Greater sand plover

Charadrius leschenaultii

Photo by Ahmet Karatash (Trek Nature)

Common name:
greater sand plover (en); borrelho-grande-do-deserto (pt); pluvier de Leschenault (fr); chorlitejo mongol grande (es); wüstenregenpfeifer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae

Range:
This species breeds in central Asia, from Mongolia, southern Russia and northern China, west through southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and into the Caucasus. There are also some isolated breeding population in Turkey and Jordan. They migrate south and south-west to winter along the coasts of southern Asia, Australia, eastern Africa, and also along the Mediterranean coasts of Libya, Egypt and Israel.

Size:
These birds are 22-25 cm long and weigh 70-105 g.

Habitat:
Greater sand plovers breed in open deserts or semi-arid areas with sparse vegetation, grasslands, steppes and in seasonal saline, brackish or alkaline lakes and flats. Outside the breeding season they are mostly found in sandy or muddy intertidal flats, in coastal lagoons and estuaries, sand dunes, rocky coastal areas and tide pools. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
During the breeding season they feed on terrestrial insects and their larvae, including midges, ants, beetles and termites, also being known to occasionally eat small vertebrates such as lizards. Outside the breeding season they feed mainly on marine invertebrates, including snails, worms, small crabs and shrimps, also eating some adult and larval insects.

Breeding:
The greater sand plover breeds in April-July. The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground lined with a thin layer of plant material. It is placed in an area of sand, gravel or other barren site. There the female lays 3-4 cream to light brown eggs with darker spots. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 24 days. The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching, but rely on their parent for brooding and protection for about 30 days.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 180.000-360.000. The population trend is difficult to determine because of uncertainty over the impacts of habitat modification on population sizes.

Pale-edged flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:
pale-edged flycatcher (en); maria-cavaleira-dos-Andes (pt); tyran givré (fr); copetón montañero (es); Andenschopftyrann (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This species is found form northern Venezuela and along the eastern slopes of the Andes through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and into central Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 18-20 cm long and weigh 24-28 g.

Habitat:
The pale-edged flycatcher is mostly found in mountain rainforests, but also in lowland rainforests and degraded patches of former rainforest. They are present at altitudes of 800-3.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other arthropods, especially butterflies and moths, cicadas, flies and wasps, but also katydids, dragonflies, beetles, spiders and millipedes.

Breeding:
Pale-edged flycatchers breed in March-December. They nest in a cavity in a tree or building, lined with dead leaves and small sticks. The female lays 2-3 white eggs with reddish-brown streaks, which she incubates alone for 18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge after 18 days, but only become fully independent 9-10 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon. This species exhibits flexibility in habitat choice and consequently its population is suspected to be stable.

Guira cuckoo

Guira guira

Photo by Dario Sanches (Wikipedia)

Common name:
guira cuckoo (en); anu-branco (pt); guira cantara (fr); pirincho (es); guirakuckuck (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae

Range:
This species is found from north-eastern Brazil to Bolivia and south to central Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 34-40 cm long and weigh about 140 g.

Habitat:
The guira cuckoo is mostly found in mixed dry savannas and scrublands and degraded patches of former tropical forest, but also in grasslands and inland wetlands. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They feed on large arthropods, such as grasshoppers, cicadas, termite alates, bugs, spiders, millipedes and caterpillars, and also frogs, bird eggs and chicks, small lizards and mice.

Breeding:
Guira cuckoos breed during the local rainy season. They breed in groups of several pair, with multiple females laying their eggs in the same nest. The nest is a large platform made of sticks, placed on a fork in a tree, 2-5 m above the ground. A nest can have 10-20 grey to turquoise eggs covered with a white chalky layer. The eggs are incubated by several adults for 10-15 days. The chicks are fed by several adults and fledge about 2 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common.  The population is suspected to be increasing as ongoing habitat degradation is creating new areas of suitable habitat.

Southern black flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Photo by Alan Manson (Wikipedia)

Common name:
southern black flycatcher (en); papa-moscas-preto-meridional (pt); gobemouche sud-africain (fr); papamoscas sudafricano (es); glanzdrongoschnäpper (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Muscicapidae

Range:
This African species is found from Congo, southern D.R. Congo and Kenya south to northern Namibia, Botswana and eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 20 cm long and weigh 30 g.

Habitat:
The southern black flycatcher is mostly found in dry savannas, especially miombo, mopane and acacia, but also in dry scrublands, riparian woodlands, rural gardens, along the edges of plantations and in arable land.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates such as termites, beetles, locusts, spiders, centipedes and worms. They are also know to eat some nectar and berries.

Breeding:
These birds breed in May-January. The nest is a shallow, thin-walled cup usually built of twigs, dry grass and other plant material, and lined with fine rootlets. It is typically placed in a tree hollow, but also on human structures, creeper tangles, banana bunches and palm sheaths. The female lays 1-4 eggs which she probably incubates alone for 13-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-20 day after hatching.

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

Magpie tanager

Cissopsis leverianus

Photo by Octavio Salles (Flickr)

Common name:
magpie tanager (en); tietinga (pt); tangara pillurion (fr); tangara urraca (es); elstertangare (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Thraupidae

Range:
This species is found from Venezuela and southern Colombia down to Bolivia, Paraguay and south-eastern Brazil.

Size:
These birds are 29-20 cm long and weigh 65-80 g.

Habitat:
The magpie tanager is found in moist tropical forests and swamp forests, also occurring in degraded patches of former forests. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.200 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on fruits, namely bananas and guavas, but also seeds and some insects.

Breeding:
Magpie tanagers nest in a cup made of grasses, leaves and other plant materials, placed low in a tree or in a dense scrub in the forest understory. The female lays 2-3 reddish-brown eggs with brown spots which are incubated for 12-13 days. There is no information regarding the fledgling period but each pair may raise 2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. based on current models of Amazonian deforestation, this species is likely to loose 15% of suitable habitat in the near future, but they are know to tolerate some level of habitat degradation.

White-crowned pigeon

Patagioenas leucocephala

Photo by Cory Gregory (See You At Sunrise...)

Common name:
white-crowned pigeon (en); pombo-de-coroa-branca (pt); pigeon à couronne blanche (fr); paloma coronita (es); weißkopftaube (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Columbiformes
Family Columbidae

Range:
This species is found in the northern Caribbean, from the Bahamas to Guadeloupe, and also in southern Florida and along the eastern coasts of Central America from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico to northern Panama.

Size:
These birds are 30-40 cm long and have a wingspan of 50-60 cm. They weigh 150-310 g.

Habitat:
The white-crowned pigeon is mostly found in mangroves, especially in isolated offshore islets, but also use coastal rainforests and tropical dry forests, from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.

Diet:
They feed on a wide range of fruits and berries, and are also known to take some insects, such as wasps and flies, as well as small snails.

Breeding:
White-crowned pigeons breed in April-September. The nest is a loose platform of twigs, lined with smaller twigs, placed most often on a mangrove tree over water. The female lays 1-2 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for 13-14 days. The chicks are fed crop milk and fruits by both parents, fledging 17-25 days after hatching. When food is abundant, each pair may raise up to 4 broods in a season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 100.000-1.000.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be declining as a result of habitat degradation and unsustainable levels of hunting, both legal and illegal. Collision with man-made objects is a major source of mortality in Florida, and pesticide use and human impact may also have detrimental effects.

Spiny babbler

Turdoides nipalensis

Photo by Jyotendra Thakuri (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
spiny babbler (en); zaragateiro-do-Nepal (pt); cratérope du Népal (fr); turdoide nepalés (es); igeldrossling (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Timaliidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Nepal.

Size:
These birds are 28 cm long and weigh 65-90 g.

Habitat:
The spiny babbler is mostly found in moist tropical and sub-tropical scrublands, and also in areas a few scattered trees, at altitudes of 900-2.100 m.

Diet:
They feed on the ground or among low scrubs, mainly eating insects, such as beetles, butterflies and caterpillars, grasshoppers, dragonflies, bugs, wasps and other insects. Earthworms are also common in their diet. They also eat some fruits, berries, seeds and nectar.

Breeding:
Spiny babblers breed in April-June. The nest is a deep cup made of grasses, placed in a low scrub, attached to a sturdy clump of grasses, or sometimes in a fork in a small tree. The female lays 3-4 pale blue eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 19-20 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 22-24 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 4-6 weeks later.

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