Thank you Gerdientje!

Both owl stamps belong to the same set ("Safari in the Netherlands - Owls"), which was released in 2024. Both species, the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) and the little owl (Athene noctua) have been presented in the past.

 

The first stamp was issued in 2024 and it shows a whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), which we have seen before.

The second stamp was issued in 1963 and it depicts Lidth's jay (Garrulus lidthi). It is native to Japan. It feeds on plant material, invertebrates, small snakes and lizards. It is listed as vulnerable. 

Issued in 2014, the stamp depicts a spotted or Eurasian nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes). The species has been discussed in the past.

Thank you Mark!

The first stamp was issued in 2025 and it shows a group of Indian runner ducks (Anas platyrynchos domesticus), a breed on the domestic duck. They were intianially bred in Indonesia before they became widespread in the western world. They have a variety of colours and a high egg production. They also cannot fly.

The next bird stamp, issued in 1996, depicts the migratory greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons). It can be found in Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia during breeding season but it flies south for the winter. It has five subspecies. It feeds on plant matter.

The final stamp was also issued in 2025 and it shows the northern pintail (Anas acuta), which has been presented in the past.

Issued in 2000, the first stamp shows an American kestrel (Falco sparverius). It can be found in North, Central and South America. The northern populations are migratory. It has 17 subspecies. The male, shown on the stamp, has blue-grey wings and a rufous tail with a single black band on its end. The female has rufous wings and tail with many parallel black bands across its length. It feeds on insects, small rodents, small birds and reptiles. It is used in falconry.

The final stamp, issued in 2012, depicts a peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). This species has been shown on a number of stamps already.

Issued in 2019, the first stamp depicts a falconry scene. More specifically a Eurasian goshawk (Astur gentilis) hunts a ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). The Eurasia goshawk is widespead in Europe and Asia. Birds from northern regions are migratory. It has seven subspecies. It feeds on both birds and mammals.

The ring-necked pheasant has been presented in the past.

The second stamp, issued in 2005, shows a tawny owl (Strix aluco) which has also been shown before.

Issued in 2024, this stamp depicts the critically endangered Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). As obvious by its name, it is endemic to the Philippines and it is the country's national bird. It feeds on mammals, reptiles and birds.
 

Issued in 2003, the two bird stamps belong to the set "Arctic tundra". The middle stamp shows the gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), which can be found on the Arctic coasts and associated tundra. It is the largest species of falcon. It feeds on birds and small mammals. It is used in falconry.

The final stamp shows the northern raven (Corvus corax), for which I have written in the past.

The little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) can be found in southern Europe and central and western Asia. It is partly migratory. The breeding male has a blue-grey face and bands of black and white feathers on its neck while the non-breeding male and the female are brown coloured. It feeds on both plant material and terrestrial invertebrates. Due to habitat loss, it is near threatened.

The bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) is widespead across Europe and Asia. It can also be found in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. It is migratory. It has twelve subspecies. It can mimic the sound of other birds. The male, shown on the stamp, has a blue and read throat while the female has a white one. Finally, it feeds on insects and other invertebrates and plant material.

The stamps were issued in 2012.

 Thank you Vural!

The near threatened bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) can be found in areas of southern Europe, Asia and Africa. It has two subspecies. It is a scavenger that feeds predominantly on bones and to a lesser extend on the flesh of carcasses.

The stamp was issued in 2025 in celebration of the 100 years of the Goldau Nature Reserve and Wildlife Park.

The cape parrot (Poicephalus robustus) is endemic to South Africa. In contrast to the male, the female has a red forehead. It is a vulnerable species and its trade in the pet market is illegal. It feeds on seeds, nuts, berries and nectar.

The hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is another vulnerable species of parrot native to central and eastern South America. It is the largest macaw species. It feeds on nuts and fruit. It can be kept as a pet.

The sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) can be found in northeastern Australia, New Guinea and some Indonesian islands. It has four subspecies. It feeds on fruit, seeds and buds. It can also be kept as a pet.

The stamps were issued in 2016.

The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) can be found in central and eastern North America as well as portions of Central America. It has 18 subspecies. Females are of redish olive colour while males, shown on the stamp, are bright red. It feeds on seeds, fruit, insects and snails. It is the official state bird of seven states of the USA.

The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a species of corvid that can be found in central and eastern North America. Some populations are migratory. It has four subspecies. It is omnivorous feeding on seeds, nuts, fruit, insects and other invertebrates.

The evening grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina) is a vulnerable species found in North America. It is migratory and it has five subspecies. It eats seeds, berries, the sap of maple trees and insects.

This stamp set was issued in 2022 in celebration of Christmas.

Thank you Henriikka!

Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri) is a migratory duck species found along the areas of the Arctic coast. It feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and other marine and freshwater invertebrates. As can be seen on the stamp issued in 2001, males (front) and females (back) have different coloured plumage with the latter being mostly brown and the former more colourful.

We have recently seen the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus). Here it is on a stamp issued by Belarus in 2023.

 

Thank you Marina!

Issued in 1991, the stamp shows a little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis or Podiceps ruficollis). It has a wide distribution as it can be found in Europe, Africa and Asia. The populations in areas were the water freezes during the winter are migratory. It has ten subspecies. It feeds on insects, small fish, amphibians, molluscs and crustaceans.

The white stork (Ciconia ciconia) has been shown twice before. Here, it can be seen on a 2011 souvenir sheet from Slovenia. The postcard is taxed as is evident by the T postmark.

Issued in 2013, this stamp features the endangered Malayan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron malacense). It is endemic to the Malay peninsula. The male has a longer tail than the female and it also has a long crest on its head, which the female does not have. It feeds on both insects and plant material.
 

The short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) can be found in the northern Pacific Ocean. It feeds on squid, fish and crustaceans. It also eats offal discarded from ships. It is listed as a vulnerable species.

The red-crown crane (Grus japonensis) has been shown in the past.

The bonin white-eye (Apalopteron familiare) is endemic to the japanese Bonin Islands. It has two subspecies. It consumes fruit, flowers, insects, spiders and small reptiles. It is considered as near threatened.

Finally, the ruddy kingfisher (Halcyon coromanda) can be found in east and southeast Asia and it has ten subspecies. The northern populations are migratory. It eats insects, earthworms, land snails, lizards, fish, crabs, frogs and their tadpoles and offal.

The first three stamps were issued in 1975 while the kingfisher one in 2021.

Feauturing the barn shallow (Hirundo rustica) and the Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), these two stamps belong to a set of four issued in 2020 by the Finnish Post. Both species have been presented in the past.

Issued in 2007, the first pair of stamps depicts the boreal or tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus). Next is the long-eared owl (Asio otus) followed by the little owl (Athene noctua), both issued in 2007 too. Finally, the tawny owl (Strix aluco) stamps were issued in 2009. All four species have been presented in the past.

 

The Eurasian wryneck (Jynx torquilla) can be found, as its name states, in Europe and Asia. It migrates to Africa and southern Asia for the winter. It belongs to the woodpecker family and it has six subspecies. It feeds on insects, primarily ants. It occassionally also consumes spiders, woodlice, eggs, frog tadpoles, molluscs and, rarely, berries.

The stamp was issued in 2011.

 

The tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) can be found in the north Pacific Ocean and it is a migratory species. It feeds on fish and marine invertebrates. The yellow tufts appear annually as the breeding season begins in the summer and they molt off afterwards. Their face also turns from white to grey for the winter. Thus, on the stamp, issued in 2013, they appear in their summer plumage.

The stamp to the right was issued in 2001 and it shows a northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), for which I have recently written about.

The stamp to the left, issued in 2002, feautures a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and a Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus). The house sparrow has also been presented in the past. The Eurasian tree sparrow can be found in Europe and most of Asia and it was introduced to Australia and North America. It has nine subspecies. It primarily feeds on seeds but, during the breeding season, it also consumes invertebrates.

Issued in 2014, the stamps show a pair of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and a pair of northern shovelers (Spatula clypeata or Anas clypeata). The stamps show a male (colourful one) and a female (brown one). I have written about the mallard in the past.

The northern shoveler is a species of migratory dabbling duck that can be found in Europe, Asia, North and Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean and areas of Africa. It feeds on plant material, plankton, small crustaceans and other invertebrates.

 

The southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus) can be found in islands of the south Atlantic and south Indian oceans and in southern coastal South America and the Antarctica. It feeds on carrion, birds, fish, krill, cephalopods, offal and waste from ships.

The stamp was issued in 2001.

Issued in 2011, this pair of stamps features the great tit (Parus major). It is native to Europe, central Asia, the Middle East and areas of north Africa. It has fifteen subspecies. During the summer, it eats small invertebrates. At other seasons, it adds fruit and seeds to its diet. Interestingly, in Hungary populations have been recorded preying on hibernating pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus).

The European robin (Erithacus rubecula) can be found in Europe, western Asia and north Africa. The northern populations are migratory. It has nine subspecies. It feeds on earthworms, spiders, small insects, fruit and seeds. It also occationally consumes carrion and very small lizards and fish.

The Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is native to Europe and parts of western Asia. It has nine subspecies. It feeds on small invertebrates, fruit and seeds.

As for the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), we have seen them before.

The stamp set was issued in 2018.

 

Thank you Mildred!

Issued in 2011, the stamp features the white-breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), which is native to south and southeast Asia. It has five subspecies. It feeds on insects, spiders, small fish, aquatic invertebrates and seeds, shoots and roots of marsh plants. 

Thank you Michi for this great card and clearly cancelled stamp!

The Eurasian teal (Anas crecca) is migratory species of dabbling duck found in temperate Europe and Asia. It migrates to the Mediterranean, the Nile Valley, south Asia, Japan and Taiwan. During the breeding season, it feeds on aquatic invertebrates, insects, worms and molluscs while in the winter it eats mostly seeds.

The stamp was issued in 2025.
 

The Indian spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) is a dabbling duck species native to southwestern Asia. It lives in freshwater wetlands and it has two subspecies. It feeds primarily on plant material but its diet occationally includes insects, worms and molluscs.

The stamp was issued in 2020.

Issued in 2007, these stamps depict the yellow-rumped flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia) and the stork-billed kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis).

The yellow-rumped flycatcher can be found in eastern Asia and it is migratory. The male, depicted on the stamp, is more brightly coloured than the female. The latter is of olive-green or greyish colour while the former has black upper head, wings and tail, white supercilium and wingpatch and bright yellow throat and belly. It feeds on small invertebrates.

The stork-billed kingfisher is a large kingfisher native to southwestern Asia. It has thirteen subspecies. It feeds on fish, crustaceans, frogs, lizards, rodents, insects and young birds.

Thank you Anna for this great postcard with a matching Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) stamp issued in 2024. The Eurasian magpie is common throughout Europe and vast areas of Asia. It has six subspecies. It is omnivorous and extremelly intelligent.

 

Swinhoe's pheasant (Lophura swinhoei) is endemic to Taiwan.As can be seen on the stamps, issued in 2014, the male is mostly blue while the female is brown. It feeds on plant material and insects. It is near threatened.

Issued in 2008, the bird on the stamps is a razorbill (Alca torda), a north Atlantic seabird. It is monogamous with males generally larger than females. It has two subspecies. The North American populations are migratory. It feeds on fish, crustaceans and polychaetes. In North America, the species is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. 
 

This stamp, issued in 2010, shows the great blue turaco (Corythaeola cristata). It can be found in Africa. It feeds on plant material. The locals of west Africa hunt and eat the species.

The stamp was issued to celebrate the centenary of The East Africa Natural History Society.