A conference took me to Lisbon this month and I squeezed in a little
bird-watching. Very productive birdwatching actually because a Finnish
colleague attending the same conference arranged a day-and-half for us
with Joao Jara as a guide (highly recommended, see http://www.birds.pt/)
I discovered Lisbon sits on vast estuary the Tagus with exposed midflats ~20km
across - and depending on time-of-year vast numbers of breeding, migrating
or wintering birds. September was somewhat in between seasons but we enjoyed
a couple of hours with piles of interesting birds such as Cettis&Sardinian
Warblers, Spoonbill, Greater Flamingo, Black Tern and Squacco Heron,
An hour or two's drive from Lisbon takes you into dry grasslands &
woodland which we spend a day exploring - ancient towns and interesting
birds such as Griffon&Black Vultures, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Thekla
Lark, Azure-winged Magpie, Great Bustard, Red-legged Partridge.
Which brings me to the trivia question.
In Portugal I saw some non-passerines which breed both in Australia &
Portugal: Barn Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret
and various other water/sea birds.
I also saw a few passerines which have been known to winter in Australia
like Barn Swallow, White & Grey Wagtails and couple which might like
Red-rumped Swallow and Northern Wheatear. Also obvious were some
passerines introduced into Australia like European Blackbird, House
Sparrow, Common Starling.
But I saw only one passerine which breeds in both Australia & Portugal
and is native to both. And I think its the only passerine species
which has native breeding populations in both Europe & Australia.
As its identity isn't obvious, its not a bad trivia question -
although some people on the list will know what it is instantly.
Anyway I'll post the answer in a subsequent message.
Andrew
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