table of contents
- Types from A - E
- Types of G - Q
- Types from R - Z
- frequently asked Questions
A large number of different bird species live in Germany, including numerous birds with red bills. In this post we introduce you to 10 birds with red bills that you can also meet in this country.
In a nutshell
- many red beaked birds also have red legs
- the trait occurs very often in ducks, walnuts and snipe birds
- The birds can be assigned based on the red color
- some are very good at diving
Types from A - E
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
- Synonyms: Halligstorch, Strandskade
- Family: Haematopodidae
- Distribution: Wadden Sea and coastal inland areas of the North Sea
- Body length: around 40 to 50 cm
- almost as big as a crow
- Plumage: white
- Beak is flattened and red
- Special features: red eyes, legs and feet
- Diet: mussels, crabs, worms, insects and mollusks
Note: The oystercatcher retreats to warm Africa in winter.
Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
- Synonym: shelduck
- Family: Ducks (Anatidae)
- Distribution: Asia and Europe (islands of the North Sea and western Baltic Sea)
- Body length: 58 to 67 cm
- Females are around 1/3 smaller than males
- looks like a cross between a goose and a duck
- Long legs and posture of a goose and plumage of a duck
Dark water strider (Tringa erythropus)
- Synonym: dark water strider
- Family: Snipe birds (Scolopacidae)
- to be found in Germany as migrants
- in the North Sea in the mudflats and in shallow inland waters
- Special features: dark red legs and beak bent downwards
- The beak is only colored red on the underside
- Diet: small fish, insects, worms and crustaceans
Types of G - Q
Goose Warbler (Mergus merganser)
- Family: Ducks (Anatidae)
- Distribution: northern Eurasia and North America
- Body length: 58 to 68 cm
- is significantly larger than a mallard
- Diet: mainly of fish about 300 grams daily
- can easily dive 10 meters deep
Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
- Synonym: Little Alexander Parakeet
- Family: True parrots (Psittacidae)
- Distribution: worldwide, both in Africa and in Asia, Europe and North America
- most widespread parrot species
- used to be kept in zoos and cages
- has been living in the wild in Germany since around 1967
- preferably builds nests in trees and house facades
- Diet: berries, fruits and flowers
- Special features: bright green plumage and dark red to coral red beak
Note: The Greater Alexander Parakeet is a cross between the Ring-necked Parakeet and the Alexander Parakeet.
However, this bird with a red beak is very rare.
Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
- Family: Seagull relatives (Laridae)
- probably the most common breeding birds in the Wadden Sea
- Plumage: light gray to white
- Special features: the beak and legs are colored red
- Diet: earthworms, crustaceans, insects, small fish and plant seeds
- also eats small vertebrates - both live and carrion
Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
- Synonym: puffin, puffin
- Family: Alkenvögel (Alcidae)
- Special features: triangular beak with red markings
- There are small barbs in the beak
- The puffin stores excess food on the barbs
- Diet: fish, about 100 grams per day
Note: The puffin is a good flier and an even better diver! The bird manages its spectacular diving maneuvers down to a depth of 70 meters.
Types from R - Z
Redshank (Tringa totanus)
- Family: Snipe birds (Scolopacidae)
- Distribution: Mediterranean to boreal zone
- Habitat: Coasts, shallow waters (moors, ponds and wet meadows)
- about 30 cm tall and 170 grams in weight
- medium-long beak is orange-red at the base and black at the tip
- Diet: insects, worms, Snails, Crustaceans and small mollusks
Note: The redshank can live up to 17 years.
Common pond rail (Gallinula chloropus)
- Synonym: moorhen
- Family: Rallen (Rallidae)
- Distribution: temperate as well as subtropical and tropical climates
- not very demanding in terms of habitat and very adaptable
- Height: about 33 cm
- Upper part of the body colored olive-brown
- Neck and underside of the body colored a dark gray-black
- Special features: beak and eyes are colored red
Note: In Germany the population has unfortunately decreased considerably, which is why the pond rail is now on the red list of endangered species.
Water rail (Rallus aquaticus)
- Scientific species name:
- Family: Rallen (Rallidae)
- Distribution: all of Europe (with the exception of northern Scandinavia)
- preferably very humid areas with lots of reeds
- z. E.g.: floodplains and wetlands
- grows to around 25 to 30 cm tall and weighs 100 to 190 grams
- Special features: red beak and reddish eyes
- Face as well as belly and chest area light blue plumage
- Diet: fish, crustaceans and molluscs, insects and larvae
Note: The water rail is considered a loner and one of the endangered bird species.
frequently asked Questions
The endangerment of many bird species can be attributed to different factors: On the one hand, Their habitat is increasingly restricted and, on the other hand, enclosures and nesting boxes are very often destroyed. Some birds are also shot often, such as the goosander.
Some birds are not only very good fliers, but also very good swimmers and divers. This enables them to take in their food with a search, shake or dive flight.
These are lists that are published worldwide and include animals in danger of extinction. The first red list in Germany was published in 1971, namely that of the International Council for Bird Conservation.