Order: PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family: PROCELLARIIDAE
Calonectris diomedea diomedea (Scopoli)
Cory's Mediterranean Shearwater
maltese: Ciefa
The Cory's Shearwater is one of the largest of the shearwaters being 45 cm in length and has a wing span of about 110 cm. Upperparts are blotchy greyish brown with much darker flight and tail feathers. Underparts are white. It has webbed feet and a strong bill with exterior tubular nostrils and a hooked tip. It breeds in scattered colonies along the southern and western sea cliffs of Malta and Gozo and also on Filfla. The largest colony is that at Ta' Cenc Cliffs (Gozo). It nests in natural burrows and crevices where a single chalky white egg, slightly larger and more elongated thanthat of a hen, is laid usually on bare ground between mid-May and mid-June. Both sexes incubate, taking turns of several days. Incubation lasts up to seven weeks. When the young hatches, it is covered by a very thick grey down and is fed by both parents which visit it at night. The colonies are deserted by late October. Shearwaters, whose sexes are similar in plumage, are pelagic and only come to land during their long breeding season. They visit their colonies at night when they usually utter loud weird cries and grunts especially during their courting season.

Puffinus puffinus yelkouan (Acerbi)
Manx Levantine Shearwater
maltese: Garnija
The Manx Shearwater (35 cm) is a smaller version of the Cory's but has black upperparts contrasting with pure white underparts. Its general appearance, habits and behaviour are like those of the Cory's Shearwater. However, the single chalky white egg, which is similar in size and shape to a hen's, is laid by the end of March or early April, and the colonies are already deserted by the end of July. It breeds in scattered colonies along most sea cliffs in reasonably deep caverns. on Filfla it thrives under loose boulders and in deep burrows. Like the Cory's, the Manx Shearwater feeds on fish which are caught from just below the surface.

Family: HYDROBATIDAE
Hydrobates pelagicus (Linnaeus)
Storm Petrel
maltese: Kangu ta' Filfla
The Storm Petrel is 15 cm in length and has a wing span of 35 cm. It is the smallest European sea-bird, slightly larger than a sparrow but has much longer wings. Like shearwaters, it is pelagic in habits. It is sooty black all over, including the bill and webbed feet, with a white rump. It breeds in large colonies on Filfla and Gozo. There it lays a single, relatively large egg the size of a pigeon's, on bare ground in holes, crevices and burrows. The egg which is white sometimes having very fine brown spots round the thicker end, is laid between mid-May and the end of June. Incubation takes about six weeks and is carried out by both sexes. The young have a cover of grey down which is replaced by feathers during its stay of about nine weeks at the nest site. Like the shearwaters, when the young leaves the colony, it resembles the adults in plumage. Both the adults and young vomit a nasty-smelling oily liquid when danger threatens. Before taking its first flight after it is deserted by its parents, the young frequently ventures out at night near the entrance of its burrow to exercise its wings. The Storm Petrel has a bat-like flight and though one may see it from ships at sea, it is seldom seen during the day near the coast. It feeds on plankton and small fish.

Order: ACCIPITRIFORMES
Family: FALCONIDAE
Falco peregrinus brookei Sharpe
Mediterranean Lesser Peregrine
maltese: Bies
The Peregrine (38-48 cm) has dark bluish grey underparts with a bluish black head and lobed moustaches. Its white underparts are narrowly barred with black. The female is larger and darker than the male. The young is dark brown above with streaked buffish underparts. It has long, pointed wings and a long tail. It is well known for its strength and speed, and it stoops on its prey in a headlong dive with half-closed wings. One or two resident pairs used to breed in the south-westerly cliffs. The last known breeding pair were killed in 1979 at Ta' Cenc. Two to three eggs are usually laid in March in a hole or a scrape on an inaccesible ledge on a sea-cliff. The eggs are almost entirely mottled with several shades of reddish brown. After four weeks incubation, which is mainly carried out by the female, the young hatch. They are covered with a creamy white down. They leave the nest after about five weeks.

Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus Linnaeus
Kestrel
maltese: Spanjulett, Seqer ahmar
The Kestrel is a common passage migrant in spring and autumn and a few occur throughout winter. Very few pairs attempt to breed, but due to shooting they rarely succeed. The kestrel was recorded to be a breeding resident  1969. The male has a grey head, rump and tail (the latter with a dark band) and a chestnut back with black spots. Underparts are buff with dark streaks. Females and immatures are brown above with dark narrow bars on the back and tail. Generally, the site is a crag in a cliff where about four eggs on material consisting of twigs, straw and feathers. The eggs are laid in late April or early May and have an overall covering of dark red-brown markings. The Kestrel seeks prey by hovering above the ground. Its food consists of small rodents, lizards and large insects.

Order: GALLIFORMES
Family: PHASIANIDAE
Coturnix coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus)
European Quail
maltese: Summiena
A fairly common spring and autumn migrant. A few pairs try to breed annually in spring, but rarely succeed due to hunting. Breeding was first reported in 1969. The crown is black with buff tips to the feathers, divided in the centre by a pale buff stripe. The cheeks and a streak over the eye are white. The back and wings are sandy-brown irregularly marked with black and barred transversely with cream and buff. The centre of the chin and throat is black, below which is a white U-shaped patch bordered with rufous-chestnut. Breast is cinnamon-buff and belly is white.

Order: GRUIFORMES
Family: RALLIDAE
Gallinula chloropus chloropus (Linnaeus)
Moorhen
maltese: Gallozz Iswed
The Moorhen is a fairly common passage migrant in spring and autumn with a few birds wintering at the Ghadira Nature Reserve. A few pairs have been breeding regularly with the first breeding record being in 1984. The Moorhen is easily recognised by the red shield on its forehead, red bill with yellow tip and the red garter on its green legs. The body plumage is uniform olive-brown above, dark slate colour below with white oblong streaks on the flanks.

Order: CHARADIIFORMES
Family: LARIDAE
Larus cachinnans michahellis Naumann
Yellow-legged gull
maltese: Gawwija Prima
The Herring Gull is 55cm in length and is Malta's largest breeding bird.  It breeds in small colonies along the southern and western sea-cliffs of Malta and Goze and on Filfla.  Sexes are similar with light grey on the mantle and wings. The latter have black tips with white spots.  The rest of the body is pure white. The stout bill is yellow and has a red spot near the tip.  The legs are yellow. The pairs that breed here are resident.  However, larger numbers visit us during strong winds. Courtship starts in February and the crude loosely woven nest is constructed of seaweed, straw, twigs and roots. It is built among some vegetation on the ledge of a sea-cliff.  Two to three eggs are laid. These are of an olive-grey colour heavily blotched with shades of dark brown.  Incubation is shared by both sexes and takes about four weeks.  The chicks are at first covered in yellowish down with brownish spots on the back. They are active soon after hatching but  take about five weeks to  fly. They are then of a streaky brownish colour.  The immature birds take about four years to reach adult plumage. The food of the Herring Gull Consists of marine organisms as well as offal and carrion.

Order: STRIGIFORMES
Family: TYTONIDAE
Tyto alba (Scopoli)
Barn Owl
maltese: Barbagann
The Barn Owl (34cm) has white underparts, a heart-shape facial disc and pale golden buff upperparts with  large pale grey markings. It has long, feathered legs and strong claws which secure its prey. Its prey consists mainly of rats and mice which it hunts at night. A few pairs are resident. Unfortunately the Barn Owl is shot for stuffing purposes and is in danger of being exterminated from our Islands. The last recorded breeding pair was shot in 1988. Other single bird sightings have been since recorded but breeding has not been confirmed. The nesting site is usually a deep crevice in a cliff or bastion. Breeding commences in April and continues well into Summer. Two to four white, round eggs are laid on bare ground in the crevice which is littered with the pellets which the Barn Owl regurgitates after each meal. The nestlings are at first covered in white down. Both parents feed  the young at night. When they leave the nest after weeks they resemble the adults.

Asio flammeus flammeus
Short-eared owl
maltese: Omm is-subien, kokka tax-Xaghri
This owl may be distinguished by its large size (37 cm length) and exceptionally long wings. Ground colour varies from cream or buff to pale rufous, the feathers being profusely mottled with black or dark brown with pale fringes. There are large white spots on the outer web of the greater wing-coverts. Facial disc is dirty white or buff, the eye bordered with black. The bird, a migrant to Malta, has on rare occasions (1909 and 1983) actually bred in the island.

Order: COLUMBIFORMES
Family: COLUMBIDAE
Streptopelia turtur
Turtle Dove
maltese: Gamiema
The Turtle Dove is one of the best known migrants both north and south of the Mediterranean and literally thousands are netted or shot on their passage in all the countries bordering the sea, including Malta. This species is a small slenderly-built dove (27 cm). The upperparts are rust-coloured with black middles to the feathers. Forehead pale grey, crown ashy, nape browner. Nech, throat and breast are pinkish-vinous. A patch of black and white feathers are found on each side of the neck. It has beenreported to very rarely breed from time to time in Gozo and also in captivity.

Order: PASSERIFORMES
Family: ALUDIDAE
Calandrella cinera brachydactyla (Leiser)
Short-toed Lark
maltese: Bilbla
The Short-toed Lark (14 cm) is a small, streaked, sandy-brown lark with clear white underparts. It has a blackish spot on each side of the breast. It is a summer breeding visitor to Malta, arriving from late March and remaining until late September. During this time it frequently soars high up in the air from where it sings for long periods. The Short-toed Lark breeds in open rocky areas, airfields as well as cultivated fields. Nest building commences in late April. The nest is a scantily lined depression in the ground usually in the shelter of a small plant or stone. It is built of fine roots and grasses. Four eggs are usually laid. These are of creamy-white colour speckled and clouded with various shades of brown and grey. Incubation averages thirteen days, and two broods are generally reared in a season. The young leave the nest after about 10 days but are still unable to fly any distance and are cared for by the parents for a few more days.

Family: HIRUNDINIDAE
Hirundo rustica rustica
European Swallow
maltese: Huttafa
The common European Swallow is a very familiar spring and autumn migrant with dark glossy blue upperparts and wings, a chestnut throat, and white to buff underparts with blue breast-band, a forked tail with long outer feathers and adorned with white mirrors conspicuous when open. A pair have been reported to breed on the islands in 1974.

Delichon urbica urbica
House Martin
maltese: Hawwiefa
The House Martin is a very common vistor during spring and a scarce visitor in autumn. The pure white underparts from chin to under tail-coverts and the white rump distinguish the species from the other swallows. The rest of the body plumage is deep glossy blue, the wings are blackish-brown. The faintly glossed blue blackish tail is forked. The House Martin is a breeding bird over the whole of Europe, but very rarely breeds on the Islands with three occasions being recorded, the first time in 1981.

Oenanthe hispanica
Black-eared Wheatear
maltese: Kuda dumnikana
The Black-eared Wheatear has two varieties, one with a black throat as well as ears, the other black ears only. The crown and back are a warm cinnamon bluff. The wings are black, the underparts suffused with cinnamon. A pair have been recorded to breed in 1982.

Family: TURDIDAE
Monticola solitarius (Linnaeus)
Blue Rock Thrush
maltese: Merill
The Blue Rock Thrush is about 20 cm in length. The male's plumage is deep blue with blackish wings and tail, while the female is brownish grey finely barred underneath. The male is well known for its melodious song. It is resident and inhabits sea-cliffs, rocky hill-sides and rocky valleys. An untidy nest of roots and fine twigs is built in a hole or crag in the rocks, or in bastions as well as in remote disused buildings. Usually two broods are raised in a season. The eggs are laid about late March and number four to six, usually five. They are of a pale bluish colour usually with fine reddish brown spots round the larger end. Incubation and nestling period takes about 30 days. Only the female incubated the eggs, but both birds feed the young. The food consists mainly of grasshoppers, worms, beetles and small lizards. Unfortunately, though protected by law, some people still persst in stealing the young from the nest to raise in captivity. The Blue Rock Thrush is the national bird of Malta and the emblem of the Ornithological Society.

Family: SYLVIDAE
Cettia cetti (Temminck)
Cetti's Warbler
maltese: Baghal ta' l-Gholliq
The Cetti's Warbler (13.5 cm) has dark rufous-brown upperparts, a greyish white throat and belly and light brown breast and flanks. Its ten-feathered tail is much rounded. It is a difficult bird to spot as it skulks in thick vegetation but makes its presence felt with irs loud and striking song. The Cetti's Warbler has started breeding in Malta in the past 30-35 years and though it is far from being common, it is found in suitable areas such as overgrown valleys. The nest is usually built under a canopy of thick vegetation usually in bramble thickets. It is lossely constructed from dry grasses and reed blades, lined neatly from the inside with fine grasses and feathers. Two to five eggs are laid in April. These are of a brick-red colour. Nest building and incubation are carried out by the female while the male patrols the area. Two broods are usually raised in one season. Incubation and nestling period takes about 30 days. The young are fed for several days after they leave the nest. During this period they learn how to find food by observing their parents. Such behaviour is common to many other species, with exceptions such as shearwaters and petrels.

Arcocephalus scirpaceua scirpaceua
Reed Warbler
maltese: Baghal tal-qasab
The reed Warbler is a small plain-backed with brown upperparts, paler on the rump. The underparts are dull white washed with buff on the sides and flanks. The species is scarce during spring and common in autumn. It has rarely been noted to breed on the Maltese Isalands.

Sylivia conspicillata Temminck
Spectacled Warbler
maltese: Bufula Hamra
The Spectacled Warbler (12 cm) can be met with all through the year like the Sardinian Warbler. It has brownish upperparts with bright chestnut on the wings. The male has a richer grey head with dark lores. The throat is white as are the underparts, but the male has a pinkish suffusion on the breast. The Spectacled Warbler prefers the open countryside. During the courting period, the male indulges frequently in song flights like the Sardinian Warbler. The nest which is built in a low shrub or thistle is usually within 30 cm off the ground. It is small and deeply cup-shaped, consisting of fine grasses, lined from the inside with vegetable down or horse hair. The eggs number three to five, usually four to five. They are of a greenish white colour, thickly speckled with olive-brown and grey, sometimes formingf a zone at the larger end. The incubation and nestling period takes about 24 days, both parents sharing the duties. Usually two broods are reared in a season.

Sylivia melanocephala
Sardinian Warbler
maltese: Bufula Sewda
The Sardinian Warbler (13 cm) is a greyish bird. The male has a glossy jet-black head. The female is browner with a greyhead. Both have a white throat, a reddish eye-ring and a broad rounded tail with white outer feathers. The Sardinian Warbler is widespread and is found in all types of Maltese countryside as well as in gardens in urban areas. The nest which may be built in a low shrub or tree is usually within a metre off the ground though occasionally it may be higher. It is cup-shaped and neat, and built of dry grasses and dry leaves and lined on the inside with vegetable down, fine roots and hair. Two to five eggs are laid. As in many other species the colour of the egg is variable. Usually, they are of greenish white colour speckled with orange-brown, very often foring a zone round the thicker end. Incubation, which is carried out by both sexes, lasts about 12 days. Both parents feed the young which leave the nest after about another 12 days. Two, sometimes three, broods are reared in a season.

Cistocola juncidis juncidis
Fan-tailed Warbler
maltese: Baghal ta' l-Imrewha
The Fan-tailed Warbler (10 cm) is Malta's smallest bird. It is brownish above, paler below. The upper parts are heavily streaked except for its rufous rump. It has a short rounded tail with the feathers having black and white tips except the central pair. The male frequently patrols the breeding area flying high above, uttering incessantly a series of "zip-zip" calls. This attracts the attention of the observer, otherwise the bird is quite inconspicuous in its behaviour. The male may have more than one female at the same time. The male starts by building the outer shell of the nest which is then completed by the female. The nest is usually well hidden, very often within 30 cm above the ground, and is built in grasses or rushes in open countryside. The shape of the nest is like a wide-necked bottle or an open, deep, round purse. It is neatly woven with vegetable down, cobwebs and fine blades of dry grass. Three to six eggs are laid. The colour is very variable and may be white or light blue with or without any markings. Incubation and feeding of young is carried out by the female while the male patrols the breeding area, frequently chasing away other birds. Incubation and nestling period lasts about 28 days and three broods may be raised in one season. The first breeding observation of the Fan-tailed Warbler was in Xemxija and Ghadira in 1973. In such a short time it is already quite widespread and is breeding successfully.

Family: MUSCICPIDAE
Muscicapa striata (Pallas)
Spotted Flycatcher
maltese: Zanzarell tat-Tikki
The adult Spoted flycatcher is uniform hair-brown except for the crown which is streaked. The underparts are white washed with pale brown on the breast and flanks. The throat is white streaked with brown. Wings and tail are brown. The first authentic nesting attempt in Buskett was recorded in 1971. The nest is made up of a loose and flimsy construction which hardly cups the young.

Family: LANIIDAE
Lanius senator Linnaeus
Woodchat Shrike
maltese: Kaccamendula
The Woodchat Shrike (17 cm) has a rufous-chestnut crown and nape. Its forehead, cheeks, back wings and long tail are black. It has white shoulder patches, wing-bars, rump and sides of tail. Its throat and breast are shining white. It is a spring and autumn migrant but a very few pairs remain to breed. The compact cup-shaped nest is neatly built with fine roots and twigs lined with vegetable down in a leafy treetop, generally higher than 2.5 metres. About five eggs are laid in May or June. They are of a pale greenish colour with greyish brown markings, but as in many other species, egg colour may vary. Incubaton and nestling period takes about 35 days. When the young leave the nest they do not have the attractive black and white pattern of the adults and are pale greyish-brown with lighter underparts. The Woodchat Shrike likes to perch on tops of trees and on wires from where it watches the ground for beetles, grasshoppers and small lizards.

Family: PASSERIDAE
Passer hispaniolensis
Spanish Sparrow
maltese: Ghamiel tal-Bejt
The Spanish Sparrow (14.5 cm) needs no introduction. It is abundant and breeds in holes in buildings, cliffs, electricity pylons and trees. The male has a deep chestnut head, a black bib and breast, and black streaks on flanks and back. On the shoulders, it has a chestnut patch and a short white stripe. The female is rather dull and featureless, earthbrown in colour and paler beneath, with a streaky back. The nest is bulky and may include hay, straw, grass, paper, wool, hair, feathers and even small rags. The inside is always lined with soft feathers and vegetable down. Four to six eggs, usually five, are laid in March. These vary in colour, havinga white or bluish white ground colour with spots, freckles or blotches of dark greyish or reddish brown. Incubation is chiefly carried out by the feale, but after the young hatch the male helps in the feeding. Incubation and nestling period may take about 8 days. Up to four broods may be reared in one season.

Passer montanus (Linnaeus)
Tree Sparrow
maltese: Ghammiel tas-Sigar
The Tree Sparrow (13.5 c) is less known and familiar than the Spanish Sparrow because it is rather a shy bird. It is smaller and more slender. It has a black spot on the white earcoverts and its crown is chocolate brown. Sexes are similar. Few scattered pairs and small colonies breed in various parts of the islands, and are found all the year round, but passages also occur in autumn. The tree Sparrow breeds in rural as well as in suburban areas referring narrow crags and holes in buildings and walls. The bulky nests which we see in high trees are those of the Spanish Sparrow and not of the Tree Sparrow. Four to six eggs are laid in April as a general rule; however two to three broods may be reared in a season. The eggs which are light brown, are covered with dark markings. The food is similar to that of the Spanish Sparrow and may consist of seeds as well as insects, grubs, caterpillars and spiders.

Family: FRINGILLIDAE
Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus
Chaffinch
maltese: Sponsun
The male Chaffinch has a black forehead, crown and nape bluish-grey passing on to reddish brownalmost rufous-chestnut on te mantle and back. The rump is olive green, cheeks, throat and underparts brownish pink. Wings are black with white shoulder patches and a whitish wing-bar across the wing and outer tail feathers. A common autumn visitor, but some remain to winter until March. A few pairs breed annually mainly at Buskett

Serinus serinus (Linnaeus)
Serin
maltese: Apparell
The serin in easily recognised by its lemon-yellow rump which is easily recognised in flight. The forehead and nape are yellow, the rest of the upperparts are pale brown streaked with sepia. The wings and tail are dark brown, the throat and breast lemon-yellow, the belly white. The Serin occurs throughout southern Europe as a breeding bird, and is seen in Malta during its migration in autumn and again in spring.  A few pairs breed annually mainly at Buskett

Carduellis chloris (Linnaeus)
Greenfinch
maltese: Verdun
The Greenfinch has uniform and pure bright yellowish-green without any trace of brown upperparts. The underparts are also much brighter. It is an autumn and spring migrant, and has rarely been noted to breed in Malta.

Carduellis cannabina (Linnaeus)
Linnet
maltese: Gojjin
The Linnet (13 cm) is a handsome finch with a streaked brownish head and chestnut-brown mantle. The male has a crimson forehead and breast in spring. The female is more streaked. Large numbers pass in autumn. Some also stay with us during the winter and it repasses again in Spring. Small numbers are resident in Malta, but mainly in Gozo. These usually build their nests in carob, citrus and almond tress but also in overhanging bushy plants on steep slopes or cliffs. The bulky cup-shaped nest is made of ine grasses and roots lined with hair and vegetable down, and can vary in height from one to four metres above the ground. Four to six eggs are usually laid in March. They are greyish white finely blotched with red and mauve. These are incubated by the feamle for about 12 days and the young remain in the nest for about 11 days. Two broods are generally reared in a season.

Carduelis carduelis
Goldfinch
maltese: Gardell
The Goldfinch is a regular bird of passage through the Islands. The bright colour of the Goldfinch enable it to be quickly recognised. A crimson mask bordered with white contrasts with the black on the crown and sides of the neck. The undersides is white washed with brown on the flanks.  It very rarely (1913 and 1966) breeds on the Islands.

Family: EMBERIZIDAE
Miliaria calandra (Linnaeus)
Corn Bunting
maltese: Durrajsa
The Corn Bunting (17.5 cm) is a resident as well as a partial migrant. It is a rather featureless bird, being pale olive-brown with darker streaks. Sexes are similar. It breeds in fairly open countryside and starts nest-building in February. The nest is fairly large and is neatly built on the ground amongst the herbbage as well as in low vegetation. It is constructed of roots and dry grasses generally lined with finer grasses, roots and hair. The eggs, four to six, are purplish white, blotched, speckled or scrawled with purple, black and brown spots and lines. The female incubates the eggs for about 12 days and the young leave the nest after about 10 days - before they can fly. Males are sometimes polygamous.