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, between the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe, along the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. © SB |
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 |
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 |
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 |
A Wood Pigeon, identifiable by the white neck flashes, light yellowish eyes, and size -- larger than city pigeons. Near the Tour Eiffel. © SB |
Ever-present city street pigeons of Paris. A wide variety of colourings, all with orange-red eyes. Anywhere. © SB |
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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.
ReplyDeleteThanks, 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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