Birds: Land
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Birds: Land
There are too many birds to put in one book so I have split them in to two. In this book I include birds that are adapted for a life on land. These are mainly birds that are grouped together as passerines which means they have feet adapted for perching. Many are insectivorous but some are mainly seed eaters.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21Other species not featured but found in Dorset | Scientific Name | Status |
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Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Seen around Poole Harbour during migration times, especially autumn. |
Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | A winter visitor in small numbers to the Poole Harbour area of Dorset. |
Hobby | Falco subbuteo | A summer visitor to the heaths where it hunts dragonflies. |
Turtle Dove | Streptopelia turtur | A species that has dramatically declined in recent years and now found in very few places in Dorset. |
Barn Owl | Tyto alba | Sadly now a scarce and seldom seen bird in Dorset. |
Tawny Owl | Strix aluco | A crepuscular species, heard more often than seen. |
Nightjar | Caprimulgus europaeus | Not uncommon on Dorset heaths only active at dusk and difficult to photograph. |
Swift | Apus apus | Not often seen on nature reserves more a species of villages; declining in numbers, |
Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | Frequently seen on the lower reaches of Dorset's rivers. |
Redstart | Phoenicurus phoenicurus | Frequently seen on autumn migration and small numbers breed in Dorset. |
Cettis Warbler | Cettia cetti | Frequently heard but rarely seen in the reeds beds of the lower reaches of our main rivers. |
Grasshopper Warbler | Locustella naevia | A species found usually in reed beds whilst on a stop over during migration. |
Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus | Common in reed beds in summer, heard but rarely seen. |
Sedge Warbler | Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | A common species of reed beds in summer but more often heard than seen. |
Garden Warbler | Sylvia borin | A scarce summer visitor to downland with lots of scrub. |
Goldcrest | Regulus regulus | A fairly common but elusive species of woodland and hedgerows. |
Firecrest | Regulus ignicapilla | An elusive and fairly uncommon winter visitor to Dorset. |
Bearded Tit | Panurus biarmicus | A visitor to reedbeds on Dorset rivers in winter. |
Great Grey Shrike | Lanius excubitor | One or two birds turn up on the heaths in most winters. |
Redpoll | Carduelis flammea | An occasional winter visitor to coniferous woodlands in Dorset |
Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | A winter visitor to Wareham Forest in seasons where the seeds further north are limited. |
This book is made up of the segments listed below. Click the segment title for information about specie within that segment.
Segment | Description |
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Birds Corvids |
You will find members of the crow family almost anywhere where there is open space but large numbers of rooks and jackdaws are common on fields.
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Birds Finches and Buntings |
Finches are small birds with short, stout beaks, ideally made for eating seed. this group includes some of our most common birds. Whilst not related buntings have similar characteristcs.
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Birds Flycatchers and Larks |
Allthough not related I have combined these two insect eating families for convenience!
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Birds Game |
Gamebirds are reared solely for shooting and, in general, would not be present in the countryside were this not the case. |
Birds Hirundines and Swifts |
Hirundine is the family name for swallows and martins who, along with swifts, are summer visitors because of the ample food supply in summer. |
Birds Owls |
Birds of prey designed to hunt at night with excellent eye sight and hearing. [Not my photo] |
Birds Pigeons and Doves |
Although wood pigeon frequently occur in gardens most pigeons and doves are farmland birds. |
Birds Pipits and Wagtails |
Pipits and wagtails are closely related. Insect eaters that are often, but not always, found near water.
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Birds Raptors |
Large birds of prey such as buzzards, harriers, hawks and falcons |
Birds Thrushes and Chats |
Thrushes are mainly those birds of the genera turdus whereas chats are distant members of the thrush family but are generally smaller yet retaining that familar thrush upright posture.
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Birds Titmice and Wrens |
Although summer insect feeders the members of the tit family will happily eat nuts and seed in winter. Although not related I have included the wren, goldcrest anf firecrest here.
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Birds Warblers |
Many of our summer migrants are warblers. Delicate birds that feed on insects that they find in trees and shrubs.
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Other larger land birds |
A diverse selection of land birds in other families generally larger than a blackbird.
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Other Small Land Birds |
A diverse selection of land birds in other families generally smaller than a blackbird. |
Woodpeckers |
The woodpeckers are associated with trees and are rarely seen away from the vicinity of woodlands.
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