The adult emperor moth is a truly spectacular insect. On the wing in April and May, the male of this large, day-flying moth species is a particularly striking sight, and can easily be mistaken for a butterfly due to its bright colours. It is a fairly widespread species, one that favours open scrub habitat on heath land, moorland, fens, along field margins and hedgerows, … [Read more...] about Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia)
Species profiles | Ireland's Wildlife
Want to find out more about Ireland's wildlife species? Check out our ever growing collection of species profiles for Ireland's birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, plants, fungi and invertebrates.
These species profiles were originally written by Calvin Jones for the weekly back-page feature in Ireland's favourite family magazine, Ireland's Own.
Raven (Corvus corax)
Seen close up the raven is a truly magnificent bird. The largest member of the crow family, it is the biggest passerine (perching) bird in Europe, and occurs all over Ireland. Size is the raven's most distinguishing feature. At 54 to 68 cm long, with a wingspan doubling that, it dwarfs any other black bird found in Ireland. Its glossy plumage is entirely black. It has long … [Read more...] about Raven (Corvus corax)
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
The hooded crow, grey crow or “hoodie” as it's sometimes called, is almost identical to the closely related carrion crow (Corvus corone) except for its distinctive grey and black plumage. The two birds are so similar in fact that until recently they were considered to be different races of the same species, but now hooded crows have been formally acknowledged as a species in … [Read more...] about Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn, also known as the whitethorn and the May tree, is one of our most common native trees, and one that is steeped in legend and folklore. It grows quickly for the first fifteen years or so of its life, and it’s thorny, gnarled branches make an ideal barrier to livestock – a characteristic that led to its widespread use as a hedging plant for centuries. Larger specimens … [Read more...] about Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
With a flash of black and red wings the red admiral adds a splash of welcome colour to our gardens and woodland from late-spring to mid-autumn. This striking butterfly is a migratory species that makes its way up from the Mediterranean, moving north as the weather warms. Resident populations in North Africa and southern Europe breed early in the year. Then, as the weather … [Read more...] about Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Ireland’s Wildlife: Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
The fieldfare is a large, attractive thrush that is a widespread and abundant winter visitor to these shores. Most of the birds that overwinter here originate in Scandinavia and the number of birds and the time of their arrival varies from year to year depending on the severity of the winter and the state of the berry crop in their homeland. In milder years or if the berry crop … [Read more...] about Ireland’s Wildlife: Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
They say familiarity breeds contempt... and, in the case of the chaffinch that's probably true. The male chaffinch in its full breeding regalia is one of our most colourful and striking birds. If it wasn't for the fact that we see them so often we'd marvel at these colourful little finches. The chaffinch is found all over Ireland in woodlands, parks, gardens, fields, scrub … [Read more...] about Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
The peregrine falcon is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most impressive birds. A large, powerful falcon it is considered by many to be the ultimate bird-of-prey, diving in a spectacular, vertical stoop to strike its quarry – other birds – in mid air. The peregrine is thought to reach speeds of up to 180 mph as it plummets earthward, though it usually levels off slightly and slows … [Read more...] about Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Bumblebees
The slow, lazy buzz of the bumblebee is a fundamental part of the Irish summer. These fat, furry, ponderous bees trundle from flower to flower, collecting pollen and nectar to support their growing colony. They liven up the summer garden, and provide an invaluable pollination service to the plants they visit. We have 18 species of bumblebee in Ireland, all of which have … [Read more...] about Bumblebees
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
The bee orchid has to be one of our most exquisite wildflowers. At first glance its exotic looks may make it seem like an interloper from far flung shores -- but this is a native Irish plant through and through. In Ireland bee orchids tend to flower during June and July. They occur mainly on dry, sandy, calcareous soil -- particularly on or around dunes and limestone … [Read more...] about Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)
Common Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)
The common stinkhorn is fungus that you’ll almost certainly smell before you see. Its common name is derived from the rather obnoxious odor emitted by the phallic-shaped fruiting body. Unlike most other fungi, which rely on wind for spore dispersal, the stinkhorn’s spores hitch a ride with insects -- specifically flies, which the mature mushroom attracts, sometimes in vast … [Read more...] about Common Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)
Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)
The freshwater pearl mussel is a bivalve mollusc that lives in clean, fast flowing rivers and streams. It is one of the longest lived invertebrates in the world, and with a lifespan of up to 130 years is Ireland’s longest living animal. Like all bivalve molluscs the freshwater pearl mussel has a shell that consists of two halves connected by a flexible hinge that can be … [Read more...] about Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera)
Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
The butter-yellow wings of the male brimstone are a true herald of spring, and are credited by some as the inspiration behind the word “butterfly”. These pretty yellow butterflies are quite common, especially around open woodland, and are often the first butterflies to be seen in spring. Brimstones emerge from their winter hibernation as soon as weather conditions start to … [Read more...] about Brimstone Butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Reaching a maximum length of around 1.9 metres, the diminutive harbour porpoise (also known as the common porpoise) is Ireland’s smallest cetacean species and our only species of porpoise. Found right around the Irish coastline, it is one of the most widely distributed cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in the northern hemisphere. Average sizes are smaller, with adults rarely … [Read more...] about Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
The dunnock is a small brown bird that is a common, if rather shy visitor to many Irish gardens. Still referred to by many by its old name of hedge sparrow, the dunnock isn't actually related to the sparrows at all. It is the only Irish representative of the accentor family – a group of small ground and scrub dwelling birds that hop around in a characteristically crouched … [Read more...] about Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
The red squirrel is Ireland’s only native squirrel, and perhaps the cutest member of the rodent family. This endearing little tree-dweller, with its characteristic bushy tail and ear-tufts, thrived in the large forests of Scots pine that were common in Ireland after the last ice age. In time these Scots pine forests dwindled and were replaced by deciduous species less suited to … [Read more...] about Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
The lapwing, also called the green plover and the peewit, is a common resident and winter visitor on coastal mudflats and mixed farmland all over Ireland. Despite this attractive wader's common and widespread status, alarmingly populations have declined by more than 50% in 25 years. The species is red-listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (BoCCI) … [Read more...] about Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
The diminutive goldcrest is not only Ireland's smallest bird, but also Europe's – a title it shares with its close relative the firecrest. It is widespread and found throughout the country, and often visits gardens, especially during winter months. Despite it's restless, flitting behaviour and distinctive markings this bird's tiny size makes it easy to overlook. Reaching just … [Read more...] about Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
