With the the Falkland days getting shorter and my job taking up most of my time that would normally be spent birding I have decided to spotlight some of the species of birds in the Falkland Islands.

Below are the first two species

Black Throated Finch Melanoder melonodera melanodra

A resident endemic subspecies that is widespread and common on coastal and inland heathland.

Adult Male

Adult Female

They breed from mid September to mid January laying 3-4 green/blue -grey eggs in a small grass nest lined with feathers on the ground or occasionally higher in mature Tussac Grass.

At this time of the year birds are starting to form small flocks

Ist year Male

Black chinned Siskin Carduelis barbata

Resident common species around Stanley and other settlements that have mature trees and shrubs. Also common on offshore Islands with large mature dense Tussac plantations.

Adult Female

Adult male feeding on grass seeds

They breed between Septamber and December and have been know to raise three broods in a season.They tend to build the nest in trees and shrubs at least 1-2 mtrs off the ground and agian like the Black Throated Finch will nest in mature Tussac. They lay between 3-5 eggs in a grass nest lined with small feathers and sheeps wool.