Small niltava female calling, Bhutan

  The small niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae, native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. 11–14 cm; 11–13 g. Small niltava, a smaller version (about half-size) of N. grandis. Male nominate race has bright pale blue forehead reaching to eye. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. More specifically the Edges and clearings in humid submontane and montane broadleaf evergreen forest. Diet small invertebrates, including flies (Diptera), and some fruit, e.g. berries. Solitary or in pairs. Fairly shy and inconspicuous. HResident and short-distance altitudinal migrant. Locally, makes post-breeding descent to lower altitude. Not globally threatened. Fairly common or common in Himalayas, and fairly common in China. Uncommon in NW Thailand; uncommon or fairly common in N & E Myanmar. It is classified as least concern by IUCN.

Small niltava male, Bhutan

The small niltava (Niltava macgrigoriae) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae, native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. 11–14 cm; 11–13 g. Small niltava, a smaller version (about half-size) of N. grandis. Male nominate race has bright pale blue forehead reaching to eye. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. More specifically the Edges and clearings in humid submontane and montane broadleaf evergreen forest. Diet small invertebrates, including flies (Diptera), and some fruit, e.g. berries. Solitary or in pairs. Fairly shy and inconspicuous. HResident and short-distance altitudinal migrant. Locally, makes post-breeding descent to lower altitude. Not globally threatened. Fairly common or common in Himalayas, and fairly common in China. Uncommon in NW Thailand; uncommon or fairly common in N & E Myanmar. It is classified as least concern by IUCN.

Rufous necked hornbill male splashing in the rain, Bhutan

The rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) is a species of hornbill in northeastern India, especially in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is locally extinct in Nepal due to hunting and significant loss of habitat. There are < 10,000 adults left in the wild. With a length of about 117 centimetres (46 in), it is among the largest Bucerotine hornbills. The underparts, neck and head are rich rufous in the male, but black in the female. The head, neck, and lower body of the male are coloured rufous, with deeper colouration on the flanks and abdomen. The middle primaries and the lower half of the tail are tipped white. The rest of the hornbill’s plumage is a glossy dark-green and black. The lower tail-covert feathers are coloured chestnut mixed with black. The female, on the other hand, is black, except for the end-portion of her tail and the tips of the middle primaries, which are white. Juvenile hornbills resemble adults of the same sex, but lack the ridges at the base of the upper beak. The beak lacks a true caique but is thickened at its base. It has a number of dark ridges on the upper beak which […]

Rufous necked hornbill pair courtship feeding, Bhutan

The rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) is a species of hornbill in northeastern India, especially in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is locally extinct in Nepal due to hunting and significant loss of habitat. There are < 10,000 adults left in the wild. With a length of about 117 centimetres (46 in), it is among the largest Bucerotine hornbills. The underparts, neck and head are rich rufous in the male, but black in the female. The head, neck, and lower body of the male are coloured rufous, with deeper colouration on the flanks and abdomen. The middle primaries and the lower half of the tail are tipped white. The rest of the hornbill’s plumage is a glossy dark-green and black. The lower tail-covert feathers are coloured chestnut mixed with black. The female, on the other hand, is black, except for the end-portion of her tail and the tips of the middle primaries, which are white. Juvenile hornbills resemble adults of the same sex, but lack the ridges at the base of the upper beak. The beak lacks a true caique but is thickened at its base. It has a number of dark ridges on the upper beak which […]

Rusty-fronted-barwing-in-the-bushes-Bhutan

The rusty-fronted barwing (Actinodura egertoni) is a species of bird in the laughingthrush family, Leiothrichidae. 21·5–23·5 cm; 31–42 g. Long-tailed, unstreaked barwing with brownish-grey head and crest and chestnut forehead, face and chin. It is found in Southeast Asia from the Himalayas to north-eastern Myanmar. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Dense undergrowth, scrub-jungle, forest edge, shrubbery and scrub in warm broadleaf evergreen forests. Diet is Insects, including grasshoppers (Orthopterra) and ants (Formicidae); also berries, including those of wild strawberries. Resident. Movements to lower elevations during harsh winter weather reported, but none clearly established. Not globally threatened. In Central Nepal rare and local, becoming slowly commoner to Eastern of range in Himalayas. Frequent in Bhutan but less common in West; near Zhemgang.