Jun 24
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Lapwing, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, nutcracker, spotted, spotted nutcracker

Spotted Nutcracker, Bhutan

The spotted nutcracker, Eurasian nutcracker, or just nutcracker, is a passerine bird slightly larger than the Eurasian jay. It has a much larger bill and a slimmer looking head without any crest. The feathering over its body is predominantly a chocolate brown with distinct white spots and streaks. The wings and upper tail are virtually black with a greenish-blue gloss. It is one of three species of nutcracker. The most important food resources for this species are the seeds (pine nuts) of various Pines (Pinus sp.), principally the cold-climate. In some regions, where none of these pines occur, the seeds of spruce (Picea sp.) and hazel nuts (Corylus sp.) form an important part of the diet too. The forms that take hazel nuts have thicker bills for cracking their hard shells, with a special ridge on the inside of the bill edge near the base. If the shell is too hard, it holds the nut between its feet and hacks at it with its bill like a chisel. Surplus seed is always stored for later use and it is this species that is responsible for the sowing of new trees of their favoured pines, including the re-establishment of the Swiss […]
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Jun 24
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Lapwing, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, russett, russett sparrow, sparrow

Russet Sparrow male, Bhutan

  The russet sparrow is also called the cinnamon or cinnamon tree sparrow. A chunky little seed-eating bird with a thick bill, it has a body length of 14 to 15 cm. Its plumage is mainly warm rufous above and grey below. It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the plumage of both sexes patterned similarly to that of the corresponding sex of house sparrow. Its vocalisations are sweet and musical chirps, which when strung together form a song. he female has mostly pale brown upperparts, and pale grey underparts, so it resembles the female house sparrow. It differs from the house sparrow in its slightly darker, russet-tinged plumage. It has a conspicuous cream supercilium from above its eye nearly around its head, and a bold dark brown stripe through its eye. It has mostly greyish brown wings and a back streaked with black and buff.This is classified as least concern by IUCN.
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Jun 24
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Lapwing, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, russett, russett sparrow, sparrow

Russet Sparrow – Female, Bhutan

The russet sparrow is also called the cinnamon or cinnamon tree sparrow. A chunky little seed-eating bird with a thick bill, it has a body length of 14 to 15 cm. Its plumage is mainly warm rufous above and grey below. It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the plumage of both sexes patterned similarly to that of the corresponding sex of house sparrow. Its vocalisations are sweet and musical chirps, which when strung together form a song. he female has mostly pale brown upperparts, and pale grey underparts, so it resembles the female house sparrow. It differs from the house sparrow in its slightly darker, russet-tinged plumage. It has a conspicuous cream supercilium from above its eye nearly around its head, and a bold dark brown stripe through its eye. It has mostly greyish brown wings and a back streaked with black and buff.This is classified as least concern by IUCN.
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Jun 18
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Bird, birds, Digitalfrescos, Lapwing, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, River, River lapwing

River Lapwing on the rocks, Bhutan

The river lapwing is 29–32 cm long. It has a black crest, crown, face and central throat and grey-white neck sides and nape. It has a grey-brown breast band and white underparts with a black belly patch. The back is brown, the rump is white and the tail is black. Adults of both sexes are similarly plumaged, but males are slightly larger than females. Young birds have the brown tips to the black head feathers, a sandier brown back, and pale fringes to the upper part and wing covert feathers. The river lapwing species which breeds from the Indian Subcontinent eastwards to Southeast Asia. It range includes much of northern and northeastern India, and extends through Southeast Asia to Vietnam. This species is classified as near threatened by IUCN.
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Jun 18
by Admin in Bhutan 0 comments tags: Alwan, art, Avian, Bangalore, Bhutan, Digitalfrescos, Himalayan, Himalayan Pika, Mammal, Nikkor, Nikkor 500, Nikon, Nikon D500, pika

Himalayan Pika, Bhutan

The Himalayan pika is a species of small mammal in the pika family. It is found at high altitudes in remote areas of Tibet and possibly also in Nepal. The IUCN has listed this species as least concern. The Himalayan pika is a small mammal about 17 cm (6.7 in) long and very similar in appearance to Royle’s pika. It is particularly active early in the morning and again at nightfall and feeds on various types of plant material. The Himalayan pika lives in remote mountainous areas where it has little association with man.
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