List of birds of Corsica

This list of birds of Corsica includes the 323 bird species that have been recorded on the island. Of these 102 breed regularly.[2]

Engraving of Corsican nuthatches from John Whitehead's list of Corsican birds published in 1885[1]

Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea located west of the Italian Peninsula, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the Italian island of Sardinia. Mountains make up two-thirds of the island, forming a single chain. The island has an area of 8,722 km2 (3,368 sq mi) and measures 183 km (114 mi) in length (north to south) and 83 km (52 mi) east to west.[3]

The status of each species is based on the annotated list by Jean-Claude Thibault and Gilles Bonaccorsi published in 1999. There are 69 species in the "accidental visitor" category for those species that have been recorded on less than ten occasions.[4]

Gaviiformes

Gaviidae (divers)

Divers are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America (where they are known as loons) and Northern Europe. They are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble in shape when swimming, but to which they are completely unrelated. In particular, divers' legs are set very far back which assists swimming underwater but makes walking on land extremely difficult. There are five species worldwide of which two species have been recorded in Corsica.

Podicipediformes

Podicipedidae (grebes)

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 23 species worldwide of which five have been recorded in Corsica.

Procellariiformes

Procellariidae (shearwaters)

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. There are two species that have been recorded in Corsica.

Hydrobatidae (northern storm petrels)

The family Hydrobatidae is the northern storm-petrels, small pelagic petrels with a fluttering flight which often follow ships.

Suliformes

Sulidae (gannets)

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium to large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. There are ten species worldwide only one of which is seen off the coast of Corsica.

Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants)

Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large fish-eating seabirds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies, with the majority having mainly dark plumage. There are 41 species worldwide: two species have been recorded in Corsica.

Pelecaniformes

Pelecanidae (pelicans)

The Pelecanidae are a family of large water birds. They have a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey. There are eight species worldwide of which one has been recorded in Corsica.

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

The family Ardeidae contains bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.

Threskiornithidae (ibises, spoonbills)

Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and, despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide, two occur in Corsica.

Ciconiiformes

Ciconiidae (storks)

Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute, but bill-clattering is an important mode of communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide of which two species occur in Corsica.

Phoenicopteriformes

Phoenicopteridae (flamingoes)

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (91 to 152 cm) high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down. There are six species worldwide, one occurs in Corsica.

Anseriformes

Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans)

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating. There are 29 species which have been recorded in Corsica.

Accipitriformes

Pandionidae (osprey)

The family Pandionidae contains only one species, the osprey. The osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution.

Accipitridae (hawks, kites, eagles)

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. They have powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight.

Falconiformes

Falconidae (falcons)

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey. They differ from hawks, eagles and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons. There are 67 species worldwide, eight of which have been recorded in Corsica.

Galliformes

Odontophoridae (New World quails)

There are 34 species in total of these small ground-feeding gamebirds from the Americas. One of these was introduced to Corsica for ornamental purposes.

Phasianidae (pheasants, partridges)

These are terrestrial species of gamebirds, feeding and nesting on the ground. They are variable in size but generally plump, with broad and relatively short wings. There are about 183 species worldwide. Three species are present in Corsica.

Gruiformes

Gruidae (cranes)

Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". There are 15 species worldwide, with one species in Corsica.

Rallidae (rails, gallinules, coots)

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Otidiformes

Otididae (bustards)

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays. There are 26 species worldwide of which a single species occurs in Corsica.

Charadriiformes

Haematopodidae (oystercatchers)

The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 12 species worldwide, with one in Corsica.

Recurvirostridae (avocets, stilts)

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Of the ten species worldwide, two occur in Corsica.

Burhinidae (thick knees)

The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats. There are ten species worldwide; one occurs in Corsica.

Glareolidae (pratincoles, coursers)

Glareolidae is a family of wading birds comprising the pratincoles, which have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails, and the coursers, which have long legs, short wings and long, pointed bills which curve downwards. There are 17 species worldwide of which one occurs in Corsica.

Charadriidae (plovers, lapwings)

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

Scolopacidae (sandpipers)

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. There are 25 species which have been recorded in Corsica.

Stercorariidae (skuas)

The family Stercorariidae are, in general, medium to large sea birds, typically with grey or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They nest on the ground in temperate and arctic regions and are long-distance migrants. There are seven species worldwide of which four species have been recorded off the coast of Corsica.

Laridae (gulls, terns, and skimmers)

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years.

Alcidae (auks)

A family of seabirds which are superficially similar to penguins with their black-and-white colours, their upright posture and some of their habits but which are able to fly. There are about 25 species worldwide, of which three are recorded in Corsica.

Columbiformes

Columbidae (pigeons, doves)

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. There are 342 species worldwide of which five species occur in Corsica.

Cuculiformes

Cuculidae (cuckoos)

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites. There are 149 species worldwide of which two species occur in Corsica.

Strigiformes

Tytonidae (barn owls)

Barn owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. There are about 19 species worldwide with one in Corsica.

Strigidae (typical owls)

Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disc.

Caprimulgiformes

Caprimulgidae (nightjars)

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves. There are 99 nightjar species worldwide; one is found in Corsica.

Apodidae (swifts)

Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. There are 106 species worldwide of which three occur in Corsica.

Coraciiformes

Alcedinidae (kingfishers)

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs and stubby tails. There are 114 species worldwide; one species of which occurs in Corsica.

Meropidae (bee-eaters)

The bee-eaters are a group of near passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa but others occur in southern Europe, Madagascar, Australia and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated central tail feathers. All are colourful and have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 27 species worldwide, of which one occurs in Corsica.

Coraciidae (typical rollers)

Rollers resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colourful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, but the outer toe is not. There are 12 species worldwide; one species occurs in Corsica.

Bucerotiformes

Upupidae (hoopoes)

Hoopoes have black, white and orangey-pink colouring with a large erectile crest on their head. There are four species worldwide, one occurs in Corsica.

Piciformes

Picidae (woodpeckers)

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. There are 234 species worldwide, of which 5 occur in Corsica.

Passeriformes

Alaudidae (larks)

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds. There are 97 species worldwide of which five occur in Corsica.

Hirundinidae (swallows)

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Motacillidae (wagtails, pipits)

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws and pipits. They are slender, ground feeding insectivores of open country.

Regulidae (kinglets)

The kinglets, also called crests, are a small group of birds often included in the Old World warblers, but frequently given family status because they also resemble the titmice. There are six species worldwide, two occur in Corsica.

Cinclidae (dippers)

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. Five species exist worldwide, one occurs in Corsica.

Troglodytidae (wrens)

The wrens are mainly small and inconspicuous except for their loud songs. These birds have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous. There are 85 species worldwide, of which one occurs in Corsica.

Prunellidae (accentors)

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. They are small, fairly drab species superficially similar to sparrows. There are 13 species worldwide, two occur in Corsica.

Turdidae (thrushes)

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly in the Old World. They are plump, soft-plumaged, small-to-medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs. There are 167 species worldwide of which 6 species have been recorded in Corsica.

Cisticolidae (cisticolas)

The Cisticolidae are warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub. There are 158 species worldwide; one occurs in Corsica.

Scotocercidae (bush warblers and allies)

Locustellidae (locustellid warblers)

Acrocephalidae (acrocephalid warblers)

Phylloscopidae (phylloscopid warblers)

Sylviidae (sylviid Warblers, parrotbills, and allies)

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia and, to a lesser extent, Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)

Old World flycatchers are a large group of small passerine birds native to the Old World. They are mainly small arboreal insectivores. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Panuridae (bearded reedling)

Aegithalidae (long-tailed tits)

Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects. There are 13 species worldwide, one occurs in Corsica.

Paridae (true tits)

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects. There are 64 species worldwide, three of which occur in Corsica.

Sittidae (nuthatches)

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails and powerful bills and feet. There are 28 species worldwide, of which one occurs in Corsica. The Corsican nuthatch is France's sole endemic species.

Tichodromidae (wallcreeper)

The wallcreeper is a small bird related to the nuthatch family, which has stunning crimson, grey and black plumage. There is only the one species in this family.

Certhiidae (treecreepers)

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees. There are 11 species worldwide, two occur in Corsica.

Remizidae (penduline tits)

The penduline tits are a group of small passerine birds related to the true tits. They are insectivores. There are 11 species worldwide; one occurs in Corsica.

Oriolidae (Old-World orioles)

The Old World orioles are colourful passerine birds. They are not related to the New World orioles. There are 38 species worldwide; one is present in Corsica.

Laniidae (shrikes)

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. There are five species that have been recorded in Corsica.

Corvidae (crows)

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers and ground jays. Corvids are larger than the average size for species in the order Passeriformes and some show high levels of intelligence. There are 130 species worldwide, with nine species in Corsica.

Sturnidae (starlings)

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country. They eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. There are 123 species worldwide, with two in Corsica.

Calcariidae (longspurs and Arctic buntings)

Emberizidae (Old World buntings)

The emberizids are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.

Fringillidae (finches)

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Passeridae (Old World sparrows)

Sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small, plump, brown or grey birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

See also

References
  1. Whitehead 1885.
  2. Thibault & Bonaccorsi 1999.
  3. Thibault & Bonaccorsi 1999, p. 1.
  4. Thibault & Bonaccorsi 1999, p. 13.

Sources
  • Thibault, Jean-Claude; Bonaccorsi, Gilles (1999). The Birds of Corsica: An annotated checklist. BOU Checklist Number 17. Tring, Herts. UK: British Ornithologists' Union. ISBN 0-907446-21-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) An updated version of this checklist without the annotations is available as a pdf from Corse-Ornitho.
  • Whitehead, John (1885). "Ornithological notes from Corsica". Ibis. 5th Series. 3: 24–48. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1885.tb06232.x.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading
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