Birds of Magyarlukafa

The village of Magyarlukafa is bordered by three different habitat types: grassland and fields, marsh and ponds, woods. Most of the birds that are tied to one of these habitat types may be seen in the village itself, at least occasionally. This allows us to observe the following birds in the village:
red-backed shrike (grassland with shrubs), western marsh harrier (grassland and marsh), great egret (lakes), golden oriole (open forest) and black woodpecker (forest).

Some bird species that are common in the village, but that are rarely seen away from human settlements are: black redstart, European serin and white wagtail.

The Natura 2000 area borders the north side of the village. As far as the birds are concerned, the presence of the following species (amongst others) has been key to the designation of the zone: white-tailed eagle, black stork, raven, middle spotted woodpecker, black woodpecker and grey-headed woodpecker. The large number of woodpecker species in the Zselic is remarkable. In our garden we've observed already seven out of the eight species present.

Below you'll find a list of bird species we've been able to see or hear in the area. The list most certainly is not a complete inventory of the species present.

Hoopoe	Upupa epops
In the village itself mainly to be seen in spring.
Common kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
At the ponds south of the village.
European bee-eater	Merops apiaster
Can be heard and seen every day in the village, but seldom perching. Mostly flying high in the sky.
Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella
Very common.
Corn bunting	Emberiza calandra
To be seen and heard regularly in the valley north of the village.
Reed bunting	Emberiza schoeniclus
Mostly seen in winter when we can find it along the grasslands.
Eurasian skylark	Alauda arvensis
Numbers are decreasing in the Zselic as well. Can be heard and seen on the grasslands to the west of Kishárságy (2.5 km from Magyarlukafa).
Crested lark	Galerida cristata
Not present in the village itself. Often easy to see alongside the asphalt road near Szigetvár.
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica
Pretty large numbers in the village and near the ponds south of the village.
House martin	Delichon urbicum
Present in Magyarlukafa, but the largest numbers in the surroundings are to be found in the town of Szigetvár.
White wagtail	Motacilla alba
Tree pipit	Anthus trivialis
Not rare on the grasslands, sometimes in the village as well.
Eurasian reed warbler	Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Mainly at the ponds to the south of the village.
Great reed warbler	Acrocephalus arundinaceus
At the ponds to the south of the village.
Sedge warbler	Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
At the ponds to the south of the village.
Marsh warbler	Acrocephalus palustris
Savi's warbler	Locustella luscinioides
Northern wheatear	Oenanthe oenanthe
Wheatear and stonechat are pretty common in the valley to the north of the village and also to the west of (2.5 km from Magyarlukafa).
European stonechat	Saxicola rubicola
Whinchat	Saxicola rubetra
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes
In summer only occasionaly in the village itself, but common in winter.
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus
In summer only occasionaly in the village itself, but common in winter.
Firecrest	Regulus ignicapilla
Probably only during migration in spring and autumn.
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata
Always present in the village in summer.
Collared flycatcher	Ficedula albicollis
Black redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros
Common in the village itself.
Dunnock	Prunella modularis
Not commun in the village.
European robin	Erithacus rubecula
In summer rather sporadic in the village itself, but common in winter.
Common nightingale	Luscinia megarhynchos
In spring and early summer always to be heard in shrubs alongside the brook that passes through the valley east of the village.
Blackbird	Turdus merula
The blackbirds in the village are more secretive than their Western European counterparts.
Song thrush	Turdus philomelos
Mistle thrush	Turdus viscivorus
In the first place to be found on trees along the somewhat higher situated grasslands between Magyarlukafa and Kishárságy.
Fieldfare	Turdus pilaris
Winter visitor.
Redwing	Turdus iliacus
Winter visitor.
Common starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Golden oriole	Oriolus oriolus
Still common in the village and the surroundings.
Red-backed shrike	Lanius collurio
Common along the grasslands in the valley north of the village, but regularly to be seen in the village itself.
Lesser grey shrike	Lanius minor
To be found at the same locations as the red-backed shrike, but much less common. At times to be obeserved in the village itself.
Great grey shrike	Lanius excubitor
Winter visitor.
Long-tailed tit	Aegithalos caudatus
Great tit	Parus major
Blue tit	Cyanistes caeruleus
Marsh tit	Poecile palustris
Everywhere common, in the village as well. Remarkably tame.
Crested tit	Lophophanes cristatus
In stretches of woodland dominated by conifers, as can be found to the east of Visnyeszéplak (6 km from Magyarlukafa).
Coal tit	Parus ater
Not common.
Bearded reedling	Panurus biarmicus
Winter visitor.
European serin	Serinus serinus
Common in the village itself.
Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs
Common in the village itself.
Greenfinch	Chloris chloris
Common in the village itself.
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis
Specially common on the grasslands around Magyarlukafa, but present in the village as well.
Common linnet	Linaria cannabina
In the first place on the grasslands around Magyarlukafa, but present in the village as well.
Hawfinch	Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Rather common, but unobtrusive in the village all year round.
Bullfinch	Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Occasionally seen outside the village along the forest edge in the valley.
Brambling	Fringilla montifringilla
Winter visitor.
Siskin	Spinus spinus
Winter visitor.
Nuthatch	Sitta europaea
Common everywhere: in the village and in the forests.
Short-toed treecreeper	Certhia brachydactyla
Present, but not common.
House sparrow	Passer domesticus
Not very common in the village.
Tree sparrow	Passer montanus
Very common in the vilage, on the fields and grasslands.
Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla
Common everywhere: in the village and in the forests.
Lesser whitethroat	Sylvia curruca
Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita
Willow warbler	Phylloscopus trochilus
Until now, we've seen willow warblers only during migration in early autumn.
Common cuckoo	Cuculus canorus
Can be heard everywhere in spring, in the village as well.
Great spotted woodpecker	Dendrocopos major
Common.
Middle spotted woodpecker	Dendrocoptes medius
Rather common.
Lesser spotted woodpecker	Dryobates minor
Green woodpecker	Picus viridis
Common.
Grey-headed woodpecker	Picus canus
To be seen and heard regularly.
Black woodpecker	Dryocopus martius
Enormous woodpecker (second largest in the world). Certainly not rare, sometimes to be seen in the village. Nevertheless, its striking call will give away its present, rather than its large size. (Audiofile 1 = call at rest, audiofile 2 = call in flight)
Wryneck	Jynx torquilla
Well camouflaged, unobtrusive bird, catching our attention mainly because of its call. Present in the village itself.
Tawny owl	Strix aluco
Present in the village itself.
Long-eared owl	Asio otus
Can be seen in winter.
Barn owl	Tyto alba
Jay	Garrulus glandarius
Common everywhere: in the village and in the forests.
Hooded crow	Corvus cornix
Common everywhere: in the village and in the forests.
Raven	Corvus corax
Rather common and conspicuous because of its call.
Rook	Corvus frugilegus
Mainly present in the proximity of the cities (Szigetvár), but in autumn and winter we can sometimes observe large groups in the surroundings of Magyarlukafa.
Magpie	Pica pica
Can be seen in winter mainly near the ponds south of the village.
Common buzzard	Buteo buteo
Common everywhere, always to be seen and heard in the village.
White-tailed eagle	Haliaeetus albicilla
Imposing presence. The largest European eagle. Often seen, but rather unpredictable, probably because of its large territory. Silent.
Western marsh harrier	Circus aeruginosus
Present near the ponds south of the village.
Hen harrier	Circus cyaneus
Winter visitor. Often seen in a low flight on the grasslands bordering Magyarlukafa and between Magyarlukafa and Kishárságy.
Honey buzzard	Pernis apivorus
Rarely seen.
Red kite	Milvus milvus
Probably only during migration
Sparrowhawk	Accipiter nisus
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
White stork	Ciconia ciconia
Nests in many villages near Szigetvár, but not in Magyarlukafa. Makes his appearance sometimes in the valley when the grassland north of the village is being cut. Cf. video on the photo page.
Black stork	Ciconia nigra
Breeds in the Zselic and can be seen from time to time in the village and the direct surroundings, mainly flying overhead.
Crane	Grus grus
Only to be seen and heard during migration.
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea
At the first pond south of the village.
Great egret	Ardea alba
Mainly at the ponds south of the village.
Little egret	Egretta garzetta
At the ponds south of the village.
Common spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia
Night heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
At the ponds south of the village.
Squacco heron	Ardeola ralloides
So far only seen once in spring.
Great cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo
At the ponds south of the village.
Common coot	Fulica atra
At the ponds south of the village.
Common moorhen	Gallinula chloropus
At the ponds south of the village.
Water rail	Rallus aquaticus
At the ponds south of the village.
Baillon's crake	Porzana pusilla
Probably only during migration.
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos
At the ponds south of the village.
Wood sandpiper	Tringa glareola
Only during migration.
Black-winged stilt	Himantopus himantopus
So far only during migration.
Great crested grebe	Podiceps cristatus
At the ponds south of the village.
Little grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis
At the first pond south of the village.
Mute swan	Cygnus olor
Breeding some years at the ponds south of the village.
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
Ferruginous duck	Aythya nyroca
Common pochard	Aythya ferina
Winter visitor.
Widgeon	Anas penelope
Winter visitor.
Common teal	Anas crecca
Winter visitor.
Garganey	Spatula querquedula
At the first pond south of the village.
Northern shoveler	Spatula clypeata
Winter visitor.
Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus
Common and can be heard all the time in the village and on the grasslands in the surroundings.
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix
Very difficult to see, but has a distinctive call.
Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus
Only observed a few times in spring on the grassland bordering the northeast side of the village.
Wood pigeon	Columba palumbus
Stock dove	Columba oenas
European turtle dove	Streptopelia turtur
Common, in the village as well, but always well hidden. Despite its quiet cooing call the birds are easier to be heard than seen.
Collared dove	Streptopelia decaocto
Not in Magyarlukafa, but present in many villages closer to Szigetvár.