Occhiato Daniele - Birds of Italy

HELM

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This electronic edition published in 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

First published in Great Britain, 2018

Copyright Text by Marianne Taylor, 2018

Photographs Daniele Occhiato, 2018 (except where otherwise listed )

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Italy marks the transition from south-western to south-eastern Europe. The country comprises the mainland with its elegant high-heeled boot outline, which stretches south-east into the Mediterranean, along with the major islands of Sicily and Sardinia (plus a few groups of smaller islands). With its generally warm climate, varied and spectacular scenery, famous cityscapes and unique archaeological wonders, Italy is an extremely popular destination for tourists.

The history of Italys wild places and wildlife has not been an entirely happy tale. Rapid industrialisation led to pollution, forest clearance, rapid development of formerly wild coastlines and the loss of vast tracts of habitats, while efforts to reduce the hunting of wild birds has met with strong resistance from a powerful gun lobby. However, much of Italys wild beauty has survived intact, and conservation progress since the 1990s has been considerable. There are now 25 national parks in Italy and these, along with other protected areas, cover more than 11% of the total land area. One third of animal species native to Europe can be found in Italy, and about 540 bird species have been recorded here well over half of all species recorded in Europe as a whole, although many of these are vagrants rather than regular visitors. This book covers the most frequently encountered or distinctive birds of Italy 256 species in all. For an exhaustive guide to all species ever observed in Italy, we recommend Collins Bird Guide (2009) see .

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This pocket guide is designed to be a quick and easy reference book for anyone birdwatching in Italy. The introductory section presents general information, including types of habitat, some of the best birdwatching sites, and general guidance for birdwatching in the country. This is followed by accounts for individual species, arranged by family. A glossary covering basic terminology is included towards the back of the book.

Each account is illustrated with one or more colour photographs, showing the bird as it will be encountered in Italy so winter visitors are shown in winter plumage, summer visitors in breeding plumage, and where the sexes differ significantly, male and female plumages are shown. The images show wild birds photographed in Italy, and are chosen to show a clear view in natural viewing conditions, with good natural light.

The text describes the birds appearance in all plumages likely to be seen in Italy, highlighting key features that will particularly aid identification. Songs and calls are then described, followed by information on the birds habitat preference in Italy, any notable behavioural details, and finally an outline of its distribution, abundance and seasons of occurrence. For those species assigned a conservation status of Near Threatened or Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this is mentioned in brackets at the start of the account. A few technical terms are used to save space but all are explained fully in the glossary.

BIRD TOPOGRAPHY

The illustration below shows a quick guide to body parts and feather groups referred to in the species accounts. An understanding of these terms will be useful for identification purposes.

HABITATS

Italys shape and location gives it considerable variation in climate from north to south. The land profile also varies a great deal much of the mainland is hilly or mountainous but there are also some important lowland wetlands, and more than 9,000km of coastline. The two major islands, Sicily and Sardinia, have their own particular geographic character and wildlife.

Mountains Italys northern edge is marked by the Alps, Europes highest and most significant mountain range. A few cold-climate montane species, such as Ptarmigan, occur only here, while other mountain-dwelling birds can also be found in the Apennines further south, in the uplands of the south, and on Sicily and Sardinia.

Forest There are significant remnants of primeval deciduous forest in Calabria and Tuscany, while in the alpine regions there are forests of fir and pine, home to Capercaillies, Nutcrackers and many more birds. The Apennine foothills support interesting woodlands of Neapolitan maple and Italian alder. On Sicily, Sardinia and the southern mainland, woodland is dominated by Mediterranean species such as cork oak and Aleppo pine.

Scrub/maquis Where forest has been cleared, or the soil does not support its growth, a mosaic of bushes and tall herbaceous plants may grow. This is rich in insect life and accordingly supports a great range of bird species, including various species of shrikes and Sylvia warblers. Maquis scrub, consisting mainly of thick evergreen shrubs like broom and myrtle, is common in the south and on Sicily and Sardinia.

Meadows and cultivated land Untouched grassland is scarce in Italy but alpine meadows offer great hunting grounds for birds and other wildlife, especially butterflies. Vineyards, olive groves, grazing land and other farmland can also be productive for open-country and scrubland birds.