Blue Rock Thrush
Scientific name: Monticola solitarius
Maltese name: Merill
Blue Rock Thrush is the national bird of Malta!
Frequent to common breeding bird. Nests mainly in cliffs, also in old houses, valleys, large rubble walls.
The birds of Majjistral Park
Listed below are several bird species that are recorded in Majjistral Nature and History Park from 2014-2020
Blue Rock Thrush
*Photo provided courtesy of Alex Casha.
A good breeding population is found in the cliffs of the Park.
Bee-eater
*Photo provided courtesy of Natalino Fenech.
Bee-eater
Scientific name: Merops apiaster
Maltese name: Qerd in-Naħal
Frequent to common in spring (March to June) and in autumn from August to September.
Sighted generally in flocks and very vocal, calling while flying over. Like to perch on electricity wires. Irregular breeder, first breeding record was in 2006 at Fawwara.
Flocks of 50+ have been recorded in the period between 2014-2020.
Black Redstart
*Photo provided courtesy of Natalino Fenech.
Black Redstart
Scientific name: Phoenicurus ochruros
Maltese name: Fjamma Sewda
Frequent-common in winter from October to March-April.
Associates itself with buildings and rocky areas.
Among the best sites to see this bird in the Park is at the cliffs, in the barracks area and on stone huts/rooms.
Collared dove
*Photo provided courtesy of Alex Casha.
Collared dove
Scientific name: Streptopelia decaocto
Maltese name: Gamiema talKullar
Breeding resident, frequent common in certain localities.
Relatively recent breeder. First breeding record for Malta was in 2003 at Mellieha. Can be seen in singles, pairs or flocks.
Concentrate in good numbers at some feeding and roosting sites.
Few pairs breed in Majjistral near visitor centre.
Dotterel
*Photo provided courtesy of Alex Casha.
Dotterel
Scientific name: Charadrius morinellus
Maltese name: Birwina
Generally scarce, mainly August to November, sometimes also in December and January. In the spring passage is not common, from March to April.
Records of birds in Majjistral Nature and History Park include not only those flying over but also on land at Majjiesa point, where some individuals were very approachable and were photographed.
Hoopoe
*Photo provided courtesy of Aron Tanti.
Hoopoe
Scientific name: Upupa epops
Maltese name: Daqquqa tatToppu
Frequent to common mainly March to April and August to September-October. In spring may appear as early as February. Larger numbers are seen in spring.
The Hoopoe has been recorded several times. Records of this bird are of singles or twos or of small flocks. Has also been heard calling on some occasions.
Honey buzzard
*Photo provided courtesy of Alex Casha.
Honey buzzard
Scientific name: Pernis apivorus
Maltese name: Kuċċarda
Frequent to common spring and autumn migrant (March to June, August to
October/November), in singles or small flocks. Generally more are seen in autumn.
Honey buzzards and other broad winged birds of prey make use
of hot air currents generated on land to lift themselves up without beating their wings (soaring flight).
Recorded migrating overhead, in singles, twos or small flocks. On the 23 Sep 2014 a flock of over 100 birds was observed in the Park.
Kingfisher bird
*Photo provided courtesy of Alex Casha.
Kingfisher
Scientific name: Alcedo attis
Maltese name: Għasfur ta’ San Martin
Observed from summer to spring (July to March/April), in areas with water e.g. Ghadira and Simar reserves, and in coastal areas. It can be frequent to common at times, and greatest numbers occur in August and September.
Recorded every year along the coast, where often heard calling.
Stonechat
*Photo provided courtesy of Michael Sammut.
Stonechat
Scientific name: Saxicola torquata
Maltese name: Buċaqq taxXitwa
Common from late September to March, favoring open areas.
Regular in Majjistral Nature and History Park, often seen on a perch and uttering its call.
Spectacled Warbler
*Photo provided courtesy of Nicholas Galea.
Spectacled Warbler
Scientific name: Sylvia conspicillata
Maltese name: Bufula Ħamra
Scarce breeding resident, with largest number of breeding pairs occurring in Gozo. On Malta largest numbers occur in the north and on the south and south west coasts, including Majjistral Park.
Was formerly much more common as a breeding bird.
Widespread in the Park. Can be seen – or more often heard- all year round, with most records not exceeding 2-3 birds (occasionally 5) for one area.
Wood Warbler
*Photo provided courtesy of Natalino Fenech.
Wood Warbler
Scientific name: Phylloscopus sibilatrix
Maltese name: Vjolin Ħadrani
Common spring migrant from March to May and in less numbers from August to October.
Zitting Cisticola
*Photo provided courtesy of Natalino Fenech.
Zitting Cisticola
Scientific name: Cisticola juncidis
Maltese name: Bufula talImrewħa
Common resident breeding bird favoring open areas especially with grasses. Nest is constructed in grasses or other vegetation not high above ground. First nest was confirmed in 1973 at is-Simar, where today is a bird sanctuary.
Good number of pairs are present in the Park. Males can be seen flying above their territory, singing “zip zip…” in the breeding season.