Europe is a continent with diverse species of birds, over 900 of them. Europe has different types of habitat where different avian creatures dwell including dense forests and sprawling wetlands to urban parks and farmlands. From here we shall look at some common, distinct and conservancy birds in Europe.

• Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)   – Description: Males have black feathers all over their bodies with bright yellow coloured eye-ring and beak, while females have brown plumage with duller eye-rings.   – Habitat: Gardens, parks, woodlands and farmlands.   – Behavior: They are known for melodious songs that they produce especially during the breeding season.
• European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)   – Description: This is a small bird with a brown back and white belly, but the face as well as the breast is orange red in color.   – Habitat: It is most commonly found in gardens, woodlands and hedgerows.   – Behavior: They can often be seen following gardeners in search of worms and insects to eat.
• European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)   – Description: Their head is black white while there’s warm brown upper part on their body plus reddish colored face.   – Habitat: Here it resides in gardens, orchards as well as open countryside areas.   – Behavior: Tinkling song which they sing sweetly and acrobatic feeding habits are other characteristics that define them.
• Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)   – Description: It is a tiny bird with blue yellow feathers covering its body including a blue cap on its head and dark stripes across its face above eyes (Cornell Lab of Ornithology).   – Habitat: It lives in gardens, parks and woodlands.   – Behavior: They are quite playful and can often be seen feeding while hanging upside down.
• Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)   – Description: Males have a blue grey cap with a rust colored body while females are duller and lack the bright wing bars.   – Habitat: Woodlands, gardens as well as parks.   – Behavior: Distinctive song is what differentiates them from other birds in addition to having conspicuous wing bars that look bright..

Endemic Birds of Europe

1. Corsican Nuthatch (Sitta whiteheadi)   – Description: It is a little bird which has black crown, gray-blue back and buffish-gray underparts.   – Habitat: Corsican pine forests of mature stages.   – Conservation Status: Vulnerable due to habitat loss..
2. Alpine Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella)   – Description: Its face is green yellow with  brownish-tinged back and belly respectively all above which are tones of grey.   – Habitat: Subalpine coniferous forests and alpine meadows..   – Distribution: From northern Spain through Southern France, the Alps, Corsica up to Sardinia..
3. Caucasian Snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus)   – Description: Plumage varied in greys, browns, blacks and whites with rusty flanks and necks.   – Habitat : They occur at high elevations in the Caucasus Mountains..   – Behavior : Loud cackles commonly followed by desolate songs.

Birds of Conservation Concern

1. European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)    – Description : This medium-sized dove has a slim outline and makes a distinct purring sound..    – Habitat The turtle dove inhabits farmlands, woodlands and gardens.    – Conservation Status: It’s been on decline as it loses its habitats to human development and hunting..
2. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)   – Description: This bird has black and white plumage, a crest, and a green iridescent back..   – Habitat: Wetlands, farmlands, grasslands.   – Conservation Status: The bird is in decline because of agricultural changes.
3. Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)    – Description : It is a small seabird with colourful bill and black-and-white body..    – Habitat: Coastal cliffs and islands.    – Conservation Status: The bird is threatened by global warming as well as excessive fishing.

Impact of Agroforestry on Bird Diversity

Agroforestry systems, which is the integration of trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes, have been recently found to be able to cause great enhancement in bird diversity. Thus, these systems create a patchwork habitat that provides homes for several bird species including those that are currently declining in open farmlands. As such, the latter makes agroforestry an important tool for keeping Europe’s bird populations safe [5].

Conclusion

Europe’s avian diversity reflects its varied landscapes and habitats. While some common species may thrive in gardens and parks others are now under serious conservation threats. This calls for various measures such as habitat restoration, sustainable agriculture practices and legal protections imposed by legislations such as EU Birds Directive if Europe’s birds will survive or bounce back from its disastrous decline. Continuous efforts must therefore be made through actions towards ensuring protection of these crucial members of our ecosystem by birdwatchers as well as conversationalists.