BirdBird Watcher’sWatcher’s CheckCheck ListList p Red-billed Fire Finch Also known as the Rosy or Senegal PLEASE WATCH YOUR STEP! Fire Finch, this little bird is abun- dant throughout tropical Africa. Some Birds Walk Along the Pathway! Females are brown with a small DO NOT Handle or Touch red patch in front of each eye. the Birds or Parrots! p Orange-cheeked Waxbill This small Waxbill, measuring 4 p Japanese White Eye inches long, is native to Central Also called Mejiros, they are and West Africa. It relies on extraordinary song birds. The grasses for food, shelter and nest name White-eye was given building. Both males and females because of the silky white rings have a bright orange cheek patch. around the eyes. They are native to Japan, but today can p Plum-headed Finch be found across Korea, India, Also known as the Cherry Finch, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma, the it is a common species native to Philippines and Hawaii. Australia. They measure 4.5 inches in length. It prefers habitat near p Star Finch swamps or rivers. The Star Finch is native to Australia where it can be p Gouldian Finch found in grasslands and dry This quiet, finch is native to North savannas. The males are Australia. It is also known as the olive in colour with a large Lady Gouldian or Rainbow Finch. red face mask and star-like Colour variations in this stunning spots over his chest and finch include: red, black or orange neck. Females have less headed; green or blue backed; and colour on the face and no red on the chin. white or lavender breasted. p Red Ear-striped p Zebra Finch Waxbill This adorable bird is native to Also known as the Black-rumped Australia, notice the ‘fawn spots’ or Red-cheeked waxbill, these on their flanks, zebra stripes on small finches are native to Cen- their tails and red beaks. Only tral and West Africa. They live males have orange cheeks. They in the grasslands, marshes and measure 3.75 inches in length. open areas with thorny shrub. p Napolean Weaver Finch Lavender Finch p The Napoleon Weaver is native to This small 4 inch waxbill is South Central Africa. To build a nest, native to Africa and gets its they anchor vertical palm fronds name by the lavender gray to branches and weave horizontal colouring of its head and leaf strips in and out of that globe body. Note its crimson red structure. They build nests in Bloedel tail and lower back edged by during February & November. a row of white spots. p Orange Bishop Weaver p Cordon Bleu Finch The Orange Bishop is VERY similar There are three species of to Napoleon Weavers. The Orange Cordon Bleu finches: Red- Bishop has a black face AND fore- cheeked; Blue-breasted; and head, the Napoleon Weaver only Blue-capped Cordon Bleu. These has black cheeks. The Orange small waxbills are all native to Bishop also builds a hanging nest. Africa. They feed mainly on Females inspect all the nests and seeds and insects. select the best architect as a mate! Photographs c Vicky Earle 2014 p Cuban Finch p Gold-breasted Waxbill This energetic bird is native Native to Africa, this tiny waxbill to Cuba and frequents Jamaica measures only 3.5 inches long. and other Caribbean islands. Males are identified by an orange They measure 3.5 to 4 inches in eye brow, red beak and a BRIGHT length. Hens have duller yellow yellow/orange breast and belly. and a choclate colour around the head instead of black. p Saffron Finch The Saffron Finch is a p Bengalese (Society) tanager native to South Finch America near the Amazon This is a very unique bird! basin. Look closely to see its They were created through orange crown which distin- cross-breeding in Asia many guishes it from other yellow centuries ago, so have never finches. It measures approxi- been a ‘wild’ species. They make mately 6 inches in length. very good foster parents, often nurturing the young of other p African Superb Starling These beautiful birds have p Red-throated Parrot deep metallic blues, purples and Finch Native to New greens in their plumage. This Caledonia off the east coast iridescence is derived from of Australia, this finch prefers the structure of the feathers grassland that borders forest rather than pigment. They are areas. There are 10 - 13 species native to Northeast Africa and of Parrot finches. love to sing. The Starling family is closely related to Myna birds. p Owl Finch This little bird gets its name p Yellow-green Vireo from the dark ring of feathers This small red-eyed bird eats around the eyes, resembling an insects, berries and fruits and owl. It is also known as the is native to woodland areas of Bicheno or Double-bar finch the US. It winters in Peru and and is native to Australia. Ecuador. A group of vireos are collectively known as a “call”. p Pekin Robin Also known as the Red-billed p Budgerigar (Budgie) leiothrix, and Chinese or Do you know how to tell the Japanese Nightingale, this small difference between a male and bird is native to India. Males female budgie? The area above and females are nearly identical the beak (the cere) is blue in in color and markings. males and tan in females (left). Budgies are native to Australia. p Green Singing Finch This finch is native to Central Africa and is slightly smaller p Bearded Reedling than a canary. It has a lighter This bird is native to the wet and higher pitched song than lands of Europe and Asia, living canaries and sings frequently mainly in the reed beds of throughout the day. lakes and marshes. p Gray Singing Finch Although rather “drab” in appearance, this small bird has p Java Finch one of the most melodic songs Also known as the Java sparrow or Java of the finch world! Closely rice bird, this finch is native to Java, Bali related to the Green Singing and Indonesia. It measures approximately Finch, it is native to S. Africa. 6 inches in length and has been bred for a number of colour variations. p Canary Canaries are part of the finch p Orange Headed Ground family but are far less social. Thrush This thrush is common Native to the Canary Islands, they in well-wooded areas of India, have been bred in captivity for China, Pakistan and Southeast many colour mutations: red (left), Asia. They like shady, damp bronze, yellow and white. Only underbrush areas and are quite male canaries sing. Wild canaries shy and secretive. are greenish in colour. pRed Winged Laughing p Clyde: Eastern Rosella Parrot Thrush These birds are This bright parrot is native to Southeast native to Southwest China Australia and Eastern Tasmania. Eastern and Northwest Vietnam. They Rosellas average 11 inches (30 cm) in tend to travel in pairs close length. It is difficult for Rosellas to imi- to the forest floor. Listen for tate human speech, but they are excellent their lovely whistling songs at whistling and have a very distinctive and duets. Pairs bond for life. call. Nelson: Hahn’s Dwarf Macaw p Red-Vented Bulbul p The Red-vented Bulbul is Also known as the Red-shouldered native to India, Sri Lanka Macaw, measuring just 12 inches (30.5 cm) and China. Bulbuls feed on this is the smallest parrot in the macaw nectar, insects, and fruit, family. Dwarf Macaws are native to making it an important bird Venezuela. Macaws can be distinguished for distributing the seeds from other parrots by the relatively bare, of plants. light coloured face patch. Nelson tends to be a bit shy, but may play “Peek a Boo” or say “Can I help you?” or “Bye Bye now!” p Lineolated Parakeet Also know as the Barred or Catherine Parakeet, these p Casey: Yellow Headed Amazon parrots are affectionately Parrot known as “Linnies” for short. These parrots have a friendly and playful They are native to the highland nature and are said to be the loudest of forests of Mexico, south to Peru and Venezuela. They are all Amazon parrots. They can live to be 60 green in the wild, but have been bred for colour variations to 80 years of age and are native to the inculding blue, cobalt, mauve, cinnamon, violet and grey. Amazon Basin, Northern Brazil and the Eastern Andes. Casey will say “Hi”, “Hello”, “What ‘cha doin” and “Bye-bye”. p Pied Imperial Pigeon These strong flyers, alsoknown as Arboreal Doves or Nutmeg, p Kramer: Moluccan Cockatoo Torresian Imperial or Torres This is the largest bird in the cockatoo Strait Pigeons, are generally family and is endangered in the wild. They found in rainforests, eucalyp- are native to lowland habitats in south tus groves, and coastal scrubs, Moluccas, Indonesia. They are very intel- creeks, rivers and mangroves in ligent and social birds. Kramer will often Southeast Asia. show off his salmon coloured crest when he gets excited. He has an exceptional vocabulary and likes to dance. p Guinea Turaco There are 19 species of Turacos Ruby and Kiwi: Eclectus all native to Africa. They are p part of the family that includes Parrots cuckoos and road-runners. Also Eclectus parrots, also known as Grand known as the Buffon’s Turaco, Eclectus or King Parrots, are the they run along branches and most sexually dimorphic of all parrot climb vines in the forest looking species! This refers to distinct for fruit and insects while keeping well hidden in the foli- differences between the males and age.