Birds of Our Observations
Let yourself be inspired by our fascinating observations from the past years and discover the diverse world of nature. Here, we regularly present a compilation of our latest discoveries and observations.
If you are looking for a specific bird, you can find it using the search field:
Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus)
The Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small and sociable bird, a member of the finch family, found in forested areas throughout Europe and Euro-Siberia. Its diet consists mainly of various seeds, with a preference for alders and conifers. Males are characterized by their yellow face and breast, accompanied by a black cap, while females exhibit a more inconspicuous gray-striped pattern. These birds display a unique migration pattern, often venturing south in large numbers during
Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a small passerine bird from the family of long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae), named after its long tail, which allows it to balance precisely while searching for food on fine branches. It prefers light forests, forest edges, and parks with dense undergrowth as
Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
The mute swan (Cygnus olor) belongs to the genus of swans (Cygnus) within the family of waterfowl (Anatidae) and the subfamily of geese (Anserinae). This bird species is semi-domesticated and widespread in Central Europe. It prefers lakes, park and fishponds, shallow bays, and open river courses in winter. The species is named after the black knob at the base of its bill. Swans have few natural predators in Central Europe, but mute swans are a huntable species in Germany, with several thousand shot every year. The strong territoriality of the swans during the breeding season and losses during severe winters contribute to the regulation of the population.
Brown-eared bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis)
The Orphean Bulbul (Hypsipetes amaurotis) is native to East Asia. It is extremely common within the northern part of its range and can be found from southern Sakhalin to the northern Philippines. Measuring about 28 cm in length, Orphean Bulbuls are gray-brown with brown cheeks and a long tail. Although they prefer wooded areas, they easily adapt to urban and rural environments, and their loud, squeaky calls are familiar in most areas of Japan.
Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)
The Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) is a small pas serine bird found in temperate Asia, known as "Jōbitaki" in Japan. The species was first described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1776. The Daurian redstart is approximately 14 to 15 cm long and weighs between 11 and 20 g. Like all redstarts, there is a strong sexual dimorphism. Males have a gray crown and neck with a light forehead
Ural Owl (japonica)
The Japanese Ural Owl (Strix uralensis japonica) is a subspecies of the Ural Owl and belongs to the family of owls, also known as EZO Owl. It is native to Japan and mainly inhabits mountain forests and deciduous forests at elevations of 500 to 2,500 meters. The Japanese owl species is a medium-sized owl with a body length of about 50 to 60 centimeters and
Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)
The Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) is a large waterbird species, with a wingspan of up to 2 meters and can weigh up to 12 kilograms. They have a long, slim neck and a graceful figure accentuated by their white plumage. Their bill and legs are black, and the base of the bill is yellow. They mainly breed in the Eastern European and Siberian taiga, but can also be observed in Central Europe
Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus) Japan
The Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus) is a subspecies of the Black Kite (Milvus migrans) that is found in various regions of Asia.
The Black-eared Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey, measuring about 45–55 centimeters in length with a wingspan of up to 150 centimeters. The distinguishing feature of this subspecies is the black patch of feathers on the sides of the head, located behind the eyes, which gives it its name. Its
Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
The Eurasian coot belongs to the rail family (Rallidae) and has dark plumage. Its head and neck are dark gray to black, and the body appears dark brown to black. The bill is white, and the eyes are red. It prefers to live in still or slow-flowing bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, or riverbanks and feeds on aquatic plants, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish.
Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
The Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) is a medium-sized waterbird that is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is a striking bird with a magnificent breeding plumage consisting of an orange throat patch, a black, and white head cap, and a black feather crest on the back of the head.
With a body length of 46 to 51 centimeters and a wingspan of 59 to 73 centimeters, the Great Crested Grebe has a compact body. The powerful, short legs are set far back on the body and have webbed feet.
Warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus)
The Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus) is a small, round bird that grows to be about 10 to 11 centimeters in size and weighs between 7 and 11 grams. It has a green or gray-green back and a white underside. The breast is pale gray, and the tail is short and slightly forked. The bird has a distinctive white eye-ring around its eye,
Chinese spot-billed duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
The Chinese Spot-Billed Duck, also known as Eastern Spot-Billed Duck or Spot-Billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha), is a bird species from the family of ducks. It is native to large parts of East Asia, from southern Siberia and Mongolia to China, Korea, and Japan. It has a robust, medium-sized body and reaches
Varied tit (Sittiparus varius)
The Varied Tit, also known as the Japanese Tit or Persian Tit, is a songbird species belonging to the family Paridae. It measures approximately 12 cm in length and weighs between 10-14 g. It is distinctively colored, with a black head and
Large-billed crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
The Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) is a species of crow that is native to wide areas of South and Southeast Asia. As the name suggests, the Large-billed Crow has a conspicuously strong and massive beak that appears larger than other species of crows. The Large-billed Crow has a long black beak, with the upper part noticeably curved in males. The eyes have a dark brown
Great tit (Parus major)
The great tit (Parus major) is a small songbird belonging to the tit family (Paridae). It is approximately 15 cm long and has a wingspan of about 8 cm. The plumage of the great tit is unmistakable, with black, white, and yellow markings. The head, neck, and throat are black, while the wings and tail are black and white striped. The belly and chest are yellow, and the bill is short, sturdy, and black.
White-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
The Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) is unlike most other songbirds as it lives near water and is an excellent swimmer and diver. This large bird has a stocky appearance, with a length of about 16-18 centimeters and a weight of 50 to 90 grams. Its feathers are dark brown on the upper side and white on the underside, which helps it blend in perfectly when swimming in the
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
The kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a small, conspicuous, and colorful bird that is native to Europe and Asia. It belongs to the kingfisher family (Alcedinidae). This colorful bird has a bright blue-turquoise plumage on its head, back, and wings that gleams in the sunlight. The underside is reddish-orange to rust-brown in color. The eyes are large and dark, the bill is long, pointed, and black in males. Females
Eurasian nuthatch(Sitta europaea)
The nuthatches are a genus of passerine birds in the family Sittidae, with around 28 species found in Europe, Asia, and North America. The male nominate subspecies, S. e. europaea, has a length of 14 cm (5.5 in) and a wingspan of 22.5–27 cm (8.9–10.6 in). It weighs between 17–28 g (0.6–1 oz). Its upperparts are blue-grey, it has a black eye-stripe, and its throat and underparts are whitish. The flanks and lower belly are orange-red, with white spots on the undertail. Its bill is dark grey, and it has a paler area on the base of the lower mandible. Its iris is dark brown, and its legs and feet are pale brown or greyish. Most other members of the S. e. europaea group differ only
Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis)
The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is a large species of crane belonging to the family Gruidae. It is also known as the Manchurian crane. This crane is native to East Asia, found in Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. Its body length is approximately 150 cm, and it can have a wingspan of up to 250 cm.
Blakiston's fish owl (Bubo blakistoni)
The Blakiston's fish owl, also known as Bubo blakistoni, is one of the world's largest owl species. This impressive owl is capable of catching fish and is specialized for living in aquatic environments.