White-bridled finch

Melanodera melanodera

Photo by Laurent Demongin (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
white-bridled finch (en); escrevedeira-de-sobrolho-branco (pt); mélanodère à sourcils blancs (fr); yal cejiblanco (es); schwarzkehl-ammerfink (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Emberizidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Argentina, from Santa Cruz to Tierra de Fuego, as well as in southern Magellanes in southern Chile and in the Falkland Islands.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 25-35 g.

Habitat:
The white-bridled finch is found in dry grasslands and pastures, often near human settlements. On the Falklands they also use grass-heath habitats.

Diet:
They feed on a wide variety of seeds.

Breeding:
White-bridled finches breed in September-February. The nest is made of fine grass and hidden amongst dense ground vegetation or in crevices. The female lays 3-4 blue-grey or grey-green eggs withpurple-brown markings. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range but is described as uncommon. The population on the Falklands is estimated at 7.000-14.000 breeding pairs. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat degradation caused by over-grazing

Scaly-throated honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Photo by Steve Garvie (Flickr)

Common name:
scaly-throated honeyguide (en); indicador-de-garganta-malhada (pt); indicateur varié (fr); indicador variegado (es); strichelstirn-honiganzeiger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Piciformes
Family Indicatoridae

Range:
This species is found in eastern and southern Africa, from Ethiopia, through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and west to Angola and south to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and eastern South Africa.

Size:
These bird are 18-19 cm long and weigh about 60 g.

Habitat:
The scaly-throted honeyguide is mostly found in moist tropical forests, including coastal and riparian forests, but also uses dense miombo Brachystegia sp. savannas, scrublands and plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.200 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on beeswax and honey bees Apis melifera, which they often obtain by guiding humans or honey badgers Mellivora capensis to bee hives and then taking the spoils after the hive is opened. They also hunt other insects such as flies, aphids, beetles, ants and caterpillars, and occasionally eat figs.

Breeding:
These birds breed in September-January. They are polygynous and brood parasitic. The males are territorial and mate with multiple females within their territory, each female then laying 1 egg in the nest of a host, either a woodpecker, a barbet or a tinkerbird. The host incubates the egg for 18 days, after which the honeyguide chick will kill the other chicks in the nest. It is fed by the hosts and fledges 27-35 days after hatching, quickly becoming fully independent after fledging.

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

Galápagos mockingbird

Nesomimus parvulus

Photo by Ian Hempstead (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Galápagos mockingbird (en); sabiá-das-Galápagos (pt); moqueur des Galapagos (fr); sinsonte de Galápagos (es); Galapagosspottdrossel (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Mimidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, being found in most of the islands in the archipelago with the exception of Floreana, Española and San Cristóbal.
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Size:
These birds are 25-26 cm long and weigh 40-45 g.

Habitat:
The Galápagos mockingbird is found in most habitats available in the islands, including dry and coastal scrublands, mangroves and dry tropical forests such as Bursera woodlands. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on arthropods, such as caterpillars and centipedes, but also take small lava lizards Microlophus sp., sea bird eggs and nestlings, young finches, fruits and nectar from cacti and other plants.

Breeding:
Galápagos mockingbirds are cooperative breeder, living in groups of up to 24 birds including one or several breeding females. They breed mostly in January-April. The nests are made of twigs and placed low on a cactus or small tree. Each female lays 3-4 eggs which are incubated for 12-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and by male helpers, fledging 11-17 days after hatching.

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

Grey-capped social-weaver

Pseudonigrita arnaudi

Photo by Dick Daniels (Wikipedia)

Common name:
grey-capped social-weaver (en); tecelão-de-barrete-cinzento (pt); républicain d'Arnaud (fr); tejedor social de Arnaud (es); marmorspätzling (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Ploceidae

Range:
This African species is found from southern Sudan and southern Ethiopia, through eastern Uganda, Kenya and southern Somalia, and into Tanzania.

Size:
These birds are 10-12 cm long and weigh 18-20 g.

Habitat:
The grey-capped social-weaver is found in dry savannas and dry tropical scrublands, from sea level up to an altitude of 1.400 m.

Diet:
They feed on grass seeds and insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, termites and caterpillars.

Breeding:These birds can breed all year round, but especially during the local rainy season. They nest in dense colonies, sometimes with over 100 nests in a single tree, each nest consisting of a large spherical structure with two entrances on the bottom, It is made of grass blades and lined with finer grasses. The female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and often also by helpers and fledge about 20 days after hatching.

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

Pink pigeon

Nesoenas mayeri

Photo by Charlie Moores (New Scientist)

Common name:
pink pigeon (en); pombo-rosado (pt); pigeon rose (fr); paloma de Mauricio (es); rosentaube (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Columbiformes
Family Columbidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Mauritius, at present being restricted to the Black River Gorges, in the south-western part of the island, and to Ile aux Aigrettes, just off the eastern coast.

Size:
These birds are 36-40 cm long and weigh 290-350 g.

Habitat:
Pink pigeons are mostly found in native evergreen tropical forests and scrublands, but also use grove of exotic trees such as the Japanese red cedar Cryptomeria japonica. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 800 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on the flowers, buds, fruits, leaves and seeds of native flora, but also consume exotic plants.

Breeding:
The pink pigeon can breed in all year round, but especially in August-March. They are monogamous and both sexes help build the nest, a flimsy platform placed in the upper canopy of a tree. The female lays 2 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 14 days. The chicks are fed crop milk and seeds by both parents and fledge about 4 weeks after hatching. They only become fully independent several weeks after fledging. Each pair can raise up to 5 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - EN (Endangered)
This species has a very small breeding range and a global population estimated at just 240-260 individuals. Through habitat destruction and predation by exotic mammals this species declined to just 10 individuals by 1990, but it has since recovered thanks to conservation efforts and the current trend seems to fluctuate with some sub-populations in decline, while others are stable or increasing. The main threats affecting this species are still habitat loss and predation by introduced crab-eating macaques Macaca fascicularis, mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus, rats and feral cats. other threats include the disease Trichomonosis brought to Mauritius by alien pigeons, and inbreeding depression due to the small population size. Conservation efforts underway include a captive breeding and reintroduction programme, habitat restoration, control of exotic predators, supplementary feeding, nest guarding, rescue of eggs and young from failing nests, control of disease and monitoring of survival and productivity. The population is managed to maximise genetic diversity and counter the effects of inbreeding depression, with birds moved beetween subpopulations, and there are plans to release three additional populations.

Japanese bush-warbler

Cettia diphone

Photo by Mathew Poll (Birds Korea)

Common name:
Japanese bush-warbler (en); rouxinol-bravo-japonês (pt); bouscarle chanteuse (fr); ruiseñor bastardo japonés (es); Japanbuschsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found throughout Japan, and also in Korea, north-eastern and eastern China, extreme south-eastern Russia, Taiwan and in the northern Philippines. There is also an introduced population in Hawaii.

Size:
These birds are 14-16,5 cm long and have a wingspan of 20-22 cm. They weigh 15-22 g.

Habitat:
The Japanese bush-warbler is found in bamboo thickets, grasslands and pine forests.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects, such as flies, beetles, moths and grasshoppers, but also take worms, berries and fruits.

Breeding:
These birds breed in April-September. The female builds the nest, consisting of a cup made of twigs, leaves and moss. She lays 4-5 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-16 days. The chicks are fed by the female alone and fledge 12-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as uncommon to fairly common. The populations in Japan, China and Korea are each estimated at 10.000-100.000 breeding pairs. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Pied starling

Spreo bicolor

Photo by Alan Manson (Mango Verde)

Common name:
pied starling (en); estorninho-de-ventre-branco (pt); spréo bicolore (fr); estornino bicolor (es); zweifarb-glanzstar (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sturnidae

Range:
This species is endemic to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Size:
These birds are 25-28 cm long and weigh 90-115 g.

Habitat:
The pied starling is mostly found in open habitats, such as grasslands, pastures and arable land, also using rural gardens and dry scrublands.

Diet:
They feed mainly on arthropods, such as ants, termites, beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, centipedes, solifugids, amphipods and ticks. They also eat small lizards, seeds, nectar, fruits, human waste and also road kill.

Breeding:
Pied starlings are monogamous, and can either nest solitarily or in colonies of up to several thousands. The breeding pair is often assisted by up to 7 helpers. They can breed all year round, but with a peak in August-January. They nests in tunnels in river banks, or also in holes in buildings, straw bales or natural tree holes, which are lined with plant materials and items of human waste such as paper and rope. The female lays 2-6 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and the helpers and fledge 23-27 days after hatching. After fledging they continue to be fed by the helpers until becoming independent, 1 week later.

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