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COSTA BLANCA BIRD CLUB - SPECIES GUIDE

NOTES:-

Many species have been excluded from the list, although they have been recorded in the area, but usually only on a few occasions.

Any species described as 'rare' should be reported immediately, as should any birds not shown on the list. Please note that the degree of rarity is variable.

The habitat description is necessarily brief and cannot be precise. Experience is the sole key in knowing where to find the birds.

'Breeds', applies to summer visitors if there is no other indication.

SPECIES                          COMMON/SCARCE/RARE            WHEN PRESENT               PREFERRED HABITAT           COMMENTS
                   

DIVERS AND GREBES
Red throated Diver                                       Rare                           Winter                           At sea                          
Black throated Diver                     Rare Vagrant                     Winter                     At sea                    
Little Grebe                     Common                     All year                     Wetlands                    
Black necked Grebe                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/At sea                     Breeds
Great Crested Grebe                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/At sea                     Breeds
SHEARWATERS
PETRELS/GANNETS
Cory's Shearwater                 Scarce                     Passage                     At sea                    
Balearic Shearwater                     Common                     Passage                     At sea                    
Mediterranean Shearwater                     Rare                     Winter                     At sea                    
European Storm Petrol                     Rare/Localised                     Summer                     At sea/Islets                     Breeds
Gannet                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     At sea                    
CORMORANTS
Cormorant                     Common                     Winter                     Wetlands/At sea                    
Shag (Mediterranean)                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     At sea/Islets                     Breeds in small numbers
HERONS AND EGRETS
Great Bittern                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                    
Little Bittern                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Black Crowned Night Heron                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Cattle Egret                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands/Farmland                    
Squacco Heron                     Common                     Passage                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Little Egret                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands/Coastal areas                    
Great White Egret                     Scarce                     All Year                     Wetlands/Coastal areas                     Breeds in small numbers
Grey Heron                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Purple Heron                     Common                     Summer                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Greater Flamingo                     Scarce                     All Year                     Wetlands                     Breeds in small numbers
Lesser Flamingo                     Rare                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
White Stork                     Scarce                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
Black Stork                     Rare                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
Glossy Ibis                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Breeds in small numbers
Spoonbill                     Scarce                     All Year                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Mute Swan                     Rare                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
DUCKS AND WILDFOWL
Greylag Goose                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Common Shelduck                     Scarce                     All Year/Breeds                     Wetlands                    
Mallard                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Gadwall                     Scarce                     All year                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Pintail                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Shoveler                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Eurasian Wigeon                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                    
Marbled Duck                     Scarce                     Passage/Summer                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Common Teal                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Garganey                     Scarce                     Passage                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Common Pochard                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Breeds in small numbers
White headed Duck                     Rare                     All Year                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Red Crested Pochard                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Common Scoter                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/At sea                     Small numbers
Velvet Scoter                     Rare                     Winter                     At sea                    
Ferruginous Duck                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                    
Tufted Duck                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Ruddy Duck                     Rare                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Red breasted Merganser                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/At sea                     Small numbers
VULTURES AND RAPTORS
Griffon Vulture                     Rare                     All Year                     Mountains/anywhere                     Breeds
Black Vulture                     Rare                     Winter                     Anywhere                    
Egyptian Vulture                     Rare                     Winter                     Anywhere                    
Osprey                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands                    
Golden Eagle                     Common                     All Year                     Mountains                    
Greater Spotted Eagle                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Short toed Eagle                     Scarce                     Passage                     Dry Hills/Anywhere                     Breeds in small numbers
Booted Eagle                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Anywhere                     Breeds in small numbers
Bonelli's Eagle                     Scarce                     All Year                     Inland Cliffs                     Breeds in small numbers
Red Kite                     Rare                     Passage                     Woodland/open country                     Breeds in small numbers/Albacete area
Black Kite                     Rare                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
Black shouldered Kite                     Rare                     Passage                     Anywhere                    
Marsh Harrier                     Common                     Winter                     Wetlands                    
Hen Harrier                     Scarce                     Winter                     Plains/Farmland                     Small numbers
Montagu's Harrier                     Scarce                     Passage/Summer                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Common Buzzard                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Woodlands                     Breeds in small numbers
Honey Buzzard                     Scarce                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
Sparrowhawk                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Anywhere                     Breeds in small numbers
Goshawk                     Rare                     All Year                     Woodlands                     Breeds in small numbers
Common Kestrel                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                     Breeds
Lesser Kestrel                     Rare                     Passage/Summer                     Open country, Albacete area                     Breeds in small numbers/Albacete area
Red footed Falcon                     Rare                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
Eleanora's Falcon                     Rare                     Passage                     Sea cliffs                     Small numbers
Peregrine Falcon                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Anywhere/Cliffs                     Breeds
Hobby                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands/open country                     Small numbers, breeds?
Merlin                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/open country                     Small numbers
PARTRIDGES AND PHEASANTS
Red legged Partridge                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
Common Quail                     Scarce                     Passage/Summer                     Fields                     Breeds
Pheasant                     Rare                     All Year                     Farmland                    
Ring necked Pheasant                     Rare/localised                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
RAILS AND CRAKES
Water Rail                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Spotted Crake Rail                     Scarce                     Passage                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Moorhen                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Eurasian Coot                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Red knobbed Coot                     Rare                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Purple Swamphen                     Scarce                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
CRANES
Common Crane                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/Fields                     Small numbers
BUSTARDS
Great Bustard                     Scarce                     All Year                     Steppe, Albacete area                    
Little Bustard                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Steppe, Alcanara area                     Breeds in small numbers
WADERS
Oystercatcher                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Small numbers
Avocet                     Scarce                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Black winged Stilt                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Stone Curlew                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Open country                     Breeds
Collared Pratincole                     Scarce                     Passage/Summer                     Wetlands                     Breeds
Little Ringed Plover                     Common                     Passage/Summer                     Wetlands/Rivers                     Breeds
Ringed Plover                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Kentish Plover                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Grey Plover                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
European Golden Plover                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/open country                    
Dotterel                     Scarce                     Passage                     Wetlands/open country                     Small numbers
Lapwing                     Common                     Winter                     Wetlands/Fields                     Breeds in small numbers
Sociable Lapwing                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands                    
Sanderling                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Beaches                    
Knot                     Scarce                     Passage                     Beaches                     Small numbers
Turnstone                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Purple Sandpiper                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Small numbers
Dunlin                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Curlew Sandpiper                     Scarce                     Passage                     Wetlands                    
Temminck's Stint                     Rare                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/rivers                     Small numbers
Little Stint                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Wood Sandpiper                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                     Small numbers overwinter
Green Sandpiper                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/ditches                    
Common Sandpiper                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                     Small numbers overwinter/breeds?
Common Redshank                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                     Breeds in small numbers
Spotted Redshank                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Common Greenshank                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Marsh Sandpiper                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Black tailed Godwit                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Bar tailed Godwit                     Rare                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/coast                     Small numbers
Eurasian Curlew                     Rare                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Whimbrel                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Common Snipe                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Jack Snipe                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
Woodcock                     Rare                     Winter                     Woodlands/dunes                     Small numbers
Ruff                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                     Overwinters in small numbers
Pectoral Sandpiper                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands                    
Grey Phalarope                     Rare                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/coast                     Small numbers
Red necked Phalarope                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands                     Small numbers
SKUAS
Arctic Skua                     Scarce                     Winter                     At sea                     Small numbers
Great Skua                     Rare                     Winter                     At sea                     Small numbers
GULLS AND TERNS
Black headed Gull                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds
Slender billed Gull                     Rare                     All Year                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds
Common Gull                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Mediterranean Gull                     Scarce                     All Year                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds in small numbers
Yellow legged Gull                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Audouin's Gull                     Scarce                     All Year                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds in small numbers
Lesser Black backed Gull                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/beaches                    
Great Black backed Gull                     Rare                     Vagrant                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Little Gull                     Rare                     Winter                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Kittiwake                     Rare                     Winter                     Beaches                    
Little Tern                     Scarce                     Passage/Summer                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds
Sandwich Tern                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Gull billed Tern                     Scarce                     Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds in small numbers
Common Tern                     Scarce                     Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds
Caspian Tern                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Small numbers
Lesser crested Tern                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                    
Black Tern                     Scarce                     Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds in small numbers
Whiskered Tern                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds
AUKS
Razorbill                     Scarce                     Winter                     At sea                     Small numbers
SANDGROUSE
Black bellied Sandgrouse                     Scarce                     All Year                     Inland Plains/steppe                     Breeds in small numbes
Pin tailed Sandgrouse                     Scarce                     All Year                     Inland Plains/steppe                     Breeds in small numbers
PIGEONS, DOVES AND CUCKOOS
Rock Dove (& Feral Pigeon)                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                     Breeds
Stock Dove                     Rare                     Winter                     Woodlands/plains                     Breeds in small numbers
Wood Pigeon                     Common                     All year                     Anywhere                     Breeds
Collared Dove                     Common                     All Year                     Everywhere                    
European Turtle Dove                     Common                     Summer                     Wooland/open country                     Breeds
Common Cuckoo                     Common                     Summer                     Wetlands/Woodland                     Breeds
Great Spotted Cuckoo                     Rare                     Summer                     Around Magpies                     Breeds
OWLS
Eagle Owl                     Scarce                     All Year                     Ravines                    
Tawny Owl                     Common                     All Year                     Woodlands                     Small numbers
Long eared Owl                     Scarce                     All Year                     Pine Woods                    
Short eared Owl                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands/coastal                     Small numbers
Little Owl                     Common                     All Year                     Farmland/open country                    
Barn Owl                     Scarce                     All Year                     Farmland/ruins                     Small numbers
Eurasian Scops Owl                     Scarce                     Summer                     Pinewoods/villages                     Breeds
NIGHTJARS
Red necked Nightjar                     Scarce                     Summer                     Pinewoods                     Breeds
European Nightjar                     Scarce                     Summer                     Scrub                     Breeds
SWIFTS
Common Swift                     Common                     Summer                     Urban areas                     Breeds
Pallid Swift                     Common                     Summer                     Coast etc                     Breeds in small numbers
Alpine Swift                     Common                     Summer/Passage                     Mountains/anywhere                     Breeds
HOOPOE, ROLLER, KINGFISHER, BEE-EATER
Eurasian Hoopoe                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
Roller                     Common                     Summer                     Palms/Localised                     Breeds in small numbers
Common Kingfisher                     Common                     Winter                     Wetlands/Rivers                     Breeds in small numbers
European Bee eater                     Common                     Summer/Passage                     Open country                     Breeds
PARAKEETS AND WOODPECKERS
Rose ringed Parakeet                     Scarce                     All Year                     Urban areas/Localised                     Breeds in small numbers
Monk Parakeet                     Common                     All Year                     Urban areas/Localised                     Breeds in small numbers
Eurasian Wryneck                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Open woodland                     Breeds in small numbers
Iberian Green Woodpecker                     Scarce                     All Year                     Woodland/Open country                    
LARKS
Skylark                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Open country/Albacete area                     Breeds in small numbers
Crested Lark                     Common                     All Year                     Farmland/Open country                    
Thekla Lark                     Scarce                     All Year                     Rocky ground                    
Short toed Lark                     Scarce                     Passage                     Stony plains/Localised                     Breeds
Lesser Short toed Lark                     Rare                     All year                     Saltmarsh                     Breeds in small numbers
Calandra Lark                     Rare                     All year                     Open country/Steppe                    
Woodlark                     Scarce                     All year                     Hills                    
SWALLOWS AND MARTINS
Sand Martin                     Common                     Summer                     Wetlands/Localised                     Breeds
Crag Martin                     Common                     Winter                     Wetlands/Beaches                     Breeds (Localised)
Barn Swallow                     Common                     Summer/Passage                     Anywhere                     Breeds
Red rumped Swallow                     Common                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Breeds
House Martin                     Common                     Summer/Winter                     Urban areas                     Breeds/Overwinters in small numbers
PIPITS AND WAGTAILS
Tawny Pipit                     Rare                     Summer/Passage                     Plains/Coast                     Small numbers
Water Pipit                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Wetlands                    
Meadow Pipit                     Common                     Winter                     Wetlands                    
Red throated Pipit                     Rare                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
Tree Pipit                     Rare                     Passage                     Anywhere                    
Richard's Pipit                     Scarce                     Winter                     Grassland                     Small numbers
Rock Pipit                     Rare                     Winter                     Coast                    
White Wagtail                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
Yellow Wagtail                     Common                     Summer/Passage                     Meadows/Wetlands                     Breeds
Grey Wagtail                     Scarce                     Winter/Passage                     Water margins                     Breeds
WRENS AND ACCENTORS
Wren                     Scarce                     All Year                     Dense undergrowth                    
Dunnock                     Rare                     Winter                     Mountains                    
Alpine Accentor                     Rare                     Winter                     Rocky summits                     Small numbers
THRUSHES
Rufous Bushchat                     Rare                     Summer                     Low pinewoods                     Breeds in small numbers
European Robin                     Common                     Winter                     Gardens/Mountains                     Breeds
Common Nightingale                     Common                     Summer                     Dense scrub                     Breeds
Bluethroat                     Common                     Winter                     Wetlands                    
Common Redstart                     Scarce                     Passage                     Anywhere                    
Black Redstart                     Common                     Winter                     Anywhere                     Breeds in small numbers
Northern Wheatear                     Scarce                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Breeds
Black eared Wheatear                     Scarce                     Summer                     Hills                     Breeds
Black Wheatear                     Common                     All Year                     Rocky Places                    
Whinchat                     Common                     Passage                     Anywhere                    
Stonechat                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
Blue Rock Thrush                     Common                     All year                     Rocks/Cliffs/Mountains                    
Rufous Tailed Rock Thrush                     Rare                     Passage                     Coast/Cliffs                    
Song Thrush                     Common                     Winter                     Anywhere                    
Mistle Thrush                     Rare                     All Year                     Woodland                    
Redwing                     Rare                     Winter/Passage                     Orchards                     Small numbers
Fieldfare                     Rare                     Winter                     Anywhere                    
Ring Ouzel                     Rare                     Passage                     Coast                     Small numbers
Blackbird                     Common                     All Year                     Woodland                    
WARBLERS
Garden Warbler                     Rare                     Passage                     Woodland edges                     Breeds in small numbers(?)
Blackcap                     Common                     All year                     Gardens/Woodlands                    
Sardinian Warbler                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
Western Orphean Warbler                     Rare                     Summer                     Mountain Pines/Localised                     Breeds in small numbers
Common Whitethroat                     Scarce                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Breeds in small numbers(?)
Spectacled Warbler                     Scarce                     Passage                     Low scrub                     Breeds in small numbers
Subalpine Warbler                     Scarce                     Passage                     Anywhere/Mountains                     Breeds (Localised)
Dartford Warbler                     Common                     All Year                     Scrub                    
Sedge Warbler                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands                    
Moustached Warbler                     Scarce                     All Year                     Reedbeds/Localised                     Small numbers
Zitting Cisticola                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
Grasshopper Warbler                     Rare                     Passage                     Wetlands                    
Savi's Warbler                     Common                     Summer                     Reedbeds/Localised                     Breeds in small numbers
Cetti's Warbler                     Common                     All Year                     Wetlands                    
European Reed Warbler                     common                     Summer/Passage                     Reedbeds                    
Great Reed Warbler                     Common                     Summer/Passage                     Reedbeds                     Breeds
Melodious Warbler                     Common                     Summer/Passage                     Anywhere/Streams                     Breeds
Icterine Warbler                     Common                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
Western Olivaceous Warbler                     Common                     Passage                     River valleys                     Small numbers/Breeds in small numbers
Western Bonelli's Warbler                     Common                     Summer/Passage                     Coast/Mountain scrub                     Breeds
Wood Warbler                     Rare                     Summer/Passage                     Coast                     Small numbers
Willow Warbler                     Common                     Passage                     Anywhere                    
Chiffchaff                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Anywhere                    
Iberian Chiffchaff                     Scarce                     Winter                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
FIRECREST AND FLYCATCHERS
Firecrest                     Common                     All Year                     Pines/Localised                    
Goldcrest                     Scarce                     All Year                     Woodland/scrub                    
Spotted Flycatcher                     Common                     Summer                     Woods/Gardens                     Breeds
Pied Flycatcher                     Scarce                     Passage                     Anywhere                     Small numbers
TITS AND TREECREEPERS
Blue Tit                     Scarce                     All Year                     Woodlands/Localised                    
Great Tit                     Common                     All Year                     Woods/Gardens                    
Coal Tit                     Common                     All Year                     Pinewoods                    
Crested Tit                     Scarce                     All Year                     Woodlands                    
Long Tailed Tit                     Scarce                     All Year                     Woodlands                    
Penduline Tit                     Scarce                     Winter                     Wetlands/Localised                     Small numbers/Breeds in small numbers
Bearded Reedling                     Scarce                     All year                     Reedbeds                     Small numbers
Short toed Treecreeper                     Scarce                     All Year                     Woodlands                    
SHRIKES
Woodchat Shrike                     Common                     Summer                     Anywhere                     Breeds
Southern Grey Shrike                     Common                     All Year                     Open country/Scrub                    
CROWS
Jay                     Scarce                     All Year                     Mountain woodlands                    
Magpie                     Common                     All Year                     Open country                    
Red billed Chough                     Common                     All Year                     Mountains/Cliffs/Localised                    
Jackdaw                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere/Localised                    
Carrion Crow                     Rare                     All year                     Mainly Albacete area                    
Common Raven                     Scarce                     All year                     Mountains                     Small numbers
STARLINGS
Common Starling                     Common                     Winter                     Anywhere                    
Spotless Starling                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
Eurasian Golden Oriel                     Scarce                     Passage                     Poplar trees near water                     Breeds
House Sparrow                     Common                     All Year                     Urban areas                    
Eurasian Tree Sparrow                     Scarce                     All Year                     Open country/Localised                     Small numbers
Rock Sparrow                     Common                     All Year                     Stony hillsides/buildings/Localised                     Small numbers
FINCHES
Chaffinch                     Common                     All year                     Fields/Orchards                    
Common Crossbill                     Scarce                     All Year                     Pinewoods                    
Brambling                     Rare                     Winter                     With Chaffinches                    
European Goldfinch                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
European Greenfinch                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
European Siskin                     Scarce                     Winter                     Pines/Localised                    
European Serin                     Common                     All Year                     Anywhere                    
Linnet                     Scarce                     All Year                     Open country                    
Hawfinch                     Rare                     All year                     Orchards                     Small numbers
Trumpeter Finch                     Rare                     All year                     Arid gorges                     Small numbers
BUNTINGS
Snow Bunting                     Rare                     Winter                     Grassy dunes/shingle beaches                    
Reed Bunting                     Common                     Winter/Passage                     Reedbeds                    
Cirl Bunting                     Scarce                     All year                     Wooded Hills/Localised                    
Rock Bunting                     Scarce                     All Year                     Mountains                    
Yellowhammer                     Rare                     Winter                     Anywhere                    
Pine Bunting                     Rare                     Winter                     Pines                    
Corn Bunting                     Scarce                     All year                     Farmland                    
Ortolan Bunting                     Scarce                     Passage                     Open areas                     Small numbers
Common Waxbill                     Rare                     All Year                     Anywhere