Top 20 Most Common Bird in Slovakia
The diverse environment of Slovakia, encompassing majestic mountains, dense forests, and rippling rivers, is the perfect habitat for a myriad of bird species. The 20 most common birds flaunt unique characteristics; captivating colours, enchanting songs, and fascinating behaviours. They exhibit exceptional adaptations, making them a compelling study for ornithologists and bird watchers alike.
Most Common Bird
1. Great Tit
Great Tit is a small and plump bird, with a thick black line running through its bright yellow face. It is a common sight in gardens, woodlands, and parks. It is often seen foraging for food in an acrobatic way. Well known for its intelligence, it has been observed using tools, solving problems, and even counting up to five. 
2. Eurasian Blackbird
Unafraid of humans, the dark-winged eurasian Blackbird has gained a great deal of cultural significance, mentioned in popular nursery rhymes and songs across the world. Elegant and with an appealing song, they can be aggressive when they are in their breeding period.
3. Mallard
The mallard is the most abundant duck species in the world, and the ancestor of all domestic ducks. Only the female can produce the distinctive "quack" sound. When the female lays eggs, the male abandons its mate, while the protective mother stays with the ducklings for a long time. This migratory species inhabits shallow waters and it's one of the most popular game birds.
4. European Goldfinch
Prized for its brilliantly colored plumage and pleasant, musical song, the european Goldfinch has been often held in captivity, until this activity became illegal in the 1970s. Native to Europe, the species has been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. It's a very sociable bird that likes to feed on seeds and often visits feeders.
5. Common Chaffinch
The common Chaffinch has a varied diet, mainly feeding on seeds and berries, but also eating insects, allowing it to thrive in different habitats. The Common Chaffinch is also known for its melodic song, with the males being particularly vocal during the breeding season. Their songs can often be heard in the spring and early summer.
6. Common Buzzard
The common Buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey found in many parts of the world. It inhabits a variety of habitats such as forests, grasslands, and mountains. It is an opportunistic hunter, preying on mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. They also scavenge on carrion. They are often seen soaring on thermal currents, perching on high vantage points, and performing acrobatic maneuvers during courtship.
7. Common Wood Pigeon
Although primarily found in woods, the common Wood Pigeon is a large and bulky pigeon that is often seen in towns and cities. Those who inhabit urban areas are quite tame, approachable, and comfortable around humans. This pigeon is a popular game bird, particularly during its migration journeys. Its distinctive call can be heard year-round, particularly at dawn. This ground-dwelling bird gathers in large flocks that feed together.
8. Hooded Crow
The hooded Crow is often mistaken for the carrion crow (Corvus corone) and has even been regarded as the same species; indeed, these two species may breed to create a hybrid. The hooded Crow is commonly found in woodlands, farmlands, and suburban areas. They can usually be seen in pairs or small groups, looking to find decaying meat, grain, and other protein.
9. Eurasian Blue Tit
The eurasian Blue Tit is a small songbird, very common in urban areas such as parks. This songbird has a wide range of calls and songs, but it's also known for its agility and acrobatic skills - it can hang upside down, reaching food that's not accessible to less-skilled birds. When the bird has young, it spends around 17 hours per day in the search of food for the offspring. It's a frequent visitor of bird feeders.
10. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
The eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is a widespread sparrow of the European mainland that has been introduced to some parts of North America. Eurasian Tree Sparrow is very similar to the House sparrow (Passer domesticus) but it's smaller and neater. It prefers more natural habitats, at the edges of human activity, and inhabits farmlands, parklands, and open woods.
11. Grey Heron
The grey Heron is a very common species to come across in marine, brackish, and freshwater ecosystems; these habitats must have at least four months of warm weather or else these birds will migrate for new breeding grounds. The grey Heron hunts by wading through shallow waters looking for fish and various invertebrates; their natural diet helps control some aquatic species populations.
12. Great Spotted Woodpecker
The great Spotted Woodpecker is a fairly common species to find in the trees of its native woodlands. Populations in the colder portions of their range migrate while others stay put year-round. They drill into tree bark not only to access insects but also to build nests. The great Spotted Woodpecker is sometimes confused with the smallest European woodpecker, the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor), though they are noticeably different in size.
13. Eurasian Magpie
The eurasian Magpie is a striking and intelligent bird known for its black and white plumage and long tail. It is highly adaptable, found in a variety of habitats, and known for its intelligence, similar to that of great apes. It is omnivorous, eating both insects and fruits, and it has a reputation for being mischievous and thieving.
14. Ring-necked Pheasant
The omnivorous ring-necked Pheasant sports a distinctive ringed neck. It has been taken from its native East Asia and introduced around the world with positive results. The beauty of the males, with their blue-green heads and red wattles, has made them a popular target for game hunters who mount them as trophies.
15. European Starling
The european Starling, a large, hardy songbird, is one of the most commonly seen bird species in North America. Originally from Europe, this species was brought to the U.S. in the 1890s by enthusiasts of William Shakespeare, who had the unique goal of bringing over every single species of bird that was mentioned in Shakespeare's collective works. Unfortunately, the european Starling, being an adaptable, generalist species, spread invasively across the continent, hurting many native species' populations in the process.
16. European Robin
The european Robin is an aggressive bird that is commonly found throughout farmlands, woodlands, and suburban communities. These birds are mainly helpful insectivores for gardeners, but will also eat various seeds and fruits. The european Robin is used on British Christmas cards to represent postmen from the Victorian era who used to wear red waistcoats while delivering holiday cards.
17. Yellowhammer
The yellowhammer is a small songbird that is often seen in open areas like forest clearings and farmland where it searches for seeds on the ground. The bright yellow head and stomach identify the males from the females. The bird typically travels in flocks instead of solitary. A decline in their population has placed the bird on the UK’s red species list.
18. Eurasian Blackcap
Eurasian Blackcap is a small bird known for its melodic song and distinctive black cap, and is found in gardens, woodlands, and hedgerows. Its diet consists mainly of insects, fruits, and berries. It is a pleasure to watch and listen to in the wild, and often sings from the top of bushes and trees during the breeding season.
19. White Wagtail
The white Wagtail is the national bird of Latvia and is featured in traditional folk songs and placed on some postage stamps. These birds can be found in most habitat types besides deserts. As their name suggests, they exhibit a characteristic tail-wagging behavior as they search along the ground and nearby waterways for insects to eat.
20. European Greenfinch
The european Greenfinch is a sociable bird and often forms flocks, particularly in the winter. The population of this species has been in decline due to loss of habitat and changes in land use. Identify this bird by its bright yellow head and breast on males, and green-brown head on females, and its sociable behavior in open woodlands, gardens, parks, and hedgerows.
