Jim Flegg - Birds (Collins Gem)

Their wings are small, beat rapidly, and they fly relatively infrequently. are oceanic seabirds with beaks showing clear signs of segmentation and with conspicuous paired tubular nostrils on the ridge. They are masters of energy-efficient gliding, and come ashore only to breed. They feed on fish and plankton caught near the surface. the surface, and pursue prey underwater propelled by their large feet with all four toes joined by webbing. are notably long-legged, long-necked wetland birds feeding on various small animals.

Most are large, some huge. They have long, dagger-like beaks and stab at their prey. Some have adapted to drier habitats. form a uniform family, generally aquatic (fresh and salt waters), some carnivorous, others vegetarian. Many dabble for food, while others dive. are often called raptors, and are characterised by relatively large effective eyes, markedly hooked beaks for tearing flesh (all are carnivorous or scavengers) and by long, usually bare lower legs ending in sharply hooked talons. are often called raptors, and are characterised by relatively large effective eyes, markedly hooked beaks for tearing flesh (all are carnivorous or scavengers) and by long, usually bare lower legs ending in sharply hooked talons.

Females are often substantially larger than males. are generally omnivorous and characterised by bulky bodies and comparatively small heads. Short rounded wings lift them rapidly into flight. Game birds are terrestrial, with upright stance, running powerfully. Rails are marshland birds, with long legs and large feet. are shoreline or marshland birds, feeding on a variety of small invertebrate animals. are shoreline or marshland birds, feeding on a variety of small invertebrate animals.

Most are relatively long-legged, with long toes. Most important identification features to observe (beside plumage colour) are beak length and shape, wing and tail flight patterns and leg colour. are long-winged web-footed seabirds. Skuas are oceanic or coastal, piratical or predatory, but can fish for themselves. Gulls are more omnivorous, larger species predatory, ancestrally coastal but now often occur inland. Terns are smaller, slimmer, shorter-legged, with longer slimmer wings, and dive from the air for small fish prey.

Gulls often, skuas and terns rarely, rest on the water. are robustly dumpy, short-necked seabirds with short narrow wings and whirring flight. They feed on fish caught by diving from the surface and pursue their prey underwater, propelled by their wings. are heavy-bodied, small-headed vegetarian (largely seed-eating) birds with fast direct flight. There is no distinction between pigeons and doves. are long-tailed birds with short pointed wings.

Both are short-legged and have small beaks, feeding on insects, which are caught in flight by nightjars. are character-istically stocky, with short tails and an upright stance. Large heads and big eyes surrounded by a prominent facial disc indicate largely nocturnal life-styles. Small animal prey is captured in powerful sharp talons. form a group with little in common anatomically, but all sufficiently brightly coloured to be readily identified. form a close-knit group, featuring a strong straight dagger-like beak, long, strong central tail feathers used as a prop when perched on trunks, and powerful feet with toes distinctively arranged two pointing forward, two back. form a close-knit group, featuring a strong straight dagger-like beak, long, strong central tail feathers used as a prop when perched on trunks, and powerful feet with toes distinctively arranged two pointing forward, two back.

Their flight is undulating, their calls strident, their drumming far-carrying. are largely terrestrial, swift running birds of open habitats. Larks and pipits are heavily streaked and well camouflaged, with a long hind claw; wagtails are more colourful, with long incessantly wagged tails. All eat insects and small soil invertebrates, larks also eat vegetable matter.