ADDER, COMMON EUROPEAN

Vipera (or Pelias) berus

SIZE: HBL: a full-grown adult adder can be up to 65cm long; smaller than grass snakes on average.

COAT: grey-brown background color with a dark zig-zag running along the back and a dark V on the back of the head, with the point of the V between the eyes; patterning and the background colour become duller just before the snake sheds (sloughs) a skin.

FORM: venemous.

DIET: feed mainly on rodents and lizards; diet includes voles and other small rodents, lizards, birds eggs, insects and snails; bite their prey and then follow the scent trail of the dying animal; female adders do not feed while pregnant.

BREEDING: females give birth to live young in about 2 months; eggs develop and hatch in the body of the female adder; typically 10 baby adders, 16–18cm long, are born in mid summer; able to reproduce when they are 5 years old.

LONGEVITY: up to 15 years.

BADGER, EUROPEAN

Meles meles

SIZE: HBL 67–81cm (26–32in); TL 15–20cm (6–8in); WT 12kg (26lb) for male, 10 kg (22lb) for female.

COAT: gray-black above, black below; head and ear tips white, black facial stripe from snout through eyes to behind ears.

FORM: male’s neck broad and thick; tail narrow, pointed, white or pale in male; broader, grayer tail in female.

BREEDING: gestation 3.5–12 months, including period of delayed implantation.

DIET: insects, earthworms, fruit and vegetables.

LONGEVITY: up to 25 years in captivity (not known in wild).

BAT, BROWN LONG-EARED

Plecotus Auritus

SIZE: HBL 45mm; WS 25–33cm; WT 6–7g.

COAT: adults light brown, pale underside; juveniles grey.

DIET: beetles, moths, flies, spiders and midges.

BREEDING: mating period October–April; single young; winthin 3 wings young can fly, weaned by 6 weeks; females do not necessarily breed every year.

LONGEVITY: up to 30 years.

BEAVER:

Castor canadensis or Castor fiber

SIZE: HBL 80–120cm (32–47in); TL 25–50cm (10–20in); SH 30–60cm (12–23in); WT 11–30kg (24–66lb); no difference between sexes.

COAT: yellowish brown to almost black; reddish brown is most common; underfur is dense and dark grey.

BREEDING: gestation about 105–107 days

DIET: wood (especially aspen), grasses, roots.

LONGEVITY: 10–15 years:

CAT, DOMESTIC

Felis silvestris catus

SIZE: HBL 50–80cm; TL 28–35cm; WT 3–6kg.

COAT: many color variations.

BREEDING: gestation 68 days; litter 3–6.

DIET: small mammals, fish.

LONGEVITY:12–15 years or longer.

CAT, WILD / WILDCAT

Felis silvestris

SIZE: HBL 50–80cm; TL 28–35cm; WT 3–6kg.

COAT: usually light to medium brown, black striped; females generally paler than males; tail black-tipped.

BREEDING: gestation 68 days; litter 3–6.

DIET: small mammals, fish.

LONGEVITY:12–15 years.

CROW, COMMON / CROW, CARRION

Corvus brachyrhynchos

SIZE: HBL 20–30cm up to 40cm; WS up to 1m; WT 0.5–1.5kg.

COAT: black all over; glossy black in flight.

BREEDING: 4–7 blue-green, brown/gray-splotched eggs;incubation 18 days; young remain in the nest 6–8 weeks; crows mate for life.

DIET: small mammals, insects, reptiles, small birds, crop matter, fruits and nuts and occasionally eggs.

LONGEVITY: 7–8 years.

DIPPER, WHITE-THROATED

Cinclus cinclus

SIZE: HBL 18cm; WS 25.5–30cm; WT 50–76g.

COAT: brown underside with white breast and throat patch; gray to gray-black back, wings and tail.

FORM: short-tailed, plump bird with a low, whirring flight; when perched, it habitually bobs up and down and frequently cocks its tail; yellow beak; male has a black beak in summer.

DIET: insect larve and freshwater shrimps.

BREEDING: 4–5 eggs; incubation 16 days; fledged 20–24 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 8 years.

DORMOUSE, COMMON / DORMOUSE, HAZEL

Muscardinus avellanarius

SIZE: HBL 60-90mm; TL 55-75mm; WT 15-40g.

COAT: richly-colored upper, ranging yellowish brown to yellowish red; throat and chest are creamy white; is pinkish buff; well-haired tail is brownish above and paler below. FORM: snout is blunt, eyes are large, ears are relatively small.

DIET: omnivorous, including insects, worms, spiders, fruit, seeds, nuts and eggs, but usually vegetarian.

HIBERNATION: about 7–9 months, from October to April.

BREEDING: gestation 21–32 days; females give birth after hibernation, from May through October; up to 3 litters per year of 2–9 young (average 4).

LONGEVITY: 3–6 years.

EAGLE, GOLDEN

Aquila chrysaetos

SIZE: HBL: 3ft; WT 7kg (15lb); WS 2m (7ft).

COAT: dark brown.

DIET: small mammals, rodents, snakets, small birds.

BREEDING: usually find a mate for life at 4 years old; 1–2 cream-colored eggs; 41–45 days of incubation. chicks stay in next 9–11 weeks until they are fledged.

LONGEVITY: 15–20 years.

EEL

Anguilla rostrata

SIZE: HBL (female) 2–3.5ft; males are smaller.

COAT: color varies, ranging from olive green to dark brown, gray, and black; yellowish belly.

FORM: pointed snout and large mouth; long, snake-like body.

DIET: invertebrates and small fish.

BREEDING: unknown

LONGEVITY: 3–7 years.

ERMINE / STOAT

Mustela erminea

SIZE: (male) small: HBL 17cm; WT 60g; large: HBL 24cm; WT 200g; can reach WT 260g in Britain.

COAT: brown and white; prominent black tip to tail, even in white winter coat.

BREEDING: delayed implantation of 9–10 months, from early summer mating in one year to whelping in spring of the next, which cannot be shortened by abundance of food; active gestation about 28 days; litter size 4–9, sometimes up to 18.

DIET: small rodents, rabbits, birds, insects, lizards, frogs, eggs.

LONGEVITY: 6 years or more (up to 12 in captivity.

FALCON, PEREGRINE

Falco Peregrinus

SIZE: HBL 34–50cm; WS 80–120cm; WT 0.5–1.5kg.

COAT: plumage is variable, with dark to light grey upper-parts and buff under-parts, barred with dark grey; white chin and cheeks, with a conspicuous moustache.

FORM: distinctive anchor-shape when in flight, due to their long wings and short tail; can achieve speeds approaching 200km/h (124mph).

DIET: birds, small mammals, bats and occastionally small reptiles and insects.

BREEDING: 2–4 cinnamon or brown-speckled eggs during February–March; incubation 29–32 days; chicks fledge after 35–42 days, but remain dependent on their parents for a further 2 months.

LONGEVITY: up to 13 years in the wild.

FERRET / POLECAT, EUROPEAN

Mustela putorius

SIZE: (male) HBL 35–51cm; TL 12–19cm; WT 0.7–1.4kg.

COAT: buff to black, with dark mask across eyes.

BREEDING: gestation 40–43 days; litter size typically 5–8.

DIET: small rodents, rabbits, birds, insects, lizards, frogs, eggs.

LONGEVITY: 6 years or more.

FOX, RED / FOX, SILVER / FOX, CROSS

Vulpes vulpes

SIZE: (male) HBL 68cm; TL 44cm; WT 5.9kg; (female) HBL 66cm; TL 42cm; WT 5.2kg.

COAT: rust to flame-red above (with silver, cross and color phases); white to black below; tip of tail often white.

DIET: diverse, including small mammals, rodents, birds, invertebrates including beetles and earthworms, fish and fruit when available.

BREEDING: gestation 60–63 days; litter size normally 1–6.

LONGEVITY: up to 6 years (up to 13 in captivity).

FROG, COMMON

Rana temporaria

SIZE: HBL 10cm (4in).

COAT: usually brown to olive brown; distinctive dark patch covering the ear region.

FORM: have a moist feel and the back of a frog has a slightly raised appearance; have no necks and so the base of the skull rests very close to the collarbones; males have slightly larger feet with horny pads and thicker arms.

DIET: insects, small invertebrates, slugs, worms.

BREEDING: tadpoles hatch after 4 weeks; fully developed at 12 weeks.

LONGEVITY: up to 15 years.

GOOSE, CANADA

Branta canadensis

SIZE:

COAT: white underside with a light sandy brown breast, which darkens toward underside; white tail with black tips; upper side brown; brown wings banded with white; black wing tips; distinctive black head and neck and large white throat patch.

FORM: black eyes, legs and beak; long neck.

DIET: vegetation; roots, grass, leaves and seeds.

BREEDING: 5–6 off-white eggs; incubation 28–30ays; fledged 40–48 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 23 years.

GULL, COMMON

Larus canus

SIZE: HBL 40–42cm; WS 110–130cm; WT 300–480g.

COAT: light grey backs, white under parts, and black wing tips with white 'mirrors'; black tail with white tips..

FORM: yellow bill; yellow-green legs.

DIET: worms, insects, carrion, fish.

BREEDING: 2–5 gray-brown eggs; incubation 23–28 days; young are fledged after 35 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 24 years.

HAMSTER, COMMON / HAMSTER, GOLDEN

Cricetus cricetus

COAT: soft, thickly furres in shades of gray and brown.

DIET: mostly herbivorous (seeds, shoots, root vegetables), although occasionally hampsters will take insects, lizards, small mammals and young birds.

BREEDING: females become receptive to males at 43 days and can give birth at 59 days; gestation 16-20 days.

LONGEVITY: 2–3 years

HARE, EUROPEAN / HARE, BROWN

Lepus europaeus

SIZE: HBL 75cm (30in); TL 12cm (4.7in); WT 6kg (13.2lb); male usually heavier.

COAT: usually thick, soft fur; yellowish-brown to greyish-brown, with a greyish-white underbody; face is brown, with eye rings; tail is black on the top and white on the bottom; in winter, doesn't change its pelage to white, but does become slightly more grey.

FORM: long ears; long hind legs.

DIET: herbivorous; grasses, clovers, herbs, grains, root vegetables and young shoots of meadow plants; will eat tree bark especially when snow covers other food sources.

BREEDING: breeds between midsummer and midwinter; gestation 30–42 days; litter size from 1–8, average 3–5; 2 litters in a season; weaning period is one month; the young, called leverets, reach sexual maturity at eight months to a year in age; leverets are precocious at birth, with long and silky fur.

LONGEVITY: 1–12 years.

HAWK, SPARROW

Accipiter nisus

SIZE: HBL (male) 28cm (11in); HBL (female) 38cm (15in); WS 60–80cm (23–32in); WT (male) 110–169g; WT (female) 185–342g.

COAT: male feathers are dark on the top and light brown on the breast, closely barred with orange; female breast is almost fully white.

FORM: broad, rounded wings.

DIET: insects, small mammals, small birds and insects.

BREEDING: 4–6 brown-speckled eggs; incubation 33–35 days; young fledged after 24–30 days.

LONGEVITY: average 11 years..

HEDGEHOG, WESTERN EUROPEAN / HEDGEHOG, COMMON

Erinaceus europaeus

SIZE: HBL 8–12in; WT 2lb.

COAT: brown with yellow spine tips; paler in the face and underparts

FORM: large and stout insectivore; short tail; short ears; head, back, and sides are evenly covered with dense sharp spines.

BREEDING: Litters of 1–17 young are produced 2 times a year during May–June and August–September; gestation 34–49 days; offspring are weaned at 1 month.

DIET: beetles, earthworms, caterpillars, earwigs, slugs, grasshoppers.

LONGEVITY: up to 7 years.

HERON, GRAY

Ardea cinera

SIZE: HBL 90–98cm; WS 175–195cm; WT 1–2kg.

COAT: gray and white plumage with long black crest feathers on top of white head.

FORM: long yellow neck and legs; during breeding, legs and bill can become redder; broad arched wings.

DIET: fish and occastionally small reptiles.

BREEDING: 3–5 pale blue-green eggs; incubation 25–26 days; fledged 42–55 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 25 years.

HORSE, DOMESTIC

Equus caballus

SIZE: HBL 200cm; TL 90cm; WT 350–700kg.

COAT: sandy to dark brown, black, white or piebald; occasional markings of white on face, legs and nose; mane white to black, short to long.

FORM: mane falls to side of neck if long; thick-headed and stocky to slender-header and graceful-limbed.

DIET: grasses.

BREEDING: average 340 day gestation period; mares give birth to 1 foal; twins are rare.

LONGEVITY: about 24 years.

JACKDAW, EURASIAN

Corvus monedula

SIZE: HBL 25cm (10 in); WS 50cm (20in); WT 180–260g.

COAT: gray, with lighter gray shoulders.

BREEDING: 3–5 blue-white, black-splotched eggs; incubation 17–18 days; young fledged after 28–36 days.

DIET: scavegers; insects and seeds.

LONGEVITY: up to 14 years.

KESTREL, COMMON

Falco tinnunculus

SIZE: HBL 32–35cm; WS 71–80cm; WT 156–252g.

COAT:

FORM: pointed wings and long tail.

DIET: small mammals and birds.

BREEDING: 3–6 white, pink-white or cinnamon-colored eggs; incubation 27–29 days; young fledged after 27–32 days.

LONGEVITY: average 15 years.

KITE, RED

Milvus milvus

SIZE: HBL 60–66c; WS 175–195cm; WT 800–1,000g.

COAT: red-brown body; white to pale gray head; white patches under wing and tail; dark brown to black in wing feathers.

FORM: angled wings; deeply forked tail.

DIET: carrion, worms and small mammals and frogs.

BREEDING: 1–3 white brown-flecked eggs; incubation 31–32 days; young fledged after 48–70 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 25 years.

LIZARD, COMMON / LIZARD, VIVIPAROUS

Lacerta vivipara

SIZE: HBL up to 18cm (average 10–16cm).

COAT: coarse scales which range from grey, brown, bronze or green on the back, and males are generally darker than females; white spots down the flanks, which fuse to form a line, and a black line along the back; numerous black spots scattered over the body; males have orange/yellow bellies with black spots and females have cream/white bellies.

FORM: long bodies, short legs; able to shed tails to fool predators.

DIET: insects, spiders, earthworms and snails; stun their prey by shaking it and swallowing it whole.

BREEDING: after emerging from hibernation, the males defend breeding territories from other males; young develop over 3 months within egg membranes inside the female's body, which they usually break out of as she gives birth or may remain inside the egg membrane for several days before breaking out (using their heads rather than an egg-tooth to rupture the membrane); litters of 3–12 young are born from June to September, after which time the mother shows no parental care; young feed actively from birth and quickly disperse; males become sexually mature around 2 years and females around 3 years of age.

LONGEVITY: average up to 2–3 years.

MAGPIE, COMMON / MAGPIE, EUROPEAN

Pica pica

SIZE: HBL plus TL: 50cm (20in); WS 90cm (37in); 180–270g.

COAT: black with a green and purple sheen; distinctive white edged wings and white belly; irridescent tail; wings are black.

FORM: long, wedge-shaped tail; thief (steals shiny objects).

BREEDING: 8–10 eggs in April; young leave the nest after about 4 weeks; magpies mate for life.

DIET: scavengers; insects, berries and leaves, young birds and eggs, small mammals and occasionally grains and other vegetable subtances.

LONGEVITY: average 21 years; up to 30 years.

MARTEN, PINE

Martes martes

SIZE: HBL 40–55cm (16–22in); TL 20–28cm (8–11in); WT 0.9–2kg (2–4lb).

COAT: chestnut-brown to dark brown, bib creamy white.

BREEDING: gestation 8–9 months (including 6–7 month delay in egg implatation).

DIET: small mammals, birds, fish, insects, eggs, fruit.

LONGEVITY: 10–15 years.

MOLE, EUROPEAN

Talpa europaea

SIZE: HBL 4–6in; WT 4 oz.; males are bigger than females.

COAT: short fur of uniform length; usually uniformly brownish black or grey.

FORM: Eyes are extremely reduced and skin covered, able only to detect light and dark; long snout.

DIET: earthworms, beetle and fly larve, slugs.

BREEDING: sexually mature in 10 months; gestation 30 days; mating season March to May; 2–7 in litter, average 4; the young are covered with fur after 14 days and are ready to leave the nest after 35 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 4 years.

MOUSE, HARVEST

Micromys minutus

SIZE: HBL 50–70mm; WT 4–6g.

COAT: russet orange fur with a white underside.

FORM: blunt nose and small hairy ears.

DIET: grains, grasses, reed stalks, seeds, berries and insects, although moss, roots and fungi may also be taken.

BREEDING: 2–3 litters in a year, from late May to October or even December; average 6 young per litter; the young grow quickly and explore the nest after the 11th day; the young are abandoned after 16 days to fend for themselves.

MOUSE, WOOD

Apodemus sylvaticus

SIZE: HBL 81–103mm; TL 71–95mm; WT 13–27g.

COAT: dark brown fur with white/grey underside.

FORM: protruding eyes, large ears, long tail.

DIET: seeds, green plants, fruits and animal foods; in a mixed deciduous woodland they eat acorns and sycamore seeds for most of the winter, buds in early spring, caterpillars, worms and centipedes in early summer and blackberries and fungi in the autumn; food is cached in underground burrows.

BREEDING: females nest singly in the spring; litters of 4-7 young are born in successive pregnancies from March to October but autumn litters are small; young are weaned at 18–22 days of age when their weight is about 6–8g; growth in the summer is rapid and females can become pregnant when they have reached a weight of 12g.

LONGEVITY: usually 1 year in the wild.

NEWT, GREAT CRESTED

Triton cristatus

SIZE: 15–17cm.

COAT: dark brown to black; bright orange underside with black spots; sides are stippled with tiny white dots; females always have an orange line on the tail.

FORM: more heavily built; skin is warty and rough; in the spring, the males develop an impressive ragged crest along their back and a separate straight edged crest along the top of the tail.

DIET: insects and small to medium-sized invertebrates.

BREEDING: young take 2–4 years to fully mature.

LONGEVITY: average up to 4–6 years.

NEWT, SMOOTH / NEWT, COMMON

Triturus vulgaris

SIZE: 6–8cm (2.5–3in).

COAT: (female) overall colouration is usually light brown and is darkly freckled, often with two parallel lines down the back; (male) brown to olive-gray; whole body is covered in dark blotches and has prominent stripes on the head, the outer two passing through the eyes; fringed toes, an orange-yellow belly color with black spots and an undulating crest running the entire length of the body and tail in the breeding season; spotted throat.

DIET: insects, small invertebrates and tadpoles.

BREEDING: capable of laying 400 eggs, at the rate of 7–12 per day meaning a longer breeding season; each egg is carefully rapped in pondweed by the female; young are called efts.

LONGEVITY: average up to 4–6 years.

OSPREY

Pandion haliaetus

SIZE: HBL: 58 CM (23 in). Male is usually larger than the female.

COAT: Dark brown above and white below with a white head and a prominent dark eye stripe. Bill brownish-black, blue at the base and margin; cere light blue. The male is usually all white below whereas the female has a necklace of dark streaking.

FORM: Iris yellow. Feet pale greyish-blue, tinged with brown; claws black. Large, long-winged; wing has a distinctive bend at the "wrist" and from a distance can resemble a gull.

DIET: Feed almost exclusively on fish.

BREEDING: Eggs 2-4 white, pink or buff splotched with brown. Incubation period about 40 days.

LONGEVITY: ---

OTTER, EUROPEAN RIVER

Lutra lutra

SIZE: HBL 57–70cm (22–28in); TL 35–40cm (14-16in).

COAT: brownish; throught brown to cream.

FORM: feet well-webbed, claws strong; tail cylindrical, thick at the base.

BREEDING: nonseasonal; gestation 61–65 days; litter 2–5 (average 2–3).

DIET: primarily fish, though most species also eat frogs, crayfish and crabs, and may also take birds and small mammals.

LONGEVITY: up to 20 years.

OWL, BARN / OWL, SCREECH

Tyto alba

SIZE: (male) HBL 32–38cm (12.5–15in); WS 107cm (42in);WT 270g (15.5oz); (female) HBL 34–40cm (13.5–15.5in); WS 110cm (43in); WT 570g (20oz).

COAT: upper parts are light grey with numerous fine dark lines and scattered pale spots on the feathers; buff markings on wings and on the back; under parts are white with a few black spots, occasionally none; feathering on the lower legs may be sparse; heart-shaped facial disc is white with a brownish edge, with brown marks at the front of the eyes; females are generally more densely spotted.

FORM: eyes have a black iris; beak is off-white; feet areyellow-white to brown.

DIET: rodents and small ground mammals.

BREEDING: able to breed throughout year; 3–6 white, spotless eggs are laid; clicks are brooded for about 2 weeks and fledged after 50–55 days; young birds are able to breed in aabout 10 minths.

LONGEVITY: 1 to 2 years up to 17 years in wild (up to 22 in captivity).

OWL, SHORT-EARED

Assio flammeus

SIZE: HBL 13–14in; TL 5.4–6.3in;WS 33–44in.; WT (male) 11.25 oz.

COAT: upper parts mottled brown and white, with darker bars on flight feathers; breast tawny with darker streaks fading to a white belly with diffuse darker streaking; face relatively dark and unpatterned or large round off-white facial disk with fine brown tinges and black around the eyes; in flight, pale underwings with prominent black wrist marks are obvious.

FORM: yellow eyes; dark bill; medium-sized owl; small ear tufts.

DIET: mall mammals and occasionally small birds.

BREEDING: egg-laying is from March through late June; female will lay as many as 16 white, unspotted eggs in vole plague years but usual clutch size is 5–6 ; incubation period is 25–29 days; young leave the nest at 14–18 days old while still unable to fly and wander as far as 200 yards from the nest; young fledge at 24–27 days old although may not become independent for 50 days.

LONGEVITY: 13 years.

OWL, TAWNY

Strix aluco

SIZE: HBL 37–39 cm; WS 94–104cm; WT 330–590g.

COAT: mainly reddish brown above and paler underneath; ring of dark feathers around its face surrounding the dark eyes; white to pale yellow beak.

FORM: rounded body and head.

DIET: small mammals and rodents, small birds, frogs, fish, insects and worms.

BREEDING: 2–5 pure white eggs; incubation 28–30 days; fledged 32–37 dyas.

LONGEVITY: up to 23 years.

PONY, WELSH MOUNTAIN

SIZE: cannot exceed 12.2 hands.

COAT: black, gray, bay, roan, cream or chestnut; never piebald or skewbald.

FORM: a small, sturdy pony.

DIET: grasses; purely herbivorous.

BREEDING: ---

LONGEVITY: 25–30 years.

RABBIT, EUROPEAN

Oryctolagus cuniculus

SIZE: HBL up to 400mm; WT 1.2–2kg; male usually heavier.

COAT: usually thick, soft fur; tail well-furred or even bushy; feet hairy; coloration ranges from reddish brown to brown and buff; belly often covered with lighter or pure white hair black ear tips.

DIET: herbivorous; grasses, clovers, herbs, grains, root vegetables and young shoots of meadow plants; will eat tree bark especially when snow covers other food sources.

BREEDING: gestation 28–31days; season January to August, starting later in the north of Britain; healthy females can produce one litter of 3-7 young per month during the season; bucks are able to mate at 4 months, does at 3.5 months; usually 2–8 young.

LONGEVITY: usually 1–3 years up to 9 years.

RAT, BROWN / RAT, COMMON

Rattus norvegicus

SIZE: HBL 40cm, although 25cm is more common; TL 15cm or so (less than half the body length); WT (male) 320g; WT (female) 200g in females; WT can go up to 500g.

COAT: fur is coarse and usually brown or dark grey, the underparts are lighter grey or brown.

DIET: grains and occasionally fish.

BREEDING: can breed through the year if conditions are suitable; gestation 21–23 days; litter average 7, up to 14.

LONGEVITY: up to 3 years.

RAVEN, COMMON

Corvus corax

SIZE: HBL 65 cm (27in); WS 1.2–1.5m (50–60in); WT 370–38 days

COAT: black with glossy blue-black to purple-black irridescent feathers.

FORM: beak heavier than a crow’s; throat feathers are more pointed and elongated, giving them a spiky appearance when they puff up.

BREEDING: 4–7 dull green, brown-spotted eggs; both parents incubate eggs; young stay in the nest 6–10 weeks; ravens mate for life.

DIET: insects, seed, berries, carrion, eggs, small birds and occasionally small mammals.

LONGEVITY: average 19 years; up to 30 years.

ROBIN, EUROPEAN

Erithacus rubecula

SIZE: HBL 14cm; WS 20–22cm; WT 14–21g.

COAT: brown with white underside and bright red breast.

DIET: worms, seeds, fruit and insects.

BREEDING: 4–6 pale blue eggs; incubation 14 days; fledged 10–18 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 8 years.

SEAL, COMMON / SEAL, HARBOR

Phoca vitulina

SIZE: (male) HTL 150–186cm; WT 55–170lg; (female) HTL 120–169cm; WT 45–142kg.

COAT: light to dark gray of brown base coat, with overlay of spots, rings and blotches on adults; pups usually shed whitish lanugo before birth, otherwise born with “adult” coat.

FORM: dog-like face, with teeth set obliquely in jaws.

DIET: includes herring, flatfish, cod, walleye, squid, octopus, shrimp.

BREEDING: females sexually mature at 3–4 years, males at 5–6; females give birth to a single pup on land from January to October; pups weight 8–12kg at birth and are highly precocial, sometimes entering the water and swimming within 5 minutes of birth; pups are nursed for 4–6 weeks and are weaned at up to 30kg.

LONGEVITY: about 25 years.

SEAL, GRAY

Halichoerus grypus

SIZE: (male) HTL 195 cm; WT 170–310kg; (female) HTL 165cm; WT 103–180kg.

COAT: males dark brown, gray or black with small botches; female is lighter, with dark spots and blotches on gray, tan or yellowish background; pups are born with white lanugo, molting to a muted version of the adult pelt between 2–4 weeks of age.

FORM: snout elongated and arched, especially in adult males, which also develop a heavy, scarred neck resion; large, peg-like teeth.

DIET: a wide variety of fish, inclusing sand lance, cod, flatfish, silver hake, herring and mackeral, and invertebrates (cephalopods and crusraceans).

BREEDING: females become sexually mature at 3–5 years, males at 3-6, although they may not mate until 8 years or older because of competition with older males for females; at birth, pups are 90–105cm long and weigh 11–20kg, gaining up to 2kg per day throughout the 16–17 day nursing perios.

LONGEVITY: males approx. 25 years, females up to 35 years.

SHREW, EURASIAN COMMON

Sorex araneus

SIZE: HBL 2.5–3.2in; WT 0.20.6oz.

COAT: dense and brown or blackish on the back, gray beneath, and intermediate on the sides.

FORM: a pointed muffle; small eyes, poor eyesight; ears nearly concealed by fur.

DIET: seeds, nuts and other plant matter, earthworms, lizards, insects, newts, frogs and fish.

BREEDING: breeding season is May to October, with a female often becoming pregnant again upon the birth of a litter; 2 or more litters per season; average litter size is 6; gestation 13–19 days; young are weaned at 19 days.

SHREW, PYGMY (PIGMY) WHITE-TOOTHED

Suncus etruscus

SIZE: HBL 1.4–2in; TL 1in; WT 0.05–0.09oz.

COAT: soft, short, and drab brownish gray in color; very slightly lighter beneath.

FORM: small, mouse-like; pointed nose; long tail, thick at its base; prominent ears and small eyes.

BREEDING: habits unknown.

LONGEVITY: 12–30 months.

SHREW, WATER

Neomys fodiens

SIZE: HBL 67–96mm; TL 45–77mm; WT 12–18g.

COAT: short, dense velvety black on the upper side; gray to yellow-white underneath; tuft of white hair on ears and small white ring around eyes.

FORM: long pointed snout, small ears and tiny eyes; teeth are red-tipped; Stiff white hairs on the margins of the feet, and on the underside of the tail (forming a kee) are very distinctive.

DIET: freshwater shrimp, water slaters and caddis larve; earthworms, beetles, snails and other terrestrial invertebrates; occasionally frogs, newts and small fish are eaten; a mild toxin secreted into the saliva in the mouth helps to stun the prey.

BREEDING: breed throughout the summer, producing 2–3 litters, each with 3–15 young, between April and September.

LONGEVITY: average 1.5 years.

SHRIKE, RED-BACKED

Lanius collurio

SIZE: HBL 17cm; WS 24–27cm; WT 25–35g.

COAT: (male) bluish-grey head, black mask, bright chestnut back and thick hooked black bill; (female) duller brown with light brown ‘scales’ on breast.

DIET: mainly insects, but will eat the young of small birds and rodents.

BREEDING: 3–7 eggs; incubation 12–16 days; fledged 14–15 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 7 years.

SNAKE, GRASS

Natrix natrix

SIZE: HBL: can grow over 1m.

COAT: dark green-brown background color with vertical black bars and spots on the sides; usually a prominent yellow collar almost right around the neck; patterning and the background colour become duller just before the snake sheds (sloughs) a skin.

FORM: non-venemous; good swimmers.

DIET: amphibians, including toads, frogs and newts; and they can even catch small fishes.

BREEDING: lay eggs in June and July in rotting vegetation such as compost heaps, a source of warmth; the young hatch in autumn.

LONGEVITY: 10–14 years.

SPARROW, HOUSE

Passer domesticus

SIZE: HBL 14–15cm; WS 21–25.5cm; WT 24–38cm.

COAT: (male) Gray crown; black throat, upper breast and small mask; less black on throat in winter; grayish side of neck and underparts; rusty-brown nape and upperparts; black streaks on back; white patch in wing; ray rump; black bill in summer; yellowish in winter; (female) Gray-brown crown; buffy line extends rearward from eye bordered below by gray-brown line; grayish-white underparts; black and tawny streaks on back; black wing feathers with wide tawny edges; white patch on wing.

DIET: mostly seeds and berries.

BREEDING: 3–5 white, brown-speckled eggs; incubation 11–14 days; young are fledged after 11–19 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 12 years.

SQUIRREL, RED

Sciurus vulgaris

SIZE: HBL 180-240mm; TL about 175mm; WT (juveniles) 100-150g; WT (adults) up to 350g.

COAT: bright ginger through light red and dark brown to black; white or creamy fur on stomach; most squirrels molt twice per year; a soft, fine summer coat alternates with a stiff, thick winter coat; the tail fur is shed only once per year.

FORM: tufts of fur on ear tips and long tail.

BREEDING: females mature sexually before males, usually reproducing by age 1 year; litters typically contain 1–6 pups; Eurasian red squirrels generally have 2 litters per year, one in February to March, the other from May to August.

DIET: nuts, seeds, fruits, buds, flowers, sap and occasionally fungi and leafy greenery.

LONGEVITY: 2–3 years up tp 6–7 years; females usually live longer than males.

SWAN, MUTE / SWAN, WHITE

Cygnus olor

SIZE: HBL 145–160cm; WS 208–238cm; WT 10–12 kg.

COAT: all white with black around beak.

FORM: long sinuous neck; black legs; orange bill with black at its base; black eyes; silent but hisses when threatened; during the breeding season the male becomes very territorial and aggressive to any intruders; male is known as a cob, a female is a pen, and the young are called cygnets.

DIET: water plants, insects and snails.

BREEDING: 5–8 green-gray eggs; incubation 34–38 days; fledged 120–150 days.

LONGEVITY: up to 24 years.

TOAD, COMMON

Bufo bufo

SIZE: HBL (male) 60–65mm (2.3–2.5in); HBL (female) 85–90mm (3.75–4in)

COAT: coloring will vary with the color of the soil in their chosen habitat, therefore they can be grayish or brownish depending on local soil color.

FORM: skin is cool, dry and warty; skin contains a substance which will burn the mouth of a predator; toads do not hop, they crawl; toads prefer dry land but will return to water in dry spells; toads blink to help push food down into the stomach.

DIET: insects.

BREEDING: breeding age 2–3 years; 1,000–4,000 eggs laid; tadpoles hatch after 2–3 weeks; only 5% will survive predators.

LONGEVITY: up to 15 years.

VOLE, BANK

Clethrionomys glareolus

SIZE: HBL 8–11cm (3.25–4-.25in); TL 3–6.5cm (1.25–2.5in); WT 17–20g (0.6–0.7oz).

COAT: thickly furred in various shades of gray and brown.

DIET: herbivorous, mostly eating the soft green parts of plants and leaves, though occasionally taking insects.

BREEDING: gestation 16–28; in summer, females produce litters of 3–5 young.

LONGEVITY: 0.5–2 years

VOLE, WATER

Arvicola terrestris

SIZE: HBL 140–220mm; TL 95–140mm; WT 150–300g.

COAT: chestnut-brown.

FORM: blunt nose; short, rounded ears; long hair-covered tail; usually found near open water.

DIET: grasses and waterside vegetation.

BREEDING: gestation 16–28; females produce 3–4 litters of about 5 young per year, the first litter usually in March or April.

LONGEVITY: 0.5–2 years

WEASEL, EUROPEAN COMMON / WEASEL, LEAST

Mustela nivalis

SIZE: (male) small HBL 15–20cm; TL 3–4cm; WT 30–70g; large HBL 23–24cm; TL 5–9cm;WT up to 250g.

COAT: brown above, white below; no black tip to tail. Weasels in Britain do not turn white in winter.

BREEDING: gestation 34–37 days; litter size 4–8; may produce 2–3 litters a year during food abundance.

DIET: small rodents, rabbits, birds, insects, lizards, frogs, eggs.

LONGEVITY: 1 years or more (up to 10 in captivity).

Abbreviations:

HBL = head-body length

TL = tail length

WT = weight

SH = shoulder height

WS = wingspan

Approximate Equivalents

10 cm = 4 in

230 g = 8 oz.

1 kg = 2.2 lb