Hamsterkiste Bird Gallery - Part 2

The kingfisher grows to about 16 cm long and weighs 40 g. Its upperparts shimmer blue, while its underparts are red.Kingfishers live beside clear, shallow waters. They feed mainly on small fish, such as sticklebacks. When hunting, they can hover in one spot for some time. Once a kingfisher spots a fish, it plunges into the water with its wings folded.Kingfishers nest in burrows. They dig these burrows into steep banks of clay or sand, repeatedly flying at the bank with their beaks first until a small hole forms.Once they can stand inside, they enlarge the hole into a tunnel that can be 50 to 100 cm long. When the nest burrow is ready, the male feeds the female until she has laid 6 to 7 white eggs. This behaviour is called courtship feeding.Both parents incubate the eggs, which hatch after 19 to 21 days. The chicks spend 3 to 4 weeks in the nest. Then, for several days, their parents show them what a kingfisher needs to know. After that, the young birds are driven out of the territory. Kingfishers stay here in winter too, so they are resident birds. - Image: FokusNatur   / CC BY-SA 3.0 

The upper side of the magpie’s plumage is black, and its feathers shimmer blue, green, or purple. Its tail is jet black, while the underside of the bird is bright white. Males and females look alike; males weigh about 233 grams and females around 203 grams. Both can grow up to 51 centimeters long, with the tail accounting for almost half their length. Their wingspan is about 48 to 53 centimeters. 

The magpie is a bird in the crow family. Magpies live across much of Europe and Asia, and in northern Africa. They can be spotted in mixed forests, parks and large gardens. They like to raid other birds' nests and even prey on young chicks. They also forage for all kinds of food on the ground. They usually build their nests high up in the top of a tree. Females lay 4 to 7 eggs in them. The incubation period lasts 17 to 18 days. After that, both parents feed the chicks. They leave the nest after about 3 to 4 weeks. During the breeding season, pairs live alone in their territories, while magpies that are not breeding gather in groups. Magpies stay here all year round, so they are resident birds. Because they like to steal shiny objects, they are sometimes called "thieving magpies".

Pheasants measure 50 to 90 cm from head to tail and weigh 1 to 1.5 kg. The males have striking, colourful plumage, while the females are a dull grey-brown. The males’ bright colours can distract other animals from their nests.Pheasants live in hedgerows with plenty of undergrowth between farmland. In autumn and winter, they feed mainly on grain, leafy greens, cabbage, acorns and sugar beets. In spring and summer, they also eat insects, worms, snails and mice.From late April to June, the female builds a nest in a well-hidden hollow. She lines it with leaves and grass and lays 8 to 15 pale olive-coloured eggs in it. The eggs are incubated for 22–27 days. The chicks are precocial and leave the nest after just a few hours. They can fly after only 12–14 days. Pheasants also stay here during the winter. - Image: Hamsterkiste

The skylark is a rather inconspicuous bird. Its upperparts are brownish-gray, and its breast is streaked with dark markings. The feathers on its head can form a small crest. The skylark grows to about 18 cm long. The birds are especially known for their singing flights. They climb to a height for about 2 to 6 minutes, singing continuously as they go. Then, from a height of around 100 m, they dive back down. Just above the ground, they spread their wings and tail to land gracefully. Skylarks prefer wide-open landscapes and often live in areas with sparse vegetation. They feed on insects, worms, seeds and plant matter. A pair of parents builds a nest in a hollow in the ground. At the end of April, the female lays up to 7 eggs in it. The chicks hatch after 11 days and are cared for by both parents. If they feel their nest is threatened, the parents perform a hovering flight close to the ground some distance away.

After about 10 days, the young leave the nest, but they can’t fly until they are at least 15 days old. In good conditions, the skylark breeds for a second time from mid-July. It also stays here in winter, so it is a resident bird. - Image: Daniel Pettersson / CC BY-SA 2.5

The tree sparrow is slimmer than the house sparrow and can fly more agilely. Its crown and upperparts are brown with black markings; its cheeks are white with a black spot. Its underparts are pale. In flight, you can see a white bar on its wings. Tree sparrows grow to about 15 cm long. They live in areas with lots of trees, on fields, and in fruit and vegetable gardens. They eat almost anything, but especially the seeds of plants. They build a rough nest from straw, grass and feathers. The female lays about 6–7 eggs in it. The incubation period lasts 12–14 days. The young leave the nest after another two weeks. Tree sparrows are resident birds and live in one place all year round. To attract them, you need a birdbath, food and a little patience. Sometimes it doesn’t take long before a sparrow family comes by. - Image: pixabay.com

Male and female Common Redstarts look very different. The females are inconspicuously grey-brown. The males, however, have black eyes, cheeks and throats. They have a white spot on their forehead. Their breast is reddish brown, and their upperparts are bluish grey. The Common Redstart is about 14 cm long. It prefers open woodland, parks, tree-lined avenues, orchards and gardens. It mainly eats insects, but occasionally berries too. It is an active bird that often quivers its tail and bobs in a curtseying motion. It builds its nest out of grass, leaves and moss in tree cavities, holes in walls or nest boxes. Sometimes it also nests in letterboxes or flowerpots. The female lays 5 to 7 blue-green eggs. The eggs are incubated for 12 to 14 days. The young leave the nest after about 2 weeks.  Image: Female (left) and brightly coloured male - Henrieke Mühlichen  /  CC BY-SA 3.0

The yellowhammer belongs to the finch family. This bird grows to about 16 cm long. The male’s head and underside are bright yellow, and its back is streaked with dark markings. The female’s plumage is a little darker.Yellowhammers live along woodland edges, in clearings and in hedgerows along fields. They avoid dense woodland and bare fields. They feed on insects, spiders, berries and seeds.Yellowhammers breed from April to early June. They build their nests on the ground or up to about 4 m high. The female lays 4 to 5 reddish-brown eggs marked with distinctive hair-like lines. The chicks hatch after 12 to 15 days. They stay in the nest for about 2 weeks, then quickly become independent. Yellowhammers are mostly resident birds.   - Image: Marek Szczepanek  / CC BY-SA 3.0

The greylag goose can be found throughout Europe. It now breeds regularly in many nature reserves. Greylag geese spend the winter on the west coasts of Spain and Portugal, along the coasts of Algeria and Tunisia, and around the Adriatic. Tens of thousands of geese regularly stop over in Austria’s Neusiedler See–Seewinkel National Park.

Greylag geese grow to about 75 to 90 centimetres long and weigh up to four kilograms. Their bills are orange to yellow, relatively large and chunky. Their plumage is grey-brown and a little lighter underneath. Their wingspan can reach 180 centimetres. Greylag geese can live to about 17 years.

Greylag geese mainly feed on short grasses and herbs, perennials and roots. They also like to feast on potatoes and beets in farmers’ fields. - Image: Hamsterkiste

The grey heron grows to about 90 cm long. Its upper body, wings and tail are light grey. When it flies, it retracts its neck. This makes it easy to tell apart from storks and cranes, which fly with their necks outstretched. Grey herons are also called fish herons. They are found near bodies of water. They feed on fish, frogs, aquatic insects, snails, large insects and small mammals. The heron often stands motionless by a river, with its neck retracted. Suddenly, the bird lunges and grabs its prey with its beak. Herons usually breed in colonies. They build their nests in the crowns of large trees. The 3 to 5 eggs in each nest are incubated for 25 to 26 days. The male and female share incubation duties. The chicks stay in the nest for a long time. They only start foraging for food on their own after 8 weeks. Some grey herons migrate south for the winter, while others stay here. However, they need open water to survive the winter. Many herons perish in severe frost.