Issued in 2022, this stamp shows the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dryobates minor or Dendrocopos minor). It can be found in most of Europe and north Asia and it has over ten subspecies. The male has a red crown while the female has a white one. It feeds on small insects and rarely on plant material such as seeds and fruit.

Thank you Matthias!

The tree shallow (Tachycineta bicolor), here on a stamp issued in 2010, is a migratory bird found in North and Central America. It feeds on insects but also spiders, molluscs and fruit.

The southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) is a vulnerable species found in southern South America, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and on islands of the southern Indian Ocean. It has two subspecies. It feeds on fish, crustaceans and cephalopods.

The stamp was issued in 2003.

Thank you Mina for this great card from Japan!

The first bird stamp, issued in 2015, depicts a crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), which we have discussed before. The second bird stamp issued in 2024 and celebrating the International Letter-writing Week, shows a Japanese grosbeak (Eophora personata). It is found in eastern Asia and it has two subspecies, of which Eophora personata personata is native to Japan and it is, thus, depicted on the stamp. The other subspecies, Eophora personata magnostris, is migratory. It feeds on seeds and fruit.

I usually do not comment on the photos on the postcard but this time I will make an exception. Blakiston's fish owl (Ketupa blakistoni) is the largest species of owl in the world. It lives in the Russian Far East, China and Japan. It has two subspecies. It feeds primarily on fish but also amphibians, crabs, birds and bats. It is endangered. Finally, the Evens people of Russia consume the species.

We have seen the black swan (Cygnus atratus) in the recent past. Here, a pair is featured on a miniature sheet issued in 2009 celebrating Singapore's botanic gardens.

Though the white stork (Ciconia ciconia) has been shown before, no info was supplied. So, the species can be found in parts of Europe, Asia and northern Africa and it migrates for the winter further south in Africa and areas of southern Asia. It has two subspecies. It preys on amphibians, insects, reptiles, fish, small mammals, small birds and eggs. Finally, it is the national bird of Belarus, Lithuania and Poland.

The stamps were issued in 2004.

On this cover, we have a mixture of three bird sets. The first bird stamp, issued in 2014, shows the Nightingale Island finch (Nesospiza questi). It is named after the Nightingale Island on which it is endemic to. It is vulnerable species due to habitat loss. It feeds on seeds, berries and invertebrates.

The next three stamps were issued in 2010 and 2013 and they all feature the Tristan albatross (Diomedea dabbenena), a critically endangered seabird. It is endemic to Tristan da Cunha and it forages all over the southern Atlantic ocean for fish and cephalopods.

On the second row, the final stamp, issued in 2010, depicts the Gough Island finch (Rowettia goughensis). It is also critically endangered. It is endemic to Gough Island. It feeds on invertebrates, seeds, berries and even carrion.

Thank you Gerda!

The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) lives in most of Europe, vast areas of Asia and many populations migrate to Africa. It has over ten subspecies. It preys on birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and, rarely, fish.

We have seen the Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo) before.

The stamps belong to a set of five issued in 2010 by Belgium.

In 2007, the USA issued a set of four stamps about pollination. One of them features the Calliope hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope). It is the smallest bird in North America. It migrates to the southwestern USA and Central America for the winter. They feed on nectar but they occassionally also catch small insects and spiders.

The white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus) can be found in Europe and Asia. It has fourteen subspecies, of which one is extinct. It feeds on molluscs, fish, aquatic invertebrates and small amphibians. It is the national bird of Norway.

The stamp was issued in 2019.

 This 2019 Europa stamp features the Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus). It is native to northeastern Europe, north Asia and North America. It has three subspecies. It is migratory flying south for the winter. It feeds primarily on fruit but it also consumes insects.

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.