Pochard

Aythya ferina

Male

Female

Appearance:
Medium-sized diving duck
Triangular head shape
Male:
   Long, dark bill with grey band
   Reddish-brown head and neck
   Black breast and tail
   Grey body
   Dark bill with pale grey saddle
   Red eyes
Female:
   Brown head and body
   Dark bill with narrow grey band

I photographed this handsome couplr in Regent's Park along with a Red-crested Pochard (photo below).  The Common Pochard breeds here and is considered a wild bird as it does not derive from captive stock.  However, although the Red-crested Pochard also breeds in the park, it cannot be counted as a wild bird at this location.

Red-crested Pochard

Learn more about the Common Pochard. 
  

Ring-necked Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Appearance:
Large parrot
Long tail
Green/yellow plumage
Upper bill dark red tipped with black
Lower bill black with dark red at base
Yellow eye
Male: (photographed)
    Black chin
    Wide black stripe across lower cheeks
    Pink collar
    Nape of neck washed with blue

Female:
     No head markings
     Faint yellow/green collar
     Shorter tail


It always strikes me as odd to see these birds in London, as parrots are found mostly in tropical climates.  Apparently, the feral population in Britain is a result of escaped or deliberately released pets over the years, dating back to Victorian times.  

 Learn more about the Ring-necked Parakeet. 

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiacus

Appearance:
Large waterbird
Reddish-brown to grey-brown upper parts
Buff-coloured underparts
Pale buff head and neck
Reddish-brown patch around eye and at base of bill
Orange eyes
Pink bill with black tip, nostrils and edges
Reddish-brown collar 
Brown chest patch
White wing patch
Black tail
Cinnamon-coloured undertail coverts
Pink legs and feet
Male:
     Green secondaries

Although called the Egyptian Goose, this bird isn't really a goose. It is most closely related to the Shelduck, which incidentally isn't a duck at all but a cross between a goose and a duck. Who knew?


Learn more about the Egyptian Goose.

Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

Appearance:
Medium-sized water bird
Dark plumage with white line along flank
White undertail
Red frontal shield
Red bill with yellow tip
Yellow-green legs and feet
Toes are lobed, not webbed
Red eyes

These birds are common throughout the UK and I have seen them in freshwater marshes, pond and canals. What I hadn't seen before is the awkwardly adorable chick.  Looks like it needs to grow into those feet!  Like the Coot, the Moorhen has long chicken-like toes that help it walk on the top of floating vegetation and the mud.

Learn more about the Moorhen. 

Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Appearance:
Pigeon-sized wader
Wispy crest extending upwards from back of head
Iridescent green and purple upperparts
White breast and cheeks
Orange-brown under tail
Pink legs
Summer:
     Black throat
Winter:
     White throat
     Buff-coloured border to the feathers of the upperparts

Yet another eye-catching bird I saw at the Wetlands earlier this week.  Apparently, the name refers to its peculiar, erratic way of flying.  Although referred to simply as Lapwing in the UK, elsewhere it is known as the Northern Lapwing.  It also goes by the name of Green Plover and Peewit.

Learn more about the Lapwing.

Blackbird

Turdus merula
  
Appearance:
Male
    Black plumage
    Yellow-orange bill
    Yellow eye-ring
Female
    Dull brown plumage
    Brownish-white throat
    Mottling on the breast
    Dull yellowish-brown bill

The Blackbird is one of the commonest UK birds. The bird photographed is still showing some brown in the wings. This indicates it is a first year male.

 Learn more about the Common Blackbird.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

 
Appearance:
Starling-sized woodpecker
Black crown and nap
White forehead, cheeks and throat
Black back, tail and wings
Large white patch on shoulder
Small white spots on wings
Buff-white upperparts
Red under tail
Black bill
Greenish-grey legs
Male: (photographed)
   Red spot on the nape
Juvenile:
   Red top of the head between the bill and the center of the crown

This is another of the striking birds I saw at the Wetlands yesterday.  Initially, I saw him gripping the bark of a tree and probing the trunk for insects.  Then, he decided to take the easy way out and moved over to the feeder. Lazy thing!

Learn more about the Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Appearance:
Bright blue crown
White forehead and cheeks
Dark blue line passing through eyes and encircling the white cheeks to the chin
Blue nape, wings and tail
White bar on wings
Yellowish-green back
Yellow underparts with a dark line down the abdomen
Black bill
Bluish-grey legs

I spent today at the London Wetlands. As their website says, it is an urban oasis and definitely worth a visit. One of the many birds I saw there was this handsome Blue Tit.  It was checking out the interior of a little birdhouse.  I initially thought that it was feeding little ones inside, but apparently it's too early for that.  According to the internet, late May is the time for Blue Tit chicks to hatch.
  

juvenile

Learn more about the Blue Tit.

Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis

Appearance:
Red chin and forehead
Black lores and crown
White cheeks
Tawny brown upper parts
White belly and rump
Black wings with large yellow band

I saw this bird while wandering around the village of Nettlebed in the Chiltern Hills. She was carrying dried grass in her bill, most likely gathering material for her nest. I say 'she' as it is the female goldfinch that builds the nest.

It is possible to tell the difference between the sexes by their appearance; the red on the male extends behind the eye while on the female it doesn't. Unfortunately, the angle of this photo doesn't provide the view needed to make this determination.

Learn more about the European Goldfinch.

Robin

Erithacus rubecula

Appearance:
Small, plump bird
Adult:
   Orange breast and face edged with grey
   Olive-brown upper parts
   Whitish belly
   Black bill and eyes
Juvenile:
   Speckled buff-brown



The European Robin is one of the cutest birds around. It's no wonder it is a favorite and the unofficial national bird of the UK.  Although I've seen these birds throughout England, I've never been able to get a great picture of one. Luckily, they are prolific breeders so I'm sure I'll get many more chances.

Learn more about the European Robin.

Additional photos:

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

male

female

Appearance:
Medium-sized diving duck
Grey-blue bill
Yellow eye
Male:
   Black with white flanks
   Long, black head tuft (less prominent in non-breeding plumage)
Female:
   Brown with paler flanks
Juvenile:
     Similar in appearance to female
     Colour less vibrant
     Tuft less pronounced

Although similar in appearance to the Scaup, which I am familiar with, the long head tuft on the male made this fellow immediately stand out.  He is just one of the many ducks that frequent the Boating Lake in Regent's Park.

Learn more about the Tufted Duck.

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Appearance:
Small water bird
Short, pointed black bill
Fluffy, whitish rear end 
Breeding plumage: (above)
   Dark back
   Rufous-coloured cheeks and sides of the neck
   Yellow gap at base of bill
Non-breeding plumage:
   Brownish-grey back
   Pale buff on lower quarters
Juvenile
   Yellow bill with a small black tip
   Black and white streaks on cheeks and sides of the neck

I saw this little fellow while strolling around Regent's Park yesterday.  It was a gorgeous day and everyone, including the waterfowl, were enjoying the sunshine. 

Learning more about the Little Grebe.

Red Kite

Milvus milvus
 
Appearance:
Medium-large bird of prey
Pale grey head
Long forked tail
Rufous body, upper tail and wing coverts
White primary flight feathers
Black wing tips

We spent Easter weekend exploring the beautiful countryside of southern Oxfordshire. We were charmed by everything, from the thatched roof cottages to the friendly locals. Red Kites could be seen soaring above us everywhere we traveled. Definitely the place to go if you're looking for these birds!

Learn more about the Red Kite.