can remain entirely hidden from view even at very close quarters. It flies quickly on very rapid wingbeats, but much prefers to run into thick cover rather than fly. SONGS AND CALLS The song is a very distinctive three-note phrase of swishing or whip-cracking sounds, often transcribed as ‘wet-my-lips’. WHERE TO SEE IT It is most frequent on farmland in southern and eastern England, but its occurrence is sporadic and very unpredictable. It prefers tall crop fields or meadows with long grass. The male’s ceaselessly repeated song is easily detected, but it takes much luck and patience to actually see the bird. MOVEMENTS AND POPULATION Summer visitor, arriving mainly in May and departing by mid-September (375 males). ID PITFALLS Grey Partridge (page 19) and Red-legged Partridge (page 18) are both much larger. Partly grown partridge chicks, and also young Pheasant (page 21) chicks that have not yet grown full tails, may be similar in size to a Quail but are different in colour and pattern, and will normally be in groups and accompanied by one or both parents. Japanese Quail (domesticated) is almost identical, and some other domestic quail species are also similar. Domestic escapees are typically much less shy than wild Quails and are likely to be found in urban settings.
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Pheasant Phasianus colchicus L 53–89cm
female
male
chick
KEY FEATURES A large, quite long-legged gamebird with a very long, narrow, tapering tail. Males have a variably sized red facial wattle, yellowish eyes and a small horn-like double crest; most have a glossy, dark green head and are otherwise dark, rich redbrown with black barring; a white neck-ring is often present. Entirely black (melanistic) and white forms occur. Females are typically light yellowish brown with blackish scaly markings on the upperside and flanks, but may also be greyish through to very dark brown; their eyes are brown. Juveniles resemble short-tailed adult females; young males show a patchy version of the adult male’s colours. Often seen in groups, sometimes one male with several females. Usually seen feeding on the ground, near cover. Prefers to walk or run away when disturbed, but may ‘explode’ into vertical flight from almost underfoot; can also be fearless and approachable. SONGS AND CALLS Makes a harsh, rasping, clucking call. Displaying males produce a loud rustle as they stand up straight and rapidly flap their wings. When disturbed, takes off with a startlingly loud flurry of wingbeats. WHERE TO SEE IT Native to southern Asia, introduced to the UK and Ireland. Most often found at woodland edges and on farmland, but also occurs in most other habitats, including parks and larger gardens. Especially common in autumn, when new stock is released at shooting estates. MOVEMENTS AND POPULATION Resident (BP 2.3 million). ID PITFALLS The adult’s long tail usually makes identification straightforward. Escaped exotic pheasants of other species (page 264) can cause confusion, especially the females, but most are smaller, darker and more heavily barred than a female Pheasant.
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RSPB POCKET GUIDE TO
BRITISH
BIRDS Marianne Taylor and Stephen Message
Click to buy
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