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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Tap/click the icon to open the book and start reading. There is one species per page and you can swipe right to page forward and swipe left to go back (arrows are provided for those without a touch screen). |
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21| Other species not featured but found in Dorset | Scientific Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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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