Which birds herald spring?

Flowers and sunshine are usually the first indicators of the arrival of spring, but are closely followed by birds. If they leave for warmer destinations at the end of the year, they return to their original area as spring approaches.

European humidity

Cliff nesting birds, European bee-eater is one of the most colorful spring birds. Both males and females have brown plumage on the wings, blue on the belly, yellow on the neck and green on the tail. Additionally, its plumage can display metallic reflections under the March sun. It got its name from its eating habits. In fact, they mainly feed on insects such as wasps or bees.

Barn swallow

Inherent from the return of sunny days, barn swallow is a bird heralding the return of spring. The swallow, which is visible between March and May, likes to land on fences or power lines. Its forked tail makes it easy to spot, and it can also be recognized by its dark plumage on its back and white on its belly.

Read alsoSwallow: everything you need to know about this bird

Philomel Nightingale

A small warbler of the Muscicapidae family, nightingale philomela returns to our regions from mid-March to mid-April. If its red and brown plumage allows it to be distinguished in a blooming landscape, its song, similar to that of a thrush, is characteristic of the return of good weather. It sings day and night to find a mate. Unlike many birds, it spends more time on the ground in hedgerows and thick bushes where it can hide while feeding.

Read alsoNightingale Philomela, an important songstress

Gray cuckoo

Recognized by its ash-colored plumage, striped belly, and eponymous call, gray cuckoo is one of the first birds to herald spring. After wintering in African countries, it flies to Europe in February. It can be observed in France from mid-March. A bird belonging to the Cuculidae family, it is one of the rare birds that lay eggs in the nests of different species.

Finch

With his lively song and regular presence from the first spring sweets, finch (Fringilla coelebs) is another bird commonly associated with nature restoration. Males and females have different plumages. Males have colorful plumage with a pink breast and black and white wing bars, while females have duller, more inconspicuous plumage for camouflage during nesting.