Birds of Britain

THE GREAT CRESTED GREBE
Podicipes cristatus (Linnæus)

In the course of these pages we have often had to lament the extermination or decrease of many species, so that it is a real pleasure to have to record that a fine species like the present has increased abundantly of late years.

This has been largely brought about by very strict protection, and although still local, there are many places where it is now common, and in Scotland it breeds on several lochs as far north as Aberdeenshire. In Ireland also it nests in several localities. It is practically a resident and may be found with us at all times of the year, but after the breeding season the majority leave their summer haunts and may be found in the estuaries and bays along the coast. The nest is a large floating mass of decaying vegetation generally well hidden among thick reeds, though occasionally it is placed in the open. The eggs, usually four in number, are yellowish white when first laid, but soon become stained to a dirty brown from contact with the decaying vegetable matter with which they are always covered when the sitting bird leaves the nest. The young when first hatched are dark brown, longitudinally striped with white; they are carefully tended by both their parents, who often carry them on their backs. The food consists of fish, crustaceans, and any other living food which may be found.

This bird may usually be seen swimming about in the centre of the open water, its long neck and low flat back enabling it to be easily recognised.

It flies well and strongly, appearing when on the wing rather like a Duck.

In winter it is dark brown above and white below, but in spring it assumes a chestnut tippet which surrounds the face; the crown of the head is dark brown, the cheeks and a stripe over the eye white.

The female is rather duller but otherwise resembles the male. The young in their first plumage are much like the adults in winter. Length 21 in.; wing 7·5 in.

THE RED-NECKED GREBE
Podicipes griseigena (Boddaert)

On the east coast of England this species is not uncommon during the winter months, and in some seasons becomes quite abundant. Elsewhere in our area it is decidedly rare, and not more than five or six examples are recorded from Ireland. It is plentiful in the south of Scandinavia, the Baltic, and North Russia, whence it migrates southwards throughout Europe in the winter. In habits and food it does not appreciably differ from the preceding species.

The crown and nape are blackish, upper parts dark brown with a white patch on the secondaries.

Cheeks, chin, and throat grey; neck rich chestnut red; rest of under parts white. Length 18 in.; wing 7 in.

THE SLAVONIAN OR HORNED GREBE
Podicipes auritus (Linnæus)

This is a northern species, breeding in Iceland, Scandinavia, and Russia, which visits our shores, especially in the east, annually, and in the north of Scotland it is quite common. Ireland is also regularly visited on migration every year.

In summer the upper parts are dark brown; the crown, forehead, chin, and tippet black, and a tuft of elongated feathers on each side of the head chestnut. Secondaries white, except the three outer ones, which are dusky like the primaries; neck, breast, and flanks warm chestnut; belly white. In winter the crest is absent; the under parts are white. The young resemble their parents in winter dress. Length 13·5 in.; wing 5·5 in.

THE BLACK-NECKED OR EARED GREBE
Podicipes nigricollis, C. L. Brehm

Unlike the preceding species, this is a southern Grebe, stragglers of which are occasionally met with most frequently in spring, and there is evidence that it may have nested with us on more than one occasion. To Scotland and Ireland it is a very rare wanderer.

The adult in spring has the head and neck black with a triangular patch of yellowish chestnut feathers on the ear coverts; upper parts dark brown; under parts white; flanks chestnut. All the secondaries white, and a good deal of white on the four innermost primaries. Bill black, up-curved in front of the angle. In winter the ear tufts and black on the throat are lost, and at this season it closely resembles the preceding species, but the white on the primaries will always serve to distinguish it. Length 12 in.; wing 5 in.

THE LITTLE GREBE OR DABCHICK
Podicipes fluviatilis (Tunstall)

The Little Grebe is abundant on rivers, streams, and ponds throughout the country, but becomes scarcer in the north of Scotland. It must be tolerably familiar to every one as a short squat little bird that dives at the smallest alarm, only coming to the surface again some distance away, most often among the reeds and aquatic vegetation near which this bird is always found. The nest is a fair-sized mass of dead weeds floating on the surface of the water and generally moored to some reed stems.

The eggs, usually five in number, are of a uniform yellowish white, but soon become discoloured by the weeds with which they are always covered when the bird is not sitting. The nestling is striped, and fed by its parents on insects and small fish. These birds are seldom seen on the wing and hardly ever on land, but nevertheless they are well able to stand up and even walk when on shore.

In summer the plumage, except for the cheeks, throat, and sides of the neck, which are chestnut, is dark brown all over, rather lighter on the under parts.

In winter the chin, neck, and under parts are nearly white. The plumage of the young resembles the winter dress of their parents but is a little duller, and there is more white about the cheeks. Length 9·5 in.; wing 4 in.

THE STORM PETREL
Procellaria pelagica, Linnæus

This is the commonest of the Petrels which come to our shores to breed, for as a rule these birds live far out at sea and only visit the shore to breed or when driven inland by stress of weather or on migration. About their migrations little or nothing is known, but in October and November this species regularly strikes many of our lighthouses and lightships, being attracted by the light. It is found along the whole of the countries fringing the Atlantic, and nests from the Faroes southwards, and also along the shores of the western end of the Mediterranean.

The single white egg is deposited during the latter half of June down holes in heaps of stones, in rabbit-burrows, or in any other spot affording suitable concealment. Incubation, which is probably undertaken by both sexes, lasts about thirty-five days, the nestling when hatched being covered with long black down. Their food consists of crustaceans, small fish, and fatty matter of any kind. They are nocturnal, during the breeding season at all events, only leaving their retreat after dark and returning before dawn, so that it is very difficult to detect their presence. The sitting bird, however, utters a curious note while sitting, and a strong musky odour pervades the burrow, so that by this means the nest may frequently be found. If handled, the bird emits a greenish oil.

In England it only nests sparingly on the coast of Wales and in the Scilly Islands, but in Scotland and Ireland its breeding places are numerous.

The adult is sooty black all over, but the bases of the tail coverts are white and the edges of the wing coverts are slightly edged with white. Length 6·5 in.; wing 4·7 in.

LEACH’S FORK-TAILED PETREL
Oceanodroma leucorrhoa (Vieillot)

This species is a regular but not very numerous visitor to our shores every autumn, its numbers depending largely on the weather, and after heavy gales it is often found inland. It nests in small numbers on St. Kilda and some of the Outer Hebrides, and has also been found nesting off the coast of Kerry; and in time many other breeding stations will probably be found on the islands of our western shores. The single egg is white freckled with rusty spots. In its food and habits it resembles, so far as they are known, those of the Storm Petrel.

The adult is dark leaden black, rather more sooty below; upper tail coverts white; tail sooty black and deeply forked. Length 8 in.; wing 6 in.

MADEIRAN FORK-TAILED PETREL
Oceanodroma castro (Harcourt)

An example of this bird was picked up dead in Kent in December 1895.

The home of this species is the islands lying off the west of Africa, viz. Cape Verde, Madeira, Desertas, Salvages, and Canaries, from whence individuals occasionally wander to Europe.

This species very closely resembles Leach’s Petrel, but the tail is hardly forked; the upper tail coverts are white tipped with black; and the bases of the tail feathers are white. Length nearly 8 in.; wing 5·9 in.

WILSON’S PETREL
Oceanites oceanicus (Kuhl)

This bird is almost cosmopolitan in distribution, but perhaps the South Atlantic is its main home, and it is commoner up the North American coast than on this side. Several examples have been shot in this country. The legs and wings are longer than in the preceding species and the webs of the feet are yellow at their bases. The general colour above and below is sooty brown with white on upper tail coverts and thigh patches, and also at the base of the outer tail feathers. Length 7 in.; wing 6 in.

THE FRIGATE PETREL
Pelagodroma marina (Latham)

Of late years two examples of this Petrel have been washed up on our shores. The Salvages are the nearest breeding haunts of this species, but it is also found in the south seas.

The crown, nape, and patch behind the eye are slate grey; upper parts grey; wing coverts brown; quills blackish. Tail black; under parts white tinged with grey on the flanks. Length 7·75 in.; wing 6·25 in.

THE GREAT SHEARWATER
Puffinus gravis, O’Reilly

This species is a fairly regular summer visitor to the waters round our coasts, but it does not often approach the land.

Nothing is known of its breeding haunts, which are probably in the Antarctic seas.

The upper parts are ash brown, mottled with white on the upper tail coverts. Under parts white, sometimes brownish on the belly. Legs pinkish. Length 19 in.; wing 12·7 in.

THE SOOTY SHEARWATER
Puffinus griseus (J. F. Gmelin)

This species visits us yearly but is much scarcer than the Great Shearwater.

Its only known nesting haunts are in Chatham Islands and others near New Zealand, but the birds which visit us probably nest in the South Atlantic.

The whole of the plumage is brown, rather greyer below and more mottled. Legs blackish outside, lilac grey within. Length 18 in.; wing 12 in.

THE MEDITERRANEAN GREAT SHEARWATER
Puffinus kuhli (Boie)

A single specimen of this Atlantic and Mediterranean Shearwater was picked up on the Sussex coast in 1906. It is similar to the Dusky Shearwater but greyer, wings and tail blackish brown, under parts pure white. Length 17·25 in.; wing 12·75 in.

THE MANX SHEARWATER
Puffinus anglorum (Temminck)

The Manx Shearwater is the commonest of the Shearwaters that are found round our coasts. It is resident with us throughout the year, feeding chiefly on fish, offal, etc., that it finds on or near the surface.

During the nesting season it retires to secluded parts of the coast, where it lays its single white egg in rabbit-burrows or other crevices. It is not known to breed on the east coast, but down the west from Wales northwards as well as in Ireland it breeds commonly, though from its nocturnal habits the nest is not always easy to find.

It may be distinguished when flying by its rounded wings and its habit of progressing with wings held motionless close over the surface of the water.

The crown, nape, and upper parts are sooty black, under parts white, except for a patch of sooty brown behind the thighs; legs and feet flesh-coloured; outer toes black. Length 15 in.; wing 9·5 in.

THE LITTLE DUSKY SHEARWATER
Puffinus assimilis, Gould

This is another species inhabiting the Salvages and islands off the west coast of Africa.

Some three or four examples have been obtained, which were originally wrongly identified as P. obscurus, an American species.

The upper parts are slaty black and under parts white. Bill and legs blackish; webs yellow. Length 10·5 in.; wing 7·4 in.

THE CAPPED PETREL
Æstrelata hæsitata (Kuhl)

Extremely little is known of this species, which used to nest in the West Indies. It has occurred here on one occasion only.

The crown, nape, and mantle are dark brown; hind-neck and upper tail coverts white; cheeks grey; forehead and under parts white; central tail feathers brownish black; the rest, white edged with brown. Length 16 in.; wing 11·3 in.

THE COLLARED PETREL
Æstrelata brevipes (Peale)

A single example of this Petrel was obtained off the coast of Wales in December 1889. The southern and western Pacific appear to be its true home.

The crown is slaty grey; rest of upper parts darker, becoming browner on the wing coverts. Forehead and throat white; rest of under parts white, sometimes tinged with grey. Length 11·5 in.; wing 8·7 in.

BULWER’S PETREL
Bulweria bulweri (Jardine and Selby)

This small Petrel is a common resident in the Canaries and neighbouring islands, but only one individual has straggled to our shores.

The plumage is of a uniform sooty brown; tail wedge-shaped. Bill black. Legs reddish brown. Length 11 in.; wing 8 in.

THE FULMAR
Fulmarus glacialis (Linnæus)

Although not very rare, this bird is seldom seen, as it spends most of its time at sea in attendance on the fishing-boats or on the banks where the fish abound. In Scotland it nests on St. Kilda and a few of the other islands of that group; while in the Shetlands, where it was first known to nest in 1878, it has now spread to several of the neighbouring stacks.

The nest is placed on a ledge on the face of a precipitous cliff, and the single egg is pure white with a few reddish-brown spots. The young are at first nourished on a yellowish oil vomited by the parent birds, and large numbers are annually taken in St. Kilda for the sake of this oil. It may easily be distinguished from a Gull on the wing by its peculiar flight and rounded wings.

The back and tail are grey, the rest of the bird white. Bill yellowish; legs ash colour. The young resemble their parents. The more northerly form of this bird has greyish under parts and may be met with in Scotland in winter. Length 19 in.; wing 13·25 in.

THE BLACK-BROWED ALBATROSS
Diomedea melanophrys, Boie

The true home of this species is in the southern seas near the Chatham Islands and New Zealand, but it has been known for some time past to occasionally visit the North Atlantic.

A specimen was obtained near Cambridge on the 9th of July 1897.

The adult has a short black band passing through and above the eyes; back and wings brownish black; tail feathers grey; rest of the plumage white. Length 27 in.; wing 17 in.

INDEX

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Accentor, Alpine, 70

Hedge, 67

Albatross, Black-browed, 399

Auk, Great, 377

Little, 380

Avocet, 312

B

Bee-Eater, 184

Bittern, American, 228

Common, 227

Little, 227

Blackbird, 15

Blackcap, 45

Bluethroat, 34

Brambling, 128

Bullfinch, 135

Bunting, Black-headed, 139

Cirl, 143

Corn, 140

Lapland, 149

Little, 146

Meadow, 145

Ortolan, 144

Reed, 147

Rustic, 145

Siberian Meadow, 145

Snow, 150

Yellow, 141

Yellow-breasted, 147

Bustard, Great, 292

Little, 292

Macqueen’s, 293

Buzzard, Common, 201

Honey, 210

Rough-legged, 203

C

Capercaillie, 274

Chaffinch, 126

Chiffchaff, 53

Siberian, 54

Chough, 154

Coot, 290

Cormorant, 219

Courser, Cream-coloured, 296

Crake, Baillon’s, 287

Little, 286

Spotted, 285

Crane, 291

Creeper, Tree-, 85

Wall-, 85

Crossbill, 137

Two-barred, 139

Crow, Carrion, 163

Hooded, 164

Cuckoo, 186

American Yellow-billed, 189

Great Spotted, 189

Curlew, 347

Eskimo, 349

D

Dabchick, Little Grebe or, 390

Dipper, 70

Diver, Black-throated, 384

Great Northern, 383

Red-throated, 385

White-billed Northern, 384

Dotterel, 296

Dove, Rock, 271

Stock, 270

Turtle, 272

Duck, Buffel-headed, 258

Common Sheld, 239

Eider, 260

Ferruginous, 254

Golden-eye, 257

Harlequin, 259

Long-tailed, 258

Mallard, or Wild, 241

Ruddy Sheld, 240

Scaup, 256

Tufted, 255

Dunlin, 324

E

Eagle, Golden, 204

Spotted, 203

White-tailed, 205

Egret, Little, 225

Eider, King, 261

Steller’s, 261

F

Falcon, Greenland, 211

Gyr, 211

Iceland, 211

Red-footed, 215

Fieldfare, 10

Finch, Citril, 120

Firecrest, 51

Flamingo, 230

Flycatcher, Pied, 107

Red-breasted, 108

Spotted, 105

Fulmar, 398

G

Gadwall, 244

Gannet, 222

Garganey, 250

Godwit, Bar-tailed, 345

Black-tailed, 346

Goldfinch, 117

Goosander, 264

Goose, Bean, 233

Bernacle, 235

Brent, 235

Grey Lag, 231

Pink-footed, 233

Red-breasted, 234

Snow, 234

White-fronted, 232

Goshawk, 206

Grebe, Black-necked or Eared, 389

Great Crested, 387

Little, 390

Red-necked, 388

Slavonian or Horned, 389

Greenfinch, 114

Greenshank, 343

Grosbeak, Pine, 137

Scarlet, 136

Grouse, Black, 275

Pallas’ Sand, 273

Red, 276

Guillemot, Black, 379

Brünnich’s, 379

Common, 377

Gull, Black-headed, 360

Bonaparte’s, 359

Common, 363

Glaucous, 368

Greater Black-backed, 367

Great Black-headed, 362

Herring, 364

Iceland, 369

Ivory, 371

Kittiwake, 369

Lesser Black-backed, 366

Little, 360

Mediterranean Black-headed, 362

Sabine’s, 358

Wedge-tailed, 359

H

Harrier, Hen, 200

Marsh, 199

Montagu’s, 200

Hawfinch, 115

Hawk, Sparrow, 207

Hen, Moor, 288

Heron, 223

Buff-backed, 225

Great White, 225

Night, 226

Purple, 224

Squacco, 226

Hobby, 214

Hoopoe, 185

House-Martin, 112

Sparrow, 121

I

Ibis, Glossy, 229

J

Jackdaw, 160

Jay, 156

K

Kestrel, 216

Lesser, 218

Kingfisher, 182

Kite, 208

Black, 210

Knot, 330

L

Lapwing, 306

Lark, Black, 171

Crested, 170

Shore, 172

Short-toed, 170

White-winged, 171

Wood, 169

Linnet, 129

M

Magpie, 159

Mallard, or Wild Duck, 241

Martin, House-, 112

Sand-, 113

Merganser, Hooded, 267

Red-breasted, 265

Merlin, 214

Moor-hen, 288

N

Nightingale, 38

Nightjar, 175

Noddy, 358

Nutcracker, 156

Nuthatch, 81

O

Oriole, Golden, 99

Osprey, 219

Ouzel, Ring, 19

Owl, Barn, 190

Eagle, 197

Hawk, 196

Little, 195

Long-eared, 191

Scops, 197

Short-eared, 192

Snowy, 196

Tawny, 193

Tengmalm’s, 194

Oyster-Catcher, 310

P

Partridge, 280

Red-legged, 281

Pastor, Rose-coloured, 154

Peregrine, 212

Petrel, Bulwer’s, 398

Capped, 397

Collared, 397

Frigate, 393

Leach’s Fork-tailed, 392

Madeiran Fork-tailed, 393

Storm, 391

Wilson’s, 393

Phalarope, Grey, 314

Red-necked, 315

Pheasant, 279

Pigeon, Wood, 268

Pintail, 247

Pipit, Meadow, 94

Red-throated, 95

Richard’s, 97

Rock, 98

Tawny, 96

Tree, 92

Water, 97

Plover, Caspian, 298

Golden, 302

Grey, 305

Kentish, 301

Killdeer, 302

Lesser Golden, 304

Little Ringed, 301

Ringed, 298

Sociable, 306

Pochard, Common, 253

Red-crested, 252

Pratincole, 295

Black-winged, 296

Ptarmigan, 278

Puffin, 381

Q

Quail, 282

R

Rail, Land, 283

Water, 287

Raven, 161

Razorbill, 375

Redpoll, Lesser, 132

Mealy, 131

Redshank, Common, 340

Spotted, 342

Redstart, 31

Black, 33

Redwing, 8

Reedling, Bearded, 71

Robin, 35

Roller, 184

Rook, 165

Ruff, 333

S

Sand-Martin, 113

Sanderling, 331

Sandpiper, American Pectoral, 322

Baird’s, 326

Bartram’s, 335

Bonaparte’s, 323

Broad-billed, 321

Buff-breasted, 335

Common, 336

Curlew, 328

Green, 338

Purple, 329

Siberian Pectoral, 323

Solitary, 339

Spotted, 337

Wood, 337

Scoter, Common, 262

Surf, 264

Velvet, 263

Serin, 121

Shag, 221

Shearwater, Great, 394

Little Dusky, 396

Manx, 395

Mediterranean Great, 395

Sooty, 395

Shoveller, 245

Shrike, Great Grey, 100

Lesser Grey, 101

Masked, 104

Red-backed, 102

Siskin, 119

Skua, Arctic or Richardson’s, 373

Great, 371

Long-tailed or Buffous, 374

Pomatorhine, 372

Skylark, 167

Smew, 266

Snipe, Common, 319

Great or Solitary, 318

Jack, 321

Red-breasted, 345

Snow-Finch, 129

Sparrow, “Hedge,” 67

House-, 121

Tree-, 124

Spoonbill, 230

Starling, 151

Stilt, Black-winged, 313

Stint, American, 327

Little, 326

Temminck’s, 327

Stone-Curlew, 293

Stonechat, 29

Siberian, 31

Stork, Black, 229

White, 228

Swallow, 109

Red-rumped, 111

Swan, Bewick’s, 237

Mute, 237

Whooper, 236

Swift, 173

Alpine, 175

T

Teal, 248

American Green-winged, 249

Blue-winged, 249

Tern, Arctic, 356

Black, 349

Caspian, 352

Common, 354

Gull-billed, 351

Little, 357

Roseate, 353

Sandwich, 352

Sooty, 358

Whiskered, 351

White-winged Black, 350

Thrush, Black-throated, 14

Dusky, 18

Missel, 1

Rock, 22

Song, 4

White’s, 14

Tit, Bearded, 71

Blue, 79

Coal, 77

Crested, 81

Great, 75

Long-tailed, 74

Marsh, 78

Tree-Creeper, 85

Sparrow, 124

Turnstone, 309

Twite, 133

V

Vulture, Egyptian, 198

Griffon, 198

W

Wagtail, Blue-headed, 90

Grey, 89

Pied, 86

White, 88

Yellow, 91

Wall-Creeper, 85

Warbler, Aquatic, 66

Barred, 47

Cetti’s, 59

Dartford, 48

Garden, 46

Grasshopper, 65

Great Reed, 63

Greenish Willow, 52

Icterine, 59

Marsh, 62

Melodious, 60

Orphean, 44

Pallas’ Willow, 52

Radde’s Bush, 58

Reed, 60

Rufous, 58

Sardinian, 44

Savi’s, 66

Sedge, 63

Sub-Alpine, 48

Yellow-browed, 51

Waxwing, 104

Wheatear, 22

Black-eared, 26

Black-throated, 26

Desert, 27

Isabelline, 25

Whimbrel, 348

Whinchat, 27

Whitethroat, 40

Lesser, 42

Wigeon, 251

American, 252

Woodchat, 103

Woodcock, 317

Woodpecker, Greater Spotted, 180

Green, 179

Lesser Spotted, 181

Wren, 83

Golden-crested, 50

Willow, 55

Wood, 56

Wryneck, 177

Y

Yellow Hammer or Yellow Bunting, 141

Yellowshank, 340

Greater, 340