Jul 13
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Mrs Goulds sunbird, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, sunbird

Mrs Goulds sunbird male, Bhutan

The Mrs. Gould’s sunbird (Aethopyga gouldiae) is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. Male 14–15 cm, 6·5–8 g; female 10 cm, 6·1 g. Relatively short-billed sunbird, male long-tailed. Male nominate race has metallic violet crown. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Found in Various forest types, including oak forest, ridgetop forest and conifers, scrub. The Irish ornithologist Nicholas Vigors named the bird after Elizabeth Gould, a British artist and the wife of the naturalist John Gould. Diet is Nectar, spiders (Araneae) and insects. Forages at all levels, typically among lower branches and undergrowth; often at mistletoes. Resident; Seasonal altitudinal movements in higher parts of range; some post-breeding movement in NE India. Not globally threatened. Not globally threatened. Generally uncommon in India, but locally common in East; widespread but uncommon in Nepal; frequent in Bhutan; not uncommon in Myanmar.
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Jul 13
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, crimson sunbird, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, sunbird

Crimson Sunbird male on a perch, Bhutan

The crimson sunbird is a species of bird in the sunbird family which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding the young. Crimson sunbirds are tiny, only 11 cm long. Male 11·7–15 cm, 4·8–9 g; female 10 cm, 5–6·9 g. Male nominate race has forehead to centre of crown glossed purple-green. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding. The adult male has a crimson breast and maroon back. The rump is yellow and the belly is olive. The female has an olive-green back, yellowish breast and white tips to the outer tail feathers. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed most of the time. Diet is Insects, spiders (Araneae) and nectar. Forages in pairs and singly, also in family parties, usually low down but occasionally in canopy. Various forest types, including mangroves, heavily disturbed and regenerating secondary forests. Seasonal altitudinal movements in Himalayas. Sight record from Pakistan (Islamabad) in winter, Resident. Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Generally fairly common to common throughout wide range; uncommon to rare on Butung (off SE Sulawesi). Occurs in many protected areas.
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Jul 13
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, tit, Yellow cheeked tit

Yellow cheeked tit, Bhutan

The yellow-cheeked tit (Machlolophus spilonotus) is a species of bird in the family Paridae. It is also known as the yellow-cheeked tit, Chinese yellow-cheeked tit, the black-spotted yellow tit, or the Chinese yellow tit. This 13·5–15·5 cm; 18–23 g. Medium-sized to large size tit with erect black crest and eyestripe and yellow cheeks. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Laos, Burma, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Diet not well known, but includes small invertebrates and larvae, including spiders (Araneae), also buds and some fruit and berries. Resident; also short-distance altitudinal migrant, descending to lower levels in non-breeding season. Not globally threatened. Common or locally common to rare. Scarce or rare in Himalayas, but locally common in NE Indian hill states and Myanmar. It is classified as least concern by IUCN.
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Jul 13
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Black throated prinia, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, prinia

Black throated prinia calling, Bhutan

The black-throated prinia (Prinia atrogularis) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. 14–16 cm; 8–16 g. A large prinia with rather slender, slightly decurved bill and very long graduated, pointed tail. It is found from eastern Nepal, through Bangladesh to Eastern India (Arunachal Pradesh). It was formerly considered conspecific with the hill prinia. The habitat is mainly Open grassy hillsides and mountainsides with scrubby cover and scattered shrubs; scrubby forest. Food chiefly insects and their larvae. Normally encountered singly or in pairs, and usually very skulking, but forages also in noisy family. Seasonal altitudinal movements in Himalayas. Sight record from Pakistan (Islamabad) in winter, Generally considered resident, but a degree of altitudinal migration. Not globally threatened. Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: confined to the Eastern Himalayas EBA. Common to locally common over its range.
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Jul 13
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Black throated prinia, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, prinia

Black throated munia on a stick, Bhutan

The black-throated prinia (Prinia atrogularis) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. 14–16 cm; 8–16 g. A large prinia with rather slender, slightly decurved bill and very long graduated, pointed tail. It is found from eastern Nepal, through Bangladesh to Eastern India (Arunachal Pradesh). It was formerly considered conspecific with the hill prinia. The habitat is mainly Open grassy hillsides and mountainsides with scrubby cover and scattered shrubs; scrubby forest. Food chiefly insects and their larvae. Normally encountered singly or in pairs, and usually very skulking, but forages also in noisy family. Seasonal altitudinal movements in Himalayas. Sight record from Pakistan (Islamabad) in winter, Generally considered resident, but a degree of altitudinal migration. Not globally threatened. Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Restricted-range species: confined to the Eastern Himalayas EBA. Common to locally common over its range.
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