A Comparative Field Guide for similar species
Andalucia, in the deep south of Spain, is an extremely special place for birds. A great many species, rare or even absent in Northern Europe, visit this birding Mecca either as a migrant or to find safe and specialist areas to winter or breed. Unsurprisingly the region attracts a great many birdwatchers from around the world and can offer challenges to even the most experienced birder, resident or visitor!
Among the species that regularly cause identification problems, for example, are Pallid Swift, Thekla Lark and Lesser Kestrel. These species are particularly difficult due to similarities with closely related birds i.e. Lesser Kestrel and Common Kestrel. The Andalucia Bird Society will be publishing various identification guides for these more difficult birds in the future and we hope members will find them useful and of practical assistance when out in the field watching birds.
Comparative identification guide
An Andalucia Bird Society Guide designed to assist with those tricky identifications of similar or closely related species whilst birding in Andalucia.
Species: Rüppell’s Vulture – Gyps rueppellii – Buitre Moteado Polytypic. Nominate rueppellii, Sahel zone south of Sahara from Sénégal east to Sudan and south to East Africa, straggler Egypt. Extralimital: erlangeri, Ethiopia and Somalia. Rare visitor to Spain. Although a rare visitor, this species has, … Continue readingRúppell’s Vulture v Griffon Vulture
Crested Lark Galerida cristata Cogujada Común Possibly the most widespread and common lark species to be found in Andalucia. Most frequently encountered in lower elevations with more open habitats, often cultivated country. Very common along coastal areas. Heavy in appearance and during the autumn and … Continue readingComparative ids for Crested and Thekla Lark
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni / Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus The figure, Figure 1, to the left shows an adult male Lesser Kestrel (left) and an adult male Common Kestrel (right). Simple enough to see the difference, but in the field it can be hard to … Continue readingLesser Kestrel v Common Kestrel
