Birds

Learn about the birds that are now making their homes at Cloudforests - a safe place for them to live and raise a family.

Robin – Ireland’s most familiar bird, often following walkers along trails.
Blue Tit & Great Tit – Small, colourful, and always busy at the treetops.
Blackbird & Song Thrush – Their rich songs fill the forest, especially at dawn.
Wren – Tiny in size but known for having one of the loudest and most distinctive songs in the entire forest!

Kestrel – Famous for “hovering” in mid-air while hunting. (A Cloudforests.ie flagship conservation species!)
Buzzard – Large soaring raptor, often spotted circling high above.

Swallow – Returns from Africa every spring to nest in Clare’s barns and sheds.
Swift – Screaming flocks dart through the skies in summer, never landing except to nest.

Record Travellers – Swallows and swifts migrate thousands of kilometres from Africa to Ireland every year to breed.
Nature’s Pest Control – Blue tits and great tits eat huge numbers of caterpillars and insects, helping keep forests balanced.
Robins are Territorial – That friendly robin is actually fiercely defending its patch all year round!
Raptors as Indicators – Birds of prey like kestrels and buzzards show that the ecosystem is healthy enough to support predators at the top of the food chain.
Wrens are Winter Survivors – Despite their size, wrens survive harsh Irish winters by roosting together in groups for warmth.

Seed Dispersers – Blackbirds and thrushes spread native tree and berry seeds, helping forests regenerate naturally.
Pollination Helpers – Some small birds (like warblers) help with incidental pollination while feeding.
Food Web Links – Birds are prey for mammals (foxes, pine martens) and raptors, forming a vital part of the ecosystem.
Insect Control – Songbirds eat huge numbers of insects, keeping populations in check without pesticides.
Habitat Engineers – Woodpeckers (less common in Ireland) and nest-builders create spaces later used by other wildlife.