Latin name CARDUELIS CARDUELISFamily FINCHES (FRINGILLIDAE)Overview A HIGHLY COLOURED FINCH WITH A BRIGHT RED FACE AND YELLOW WING PATCH. SOCIABLE, OFTEN BREEDING IN LOOSE COLONIES, THEY HAVE A DELIGHTFUL LIQUID TWITTERING SONG AND CALL. THEIR LONG FINE BEAKS ALLOW THEM TO EXTRACT OTHERWISE INACCESSIBLE SEEDS FROM THISTLES AND TEASELS. INCREASINGLY THEY ARE VISITING BIRDTABLES AND FEEDERS. IN WINTER MANY UK GOLDFINCHES MIGRATE AS FAR SOUTH AS SPAIN.Where to see them ANYWHERE THERE ARE SCATTERED BUSHES AND TREES, ROUGH GROUND WITH THISTLES AND OTHER SEEDING PLANTS. LIKES ORCHARDS, PARKS, GARDENS, HEATHLAND AND COMMONS. LESS COMMON IN UPLAND AREAS AND MOST NUMEROUS IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND.When to see them ALL YEAR ROUND.What they eat SEEDS AND INSECTS IN SUMMER.Estimated numbers EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*-313,000 territories100,000 birds-* UK BREEDING IS THE NUMBER OF PAIRS BREEDING ANNUALLY. UK WINTERING IS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS PRESENT FROM OCTOBER TO MARCH. UK PASSAGE IS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS PASSING THROUGH ON MIGRATION IN SPRING AND/OR AUTUMN.Distribution In the UK All UK apart from far N and W of Scotland PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MAP IS ONLY INTENDED AS A GUIDE. IT SHOWS GENERAL DISTRIBUTION RATHER THAN DETAILED, LOCALISED POPULATIONS. AUDIO IS FROM COMMERCIAL RECORDINGS BIRD SONGS AND CALLS OF BRITAIN AND EUROPE ON 4 CDS OR BIRD SOUNDS OF EUROPE & NORTH-WEST AFRICA, COPYRIGHT WILDSOUNDS & CEBA ( (UK) +44 (0) ) 2 ILLUSTRATIONS 12 FINCHES 12

Latin name GALLINAGO Family SANDPIPERS AND ALLIES (SCOLOPACIDAE)SANDPIPERS AND ALLIES Overview SNIPE ARE MEDIUM SIZED, SKULKING WADING BIRDS WITH SHORT LEGS AND LONG STRAIGHT BILLS. BOTH SEXES ARE MOTTLED BROWN ABOVE, WITH PALER BUFF STRIPES ON THE BACK, DARK STREAKS ON THE CHEST AND PALE UNDER PARTS. THEY ARE WIDESPREAD AS A BREEDING SPECIES IN THE UK, WITH PARTICULARLY HIGH DENSITIES ON NORTHERN UPLANDS BUT LOWER NUMBERS IN SOUTHERN LOWLANDS (ESPECIALLY SOUTH WEST ENGLAND). IN WINTER, BIRDS FROM NORTHERN EUROPE JOIN RESIDENT BIRDS. THE UK POPULATION OF SNIPE HAS UNDERGONE MODERATE DECLINES OVERALL IN THE PAST TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, WITH PARTICULARLY STEEP DECLINES IN LOWLAND WET GRASSLAND, MAKING IT AN AMBER LIST SPECIES. Where to see them DURING THE BREEDING SEASON SNIPE ARE BEST LOOK FOR ON MOORLAND, ESPECIALLY ON EARLY SPRING MORNINGS WHEN MALES CAN BE HEARD GIVING THEIR 'DRUMMING' OR 'BLEATING' DISPLAY. IN WINTER, LOOK PATIENTLY AROUND THE EDGES OF POOLS IN WELL-VEGETATED WETLANDS. When to see them ALL YEAR ROUND What they eat SMALL INVERTEBRATES, INCLUDING WORMS AND INSECT LARVAE. Estimated numbers EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*- 59,300 pairs>100,000 individuals

Latin name PYRRHULA Family FINCHES (FRINGILLIDAE)FINCHES Overview THE MALE IS UNMISTAKABLE WITH HIS BRIGHT PINKISH-RED BREAST AND CHEEKS, GREY BACK, BLACK CAP AND TAIL, AND BRIGHT WHITE RUMP. THE FLASH OF THE RUMP IN FLIGHT AND THE SAD CALL NOTE ARE USUALLY THE FIRST SIGNS OF BULLFINCHES BEING PRESENT. THEY FEED VORACIOUSLY OF THE BUDS OF VARIOUS TREES IN SPRING AND WERE ONCE A 'PEST' OF FRUIT CROPS. RECENT DECLINES PLACE IT ON THE RED LIST. Where to see them WOODLANDS, ORCHARD AND HEDGEROWS. BEST LOOKED FOR AT WOODLAND EDGES - USUALLY LOCATED BY ITS MOURNFUL CALL. When to see them ALL YEAR ROUND. What they eat SEEDS, BUDS AND INSECTS (FOR YOUNG). Estimated numbers EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*-166,000 territories

Latin name BUTEO Family HAWKS, VULTURES AND EAGLES (ACCIPITRIDAE)HAWKS, VULTURES AND EAGLES Overview THE COMMONEST UK BIRD OF PREY, IT IS QUITE LARGE WITH BROAD, ROUNDED WINGS, AND A SHORT NECK AND TAIL. WHEN GLIDING AND SOARING IT WILL OFTEN HOLD ITS WINGS IN A SHALLOW 'V'. IT IS VARIABLE IN COLOUR FROM ALL DARK BROWN TO BIRDS WITH PALE HEADS AND BREASTS, ALL HAVE DARK WINGTIPS AND AN UNBANDED TAIL. Where to see them GREATEST NUMBERS IN SCOTLAND, WALES, THE LAKE DISTRICT AND SW ENGLAND. FOUND ON FARMLAND WITH WOODED HILLS, MOORLAND AND IN MORE ARABLE AREAS TO THE EAST WHERE IT IS SPREADING. LOOK FOR BIRDS SOARING OVER WOODED HILLSIDES IN FINE WEATHER, OR PERCHED ON FENCE POSTS AND PYLONS. When to see them ALL YEAR ROUND. BIRDS SOAR, DISPLAY AND CALL MOST IN SPRING. What they eat SMALL MAMMALS, BIRDS AND CARRION. Estimated numbers EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*- 31,100-44,000 territories-

Latin name DENDROCOPOS MAJOR Family WRYNECKS AND WOODPECKERS (PICIDAE)WRYNECKS AND WOODPECKERS Overview ABOUT BLACKBIRD-SIZED AND STRIKING BLACK-AND-WHITE. IT HAS A VERY DISTINCTIVE BOUNCING FLIGHT AND SPENDS MOST OF ITS TIME CLINGING TO TREE TRUNKS AND BRANCHES, OFTEN TRYING TO HIDE ON THE SIDE AWAY FROM THE OBSERVER. ITS PRESENCE IS OFTEN ANNOUNCED BY ITS LOUD CALL OR BY ITS DISTINCTIVE SPRING 'DRUMMING' DISPLAY. THE MALE HAS A DISTINCTIVE RED PATCH ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND YOUNG BIRDS HAVE A RED CROWN. Where to see them WOODLANDS, ESPECIALLY WITH MATURE BROAD-LEAVED TREES, ALTHOUGH MATURE CONIFERS WILL SUPPORT THEM. ALSO IN PARKS AND LARGE GARDENS. WILL COME TO PEANUT FEEDERS AND BIRDTABLES. NOT FOUND IN IRELAND OR THE FAR NORTH OF SCOTLAND. MOST COMMON IN ENGLAND AND WALES. When to see them ALL YEAR ROUND. What they eat INSECTS, SEEDS AND NUTS. Estimated numbers EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*-37-44,000 pairs--

By Jordan rayner