The biodiversity of Bulgarian birds is varied. The vast majority of species are conventional Tertiary relicts, while Pleistocene relicts make up about six percent of the total species.
Mountain-hill species dominate all other habitats, while wetlands and forests rank second and third, respectively. Caves and rocky habitats are home to 23 species each.
Despite this diversity, the most commonly encountered birds are mainly Tertiary relics, while the largest populations live in forests and wetlands.
Nightingale
The Bulgarian Nightingale is a small, beautiful bird that is characterized by its beautiful song. It is native to woods, groves, and other habitats with dense shrubs and undergrowth.
The bird spends the winter in S Africa. It can be found in a variety of habitats including deciduous forests, bushes, and rocky outcrops. You can also find this songbird in forests in Bulgaria’s Black Sea region.
The Bulgarian Nightingale breeds throughout the country. The breeding season takes place in the spring and summer months. The male Nightingale begins its breeding cycle in April and continues until June.
After this period, the male will start to build a nest, which will last from three to five days. The male will sing and guard the breeding territory while the female will feed the young. The Bulgarian Nightingale breeds in 98 pairs per year, with approximately 320 breeding pairs.
The Nightingale of Bulgaria was first discovered in 1899 by Hans v. Boetticher, who had studied passerine birds in Sofia. He suggested that the Thrush Nightingale and the Nightingale were races of the same species.
However, two other European Nightingales were identified in the same region and are classified as subspecies of the Bulgarian Nightingale. While there is currently no reliable information on the origin of the Bulgarian Nightingale, a recent study found that it is present throughout most of the country.
The Bulgarian Nightingale breeds in pre-park and lower forest zones, and its breeding pairs are more than 200 per square kilometer in the Sakar mountain. Its habitat includes dense shrubs and rocky outcrops.
It also occurs in meadows and canyons in northern Bulgaria. During the breeding season, the Bulgarian Nightingale visits secluded areas and breeds in dense vegetation.
Short-Toed Snake Eagle
The Short-Toed Snake Eagle of Bulgaria is an early Pleistocene eagle in the family Accipitriformes. It lives in Bulgaria’s Northwestern region and is 59-70 cm long with a 162-195 cm wingspan.
It has a rounded head and a yellow eye and grey cere. It has light-barred underwings.
This eagle spends more time on the wing than other members of its genus, and hunts from high altitudes of up to 500 m. Its flattish wings enable it to hover like a kestrel or soar in the air.
It feeds on smaller snakes and reptiles, as well as on injured birds and mammals. Sometimes, it eats millipedes.
The Short-Toed Snake Eagle is a migratory bird, spending the majority of its time in open areas. It nests on ground far from forests, and in areas with few tall trees.
It has a distinctive chirp that it uses to warn predators away. A common sighting is one of these birds flying across the sky, and if you see one in the wild, it’s likely to be a male.
This eagle has a white tail and black legs. It has an impressive appearance, ranging from 66 to 94 centimeters in length. It is also a large bird, often perched for hours.
In fact, it spends about 90% of its day perched. Occasionally, it will take flight over water. But this eagle is hardly noisy. You won’t hear it if you don’t listen.
Imperial Eagle
The imperial eagle of Bulgaria is a critically endangered species. For over 20 years, the species has been on the brink of extinction.
A lack of food, a decrease in prey, and electrocution from overhead pylons have all contributed to their decline.
However, thanks to the efforts of conservationists like Stoycho Stoychev of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, the eagle population has doubled in the last 20 years and the population has increased by over 50%.
While the population of the Imperial eagle of Bulgaria has slowly recovered, improvident changes in environmental management can cause a species to become extinct.
As a result, the Bulgarian government is considering amending its hunting law. This change will allow the use of poison baits in an effort to combat the African swine fever virus. This decision is bad news for a number of endangered species, including eagles.
Conservation efforts have helped restore the imperial eagle’s population in Bulgaria and Eastern Thrace. In addition, they’ve insulated 608 electrical poles in the eagle’s territory and provided 483 supplemental feedings to 14 pairs in Bulgaria from October to March.
The Eastern Imperial Eagle’s population is estimated to be between 35 and 150 pairs in the Balkans, with only the easternmost population located in the former Soviet Union.
The imperial eagle of Bulgaria is a large bird of prey with a wingspan of over 2 meters. The birds hatched in Bulgaria have traveled to many countries around the world.
Three post-dispersal juveniles were recorded wandering within Bulgaria and one migrated to Israel. This bird migrates during the fall and winter, and is most active from September to November. It migrates further north in the spring and winter.
Steppe Eagle
The Steppe Eagle is a large and striking bird. Its body measures around 70 centimeters long with a wingspan of 180 to 215 cm. Its feathers are dark brown with a characteristic golden tinge on its head.
The tail is mostly yellowish-gray. Juvenile birds have feathers that resemble ochre. After their sixth year, they develop the typical pattern on their feathers.
While wintering in Bulgaria, Steppe eagles are also known to frequent the Middle East. They are regularly found in eastern Iraq and western Iran. They are also found in Turkey and Georgia.
These birds are sometimes seen on Bulgaria’s border with Turkey. Despite being a rare sight, the Steppe Eagle is a valuable symbol for Bulgarian conservation. Its habitat is a diverse, rich arid region, so it is important to help protect it.
The Steppe Eagle is the national bird of Bulgaria. The Bulgarian government protects all raptors. While the Golden eagle is not threatened with extinction, the Imperial eagle and Saker falcon are.
Large-scale felling of poplar trees in Bulgaria has resulted in the destruction of many eagle nests. The Golden eagle has even been injured in a trap.
The Steppe Eagle is a beautiful and colorful bird that flies in the winter. It hunts large prey, including Tolai hare, which weighs 2 kg. The Steppe Eagle is also known to hunt assorted marmots of various sizes.
The typical prey size is approximately 1.5 kg. This majestic bird also hunts small mammals, such as rabbits and hamsters.
Booted Eagle
The Booted Eagle is a small eagle similar in size to a Common Buzzard. Males weigh between 510 and 770 grams, while females weigh between 950 and 1,000 grams.
The birds’ plumage varies by morph, with the pale-gray birds having a lighter head and flight feathers, and the mid-brown eagles having a darker head and neck.
The BSPB is initiating a petition to make June the national eagles’ day in Bulgaria. They propose that 27th of June be the official day, in order to remind people about the role of eagles in nature.
They intend to reach out to the Ministers of water, agriculture, and environment, requesting their support and participation in the campaign.
Other activities organized by the BSPB are Life for Eagles of Bulgaria, the Land for Life campaign, and the 25th anniversary of the EU LIFE programme.
The population of Booted Eagles in Bulgaria has been stable for the past decade, but numbers may have decreased in the last ten years because of the mass felling of old forests.
This bird is found near water and often nests in man-made structures, such as nesting platforms. Its alarm call is a series of high-pitched whistles, similar to the sound of a teapot being taken off the stove.
There are 22 species of breeding raptors in Bulgaria, including the Booted Eagle. In addition to Booted Eagles, this country is home to many other passing species, including Egyptian Vulture, Golden Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon.
Other rare and migratory birds in Bulgaria include the Little Bittern, the Thracian eagle, and the Levant Sparrohawk. If you’re looking for some unique birds to see while you’re on a holiday, Bulgaria is a good choice.
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