Forests and Woodlands

From the evergreen forests of the north to the broad-leaved woodlands further south, European forests provide a rich habitat for birds. Tree trunks and branches are safe nesting places and tree leaves, nuts, and berries are good to eat. Insects and small creatures living on the trees and woodland floor are also food for birds. The northern forests are generally darker and colder than those further south, which have a greater variety of food and nesting places. Unfortunately, many of Europe’s forests are now threatened by pollution and deforestation.

European forest and woodland birds have to arrange their lives around the seasons. In spring and summer, they nest and rear their young; in fall, they eat as much as possible to build up stores of fat in their bodies; and in winter, they may fly south to warmer places or roam widely through the forest in search of food.

Eurasian sparrowhawk

The agile sparrowhawk makes swift, surprise attacks on blue tits and other small birds. They stand very little chance of escaping its needle-sharp talons. Before eating its prey, the sparrowhawk plucks off the bird’s feathers. The female tears up food that the male has caught to feed to the young.

The female is larger than the male and has gray bars underneath.

Blue tits Short, rounded wings allow the bird to twist and turn through trees.

Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Length: up to 1 ft 4 in (40 cm)

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Eurasian jay

The harsh, screeching call of the Eurasian jay can often be heard in broad-leaved woodlands, especially in the spring, when birds chase each other noisily through the trees as part of their courtship display. Jays feed on acorns, which they often carry for long distances, and then bury to eat during the cold winter months. Acorns that are not eaten grow into new oak trees, helping the woodlands spread. Jays also eat other nuts, berries, worms, spiders, and the eggs and young of other birds. a t l antic ocean Crest is often raised, making the bird’s head look like a square shape. Crossbills nest and feed high in the treetops of coniferous forests. They pull seeds from pine cones and rarely venture down to the forest floor.

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Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) Length: 1 ft 3 in (37 cm) Loire

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Long-tailed tit

The tiny long-tailed tit flits about in flocks, feeding on insects, spiders, and seeds. In spring, it builds an elaborate nest of moss, cobwebs, and hair, lined with thousands of feathers to keep its young warm. The nest is so small that adult birds have to fold their tails over their heads to fit inside.

The tit’s tail is longer than the body.

Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) Length: 6 in (16 cm)

Large circles of feathers on the face collect sounds, like a radar dish.

Great gray owl

This huge owl uses its sharp hearing to detect voles on the forest floor. Even in winter, it can hear them run through tunnels beneath deep snow. The great gray owl defends its nest fiercely and will even strike people, if they get too close. The owlets leave the nest at 3–4 weeks old but take a week or so longer to learn how to fly.

Great gray owl (Strix nebulosa) Length: up to 2 ft 2 in (67 cm) Wingspan: over 5 ft (1 m 50 cm)

During his courtship display, the male western capercaillie fans out his tail, points his bill in the air, and puffs out his throat feathers.

Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Length: male 3 ft 9 in (1 m 15 cm); female 2 ft 1 in (64 cm)

Volga

Male has black and red “mustache”; female’s mustache is all black.

Eurasian green woodpecker

This bird is sometimes called the “yaffle,” after its loud, laughing call. It has a large, daggerlike bill for probing ant hills or boring into tree trunks, and a very long tongue for licking up the insects hidden inside. It also eats fruit and seeds. During courtship, pairs of green woodpeckers spiral around trees.

Comblike fringes on its toes may help the bird walk on snow without sinking in.

Western capercaillie

This bird lives in conifer forests, feeding on pine seeds and needles in winter and leaves, stems, and berries in summer. It nests on the forest floor. During his courtship display, the male challenges rival males with an extraordinary song, which ends with a popping and gurgling sound—like a cork being pulled out of a bottle and the drink being poured.

Eurasian green woodpecker (Picus viridis)

Length: 1 ft 1 in (33 cm)

These woodpeckers spend a lot of time on the ground searching for ants. Hawthorn berries are a favorite food. Tiny, red, waxlike blobs on the wings.

Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) Length: 9 in (23 cm)

Bohemian waxwing

The red tips on some of this bird’s wing feathers look like sealing wax, which explains why it is called a waxwing. The waxwing lives in groups and chatters loudly in the breeding season. During courtship, male and female birds pass food from bill to bill. Its food is mainly the fruit and berries of woodland trees and shrubs.