Sunday, April 9, 2017

Birds in Paris in April

I doubt anyone comes to Paris to birdwatch, and if they do, they probably flee outside this dusty, noisy, well pruned city. Even in public parks (sand pathways, no undergrowth), we heard little birdsong, and saw few birds beyond the ever-present pigeons and starlings. 

But I kept listening, and looking, and in the end, our Paris list included Mallards, Mute Swans, Moorhens, those Chickadees relations the Blue Tits and Great Tits, Rose-ringed Parakeets, Wrens, a European Robin, a new-to-me little brown bird called a Dunnock, a species of Crow, and a Wood Pigeon. And many, many wild city pigeons, in varying hues.

(If we'd stayed longer, we'd have tried less urban parks...)

Rose-ringed Parakeet. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Rose-ringed Parakeet, between the Louvre and
the Arc de Triomphe, along the 

Avenue des Champs-Elysees. © SB
European Starling. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Starling, under the Tour Eiffel. © SB
(Winter) Wren. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Winter Wren, in the Jardin des Plantes.  © SB 
European Robin. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
European Robin, in the Jardin des Plantes. © SB
Moorhen. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Moorhen. Jardin des Plantes. © SB
Crow. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
 Crow. Jardin des Plantes.
(There are a few species of crows here; those
who know them will know better than me
which this one is!) 
© SB
Blue Tit. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Blue Tit - Mésange bleue - near the Tour Eiffel. © SB
Blue Tit. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Another view of the Chickadee-like Blue Tit
Mésange bleue - near the Tour Eiffel. © SB

Great Tit. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Great Tit - Mésange charbonnière -  along the 
Avenue des Champs-Elysees. This bird seems a bit larger
than its blue cousin, and has a strong black streak down
its chest. 
© SB
Great Tit. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Another view of the Great Tit - Mésange charbonnière - 
along the 
Avenue des Champs-Elysees. © SB
Mute Swans.Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Mute Swans, along the Seine. © SB
Dunnock. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Dunnock. A totally new to me little brown bird,
in colouring and movements, if not beak shape,
very like the North American native sparrows
that visit my yard in spring. Near the Tour Eiffel. 
© SB
Wood Pigeon. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
A Wood Pigeon, identifiable by the white neck flashes,
light yellowish eyes, and size -- larger than city pigeons. 

Near the Tour Eiffel. © SB
Pigeon. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Ever-present city street pigeons of Paris. A wide variety
of colourings, all with orange-red eyes. Anywhere.
 © SB
Pigeon. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Very pale white and black city pigeon. Everywhere. © SB
Pigeons. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Yep. Very dark city pigeon. (There's only so much to say
about these birds...)
 © SB
Pigeons. Paris. Copyright  © Shelley Banks, all rights reserved.
Wood Pigeon, with several city street pigeons.  © SB

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2 comments:

  1. Impressive. Great pictures, Shelley. I would have bet a couple of bucks that you would only find pigeons in Paris. I clearly wasn't paying attention when I was in Paris.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Scott! I'm glad I captured a few, but except for the pigeons (and starlings), these are pretty much the only birds I saw. (One of each kind.)

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