Angola babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Photo by Lee Ouzman (Lee Ouzman Photographic Library)

Common name:
Angola babbler (en); zaragateiro-de-rabadilha-branca (pt); cratérope de Hartlaub (fr); turdoide de Hartlaub (es); Hartlaubdrossling (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Timaliidae

Range:
This species is found from south-eastern D.R. Congo, through Zambia and Angola, and into northern Namibia and Botswana.

Size:
These birds are 26 cm long and weigh 80 g.

Habitat:
The Angola babbler is mostly found in moist scrublands and dry savannas, especially along streams and rivers, also using reedbeds and papyrus swamps and marshes, as well as moist tropical forests and rural gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.200 m.

Diet:
They are known to feed on insects, but their diet has not been recorded in detail.

Breeding:
Angola babblers breed in October-April. They are cooperative breeders, with up to 6 helpers assisting the breeding pair in raising the chicks. The nest is a messy bowl made of dry leaves, grass, string and thin roots, lined with finer plant material such as slender twigs. It is typically placed 1-4 m above the ground, in a clump of reeds or on a small tree or scrub located near water, in a swamp or flood plain. There the female lays 2-4 glossy, greyish turquoise or deep greenish blue eggs. There is no information regarding the incubation period, but the chicks are cared for by both parents and helpers, fledging about 18 days after hatching.

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

Rock wren

Salpinctes obsoletus

Photo by Erik Breden (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rock wren (en); carriça-das-rochas (pt); troglodyte des rochers (fr); chivirín saltarroca (es); felsenzaunkönig (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Troglodytidae

Range:
This species is found from south-western Canada, through the western United States and Mexico and into Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica. The more northern populations migrate south to winter along the southern parts of the range.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and have a wingspan of 23 cm. They weigh 15-18 g.

Habitat:
The rock wren is mostly found in scrublands and rocky areas, especially in mountainous areas, but occur from sea level up to an altitude of 3.500 m.

Diet:
They feed on various insects and spiders.

Breeding:
Rock wrens are monogamous and nest in a loose cup made of grass, bits of wood, bark, moss, hair, and occasionally fresh plant material in shallow space; lined with rootlets, hair, wool, spider silk. It is placed in a cavity or crevice amongst rocks, usually with a foundation of stone and often with pavement of small stones extending from nest to entrance of nest cavity and sometimes beyond. The female lays 3-10 white eggs with fine reddish brown spots, which she incubates alone for 14-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-16 days after hatching. They continue to receive food from parents for another week.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as widespread and common. The population has undergone a small decrease over the last 4 decades, but ir is not considered threatened.

Pel's fishing owl

Scotopelia peli

Photo by Dana Allen (Discover Wildlife)

Common name:
Pel's fishing owl (en); corujão-pesqueiro-de-Pel (pt); chouette-pêcheuse de Pel (fr); cárabo pescador común (es); bindenfischeule (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Strigiformes
Family Strigidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ghana and Nigeria, eastwards to Sudan and Eritrea and south to northern Angola, Botswana and north-eastern South Africa, mainly around major river systems.

Size:
These birds are 51-63 cm long and have a wingspan of 145-155 cm. They weigh 2-2,3 kg.

Habitat:
The Pel's fishing owl is found in rainforest and swamp forests along rivers, stream, lakes and marshes, also using estuaries. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.700 m.

Diet:
They mostly hunt fish up to 2 kg, namely catfishes, tilapias, pikes and squeakers, but also take frogs, crabs, freshwater mussels and even young crocodiles.

Breeding:
Pel's fishing owls breed in January-July. They are monogamous and nest in natural hollows in trees located near water. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 32-38 days. Usually only 1 chick survives. It is fed by both parents and fledges 68-70 days after hatching. The young will stay with their parents for up to 9 months and become sexually ature at 2 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be common in most of its range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Nilgiri blue robin

Myiomela major

Photo by P.J. Vasanthan (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Nilgiri blue robin (en); asa-curta-de-flancos-ruivos (pt); brachyptère à flancs roux (fr); alicorto flanquirrufo (es); Madraskurzflügel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Turdidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India, where it is restricted to the Nilgiri hills and South Wayanad hills, and to three peaks in south-western Karnataka.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long.

Habitat:
The Nilgiri blue robin is mostly found in the undergrowth of mountain rainforests, at altitudes of 1.000-1.500 m, favouring areas near streams. They also use Eucalyptus and Acacia plantation as well as gardens close to primary rainforests.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, picking caterpillars, small flies and other insects.

Breeding:
These birds breed in April-June. They are monogamous and nest is a large, shallow cup made of green moss and lined with rootlets. It is placed on a tree hollow or rocky crevice in a ravine, or sometimes on roadside banks. The female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 16-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents but there is no information on the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status -EN (Endangered)
This species has a small breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, evidence suggests that it is moderately common within suitable habitat. The Nilgiri blue robin is suspected to be declining due to habitat loss caused by forest harvesting for fuelwood and clearance for livestock grazing, plantations and human settlements. The development of hydroelectric plants and the construction of roads are further threats. Furthermore, having a mountain distribution that is close to the maximum altitude within its range, this species is potentially susceptible to climate change

Ruddy quail-dove

Geotrygon montana

Photo by Kim Hansen (Wikipedia)

Common name:
ruddy quail-dove (en); pariri (pt); colombe rouviolette (fr); paloma-perdiz rojiza (es); rote erdtaube (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Columbiformes
Family Columbidae

Range:
This species is found from central Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay, as well as in the Caribbean.

Size:
These birds are 21-28 cm long and weigh 110-140 g.

Habitat:
The ruddy quail-dove is mostly found in the understorey of lowland rainforests, also using second growths, semi-deciduous forests and coffee and cacao plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.600 m.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, taking fallen fruits and also some seeds and nuts. They are also know to sometimes eat small slugs.

Breeding:
Ruddy quail-doves breed in February-August. The nest is a bowl-shaped structure, made of small twigs and leaves, which is usually placed on the flat top of an old stump or on horizontal fallen trees and branches. The female lays 2 cream or buffy eggs which are incubated by both parents for 11 days. The chicks are raised by both parents and fledge 2 weeks after hatching. Each pair raises 2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and has a global population estimated at 5-50 million individuals. The ruddy quail-dove is suspected to lose 16-19% of suitable habitat within its range over the next 15 years based on a model of Amazonian deforestation.

Satin bowerbird

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

Photo by Eric Tan (Feathers and Photos)

Common name:
satin bowerbird (en); jardineiro-acetinado (pt); jardinier satiné (fr); pergolero satinado (es); seidenlaubenvogel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Ptilonorhynchidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found along most of the eastern and south-eastern coast.

Size:
These birds are 27-33 cm long and weigh 170-290 g.

Habitat:
The satin bowerbird is mostly found in rainforests and Eucalyptus forests, preferring forest edges and nearby woodlands with dense sapling understories. They also use pastures, rural gardens and urban areas.

Diet:
They feed mainly on fruits, but also take flowers, leaves, herbs, nectar, seeds, and insects such as cicadas and beetles.

Breeding:
Satin bowerbirds breed in September-February. They are polygynous, with the males building an elaborate bower to attract females. This bower consists of two parallel walls of sticks, on the ground, and is decorated with bright blue coloured objects that it collects, such as blue parrot feathers, flowers, brown snail shells, blue clothes pegs, blue drinking straws and blue bottle tops. Beside the bower, the male performs a ritualised display of exaggerated movements. If impressed, the each female mates with the male, after which she leaves to nest by herself. She builds an open cup made of sticks and twigs, and lined with green and dry leaves, which is placed on a tree, scrub or vine, 2-40 m above the ground. There she lays 1-3 cream coloured eggs with brown streaks and blotches, which she incubates for 21-22 days. The chicks fledge 17-21 days after hatching, but remain with their mother for another 2 months. Females reach sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age, but male only reach sexual maturity at 7-8 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status -  LC (Least Concern)
This species ha a large breeding range and is reported to be locally fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Anna's hummingbird

Calypte anna

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Common name:
Anna's hummingbird (en); beija-flor-de-Anna (pt); colibri d'Anna (fr); colibrí de Ana (es); Annakolibri (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species originates from north-western Mexico and southern California, but it has expanded in range during the 20th century, now being found as far north as the south-western coast of Canada and inland into southern Arizona.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and have a wingspan of 11,5-12 cm. They weigh 3-6 g.

Habitat:
The Anna's hummingbird is mostly found in tropical forest, namely Eucalyptus trees, even though they were only introduced in their range in the mid 19th century, but also uses dry savannas and scrublands, rural gardens and urban and suburban parks and gardens. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.800 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on the nectar of many flowering plants, including currant, gooseberry, manzanita, and many introduced species such as Eucalyptus. They also eat a wide array of small insects, such as midges, whiteflies, and leaf hoppers, a well as spiders. Anna's hummingbirds are also known to eat tree sap leaking out from holes made by sapsuckers.

Breeding:
These birds breed in December-June. The males display to attract females, having no further part in the breeding process after mating. The female builds the nest, a small cup made of
plant down and spider webs, usually placed on an horizontal branch of a tree 2-6 m above the ground. There she lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-19 days. She feeds the chicks alone and the chicks fledge 18-23 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 1,5 million individuals. The Anna's hummingbird has greatly expanded in range during the last century, thanks to the planting of exotic flowering trees, such as Eucalyptus which provide nectar and nesting sites. The population has increased by 180% over the last 4 decades.