Birds of The world in taxonomic hierarchy

Schellente am Südende des Pfäffikersee Ich hätte gern ein besseres Foto aber die Schellenten waren nur etwa 100 Meter vom Weg entfernt und dazu hinter Schilf. Auch mein 600mm Objektiv hat nicht gereicht, aber zugegeben, ein Stativ hätte geholfen. 2021-01-26 15.36.26 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Etymology: Nabu: Schellenten verdanken ihren Namen dem pfeifenden und wie ein Klingeln («Schellen») tönenden Fluggeräusch. [Vogelwarte.ch erklärt: ]
Gruener Kopf mit gelbem Auge (Goldeneye), weisser Kreis zwischen Auge und (schwarzem) Schnabel, weisser Bauch und Seiten mit etwa 5 duennen schwarzen Streifen, schwarzer Ruecken. In Island gibt's eine sehr aehnliche Ente und in kleineren Mengen auch diese.
Wintergast am Pfäffikersee.
Vocalization: Male display sound a dry nasal disyllabic "Ka-weerr". First note introductory and second longer and descending. Usually accompanied by back-throwing head motion. Female: dry harsh "aahrrrr aahrrrr aahrrrr ". Wings make a characteristic whistling sound. [Link]
Physical details: length=42-50 cm, wingspan=65-80 cm, weight=650-1200 g
Habitats: River and lake

Spatelenten, Myvatn, Iceland. 2015-06-05 11.20.16 Iceland
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Barrow's goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is a medium-sized sea duck of the genus Bucephala, the goldeneyes. This bird was named after Sir John Barrow. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek boukephalos, "bullheaded", from bous, "bull " and kephale, "head", a reference to the bulbous head shape of the bufflehead. The species name islandica means Iceland.^[2] [more]

Mittelsaeger Weibchen auf Lago Maggiore, Locarno. 2021-04-06 13.18.48 Northern Lago Maggiore
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-04-06.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Personal notes: Zuerst gesehen in Lago Maggiore in Locarno. Jan 2022 auch als Wintergast am Pfaeffikersee. [Link]
Appearance and identification: In winter you can admire a few of these birds with the straggly tuft. [Link]
Habitats: River and lake
Looks similar to: Greater scaup.

Gänsesäger am Nordende des Pfäffikersee 2021-01-26 17.02.58 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Zuerst gesehen am Pfäffikersee.
Vocalization: Male: Mostly heard when courting. A twanging, disyllabic "whip-ooooo", first syllable ascending and second whistle-like and rapidly falling. Female: A coarse "ahrrr ahrrrr", or a raspy drawn "ah-ahrrrrrr ah-ahrrrrr", slightly rising, then falling in pitch. Also various cackling sounds. [Link]
Physical details: length=58-66 cm, wingspan=82-97 cm, weight=900-2100 g
Habitats: River and lake


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20210510_090939 birdnet 1539 - Common Merganser plus Golden Oriole - = - Common Merganser - Locarno.mp3 2021-05-10 09.09.39 Locarno (song?)

Eiderente, vom Steg aus gesehen in Rapperswil. 2021-02-12 13.42.20 Rapperswil
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-09.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Etymology: Nabu: Auch heute noch erinnert ihr wissenschaftlicher Name an die Bedeutung ihrer isolierenden Daunen für die Menschen. Übersetzt bedeutet ihr Name nämlich „die Allerweichste mit dem schwarzen Körper“. [Link]
Geography: Die im Norden Europas häufige und wegen ihren Daunenfedern bekannte Eiderente war in der Schweiz früher ein seltener Gast. Doch in der zweiten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts erfolgten mehrere grosse Einflüge. Dank der Wandermuschelvermehrung war das Nahrungsangebot ausreichend und die Vögel verbrachten zunehmend den Sommer bei uns. Mittlerweile gehört die Eiderente sogar zu den Brutvögeln, was für einen ans Meer angepassten Vogel bemerkenswert ist. [Link]
Calls: Males call a typical, pleasant, clear, 2-3 second long "aaaooooooh". Starting on a low note, slowly ascending and ending on a descending note. Usually accompanied by the female "ga ga ga ga". [Link]
Physical details: length=50-71 cm, wingspan=80-108 cm, weight=1500-2800 g
Habitats: River and lake

Mother and 4 of 9 babies on the Pfäffikersee 2020-05-20 09.12.44 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-20.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee
Etymology: Der heutige Name kann als Hinweis auf ihre Brutplätze verstanden werden, zu denen auf Stock gesetzte Weiden, Weidengebüsch oder auch Reisighaufen gehören. ['Stock' wird weiter erklärt: Als Stockausschlag bezeichnet man bei Bäumen und Sträuchern Triebe, die nach dem Verlust der primären Sprossachse neu aus dem Stumpf oder Stubben (der dann „Stock“ genannt wird) austreiben.] [Link]
The name 'was derived from the Old French malart or mallart for "wild drake"' [Link]
Vocalization: Female: A distinct coarse, laughing quacking; "haaa ha ha ha ha ha", with first note accented and then descending in pitch. Male: a more silent, very nasal "rriib". [Link]
Calls: Display call a high-pitched short whistle. [Link]
Physical details: length=50-65 cm, wingspan=81-98 cm, weight=750-1450 g
Habitats: River and lake

Krickente am Aa-Bach beim Südende des Pfäffikersee 2021-01-26 15.41.54 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Wintergast am Teich am Aa-Bach beim Südende des Pfäffikersee
Etymology: Die hellen «krrik»-Rufe der stimmfreudigen Erpel verhalfen dieser Art zu ihrem deutschen Namen. [Link]
Vocalization: Male: characteristic, short, highly resonant and metallic "plytt". A bit similar to Pintail, but higher pitched and lacking accompanying whistling sound. Female: various quacking sounds generally quicker paced, more nasal and noticeably higher pitched than Mallard. [Link]
Physical details: length=34-38 cm, wingspan=58-64 cm, weight=200-450 g
Habitats: River and lake


Call: Blup blup, fast wie vom Computer generiert, fur mich nohe Noten (obwohl Sonogram nur 2.5 KHz zeigt)
Krickente Ruf von XenoCanto

♫ Krickente Ruf von XenoCanto Source: XENOCANTO XC619133-Krickente von Peter Bosman, Belgium.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),

Loeffelenten am Greifensee bei Silberweide Es gab dutzende davon, dazwischen eine Krickente. 2021-02-08 15.20.36
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-08.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
Wintergast am Greifensee.
PK: white, black, rust-brown, yellow eyes, black spoonbill, red legs.
Vocalization: Male is characteristic and most often heard: A hoarse nasal knocking sound "took took", often staccato or disyllabic. Female similar to Mallard but flatter and more creaking. [Link]
Physical details: length=44-52 cm, wingspan=70-84 cm, weight=470-800 g
Habitats: River and lake

Spiessente Paar. 2022-02-05 13.14.54 Klingnauer Stausee (man-made lake)
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-02-05.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Long tailfeathers make the name obvious, also a thin white stripe from the white neck up the back of the head.
Vocalization: Female: similar to Mallards coarse laughing sound, but with a more emphasized first "haaa", and a more silent accelerating subsequent "laugh". Male: Pleasant, resonant "plop" similar to Teal, but lower pitched, richer, mellower and not so metallic. Accompanied by a higher pitched, slightly raspy whistling "aiiooo" rising and falling in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=51-66 cm, wingspan=51-66 cm, weight=500-1100 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Pacific black duck Source: OTHER 1200px-Pacific_Black_Duck_%28Anas_superciliosa%29_RWD2.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Australia.
General: The Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa), commonly known as the PBD, is a dabbling duck found in much of Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and many islands in the southwestern Pacific, reaching to the Caroline Islands in the north and French Polynesia in the east. It is usually called the grey duck in New Zealand, where it is also known by its Maori name, pārera. [more]

Pfeifente Erpel , Neeracher Ried. Die zehnte Entenart, die ich gefunden habe. 2021-02-24 14.05.08 Neeracherried
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-24.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Etymology: Es ist der Ruf des Männchens, der zu dem deutschen Namen der Art geführt hat. Das Männchen leitet seine kurzen, scharfen, zwei- bis dreisilbigen pfeifenden wiu-Rufe häufig mit einem krr krkrkrr ein. [Link]
Funny red head (made me confused it with the Kolbente) that's brown with a golden forehead (Kolbente is brown, a bit lighter at the back of the head) is the obvious characteristic. Also has a nice black and white pattern on its back and wings with white-rimmed black feathers at the end of the wing, a bit of white before a black butt.
Vocalization: Male: a pleasant high pitched whistle "piiiiuuu", rapidly rising in pitch and then falling. Quite vocal. Female: a harsh "kraaa kraaa kraa" more like female diving-ducks than other dabbling-ducks. [Link]
Physical details: length=45-51 cm, wingspan=75-86 cm, weight=500-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake


Call: Pfeifen, fast wie ein Rotmilan oder Maeusebussard. Ton steigt und faellt!
Pfeifente von XenoCanto

♫ Pfeifente von XenoCanto Source: XENOCANTO XC613742-Pfeifente von Adrien Mauss.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),

Schnatterente am Greifensee bei Silberweide Es gab dutzende davon, dazwischen eine Krickente. 2021-02-08 15.45.18
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-08.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
In my mind this is the chocolate duck.
Etymology: The etymology of the word gadwall is not known, but the name has been in use since 1666.[9] [Link]
Nabu: Die Schnatterente fällt aber – wie ihr Name schon vermuten lässt – durch ihre Art der Nahrungssuche auf. Sie durchschnattert das Wasser mit ihrem Schnabel. [Link]
Chocolate bill, black-and-white pattern on head, shoulders, belly, sides of wings, chocolate patterned wings, black butt, a bit of white before the butt.
Appearance and identification: Nabu: Die Schnatterente ähnelt auf den ersten Blick so sehr der weiblichen Stockente, dass man diese schnell verwechseln kann. [Link]
Wintergast am Greifensee.
Calls: Males display-call a short dry rattling or croaking sound and some high whistling notes. Female quacking similar to Mallard, but drier and shriller. [Link]
Physical details: length=46-56 cm, wingspan=84-95 cm, weight=550-1000 g
Habitats: River and lake


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Schnatterenten, Moewen und an 29 Sekunden eindeutig ein Jet von Swiss, da wir in Neeracherried sehr nach am Kloten Flughafen sind, BirdNet schlaegt auch Teichrohrsaenger vor, wie auch ein Moewe-Typ aus Kalifornien. Source: Zoom H6 2021-10-24 13.12.46 Neeracherried (song?)

Wikipedia: American wigeon Source: OTHER 1200px-Anas_americana_-_drake.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America.
General: The American wigeon (Mareca americana), also known as the baldpate, is a species of dabbling duck found in North America. Formerly assigned to Anas, this species is classified with the other wigeons in the dabbling duck genus Mareca. It is the New World counterpart of the Eurasian wigeon. Mareca is from the Brazilian-Portuguese word Marréco for a small duck and americana refers to America.^[2][3] [more]

Wikipedia: Southern pochard Source: OTHER 1200px-Southern_Pochard_%28Netta_erythrophthalma%29_RWD1.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: South America, Africa.
The southern pochard (Netta erythrophthalma) is a species of duck, and a member of the genus Netta. There are two subspecies, the South American (southern) pochard N. e. erythrophthalma (Wied-Neuwied, 1833) and the African (southern) pochard N. e. brunnea (Eyton, 1838). [more]

Tafelente in Rapperswil. 2021-02-12 13.34.38 Rapperswil
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-08.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Wintergast am Greifensee.
Etymology: Die in der deutschen Sprache übliche Bezeichnung Tafelente ist ein Hinweis auf das als schmackhaft angesehene Fleisch dieses Entenvogels. [Link]
Tafelente: Wiederspruch: wer isst ein Tier mit roten Augen?Rostbraun, schwarz, schwarz-weiss-gemustert, Schnabel schwarz UND weiss.
Vocalization: Female: a coarse "ahrrrrrrr-ahrrrrr-ahrrrr" with a vibrating quality. [Link]
Calls: Male courting call a pleasant, drawn out, nasal whistle "tweeeeep", rising in pitch, often followed by a falling "puuuh" (e.g a long disyllabic tweeepuuuuuuh). Also a sharper "ki-ki-ki" or "ki-ki-kiko". [Link]
Physical details: length=42-49 cm, wingspan=72-82 cm, weight=650-1200 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Greater scaup Source: OTHER 1200px-2017-03-24_Aythya_marila%2C_male%2C_Killingworth_Lake%2C_Northumberland_15.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Calls: Male call carries only a few meters: a whistling "po-ho" last syllable slowly descending. Female calls with harsh "harr-harrr-harrr". [Link]
Physical details: length=42-51 cm, wingspan=72-84 cm, weight=700-1300 g
Habitats: River and lake
Looks similar to: Red-breasted merganser.

Nilgans am Südende des Greifensee 2021-02-08 15.21.56
First observed in Botswana on 2016-09-24.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Wintergast am Greifensee. Invasiv. Nach Vogelwarte.ch: 'als Ziervogel im 18. Jahrhundert in Europa eingeführt... Ausgehend von einer in den 1970er Jahren in den Niederlanden und Belgien gebildeten Population breitete sich die Nilgans rasant dem Rhein und seinen Nebenflüssen entlang aus und hat inzwischen auch die Schweiz erreicht.
Vocalization: Quite vocal when interacting. [Link]
Calls: Female calls may resemble RS, but are coarser, harder and trills are more rolling. Single calls are longer, and falls markedly in pitch. Male calls quite different, with husky, wheezing or hissing "kaahhh", or with the same timbre in series lika a steam engine. [Link]
Physical details: length=63-73 cm, wingspan=134-154 cm, weight=1500-2250 g

Wikipedia: Mandarin duck Source: OTHER 1200px-Aix_galericulata_-_Z%C3%BCrich_-_Hafen_Riesbach_2011-01-14_15-58-32.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: etabliertes Neozoon, Brut-, Jahresvogel
Vocalization: Other sounds include a short and sharp, coot-like "ket", and a short "ack". [Link]
Calls: Display call a thin, whistling and rapidly rising "hueessst, accompanied by deeper clappering sounds. [Link]
Physical details: length=41-49 cm, wingspan=68-74 cm, weight=571-608 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Wood duck Source: OTHER 1200px-Wood_Duck_%28Aix_sponsa%29%2C_Parc_du_Rouge-Clo%C3%AEtre%2C_Brussels.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The wood duck or Carolina duck (Aix sponsa) is a species of perching duck found in North America. It is one of the most colorful North American waterfowl.^[2][3] [more]

Wikipedia: Ruddy duck Source: OTHER Oxyura_jamaicensis_FWS.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America.
Deutschland: eingebürgertes Neozoon, ausnahmsweise Brutvogel

Wikipedia: Harlequin duck Source: OTHER 1200px-Histrionicus_histrionicus_drake_Barnegat.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small sea duck. It takes its name from Harlequin (French Arlequin, Italian Arlecchino), a colourfully dressed character in Commedia dell'arte. The species name comes from the Latin word "histrio", meaning "actor".^[2] In North America it is also known as lords and ladies. Other names include painted duck, totem pole duck, rock duck, glacier duck, mountain duck, white-eyed diver, squeaker and blue streak. [more]

Wikipedia: Long-tailed duck Source: OTHER Long-tailed-duck.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Habitats: River and lake

Sieben Samtenten, Durchzuegler die nicht in der Schweiz bleiben. 2023-02-09 16.15.58 Sils
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2023-02-09.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Seldom heard. [Link]
Calls: Calls: Short accented "tup tup tup" and a shivering "gahhahahaha". [Link]
Physical details: length=51-58 cm, wingspan=90-99 cm, weight=1100-2000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: White-winged scoter Source: OTHER White-winged_Scoter.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: Melanitta fusca deglandi [more]

Wikipedia: Common scoter Source: OTHER 1200px-Eurasian_common_scoter.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Anas nigra Linnaeus, 1758 [more]
Vocalization: More vocal than other Scoters. Short, whistling sounds, sometimes reminiscent of a male teal, but a little bit deeper in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=44-54 cm, wingspan=79-90 cm, weight=650-1300 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Taiga bean goose Source: OTHER Bean.goose.600pix.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast Bruten gehen auf entflogene Tiere zurück
Calls: Do not call as much as other grey geese. Sounds similar to the lower sounds of Pink-footed goose, with various reedy calls, but harder, less nasal and more of a "sore throat". [Link]
Physical details: length=66-84 cm, wingspan=142-175 cm, weight=2220-4060 g
Habitats: River and lake

White-fronted goose closeup, on the way home from Laphroiag? 2023-08-11 13.38.38 Islay
First observed in Islay on 2023-08-11.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast Bruten gehen auf entflogene Tiere zurück
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Snow goose Source: OTHER 1200px-Snow_goose_in_Central_Park_%2833138%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The snow goose (Anser caerulescens) is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed in the genus Chen, but is now typically included in the "gray goose" genus Anser.^[2][3] [more]

Wikipedia: Tundra bean goose Source: OTHER Tundra_Bean_Goose.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
The tundra bean goose (Anser serrirostris) is a goose that breeds in northern Siberia. This and the taiga bean goose are recognised as separate species by the American Ornithological Society and International Ornithologists' Union, but are considered a single species by other authorities (collectively called bean goose). It is migratory and winters further south in Asia. The taiga and tundra bean goose diverged about 2.5 million years ago and established secondary contact ca. 60,000 years ago, resulting in extensive gene flow.^[1] [more]

On the frozen Pfäffikersee with coots After a week of freezing temperatures, the lake developed a thin layer of ice. 2021-02-15 08.28.58
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-12.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee, very common on Lake Zurich.
Vocalization: Silent compared to other swans. A repertoire of snorting, grunting and hissing sound when interacting. No far carrying sounds. [Link]
Calls: Wings produce prominent singing sound which may function as a flight contact-call. [Link]
Physical details: length=145-160 cm, wingspan=208-238 cm, weight=7000-14000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Whooper swan, Iceland. 2015-06-03 16.01.16 Iceland
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-03.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Quite vocal. Trumpet-like clear honks of half a second length most frequent in flight and take-off/landing. Often voiced with a register break. [Link]
Physical details: length=145-160 cm, wingspan=218-243 cm, weight=8500-10000 g
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Tundra swan Source: OTHER 1200px-Cygnus_bewickii_01.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus) is a small Holarctic swan. The two taxa within it are usually regarded as conspecific, but are also sometimes^[2][3] split into two species: Bewick's swan (Cygnus bewickii) of the Palaearctic and the whistling swan (C. columbianus) proper of the Nearctic. Birds from eastern Russia (roughly east of the Taimyr Peninsula) are sometimes separated as the subspecies C. c. jankowskii, but this is not widely accepted as distinct, with most authors including them in C. c. bewickii. Tundra swans are sometimes separated in the subgenus Olor together with the other Arctic swan species. [more]
Vocalization: More vocal than other swans. Both higher pitched and deeper sounds. Birds on the water often gives crooning, crane-like notes with less defined pitch. [Link]
Calls: Tone is less full-bodied in these calls. Flight call a deep, yelping, soft barking sound. Each call short, with a "helpless" quality. [Link]
Physical details: length=115-127 cm, wingspan=180-211 cm, weight=3400-7800 g

Canada goose. 2022-05-01 09.55.20 Maryland
First observed in Maryland on 2022-05-01.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Australia.
vagrant, presumably from introduced NZ population
Vocalization: Trumpet like, resonant, honking sounds. Closer to Whooper Swans than many of the other geese. [Link]
Physical details: length=80-105 cm, wingspan=160-175 cm, weight=3670-5410 g


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20220503_104414 birdnet - Canada Goose - 2022-05-03 10:44:14 - Canada Goose - Cockeysville.mp3 2022-05-03 10.44.14 Cockeysville (song?)

Wikipedia: Brant Source: OTHER Brent-Goose.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: A bubbling, trembling, ascending, three syllable "ahrahrrhit", quite different from other geese. [Link]
Physical details: length=56-61 cm, wingspan=110-120 cm, weight=1300-1600 g

Wikipedia: Cackling goose Source: OTHER AleutianCanadaGoose2.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii) is a North American bird of the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. [more]

Wikipedia: Fulvous whistling-duck Source: OTHER 1200px-Dendrocygna_bicolor_wilhelma.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The fulvous whistling duck or fulvous tree duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) is a species of whistling duck that breeds across the world's tropical regions in much of Mexico and South America, the West Indies, the southern United States, sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It has plumage that is mainly reddish brown, long legs and a long grey bill, and shows a distinctive white band across its black tail in flight. Like other members of its ancient lineage, it has a whistling call which is given in flight or on the ground. Its preferred habitat consists of wetlands with plentiful vegetation, including shallow lakes and paddy fields. The nest, built from plant material and unlined, is placed among dense vegetation or in a tree hole. The typical clutch is around ten whitish eggs. The breeding adults, which pair for life, take turns to incubate, and the eggs hatch in 24–29 days. The downy grey ducklings leave the nest within a day or so of hatching, but the parents continue to protect them until they fledge around nine weeks later. [more]

Wikipedia: White-faced whistling-duck Source: OTHER 1200px-Dendrocygna_viduata_upright.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: South America, Africa.
Anas viduata Linnaeus, 1766 [more]

Great cormorant / Kormoran (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Cormorant Cormorants' feathers lack the waterproofing that ducks have, so you often see them drying their wings on a convenient perch. 2021-01-26 15.56.30 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
Seasonal Behavior: Lokaler Brutvogel, regelmässiger, häufiger Durchzügler und Wintergast.[Brutpaare am Zuerichsee und Greifensee bei Moenchaltorf] [Link]
Vocalization: Mostly heard at breeding ground. Also deep, rattling and creaking sounds. [Link]
Calls: Coarse, vibrating calls "hahahahaharo". [Link]
Physical details: length=80-100 cm, wingspan=130-160 cm, weight=1700-3000 g
Habitats: River and lake


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20210519_073923 birdnet 1559 - Great Cormorant - 2021-05-19 07:39:23 - Great Cormorant - Cudrefin.mp3 2021-05-19 07.39.23 La Sauge (song?)

Great egret / Silberreiher (Ardea alba)

Silberreiher in Deutschland, von WikiCommons Von Andreas Eichler, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59954907 Source: OTHER Wikicommons 2016.10.30--Silberreiher.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-02-24.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Auf dem Heimweg von Schwanden haben wir bei Benken ganz weisse Reiher gesehen. Laut ornitho.ch waren sie Silberreiher.
Bei den meisten Quellen heisst es, sie sind in der Schweiz nur Durchzüger oder Wintergäste. Aber laut Balzari und Gygax, brüten auch einige Vögel am Lac Neuchatel seit 2013.
Vocalization: Silent outside breeding ground. [Link]
Calls: In colonies various harsh calls like a dry, and mechanical "kerrrrrrr", and a very nasal "geet" or "ga-geet ga-geet" are heard. [Link]
Physical details: length=85-102 cm, wingspan=140-170 cm, weight=960-1030 g
Habitats: Wetland


Call: Partly an awkward quack: uck uck. Rattles. Deep-toned urrr. Higher-toned trill.
Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz),

Black-crowned night-heron / Nachtreiher (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Wikipedia: Black-crowned night-heron Source: OTHER 1200px-BCNH_CMCNJ_for_Wiki.png
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), or black-capped night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia (where it is replaced by the closely related nankeen night heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact). [more]
Calls: Most commonly hear call is a nasal, soft croaking "roack", like cross between Raven and frog. [Link]
Physical details: length=58-65 cm, wingspan=105-112 cm, weight=500-800 g
Habitats: Wetland

Snowy egret / Schmuckreiher (Egretta thula)

Snowy egret at John's Pass, Madeira Beach, Florida. 2023-09-27 11.51.14 Florida
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-04-15.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
General: The snowy egret (Egretta thula) is a small white heron. The genus name comes from Provençal French for the little egret, aigrette, which is a diminutive of aigron, 'heron'. The species name thula is the Araucano term for the black-necked swan, applied to this species in error by Chilean naturalist Juan Ignacio Molina in 1782.^[3] [more]

Little blue heron / Blaureiher (Egretta caerulea)

Wikipedia: Little blue heron Source: OTHER 1200px-Egretta_caerulea_-Cananeia%2C_Sao_Paulo%2C_Brasil-8.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The little blue heron (Egretta caerulea) is a small heron belonging to the family Ardeidae. [more]

Pacific reef-egret / Riffreiher (Egretta sacra)

Wikipedia: Pacific reef-egret Source: OTHER 1200px-Egretta_sacra.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia, Australia.
The Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra), also known as the eastern reef heron or eastern reef egret, is a species of heron found throughout southern Asia and Oceania.^[2] [more]

American bittern / Nordamerikanische Rohrdommel (Botaurus lentiginosus)

Wikipedia: American bittern Source: OTHER 1200px-Botaurus_lentiginosus_28079.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a species of wading bird in the heron family. It has a Nearctic distribution, breeding in Canada and the northern and central parts of the United States, and wintering in the U.S. Gulf Coast states, all of Florida into the Everglades, the Caribbean islands and parts of Central America. [more]

Cattle egret / Kuhreiher (Bubulcus ibis)

Cow-plus-cattle egret. 2020-03-07 15.17.34 Panama
First observed in Costa Rica on 2018-02-27.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard two of its subspecies as full species, the western cattle egret and the eastern cattle egret. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world in the last century. [more]
Vocalization: Usually silent away from breeding ground. In the colonies a chorus of various coarse sounds can be heard. Most distinct is a disyllabic "rick-rack". Other sounds includes short, guttural utterings, or drawn, harsh shrieks. [Link]
Physical details: length=48-53 cm, wingspan=90-96 cm, weight=300-400 g


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ XC353848 - Western Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis - flight call - sevilla, andalucía, Spain. Source: XENOCANTO XC353848 - Western Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis - flight call - sevilla, andalucía, Spain.mp3 Spain (flight call)


Call attributes: flight call Frequency: ,

Green-backed heron (Butorides striata)

Striated heron. 2024-02-22 11.31.30 Laos
First observed in Laos on 2024-02-22.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, South America, Africa, Asia.



Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC791519 - Striated Heron - Butorides striata - song, sounds like Ow plus pi-rol lhl, Copperbelt Province, Zambia. Source: XENOCANTO XC791519 - Striated Heron - Butorides striata - song, sounds like Ow plus pi-rol lhl, Copperbelt Province, Zambia.mp3 (song)

Great frigatebird / Bindenfregattvogel (Fregata minor)

Wikipedia: Great frigatebird Source: OTHER 1200px-Male_greater_frigate_bird_displaying.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The great frigatebird (Fregata minor) is a large seabird in the frigatebird family. There are major nesting populations in the tropical Pacific (including the Galapagos Islands) and Indian Oceans, as well as a tiny population in the South Atlantic. [more]

Magnificent frigatebird / Prachtfregattvogel (Fregata magnificens)

Magnificent frigatebirds in Puerto Morelos. 2023-03-26 13.47.02 Yucatan
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-03-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) or man o' war is a seabird of the frigatebird family Fregatidae. With a length of 89–114 centimetres (35–45 in) and wingspan of 2.17–2.44 m (7.1–8.0 ft) it is the largest species of frigatebird. It occurs over tropical and subtropical waters off America, between northern Mexico and Perú on the Pacific coast and between Florida and southern Brazil along the Atlantic coast.^[1] There are also populations on the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific and the Cape Verde islands in the Atlantic. [more]

Red-tailed tropicbird / Rotschwanz-Tropikvogel (Phaethon rubricauda)

Wikipedia: Red-tailed tropicbird Source: OTHER Red-tailed_Tropicbird_RWD2.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa.
The red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) is a seabird native to tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One of three closely related species of tropicbird (Phaethontidae), it was described by Pieter Boddaert in 1783. Superficially resembling a tern in appearance, it has almost all-white plumage with a black mask and a red bill. The sexes have similar plumage. As referenced in the common name, adults have red tail streamers that are about twice their body length. Four subspecies are recognised, but there is evidence of clinal variation in body size—with smaller birds in the north and larger in the south—and hence no grounds for subspecies. [more]

Red-billed tropicbird / Rotschnabel-Tropikvogel (Phaethon aethereus)

Wikipedia: Red-billed tropicbird Source: OTHER 1200px-Red-billed_tropicbird.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus) is a tropicbird, one of three closely related species of seabird of tropical oceans. Superficially resembling a tern in appearance, it has mostly white plumage with some black markings on the wings and back, a black mask and, as its common name suggests, a red bill. Most adults have tail streamers that are about two times their body length, with those in males being generally longer than those in females. The red-billed tropicbird itself has three subspecies recognized, including the nominate. The subspecies mesonauta is distinguished from the nominate by the rosy tinge of its fresh plumage, and the subspecies indicus can be differentiated by its smaller size, more restricted mask, and more orange bill. This species ranges across the tropical Atlantic, eastern Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The nominate is found in the southern Atlantic Ocean, the subspecies indicus in the waters off of the Middle East and in the Indian Ocean, and the subspecies mesonauta in the eastern portions of both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and in the Caribbean. It was one of the many species described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. [more]

White-tailed tropicbird / Weißschwanz-Tropikvogel (Phaethon lepturus)

Wikipedia: White-tailed tropicbird Source: OTHER 1200px-White-tailed_Tropicbird_-_Phaeton_lepturus.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa, Asia.
The white-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) is a species of tropicbird. It is the smallest of three closely related seabirds of the tropical oceans and smallest member of the order Phaethontiformes. It is found in the tropical Atlantic, western Pacific and Indian Oceans. It also breeds on some Caribbean islands, and a few pairs have started nesting recently on Little Tobago, joining the red-billed tropicbird colony. In addition to the tropical Atlantic, it nests as far north as Bermuda, where it is locally called a "longtail".^[2] [more]

Brown booby / Weißbauchtölpel (Sula leucogaster)

Wikipedia: Brown booby Source: OTHER 1200px-Atob%C3%A1-pardo.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The brown booby (Sula leucogaster) is a large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae, of which it is perhaps the most common and widespread species.^[3] It has a pantropical range, which overlaps with that of other booby species. The gregarious brown booby commutes and forages at low height over inshore waters. Flocks plunge-dive to take small fish, especially when these are driven near the surface by their predators. They only nest on the ground, and roost on solid objects rather than the water surface.^[3] [more]

Red-footed booby / Rotfußtölpel (Sula sula)

Wikipedia: Red-footed booby Source: OTHER Sula_sula_by_Gregg_Yan_01.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The red-footed booby (Sula sula) is a large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae. Adults always have red feet, but the colour of the plumage varies. They are powerful and agile fliers, but they are clumsy in takeoffs and landings. They are found widely in the tropics, and breed colonially in coastal regions, especially islands. The species faces few natural or man-made threats, although its population is declining; it is considered to be a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). [more]

Masked booby (Sula dactylatra)

Wikipedia: Masked booby Source: OTHER 1200px-Starr_080606-6808_Coronopus_didymus.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The masked booby (Sula dactylatra), also called the masked gannet or the blue-faced booby, is a large seabird of the booby and gannet family, Sulidae. First described by the French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831, the masked booby is one of six species of booby in the genus Sula. It has a typical sulid body shape, with a long pointed yellowish bill, long neck, aerodynamic body, long slender wings and pointed tail. The adult is bright white with black wings, a black tail and a dark face mask; at 75–85 cm (30–33 in) long, it is the largest species of booby. The sexes have similar plumage. This species ranges across tropical oceans, except in the eastern Atlantic and eastern Pacific. In the latter, it is replaced by the Nazca booby (Sula granti), which was formerly regarded as a subspecies of masked booby. [more]

Northern gannet / Basstölpel (Morus bassanus)

Wikipedia: Northern gannet Source: OTHER 1200px-Morus_bassanus_adu.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Vocalization: Heard mostly at breeding ground. Even, rhythmical series of harsh "harrr, harrr, harrr,". [Link]
Physical details: length=87-100 cm, wingspan=165-180 cm, weight=2400-3600 g

Glossy ibis / Brauner Sichler (Plegadis falcinellus)

Sichler nach ornitho, Brauner Sichler nach Wikipedia oder Plegadis falcinellus, Neeracherried. Source: WIKIPEDIA 20220904_071146-DSC_0059 Sichler nach ornitho, Brauner Sichler nach Wikipedia oder Plegadis falcinellus, Neeracherried.JPG 2022-09-04 07.11.46
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-09-04.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a water bird in the order Pelecaniformes and the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The scientific name derives from Ancient Greek plegados and Latin, falcis, both meaning "sickle" and referring to the distinctive shape of the bill.^[2] [more]
Vocalization: Generally silent away from breeding ground. Dry, crow-like "garr garr", may be heard occasionally in flight. At breeding ground various guttural grunts, and piping, hissing sounds. [Link]
Physical details: length=55-65 cm, wingspan=80-95 cm, weight=530-768 g

Five red-whiskered bulbuls. 2024-02-10 15.05.58 Laos
First observed in Thailand on 2024-01-21.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia, Australia.
introduced


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ XC776525 - Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus pattani. Source: XENOCANTO XC776525 - Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus pattani.mp3 (song?)

Barn swallow. 2022-05-05 09.41.44 Maryland
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-16.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Die langen Schwanzfedern vom Rauchschwalbe und anderen geben auch dem Schmetterling Schwalbenschwanz seine deutschen Namen.
Etymology: In früheren Jahrhunderten flogen sie vielfach durch die Öffnungen im Giebel ein und aus, durch die auch der Rauch des Herdfeuers abzog. So erhielten sie den Namen Rauchschwalben. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Rauchschwalbes Bauch ist etwas braun rot, nicht weiss wie der von der Mehlschwalbe - was wahrscheinlich Quelle der zwei Namen ist. [Link]
Song: Characteristic calls and song. Song a sparkling, squeaky energetic improvisation with interspersed contact calls, often with diagnostic ending; an electric and drawn-out "su-eerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr". [Link]
Calls: Contact call a short and sharp "weet" or "kee-weet". [Link]
Physical details: length=17-19 cm, wingspan=32-34 cm, weight=16-22 g
Habitats: Settlement
Looks similar to: Common house martin.

Song: General: Squeaky with occasional buzzes, usually heard in flock.
Song: Kann melodisch sein wenn einzeln gehört statt viele zusammen. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz
Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Barn swallows on the hunt, some quite high. 2020-08-18 13.01.00 Luppmen (song?)

Bank swallow. 2024-01-26 15.58.58 Thailand
First observed in Thailand on 2024-01-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The sand martin (Riparia riparia) or European sand martin, bank swallow, and collared sand martin in India, is a migratory passerine bird in the swallow family. It has a wide range in summer, embracing practically the whole of Europe and the Mediterranean countries and across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean. It is a Holarctic species also found in North America. It winters in eastern and southern Africa, South America, and the Indian Subcontinent. [more]
Song: Song a primitive improvisation on the contact call. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a mono- or disyllabic "trrrrt". Similar to House Martin but more raucous and less crisp, with less rolling r's, and with stable pitch throughout. Alarm call similar to House Martin; a sharp plaintive "tseep", but somewhat purer and more drawn. [Link]
Physical details: length=12 cm, wingspan=26-29 cm, weight=11-16 g
Habitats: Wetland


Song: Fast raspy one-noter.
Song attributes: Melody: non-musical, fast, Frequency: 1-7 KHz Special sounds: rasp
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC344092 - Sand Martin - Riparia riparia - raspy song but note, does not sing often.mp3 (song)

Wikipedia: Cliff swallow Source: OTHER Petrochelidon_pyrrhonota_-flight_-Palo_Alto_Baylands-8.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America.
General: The cliff swallow or American cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins.^[2] The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek; Petrochelidon originates from the petros meaning "rock" and khelidon "swallow", pyrrhonota comes from purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" and -notos "-backed".^[3] [more]

Wikipedia Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis). Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Eurasian Skylark (Alauda_arvensis).jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-06-25.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa.
Good to know: Aus dem Kurzjahresbericht BirdLife Schweiz 2022: Die Feldlerche, vogel der Jahres 2022..., ist eihne dieser bredrohten Arten, welche durch die Industrialisierung der Landwirtschaft ausgerottet wird. [Link]
Appearance and identification: Somewhat like a house sparrow but 18-19 cm long, not 14-15, kleiner als Star. Ruffled head feathers. NABU says streaks on breast contrast with white belly. [Link]
Geography: Introduced population in North America is gradually declining. [Link]
Stark gefährdet durch Verlust von geeignetem Lebensraum. Eine Massnahme ist die Erstellung von Lerchenfenstern auf den Feldern - eine kleine Fläche mitten im Feld, die nicht bepflanzt oder gemäht wird. So was sieht man bei uns, z.B. zwischen Freudwil und Gutenswil, wobei ich nicht genau weiss, ob Feldlerchen das Ziel davon sind. Die Infos habe ich vom FOK Kurs 2021-2022 von Christina Ebneter.
Song: Song a pleasing energetic stream of chirping, merry trills, interspersed with mimicry. Trills quite resonant with fairly full tone. Song usually given in flight high in the air. Less characteristic, shorter, weaker and more varied song when given from ground. [Link]
Calls: Most typical flight call a short trilling "chirrup", with the end note noticeably lower pitched than the start. Also several other more cryptic calls. [Link]
Physical details: length=18-19 cm, wingspan=30-36 cm, weight=26-50 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: Fast chirpy improvization without a break, not very high, reminds me of a nightingale or a Eurasian reed warbler/Teichrohrsänger with the exact rhythm, but most likely sung in a cornfield. Or a Singdrossel that repeats its elements longer that that guy. Repeats elements 1-8 times. Sometimes buzzy/trilly. Can go on for minutes at a time. Ich habe es auch mit einem Amsel verwechselt, da er lang und melodisch, fast wie Amsel aber hört nicht auf.
Song attributes: Melody: sings 30 seconds or longer, slow, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: mimicry
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC685846 - Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis - song, recorded in France.mp3 (song)


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20220625_082224 birdnet - Feldlerche im Maisfeld bei La Sauge - birdnet_mobile_5867288364_recording_3659.mp3 2022-06-25 08.22.24 La Sauge (song?)

Wikipedia: Horned lark Source: OTHER Eremophila_alpestris2.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: Wintergast
Song: Song a stream of thin and tinkling, squeaking notes with a recurring, drawn, ringing and slightly ascending chirp. Timbre resemblant to Lapland Bunting. Often given from high in the air, being difficult to locate. More hesitantly when given from the ground with a stumbling introduction. [Link]
Calls: Flight call quite similar to Meadow Pipit's "tseep" call, but less anxious. [Link]
Physical details: length=14-17 cm, wingspan=30-35 cm, weight=26-46 g

Wikipedia: Arctic warbler Source: OTHER Arctic_Warbler_4683b.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Asia, Australia.
vagrant
Song: Call and song diagnostic. Song a rattling series of 20-30 single syllables. Repeated as a monotonous phrase in stable pitch, lasting 2-4 seconds. Starts more softly with volume rising throughout each phrase. Often given as introductory part of song. [Link]
Calls: Contact call equally unique. A hard and short "tsrrt", recalling contact call of Dipper. [Link]
Physical details: length=10-11 cm, wingspan=16-22 cm, weight=8-12 g

Wikipedia: Red-billed leiothrix Source: OTHER Red-billed_Leiothrix_Mangoli_Nainital_Uttarakhand_03.02.2015.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) is a member of the family Leiothrichidae, native to southern China and the Himalayas. Adults have bright red bills and a dull yellow ring around their eyes. Their backs are dull olive green, and they have a bright yellow-orange throat with a yellow chin; females are somewhat duller than males, and juveniles have black bills. It has also been introduced in various parts of the world, with small populations of escapees having existed in Japan since the 1980s. It has become a common cagebird and amongst aviculturists it goes by various names: Pekin robin, Pekin nightingale, Japanese nightingale, and Japanese (hill) robin, the last two being misnomers as it is not native to Japan (although it has been introduced and naturalised there).^[2] [more]

Pair of house sparrows in a tree near Zürichstrasse, Fehraltorf 2020-04-11 07.54.30 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2019-05-14.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), South America, Africa, Asia.
One of the most common birds anywhere in Europe and North America. In Fehraltorf there are 5 house sparrows for every one tree sparrow. Eugene Schieffelin brought house sparrows and starlings to North Ameria. As a Shakespeare fan, it is often claimed that he wanted to introduce all species to North America that are mentioned in Shakespeare, but apparently this is not supported by any records
Found practically everywhere. Often on the ground or on your table in a cafe (they're very bold) or in groups in bushes and hedges
Song: Song a primitive, monosyllabic, or slightly disyllabic "chilp", hard to distinguish from Tree Sparrow. [Link]
Calls: Most calls very similar to Tree Sparrow, but lacks said species' distinct high pitched call (chew-itt), and alarm call is less dry and raucous. [Link]
Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=21-25 cm, weight=24-38 g
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: Youth: beak = yellow (Makes it look like a finch)
Habitats: Settlement


Song: An monotone chirping. Mainly 2-5 KHz with higher overtones.
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 2-5 KHz Singing season: 01-01 - 08-31 Dawn chorus start, 30 minutes before dawn.
Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20200507_071255 birdnet 457 - good one note recording - House sparrow.mp3 2020-05-07 07.12.55 Luppmen (song?)

In tree by First, ZH. 2020-05-04 17.33.32 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-10.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa, Asia.
Similar to the house sparrow, but with the black cheek patch seen here. in Fehraltorf there are 5 times as many house sparrows as tree sparrows.
Geography: Brought from Germany, about 20 of these birds were released in St. Louis in 1870. The population took hold there, and they might have spread except that the House Sparrow, seemingly more aggressive and adaptable, reached the St. Louis area at about the same time. Eurasian Tree Sparrows are still found in parts of Missouri and Illinois, and have reached southeastern Iowa, but they are fairly local in farmland and suburbs. The tougher House Sparrow may keep them out of other areas. [Link]
Vocalization: Most other sounds similar to House Sparrow, and may be difficult to identify. [Link]
Song: Chattering sounds are generally harder, and song slightly higher pitched than House Sparrow. [Link]
Calls: Distinct, high-pitched and explosive contact-call; "che-witt" typically given in flight. Second syllable rising rapidly in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=20-22 cm, weight=18-29 g
Habitats: Settlement


Song: Monotone chirping, rougher than that of the house sparrow. Most 2-7 KHz mit many overtones, i.e. somewhat higher than the house sparrow.
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ XC558751-Feldsperling. Source: XENOCANTO XC558751-Feldsperling.mp3 (song?)

Wikipedia Bergfink. Foto: Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikipedia Bergfink.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Geography: the Brambling appears regularly in small numbers in Alaska during migration, straying the short distance across the Bering Sea. Some of those that stray across in autumn apparently then continue south on the American side, and there have been winter records for numerous states and provinces east to the Atlantic Coast and south to Colorado. Many of these vagrant Bramblings have been found visiting bird feeders. [Link]
Vocalization: Large repertoire of mostly characteristic sounds. [Link]
Song: Song very distinct; a soft, wheezing, drawn-out single note. Repeated at the same pitch in a monotonous manner. [Link]
Calls: Contact calls include a short, nasal, ascending "keeaa", a short high-pitched, piercing "tzeet" and a linnet-like "chepp". May be mistaken for Greenfinch, but note softer timbre and stable pitch throughout the call. [Link]
Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=25-26 cm, weight=17-30 g
Habitats: Forest


Song: General: Bergfink - call cheep plus two ascending Grünfink squawks. Song? Grünfink squawk but not descending, every 3-4 seconds.
Song: Song very distinct; a soft, wheezing, drawn-out single note. Repeated at the same pitch in a monotonous manner. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: rasp Singing season: 04-14 - 09-15
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC731031 - Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla.mp3 (song)


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ XC731031 - Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla. Source: XENOCANTO XC731031 - Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla.mp3 (song?)

Erste Sicht eines Kanarengirlitz in Madeira bei Ponta de Sao Lourenco. 2023-03-10 15.18.06 Madeira
First observed in Canary Islands on 2022-03-08.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
It's unusual that the name of a bird refers to dogs. Wikipedia writes: The name Islas Canarias is likely derived from the Latin name Canariae Insulae, meaning "Islands of the Dogs", a name that was evidently generalized from the ancient name of one of these islands, Canaria – presumably Gran Canaria. According to the historian Pliny the Elder, the island Canaria contained "vast multitudes of dogs of very large size".
The common canary kept as a pet is subspecies Serinus canaria forma domestica.


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ Quinta San Antonio da Serra, Madeira - Kanarengirlitz Gesang. Source: Zoom H6 2023-03-11 11.58.22 Madeira (song)

Wikipedia: Common redpoll Source: OTHER 1200px-Carduelis_flammea_CT6.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
roter Punkt auf Kopf, sonst weiss+braun, teilweise hell-rot auf brust.
Behavior: Trotz Ihrer roten Abzeichen sind die bräunlich-weiss gestreiften Vögel wenig auffällig, und wenn sie nicht gerade rufen, bleiben sie meist unentdeckt. Oft fliegen sie unvermittelt auf, drehen im Schwarm eine Runde und fallen wieder ein. [Link]
Song: Song an improvised chattering on various contact calls with no apparent phrasing. [Link]
Calls: Contact call diagnostic. A chattering "Chutt-utt-utt", with a more metallic and nasal timbre than Linnet and Twite. Other sound includes plaintive call mostly given when perched. Uttered as a continuous sound, but with a disyllabic feel. First part ascending slowly, then faster before it is cut off "tsooeet". [Link]
Physical details: length=11-14 cm, wingspan=20-25 cm, weight=9-16 g
Habitats: Mountain


Song: A few chirps and a trill, then repeat.
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: trill

Wikipedia: Hoary redpoll Source: OTHER 1200px-Arctic_Redpoll_%28Acanthis_hornemanni%29_%2813667519855%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The Arctic redpoll or hoary redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni) is a bird species in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in tundra birch forest. It has two subspecies, A. h. hornemanni (Greenland or Hornemann's Arctic redpoll) of Greenland and neighbouring parts of Canada, and A. h. exilipes (Coues' Arctic redpoll), which breeds in the tundra of northern North America and the Palearctic. Many birds remain in the far north; some birds migrate short distances south in winter, sometimes travelling with common redpolls. [more]
Vocalization: Very similar to Common Redpoll, but possibly with a softer tone and slightly longer pauses between each syllable. See Common Redpoll. [Link]
Physical details: length=13-15 cm, wingspan=21-27 cm, weight=10-16 g

Wikimedia Red Crossbills (Male). Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Red_Crossbills_(Male).jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-06-13.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Forests with conifers. Some spend the winter in Switzerland, others are here year-round.
Appearance and identification: Nabu.de: das Männchen schon von weitem durch seine ziegelrote Farbe auf. Das Weibchen dagegen ist unscheinbar graugrün gefärbt.Größe: 15 bis 17 Zentimeter Zugtyp: Teilzieher Beobachtungszeitraum: Oktober bis April, im Mittelgebirge und Alpenraum ganzjährig. [Link]
New research suggests that there may be as many as eight different full species of Red Crossbills on [North America]. [Link]
Behavior: Wikipedia: a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae, also known as the Common Crossbill in Eurasia. Crossbills have distinctive mandibles, crossed at the tips, which enable them to extract seeds from conifer cones and other fruits. [Link]
Song: The song consist of improvised, resonant twittering, and series of contact calls with no apparent phrases. It is generally faster, with less marked pauses than in Parrot Crossbill, and the phrasing seems more random. [Link]
Calls: Contact call similar to Parroy Crossbill's "tupp", but is on average higher and less powerful, with a "cut-off" ending. In sum: Parrot Crossbill; hard attack, soft ending, Crossbill: softer attack, cut-off ending. Beware regional variations and overlap in pitch of calls with Parrot. [Link]
Physical details: length=16 cm, wingspan=27-30 cm, weight=35-50 g
Habitats: Forest


Song: Repeated hi-low pattern...well, doesn't always sound like that. The very short beginning of my Stazersee recording before the static sets in does, as well as a song found online. One recording reminds me of cicada sounds.
Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-10 KHz
Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20200613_122851 birdnet 641 near stazersee - Red crossbill.mp3 2020-06-13 12.28.51 Sils (song?)

Wikipedia: White-winged crossbill Source: OTHER Whitewingedcrossbillmale09.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The two-barred crossbill or white-winged crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. [more]

Wikipedia: Pine grosbeak Source: OTHER 1200px-Pine_Grosbeak_%28Pinicola_enucleator%29_%2813667564073%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
The pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) (this scientific name roughly translates to "the bird that lives in the pines and shells the seeds") is a large member of the true finch family, Fringillidae. It is the only species in the genus Pinicola. It is found in coniferous woods across Alaska, the western mountains of the United States, Canada, and in subarctic Fennoscandia and across the Palearctic to Siberia. The species is a frugivore, especially in winter, favoring small fruits, such as rowans (mountain-ashes in the New World). With fruit-crop abundance varying from year to year, pine grosbeak is one of many subarctic-resident bird species that exhibit irruptive behavior. In irruption years, individuals can move long distances in search of suitable food supplies, bringing them farther south and/or downslope than is typical of years with large fruit crops. [more]
Song: Song a soft, flowing, melodic yodeling in clear, flute-like tones. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a melodic, plaintive "cliu-wee", with both syllables falling in pitch. Analogoues to Siskin, but much more full-bodied and lower pitched (like a mix of Siskin and Bullfinch). [Link]
Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=30-35 cm, weight=47-64 g

Wikipedia: Grey-crowned rosy-finch Source: OTHER Gray-Crowned_Rosy-Finch.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The gray-crowned rosy finch, or gray-crowned rosy-finch, (Leucosticte tephrocotis) is a species of passerine bird in the family Fringillidae native to Alaska, western Canada, and the north-western United States. Due to its remote and rocky alpine habitat it is rarely seen. There are currently six recognized subspecies. It is one of four species of rosy finches. [more]

Wikipedia: Lapland longspur Source: OTHER 1200px-Lapland_Longspur_%28Calcarius_lapponicus%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Zugvogel, Wintergast
Song: Song: a short, creaky, brittle phrase, rich in harmonics; "kril-trrlrtt-ti-trlllkrlltrrt". Somewhat reminiscent of Horned Lark, but without its hesitating intro. In form a bit like Snow Bunting, but much less clear tones. [Link]
Calls: Call: A Snow Bunting-like "prrrrit", but tone harder. Also a Snow Bunting-like "pjuu". Other sounds: soft, whistling calls reminiscent of Bullfinch, but with richer harmonics. [Link]
Physical details: length=15-16 cm, wingspan=25-28 cm, weight=20-28 g

Wikipedia: Snow bunting Source: OTHER 1200px-Plectrophenax_nivalis1.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Wintergast
Song: Song simple and melodic. 2-5 syllable motifs with fairly wide tonal range. Can be confused with Lapland Bunting, but is much purer in tone with a less jingling timbre. Local dialects. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a short, melodic and rapidly descending "peeuu". Often alternating with a rattling "trrreet". "Peeuu"-call quite similar to Lapland Bunting, but harder, purer in tone and less nasal. [Link]
Physical details: length=16-17 cm, wingspan=32-38 cm, weight=28-50 g

Wikipedia: Yellow-fronted canary Source: OTHER 1200px-Serinus_masambicus_25.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa.
General: The yellow-fronted canary (Crithagra mozambica), also called the yellow-eyed canary, is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is known elsewhere and in aviculture as the green singing finch. [more]

Wikipedia: Red-throated pipit Source: OTHER 1200px-Red-throated_Pipit.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
The red-throated pipit (Anthus cervinus) is a small passerine bird which breeds in the far north of Europe and the Palearctic, with a foothold in northern Alaska. It is a long-distance migrant moving in winter to Africa, south and east Asia and west coast United States. It is a vagrant to western Europe. [more]

Olive-backed pipit. 2024-01-29 11.44.04 Laos
First observed in Laos on 2024-01-29.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa, Asia.



Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC832525 - Olive-backed Pipit - Anthus hodgsoni - song, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Source: XENOCANTO XC832525 - Olive-backed Pipit - Anthus hodgsoni - song, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.mp3 (song)

White wagtail at edge of field near Mesikon 2020-04-25 07.21.02 Luppmen
First observed in Iceland on 2015-06-05.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
The white wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the family Motacillidae, which also includes pipits and longclaws. The species breeds in much of Europe and the Asian Palearctic and parts of North Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. In Ireland and Great Britain, the darker subspecies, the pied wagtail or water wagtail^[2] (M. a. yarrellii) predominates. In total, there are between 9 and 11 subspecies. [more]
Song: Song either slow and primitive, consisting of sharp falling notes given by perched birds, or longer fast and energic bursts in excited song-flight. [Link]
Calls: Contact calls short and sharp. Usually with disyllabic, "bouncing" quality, and with each syllable only accented, not clearly separated from the other (see Grey Wagtail). [Link]
Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=25-30 cm, weight=17-25 g
Habitats: Settlement


Song: General: Usually just calls. This song is just a few chirpy slurs, sometimes rising-rising-falling.
Song: Zirpt wie ein Sperling aber weniger Noten. Lh lh lh [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: stereotype melodic, slow, Frequency: 2-7 KHz
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC694995 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba - song recorded in Spain.mp3 Spain (song)


Call: bird-song.ch: zweisilbig «zilipp» oder einsilbig «zipp»

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC644775 - White Wagtail - Motacilla alba alba - call, recorded in Estonia.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 3-7 KHz,
Presence: 03-01 - 10-28

Wikipedia: Eastern yellow wagtail Source: OTHER 1200px-Motacilla_tschutschensis%2C_Tomohon%2C_North_Sulawesi.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Asia, Australia.
General: The eastern yellow wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis) is a small passerine in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. It was often classified as a subspecies of the Western yellow wagtail. [more]

Wikipedia: Pin-tailed whydah Source: OTHER 1200px-Pin-tailed_whydah_%28Vidua_macroura%29_breeding_male.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa.
The pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura) is a small songbird with a conspicuous pennant-like tail in breeding males. It is a resident breeding bird in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. [more]

Scaly breasted munia, Vientiane. 2024-02-18 06.54.12 Laos
First observed in Laos on 2024-02-18.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Asia, Australia.
introduced, mainland; vagrant, Ashmore Reef


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC797137 - Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata topela - song, Pha Chang Park, Wiang Chai District, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Source: XENOCANTO XC797137 - Scaly-breasted Munia - Lonchura punctulata topela - song, Pha Chang Park, Wiang Chai District, Chiang Rai, Thailand.mp3 Thailand (song)

Wikipedia: Chestnut munia Source: OTHER Lonchura_atricapilla_jagori_-Cebu-8-3c.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Asia, Australia.
introduced

Wikipedia: Tricolored munia Source: OTHER 1200px-Tricoloured_munia_%28cropped%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Asia.
General: The tricoloured munia (Lonchura malacca) is an estrildid finch, native to Bangladesh,^[2] India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and southern China. The species has also introduced to the Caribbean, in Trinidad, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Venezuela. This species, like the chestnut munia has been known as the black-headed munia. Immature birds have pale brown upperparts, lack the dark head found in adults, and have uniform buff underparts that can be confused with immatures of other munias such as the scaly-breasted munia. [more]

Wikipedia: African silverbill Source: OTHER 1200px-African_Silverbill.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa.
The African silverbill (Euodice cantans) is a small passerine bird formerly considered conspecific with the Asian species Indian silverbill, (Euodice malabarica). This estrildid finch is a common resident breeding bird in dry savanna habitat, south of the Sahara Desert. This species has also been introduced to other countries such as Portugal, Qatar and United States. [more]

Wikipedia: Bronze mannikin Source: OTHER 1200px-Bronze_Mannikin_%288568589949%29%2C_crop.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa.
The bronze mannikin or bronze munia (Spermestes cucullata) is a small passerine (i.e. perching) bird of the Afrotropics. This very social estrildid finch is an uncommon to locally abundant bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, where it is resident, nomadic or irruptive in mesic savanna or forest margin habitats.^[5][6] It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 8,100,000 km². It is the smallest and most widespread of four munia species on the African mainland, the other being black-and-white, red-backed and magpie mannikin. It co-occurs with the Madagascan mannikin on the Comoro Islands, and was introduced to Puerto Rico. Especially in the West Africa, it is considered a pest in grain and rice fields. It is locally trapped for the pet bird trade.^[4] [more]

Wikipedia: Red avadavat Source: OTHER A_pair_of_Red_avadavat_%28Amandava_amandava%29_Photograph_by_Shantanu_Kuveskar.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
The red avadavat (Amandava amandava), red munia or strawberry finch, is a sparrow-sized bird of the family Estrildidae. It is found in the open fields and grasslands of tropical Asia and is popular as a cage bird due to the colourful plumage of the males in their breeding season. It breeds in the Indian Subcontinent in the monsoon season. The species name of amandava and the common name of avadavat are derived from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, from where these birds were exported into the pet trade in former times.^[2][3] [more]

Wikipedia: Common waxbill Source: OTHER 1200px-Estrilda_astrild_-Gran_Canaria%2C_Canary_Islands%2C_Spain-8_%281%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The common waxbill (Estrilda astrild), also known as the St Helena waxbill, is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa but has been introduced to many other regions of the world and now has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10,000,000 km². It is popular and easy to keep in captivity. [more]

Wikipedia: Yellow-crowned bishop Source: OTHER Euplectes_afer_-Lake_Baringo%2C_Kenya_-male-8_CROP.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The yellow-crowned bishop (Euplectes afer) is a species of passerine bird in the family Ploceidae native to Africa south of the Sahara.^[2] It is highly sexually dimorphic in its breeding season, during which the male adopts a distinctive yellow and black plumage, contrasting with the female's predominantly brown coloration. Three subspecies are recognised. [more]

Wikipedia: Orange bishop Source: OTHER 1200px-Euplectes_orix_5_Luc_Viatour.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa.
The northern red bishop or orange bishop (Euplectes franciscanus) is a small passerine bird in the family Ploceidae. It is part of the largest genus in the family with over 60 different species.^[2] Its sister species is the Southern red bishop (Euplectes orix). This species is most recognizable by the bright reddish orange with contrasting black plumage displayed by the breeding male. It is most common throughout the northern African continent but has also been introduced to areas in the western hemisphere. [more]

Siberian tit / Lapplandmeise (Poecile cinctus)

Wikipedia: Siberian tit Source: OTHER 1200px-Siberian_Tit_Parus_Cinctus_2006_03_07.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
The grey-headed chickadee or Siberian tit (Poecile cinctus, formerly Parus cinctus) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread resident breeder throughout subarctic Scandinavia and the northern Palearctic, and also into North America in Alaska and the far northwest of Canada. It is a conifer specialist. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate. Curiously (with respect to its name), the bird has no grey on its head, which is black, white, and brown. [more]
Vocalization: Voice quite similar to Willow Tit. Other sounds: Chirping, bubbling sounds resembling Willow Tit, various other high pitched sounds. [Link]
Song: Song: Often vibrating or rasping notes repeated in Willow Tit-like structure, gradually falling in pitch "trrrrrr trrrrr trrrrr". [Link]
Calls: Call: Nasal Willow Tit-like "chee chee chee" , "ti ti chee". [Link]
Physical details: length=13 cm, wingspan=19-21 cm, weight=11-14 g

Common starling / Star (Sturnus vulgaris)

Im richtigen Licht schimmern die Federn. 2020-04-11 07.54.52 Luppmen
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-04-11.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America (introduced), Africa.
Learned on BBC's Winterwatch: the movement of a swarm of starlings is called a murmuration! Check out this this video or even an entire half hour
In trees or in the fields by the cows.
Frequently seen here, for instance by their nests under the eaves of one of the Toblerone houses. Introduced to North America from Europe by Eugene Schieffelin.
Eine der Vogelarten, die gleichzeitig zwei Töne singen kann!
Vocalization: Among the best of imitators. Mimics birds, animals and mechanical noises. Often makes several sounds at the same time. [Link]
Song: Song a highly varied mix of falling whistles, bill-clappering and various masterful mimicry. [Link]
Calls: Other calls; a harsh "chaee" and a short sharp "tink". [Link]
Physical details: length=21 cm, wingspan=37-42 cm, weight=60-90 g
Habitats: Agricultural


Song: I find their individual song amusing, with its (long) whoops and weird noises. As a group, they're just noisy!
Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz) Special sounds: mimicry, whoop, weird Singing season: 01-01 - 09-30 Dawn chorus start, 15 minutes before dawn.
Call: I hear this occasionally and really enjoy it - a long rising 'whoop', as I call it', starting low at 1 1/2 KHz and rising to 6 1/2 KHz!

♫ Source: BirdNet 20210823_172609 birdnet 1968 - European Starling long whoop call - 2021-08-23 17:26:09 - European Starling - Fehraltorf.mp3 2021-08-23 17.26.09 Fehraltorf (call)

Call attributes: Call melody: one note, slow, Frequency: 1-6 KHz, Special sounds: whoop.

Common myna (Acridotheres tristis)

First common myna seen on trip to SE Asia, in Wat Pho, Bangkok. 2024-01-19 17.00.32 Thailand
First observed in Thailand on 2024-01-19.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The common myna or Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis), sometimes spelled mynah,^[2] is a member of the family Sturnidae (starlings and mynas) native to Asia. An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, the common myna has adapted extremely well to urban environments. [more]


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ XC729094 - Common Myna - Acridotheres tristis tristis. Source: XENOCANTO XC729094 - Common Myna - Acridotheres tristis tristis.mp3 (song?)

Eye-browed thrush (Turdus obscurus)

Wikipedia: Eye-browed thrush Source: OTHER Eyebrowed_Thrush.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia, Australia.
vagrant

Island thrush / Südseedrossel (Turdus poliocephalus)

Wikipedia: Island thrush Source: OTHER Island_Thrush.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Australia.
Christmas Island

White-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

Wikipedia: White-rumped shama Source: OTHER 1200px-White-rumped-shama-yala-sri-lanka-casey-klebba.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia.
General: The white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus) is a small passerine bird of the family Muscicapidae. Native to densely vegetated habitats in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, its popularity as a cage-bird and songster has led to it being introduced elsewhere. [more]

Northern wheatear / Steinschmätzer (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Male northern wheatear, photo by Andreas Trepte - Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5 Source: WIKIPEDIA Wikimedia Steinschmaetzer_Northern_wheatear_male.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-07-29.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
General: I thought after seeing these at over 2700 meters that they must be a typical mountain bird (and in the FOK Zurich materials they were in the mountain section), however Wikipedia explains that such a stony landscape is the key, whether that is high or not:
Geography: The northern wheatear is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in open stony country in Europe and east across the Palearctic with footholds in northeastern Canada and Greenland as well as in northwestern Canada and Alaska. It nests in rock crevices and rabbit burrows. All birds spend most of their winter in Africa. ... Miniature tracking devices have recently shown that the northern wheatear has one of the longest migratory flights known - 30,000 km (18,640 miles), from sub-Saharan Africa to their Arctic breeding grounds.[15] [Link]
Strangely the residence and migration maps differ greatly by source: in Wikipedia the northern wheatear spends winter in subsaharan Africa, while the authoratitive Kosmos-Vogelführer shows some in northern Africa like Morocco. Most other sources agree with Wikipedia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
I thought the German name Steinschmätzer, presumably stone kisser (no one explains it, oddly enough) to be much more logical than the English northern wheatear. I was greatly amused to look it up and find it to be a 'folk etymology of "white" and "arse"' (Wikipedia).
Etymology: The genus name Oenanthe is derived from the Greek oenos (οίνος) "wine" and anthos (ανθός) "flower". It refers to the northern wheatear's return to Greece in the spring just as the grapevines blossom. [Link]
It has an evil-looking black eye stripe like the shrike. (I liked Nici Baiker's description of it in the FOK field ornithology course as 'Zorro look'.) I saw one flying on Muottas Muragl and thought the striking gray oval surrounded by dark feathers has to be typical and seems unique to the northern wheatear.
In den FOK Unterlagen werden die Zugrouten von Alaska und von nordosten Kanada gezeigt, die beide fuer Winter nach Afrika ziehen. Die aus Alaska fliegen ueber Asien unglaubliche 15000 Kilometer! Die in Kanada haben es auch nicht leicht, da sie zuerst ueber den Atlantik nach Spanien fliegen!
Vocalization: Each phrase is often introduced by the "weet" sound, then followed by hastened, creaking, rattling and warbling sounds of 1-2 seconds duration. [Link]
Song: Kurze, wechselvolle Strophe mit vielen unreinen Tönen. Meist von erhöhter Warte aus oder in kurzem Singflug vorgetragen. [Link]
The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link]
Calls: „Tschack“ auch „hiit“ (saugend) [Link]
Contact and alarm call a high pitched, sharp "weet", followed by a hard "check", like hitting two rocks together. The "weet" sound is much sharper than the similar sound in Whinchat and Stonechat. Wheater usually repeats the "weet" sound more frequently than the "check" sound. The "check" of Stonechat is less pure and more gritty. [Link]
Physical details: length=14-15 cm, wingspan=26-32 cm, weight=18-29 g
Habitats: Mountain
Looks similar to: Red-backed shrike.

Song: The Wheatear song consists of short phrases with marked pauses. Each phrase is often introduced by the "weet" sound, then followed by hastened, creaking, rattling and warbling sounds of 1-2 seconds duration. The "check" sound is also often included in the song. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: improvised melodic, fast, Frequency: 2-6 KHz Special sounds: rasp, rattle
♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC730221 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in France, just 2-3 notes, then long pause.mp3 (song)


♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC764932 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in Sweden with lots of whoops and swoops, about 2 seconds long, then 3-4 seconds pause.mp3 (song)


♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC319898 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in Scotland and includes creaking or rattling mentioned at Nord U BirdID.mp3 Scotland (song)


♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC769228 - Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe - song recorded in the Netherlands.mp3 (song)


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20210729_130731 birdnet 1864 - Northern Wheatear at lej muragl - Northern Wheatear - Samedan.mp3 2021-07-29 13.07.31 Lej muragl (song?)

Siberian rubythroat / Rubinkehlchen (Calliope calliope)

Siberian rubythroat, near the Mekong in Vientiane. 2024-02-18 07.33.56 Laos
First observed in Laos on 2024-02-18.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia.
General: The Siberian rubythroat (Calliope calliope) is a small passerine bird first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1776. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher of the family Muscicapidae.^[3] The Siberian rubythroat and similar small European species are often called chats. [more]


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC843510 - Siberian Rubythroat - Calliope calliope - song, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos. Source: XENOCANTO XC843510 - Siberian Rubythroat - Calliope calliope - song, Vientiane Prefecture, Laos.mp3 Laos (song)

Wikipedia: Marsh wren Source: OTHER 1200px-Cistothorus_palustris_-Reifel_Island%2C_Vancouver-8.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
The marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris) is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is sometimes called the long-billed marsh wren to distinguish it from the sedge wren, also known as the short-billed marsh wren. [more]

Bohemian waxwing / Seidenschwanz (Bombycilla garrulus)

Wikipedia: Bohemian waxwing Source: OTHER 1200px-Bombycilla_garrulusII.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Seasonal Behavior: Seltener Durchzügler, seltener Wintergast [Link]
Song: Song more or less a variation on the contact call. [Link]
Calls: Contact call weak, but distinct and typically alert one to the presence of a flock. A thin, high pitched, ringing "tzrrrrrrr". [Link]
Physical details: length=18 cm, wingspan=32-35 cm, weight=50-75 g
Habitats: Settlement


Song: Lots of trills. [Link]
Song attributes: Melody: simple rhythmic, fast, Frequency: 5-7 KHz
Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ XC763124 - Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - call recorded in Sweden. Source: XENOCANTO XC763124 - Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus - call recorded in Sweden.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: Frequency: ,

Kolkrabe am Aabach, Wetzikon. 2021-03-10 09.49.56 Wetzikon
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-03-10.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The raven is often mentioned in word puzzles as the largest songbird.
Good to know: Other: A flock of ravens may be called an unkindness [Literary names of groups and flocks]
Etymology: Kolk, die erste Silbe seines seit dem 16. Jahrhundert bezeugten deutschen Namens, ist vermutlich lautmalerischen Ursprungs, ahmt also den Ruf des Vogels nach. [Link]
Appearance and identification: It is one of the two largest corvids, alongside the thick-billed raven, and is possibly the heaviest passerine bird [Link]
Ravens are larger, the size of a Red-tailed Hawk [in Switzerland a red kite, similar 'length' but only 2/3 of the huge kite wingspan]. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird’s tail as it flies overhead. The crow’s tail feathers are basically the same length, so when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan. Ravens, however, have longer middle feathers in their tails, so their tail appears wedge-shaped when open. Listen closely to the birds’ calls. Crows give a cawing sound. But ravens produce a lower croaking sound. [How to Tell a Raven From a Crow]
Vocalization: Quite varied repertoire. Most heard sound a short, coarse, but resonant "korrk. Other sounds may be surprisingly resonant and pure, like a ringing "clong" etc. Shows even more variation when courting. [Link]
Physical details: length=64 cm, wingspan=120-150 cm, weight=800-1560 g
Habitats: Mountain


Call: Graak!
Call attributes: Call melody: non-musical, slow, Frequency: low (1-3 KHz), Special sounds: cawing.

Black drongo, Phnom Krom. 2024-03-03 06.28.04 Cambodia
First observed in Laos on 2024-02-25.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia.
General: The black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is a small Asian passerine bird of the drongo family Dicruridae. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Asia from southwest Iran through India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southern China and Indonesia and accidental visitor of Japan. It is an all black bird with a distinctive forked tail and measures 28 cm (11 in) in length. It feeds on insects, and is common in open agricultural areas and light forest throughout its range, perching conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone lines. The species is known for its aggressive behaviour towards much larger birds, such as crows, never hesitating to dive-bomb any bird of prey that invades its territory. This behaviour earns it the informal name of king crow. Smaller birds often nest in the well-guarded vicinity of a nesting black drongo. Previously grouped along with the African fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), the Asian forms are now treated as a separate species with several distinct populations. [more]


Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording
Song attributes: Frequency:
♫ XC814830 - Black Drongo - Dicrurus macrocercus cathoecus - song, Hong Kong, China. Source: XENOCANTO XC814830 - Black Drongo - Dicrurus macrocercus cathoecus - song, Hong Kong, China.mp3 (song)

Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)

Wikipedia: Dark-eyed junco Source: OTHER 1200px-Junco_hyemalis_hyemalis_CT2.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
The dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) is a species of junco, a group of small, grayish New World sparrows. This bird is common across much of temperate North America and in summer ranges far into the Arctic. It is a very variable species, much like the related fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca), and its systematics are still not completely untangled. [more]

Near Badi Auslikon at the Pfäffikersee. I thought I had only seen black-headed gulls, but on reviewing my photos, I noticed the yellow bill. Other typical characteristics: it's bigger than the black-headed gull next to it, it doesn't have the Charlie Brown half-ring around the eye, it has less gray and only a few shorter black tail feathers. 2021-02-05 11.34.30 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2021-03-07.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Not so common in Switzerland (most common would be the black-headed gull as far as I can see
Appearance and identification: Nabu: NABU ueber das Aussehen der Sturmmoewe: 'Sturmmöwen sind etwas größer als Lachmöwen, jedoch deutlich kleiner als Silbermöwen. Sie sind überwiegend weiß mit grauem Rücken und grauen Flügeln. Die Flügelenden sind schwarz mit weißer Spitze. Der Kopf ist rundlich, die dunklen Augen dünn rot umrandet. Der schlanke Schnabel und die Beine sind grünlichgelb, ein Schnabelfleck fehlt.' [Portraet]
Vocalization: Various mewing sounds. Similar in form to Herring Gull, but much higher pitched. [Link]
Physical details: length=40-42 cm, wingspan=100-115 cm, weight=300-480 g
not sexually dimporphic.
Identifying characteristics: general: head = white (Gray in winter and when young), beak = yellow (greenish yellow), legs = yellow (duller in winter), , , , Adult: wings = gray, , , Youth: wings = white (with brown streaks), , Winter: tail = black (and white striped), Prachtkleid: tail = white
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Kelp gull Source: OTHER 1200px-SouthShetland-2016-Livingston_Island_%28Hannah_Point%29%E2%80%93Kelp_gull_%28Larus_dominicanus%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: South America, Africa.
General: The kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), also known as the Dominican gull, is a gull that breeds on coasts and islands through much of the Southern Hemisphere. The nominate L. d. dominicanus is the subspecies found around South America, parts of Australia (where it overlaps with the Pacific gull), and New Zealand (where it is known as the black-backed gull, the southern black-backed gull, mollyhawk^[2] – particularly the juveniles,^[3] or by its Māori name karoro). L. d. vetula (known as the Cape gull) is a subspecies occurring around Southern Africa. [more]

Lesser black-backed gull - yellow legs, yellow break with red under tip, black back but white shoulders. 2023-09-27 12.40.12 Florida
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull that breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It is migratory, wintering from the British Isles south to West Africa. It is a regular winter visitor to the east coast of North America, probably from the breeding population in Iceland. [more]
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Slaty-backed gull Source: OTHER Ooseguro-kamome.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Australia.
vagrant

Herring gulls at Squam Lake, New Hampshire. 2023-10-06 12.47.32 New England
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Vocalization: Quite vocal. A long and strong "ay-kay-kay-kay-kay" with fading strength commonly heard. A deep "ga-ga-ga" heard from anxious birds. [Link]
Calls: All calls much deeper pitched than Common Gull. Difficult to distinguish from Lesser Black-backed Gull, but tone is less nasal. [Link]
Physical details: length=55-64 cm, wingspan=123-148 cm, weight=750-1440 g
Habitats: River and lake

Great black-backed gull (Mantelmöwe), Islay near Bridgend. 2023-08-11 09.31.48 Islay
First observed in Islay on 2023-08-11.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL R
Habitats: River and lake

Wikipedia: Iceland gull Source: OTHER 1200px-Larus_glaucoides_IthacaNY.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The Iceland gull (Larus glaucoides) is a medium-sized gull that breeds in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland, but not in Iceland (as its name suggests), where it is only seen during winter. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific name glaucoides denotes its resemblance to Larus glaucus, a synonym of Larus hyperboreus, the glaucous gull; -oides is Ancient Greek and means "resembling".^[2] [more]
Vocalization: Like Herring Gull, but tone sharper. [Link]
Physical details: length=52-60 cm, wingspan=140-150 cm, weight=460-1039 g

MerlinBirdID says glaucous gull and American black duck females. 2023-10-12 13.39.32 New England
First observed in New England on 2023-10-12.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America.
General: The glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) is a large gull, the second-largest gull in the world. It breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and winters south to shores of the Holarctic. The genus name is from Latin larus, which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird. The specific name hyperboreus is Latin for "northern" from the Ancient Greek Huperboreoi people from the far north ^[2] "Glaucous" is from Latin glaucus and denotes the grey colour of the gull.^[3] [more]
Vocalization: Like Herring Gull. [Link]
Physical details: length=62-68 cm, wingspan=150-165 cm, weight=964-2215 g

On a canal feeding into the Pfäffikersee Paradoxically, they don't have to have a black head. 2020-10-30 16.51.58 Pfäffikersee
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2020-05-20.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia.
Common waterbird at Pfäffikersee, that doesn't necessarily have the eponymous black head.
not sexually dimporphic.
No breeding plumage Identifying characteristics: Summer: head = black, , , , , tail = black Winter: head = white (With Charlie Brown-style half circle behind the eye), , , , general: beak = red, legs = red, wings = gray,
Habitats: River and lake


Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Source: BirdNet 20210427_165123 birdnet 1485 - Black-headed Gull racket at Chlisee - No confident detection - Wetzikon.mp3 2021-04-27 16.51.23 Wetzikon (song?)

Wikipedia: Grey-headed gull Source: OTHER 1200px-Graukopf-M%C3%B6we_Larus_cirrocephalus_090501_We_150.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: South America, Africa.
General: The grey-headed gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus), also known as the grey-hooded gull, is a small gull which breeds patchily in South America and Africa south of the Sahara. It is not truly migratory, but is more widespread in winter. This species has occurred as a rare vagrant to North America, Italy and Spain. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus Larus. [more]

Black-legged kittiwake / Dreizehenmöwe (Rissa tridactyla)

Wikipedia: Black-legged kittiwake Source: OTHER 1200px-Rissa_tridactyla_%28Vard%C3%B8%2C_2012%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae. [more]
Vocalization: Highly vocal at breeding ground. A mewing "kitti-wake", with the pitch rising on the second drawn out syllable, and then falling. Generally silent elsewhere, except when squabbling over food. [Link]
Physical details: length=38-40 cm, wingspan=95-105 cm, weight=310-500 g

Gull-billed tern / Lachseeschwalbe (Gelochelidon nilotica)

Wikipedia: Gull-billed tern Source: OTHER 1200px-Gelochelidon_nilotica_vanrossemi.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), formerly Sterna nilotica,^[2] is a tern in the family Laridae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek gelao, "to laugh", and khelidon, "swallow". The specific niloticus is from Latin and means of the Nile.^[3] The Australian gull-billed tern was previously considered a subspecies. [more]

Sabine's gull / Schwalbenmöwe (Xema sabini)

Wikipedia: Sabine's gull Source: OTHER Xema_sabini_-Iceland_-swimming-8_%281%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
Sabine's gull (/ˈseɪbɪn/ SAY-bin; Xema sabini), also known as the fork-tailed gull or xeme, is a small gull. Its generic placement is disputed; some authors treat it as the sole species in the genus Xema as Xema sabini,^[2] while others retain it in the genus Larus as Larus sabini.^[3][4] [more]

Black skimmer / Schwarzmantel-Scherenschnabel (Rynchops niger)

Black skimmers near Las Coloradas. 2023-04-15 10.11.18 Yucatan
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-04-15.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts, but the South American races make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows. [more]

Black tern / Trauerseeschwalbe (Chlidonias niger)

Wikipedia: Black tern Source: OTHER 1200px-%C4%8Cor%C3%ADk_%C4%8Dierny_%28Chlidonias_niger%29_a_%284644831482%29.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
The black tern (Chlidonias niger) is a small tern generally found in or near inland water in Europe, Western Asia and North America. As its name suggests, it has predominantly dark plumage. In some lights it can appear blue in the breeding season, hence the old English name "blue darr".^[2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek khelidonios, "swallow-like", from khelidon, "swallow": another old English name for the black tern is "carr (i.e. lake) swallow".^[3] The species name is from Latin niger "shining black".^[4] [more]
Vocalization: Moderately vocal. [Link]
Calls: Flight call a more or less clear "kleck, or a disyllabic "klee-ake" with accented first syllable. Sometimes slightly rolling "klirr-eke", but never as much as in White-winged Tern. Also a slightly harsher "kreek", but not as raspy as in Whiskered Tern. [Link]
Physical details: length=22-24 cm, wingspan=64-68 cm, weight=60-86 g
Habitats: River and lake

Brown noddy / Noddi (Anous stolidus)

Wikipedia: Brown noddy Source: OTHER 1200px-Common_Noddy_1_-_Michaelmas.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The brown noddy or common noddy (Anous stolidus) is a seabird in the family Laridae. The largest of the noddies, it can be told from the closely related black noddy by its larger size and plumage, which is dark brown rather than black. The brown noddy is a tropical seabird with a worldwide distribution, ranging from Hawaii to the Tuamotu Archipelago and Australia in the Pacific Ocean, from the Red Sea to the Seychelles and Australia in the Indian Ocean and in the Caribbean to Tristan da Cunha in the Atlantic Ocean. The brown noddy is colonial, usually nesting on elevated situations on cliffs or in short trees or shrubs. It only occasionally nests on the ground. A single egg is laid by the female of a pair each breeding season. In India the brown noddy is protected in the PM Sayeed Marine Birds Conservation Reserve.^[2] [more]

Black noddy / Weißkappennoddi (Anous minutus)

Wikipedia: Black noddy Source: OTHER 1200px-Anous_minutus_by_Gregg_Yan_02.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa, Australia.
The black noddy or white-capped noddy (Anous minutus) is a seabird from the family Laridae. It is a medium-sized species of tern with black plumage and a white cap. It closely resembles the lesser noddy (Anous tenuirostris) with which it was at one time considered conspecific. The black noddy has slightly darker plumage and dark rather than pale lores. [more]

Blue noddy (Anous ceruleus)

Wikipedia: Blue noddy Source: OTHER 1200px-Blue-grey_Noddy.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Australia.
The blue noddy or hinaokū or manuohina^[2] (Anous cerulea) is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is also known as the blue-grey noddy. [more]

Common white-tern / Feenseeschwalbe (alternate) (Gygis alba)

Wikipedia: Common white-tern Source: OTHER 1200px-White_tern_with_fish.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa.
The white tern (Gygis alba) is a small seabird found across the tropical oceans of the world. It is sometimes known as the fairy tern although this name is potentially confusing as it is also the common name of Sternula nereis. Other names for the species include angel tern and white noddy in English, and manu-o-Kū in Hawaiian. [more]

Franklin's gull / Präriemöwe (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Wikipedia: Franklin's gull Source: OTHER Franklin%27s_Gull%2C_Calgary.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
Franklin's gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) is a small (length 12.6–14.2 in, 32–36 cm) gull.^[2] The genus name Leucophaeus is from Ancient Greek leukos, "white", and phaios, "dusky". The specific pipixcan is a Nahuatl name for a type of gull.^[3][4] [more]

Laughing gull / Aztekenmöwe (Leucophaeus atricilla)

Our gang - laughing gull, double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans - at Las Coloradas, Rio Lagartos. 2023-04-15 09.11.04 Yucatan
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-03-26.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Australia.
vagrant

Caspian tern / Raubseeschwalbe (Hydroprogne caspia)

Wikipedia: Caspian tern Source: OTHER 1200px-Sterna-caspia-010.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
General: The Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia)^[2] is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no accepted subspecies.^[3] The genus name is from Ancient Greek hudros, "water", and Latin progne, "swallow". The specific caspia is from Latin and, like the English name, refers to the Caspian Sea.^[4] [more]
Calls: Easily recognized by its very harsh calls. Sometimes likened to the sound of a plate of steel being dragged across a concrete floor. Similar in harshness to Grey Heron, but more drawn, with an accented middle; "Kraaeeet", or with a double syllable start "ka-ha-kraaaeet". Immature birds begs with a penetrating, sharp whistle. [Link]
Physical details: length=47-54 cm, wingspan=130-145 cm, weight=500-750 g
Habitats: River and lake

Sooty tern / Rußseeschwalbe (Onychoprion fuscatus)

Wikipedia: Sooty tern Source: OTHER 1200px-Sterna_fuscata.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
General: The sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans which sleeps on the wing, returning to land only to breed on islands throughout the equatorial zone. [more]

Bridled tern / Zügelseeschwalbe (Onychoprion anaethetus)

Wikipedia: Bridled tern Source: OTHER 1200px-Bridled_Tern_LEI_Nov06.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The bridled tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)^[2] is a seabird of the family Laridae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus comes from onux meaning "claw" or "nail", and prion, meaning "saw". The specific anaethetus means "senseless, stupid".^[3] [more]

Aleutian tern (Onychoprion aleuticus)

Wikipedia: Aleutian tern Source: OTHER Aleutian_Tern.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia, Australia.
vagrant

Grey-backed tern (Onychoprion lunatus)

Wikipedia: Grey-backed tern Source: OTHER 1200px-GRAT_nest.JPG
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Australia.
vagrant

Elegant tern (Thalasseus elegans)

Wikipedia: Elegant tern Source: OTHER 1200px-Elegant_Tern_Bolsa_Chica.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
General: The elegant tern (Thalasseus elegans) is a tern in the family Laridae. It breeds on the Pacific coasts of the southern United States and Mexico and winters south to Peru, Ecuador and Chile. [more]

Sandwich tern / Brandseeschwalbe (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Sandwich tern in flight with distinct yellow tipped bill. 2023-09-27 12.28.34 Florida
First observed in Costa Rica on 2018-03-11.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
The Sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)^[2] is a tern in the family Laridae. It is very closely related to the lesser crested tern (T. bengalensis), Chinese crested tern (T. bernsteini), Cabot's tern (T. acuflavidus), and elegant tern (T. elegans) and has been known to interbreed with the lesser crested. It breeds in the Palearctic from Europe to the Caspian Sea wintering to South Africa, India and Sri Lanka. [more]
Calls: Contact call a sharp and grating "keeree-eek". Often compared to the pressing of amalgam into a tooth. [Link]
Physical details: length=36-41 cm, wingspan=95-105 cm, weight=215-275 g
Habitats: River and lake

Royal tern (Thalasseus maximus)

Wikipedia: Royal tern Source: OTHER 1200px-Royal_Tern.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
General: The royal tern (Thalasseus maximus) is a tern in the family Laridae. [more]

Little gull / Zwergmöwe (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

Wikipedia: Little gull Source: OTHER 1200px-%C4%8Cajka_mal%C3%A1_%28Larus_minutus%29_a_%284834254958%29.jpg
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-12-03.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
Deutschland: ausnahmsweise Brutvogel, Zugvogel RL R
Calls: Repertoire of short, tern-like, hard calls, uttered individually, or in series. E.g. "kep" or "krrk". Also a diagnostic, gull-like, sharp and bouncing "ka-tee,ka-tee,ka-tee", with second syllable rising in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=25-27 cm, wingspan=75-80 cm, weight=85-150 g
Habitats: River and lake

Lesser sand-plover (Charadrius mongolus)

Wikipedia: Lesser sand-plover Source: OTHER 1200px-Charadrius_mongolus_-_Laem_Phak_Bia.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The lesser sand plover (Charadrius mongolus) is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The spelling is commonly given as lesser sand-plover, but the official British Ornithologists' Union spelling is "lesser sand plover". The genus name Charadrius is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek kharadrios a bird found in ravines and river valleys (kharadra, "ravine"). The specific mongolus is Latin and refers to Mongolia which at the time of naming referred to a larger area than the present country.^[2] [more]

Common ringed plover / Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius hiaticula)

Sandregenpfeifer im Profil, Neeracherried. 2022-09-04 07.25.18 Neeracherried
First observed in 🇨🇭 on 2022-09-04.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa.
The common ringed plover or ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a small plover that breeds in Arctic Eurasia. The genus name Charadrius is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek kharadrios a bird found in ravines and river valleys (kharadra, "ravine"). The specific hiaticula is Latin and has a similar meaning to the Greek term, coming from hiatus, "cleft" and -cola, "dweller" (colere, "to dwell").^[2] [more]
Vocalization: Usually heard before seen. [Link]
Song: Song a cyclic repetition of the contact call. Sometimes with a shortened phrases and a more creaking timbre. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a short, soft "koo-eep", with the emphasised second part higher and rising in pitch. [Link]
Physical details: length=18-20 cm, wingspan=48-57 cm, weight=55-73 g
Habitats: Wetland

Kentish plover / Seeregenpfeifer (Charadrius alexandrinus)

Der kleinste Watvoegel bei Ses Salines, Mallorcal, ein Seeregenpfeifer. 2022-04-08 17.00.16 Mallorca
First observed in Mallorca on 2022-04-08.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, Australia.
vagrant
Song: Contact calls more frequently heard than song, with two distinct calls. A short and soft ascending whistle resembling chiff-chaff is often heard from the ground, and a hard and rolling "prrrrt" if flushed (or just a short "tip"). Song a hard and rolling sequence resembling Dunlin song, but less nasal and more pulsating. [Link]
Physical details: length=15-17 cm, wingspan=42-45 cm, weight=39-56 g
Habitats: Wetland

Semipalmated plover / Amerika-Sandregenpfeifer (Charadrius semipalmatus)

Wikipedia: Semipalmated plover Source: OTHER Semipalmated_Plover.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Australia.
vagrant

American golden-plover (Pluvialis dominica)

Wikipedia: American golden-plover Source: OTHER Pluvialis_dominica1.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
General: The American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica), or American golden-plover is a medium-sized plover. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent. The species name dominica refers to Santo Domingo, now Hispaniola, in the West Indies.^[2] [more]

Black-bellied plover / Kiebitzregenpfeifer (Pluvialis squatarola)

Black-bellied plover eggs. 2016-09-25 16.51.00 Botswana
First observed in Botswana on 2016-09-25.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The grey plover or black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is a medium-sized plover breeding in Arctic regions. It is a long-distance migrant, with a nearly worldwide coastal distribution when not breeding.^[2] The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent. The species name squatarola is a Latinised version of Sgatarola, a Venetian name for some kind of plover.^[3] [more]
Calls: Contact call diagnostic. A plaintive, drawn and trisyllabic (but continuous) "kleeooowee". Pitch falls on second syllable and rises on last. [Link]
Physical details: length=27-30 cm, wingspan=71-83 cm, weight=190-280 g
Habitats: Wetland

Pacific golden plover / Sibirischer Goldregenpfeifer (Pluvialis fulva)

Wikipedia: Pacific golden plover Source: OTHER Pluvialis_fulva_-Bering_Land_Bridge_National_Preserve%2C_Alaska%2C_USA-8.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The Pacific golden plover (Pluvialis fulva), or Pacific golden-plover is a medium-sized plover. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent. The species name fulva is Latin and refers to a tawny colour.^[2] [more]

Curlew sandpiper / Sichelstrandläufer (Calidris ferruginea)

Wikipedia: Curlew sandpiper Source: OTHER 1200px-Calidris_ferruginea%2C_winter_adult%2C_Pak_Thale.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Etymology: Nicolas Baiker sagt, Hauptmerkmale innerhalb der Strandlaeufer sind der Augenstreif und der Schnabel der relativ lang ist und immer lezten Drittel immer krummer, darum Sichelstrandlaeufer. [Link]
Calls: Flight call a soft, ringing and rolling "krrrrrt, with variations. Lacks the hoarse, nasal quality of similar call by Dunlin. [Link]
Physical details: length=18-19 cm, wingspan=42-46 cm, weight=50-65 g
Habitats: Wetland

Ruff / Kampfläufer (Calidris pugnax)

Wikipedia: Ruff Source: OTHER 1200px-Philomachus_pugnax_-Diergaarde_Blijdorp-8c.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
Etymology: Nabu: Der Name leitet sich vom Balzverhalten der Männchen ab: In Balzarenen tragen sie „Turniere“ aus, um die Weibchen zu beeindrucken, dabei herrscht eine komplizierte Rollenverteilung. [Link]
Vocalization: Generally silent. Short, muted, nasal, mono or disyllabic grunts sometimes heard. [Link]
Physical details: length=26-30 cm, wingspan=54-58 cm, weight=75-230 g
Habitats: Wetland

White-rumped sandpiper / Weißbürzelstrandläufer (Calidris fuscicollis)

Wikipedia: White-rumped sandpiper Source: OTHER 1200px-Calidris_fuscicollis_PLAYERO_RABADILLA_BLANCA.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
General: The white-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) is a small shorebird that breeds in the northern tundra of Canada and Alaska. This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds; these are known collectively as "peeps" or "stints". [more]

Red knot / Knutt (Calidris canutus)

Red knots, according to MerlinBirdID - underway to somewhere better at Las Coloradas. 2023-04-15 09.34.08 Yucatan
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-04-15.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The red knot (Calidris canutus) (just knot in English-speaking Europe) is a medium-sized shorebird which breeds in tundra and the Arctic Cordillera in the far north of Canada, Europe, and Russia. It is a large member of the Calidris sandpipers, second only to the great knot.^[2] Six subspecies are recognised. [more]
Song: Song an undulating, nasal mewing "poooor-mee", or "po-hor-mee". [Link]
Calls: Most commonly heard migratory call, a short "kut" or "knot". Sometimes given in stuttering series. [Link]
Physical details: length=23-25 cm, wingspan=57-61 cm, weight=110-160 g
Habitats: Wetland

Long-toed stint / Langzehenstrandläufer (Calidris subminuta)

Wikipedia: Long-toed stint Source: OTHER 1200px-Calidris_subminuta_-_Pak_Thale.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta, is a small wader. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific subminuta is from Latin sub, "near to" and minuta, "small" from its similarity to the little stint, Calidris minuta.^[2] [more]

Baird's sandpiper / Bairdstrandläufer (Calidris bairdii)

Wikipedia: Baird's sandpiper Source: OTHER Calidris_bairdii_-Gullbringusysla%2C_Iceland-8.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) is a small shorebird. It is among those calidrids which were formerly included in the genus Erolia, which was subsumed into the genus Calidris in 1973.^[2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The English name and specific bairdii commemorate Spencer Fullerton Baird, 19th-century naturalist and assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.^[3] [more]

Buff-breasted sandpiper / Grasläufer (Calidris subruficollis)

Wikipedia: Buff-breasted sandpiper Source: OTHER 1200px-Tryngites_subruficollis_-USA-8.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The buff-breasted sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) is a small shorebird. The species name subruficollis is from Latin subrufus, "reddish" (from sub, "somewhat", and rufus, "rufous") and collis, "-necked/-throated" (from collum, "neck").^[2] It is a calidrid sandpiper. [more]

Sanderling / Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Sanderling. 2023-09-27 12.12.20 Florida
First observed in Yucatan on 2023-03-27.
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia.
The sanderling (Calidris alba) is a small wading bird. The name derives from Old English sand-yrðling, "sand-ploughman".^[2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific alba is Latin for "white".^[3] [more]
Calls: Call not very diagnostic; a short and soft "pleet" or "keek". [Link]
Physical details: length=20-21 cm, wingspan=40-45 cm, weight=44-70 g
Habitats: Wetland

Dunlin / Alpenstrandläufer (Calidris alpina)

Wikipedia: Dunlin Source: OTHER 1200px-Dunlin_%28Calidris_alpina%29_juvenile.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: Europe, North America, South America, Africa.
General: The dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–2. It derives from dun, "dull brown", with the suffix -ling, meaning a person or thing with the given quality.^[2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific alpina is from Latin and means "of high mountains", in this case referring to the Alps.^[3] [more]
Song: Song: A drawn out, nasal "tweeet", and ringing variations on the contact call in decrescendo. Low chattering heard from feeding birds. [Link]
Calls: Contact call a diagnostic, very nasal "trrreeet" . Given throughout the year and in many situations, including when being flushed. [Link]
Physical details: length=16-20 cm, wingspan=38-43 cm, weight=35-60 g
Habitats: Wetland

Rufous-necked stint / Rotkehlstrandläufer (Calidris ruficollis)

Wikipedia: Rufous-necked stint Source: OTHER 1200px-Red-necked_Stint_-_Boat_Harbour.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Africa, Asia.
General: The red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis) is a small migratory wader. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific ruficollis is from Latin rufus, "red" and collum, "neck".^[2] [more]

Pectoral sandpiper / Graubrust-Strandläufer (Calidris melanotos)

Wikipedia: Pectoral sandpiper Source: OTHER 1200px-Pectoral_Sandpiper3.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Africa.
The pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) is a small, migratory wader that breeds in North America and Asia, wintering in South America and Oceania. It eats small invertebrates. Its nest, a hole scraped in the ground and with a thick lining, is deep enough to protect its four eggs from the cool breezes of its breeding grounds. The pectoral sandpiper is 21 cm (8.3 in) long, with a wingspan of 46 cm (18 in). [more]

Sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)

Wikipedia: Sharp-tailed sandpiper Source: OTHER 1200px-Calidris_acuminata_-_Hexham_Swamp.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, Asia, Australia.
The sharp-tailed sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) (but see below) is a small wader. [more]

Stilt sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

Wikipedia: Stilt sandpiper Source: OTHER Calidris_himantopus.jpg
This bird appears across the great seas in the following continents: North America, South America, Australia.
vagrant