From the Highland Willow Scrub of Scotland to the Aegean Islands in the Sea of Crete, Western Europe is home to over 900 resident and migratory birds. From songbirds to gamebirds and from waterfowl to raptors, you can find birds virtually in every nook and cranny of this beautiful area. *All images showcased in this blog series were taken by me personally in *Western Europe.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
*For the purposes of this blog series, Western Europe is the geographic region of the European continent surrounded by the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, including Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and other member countries of the Western European Union. (Source: CIA)
- Grandchildren and Oystercatchers at Weybourne Beach, Norfolk, England
ONE MOMENT IN NATURE Grandchildren and Oystercatchers at Weybourne Beach, Norfolk, England - A Noisy Encounter with a Short-toed Treecreeper at Etang de L’Ursine, France
The Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) breeds in temperate forests across Europe, from Portugal to Turkey and Greece, and in northwest Africa. - Reed Bunting
The Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) is a streaky brown bird found in wetlands, reedbeds and on farmland across its range. Males sport black heads and a white ‘moustache’. - European Goldfinch
The European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small, colorful bird with a bright red face, black and white head, and black-and-yellow wings. - European Greenfinch
The European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is is a Eurasian bird that is mainly green with yellow in the wings and tail, and a thick, conical, brown or black beak. - Common Chaffinch
Male Common Chaffinches are colourful birds with an orange-pink breast and cheeks, grey-blue cap and orange-brown back. - White Wagtail
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) are slender birds with a distinctive black and white face pattern, black bib, pale gray to blackish back, and big white wing patches. - Dunnock
The Dunnock (Prunella modularis), a small passerine bird commonly known as the hedge accentor, hedge sparrow, or hedge warbler. - European Robin
The European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a small, plump songbird with a bright orange face and breast, a whitish belly, and brownish upperparts. - Eurasian Blackbird
Western Europe Birds & Birding (#45/52): From the Highland Willow Scrub of Scotland to the Aegean Islands in the Sea of Crete, Western Europe is home to over 800 resident, migratory and vagrant birds. From songbirds to gamebirds and from waterfowl to raptors, you can find birds virtually in every nook and cranny of this… Read more: Eurasian Blackbird - Mistle Thrush
The Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) is a resilient bird with a melodious song, thriving across Europe while facing challenges in certain regions. - Short-toed Treecreeper
BIRDS OF WESTERN EUROPE The Short-toed Treecreeper is a small passerine bird found in woodlands across much of Europe and into North Africa. - Eurasian Treecreeper
Western Europe Birds & Birding (#41/52): From the Highland Willow Scrub of Scotland to the Aegean Islands in the Sea of Crete, Western Europe is home to over 800 resident, migratory and vagrant birds. From songbirds to gamebirds and from waterfowl to raptors, you can find birds virtually in every nook and cranny of this… Read more: Eurasian Treecreeper - Eurasian Blackcap
The Eurasian Blackcap is a common and widespread warbler that breeds across much of Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa. - Long-tailed Tit
The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a charming little bird found across temperate Northern Europe and the Palearctic region. - Cetti’s Warbler
Cetti’s Warbler (Cettia cetti), with its skulking behavior and distinctive features, Is a captivating bird species in the avian world. - Common Chiffchaff
The Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) is a delightful leaf warbler with a wide distribution, intriguing behavior, and a penchant for insect hunting. - Bearded Reedling
the Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) is a delightful avian resident of reed-filled habitats, sporting its distinctive “beard” and adapting its diet to the changing seasons. - Great Tit
The Great Tit (Parus major) is a small songbird with a green and yellow body, a glossy black head, and white cheeks. - Eurasian Blue Tit
The Eurasian Blue Tit’s vibrant appearance, acrobatic skills, and adaptability make it a delightful and resilient bird in our natural world. - Carrion Crow
The Carrion Crow is a resilient and resourceful bird, thriving across diverse landscapes while playing a vital role in ecosystem dynamics. - Rook
The Rook is a resourceful and adaptable bird, thriving in various environments while maintaining a stable population. - Eurasian Jackdaw
The Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) is a diminutive crow species, easily recognizable by its distinctive gray-on-charcoal color pattern, pale eyes, and piercing calls. - Eurasian Magpie
The Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) is a black-and-white bird with a long, glossy green tail and metallic-blue wings that shimmer in strong light. - European Green Woodpecker
The European green woodpecker (Picus viridis) is a striking bird found across much of Europe and the western Palearctic. - Common Buzzard
The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium to large-sized raptor with broad wings, a short neck and tail, and a round head. - Red Kite
The Red Kite is a captivating bird with its striking appearance, scavenging habits, and conservation challenges. - Western Marsh Harrier
The Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) is an elegant raptor that graces wetlands with its presence, preying on small creatures while maintaining a stable status in the natural world. - Gray Heron
The Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a magnificent, long-legged wading bird native to Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. - Little Egret
The Little Egret is a small snow-white heron with slender dark bill, blackish legs, and yellowish feet (“golden slippers”). - European Shag
The European Shag is an impressive seabird with a penchant for diving, a striking appearance, and a widespread distribution along Europe’s coastlines. - Great Cormorant
The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a large, heavy seabird with a long neck and tail, short legs, and broad wings. - Northern Gannet
The Northern Gannet’s elegance, fishing prowess, widespread distribution, and favorable conservation status make it a remarkable avian species of the North Atlantic seascape. - Lesser Black-backed Gull
The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) is a large gull that breeds along the Atlantic coasts of Europe. - Great Black-backed Gull
The Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) is the largest gull in the world. - Herring Gull (Western European)
Herring gulls are fairly large gulls whose heads and underparts are white, pink legs and they have light gray backs. - Black-headed Gull
The Black-headed Gull is one of the most abundant species in much of Europe, Asia, and eastern Canada. - Ruff
The Ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a fascinating wader bird with distinctive features. - Black-tailed Godwit
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT The Black-tailed Godwit, scientifically known as Limosa limosa, is a large, long-legged, long-billed shorebird. - Northern Lapwing
The Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is a wading bird commonly found across temperate Eurasia. - Eurasian Oystercatcher
EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER Eurasian Oystercatchers are medium to large-sized waders, with a robust body, long legs and a stout, slightly down-curved orange-red bill. - Pied Avocet
PIED AVOCET The Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) is an elegant wader bird with distinctive features. - Eurasian Coot
EURASIAN COOT The Eurasian Coot, scientific name Fulica atra, is a fascinating bird that belongs to the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. - Eurasian Moorhen
EURASIAN MOORHEN The Eurasian Moorhen, scientifically known as Gallinula chloropus, is a distinctive bird that is often found in well-vegetated marshes, ponds, lakes, and along slow-moving watercourses with bordering vegetation. - Common Wood-Pigeon
COMMON WOOD-PIGEON The Common Wood-Pigeon, scientifically known as Columba palumbus, is a large bird that is highly popular among bird enthusiasts for its distinctive physical features and behaviors. - Great Crested Grebe
GREAT CRESTED GREBE The Great Crested Grebe is a fascinating species of water bird that is well-known for its spectacular courtship displays and characteristic head crests. - Little Grebe
LITTLE GREBE The Little Grebe, scientifically known as Tachybaptus ruficollis, is a small water bird that stands as a diminutive marvel within the avian realm. - Common Pochard
The Common Pochard is a medium-sized diving duck with a chestnut-brown head and a pale gray body. - Eurasian Wigeon
The Eurasian Wigeon is a captivating waterfowl with distinctive features, a plant-based diet, and a wide-ranging distribution across different continents. - Barnacle Goose
The Barnacle Goose is an attractive small goose, nesting on Arctic coasts from northeastern Greenland east to Siberia, and wintering in northwestern Europe. - Graylag Goose
The Greylag goose (Anser anser) is a large waterfowl species belonging to the family Anatidae.
Reflections of the Natural World 