PALEARCTIC (EURASIAN)
Human habitats:
Home & garden, parks & farms
of Europe

The parks and gardens in Europe are a good place to see small wildlife...!

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For a visitor from the southern hemisphere or the tropics, the human-planted homes and gardens around Europe host a surprising amount of native plant species. And in spring and summer there are lots of flowers to sniff and pick (two things that we also do with our nose). Speaking of noses, spring in London may be pretty to look at, but it can also be pretty snot-dribblingly terrible if you suffer from hayfever.

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When people think of cities and towns they usually can only think of pigeons. These are mostly the 'feral' pigeons derived from domesticated forms of Rock Doves, that today infest buildings across Europe. However, the suburbs of the western Palearctic can also host a large and attractive native species, the 'Common Wood Pigeon' Columba palumbus (image below: Lyon, France). Instead of waddling around waiting for bread crumbs from humans, these pigeons have adapted to take food from our parks and farms.

The family Corvidae is quite diverse in Europe, and includes several species that have adapted well to living around us humans. One of the more commonly encountered is the 'Carrion Crow'. They are found in various ecosystems, including human habitats, in two separate areas at either and of the Palearctic; western Europe and temperate Asia.

The same family also includes the pretty but taken-for-granted 'Eurasian Magpie' (image below). They are found in open forests, including human habitats, across Europe and temperate Asia. This species is reported to be the only bird (so far) to naturally pass the 'mirror test' of self-awareness.

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One of the more common smaller birds around parks and gardens is the 'Great Tit' (image below). In some locations, such as Hyde Park London, they may eat out of people's hands. Or even eat their poo. 

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The introduced 'Eastern Grey Squirrel' (image below: Hyde Park, London, U.K.) from North America often replaces the native Eurasian Red Squirrel in human modified habitats in England....

...however the native species can still be seen in parks and gardens across mainland Europe (image below: Lyon, France).

Places to experience temperate European human habitats

For a taste of the common species, pop into Regents Park or Hyde Park, London, England or Lyon Park, France.

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