Vireos

Vireos     Philadelphia Vireo Glaséan  Philadelphia Vireo philadelphicus Rare vagrant. One county and Irish record up to the end of 2020. 1985 Galley Head, 12th to 17th October. This was the first Irish and Western Palearctic Record. Global Distribution: Breeds in northern North America and winters in Central America. (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)   Red-eyed…

Treecreepers

Treecreepers     (Eurasian) Treecreeper Snag (Eoráiseach) Certhia familiaris Uncommon resident breeding species, scarce in the west of the county. Global Distribution: Europe and Asia.   Summer Distribution   Winter Distribution

Tits

Tits     (Eurasian) Blue Tit Meantán gorm (Eoráiseach) Cyanistes caeruleus Common and widespread resident breeding species. Global Distribution: Europe, Africa and Asia.   Summer Distribution   Winter Distribution Great Tit Meantán Mór Parus major Common and widespread resident breeding species. Global Distribution: Europe, northern Africa and Asia.   Summer Distribution   Winter Distribution Coal Tit…

Thrushes & Wheatears

Thrushes & Wheatears     White’s Thrush Smólach White  Zoothera dauma Rare vagrant. One county record up to the end of 2020. 1842 Near Bandon, shot, 5th December, now at Trinity College, Dublin. (Thompson I:128) This is the first Irish Record. Global Distribution: It breeds in wet coniferous taiga, mainly in eastern Asia and Siberia. Northern races…

Terns

Terns     Little Tern Geabhróg bheag Sternula albifrons Very scarce passage migrant. Not known to breed in the county, although it has done so in the past. Global Distribution: This species is breeding through much of Europe, scattered along the coast and inland in parts of Africa, in much of western, central and the…

Swifts

Swifts     Chimney Swift Gabhlán Simléir Chaetura pelagica Rare vagrant. Eight county records involving 12 individuals up to the end of 2020. 2015 Mizen Head, one on the 26th October 2015. 2005 An unprecedented influx. Between Courtmacsherry and Galley Head: three, 31st October to 3rd November; four, 1st November and two at Galley Head…

Swans

Swans     Mute Swan Eala Bhalbh Cygnus olor Common resident breeding species throughout the county. Mainly resident, but some grouping of non breeding birds in summer and immature birds wander in the winter. Global Distribution: Europe and parts of south central Asia. Introduced into North America.   Summer Distribution   Winter Distribution Bewick’s Swan Eala Bewick Cygnus columbianus…

Swallows & Martins

Swallows & Martins     Sand Martin Gabhlán Gainimh Riperia riperia Common breeding summer visitor. Winters in the Sahel, south of the Sahara Desert in Africa. Global Distribution: Europe, Africa, North and South America.   Summer Distribution (Barn) Swallow Fáinleog (Scioból) Hirundo rustica Common breeding summer visitor. Winters in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.…

Surface Feeding Ducks

Surface Feeding Ducks     Ruddy Shelduck Seil-Lacha Rua Tadorna ferruginea Rare vagrant. This species is regularly found in captivity, with many migratory feral populations on the near continent. Records in recent decades probably do not refer to genuinely wild birds. The species remains on Category D of the Irish list (escaped or introduced). Five records involving…