We tend to focus on the big, scary, and generally impressive raptors, but this part of the world also has some splendid corvid species to enjoy.
Perhaps the most common here are the rooks. Their bare beaks remind me a bit of vultures:
The crows here are almost all hooded, rather than carrion crows. They’re rather elegant beasts: I particularly like their nasal feathers:
They also have surprisingly long tongues:
This slightly odd-looking one we came across in Schönbrunn zoo, though not in a cage:
I suspect the unusual plumage means he’s a carrion-hooded crow hybrid.
One notch further towards flamboyant is the jackdaw:
One of the most attractive features of all the corvids is their strength of personality, as demonstrated by this jaunty fellow:
A few days ago, we heard the unmistakeable cry of a buzzard. Trying to get a closer look, we were startled to find that the crier was in fact this jay, demonstrating his powers of mimicry:
It turns out that jays are known for mimicking buzzards, among other birds; presumably in order to scare off rivals.
Of course, our favourites are the magpies. One in particular, who’s been almost tailless since at least last summer, but who to our surprise made it through the winter, and seems to be flourishing. He’s the only one we can recognise as an individual, and is a regular guest on our windowsill. Hail Stumpy!
