|
British Birds Rarities Committee
The British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC), established in 1959, is the national bird rarities committee for Britain. It assesses claimed sightings of bird species that are rarely seen in Britain, based on descriptions, photographs and video recordings submitted by observers. Its findings are published in an annual report in the journal ''British Birds (magazine), British Birds''. The BBRC covers around 280 species whose annually recorded sightings in Britain fall below a threshold deemed to signify rarity. Since the establishment of the committee, some previously included species have become more common—or at least better recorded; this has resulted in their removal from the committee's list and their reclassification as "scarce migrants". The committee has a chairman, a secretary, and ten voting members, and is supported by others who serve in an advisory capacity. Since its inception, a total of 69 people have served on the committee as assessors. In addition to assessing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bird Rarities Committee
A bird rarities committee or bird records committee is a committee which exists to validate records of rare species, rare birds in a particular country or region. Many countries have national rarities committees; in some areas, such as Europe, coverage is near-complete at a national level. European national committees are all members of the Association of European Rarities Committees. Some countries have committees covering more localised areas - e.g. in the United States, most states have their own state records committee, and in Britain, each county has its own county records committee. A records committee differs from a list committee in that the latter just compile a list of the species found in an area, and do not typically assess every individual record of the rare species. See also * List of the member committees of the Association of European Rarities Committees Ornithological organizations Bird rarities committees, {{ornithology-org-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black-and-white Warbler
The black-and-white warbler (''Mniotilta varia'') is a species of New World warbler, and the only member of its genus, ''Mniotilta''. It breeds in northern and eastern North America and winters in Florida, Central America, and the West Indies down to Peru. This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. Relative to other New World warblers, it is not well studied. Description The black-and-white warbler is to in length with a mass of to grams. Wingspan ranges from 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm). True to their name, black-and-white warblers are black and white in colour. Both sexes have black and white crowns with a white eyebrow, black streaking on a white belly, black wings with two white wing bars, a black tail, a black-and-white streaked back, streaky undertail coverts, and grey-black legs and feet. Breeding males have a black-and-white streaked throat and black cheek, while females have a grey cheek and a white-cream coloured throat and sides. First fall males ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crested Tit
The crested tit or European crested tit (''Lophophanes cristatus'') (formerly ''Parus cristatus''), is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder in coniferous forests throughout central and northern Europe and in deciduous woodland in France and the Iberian peninsula. In Great Britain, it is chiefly restricted to the ancient pinewoods of Inverness and Strathspey in Scotland, and seldom strays far from its haunts. A few vagrant crested tits have been seen in England. It is resident, and most individuals do not migrate. Taxonomy and systematics This species was formerly placed in ''Parus'', but the distinctness of ''Lophophanes'' is well supported, and it is now recognised by the American Ornithologists' Union and the British Ornithologists' Union as a distinct genus. The current genus name, ''Lophophanes'', is from the Ancient Greek ''lophos'', "crest", and ''phaino'', "to show". The specific ''cristatus'' is Latin for "creste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kentish Plover
The Kentish plover (''Charadrius alexandrinus'') is a small cosmopolitan shorebird (40-44 g) of the family Charadriidae that breeds on the shores of saline lakes, lagoons, and coasts, populating sand dunes, marshes, semi-arid desert, and tundra.Székely, T., A. Argüelles-Ticó, A. Kosztolányi and C. Küpper. 2011. Practical guide for investigating breeding ecology of Kentish plover ''Charadrius alexandrinus'', Unpublished Report, University of Bathdel Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK Both male and female birds have pale plumages with a white underside, grey/brown back, dark legs and a dark bill; however, additionally the male birds also exhibit very dark incomplete breast bands, and dark markings either side of their head, therefore the Kentish plover is regarded as sexually dimorphic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red Kite
The red kite (''Milvus milvus'') is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species currently breeds in the Western Palearctic region of Europe and northwest Africa, though it formerly also occurred in northern Iran. It is resident in the milder parts of its range in western Europe and northwest Africa, but birds from northeastern and Central Europe winter further south and west, reaching south to Turkey. Vagrants have reached north to Finland and south to Israel, Libya and Gambia. Taxonomy The red kite was described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' under the binomial name ''Falco milvus''. The word ''milvus'' was the Latin name for the bird. In 1799 the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède moved the species to the genus ''Milvus'' creating the tautonym. Two subspecies are recognised: * ''M. m. mil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Golden Eagle
The golden eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos'') is a bird of prey living in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. They are one of the best-known bird of prey, birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their napes. Immature eagles of this species typically have white on the tail and often have white markings on the wings. Golden eagles use their agility and speed combined with powerful feet and large, sharp talons to hunt a variety of prey, mainly hares, rabbits, and marmots and other ground squirrels. Golden eagles maintain home ranges or territories that may be as large as . They build large bird nest, nests in cliffs and other high places to which they may return for several breeding years. Most breeding activities take place in the spring; they are monogamous and may remain together for several years or possibly for life. Fe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northern Goshawk
The northern goshawk (; ''Accipiter gentilis'') is a species of medium-large bird of prey, raptor in the Family (biology), family Accipitridae, a family which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harrier (bird), harriers. As a species in the genus ''Accipiter'', the goshawk is often considered a "true hawk". The scientific name is Latin; ''Accipiter'' is "hawk", from ''accipere'', "to grasp", and ''gentilis'' is "noble" or "gentle" because in the Middle Ages only the nobility were permitted to fly goshawks for falconry. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus, Linnaeus in his ''Systema naturae'' in 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 1758 as ''Falco gentilis''. It is a widespread species that inhabits many of the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The northern goshawk is the only species in the genus ''Accipiter'' found in both Eurasia and North America. It may have the second widest distribution of any true member of the family ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yellow-browed Warbler
The yellow-browed warbler (''Phylloscopus inornatus'') is a leaf warbler (family Phylloscopidae) which breeds in the east Palearctic. This warbler is strongly migratory and winters mainly in tropical South Asia and South-east Asia, but also in small numbers in western Europe. Like the rest of Phylloscopidae, it was formerly included in the Old World warbler assemblage. It was formerly considered to comprise three subspecies, but ''P. i. humei'' and ''P. i. mandellii'' are now split as a separate species, Hume's leaf warbler ''P. humei'', leaving ''P. inornatus'' monotypic. The two sister species differ slightly but consistently in morphology, bioacoustics, and molecular characters.Svensson, L., Mullarney, K., & Zetterström, D. (2010). ''Collins Bird Guide'', 2nd ed. HarperCollins . Before the species was split, the names yellow-browed willow warbler and inornate warbler were used by a few authors. Taxonomy The yellow-browed warbler was first described by the English zoologis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Icterine Warbler
The icterine warbler (''Hippolais icterina'') is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus ''Hippolais''. It breeds in mainland Europe except the southwest, where it is replaced by its western counterpart, the melodious warbler. It is migratory, wintering in sub- Saharan Africa. Description A fairly big warbler with a large head, broad-based bill and long wings with a quite short square-ended tail. The upperparts are greyish-green and the underparts are uniformly light yellow. It has pale lores and a rather vague yellowish supercilium with a pale eye ring. Other distinguishing features include a panel on the folded wings formed by pale edges to the secondary feathers and tertiary feathers and the grey, sometimes bluish legs. Habitat The icterine warbler is a bird of woodland rather than forest, preferring woodland edge or glades, favouring the crowns of well-spaced trees with tall undergrowth. It prefers broad-leafed trees, but may be found in conifers mixed with broa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melodious Warbler
The melodious warbler (''Hippolais polyglotta'') is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus ''Hippolais''. It breeds in southwest Europe and northwest Africa. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. This small passerine bird is a species found in open woodland with bushes. Three to five eggs are laid in a nest in a tree or a bush. This is a common bird in many parts of its wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern". Etymology The genus name ''Hippolais'' is from Ancient Greek ''hupolais'', as misspelt by Linnaeus. It referred to a small bird mentioned by Aristotle and others and may be onomatopoeic or derived from ''hupo'',"under", and ''laas'', "stone". The specific '' polyglotta'' is from Ancient Greek ''polus'', "many", and ''glossa'', "tongue" and means "harmonious". Description This is a medium-sized warbler, in length, and similar to its eastern counterpart, the ict ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sabine's Gull
Sabine's gull ( ) (''Xema sabini'') also known as the fork-tailed gull or xeme, is a small gull. It is the only species placed in the genus ''Xema''. It breeds in colonies on coasts and tundra, laying two or three spotted olive-brown eggs in a ground nest lined with grass. Sabine's gull is pelagic outside the breeding season. It takes a wide variety of mainly animal food, and will eat any suitable small prey. Taxonomy Sabine's gull was formally described in 1819 by the naturalist Joseph Sabine under the binomial name ''Larus sabini''. Sabine based his description on specimens that had been collected by his brother Captain Edward Sabine who had accompanied Captain John Ross's on a voyage to look for the Northwest Passage. The birds were found breeding on low lying islands off the west coast of Greenland in July 1818. Sabine's gull is now the only species placed in the genus ''Xema'' that was introduced in 1819 by the zoologist William Leach in an appendix to Ross's account of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mediterranean Gull
The Mediterranean gull (''Ichthyaetus melanocephalus'') is a small gull. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus ''Ichthyaetus'' is from ''ikhthus'', "fish", and ''aetos'', "eagle", and the specific ''melanocephalus'' is from ''melas'', "black", and ''-kephalos'' "-headed". This gull breeds almost entirely in the Western Palearctic, mainly in the south east, especially around the Black Sea, and in central Turkey. There are colonies elsewhere in southern Europe, and this species has undergone a dramatic range expansion in recent decades. As is the case with many gulls, it has traditionally been placed in the genus ''Larus''. Description The Mediterranean gull is slightly larger and bulkier than the black-headed gull with a heavier bill and longer, darker legs. The breeding plumage adult is a distinctive white gull, with a very pale grey mantle and wings with white primary feathers without black tips. The black hood extends down the nape and shows distinct white eye ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
_-Higashitakane_Shinrinkoen.jpg "Click for more on -> British Birds Rarities Committee")
.jpg "Click for more on -> Icterine Warbler")
.jpg "Click for more on -> Sabine's Gull")
