Little beauties! 7 gorgeous shots of wild birds in Malta this February

You can always tell when spring is on the horizon on the Maltese Islands. If you live in a quieter village, away from any of the islands’ busier roads, the first thing you’ll notice is the bird song. Listening to the toll of the church bells and the cheerful twitter of birds as they hop from roof to roof overhead always makes me feel nostalgic for childhood days spent roaming the Maltese countryside, spotting birds and other wildlife.

Over the last few days, keen nature photographer Benny Scerri was lucky enough to capture these delightful shots of a number of different ‘winter’ wild birds, which he posted to Facebook. Can you recognise the different types?

1. The Black Redstart

Also known as Tithy's redstart, blackstart and black redtail, this little bird breeds in south and central Europe, as well as Asia and north-west Africa. It nests in crevices or holes in buildings, so you may even be lucky enough to see one in an urban area.

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2. Male Stonechat

This handsome devil is all decked out in full breeding plumage, and well, how can the lady birds resist? This species prefers scrubland and grassland with scattered small shrubs – perfect for Malta’s rural landscape.

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3. Meadow Pipit

This grumpy-looking fellow breeds in much of northwestern Eurasia, wintering in southern Europe, North Africa and south-western Asia, which explains his presence on our warm islands.

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4. Robin

Here’s one you're likely to be familiar with: the robin. This little guy is quite common on the islands, arriving October-November and staying on until March-April. Its distinctive orange breast makes it one of the most recognisable birds, so if you do spot one, you’ll know!

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5. White Wagtail

This smart-looking fellow breeds in much of Europe and Asia, and is a fan of open country, can often be seen foraging in paved areas such as car parks in urban surroundings. It nests in openings in stone walls and other similar structures.

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