Hamsterkiste Bird Gallery - Part 3

Spotted flycatchers live throughout Europe, in North Africa and across northern Asia as far as northeastern Mongolia. These birds are quite small, slender songbirds with a large head, long wings and a long tail. They are grey-brown all over. They grow up to 15 centimetres long. Their beaks and legs are dark grey to black.

The spotted flycatcher lives in areas with tall trees. It therefore mainly inhabits open woodlands, but also parks, cemeteries, gardens and tree-lined avenues in villages and towns. Spotted flycatchers hunt almost exclusively in flight. In bad weather, when few insects are flying, they look for prey in trees and close to the ground. Their diet consists mainly of flying insects, aphids, dragonflies, bumblebees, paper wasps and larger butterflies.

Spotted flycatchers often nest in large holes in branches, cavities, holes in walls, climbing plants, or semi-open nest boxes. Spotted flycatchers are long-distance migrants. Many spend the winter in Africa south of the Sahara.

In February, the greenfinch is one of the first birds to sing after the long winter. It grows to about 15 cm long and weighs 30 g. Males have yellow-green breasts, while females are greyer. Finches have strong bills. Greenfinches live in forests, hedges, parks and gardens. In cities, they are sometimes more common than sparrows. They feed on seeds, grains, insects, beechnuts and sunflower seeds. Greenfinches begin nesting in hedges and bushes in March or April. The female usually lays five eggs and incubates them on her own. The chicks hatch after 13 to 14 days and leave the nest after about two weeks. Greenfinches breed two or three times a year. They stay here through the winter and are often seen at bird feeders. - Image: Hamsterkiste

The green woodpecker grows to 32 cm long. This makes it larger than the great spotted woodpecker. Its underside is whitish, its back greenish, and its head scarlet. This bird likes mixed forests, parks, large gardens and orchards with open spaces. It mainly searches for food on the ground, where it finds insects, especially ants. It also pecks insects and their larvae from the bark and trunks of deciduous trees. Green woodpeckers build their nests in tree cavities they have made themselves. The 5 to 7 white eggs are incubated for 15 to 16 days by both parents. The young stay in the nest for about 3 weeks. The green woodpecker also lives here in winter, so it is a resident bird. - Image: Hamsterkiste

The goshawk is a bird of prey. Its upperparts are covered in dark brown feathers. The feathers on its underside are whitish with dark brown bars. It has a hooked beak. Goshawks reach a length of 50 to 60 cm and a wingspan of 100 to 120 cm. Females are considerably larger and heavier than males. Goshawks live in large forests, but are also found in parkland near human settlements. Males hunt birds such as tits, blackbirds, pigeons, magpies and crows. The larger females also catch rabbits and hares. Goshawks particularly like to hunt pigeons. They catch their prey in the air or on the ground. Once they have a prey animal in their talons, they do not let it go. The goshawk's nest is called an eyrie. It is built high in deciduous or coniferous trees and is often used for several years. An eyrie can reach a diameter of 1.20 m. In April or May, the female lays 3 to 4 greenish-white eggs, about the size of a hen's egg. The eggs are incubated for about 40 days. During incubation and for the first 3 weeks after the chicks hatch, the male feeds the female. The chicks are fed for several weeks. Goshawks stay here all year round, so they are resident birds. - Image: Naturschule

Great crested grebes are found throughout Europe and in North Africa. They are numerous across the vast expanses of Russia. There are 22 different species in the world. One subspecies lives in Australia and New Zealand, and another in South Africa. Besides the great crested grebe, which is common here, Europe is also home to the red-necked grebe, black-necked grebe, horned grebe and little grebe. Great crested grebes grow to about 50 cm in length. Males and females have the same colouring. The feathers on their necks and undersides are white. They have a reddish-brown and black crest. Their back feathers are also reddish-brown. Their toes have broad lobes that help them swim.

Great crested grebes hunt underwater. They catch small fish, aquatic insects and small crustaceans. The birds stay underwater for about 30 seconds during a dive. They prefer still or slow-flowing waters.

They build their nests in the reeds along the shore. The nest is quite large, measuring 70 to 80 centimetres across. The clutch usually consists of three or four white eggs. The young birds can swim and dive straight away, but during their first few weeks they like to hide in their parents’ back feathers. They are fed for about six weeks, after which they hunt for themselves.

The house sparrow is also called a sparrow. The male has a brown back, a grey cap, whitish cheeks and a black throat. Females have grey-brown plumage. The house sparrow grows to about 15 cm long. It likes to live near people, because that’s where it finds the most food. It mainly eats seeds and insects, but is especially fond of grain and young vegetable plants. Its nest is often untidy and roughly made from straw and grasses. It is lined with feathers. Both males and females help build the nest. It is often found in cracks in buildings or under roof tiles. The female lays about 5 - 6 bluish-green eggs in it, covered with dense brown spots. Sparrows have three or four broods a year. The female does most of the incubating, with the male taking over now and then. The incubation period is 12 to 14 days. Both parents feed the chicks, sometimes by regurgitating food from the crop. The chicks leave the nest at 14 days old. Their parents continue to care for them until they are 24 days old. House sparrows are resident birds and stay here in winter too. To attract them, you need a birdbath, food and a little patience. It sometimes doesn’t take long before a sparrow family comes by. - Image: Hamsterkiste

The black redstart has several different colors. In summer, the male is dark to black, with a red tail. From around August, the male takes on an inconspicuous gray plumage, like the female, which is gray all year round. A black redstart grows to about 15 cm long and weighs up to 20 g. The black redstart originally comes from rocky mountain regions. Its name comes from the fact that it is often seen near construction sites. It apparently considers the piles of stones there to be an adequate rocky landscape. Black redstarts eat insects and spiders, and berries in the fall. They build their nests in dark corners on roof beams, in barns, garages, or stables. They brood twice. Only the female builds the nest, lays 6 to 7 white eggs in it, and incubates them. After 12 to 13 days, the chicks hatch and leave the nest after about 2 1/2 weeks. The young are also plain gray and have red tails. In winter, black redstarts live in the countries around the Mediterranean. They return in March. - Image: Naturschule

The dunnock has a very pointed beak. Its head and neck are blue-gray. It grows to only about 14 cm long and weighs 20 g. Dunnocks live at the edge of woods, in bushes, parks or gardens. They feed on insects and seeds. They have a crop where they can store and soften seeds. They build their nests from stems, moss, hair and feathers. The nest is placed close to the ground. Dunnocks breed once in April and again in July. Their 3 to 6 blue eggs are easy for nest predators to spot. The chicks hatch after 12 to 14 days and leave the nest after another 10 to 14 days. However, they cannot yet fly. But they learn quickly. The chicks have a bright orange-red gape.

Dunnocks from northern Europe come here in winter. You can often see them at bird feeders. - Image: Hamsterkiste

The woodlark is slightly smaller than the skylark. It grows to about 15 cm long and weighs around 30 grams. Its plumage is streaked brown, and woodlarks have a white stripe above their eyes. Their tails are shorter than those of skylarks. Males and females look alike. Some people consider the woodlark a better singer than the nightingale. Woodlarks live in meadows, pastures or dry areas where little grows. They feed on insects and seeds and build their nests on the ground. The female lays 3–4 eggs. The chicks hatch after 14 days and are cared for by their parents for just under two weeks. Woodlarks are migratory birds and spend the winter in the Mediterranean region.

Image: Jan Svetlik   /  CC BY-SA 2.0

The Hawfinch is especially noticeable for its powerful beak. Its upperparts are chestnut brown, and its underparts are wine red. The tips of its wings are black. There is a black patch under its beak. It grows to about 17 cm long and weighs about 55 g. Hawfinches live in deciduous and mixed forests, as well as in orchards and parks. They spend most of their time high in the treetops, so they are rarely seen. They feed on seeds and fruit, especially cherry and plum stones. They build their nests high up in deciduous trees. The female lays 3 to 6 pale blue eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs. The young hatch after 14 days. Hawfinches that live here are resident birds. Birds from the north migrate to southern Europe for the winter.