A-Z of birds in Macedonia

Swifts

Alpine Swift

Breeding throughout mountainous regions of southern Europe and across to the Himalayas these birds are migratory, overwintering in southern Africa or central India. Worldwide, there are a total of ten subspecies from the nominate species, apus melba.

Gulls and terns

Audouin’s Gull

Named in honour of the French naturalist and ornithologist, Jean Victor Audouin (1797 – 1841) the Audouin’s gull is one of the world’s rarest and is limited in the main to regions within and surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

Avocets and stilts

Avocet

A conservation success story reintroduced this elegant wading bird back to our shores after the second World War.

Sandpipers, snipes and phalaropes

Bar-tailed Godwit

A large wading bird, notorious for the boldness of breeding individuals.

Owls

Barn Owl

Heart-shaped face and dark eyes belie a silent killer.

Tits

Bearded Tit

The bearded tit, also known by is more accurate name of Bearded Reedling is an extremely localised bird found predominantly in reedbeds.

Ducks, geese and swans

Bewick's Swan

Winter visitors to the UK, formerly considered a full species, but now considered a sub-species of the Tundra Swan.

Herons, storks and ibises

Bittern

One of the rarest breeding birds in the UK, a secretive and difficult to see member of the heron family.

Grouse

Black Grouse

One of the larger members of the grouse family with seven sub-species, the black grouse, whilst categorised as vulnerable within Europe, is stable throughout its Asian areas of occupation.