Mallorca

"The frequent presence of the Loxia curvirostra balearica species so far south is worthy of note. We described this bird previously when describing the fauna of Ibiza. It appears on Mallorca in spring and summer and finds perfect accommodation here in the pine forests where it flutters around with between 5 to 15 other individuals amongst the trees.

Though hiding from view, its presence can nonetheless be noted by its characteristic, hardy and emphatic "cheep-cheep-cheep" with which it announces itself. This red crossbill is noted for the scant width of its wings and the shape of its beak which is reminiscent of the parrot crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus). We can assume that such similar morphology is conditioned by the Aleppo pine, Pinus halepensis, whose pine nuts feed the bird.

Two species of Melizophilus, M. provincialis and M. sarda are very frequently found here and characteristic. At the same time, the nightingales fly in numerous jubilation amongst the orange trees, lavishing us with their songs in spring and summer. The blackbirds in the forests are no less inferior in terms of their songs; nor are the thrushes which in autumn announce the proximity of winter. The same can be said of the larks that always accompany their flights with sonorous voices, as if they wanted to compete with the pipits whose songs alternate between trills and chirps.

Spring and fall also welcome the hoopoe, called puput on the island. We can see it wandering ceremoniously and quickly digging its long beak into cracks in the estuary searching for all manner of larvae and worms. Contrarily, it can majestically sit atop a rock, where it seems to salute its surroundings, calming moving its head. In planted fields we find quail, present in large numbers all year long, as occurs with the swallows, obviously more attracted by the beautiful blue skies of the island than other places, even in winter when it’s cold."

Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria. Las Baleares por la palabra y el grabado. Majorca: General Part. Ed. Sa Nostra, Caja de Baleares. Palma de Mallorca. 1982.