Iconic Birds of Andalucia

The most iconic bird of Andalucia is the Bee-eater Merops apiaster.

Back in late July 2011 a number of local birders were asked to think about what might be an iconic bird for Andalucia; what bird or birds do you automatically name when you think of Andalucia? At this point, fellow birders were asked to consider up to about ten species and not in any particular order; the object was to get a feel for the birds that represented the Region. Not an easy decision to make as I knew from experience. My initial attempt resulted in sixty-seven species which I then reduced to just over forty. To help respondents, I forwarded this list in the attempt to show how diverse the selection might be.

By mid-August I had received almost twenty replies with a total of 53 species suggested. Given that most of the respondents were former UK residents now living permanently in Spain having move to the country within the past ten years or less, a small number were regular visitors either to “second homes” or friends/relations and a couple were Spanish nationals with an interest in bird life, it was not surprising that there were some interesting choices. For example, the Spanish seemed very interested in both the Red-legged Partridge and Quail and one might, therefore, surmise that their choices might be based more on a culinary and/or sporting aspect rather than the bird itself. In the same way, both Goldfinch and House Sparrow featured on the lists of British participants. Could this possibly be a result of the numbers present out here in Andalucia? Whilst the Goldfinch is a common resident in the UK, away from the winter feeders the bird is certainly not seen in the numbers that we come to expect in southern Spain. Similarly, with the House Sparrow now very scarce in many parts of Britain maybe the sight, once more, of all these “cheeky chappies” brings back fond memories of a time gone by.

In the same way that some of our very common birds featured in the original list, it soon became clear that the concept of an iconic bird did not relate to the rare and exotic that can be discovered out here. But, on the other hand, it was also surprising how many “common” local birds did not feature in great numbers. Perhaps, all too soon, we have come to take for granted some species that are very much local to Andalucia rather than Britain.

With the fifty-three species counted, the next task was to try and determine which individual might be the iconic bird of Andalucia. So how to make the decision?

Having tallied the number of votes for each individual species, the highest recorded fifteen names were forwarded to all who had participated plus, in addition, all other members of the Axarquia Bird Group. This resulted in a final total of 28 voters. Participants were asked to select their top five birds in ranking order. In addition, as there were four raptors to be considered, the next bird on the original list was a Lesser Kestrel so this species was added to the raptors sop that voters could also rank these birds in order.

Bee-eater Merops apiaster

The final lists presented to voters were, therefore, as follows:

Top fifteen birds by number of nominations:

Greater FlamingoBlack-shouldered KiteShort-toed EagleSpanish Imperial EagleBonelli’s EaglePurple SwamphenRed-knobbed CootBlack-winged StiltBee-eaterHoopoeWoodchat ShrikeAzure-winged MagpieRed-rumped SwallowSardinian WarblerBlue Rock Thrush

Phoeniopterus roseusElanus caeruleusCircaetus gallicusAguila adalbertiHieraaetus fasciatusPorphyrio porphyrioFulica cristataHimantopus himantopusMerops apiasterUpupa epopsLanius senatorCyanopica cyanusHirundo dauricaSylvia melanocephalaMonticola solitarius

Flamenco ComúnElanio ComúnCulebrera EuropeaAguila Imperial IbéricaAguila-azor PerdiceraCalamón ComúnFocha MorunaCiguenuela ComúnAbejaruco EuropeoAbubillaAlcaudón ComúnRabilargoGolondrina DáuricaCurruca CabecinegraRoquero Solitario

Raptor Selection:

Black-winged KiteShort-toed EagleSpanish Imperial EagleBonelli’s EagleLesser Kestrel

Elanus caeruleusCircaetus gallicusAguila adalbertiHieraaetus fasciatusFalco naumanni

Elanio ComúnCulebrera EuropeaAguila Imperial IbéricaAguila-azor PerdiceraCernicalo Primilla

From the above lists many will immediately notice some missing species; species that one would, perhaps, have expected to find in the iconic birds of Andalucia. Where is the White-headed Duck, the Audouin’s or Mediterranean Gull, the Kentish Plover, the Cattle Egret, the Pallid or Alpine Swift, the Roller or even the Crested and/or Thekla Lark? In terms of raptors, it seems strange that the Booted Eagle was not a popular choice. Perhaps, as already indicated, it is a question of perception in the sense that we take many of these birds for granted and do not, necessarily, associate them as “special” within our Region. Who knows, another vote in the future may, possibly, give them more recognition.

Method of selection:

How to determine the winner? Is the most iconic bird of Andalucia the species gaining the most “Firsts” with, in the case of a tie, the number of “Seconds” then “Thirds” etc or the one with most points, on the basis that 5 points will be awarded for first and then reducing to 1 point for a fifth. If the second method is used, would the ultimate winner be a bird that no individual voter considered the most iconic bird? In the event, having used both methods for scoring, I need not have worried as our first three birds achieved their position by both means of scoring.

A third method of scoring was also used to see which bird featured most often in individual’s selections. Maybe not the top bird but considered by many or most to be one of the top five.

The Iconic Bird of Andalucia:

Before drawing any conclusions there are, perhaps, two important factors to bear in mind. Firstly, the number of contributors is small, perhaps too small to be statistically significant,

but the resulting vote, if replicated by a larger audience, might be an indicator that could be extrapolated forward. Secondly, all bar two of the participants were of northern European background. No doubt, if more native participants had take part then the outcome might have been very different; perhaps Spanish birders might have gone for the more exotic or scarcer species. Who knows?

The overall winner of the award was the Bee-eater, closely followed by the Hoopoe. In third place, well behind but significantly ahead of the fourth species, was the Sardinian Warbler.

When the number of “mentions” was calculated, the Hoopoe managed to outscore the winning Bee-eater by a single vote. The Flamingo certainly gained votes and came in fourth, only a couple of votes behind the third-placed Sardinian Warbler and closely followed by the

Red-rumped Swallow.

Bee-eater

Hoopoe

Sardinian Warbler

In terms of the larger birds, excluding the Greater Flamingo, our ever-present summer visitor the Short-toed Eagle was the most popular species in the top fifteen list. Whether by “Firsts” or points scored, this bird managed to finish in seventh place and so proved more iconic than the Azure-winged Magpie, Blue Rock Thrush and Woodchat Shrike. Certainly, when it comes to raptors, this would appear to be the bird that is the most iconic raptor in Andalucia.

Whilst the Bonelli’s Eagle and Goldfinch fought over the last two places, rather a surprise in the case of the former, three voters insisted on making sure that at least one of their favorite birds were recorded. So, despite the above comments about “missing names,” the Thekla Lark did receive a “Third” vote whilst the Booted Eagle managed to gain a “First” vote in both the overall nominations and the Raptor section.

Winning table by most Firsts:

123456789101112=12=1415

Bee-eaterHoopoeSardinian WarblerRed-rumped SwallowGreater FlamingoRed-knobbed CootShort-toed EagleSpanish Imperial EaglePurple SwamphenBlue Rock ThrushWoodchat ShrikeAzure-winged MagpieBack-winged KiteGoldfinchBonelli’s Eagle

1442111100000000

Winning Table by Points:

Red-rumped Swallow

Greater Flamingo

12345678910=10=12=12=14=14=

Bee-eaterHoopoeSardinian WarblerGreater FlamingoPurple SwamphenRed-rumped SwallowShort-toed EagleBlue Rock ThrushRed-knobbed CootAzure-winged MagpieWoodchat ShrikeBack-winged KiteSpanish Imperial EagleBonelli’s Eagle Goldfinch

77643529252318171611116655

Winning Table by most Nominations:

123456=6=8=8=8=1112=12=14=14=

HoopoeBee-eaterSardinian WarblerGreater FlamingoRed-rumped SwallowPurple SwamphenAzure-winged MagpieShort-toed EagleBlue Rock ThrushWoodchat ShrikeRed-knobbed CootSpanish Imperial EagleBonelli’s Eagle Back-winged KiteGoldfinch

18171311107766653322

Conclusions:

Which ever way you look at the results, the iconic bird of Andalucia is the Bee-eater with the Hoopoe a relatively close second that suggest the possibility that, in a future similar poll, the positions might be reversed. Third is the Sardinian Warbler with, based on methodologies and number of nominations, the Greater Flamingo fourth and the Red-rumped Swallow in fifth place, a fraction ahead of the Red-knobbed Coot. In table form:

1234567

Bee-eaterHoopoeSardinian WarblerGreater FlamingoRed-rumped SwallowRed-knobbed Coot.(Top raptor) Short-toed Eagle

Merops apiasterUpupa epopsSylvia melanocephalaPhoeniopterus roseusHirundo dauricaFulica cristataCircaetus gallicus

Abejaruco EuropeoAbubillaCurruca CabecinegraFlamenco ComúnGolondrina DáuricaFocha MorunaCulebrera Europea

Raptor Results:

By comparison the raptor results were fairly straight forward. What was evident immediately was that voters seemed to select the raptors that they encountered on a regular basis rather than go for the exotic and/or rarity. Short-toed Eagle was quickly followed by Bonelli’s Eagle and the impressive Spanish Imperial Eagle was, perhaps, seen as a rarity only to be encountered, if at all, as a result of a special expedition to find the bird. As such, it barely managed to surpass the Lesser Kestrel which only made it on to the list by being “first reserve”

and next raptor in line.

Raptor Table:

Firsts Points Nominations12345

Short-toed EagleBonelli’s EagleBlack-winged KiteSpanish Imperial EagleLesser Kestrel

96431

(1) 75 (2) 69 (3) 62 (5) 45 (4) 50

(2) 19 (3=) 17 (1) 20 (3=) 17 (5) 16

Where next? Now that we have a potential way of determining what might be the iconic bird of Andalucia, the next initiative ought, perhaps, to be to repeat the exercise at a later date, perhaps on an annual basis, when one would hope that there might be a far greater participation to give a more definitive answer to this proverbial and subjective question.

But before undertaking such a survey in 2012, comments and suggestions upon how to both improve and widen the birding electorate would be much appreciated by the author. One such initiative might be to circulate the information to other birding groups in Andalucia, such as the Adalucia Bird Society and the Arboleas Bird Group.

R C N WrightOctober 2011

Short-toed Eagle