Jul 08
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, Rufous vented yuhina, Yuhina

Rufous vented yuhina feeding on berries, Bhutan

The rufous-vented yuhina (Yuhina occipitalis) is a bird species in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. 12–14 cm; 10–16 g. Fairly large greyish-brown yuhina with rufous nape and vent, prominent crest, slightly forked tail. Nominate race has side of forehead pale. It is found in along the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, primarily in the Eastern Himalayas, and ranges across Bhutan, India, Tibet, Myanmar, and Nepal. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, Broadleaf evergreen forest, particularly oak-rhododendron forest. Diet is Mostly insects in summer. Partial to visiting rhododendron blossoms in search of nectar and probably insects; berries eaten in winter. RResident; some altitudinal displacement to lower levels in winter. Not globally threatened. Common in Nepal, including in Langtang National Park. Common in Bhutan, and present in Thrumshingla National Park. In India, locally fairly common.
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Jul 08
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, laughing thrush, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, White crested laughing Thrush

White crested laughing Thrush, Bhutan

The white-crested laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus) is a member of the family Leiothrichidae. It is a highly social and vocal bird found in forest and scrub from the Himalayan foothills to Southeast Asia. The white-crested laughingthrush is a member of the family Leiothrichidae, recently split from the Old Word babbler family, Timaliidae. Its scientific name Garrulax leucolophus comes from Latin garrire “to chatter”, in reference to its very vocal nature, and from Greek leukós “white” and lophos “crest”. Like other birds in its genus, G. leucolophus has a stocky build, with strong blackish legs and bill, rounded tail, and voluminous plumage. Its body length averages 30 cm, and its tail ranges from 13 to 15 cm. It is named after its characteristic white hood and raised crest. It is also easily recognizable due to its broad and elongated black eye-mask. The mantle, back and underparts from the lower breast down are rufescent, contrasting with the white head, throat and upper chest and fading into darker olive-brown on the tail and upper wings. The nape is light gray. Similarly to other laughingthrushes, G. leucolophus is omnivorous and opportunistic. It subsists mostly on invertebrates such as beetles, spiders, flies, mealworms and caterpillars, snails […]
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Jul 08
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, laughing thrush, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, white throated laughing thrush

White throated laughing thrush pair, Bhutan

The white-throated laughingthrush (Pterorhinus albogularis) is a species of passerine bird in the family Leiothrichidae. 28–30·5 cm; 78–150 g. Rather large, dull brown laughingthrush with white breast, rufescent-buff lower underparts and broad white tail tips. It is found mainly in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, primarily the Himalayas, and some adjoining and disjunct areas. It ranges across Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is Broadleaf evergreen forest, deciduous forest and coniferous forest, open secondary growth, scrub lands. Mainly insects; outside breeding season also berries and seeds. Gregarious, even in breeding season, occurring in flocks of 6–15. Resident and minor partial altitudinal migrant. In Bhutan moves from 1400–3200 m in summer. Not globally threatened. In Pakistan, rare and local, possibly now extinct. Common and widespread in Nepal. Abundant in Bhutan. It is classified as least concern by IUCN.
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May 26
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Blood phesant, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, Tibetan blood pheasant

Tibetan Blood phesant male calling, Bhutan

  The blood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) is the only species in genus Ithaginis of the pheasant family. This relatively small, short-tailed pheasant is widespread and fairly common in eastern Himalayas, ranging across India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and northern Myanmar. The blood pheasant was the national bird of the former Kingdom of Sikkim, and remains Sikkim’s state bird. Blood pheasants have the size of a small fowl, about 17 in (43 cm) in length with a short convex, very strong black bill, feathered between bill and eye, and a small crest of various coloured feathers. The colour of the plumage above is dark ash, with white shafts, the coverts of the wings various tinged with green, with broad strokes of white through the length of each feather, the feathers of the chin deep crimson; on the breast, belly and sides feathers are lance-shaped, of various length, the tips green with crimson margins, collectively resembling dashes of blood scattered on the breast and belly. The tail consists of twelve sub-equal feathers, shafts white, rounded, the ends whitish, the coverts a rich crimson red. Both males and females have red feet and a distinct ring of bare skin around the eye that typically […]
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May 26
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Blood phesant, Digitalfrescos, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, Tibetan blood pheasant

Tibetan Blood phesant male on the rocks, Bhutan

  The blood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) is the only species in genus Ithaginis of the pheasant family. This relatively small, short-tailed pheasant is widespread and fairly common in eastern Himalayas, ranging across India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and northern Myanmar. The blood pheasant was the national bird of the former Kingdom of Sikkim, and remains Sikkim’s state bird. Blood pheasants have the size of a small fowl, about 17 in (43 cm) in length with a short convex, very strong black bill, feathered between bill and eye, and a small crest of various coloured feathers. The colour of the plumage above is dark ash, with white shafts, the coverts of the wings various tinged with green, with broad strokes of white through the length of each feather, the feathers of the chin deep crimson; on the breast, belly and sides feathers are lance-shaped, of various length, the tips green with crimson margins, collectively resembling dashes of blood scattered on the breast and belly. The tail consists of twelve sub-equal feathers, shafts white, rounded, the ends whitish, the coverts a rich crimson red. Both males and females have red feet and a distinct ring of bare skin around the eye that typically […]
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