Irish subspecies
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The island of Ireland has been isolated for up to 8000 years, resulting in fewer breeding bird species than Britain and Europe. This has prevented many species which rarely undertake lengthy migration flights from ever reaching Ireland's shores. Some species, such as woodpeckers and some owls, which are common in Britain, only move or migrate short distances, and therefore rarely or never cross the Irish Sea. Some of our species are equally reluctant or incapable of lengthy flights and rarely leave Ireland. In effect, these species have been isolated from their main European populations for thousands of years. They have gradually adapted to their Irish habitats and now appear different from their British and European counterparts. As a result, they are considered as Irish subspecies or races (these two words can be used interchangably - they are effectively the same thing) Ireland has three distinctive subspecies - Coal Tit, Dipper and Jay. A fourth species, Red Grouse, is considered by some authorities as a seperate subspecies. However because of individual variation and the introducion and interbreeding with other subspecies (notably the British race Lagopus lagopus scoticus) into certain areas for hunting purposes, the distinctions are very slight, and rarely discernable.
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