See also
All about Cyprus - Όλα για την Κύπρο
Below in English
Text and photographs by George Konstantinou
Thrushes belong to the very large bird family Turdidae, whose members are found throughout the world. Many of these species have wonderful songs comparable to that of the nightingale. They feed on a variety of foods, including seeds, worms, insects, snails, ripe fruit and ripe olives.
The breeding season begins in May. They build their nests in trees and shrubs, laying up to six eggs.
They are migratory birds and visit Cyprus during the winter months, from September until March.
Six of these species are encountered in Cyprus.
The species are:
Song Thrush – Turdus philomelos – Κελαηδότσιχλα, Τζίκλα
It is the most common species in our country and can be encountered at all elevations, even in residential gardens. It is also the most popular gamebird species in Cyprus.
It migrates in large numbers, mainly during the night, using the stars and the moon as a compass.
It winters in southern Europe and Africa.
From late September onwards, we can hear their characteristic calls in the night sky. These calls help the birds maintain the cohesion of the flock.
It likes to eat ripe olives, which it swallows whole. After digestion, it regurgitates the stone through its mouth. It also feeds on the fruits of the bay laurel.
These birds are beneficial to the dispersal of forest species because they deposit the stones of the fruits they have eaten a long distance from where they consumed them. This was one of the ways in which Cyprus was colonised by forest species immediately after it emerged from the sea several million years ago.
Snails form an important part of its diet. It strikes them against stones to break their shells.
I consider it important to mention a behaviour that I observed among these birds in captivity and which has not been reported anywhere. I had placed several thrushes in a large cage with other ornamental birds, and on several occasions I saw them seize and swallow the chicks of other birds. I saw one take a chick from the nest of a Eurasian Collared Dove. Although the chick was much larger than the thrush’s head, the bird managed to swallow it whole.
It does not breed in Cyprus.
Unfortunately, their numbers in Cyprus are declining every year.
Common Blackbird – Turdus merula – Μαυρόπουλλος, Κότσιφας
This is another common species in our country and can be encountered at all elevations. It is also a popular gamebird species in Cyprus.
The Common Blackbird breeds in Europe, Asia and North America. In recent years, several pairs have also been nesting in the Troodos Mountains, where their breeding population is continuously increasing.
Several years ago, a pair nested in a cherry tree at the Forestry College in Prodromos, at a height of three metres. We stood beneath the tree, and the bird sitting on its eggs did not appear to be disturbed by our presence.
The mature male is black with a yellow bill, while the female is dark brown.
Because of this difference in colour, many hunters call the male “Mavropoullos” and the female “Mavrotzjikla”, believing them to be two different species.
Redwing – Turdus iliacus – Κοκκινότσιχλα, Κοτσινότζικλα
This is also a common species in our country. It can be encountered at all elevations and is a popular gamebird species in Cyprus.
It is slightly smaller than the Song Thrush and has a reddish colour beneath its wings, which is most visible when the bird is in flight.
It breeds in northern Europe and northern Asia and winters in southern and western Europe and eastern Asia. It does not breed in Cyprus.
Fieldfare – Turdus pilaris – Κεδρότσιχλα, Τρυγονότζικλα
It has a grey head and a grey area on the upper part of the rump, while its breast is covered with dark markings.
It is usually encountered in flocks on the highest peaks of the Troodos Mountains and only rarely in lowland areas.
It arrives in Cyprus in mid-November. Large numbers reach Cyprus following severe winter weather in Europe.
It breeds in central and northern Europe and northern Asia. It does not breed in Cyprus.
Mistle Thrush – Turdus viscivorus – Τσαρτσάρα, Γερακότσιχλα, Τριζάρα, Δενδρότσιχλα
It has a greyish-brown body with numerous rounded spots on the breast and belly.
It is also usually encountered in flocks on the highest peaks of the Troodos Mountains and only rarely in lowland areas. It arrives in Cyprus in mid-November. Large numbers reach Cyprus following severe winter weather in Europe.
It breeds throughout Europe and in northern and western Asia. It does not breed in Cyprus.
Many hunters in Cyprus also call this species “Trygonotzjikla”.
Ring Ouzel – Turdus torquatus – Χιονοκότσυφας, Βουνότζικλα
It is a relatively rare bird in our country and is encountered on the highest peaks of the Troodos Mountains.
Its behaviour is approximately the same as that of the Common Blackbird.
It breeds in central Europe. It builds its nest in shrubs and among rocks. It does not breed in Cyprus.
Year after year, thrushes are becoming increasingly scarce in our country. This decline is difficult to justify, as these birds breed three or even four times annually.
One of the main reasons is illegal hunting with limesticks, nets, electronic calling devices and traps, which kill these birds by the thousands.
These poachers act against legal and law-abiding hunters and, above all, against nature.
Because I respect nature and always speak logically, following this dramatic decline in these birds, a hunting quota should be imposed for several years to give their populations an opportunity to recover.
No comments:
Post a Comment