This cover, destined for Belarus, was returned to me a while back due to flight cancelation. The stamp, showing a Cyprus scops owl (Otus cyprius), was issued in 2022. This small-sized owl species is endemic to Cyprus as obviously stated by its name.

This 2016 sheetlet from Canada shows a rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), a northern raven (Corvus corax), an Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) and a sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus).

The first one, an arctic game bird , changes colour from winter (white) to summer (brown). Here is depicted in its winter plumage. It can be found in northern Europe, areas of Asia and North America. It has 23 subspecies. It feeds mainly on plant material.

The great horned owl is native to America. It hunts rabbits, skunks and various species of rodents, birds, reptiles etc. Due to its wide distribution, it has a number of subspecies.

The northern or common raven is the most widely distributed corvid and it is also has a big number of sub-species. It is an omnivorous bird.

The atlantic or common puffin, native to the Atlantic ocean, lives in colonies. It feeds on small fish, crabs and zooplankton. The IUCN lists the species as vulnerable.

Finally, the sharp-tailed grouse, another game bird, is distributed in Canada and in parts of the USA. It has seven sub-species, one of which is extinct. It feeds on seeds, insects, leaves, berries etc.

Tunisia issued this set in 2004. From left to right, the stamps depict the male and female of the white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala), the ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) and the moussier's redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri). The final stamp has a single marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) as there is no sexual dimorphism in this species.

In 2021 Croatia issued a set of two stamps featuring the white-winged woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucopterus) and the middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius). The first species can be found in Asia while the second one primarily in Europe.

The stamp set is a joint issue with Kyrgyzstan.

Issued in 2023, this souvenir sheet depicts a black swan (Cygnus atratus) with its youngs. This waterbird is indigenous to Australia but it was introduced to various other countries in the recent past. They pair for life and they feed primarily on aquatic plants.

Thank you Roman for this great cover from Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The first stamp, issued in 2019, depicts a bay-breasted warbler (Setophaga castanea) while the second one, issued in 2020, shows a greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca).

 

Just a short post to show I am still around. I don't know how often I will be updating the blog but here is a Turks and Caicos cover I received back in 2011. The depicted bird is the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

As my previous post was so short I am posting another cover sent from Switzerland. Thank you Vural for it.  The stamps are cancelled with Geuensee's pictorial postmark. The bird stamp was issued in 1970.
Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) can be found in northern Asia and in Europe.  It has many subspecies.  It feeds mostly on insects and grubs but when these can't be found, it can also eat fruit, seeds, small rodents, eggs etc.

Here is another cover fom Ebay.  The stamp, issued in 1969, comes from the first bird set of Cyprus.  It shows European roller (Coracias garrulus) which was shown before in this blog.  The cover was mailed in 1970 and it has a postmark from FPO 201.

Hello everyone,  I am sorry for my long absence but lack of time prevented me from updating my blog.  Moreover, I managed to break my scanner so at the moment I only have very few covers on my laptop that I haven't already uploaded here.

I bought this cover from Ebay.  It was mailed from Taiwan to Colombia.  The stamp was issued in 1983 and it comes from a set of two.

Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus): It is a bird of prey found in Asia.  It is a medium-sized raptor which preys on large insects, lizards, frogs and small mammals.  This species is migratory.

Here is a cover from Finland with a stamp showing a pair of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos).  This species of dabbling ducks can be found in wetlands in temperate and subtropical Europe, North Africa, Asia and America.  It was also introduced in Australia and New Zealand.  As you can see on the stamp the green-headed male is different from the brown and colour-lacking female.  This species feed on water plants, invertebrates, gastropods, worms etc.  It is migratory.

The stamp was issued in 2010.

Cover from Italy

This is my first cover from Italy where bird stamps are used.  It is also my first registered cover from that country.  The set on it was issued in 1995.
Grey heron (Ardea cinerea): It can be found in some parts of Africa and in temperate Asia and Europe.  In the colder areas it is migratory.  It has four subspecies.  It feeds on frogs, fish, insects, reptiles, small mammals and other birds' chicks.
Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus): This bird of prey lives in Asia, north Africa and southern Europe.  It can be found in Cyprus too.  In the wild it can live for 50-70 years.  It is a scavenger.
Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos): I already presented it on a stamp from Algeria.
White-winged snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis): This species of sparrow can be found in southern Europe and western and central Asia.  It has four subspecies.  It feeds on seeds and insects.

Old cover from the UK

This cover was posted in Bath, UK on the 9th of August 1966.  The stamp used was issued on the 8th of August of that year as a part of a set of four stamps.  It shows Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus).  This species was presented in an older post.

Here is a nice cover from Finland.  It appears to be both hand and machine canceled.  The 2003 bird stamps shows Eurasian Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) which I have presented in the past.

Thank you Bryon for this nice cover from the USA.  Unfortunately, it appears and it made contact with water during its transportation.  The stamps were issued in 2005 and they are part of the Northeast Deciduous Forest.  One of them is showing Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis).  I will present the birds only.  From left to right:
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus): It is a North American Warbler leaving in forests.  It has three subspecies.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo): We have seen this species in the past.
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus): It can be found in the USA and in Mexico.  It has five subspecies.  It feeds on small birds, small mammals, large insects, reptiles and amphibians.  Some  of the northern populations migrate to central Mexico in the winter.

Cover from Sri Lanka

Hello everyone, I am sorry for my long absence from this blog.  I finally found enough time to scan new items and show them here.    Thank you Ravindra Ratnapala for this excellent cover from Sri Lanka.  The bird stamps were issued in 2003 and they are coming from a set of 25 stamps.  From left to right:
Tricoloured Munia (Lonchura malacca): It is a finch native to Sri Lanka and India mainly in wet grasslands habitats.  It has been introduced to other countries too.  It has two subspecies.  It feeds on grain and other seeds.
Pompadour Green Pigeon (Treron pompadora): It is a species of pigeon found in southern and southeast Asian forests.  It has six subspecies although some countries consider them different species.  It feeds on fruit, seeds and plants.
Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala): This parrot is endemic to the Indian subcontinent in forests and open woodlands.  It can be found as a pet.
Coppersmith Barbet or Crimson-breasted Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala): It can be found in south and southeast Asia in gardens, groves and sparse woodlands.  It feeds on fruit, berries and insects.  It has nine subspecies.
Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica): This species was shown on a cover from Malaysia. 

To finish with the covers I have from this set, here is a simple but yet beautiful cover showing Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis). The same stamp was shown before.

This bird stamp comes from the same 2007 set of Switzerland and it shows Great Tit (Parus major). Thank you Vural from ICCC.

Here are two covers from Switzerland with the 2007 Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) stamp. Take notice at the nice machine cancelations. This finch can be found in Europe, northwestern Africa and western Asia. There are 18 subspecies. It feeds on seeds and insects. It can be kept as a pet.

I am starting 2011 with a cover from the Faroe Islands. The above row of stamps is a full set issued in 1998 while the bellow row comes from a set of three issued in 1977.
European or Common Starling (Stumus vulgaris): This species are located in western Asia and temperate Europe. Some of the northeastern populations migrate south and west. It has 12 subspecies one of which, Sturnus vulgaris faroensis, can be found in the Faroe Islands. As a result I believe this is the bird shown on the stamp. It eats mostly insects but it can also eat seeds, nectar, grain and fruit.
Common or Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula): It can be found in Asia, Europe, North Africa and as the bird above it has been introdused to New Zealand and Australia. Depending on the area it lives it can be migratory or non-migratory. It eats berries, fruit, insects and earthworms. It has 15 subspecies. In the Faroe Islands lives Turdus merula merula.
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus): This wader can be found in Asia, Europe and subarctic North America. It has four subspecies and it is migratory. It eats small invertebrates and small crabs.
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago): It has already presented in the past.