"travelled further, the familiar names were applied to new birds with similar characteristics. Names that have generalised this way include: kite (""Milvus milvus""), sparrow-hawk or sparhawk (""Accipiter nisus""), goshawk (""Accipiter gentilis""), kestrel (""Falco tinninculus""), hobby (""Falco subbuteo""), harrier (simplified from ""hen-harrier"", ""Circus cyaneus""), buzzard (""Buteo buteo""). Some names have not generalised, and refer to single species (or groups of closely related (sub)species): merlin (""Falco columbarius""), osprey (""Pandion haliaetus""). The taxonomy of Carl Linnaeus grouped birds (class Aves) into orders, genera, and species, with no formal ranks between genus and order. He placed all birds of prey into a single order,"
"pygmy shrew, is one of the smallest mammals in the world. There are also seventeen species of bat found in Britain: the pipistrelle is the smallest and the most common. Rodents are also numerous across Britain, particularly the brown rat which is by far the most abundant urban animal after humans. Some however, are becoming increasingly rare. Habitat destruction has led to a decrease in the population of dormice and bank voles found in Britain. Due to the introduction of the North American grey squirrel, the red squirrel had become largely extinct in England and Wales, with the last populations"
"Small blue The small blue (""Cupido minimus"") is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Despite its common name, it is not particularly blue. The male has some bluish suffusion at the base of its upper wings but is mostly dark brown like the female. The species can live in colonies of up to several hundred and in its caterpillar stage is cannibalistic. The small blue is known for being the smallest butterfly found in the United Kingdom. It is a Priority Species for conservation in Northern Ireland and under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Small blue males are dark brown"
"get very close. Sometimes they may even land on an observer’s hand. In the British Isles, this dragonfly is very locally distributed in the lowlands, but more widespread in the north-west and Ireland. It is often very locally abundant and maybe this triggers dispersal. Records from the south coast suggest that immigration from the continent does occur. Its main threats, however, are development, drainage, agriculture, and peat extraction. Sympetrum danae Sympetrum danae, the black darter or black meadowhawk is a dragonfly found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly. It is"
"kill them (although this is illegal). Shrews are also fairly common, and the smallest, the pygmy shrew, is one of the smallest mammals in the world. There are also several species of bat found in England: the pipistrelle bat is the smallest and the most common of them all. Rodents are also numerous across Britain and England, particularly the brown rat which is by far the most abundant urban animal after humans. Some however, are becoming increasingly rare. Habitat destruction has led to a population decrease in the number of dormice and bank voles found in Britain. Grey squirrels introduced"
"East, Amur, Mongolia, Magadan and Kamchatka. This is Britain's smallest resident butterfly. It has a very patchy distribution across the UK with its strongholds on the chalk and limestone grasslands of southern England such as the Cotswolds and Salisbury Plain. Across the rest of Britain and Ireland it is often associated with coastal habitats with widely scattered colonies in northern England and the far north of Scotland. ""C. minimus"" live in calcareous grasslands, abandoned quarries, railway and embankments and woodland edges and clearings. Recorded larval food plants are ""Oxytropis campestris"", ""Astragalus alpinus"", ""Lotus corniculatus"", ""Anthyllis vulneraria"", ""Melilotus"", ""Coronilla"", ""Medicago"", ""Anthyllis"
"Sympetrum danae Sympetrum danae, the black darter or black meadowhawk is a dragonfly found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly. It is a very active late summer insect typical of heathland and moorland bog pools. Members of the genus ""Sympetrum"" are known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in the US and Canada. Both sexes have black legs and pterostigmata and a very broad base to the hind wing. The thorax has yellow sides separated by a bold black panel in which are three yellow spots, resembling a"
"the cuckoo, but became so good at recognising the intruder's eggs that it ceased to be victimised. A contrast to this is the dunnock, which appears to be a recent cuckoo host, since it does not show any egg discrimination. A study conducted at two different locations in southern England found that one third of nests were predated. The Eurasian jay (""Garrulus glandarius"") was the most common aerial predator, consuming both eggs and chicks. The domestic cat (""Felis catus"") predated a small fraction of the nests. Spotted flycatcher The spotted flycatcher (""Muscicapa striata"") is a small passerine bird in the"
"two or three brown-speckled cream-colored eggs. Widespread and common in its habitat throughout its range, the weebill is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Weebill The weebill (""Smicrornis brevirostris"") is Australia's smallest bird at approximately long. It is an olive-yellow songbird with a grey bill, brown wings, pale yellow eyes and grey feet. Its tail feathers are brown with a black bar and white spot on the tip of all inner webs but the central pairs. The sexes are similar. The weebill is the only member of genus ""Smicrornis""; gene flow is strong and"
"Weebill The weebill (""Smicrornis brevirostris"") is Australia's smallest bird at approximately long. It is an olive-yellow songbird with a grey bill, brown wings, pale yellow eyes and grey feet. Its tail feathers are brown with a black bar and white spot on the tip of all inner webs but the central pairs. The sexes are similar. The weebill is the only member of genus ""Smicrornis""; gene flow is strong and local variation follows Bergmann's and Gloger's Rules. The weebill is found in woodlands and forests throughout mainland Australia. The diet consists mostly of insects and larvae. The female usually lays"
"and for the other ""Microhierax"" species. The Pied falconet can be seen in groups of 5 or 6 which suggest that they may also breed cooperatively. Pied falconet The pied falconet, (""Microhierax melanoleucos"") is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. These raptors belong to the genus ""Microheriax"", which includes the smallest bird of prey species in the world. The pied falconet, also known as the white-legged falconet, nests in old woodpecker cavities. The species is listed as"
"Bee hummingbird The bee hummingbird, zunzuncito or Helena hummingbird (""Mellisuga helenae"") is a species of hummingbird which is the world's smallest bird. It is endemic to Cuba and the Isle of Pines. The bee hummingbird is the smallest living bird. Females weigh and are long, and are slightly larger than males, with an average weight of and length of . As its name suggests, it is scarcely larger than a bee. Like all hummingbirds, it is a swift, strong flier. The male has a green pileum and fiery red throat, iridescent gorget with elongated lateral plumes, bluish upper parts, and"
"up 8.1% of a sampling of 74 from 10 nests there, 7.7% in Central Spain and 7.2% in the French Alps. The smallest-bodied bird family recorded as semi-regular prey are pipits. Meadow pipits (""Anthus pratensis"") are the most represented species of small birds and are taken mainly in Scotland, making up to 3.5% of prey in the Inner Hebrides. Other bird families rarely recorded as golden eagle prey (making up less than 1% of prey in all studied nests) include starlings (maximum being 4.8% in the French Alps, negligible elsewhere), larks (maximum is 2.3% in the West-Central Highlands of Scotland),"
"nest on a tree branch. Ten to twelve eggs are incubated by the female alone, and the chicks are fed by both parents; second broods are common. This kinglet is constantly on the move as it searches for insects to eat, and in winter it is often found with flocks of tits. It may be killed by birds of prey or carry parasites, but its large range and population mean that it is not considered to present any significant conservation concerns. The goldcrest is the smallest European bird, in length, with a wingspan and a weight of . It is"
"Pied falconet The pied falconet, (""Microhierax melanoleucos"") is a species of bird of prey in the family Falconidae. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. These raptors belong to the genus ""Microheriax"", which includes the smallest bird of prey species in the world. The pied falconet, also known as the white-legged falconet, nests in old woodpecker cavities. The species is listed as least concern because of its large home range and stable population size. The Pied falconet is a small black and white raptor, measuring between 7-7 ½"
"the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. The smallest riflebird, it measures between 23–25 cm. Males have an iridescent purple sheen plumage, which becomes more blue-green on the head and more bronze on the lower breast. The throat is velvety black with a metallic green and blue triangular patch in the center. Females have a pale eyebrow, and the buff underparts are faintly barred with brown. When the male begins to display, he erects the feathers of his throat and sides to accentuate the bright colours of his plumage in the shafts"
"primary food source (flowers for nectar). Bee hummingbird The bee hummingbird, zunzuncito or Helena hummingbird (""Mellisuga helenae"") is a species of hummingbird which is the world's smallest bird. It is endemic to Cuba and the Isle of Pines. The bee hummingbird is the smallest living bird. Females weigh and are long, and are slightly larger than males, with an average weight of and length of . As its name suggests, it is scarcely larger than a bee. Like all hummingbirds, it is a swift, strong flier. The male has a green pileum and fiery red throat, iridescent gorget with elongated"
"and the larvae develop very rapidly, emerging after as little as two months. Males frequently bask in the sun, on open ground. The flight action is rather skittish resembling the ruddy darter (""Sympetrum sanguineum""). Males are not territorial, but actively seek out females. This species is the smallest of Britain’s dragonflies. Although not as colourful as some other dragonflies it is a lovely dragonfly to watch. They often perch on a sunny spot on the ground. Their flight is a little skittish, and often flies away as you approach, but sometimes it is in a 'friendly mood' and lets you"
"Black-thighed falconet The black-thighed falconet (""Microhierax fringillarius"") is one of the smallest birds of prey, typically measuring between long, with a wingspan, which is a size comparable to a typical sparrow. It is native to Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. and vagrant to Sri Lanka. Thomas Horsfield described to the Linnean Society of London in 1820 a Javan variety of ""Falco cærulescens"" (the collared falconet). He noted that ""the Javan specimens are somewhat smaller, and differently marked"" than the Bengal specimen which had been described by John Edwards in 1750. A fuller description was published in his"
"Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES. The first captive breeding of this species was by Dr. Sten Bergman of Sweden in 1958. He was awarded a commemorative medal by the Foreign Bird League to mark this achievement. This so-called ""living gem"" is the smallest and most vividly colored among birds-of-paradise. The king bird-of-paradise is small, approximately 16 cm long. The male is crimson and white with bright blue feet and green-tipped fan-like plumes on his shoulder. The two elongated tail wires are decorated with emerald green disk feathers"
"reports of breeding in the nineteenth century, and again in 1946 and 1957, but none of these records were proven. The first proven British breeding record is from Yorkshire in 1984, and the second from Somerset in 2010. Carl Linnaeus described the little bittern in 1766. The three subspecies are: The Australian little bittern (""I. dubius"") and the extinct New Zealand little bittern (""I. novaezelandiae"") were formerly considered subspecies of the little bittern. It is a very small bittern; measuring in length, across the wings and weighing . It is among the smallest heron species. It has a short neck,"
"the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the bird's conservation status as ""near threatened"". Little brown bustard The little brown bustard (""Eupodotis humilis"") is a species of bird in the family Otididae. Found in Ethiopia and Somalia, its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. As indicated by its name, this bustard is the world's smallest at 45 cm (18 in) and 600 grams (1.3 lb). It is threatened by habitat destruction. The smallest species in its genus, the little brown bustard reaches a maximum length of about . They"
"any case, the population seems to be in the upper tens of thousands, and appears to be tolerant of habitat disturbance. Although most of these illustrations were published with the name ""Falco cærulescens"" Linn., Sharpe determined that they represent ""M. fringillarius"" (Drapiez). (""Catalogue Birds British Museum"" 1874, v. 1, p. 367) Black-thighed falconet The black-thighed falconet (""Microhierax fringillarius"") is one of the smallest birds of prey, typically measuring between long, with a wingspan, which is a size comparable to a typical sparrow. It is native to Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. and vagrant to Sri Lanka. Thomas"
"Little owl The little owl (""Athene noctua"") is a bird that inhabits much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It was introduced into Britain at the end of the nineteenth century and into the South Island of New Zealand in the early twentieth century. This owl is a member of the typical or true owl family, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl, the other grouping being the barn owls, Tytonidae. It is a small, cryptically coloured, mainly nocturnal species and is found in a range of habitats including farmland, woodland"
"Least sandpiper The least sandpiper (""Calidris minutilla"") is the smallest shorebird. The genus name is from Ancient Greek ""kalidris"" or ""skalidris"", a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific ""minutilla"" is Medieval Latin for ""very small"". This species has greenish legs and a short, thin, dark bill. Breeding adults are brown with dark brown streaks on top and white underneath. They have a light line above the eye and a dark crown. In winter, Least sandpipers are grey above. The juveniles are brightly patterned above with rufous colouration and white mantle stripes. This bird can be"
"Little brown bustard The little brown bustard (""Eupodotis humilis"") is a species of bird in the family Otididae. Found in Ethiopia and Somalia, its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. As indicated by its name, this bustard is the world's smallest at 45 cm (18 in) and 600 grams (1.3 lb). It is threatened by habitat destruction. The smallest species in its genus, the little brown bustard reaches a maximum length of about . They are light brown birds with whitish underparts. The male has a black tuft on the nape,"
"a valorous task, he would generally change himself into a least weasel. According to Matthew Hopkins, a witch hunter general during the English Civil War, least weasels were the familiars of witches. Least weasel The least weasel (""Mustela nivalis""), common weasel, or simply weasel in the UK and much of the world, is the smallest member of the genus ""Mustela,"" family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Malta, Crete, Bermuda, Madeira Island, the Azores, the Canary Islands, São Tomé, the Falkland Islands, Argentina and"
"Least flycatcher The least flycatcher (""Empidonax minimus""), (also called chebec, or chebecker, after the sound it makes), is a small insect-eating bird. It is the smallest ""Empidonax"" flycatcher in eastern North America. The closest relative to the least flycatcher was long thought to be the Hammond's flycatcher based on similarities in their songs and appearances. However, mitochondrial DNA analysis has revealed that the least flycatcher diverges significantly from its congeners and does not possess any sister taxa. The least flycatcher is hard to distinguish from the other birds of its genus. The bird is one of the smallest of the"
"least weasels are barn, barred, and great horned owls. Other birds of prey threatening to the least weasel include broad-winged and rough-legged buzzards. Some snake species may prey on the least weasel, including the black rat snake and copperhead. Aside from its smaller size, the least weasel is more vulnerable to predation than the stoat because it lacks a black predator deflection mark on the tail. In areas where the least weasel is sympatric with the stoat, the two species compete with each other for rodent prey. The weasel manages to avoid too much competition by living in more upland"
"Ospreys in Britain The osprey (""Pandion haliaetus"") is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. The subspecies ""Pandion haliaetus haliaetus"" is native to Eurasia and is found in the British Isles, where it is a scarce breeder primarily in Scotland with smaller numbers in England and Wales. It became extinct in the British Isles in 1916, but recolonised in 1954. Scandinavian birds migrate through Britain on the way to their breeding sites. The osprey formerly inhabited much of Britain, but heavy persecution, mainly by Victorian egg and skin collectors, during the nineteenth century and"
"Least weasel The least weasel (""Mustela nivalis""), common weasel, or simply weasel in the UK and much of the world, is the smallest member of the genus ""Mustela,"" family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Malta, Crete, Bermuda, Madeira Island, the Azores, the Canary Islands, São Tomé, the Falkland Islands, Argentina and Chile. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and large population throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Least weasels from various parts of its range vary greatly"
"spend another 15 to 19 days in the nest. Their breeding season is from August to January and they usually manage two clutches. The shining bronze cuckoo, a brood parasite, often targets the second clutch. Grey warbler The grey warbler (""Gerygone igata""), also known by its Māori name riroriro or outside New Zealand as the grey gerygone, is an insectivorous bird in the family Acanthizidae endemic to New Zealand. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is sometimes known as the teetotum or rainbird. One of the smallest birds found in New Zealand, grey warblers are about 11 centimeters long,"
"on breeding performance by affecting food sources. In 2017, the UK population of lesser spotted woodpeckers was reported to have almost halved since 2009, to around 2,000. The British Ornithology Trust blamed modern habits of removing dead trees quickly from parks and woodland, depriving the birds of the decaying wood which is their favoured nesting habitat. Lesser spotted woodpecker The lesser spotted woodpecker (""Dryobates minor"") is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It was formerly assigned to the genus ""Dendrocopos"" (sometimes incorrectly spelt as ""Dendrocopus""). Some taxonomic authorities continue to list the species there. The range of the lesser"