DOCSLIB.ORG

Andamans Pocket Guide Print Taj Updated Low

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Andamans Pocket Guide Print Taj Updated Low This guide covers 139 birds found in the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands in WETLAND BIRDS the extreme south-east of India. Islands are unique ecosystems containing many endemic species of avifauna. The A&N islands too have several endemic birds, THICK-KNEE/ TURNSTONES some of which (eg. Narcondam Hornbill) are unique to specific islands. For ease are seen on sandy/ of reference, the species have been sorted into the following 5 categories: rocky beaches DUCKS WETLAND BIRDS WHIMBRELS, CURLEWS & feed on the surface of br Wetlands include ponds, streams, mangroves, marshes and coastal areas, which Birds of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands - a pocket guide to 139 familiar birds islands GOODWITS waterbodies Common Sandpiper Marsh Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Beach Thick-knee Ruddy Turnstone are important habitats used by birds for feeding, nesting and breeding. Most of Little Egret Intermediate Egret Great Egret have very long beaks the birds in this group (eg. ducks, waders, herons etc) are only seen at wetlands 20 cm 23 cm 20 cm 55 cm 23 cm 63 cm 80 cm 90 cm whereas a few (Cattle Egret, White-throated Kingfisher, Pacific Golden Plover) Cotton Pygmy-Goose COOTS/MOORHENS Andaman Teal are frequently seen away from water as well. Several migratory species of 35 cm look like small ducks but 60 cm waders, ducks and terns visit our wetlands and coasts in winter. Birds of the Andaman lack webbed feet BIRDS OF PREY & Nicobar Islands br Birds of Prey or Raptors hunt and feed on other animals, including smaller birds. They have excellent eyesight, strong feet, sharp talons for hunting, and a hooked a pocket guide to 139 birds of the islands Terek Sandpiper Cattle Egret Pacific Reef Egret beak for tearing into flesh. Among the birds listed in this group, some (eg. Green Sandpiper Whimbrel Eurasian Curlew Brahminy Kite, Barn Owl) have adapted to human habitats, whereas others can 23 cm 23 cm 51 cm 58 cm 43 cm 55 cm be seen in open habitats like farmland/scrub. Some (eg. Serpent Eagles) are Common Moorhen Lesser Whistling-Duck SANDPIPERS forest dwellers. Raptors are also seen hunting at wetlands where there are large 32 cm 42 cm are wading birds with congregations of waterfowl in winter. medium to long bills EGRETS are large birds, usually GROUND FEEDING BIRDS and longish legs Ground Feeders are a diverse group of birds that are primarily terrestrial and white, with long pointed STINTS br feed on the ground. They include large birds like pheasants (eg. Nicobar bills and long neck and legs Curlew Sandpiper are smaller in size and Little Stint Bar tailed Godwit Ruddy Kingfisher Common Kingfisher Megapode), pigeons, crows to medium-sized birds like thrushes and mynas. have smaller beaks than 21 cm 14 cm 39 cm 26 cm Some ground foragers like wagtails are seen at wetlands, and some are forest sandpipers Indian Pond-Heron 25 cm dwellers (eg. Andaman Shama), but most prefer open areas/scrub. This 46 cm category also includes birds like shrikes and chats which may perch low in a Purple Heron bush, but find their prey (small insects/reptiles) on the ground. Eurasian Coot Watercock Ruddy-breasted Crake 86 cm 42 cm 40 cm 22 cm AERIAL FEEDERS Aerial Feeders like swallows and swifts are insectivorous birds that hunt and feed on the wing. They have pointed wings and can often be seen gliding gracefully through the air or performing acrobatics to catch insects. They are very fast in Common Greenshank Long-toed Stint Malayan Night Heron Grey Heron Stork-billed Kingfisher White-throated Kingfisher flight and prefer open areas, and are sometimes seen near water. At dawn and 32 cm 14 cm 51 cm 96 cm 28 cm CRAKES/ RAILS 35 cm dusk, they may be found perching in groups on wires. are shy birds KINGFISHERS ARBOREAL BIRDS sometimes seen in the REDSHANKS HERONS have large heads, strong have red legs while Arboreal Birds are those whose life cycles are associated with trees and shrubs, Slaty-breasted Rail marshy vegetation around Andaman Crake like egrets, have long legs bills and short legs and include a wide variety of birds found in forests, open woodland and urban water bodies and necks and a sharp 27 cm 34 cm GREENSHANKS gardens. Many arboreal birds feed on fruits and berries (eg. bulbuls, imperial have greenish legs with br pointed bill. They retract TERNS pigeons, parakeets), while others feed on insects from bark (eg. woodpeckers), a slightly upturned their neck while flying have long, pointed wings in foliage (eg. cuckoos, orioles, warblers) or in the air (eg. flycatchers, drongos, Common Redshank bill Crab Plover Collared Kingfisher and a graceful flight Blue eared Kingfisher bee-eaters). Some like sunbirds feed on nectar from flowers. Smaller species Chinese Pond Heron Striated Heron 24 cm 17 cm may be seen at low levels while larger birds prefer the forest canopy. 28 cm 40 cm br 52 cm (Little Green Heron) 42 cm Gender symbols indicate where the male and female of the species look different. If no symbols are shown, it means that they look similar. Baillon’s Crake Pheasant-tailed Jacana br br Migratory birds which come to A&N Islands during the winter months Oct- 18 cm 30 cm Mar, from their breeding grounds in the Himalayas or Central Asia/Europe. Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Lesser Crested Tern Greater Sand Plover Lesser Sand Plover 14 cm 36 cm Birds endemic to the A&N islands and found nowhere else in the world. 23 cm 20 cm Yellow Bittern Cinnamon Bittern Size indicates the length of the bird from beak tip to tail tip; br indicates breeding plumage. 38 cm BITTERNS 38 cm JACANAS are secretive birds with have elongated toes and PLOVERS Bird illustrations used with permission from "Birds of the Indian Subcontinent" by Richard shorter neck than herons can walk on floating leaves have short bills and necks. Grimmett, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp. They run in short spurts On the cover row-wise from left to right: Collared Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, SNIPES SWAMPHENS/ WATERHENS to hunt for prey, then Andaman Teal, Long-tailed Parakeet, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Crake pause and stand erect are superbly camouflaged are seen around the and have very long, WITH SUPPORT FROM White-breasted edges of waterbodies Grey-headed (Purple) Pacific Golden Plover Little Ringed Plover Common Snipe slender bills Whiskered Tern Black naped Tern Little Tern CONCEPT Garima Bhatia & Suhel Quader Waterhen Swamphen Pin-tailed Snipe 24 cm 35 cm 22 cm DESIGN Aditi Mendoza & Aditi Elassery 32 cm 43 cm 24 cm 15 cm 26 cm 26 cm www.early-bird.in COVER PHOTOGRAPHS Jainy Kuriakose ncf-india.org BIRDS OF PREY GROUND FEEDING BIRDS ARBOREAL BIRDS SHRIKES often perch on a low BEE-EATERS branch or twig KOELS/CUCKOOS have long rounded bills and often perch on wires SEA EAGLES BULBULS Blue-tailed Chestnut-headed MEGAPODE prefer open areas and have bulky bodies and Bee-eater Bee-eater can be seen near the coast MAGPIE ROBINS & SHAMAS long tails, and loud, is a large flightless bird are seen in groups Indian Cuckoo Asian Koel 25 cm 19 cm and on beaches, while Brown Shrike are accomplished Oriental Magpie Robin repetitive calls FLYCATCHERS found only on the Nicobar have small flattened bills 18 cm songsters and mimics 20 cm 33 cm 43 cm SERPENT & HAWK EAGLES Islands PARROTS/ PARAKEETS are birds of the forests PIGEONS/DOVES have screeching calls White-bellied Sea Eagle Changeable Hawk Eagle have stout bodies with Red-whiskered Bulbul often uttered in flight Andaman Bulbul 68 cm 70 cm Nicobar Megapode short necks Nicobar Pigeon 20 cm 17 cm 43 cm 41 cm Black-naped Monarch Asian Brown Flycatcher Andaman Shama Orange-headed Thrush Violet Cuckoo Black-naped Oriole 16 cm 13 cm 21 cm 21 cm 17 cm ORIOLES 27 cm Long-tailed Parakeet Red-breasted Parakeet are brightly coloured Andaman Serpent-Eagle Crested Serpent-Eagle THRUSHES STARLINGS 47 cm 38 cm with fluty songs 55 cm 56 cm have a fluty song are related to mynas and Emerald Dove Red Collared Dove HORNBILLS are often seen in flocks KITES 27 cm 23 cm SPARROWS & MUNIAS FAIRY BLUEBIRDS COUCALS are large birds with are hawk-like birds seen are seed-eaters with are usually in the canopy. DOLLARBIRD are shy birds with a big downcurved bills around habitation thick conical bills The red eye is distinctive Asian Glossy Starling Oriental Dollarbird booming call Indian Golden Oriole Black-hooded Oriole often perches high on 20 cm a bare branch 28 cm BAZA, BESRA & House Sparrow White-rumped Munia TREEPIES 25 cm 25 cm Alexandrine Parakeet SPARROWHAWKS CROWS 15 cm 11 cm Vernal Hanging Parrot are related to crows Brahminy Kite are smaller raptors seen Besra are noisy birds with 14 cm but have long tails 53 cm in wooded areas 48 cm 32 cm Andaman Coucal long straight bills Rock Pigeon 48 cm 33 cm AERIAL FEEDING BIRDS Asian Fairy Bluebird Andaman Cuckooshrike White-headed Starling Small Minivet 21 cm 16 cm Narcodam Hornbill Andaman Treepie 25 cm CUCKOOSHRIKES 26 cm MINIVETS Nicobar Sparrowhawk Black Baza 47 cm 32 cm have long rounded tails are slender, colourful 32 cm 33 cm and pointed wings House Crow Large-billed Crow birds seen in groups 40 cm 47 cm WOODPECKERS have a sturdy bill to WARBLERS Glossy Swiftlet Edible nest Swiftlet Brown-backed IMPERIAL & probe tree trunks Dusky Warbler are dull coloured, Scarlet Minivet WAGTAILS 10 cm 12 cm Needletail GREEN PIGEONS 11 cm hyperactive birds 22 cm are slender birds which 23 cm usually stay high in the often walk with tail wagging canopy, where they feed Large Cuckooshrike on fruits and seeds 30 cm Andaman Woodpecker MYNAS 38 cm Grey Wagtail make screeching calls Yellow Wagtail Andaman Scops Owl Oriental Scops Owl Andaman
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Detailed Species Accounts from The
    Threatened Birds of Asia: The BirdLife International Red Data Book Editors N. J. COLLAR (Editor-in-chief), A. V. ANDREEV, S. CHAN, M. J. CROSBY, S. SUBRAMANYA and J. A. TOBIAS Maps by RUDYANTO and M. J. CROSBY Principal compilers and data contributors ■ BANGLADESH P. Thompson ■ BHUTAN R. Pradhan; C. Inskipp, T. Inskipp ■ CAMBODIA Sun Hean; C. M. Poole ■ CHINA ■ MAINLAND CHINA Zheng Guangmei; Ding Changqing, Gao Wei, Gao Yuren, Li Fulai, Liu Naifa, Ma Zhijun, the late Tan Yaokuang, Wang Qishan, Xu Weishu, Yang Lan, Yu Zhiwei, Zhang Zhengwang. ■ HONG KONG Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (BirdLife Affiliate); H. F. Cheung; F. N. Y. Lock, C. K. W. Ma, Y. T. Yu. ■ TAIWAN Wild Bird Federation of Taiwan (BirdLife Partner); L. Liu Severinghaus; Chang Chin-lung, Chiang Ming-liang, Fang Woei-horng, Ho Yi-hsian, Hwang Kwang-yin, Lin Wei-yuan, Lin Wen-horn, Lo Hung-ren, Sha Chian-chung, Yau Cheng-teh. ■ INDIA Bombay Natural History Society (BirdLife Partner Designate) and Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History; L. Vijayan and V. S. Vijayan; S. Balachandran, R. Bhargava, P. C. Bhattacharjee, S. Bhupathy, A. Chaudhury, P. Gole, S. A. Hussain, R. Kaul, U. Lachungpa, R. Naroji, S. Pandey, A. Pittie, V. Prakash, A. Rahmani, P. Saikia, R. Sankaran, P. Singh, R. Sugathan, Zafar-ul Islam ■ INDONESIA BirdLife International Indonesia Country Programme; Ria Saryanthi; D. Agista, S. van Balen, Y. Cahyadin, R. F. A. Grimmett, F. R. Lambert, M. Poulsen, Rudyanto, I. Setiawan, C. Trainor ■ JAPAN Wild Bird Society of Japan (BirdLife Partner); Y. Fujimaki; Y. Kanai, H.
    [Show full text]
  • Great Hornbill Buceros Bicornis, Wreathed Hornbill Aceros Undulatus and Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros Albirostris
    Bird Conservation International (2004) 14:S39–S52. BirdLife International 2004 doi:10.1017/S0959270905000213 Printed in the United Kingdom Nest-site selection and nesting success of three hornbill species in Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India: Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus and Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris APARAJITA DATTA and G. S. RAWAT Summary Nest-site selection by the sympatric Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus and Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris was investigated in a lowland tropical forest in Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India during 1997–2000. Infor- mation on two nests of Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis in higher-elevation forests is also presented. All species nested in live trees of three tree genera, 83% (n = 36) in Tetrameles nudiflora, an emergent deciduous softwood, relatively common in lowland foothill forests. No difference was recorded in nest-tree species or nesting habitats of sympatric hornbills, but there were a few differences in structural characteristics of nest- trees. Cavity size was the main variable separating the three species. Great Hornbills used larger cavities while Oriental Pied Hornbills used smaller cavities closer to riverine areas. Nesting was attempted at 64% of known sites and successful fledging of chicks was 80% overall (n = 72 nests, pooled over 4 years). Nest-trees in disturbed habitats near human habitation were used but were often abandoned or unsuccessful and 50% of all nest-trees were inactive by the end of the study. Potential large nest-trees had a density of 5.9/ha, that of the two most used species was 1.3/ha, and minimum nest densities of all three species was about 1 pair/km2.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Bird List Column A: We Should Encounter (At Least a 90% Chance) Column B: May Encounter (About a 50%-90% Chance) Column C: Possible, but Unlikely (20% – 50% Chance)
    THE PHILIPPINES Prospective Bird List Column A: we should encounter (at least a 90% chance) Column B: may encounter (about a 50%-90% chance) Column C: possible, but unlikely (20% – 50% chance) A B C Philippine Megapode (Tabon Scrubfowl) X Megapodius cumingii King Quail X Coturnix chinensis Red Junglefowl X Gallus gallus Palawan Peacock-Pheasant X Polyplectron emphanum Wandering Whistling Duck X Dendrocygna arcuata Eastern Spot-billed Duck X Anas zonorhyncha Philippine Duck X Anas luzonica Garganey X Anas querquedula Little Egret X Egretta garzetta Chinese Egret X Egretta eulophotes Eastern Reef Egret X Egretta sacra Grey Heron X Ardea cinerea Great-billed Heron X Ardea sumatrana Purple Heron X Ardea purpurea Great Egret X Ardea alba Intermediate Egret X Ardea intermedia Cattle Egret X Ardea ibis Javan Pond-Heron X Ardeola speciosa Striated Heron X Butorides striatus Yellow Bittern X Ixobrychus sinensis Von Schrenck's Bittern X Ixobrychus eurhythmus Cinnamon Bittern X Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Black Bittern X Ixobrychus flavicollis Black-crowned Night-Heron X Nycticorax nycticorax Western Osprey X Pandion haliaetus Oriental Honey-Buzzard X Pernis ptilorhynchus Barred Honey-Buzzard X Pernis celebensis Black-winged Kite X Elanus caeruleus Brahminy Kite X Haliastur indus White-bellied Sea-Eagle X Haliaeetus leucogaster Grey-headed Fish-Eagle X Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WINGS ● 1643 N. Alvernon Way Ste. 109 ● Tucson ● AZ ● 85712 ● www.wingsbirds.com
    [Show full text]
  • Iucn Red Data List Information on Species Listed On, and Covered by Cms Appendices
    UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC4/Doc.8/Rev.1/Annex 1 ANNEX 1 IUCN RED DATA LIST INFORMATION ON SPECIES LISTED ON, AND COVERED BY CMS APPENDICES Content General Information ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Species in Appendix I ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Mammalia ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Aves ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Reptilia ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Pisces .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Observations on Rufous-Necked Aceros Nipalensis and Austen's
    Observations on Rufous-necked Aceros nipalensis and Austen’s Brown Anorrhinus austeni Hornbills in Arunachal Pradesh: natural history, conservation status, and threats Aparajita Datta Datta, A. 2009. Observations on Rufous-necked Aceros nipalensis and Austen’s Brown Anorrhinus austeni Hornbills in Arunachal Pradesh: natural history, conservation status, and threats. Indian Birds 5 (4): 108–117. Aparajita Datta, Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, 4th Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore 570002, Karnataka, India. Email: [email protected]. In 1997–1998, Ravi Sankaran had spent three months studying the most interesting, and intriguing, hornbill species found in India, with the smallest global range—the Narcondam Hornbill Aceros narcondami—restricted to a 6 km2 island of the Andaman Islands archipelago. While others before him had spent time on the island and made observations, his were the first systematic and meticulously collected data of a study carried out throughout the breeding season, on a large number of nests. Unfortunately, he never wrote up the work as a publication, but he put his research to good use for conservation action and managed to get the goats that were affecting the regeneration of many hornbill food plants, removed from the island. My paper, in this memorial issue, is about my limited observations on two of the lesser-known, and threatened hornbills of north-eastern India. Abstract Among the five species of hornbills that occur in north-eastern India, the least studied are the endangered Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis, and the Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus austeni1, which has a restricted distribution in India. Based on field surveys conducted in Namdapha National Park, and several forest divisions in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, during 1996–1999 and 2002–2004, I present information on their distribution and relative abundance.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Bluebirds
    ALABAMA A&M AND AUBURN UNIVERSITIES Eastern Bluebirds ANR-687 In the yard and around the garden, bluebirds con- he early American settlers called it the “blue sume grasshoppers, flying insects, beetles, and cater- robin” because of its rust-colored breast and blue T pillars. They also eat berries and fruits found near their back and tail. Today, we call it the Eastern bluebird. nests, especially during the winter when insects are Observing this beautiful bird can bring hours of enjoy- scarce. ment. It is easily attracted to homes and surrounding open areas when nesting boxes are correctly con- structed and properly placed. Youth organizations and Population Decline school classes can construct and maintain bluebird During the last 60 years, bluebird numbers have boxes for educational and money-making projects. decreased 90 percent in the eastern United States. There are four reasons for this decline: Life History • The widespread use of insecticides decreases The bluebird, like the robin, prefers open areas food supplies. such as roadsides, cutover woodlands, old orchards, • Severe winters increase winter mortality. parks, and yards in cities and towns. In these areas, • Changing agricultural practices create well- the bluebird tries to find a hollow tree (cavity tree) in trimmed orchards with no cavity trees for nest sites. which to build a loosely woven nest of grasses. • Exotic species competing for remaining nest sites These cavities are often hard to find because non- make nesting even more difficult. native species such as the house sparrow and starling also use cavities for nesting. These exotic species are very aggressive and often take cavities bluebirds could use.
    [Show full text]
  • Southwest Pacific Islands: Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu & New Caledonia Trip Report 11Th to 31St July 2015
    Southwest Pacific Islands: Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu & New Caledonia Trip Report 11th to 31st July 2015 Orange Fruit Dove by K. David Bishop Trip Report - RBT Southwest Pacific Islands 2015 2 Tour Leaders: K. David Bishop and David Hoddinott Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader: K. David Bishop Tour Summary Rockjumper’s inaugural tour of the islands of the Southwest Pacific kicked off in style with dinner at the Stamford Airport Hotel in Sydney, Australia. The following morning we were soon winging our way north and eastwards to the ancient Gondwanaland of New Caledonia. Upon arrival we then drove south along a road more reminiscent of Europe, passing through lush farmlands seemingly devoid of indigenous birds. Happily this was soon rectified; after settling into our Noumea hotel and a delicious luncheon, we set off to explore a small nature reserve established around an important patch of scrub and mangroves. Here we quickly cottoned on to our first endemic, the rather underwhelming Grey-eared Honeyeater, together with Nankeen Night Herons, a migrant Sacred Kingfisher, White-bellied Woodswallow, Fantailed Gerygone and the resident form of Rufous Whistler. As we were to discover throughout this tour, in areas of less than pristine habitat we encountered several Grey-eared Honeyeater by David Hoddinott introduced species including Common Waxbill. And so began a series of early starts which were to typify this tour, though today everyone was up with added alacrity as we were heading to the globally important Rivierre Bleu Reserve and the haunt of the incomparable Kagu. We drove 1.3 hours to the reserve, passing through a stark landscape before arriving at the appointed time to meet my friend Jean-Marc, the reserve’s ornithologist and senior ranger.
    [Show full text]
  • Attracting Bluebirds 1.Mount Nest Boxes
    Bluebirds A gentle bird with brilliant blue plumage, the bluebird has endeared itself to people across the country. Bluebird populations, like many other birds, have declined over the last century due primarily to loss of habitat caused by development. Bluebirds nest in tree cavities, and the loss or destruction of old, decaying trees has reduced the availability of suitable nesting sites and increased competition with other cavity-nesting birds. Bluebird Natural History There are three species of bluebirds in North America: Eastern, Western, and Mountain. The various species differ mostly in territory and feather color. The males of all three species are brilliant blue on the head and back, with varying amounts of white and rust on their neck and breast. Female bluebirds are less bright, with more gray-brown coloring on the back and blue highlights on the wings and tail. Bluebirds feed on a large variety of insects, arthropods, and invertebrates, The Eastern bluebird is one of three species of bluebirds found in North including spiders, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. Bluebirds perch on posts, America. Bluebirds are cavity nesters, and can be attracted to your property wires, or branches while scanning for insects. Watch for the bluebird’s by installing nest boxes. characteristic behavior of flying down from its perch to catch prey and then returning to the original perch to eat. In winter, bluebirds are dependent upon berries to supplement their diet. Bluebirds prefer open habitats, such as meadows, parks, orchards, farm fields, and golf courses. They often spend the winter in woodlands or groves. Ranges Eastern Bluebirds are in all states east of the Rockies, from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
    [Show full text]
  • Western Bluebird, EC 1571
    EC 1571 • April 2005 $1.00 Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana by L. Schumacher and S. Sells an you imagine eating bugs and berries and living inside a tree? Why bluebirds CWestern bluebirds do just that! They are members of the thrush family, need our help meaning that they are related to robins. Populations of western bluebirds There are three species, or kinds, of have declined over the past 50 years. bluebirds in the United States: the East- The main reason for their decline is ern bluebird, the Western bluebird, and competition for nest holes from the mountain bluebird. Both Western and European starlings and English house mountain bluebirds live in Oregon. sparrows. Starlings and house spar- Bluebirds eat mostly insects. Grass- rows are exotic species, meaning they hoppers, earthworms, snails, and beetles came from somewhere else and donʼt are among their favorite foods. They sit occur naturally in North America. These on perches and drop quickly to the ground birds were brought here (introduced) to catch food or they can catch insects in and have multiplied quickly. They out- the air. Bluebirds also eat fruit and ber- compete many of our native birds for ries, especially during the winter when nesting habitat. there are fewer insects. Another reason for bluebird decline is loss of habitat due to the cutting of dead trees and suppression of fi re. Fires are important for maintaining oak wood- lands with open meadows. Without fi re, dense forests of fi r trees can take over. Raccoons and house cats may be part of the cause of bluebird decline because they prey on bluebirds.
    [Show full text]
  • First Tracking of Post-Breeding Migration of the Ruddy Kingfisher
    Ornithol Sci 18: 215 – 219 (2019) SHORT COMMUNICATION First tracking of post-breeding migration of the Ruddy Kingsher Halcyon coromanda by GPS data logger Shingo UEMURA1, Ayumu HAMACHI2, Kunihiro NAKACHI3 and Masaoki TAKAGI4,# 1 Graduate School of Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 060–0810, Japan 2 Prec Institute Inc., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102–0083, Japan 3 Wild Bird Society of Miyako, Higashi-nakasone 711–3, Hirara, Miyakojima-shi, Okinawa 906–0007, Japan 4 Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido 060–0810, Japan ORNITHOLOGICAL Abstract The migratory strategies of kingfishers are poorly understood. In the first study of its kind, by means of Global Positioning System data loggers, we were SCIENCE able to describe the migration and wintering sites of the Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon © The Ornithological Society coromanda population breeding on Miyako Island, Japan. Birds were found to reach of Japan 2019 altitudes of almost 4,000 m during their migration to winter on Polillo and Tablas islands in The Philippines. Key words GPS data logger, Halcyon coromanda, Migration, Philippines, Ruddy Kingfisher The majority of kingfisherAlcedinidae species have understanding of the evolution of migration in king- pan-tropical distributions, and most (104 out of 114 fishers. species) are resident (Woodall 2017; Gill & Donsker In this paper, we describe the first use of Global 2018). The migratory strategies of the few migratory Positioning System (GPS) data loggers to track the species of Alcedinidae are poorly understood; how- autumn migration and wintering locations of Ruddy ever, a phylogeny of kingfishers by Andersen et al. Kingfisher from a breeding population on Miyako (2017) indicates that their migratory strategies may Island, Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • Avifauna from the Teouma Lapita Site, Efate Island, Vanuatu, Including a New Genus and Species of Megapode
    Archived at the Flinders Academic Commons: http://dspace.flinders.edu.au/dspace/ ‘This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Worthy, T., Hawkins, S., Bedford, S. and Spriggs, M. (2015). Avifauna from the Teouma Lapita Site, Efate Island, Vanuatu, including a new genus and species of megapode. Pacific Science, 69(2) pp. 205-254. which has been published in final form at DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2984/69.2.6 Article: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.2984/69.2.6 Journal: http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/t-pacific-science Copyright 2015, University of Hawaii Press. Published version of the article is reproduced here with permission from the publisher." Avifauna from the Teouma Lapita Site, Efate Island, Vanuatu, Including a New Genus and Species of Megapode1 Trevor H. Worthy,2,5 Stuart Hawkins,3 Stuart Bedford,4 and Matthew Spriggs 4 Abstract: The avifauna of the Teouma archaeological site on Efate in Vanuatu is described. It derives from the Lapita levels (3,000 – 2,800 ybp) and immedi- ately overlying middens extending to ~2,500 ybp. A total of 30 bird species is represented in the 1,714 identified specimens. Twelve species are new records for the island, which, added to previous records, indicates that minimally 39 land birds exclusive of passerines were in the original avifauna. Three-fourths of the 12 newly recorded species appear to have become extinct by the end of Lapita times, 2,800 ybp. The avifauna is dominated by eight species of columbids (47.5% Minimum Number Individuals [MNI ]) including a large extinct tooth- billed pigeon, Didunculus placopedetes from Tonga, and a giant Ducula sp.
    [Show full text]