Transcript Common Irish Birds

Thomas Percy
Bracken Educate Together National School
Balbriggan
Co. Dublin
There are many different types of birds that can
be witnessed around the country.
They can be found in many different areas…
Look around the school yard and spot the
different types of birds evident. Note their
colours and size.
Gardens, Parks
and Buildings
Freshwater
Beginning to study birds requires knowledge of
the anatomy of a bird. Observe below…
Glasóg Shráide is ainm don ‘Willy Wagtail’ as Gaeilge
Scientific name is ‘Motacilla alba’
Black and white plumage and bobbing tail make it easily
identifiable. They are ‘busy’ birds with a brisk gait and
swift run.
Long slender legs…often seen snatching an insect flying
above them. Frequently feeds among cattle who…??
In winter 90% of time is spent catching small insects, in
autumn they roost in reed beds or even green houses
O’Connell St famous for wagtails where 3600 have been
counted
Few migrate from August to October, 130000 pairs
breed
Rí Rua is ainm don ‘Chaffinch’ as Gaeilge
Scientific name is ‘Fringilla Coelebs’
Very common bird with just over 2,000,000 pairs
Found near trees and bushes, typical in Kerry oakwoods
Identified in flight by a broad, white shoulder patch and
white outer tail feathers. Male has a pinkish brown
breast and blue grey head
Female is olive green above and lighter below.
Bramble is very similar BUT has doesn’t have a greenish
rump.
Gregarious outside the breeding season
Irish Chaffinches are sedentary!!!
Lasair choille is ainm don ‘Chaffinch’ as Gaeilge
Scientific name is ‘Carduelis carduelis’
Not that common with 55,000 breeding pairs
A striking jaunty bird with black and yellow wings and a
striking red and white pattern on its head.
Commonly found near wooded areas, farms and
gardens…long thin bill allows access to thistle heads,
knapweed and teasels to extract seeds. Beginning to
remerge after 19th C birdcage trade.
Very sociable bird, regularly joining roaming groups of
up to 100 birds. Experts suggest some migration and in
the autumn British-bred goldfinches often immigrate to
Ireland.
Glasán darach is ainm don t-éin seo.
Scientific name is ‘Carduelis chloris’
Very common bird that is quite ‘stocky’. Active bird though not
as agile as its yellow and green relative...the siskin.
Heavy stout bill, short deeply forked tail...typical bill of a seed
eater. Male is yellow with areas of yellow, black and grey
plumage...black lore, yellow rump...tail has yellow sides and a
black tip.
Wing has a strong yellow edge with grey coverts...aggressive
squabbling at the nutbag.
Mostly sedentary but may migrate south during winter...autumn
migration from UK into Ireland...can be seen coastally from
September to October
Returns April – May. Approximately 160, 000 breeding pairs in
Ireland.
Meantán mór is ainm don t-éan seo as Gaeilge
Parus major is the scientific name
This is the largest and strongest of the tits and is
quite handsome. Head and neck are glossy
black...cheeks are brilliant white and a broad
black band extends down breast and belly.
Clear call heard from January onwards...loves
woodlands, gardens and parks. 420, 000
breeding pairs in Ireland.
Often forage on the ground for insects...in
winter and autumn, beech and other seeds are
an important part of their diet
Great Tits pioneered the opening of milk bottle
tops to suck the cream...however they help the
gardener by eating caterpillars which transform
into the what......?
A small, active little tit Tit which can be found
everywhere from cities to forests  it is ?
A
‘jolly’
visitor
that
provides
endless
entertainment...they have small pointed bills that are
very useful for picking off insects and grubs. They are
highly acrobatic and often feed upside down.
The adult has a sky blue crown, contrasting strongly
with the white and black of the rest of the head. A neat
black line runs from the bill base through the eye onto
the rear crown, where it widens and falls down before
extending forwards to meet a neat black bib on the
chin. The rump is lime green and the tail a slight dull
blue grey.
The wings are sky blue with a white wing bar.
Black central streak on the belly.
Birds are sedentary although breed less
successfully in urban settings e.g. ???
Often attack putty in the windows which can be
a cause of frustration for some!!!
Cad is ainm don t-éan as Gaeilge?