Animals

The vicar of Bucos mentions partridges, rabbits, wolves, foxes and wild boar, describing them as not very abundant. He notes carqueja, heather and gorse on the hills. This is the landscape he recorded at that time, not a current inventory or a promise of seeing these animals.

The account also mentions goats as the most abundant livestock, along with some larger livestock. The same document therefore brings together farm animals and fauna the vicar describes as game. Separating the two groups helps us read rural life in that period.

The statement about low abundance is the author’s judgement, with no counting method presented. It does not allow a direct comparison between 1758 and a present-day wildlife census. Part of the account’s interest lies in what he chose to observe: animals, scrub, terrain and mountain uses appear together.

Erithacus rubecula owes part of its scientific name to its breast patch: rubecula evokes a reddish colour. João E. Rabaça’s description for the Gulbenkian presents a bird frequently found in wooded areas of Portugal, including parks and gardens, particularly in winter. It is a good starting point for looking at a familiar bird with a fresh question: what is it searching for to eat?

For much of the year, it feeds mainly on insects. In winter, fruits and berries become more important in its diet. This change connects the bird with plants and seasons: getting to know an animal also means discovering the food the landscape offers throughout the year.

Resident and migrant are not always opposing labels for an entire species. In the British example described by the BTO, resident robins share their winter surroundings with visitors from northern and eastern Europe. This example helps explain different movements within one species; it does not identify the origin of a robin observed in Cabeceiras.

There is a documented encounter in the municipality: Pedro Mendes published a robin observation dated 3 October 2021. Comparing its public location with CAOP2025 places it in Bucos, and the community identification was research grade when consulted on 7 November 2026. The record confirms that encounter, not the bird’s migratory origin. All rights to the photograph are reserved; it can be viewed at the source.