Good morning! Today, let's start with Albania and the Egyptian vulture (Neophron pecnopterus) on a stamp issued in 2022. It is a small-sized bird. It has three subspecies that can be found in parts of southern Europe, Africa and Asia. It is a migratory species and it feeds on carrion, faeces, insects found in dung, eggs, plant material and occationally small animals. It uses tools to e.g. break eggs. It is endangered.
 

Here is another Eurasian capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) stamp, this time issued by Slovakia in 2021.

Issued in 1997, this maximum card feautures the brolga (Antigone rubicunda), a species of crane native to Australia and New Guinea. It is omnivorous, feeding on both plant material and invertebrates as well as frogs and lizards.

The greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga or Clanga clanga) has already been shown on a cover from Georgia. Now, it is shown on this cover from Belarus on a stamp issued in 2019.

Both waterbirds shown here belong to a set issued in 1991 and both the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and the black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) have been presented in the past. Thank you C. Y. for adding this great card to my collection.
 

Both stamps belong to a 2013 set issued by Italy and presenting birds of the Alps. The first one shows the rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), which has been discussed in the past. The second stamp shows the grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus). This species is native to most of Europe and vast areas of Asia. It has ten subspecies although some authorities regard eight of them as a separate species. It feeds on insects, especially ants, but during the late autumn and early winter it also consumes plant material.

 Issued in 2011, this stamp shows the nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica), a near threatened bird with two subspecies. It can be found in southeastern Asia and northern Oceania. It feeds on seeds and fallen fruit and occationally on invertebrates. It is a game species and it is also exploited for pet trade.

The first stamp, issued in 2012 and showing the Southern shrikebill (Clytorhynchus pachycephaloides), has been shown before.

The second stamp, issued in 2012 too, features a silvereye (Zosterops lateralis). It is native to areas of southeastern Australia as well as New Zealand, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. It has 17 subspecies. It is an omnivorous bird eating both small insects and spiders and fruit and nectar.

The final stamp, released in 2011, shows a pair of coconut lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus). It can be found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia. It has many subspecies and on this stamp the Trichoglossus haematodus massena is shown. It feeds on plant material and it is a favourite pet to many people.

Let's show something a bit different today. But firstly, thank you Greta for this great postcard!

What I would like to present is the ink cancellation, which features a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). This species of bird of prey is native to the North America and it has two subspecies. It feeds mainly on fish but it also eats other birds, mammals and reptiles. It is the national symbol of the USA.

This cover from France shows the males of various french breeds of the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), a species presented in the past. The three stamps belong to a set of four issued in 2015.
 

Seven species of owl can be seen on this 2015 stamp and label from the Czech Republic. The main species, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo), has been shown a number of times in the past and so has been the Eurasian pigmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum) next to it. Last in the row is the Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops), also shown before. It the row below, we start with the ural owl (Strix uralensis), for which I have written earlier today. Following it, is the great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) shown before on a cover from Belarus. Finally, the barn owl (Tyto alba) and the long-eared owl (Asio otus) have been presented on stamps from Belgium and a cover from Switzerland respectively.

Both stamps belong to a set issued by Slovenia in 2014. The first one depicts a lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), a small falcon species found in areas of southern Europe and Central Asia and it is a migrant to Africa. It feeds on insects, rodents, small birds and reptiles. In contrast to females, males (shown on the foreground of the stamp) have a grey head and grey lower wings while their upper wings and back are red-brown. The females (shown flying in the background) are of paler brown colour.

The ural owl (Strix uralensis), shown on the second stamp, is a relatively large nocturnal owl with nine subspecies. It can be found in areas of Europe and Asia. It feeds on small mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects.

Issued in 2008, the first stamp features a ringed kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata). It is native to southern Texas and Central and South America. It has three subspecies. It feeds on fish and occationally on crustaceans.

The opal-rumped tanager (Tangara velia) can be found in northern South America. It has four subspecies and it feeds on both invertebrates and plant material.

The white-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) is a species of hummingbird found in Central America and northern South America. It has two subspecies. It feeds on nectar.

Finally, the green oropendola (Psarocolius viridis) is found in northern South America and it feeds on insects and fruit.

The first stamp, issued in 2017, shows a snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus). It is one of the largest owl species in the world and it can be found in the Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. It is migratory. Males are more white than females. In contrast to many other owl species, it is often active during the day. It feeds on small mammals, birds and occationally carrion. It is a vulnerable species.

The second stamp, issued in 2015, shows a boreal owl or Tengmalm's owl (Aegolius funereus). It is a small-sized owl with seven subspecies. It can be found in Europe, Asia and North America. It feeds on small mammals and birds as well as amphibians and invertebrates. In contrast to the snowy owl, it is largely nocturnal.

 Both species, Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and rock pigeon (Columba livia), have been introduced before. Actually, the rock pigeon stamp, issued in 2010, has already been shown. The grey heron stamp was issued in 2018. It is shown catching a frog.

This beautiful stamp issued in 2011 shows a black grouse (formely Tetrao tetrix, currently Lyrurus tetrix). It is native to areas of Europe and Asia. It has six subspecies. It feeds on plant material. Finally, it is a game bird in various regions.

Thank you Marthe for this great card from Sweden! Both stamps were issued in 2024 and they belong to a set of ten stamps on Springtime birds.

The northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) - left stamp - is common in areas of Europe and Asia as well as northern Africa. It is a migratory species. It eats insects, worms, spiders and snails. It is near threatened.

The lesser whitethroat (Curruca curruca) - right stamp - resides in Europe and Asia and migrates to Africa, Arabia and India for the winter. It has six subspecies. It feeds on insects and fruit.

 

The yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) is native to Eurasia and it has been successfully introduced to New Zealand. It is partially migratory and it has three subspecies. It feeds on seeds and invertebrates.

The stamp was issued by Germany in 2019.

In 2011, Serbia issued a set of four WWF stamps feauturing the partially migratory pygmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus). Here are two of them. The pygmy cormorant can be found in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It feeds fish. In Iran, it is consumed. It used to be near threatened but now it has been elevated to least concern due to rise in population numbers.

The red or common crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is widespead in Europe, Asia and North America. It feeds on conifer seeds. Though there is much variation, males are generally red or orange and females green or yellow.

The stamp was issued in 2021.