Asian brown flycatcher

Muscicapa dauurica

Photo by Aurélien Audevard (Korea Birds)

Common name:
Asian brown flycatcher (en); papa-moscas-pardo (pt); gobemouche brun (fr); papamoscas castaño (es); braunschnäpper (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Muscicapidae

Range:
These birds are found breeding in south-eastern Russia, Mongolia, northern China, Korea, Japan and also in the Himalayas, India, Thailand and Vietnam. Some population migrate south to winter in south-east Asia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Size:
These birds are 11-13 cm long and have a wingspan of 19-21 cm. They weigh around 12 g.

Habitat:
These birds are found breeding in a wide range of forested habitats, including temperate forests, moist tropical forests, mangroves, and also in plantations, rural gardens and parks within urban areas. They winter in similar habitats and also in swamp areas.

Diet:
Asian brown flycatcher mainly feed on flying insects, which they catch by sallying out from a perch.

Breeding:
They nest in a cup made made of lichen, moss, and grasses and lined with finer materials. the nest is built by the female and placed on a tree branch or set in fork of a tree. The female lays 4-5 olive grey eggs, which she incubates alone for 11-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents but they is no available information regarding the length of the fledging period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range. The are no exact estimates on the global population size, but there breeding population in Russia, China, Korea and Japan all fall on the 10.000-100.000 individuals range and there are more breeding population outside these countries. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Varied thrush

Zoothera naevius

Photo by Elaine Wilson (Tom Clark)

Common name:

varied thrush (en); tordo-de-colarinho (pt); grive à collier (fr); zorzal cinchado (es); halsbanddrossel (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Turdidae

Range:

This species is found from Alaska and north-western canada, along the pacific coast of North America down to northern California. The more northern populations migrate south to winter in south-western Canada, along the western United States and in north-western Mexico.

Size:

These birds are 20-28 cm long and have a wingspan of 34-42 cm. They weigh 65-100 g.

Habitat:

The varied thrush is mostly found in dense, moist woodlands, mainly coniferous forests in the boreal and temperate zones. They winter in various woodlands, parks and gardens.

Diet:

They feed on or near the ground, eating insects and other invertebrates, berries, seeds and acorns.

Breeding:

Varied thrushes nest in an open cup, built by the female using twigs, leaves, lichens and bark. The nest is placed in a low scrub, near a stream bank or at the base of a tree branch, against the trunk. There the female lays 2-5 greenish-blue eggs with light brown spots, which are incubated by the female for 12-14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-15 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 1-2 clutches per year.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a large breeding range and global population estimated at 26 million individuals. The population has undergone a large decline of roughly 75% over the last 4 decades, mostly due to deforestation and clear cutting, but they are not considered threatened in any portion of their range at present.

European storm-petrel

Hydrobates pelagicus

Photo by Armando Caldas (Flickr)

Common name:
European storm-petrel (en); alma-de-mestre (pt); océanite tempête (fr); paíño europeo (es); sturmschwalbe (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Procellariiformes
Family Hydrobatidae

Range:
This species breeds on inaccessible islands in the north Atlantic and western Mediterranean, from iceland, through the Faroe islands and the British isles and into Iberia and as far east as Malta. They also breed in the Canary islands. Outside the breeding season they move to the waters along the southern parts of their breeding range and may also go further south along the African coast as far as Namibia and South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 15-16 cm long and have a wingspan of 37-42 cm. They weigh 20-30 g.

Habitat:
The European storm-petrel spends most of its life in the open sea, but also forages along coastal waters. They only visit land to breed, which takes place in rocky offshore islands with no mammalian predators.

Diet:
They hunt on the wing, just dipping their bill in the water to catch submerged prey such as planktonic lifeforms, small fishes, crustaceans, squids and  jellyfish. They are also known to follow in the wake of fishing ships to pick up discards and sometimes eat whale faeces.

Breeding:
European storm-petrels are monogamous and mate for life. They breed in May-August and form breeding colonies, with each pair nesting in a rock crevice or burrow. There the female lays a single white egg which is incubated by both parents for 38-50 days. The chicks is fed by both parents and fledges about 50 days after hatching. They only reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a restricted breeding range and a global population estimated at 1,2-1,5 million individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to predation by invasive species, pollution and development of breeding sites. Also, in some areas increases in numbers of skuas and large gulls appear to have increased the rate of predation.

Speckled warbler

Chthonicola sagittatus

Photo by Ian Colley (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
speckled warbler (en); acantiza-malhada (pt); séricorne fléché (fr); sedosito moteado (es); grundhuscher (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Acanthizidae

Range:
These birds are endemic to south-eastern Australia, being found from south-western Victoria to central Queensland, mostly on the slopes and tablelands of the Great Dividing Range.

Size:
The speckled warbler is 13 cm long and weighs around 13 g.

Habitat:
These birds are mostly found in temperate forests, namely in Eucalyptus, but also in dry scrublands, grasslands and rocky areas.

Diet:
The speckled warbler forages on the ground, eating both seeds and insects.

Breeding:
They can breed all year round, but with a peak in September-November. The nest is a domed structure with a side entrance, made of dry grass and strips of bark. It is located in a slight hollow on the ground or at the base of a low thick plant. There the female lays 3-4 glossy red-brown eggs which are incubated by both parents for 17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 19 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 400.000 individuals. This population is in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and degradation and the effects of introduced plants and predatory mammals.

Brown-headed parrot

Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

Common name:
brown-headed parrot (en); papagaio-de-cabeça-castanha (pt); perroquet à tête brune (fr); lorito de cabeza parda (es); braunkopfpapagei (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae

Range:
This species is found in East Africa, from southern Kenya, through Tanzania and Mozambique, and into Zimbabwe and north-eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 22 cm long and weigh 120-160 g.

Habitat:
The brown-headed parrot is found in open, dry savannas and forests, riverine woodlands and sometimes also in coconut plantations, agricultural areas and mangroves. They occur from sea level at an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on seeds, fruits, berries and flowers, but also young shoots, pods, Aloe nectar and also millet and maize from cultivated areas. They sometimes also eat caterpillars and ants.

Breeding:
Brown-headed parrots breed in April-August. They nest in tree cavities, often in old woodpecker nests, 4-10 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-4 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 26-30 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest 50-54 days after hatching. After this they move to a nursery area, usually an area with densely leaved trees with water nearby. They become fully independent about 28 days later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common. The brown-headed parrot may be declining in some areas, and suffering range contractions, mostly due to habitat loss and illegal trapping for wild bird trade. Still, overall the species is not considered threatened at present.

Scarlet-chested sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Photo by Mike Pope (World-Birds)

Common name:
scarlet-chested sunbird (en); beija-flor-de-peito-escarlate (pt); souïmanga à poitrine rouge (fr); suimanga pechiescarlata (es); rotbrust-glanzköpfchen (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Nectariniidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Mauritania and Guinea to Ethiopia and south to northern Namibia and north-eastern South Africa. The scarlet-chested sunbird is absent from the Congo river basin and from the coastal regions around the Gulf of Guinea.

Size:
These birds are 13-15 cm long and have a wingspan of 25-30 cm. They weigh 10-14 g.

Habitat:
The scarlet-chested sunbird is mostly found in dry savannas and scrublands, but also in dry grasslands, orchards and rural gardens, arable land and urban parks and gardens.

Diet:
They feed on the nectar of various flowers, namely Erythrina, Leonotis, Loranthus, Aloe, Tithonia, Schotia, Kniphofia, Crotalaria, Callistemon, Canna, Tapinanthus, Bombax, Phragmanthera and Albizia, but show some preference for large red blooms. They also eat spiders and insects such as grubs, ants, termite alates, caterpillars, crickets, leafhoppers, beetles and flies.

Breeding:
Scarlet-chested sunbirds can breed all year round, varying between different parts of their range. they are monogamous solitary nesters and the female builds the nest alone. The nest is a suspended oval or pear-shaped structure, made of grasses, dead leaves, plant down and spider webs, decorated with seeds, leaves, strings, feathers and even pieces of paper. it is suspended from the tip of a branch, 2-10 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-3 cream, greenish or pinkish eggs with darker markings, which she incubates alone for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as abundant and widespread in savanna woodlands. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Himalayan bulbul

Pycnonotus leucogenys

Photo by Jerome Boisard (Flickr)

Common name:
Himalayan bulbul (en); tuta-de-faces-brancas (pt); bulbul à joues blanches (fr); bulbul de mejillas blancas (es); weißohrbülbül (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Pycnonotidae

Range:
This species is found along the southern foothills of the Himalayas, in Bhutan, Nepal, northern India, northern Pakistan and marginally into Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Size:
These birds are 18-20 cm long and have a wingspan of 25-28 cm. They weigh around 30 g.

Habitat:
They are mainly found in tropical and sub-tropical moist forests and scrublands, but also in rural gardens and even within urban areas. The Himalayan bulbul is present at altitudes of 300-2.400 m.

Diet:
These birds are omnivorous, eating insects such as ants, grubs and beetles, and other invertebrates, as well as fruits, berries, seeds, buds and nectar.

Breeding:
Himalayan bulbuls breed in March-August. The nest is a small cup made of dry stems, grasses and shreds of vegetable fibres, and lined with finer materials such as dry grass stems or grass roots. It is placed on a thorny scrub or low tree branch, up to 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 3 pinkish eggs with red speckles, which are incubated for 12 days. The chicks fledge 9-11 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 2-3 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the Himalayan bulbul is described as generally common to abundant. The population is suspected to be increasing as the species benefits from deforestation.