Sangihe
Islands
The
Sangihe Islands are volcanic
Islands, including such volcanoes as Awu
and Karangetang
Sangihe Islands, Indonesian: Kepulauan Sangihe, also
spelled Sangi, archipelago off the northeastern tip of Celebes
(Sulawesi), Indonesia. The islands extend northward from Celebes
for about 160 miles (260 km)
and have a total area of 408 square miles (1,056 square km);
they are administered from Manado, the capital
of Sulawesi Utara province.
The main islands in the group are Sangihe, Siau, Tahulandang,
and Biaro, and there are numerous islets.
Tahuna (Taruna), on Sangihes west coast, is the main town
http://www.britannica.com/
The Sangihe Islands is dominated
by the 1830m Karangetang
volcano on Api Siau Island..
This chain of around 40 steep and lush volcanic islands connects
Indonesia with Philippines.
These islands are inhabited by many rare and exotic
birds and mammals. There are several parrots among them
the Red-and-blue Lory, Eos histrio, and other birds such
as the Talaud rail and bush-hen and the
Sangihe scops owl that are very rare or nearly extinct.
The Karakelang Hunting Reserve on Karakelang island
is for hunting wild buffaloes and wild pigs, but it is also
good for birding.
http://www.starfish.ch/dive/Siau.html
|
On
these islands there are a lot of strange birds. Ever heard about a
Cocoo that don't leave eggs in other
bird's nests? Or a bird that dig a hole and lay eggs there, whereafter
it leaves them. Or chickens
coming out of the eggs ready to fly and go on on their own? You'll
find them here.....
Elegant
sunbird, Aethopyga duyvenbodei
Sanghir Sunbird,
Sanghir Yellow-Backed Sunbird - Paradissolfugl
http://orientalbirdimages.org
The Elegant Sunbird, Aethopyga duyvenbodei,
is a large, Australasian sunbird in the genus Aethopyga.
An Indonesian endemic, the Elegant Sunbird is
distributed to the island of Sangihe, north of Sulawesi.
It is found and locally common in the forests and plantations
near Mount Sahendaruman in southern Sangihe.
The Elegant Sunbird is about 12 cm. Large, brightly-coloured
sunbird. Male has purplish-red ear-coverts and collar, metallic
green-and-blue patches on crown, upperwing-coverts and uppertail-coverts,
yellowish-olive back,
yellow rump-band and underparts. Female is much duller, with
yellowish-olive upperparts and yellow rump and underparts.
|
Population estimate: 19,000 - 43,800. Population
trend: decreasing
Range estimate (breeding/resident): 560 km2
The Elegant Sunbird, Aethopyga duyvenbodei,
is currently known from Sangihe, north of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
It is, however, absent from large areas of the island, and continuing
loss of both primary and secondary forest
habitat suggests that populations continue to decline.
2010 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated
by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority
for birds for IUCN): Endangered
Original forest on Sangihe has been almost completely
cleared. This species is now known to survive in secondary
habitats without adjacent primary forest patches, but agricultural
intensification is reducing the available area of even these
modified habitats. The tiny remaining area of primary forest,
around which the main population is centred, receives inadequate
protection and continues to suffer from agricultural encroachment
at its lower fringes. Forest-cover on the volcanically active
island of Siau is extremely limited and the species is either
extinct there, or survives in tiny numbers.
Text
from BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Aethopyga
duyvenbodei.
Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 7/10/2010
|
Temminck's
Sunbird, Aethopyga temminckii

Temminck's
Sunbird, Aethopyga temminckii
Courtesy: http://indonesiatravelling.com
The Temminck's Sunbird, Aethopyga temminckii, is a species
of sunbird. It is found in up to 1800 m altitude in
Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia, and south west Thailand in tropical
or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical
or tropical moist montanes.
It is named after Dutch aristocrat and zoologist Coenraad Jacob
Temminck, and has been considered conspecific
with Scarlet Sunbird, Aethopyga mystacalis.
Temminck's Sunbird is 10 cm (female) -12.5 cm (male) long,
. The longer-tailed male is mostly scarlet, except
for a greyish belly, and yellow and purple bands between the
back and tail. The female is drab olive, except for
rufous fringes to the wing and tail feathers.
Source: http://indonesiatravelling.com
|
Brown-throated
Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensi

Similar spp. Male Brown-throated Sunbird,
Anthreptes malacensis has brown throat and purplish wings
and tail. It lacks a yellow rump, as does the female. Voice Undocumented,
but presumably has high-pitched
calls and twittering song, like close congeners.
The Brown-throated Sunbird, also known as the Plain-throated Sunbird,
is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is found
in a wide range of semi-open habitats in south-east Asia, ranging
from Myanmar to the Lesser Sundas and west Philippines. The Grey-throated
Sunbird found in the remaining part of the Philippines is often
considered a subspecies of the Brown-throated Sunbird, but the
two differ consistently in measurements and plumage, and there
is no evidence of intergradation between them.
Description
The Brown-throated Sunbird is a relatively large, heavy sunbird
with a thick bill. Measuring some 14 centimetres in length,
with males averaging slightly larger than females.
Like most sunbirds, the male Brown-throated Sunbird is more
colourful than the female. The male has iridescent green and
purple upperparts with chestnut on the wing-coverts and scapulars;
it is primarily yellow below. The female is olive-green above
and yellowish below.
The Brown-throated Sunbird primarily feeds on nectar, but it
will also take small fruits and berries. Juveniles are fed with
insects.
Source: http://indonesiatravelling.com
|
Mammals:
Sulawesi
Dwarf Cuscus, Strigocuscus-celebensis

Strigocuscus-celebensis,
Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus
The Sulawesi Dwarf Cuscus, Strigocuscus celebensis is a species
of marsupial in the Phalangeridae family.
It is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. |
Variable
flying fox - Pteropus hypomelanus

Order
: CHIROPTERA, Family : Pteropodidae, Species : Pteropus hypomelanus
Photographed
at Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia
http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/bats/island_flying_fox.htm
The Small Flying Fox or Variable Flying Fox, Pteropus
hypomelanus is a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae
family. It is found in Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Maldives, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea,
the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam
Length of forearm, overall body size, and locality generally are
useful characters for differentiating members of
the genus Pteropus . Pteropus hypomelanus is the
largest member of the hypomelanus species group.
Body of Pteropus hypomelanus is fully furred. Hair on pinna
is long and sparse anteriorally, but upper half of
posterior surface of ear is nearly naked. Hair on forehead is
short and dense and gradually becomes longer from
neck to mantle.
Wing membranes are attached along midline of the back. Fur color
in Pteropus hypomelanus is highly variable. Typically,
fur on head is dark brown, although in some individuals it fades
to light brown or yellowish brown.
Order
: CHIROPTERA, Family : Pteropodidae, Species : Pteropus
hypomelanus
Photographed
at Pulau Tioman, Peninsular Malaysia
http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/bats/island_flying_fox.htm
|
Pteropus hypomelanus may roost individually or in colonies
from 10 to several hundred individuals.
In gregarious roosting situations, colonies are usually organized
into small family groups.
In the Philippines, colonies of 5070 bats were evenly dispersed
in the crown of coconut (C. nucifera) trees .
In Malaysia, roosting groups typically consist of 4050 individuals
.
When exposed to the hot sun during the day, these bats often cool
themselves by flapping their wings,
licking their chest and wings, and panting. In cool weather or
during heavy rain, they almost completely wrap themselves with
their wings.
Individuals of Pteropus hypomelanus may disperse nightly
from islands on which they roost to forage on a
nearby mainland
http://www.science.smith.edu/msi/pdf/639_Pteropus_hypomelanus.pdf
|
Bear
cuscus, Ailurops ursinus

Bear
Cuscus, Ailurops ursinus, an endemic marsupial feeding on Fig, Ficus
altissima,
Tangkoko-Dua Saudara Nature Reserve, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Photographer: TUI DE ROY/MINDEN PICTURES/National Geographic Stock.
Picture Id: 1168595
Bear
cuscus, Ailurops ursinus
BBC
Natural History Unit
http://www.arkive.org
The
bear cuscus is found on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia and
the neighbouring islands of Sangihe, Salidabu, Butung, the Peleng
Islands, the Togian Islands, and possibly Muna
The
bear cuscus inhabits lowland moist tropical rainforests, up
to 600 metres above sea level. It prefers
undisturbed forest and rarely enters degraded habitats . On
Sangihe, the bear cuscus is largely restricted to
undisturbed primary forest surrounding an extinct volcanic crater
http://www.arkive.org
|
Young bear cuscus with parent
BBC Natural History Unit
www.arkive.org
This species occurs on the island of Sulawesi,
Indonesia, and the adjacent Indonesian islands of Butung, the
Peleng Islands, the Togian Islands, and possibly Muna (Flannery
1995). It ranges from sea level to over 600 m asl.
Listed as Vulnerable because of an ongoing population decline
estimated and projected to exceed 30% in a ten year period (5
in the past, 5 in the future) due to the high rate of deforestation
and hunting of this species on Sulawesi.
It is widespread and common in suitable habitat. A density estimate
of 2.0 individuals/km2 was reported for
North Sulawesi in the 1993-1994. This species, however, was
at one time much more plentiful.
From 1979-1994, there had been a 95% decline in Tangkoko-DuaSudara
Nature Reserve due to hunting
and this decline may be indicative of trends for North Sulawesi
. This decline is only getting worse due to
hunting and the pet trade |
Bear cuscus feeding and climbing along branches
NHNZ Moving Images, Audio: BBC Natural History Unit
www.arkive.org
It is typically found in undisturbed tropical lowland moist
forests. This species does not readily use disturbed
habitats, thus it is not usually found in gardens or plantations
. It is a largely diurnal, arboreal species that is often
found in pairs. Its diet consists of a variety of leaves, preferring
young leaves, and like many other arboreal
folivores it spends much of its day resting in order to digest.
Salas, L., Dickman, C., Helgen, K. & Flannery, T. 2008.
Ailurops ursinus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>.
Downloaded on 13 February 2012. |
Malay
civet - Viverra tangalunga

Viverra
tangalunga, Malay civet
The Malayan Civet, Viverra tangalunga, also known as the Oriental
Civet, is a civet found on the Malay Peninsula and the islands
of Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, the Rhio Archipelago, and the Philippines.
Malay civets are nocturnal which means, they active at night from
1800 to 0700. Usually, they are terrestrial
but they climb into tree. Despite their cat-like appearance and
similar behavior and traits, they are not felines.
Their fur may be gray or brown, and may be marked in various patterns.
Most of Viverra tangalunga are
Carnivores but some of them are solitary, omnivorous and are primarily
terrestrial .
They feed on others animals including small vertebrate and invertebrate. |
Sulawesi giant squirrel, Rubrisciurus rubriventer
no pictures currently not available
The Red-bellied squirrel, Rubrisciurus
rubriventer, is a species of squirrel. Until recently, it was
described as a species in the genus Callosciurus, but since the
1990s it is generally placed in its own genus Rubrisciurus. It
is endemic on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. With a length
of 25 cm (head and body), it is rather large for a squirrel. It
lives in the tree tops of the rainforests of the island. |
Birds:
Grey
Shrikethrush, Anisbentet Kelabu,
Colluricincla harmonica
The Grey Shrikethrush or Grey Shrike-thrush, Colluricincla
harmonica, formerly commonly known as
Grey Thrush, is one of the best-loved and most distinctive songbirds
of Australasia. It is moderately common to common in most parts
of Australia, but absent from the driest of the inland deserts.
It is also found in New Guinea
and Indonesia.
Of medium size, about 24 cm long, and lacking bright colours,
the Grey Shrikethrushusually just thrush in
casual conversationhas an extraordinary gift for ringing
melody,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Shrikethrush
|
Bulwer's
Pheasant, Lophura bulweri

Bulwer's
Pheasant, Lophura bulweri
Courtesy: http://indonesiatravelling.com
Bulwer's Pheasant, Lophura bulweri, is also known
as Bulwer's Wattled Pheasant, the Wattled Pheasant, or the White-tailed
Wattled Pheasant. It is a Southeast Asian bird in the Phasianidae
family; endemic to the forests of Borneo. While the species is
locally common in protected areas (e.g. Kayan Mentarang National
Park,
Kalimantan) it is rarely found elsewhere.
The bird inhabits Montane tropical forest, likely preferring highland
rainforests and rarely visiting the lowlands.
The diet consists mainly of fruits, worms, and insects.
Male 77-80 cm, female c.55 cm. Blackish-plumaged pheasant with
bushy, gleaming white tail (male). Blue facial skin and wattles,
red legs and indistinct bluish spotting to tips of upperpart feathers.
Female smaller and darkish rufous-brown in colour with dull bluish
facial skin and red legs.
Bulwer's
pheasant - overview
BBC Natural History Unit BBC Natural History Sound
Library
www.arkive.org
|
Similar spp. Female Crested Fireback Lophura ignita has tufted
crest, prominently white-scaled underparts and pale legs. Voice
Territorial call shrill, piercing cry, also utters kak alarm notes
and penetrating, rather metallic
kook!, kook!
It was named after Sir Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer, Governor
of Labuan 1871-1875, who presented the type specimen to the British
Museum.
Bulwer's Pheasant is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species due to a rapidly declining population.
The primary reasons for this decline are habitat loss and fragmentation
due to commercial logging and forest fires. Local hunting is
also thought to undermine the birds population. Further, captive
breeding programs aimed at preserving the species have met with
little success. Population is estimated to 1.000-10.000 specimens.
Partly
from BirdLife International (2012) Species factsheet: Lophura
bulweri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 13/02/2012.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species:
BirdLife International (2012) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded
from http://www.birdlife.org on 13/02/2012.
|
Cerulean
Paradise flycatcher, Pitta Sordida

Hooded
Pitta, Paok Hijau,
Pitta sordida
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Hooded
Pittas can reach a length of 16 to 19 cm and a weight of 42 to
70 g. Their diet consists of various insects (including their
larvae), which they hunt on the ground, and berries. In the breeding
period, which lasts from
February to August, they build nests on the ground; both parent
take care of the eggs and the fledglings.
They are highly territorial and their fluty double-noted whistle
calls ("qweeek-qweeek") can be constantly
heard from their territories, sometimes throughout the nights |
Philippine
Scrubfowl - Megapodius cumingii

Philippine
Megapode, Gosong Pilipina, Megapodius
cumingii
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Alsos known as Tabon Scrubfowl , No: Mjaueovnhøne
The megapodes, also known as incubator birds or
mound-builders, are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds
with small heads and large feet in the family Megapodiidae.
Their name literally means large foot (Greek: mega =
large, poda = foot), and is a reference to the heavy legs and
feet typical of these terrestrial birds.
Megapodes do not incubate their eggs with their body heat as
other birds do, but bury them. Their eggs are
unique in having a large yolk, making up 50-70% of the egg weight.They
are best known for building massive
nest-mounds of decaying vegetation, which the male attends,
adding or removing litter to regulate the internal
heat while the eggs hatch
Megapode chicks do not have an egg tooth: they use their powerful
claws to break out of the egg, and then
tunnel their way up to the surface of the mound, lying on their
backs and scratching at the sand and vegetable
matter. Similar to other precocious birds, they hatch fully
feathered and active, already able to fly and live
independently from their parents.
Megapodes are found in the broader Australasian
region, including islands in the western Pacific, Australia,
New Guinea, and the islands of Indonesia east of the Wallace
Line, but also the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
in the Bay of Bengal.
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
|
Dollarbird
- Eurystomus orientalis

Eurystomus
orientalis , Dollarbird , Tiong lampu Biasa
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Order: Coraciiformes, Family:
Coraciidae, Genus: Eurystomus, Species: Eurystomus orientalis
Dollarbirds got their name
from the two silvery white circular patches on each underwing,
that flash as they fly. These look like shining American silver
dollar coins.
Dollarbirds eat mainly insects, and appear particularly fond
of hard-skinned flying insects like beetles. But they
will take any large insect or even feed on swarming insects.
They also catch other small animals.
Dollarbird
(Eurystomus orientalis) Samsonvale Cemetery, SE Queensland,
Australia
Photo: Aviceda, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dollarbird_Samcem_Dec02.JPG
|
They nest in hollow trees
including dead coconut palms or dig out burrows in earth banks;
good nest sites are
re-used every year. 3-4 white eggs are laid; the eggs are rather
pointed at one end. Both parents incubate and
raise the young. Incubation takes 17-20 days and the chicks
fledge in about a month.
Migration:
Some Dollarbirds that breed in China and Japan visit Singapore
in April-May. The adults leave the
breeding area first, the young following later. They don't migrate
in huge flocks, but travel in two's or even alone,
usually during the day.
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
|
Sulawesi
Kingfisher - Ceyx fallax
Ceyx fallax,
Sulawesi Kingfisher, Udangmerah Sulawesi
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Order: Coraciiformes, Family:
Alcedinidae, Genus: Ceyx, Species: Ceyx fallax
Ceyx fallax Sulawesiisfugl Sulawesi (Sulawesi Dwarf) Kingfisher
The
Sulawesi Kingfisher, Ceyx fallax is a species of bird in
the Alcedinidae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.
Ceyx fallax is restricted to Sulawesi and the neighbouring
Sangihe and Talaud islands (race sangirensis), Indonesia. It is
generally uncommon, although possibly more numerous in parts of
Sulawesi, e.g. Panua Nature Reserve.
It may be extinct on Sangihe as a result of habitat loss.
This species inhabits drier primary lowland forest (unassociated
with water) up to 1,000 m, chiefly c.600 m.
It is also recorded from tall secondary and selectively logged
forest.
Source: BirdLife International
(2012) Species factsheet: Ceyx fallax. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org
on 13/02/2012. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than
one species: BirdLife International (2012) IUCN Red List for birds.
Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 13/02/2012. |
Lilac-cheeked
Kingfisher - Cittura cyanotis

Cittura
cyanotis, Lilac Kingfisher, Rajaudang Pipi-ungu
Order: Coraciiformes, Family: Halcyonidae, Genus: Cittura, Species:
Cittura cyanotis
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Cittura cyanotis Harlekinisfugl Lilac (Lilac-marked,
Masked) Kingfisher
The Lilac Kingfisher or Celebes Flat-billed Kingfisher,
Cittura cyanotis, is a resident breeding bird in the
lowlands of the Indonesia island of Sulawesi and the neighbouring
Sangihe and Talaud Islands. It is the only member of the genus
Cittura.
The Lilac Kingfisher is 28 cm long. It has the typical kingfisher
shape, with a short tail and long bill. The adult
male of the nominate race, Cittura cyanotis cyanotis,
has a brown crown and back and rufous rump and tail.
The call of this large tree kingfisher is a rapid ku-ku-ku-ku.
Lilac-marked
Kingfisher Cittura cyanotis cyanotis - Female,
seen in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi, Indonesia,
9 July 2006
Photo: Lip Kee Yap, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lilac_cheeked_kingfisher.jpg
|
The Lilac Kingfisher is unlikely to be confused
with any other kingfishers in its range..The Lilac Kingfisher
is
found in lowland rainforest and drier hill forest up to 1000
m altitude. It perches motionless on a low branch
watching for its prey, mainly large insects, on the ground below.
This species has a restricted range and fragmented distribution,
and is uncommon, with no records from south
Sulawesi. Lowland deforestation has been extensive in recent
decades, and the loss of its habitat has led to
Lilac Kingfisher being classed as near-threatened. Little else
is known of the behaviour of this species,
and no nests have been found.
|
Rainbow
Bee-eater - Merops ornatus

Merops
ornatus, Rainbow Bee-eater, Kirikkirik Australia
Left.
© www.arthurgrosset.com, Right http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
The Rainbow Bee-eater, Merops ornatus, is a near
passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae.
It is the only species of Meropidae found in Australia.
Rainbow bee-eaters are brilliantly colored birds that grow to
be 18-20 cm in length, including the elongated
tail feathers. The upper back and wings are green in color,
and the lower back and under-tail covers are bright
blue.
Rainbow bee-eaters are a common species and can be found during
the summer in un-forested areas in most of
southern Australia and Tasmania, however they are becoming increasingly
rare in Suburban parks. They migrate
north
during the winter into northern Australia, New Guinea, and some
of the southern islands of Indonesia.
Rainbow
Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) Dayboro, SE Queenslad, Australia
Photo: Aviceda , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rainbow_Bee-eaters_Juffs.JPG
|
Like all bee-eaters, rainbow bee-eaters are very
social birds. When they are not breeding they roost together
in
large groups in dense undergrowth or large trees.Breeding season
is before and after the rainy season in the north, and from
November to January in the south.
Rainbow bee-eaters are believed to mate for life. The male will
bring the female insects while she digs the
burrow that will be their nest.
Rainbow bee-eaters mostly eat flying insects,
but, as their name implies, they have a real taste for bees.
Rainbow bee-eaters are always watching for flying insects, and
can spot a potential meal up to 45 m away.
Once it spots an insect a bee-eater will swoop down from its
perch and catch it in its long, slender, black bill
and fly back to its perch. Bee-eaters will then knock their
prey against their perch to subdue it.
Rainbow
Bee-eater, Merops ornatus. November 2005
Photo: Brett Donald, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rainbowbeeeater.jpg
|
Even though rainbow bee-eaters are actually immune to the stings
of bees and wasps, upon capturing a bee
they will rub the insect's stinger against their perch to remove
it, closing their eyes to avoid being squirted with poison fromthe
ruptured poison sac. Bee-eaters can eat several hundred
bees a day, so they are obviously resented by beekeepers,
but their damage is generally balanced by their role in keeping
pest insects such as
locusts, hornets, and wasps under control.
|
Oriental
Cuckoo - Cuculus saturates
© http://www.ecosystema.ru/

Oriental
Cuckoo, Kangkok Ranting, Cuculus saturatus optapus
Cuculus saturatus Orientgjøk Himalayan
Cuckoo
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Order:
Cuculiformes, Family:Cuculidae, Genus: Cuculus, Species: Cuculus
saturatus
looks like there are some confusion about
the right specimen here.
Oriental Cuckoo, Cuculus saturatus optapus,
was for long a species of cuckoo found all over Asia.
These birds breed in northern Eurasia and the Himalayas, migrating
to southeast Asia and the Greater Sunda
Islands for the winter, where an all-year resident population
also exists.
In 2005, it was determined that this "species" constitutes
of three distinct lineages:
* Himalayan Cuckoo, Cuculus (saturatus)
saturatus
* Oriental Cuckoo proper, Cuculus (saturatus) optatus
* Sunda Cuckoo, Cuculus (saturatus) lepidus |
Asian
Koel - Eudynamys scolopacea

Eudynamys
scolopaceus, Koel, Tuwuk, Tuwur asia
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Eudynamys
scolopaceus Grønnebbkoel Asian Koel
Order: Cuculiformes, Family: Cuculidae, Genus:
Eudynamys, Species: Eudynamys scolopaceus
The Asian Koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus,
is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes.
It is found in South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia.
The Asian Koel is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the
nests of crows and other hosts, where the young are
raised by the foster parents. They are unusual among the cuckoos
in being largely frugivorous as adults.
The Asian Koel is a large, long-tailed, cuckoo at 45 cm. The
male of the nominate race is glossy bluish-black,
with a pale green or grey bill, the iris is crimson, and it
has grey legs and feet. The female of the nominate race is
brownish on the crown and has rufous streaks on the head.
The Asian Koel is a bird of light woodland and cultivation.
It is a mainly resident breeder in tropical southern Asia
from India and Sri Lanka to south China and the Greater Sundas.
They have great potential in colonizing new
areas. They first arrived in Singapore in the 1980s and became
very common birds.

Asian Koel, Eudynamys
scolopaceus, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Photo: J.M.Garg, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Asian_Koel_(Eudynamys_scolopacea)-_Male_close_up_in_Kolkata_I_IMG_7568.jpg
|
The Asian Koel has several geographic forms that
have well marked plumage differences or have been
geographically isolated with little gene flow. The following
is a list of named subspecies with their distributions
and synonyms as given by Payne:
Eudynamys scolopaceus scolopaceus (Linnaeus,
1758). Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Laccadives and Maldives.
Eudynamys scolopaceus chinensis, Southern China
and Indochina, except the Thai-Malay Peninsula.
Eudynamys scolopaceus harterti . Hainan.
Eudynamys scolopaceus malayana, Thai-Malay Peninsula,
Lesser Sundas and Greater Sundas, except Sulawesi.
This may include the race dolosa described from the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
Eudynamys scolopaceus mindanensis (Linnaeus,1766)
(includes Eudynamys scolopaceus
paraguena from Palawan, and Eudynamys
scolopaceus corvina from
Halmahera, the Philippines (including Palawan and the Babuyan
Islands), islands between Mindanao and Sulawesi,
and North Maluku, except the Sula Islands.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Koel
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Lesser
Coucal - Centropus bengalensis

Lesser
Coucal , Bubut Alang-alang, Centropus
bengalensis
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Centropus bengalensis Bengalsporegjøk
Lesser Coucal
Order:Cuculiformes, Family: Cuculidae,
Genus: Centropus, Species: Centropus bengalensis
Coucals feed on large insects, frogs, lizards,
snakes. They hunt these among the undergrowth, using their
powerful bills to catch and kill their prey.
Coucals are rather terrestrial, preferring to walk than fly.
They emerge in the open only in the early morning.
The rest of the day, they forage on foot in tall grass. When
disturbed, they make a short flight with shallow wing
beats and brief glides into cover. They then scuttle away on
foot. They are strong runners and have straight hind
claws and are sometimes called "lark-heeled cuckoos".
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Lesser
Coucal, Centropus bengalensis
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
The Lesser Coucal, Centropus bengalensis,
is a species of cuckoo in the Cuculidae family.
Lesser Coucals are mostly solitary, only rarely seen in pairs.
It is found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging
across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Tibet and Vietnam.
Although they are members of the cuckoo family,
Lesser Coucals do not lay their eggs in other birds' nests.
They build their own nests. These are usually well concealed
and comprise a large globe (18 x 25cm) made
of twigs or grass (blades and stems) with a large entrance hole
to one side.
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Lesser
Coucal, Centropus bengalensis
Photo: CharlesLam, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lesser_Coucal.jpg
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2-3 white eggs are laid in December-July. Hatchlings are black
skinned with long bristly down.
Like other Coucals, when disturbed, the chicks squirt out copious
amounts of foul-smelling liquid faeces.
The Coucals have the head and bill of a crow, but long tail
feathers of a pheasant. In fact, in the past, they were known
as crow-pheasants.
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Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita

Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita
© www.arthurgrosset.com
Cacatua galerita Gultoppkakdu Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo
Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Cacatuidae,
Subfamily: Cacatuinae, Genus: acatua, Subgenus: Cacatua, Species:
Cacatua galerita
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita,
is a relatively large white cockatoo found in wooded
habitats in Australia and New Guinea. They can be locally very
numerous, leading to them sometimes being
considered pests. They are well known in aviculture, although
they can be demanding pets.
It has a total length of 4555 cm (1822
in), with the Australian subspecies larger than subspecies from
New Guinea and nearby islands. The plumage is overall white,
while the underwing and -tail are tinged yellow.
The expressive crest is yellow. The bill is black, the legs
are grey, and the eye-ring is whitish. Males typically
have almost black eyes, whereas the females have a more red
or brown eye, but this require optimum viewing
conditions to be seen.
The
parrot: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita
The tree: Alloxylon flammeum - Queensland Waratah, Australia
rainforest tree,
The tree is vulnerable in the wild, but luckily it can
be found as street tree
in Brisbane city and suburbs.
Brisbane city, Queensland, Australia, September 2009
Photo: Tatiana
Gerus,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cacatua_galerita_in_a_Alloxylon_flammeum_tree-8a.jpg
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The differences between the subspecies are subtle.
Cacatua galerita fitzroyi is similar to the nominate
race but lacks the yellow on the ear tufts and slightly blueish
skin around the eye. Cacatua galerita eleonora is similar
to Cacatua galerita fitzroyi but is smaller and has broader
feathers in the crest, and Cacatua galerita triton
is similar to Cacatua galerita eleonora except it
has a smaller bill. (This makes it so easy to identify them....)
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Gultoppkakadu,
Cacatua galerita
BBC Natural History Unit
http://www.arkive.org
Their distinctive raucous call can be very loud; it is adapted
to travel through the forest environments in which they live,
including tropical and subtropical rainforests. These birds are
naturally curious, as well as very intelligent.
The nest is a bed of wood chips in a hollow in a tree. Like many
other parrots it competes with others of its
species and with other species on nesting sites.[2] Two to three
eggs are laid and incubation lasts between
2527 days. Both parents incubate the eggs and raise the
nestlings. The nestling period is between 9 to 12 weeks,
and the young fledgelings remain with their parents for a number
of months after fledging.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur-crested_Cockatoo |
Great-billed
Parrot - Tanygnathus megalorynchos

Great-billed Parrot, Betetkelapa Paruh-besar, Tanygnathus
megalorynchos
Courtesy:
http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Tanygnathus megalorynchos Grovnebbpapegøye
Great-billed Parrot
Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Psittacidae, Genus: Tanygnathus, Species:
Tanygnathus megalorynchos
The Great-billed Parrot, Tanygnathus megalorynchos,
also known as Moluccan Parrot or Island Parrot,
is a medium-large, approximately 38 cm long, green parrot with
a massive red bill, cream iris, blackish shoulders,
olive green back, pale blue rump and yellowish green under parts.
The female is typically smaller than the male,
but otherwise the sexes are similar.
The Great-billed Parrot is found in forest, woodland and mangrove
in the south-east Asian islands of Maluku, Raja Ampat, Talaud,
Sangir, Sarangani, the Lesser Sundas, and nearby small island.
The diet consists mainly of fruits.
It remains widespread and locally fairly common,
and consequently has been rated as Least Concern on the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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Blue-backed
Parrot - Tanygnathus sumatranus

Blue-backed
Parrot, Betetkelapa Punggung-biru, Tanygnathus sumatranus
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Psittacidae
Tanygnathus sumatranus Asurgumppapegøye
Azure-rumped Parrot
The Blue-backed Parrot, Tanygnathus sumatranus,
is also known as Müller's Parrot, or Azure-rumped Parrot.
This parrot is endemic to the Philippines, and Sulawesi and
nearby islands in Indonesia. It occurs in forest and
nearby habitats (including cultivated areas) at altitudes up
to 800 m. Flocks are small and often active at night. Known
to eat crops, including corn.
It is of medium size (32 cm), basically green with yellowish
edging to the wings, a blue rump, and blue wing bends.
There are six subspecies:
Tanygnathus
sumatranus sumatranus:
Sulawesi and nearby islands. Yellow iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus sangirensis: Sangir Islands
and Karakelong. More blue on wing bends and wing coverts,
head darker green. Yellow iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus burbidgii: Sulu Islands.
Darker green with lighter collar. Yellow iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus everetti: Panay, Negros,
Leyte, Samar, Mindanao. Mantle and back darker, rump and
head lighter. Some blue in mantle. Red iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus duponti: Luzon. Dark green
with yellow collar. Yellowish underwing coverts. Iris red.
Tanygnathus sumatranus. freeri: Polillo Islands.
More uniform color with less contrast, more yellow on nape.
Iris red.
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Sangihe Hanging-Parrot, Loriculus catamene

Sangihe
Hanging Parrot , Serindit Sangihe, Loriculus catamene
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Order: Psittaciformes, Family: Psittacidae
Loriculus catamene Sangiheflaggermuspapegøye
Sangihe Hanging-Parrot
The Sangihe Hanging Parrots,
Loriculus catamene, are endemic to the small island of Sangihe,
north of Sulawesi,
in Indonesia where they can be found at elevations up to ~1,000m.
They are strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground,
preferring to stay high up in dense tree canopies.
They are less conspicuous than most hanging parrots as they
are well camouflaged in the foliage and are rathe
r quiet. They are only conspicuous when foraging on lower bushes
or when they form noisy, screeching flocks.
This small parrot averages 12 to 13.5 cm in length.
Its natural diet consists of coconut nectar, soft fruits (especially
wild figs) and flowers.
Its range is very limited and the population numbers
are dwindling due to habitat destruction. Sources seem to
disagree about the estimated world population of this species.
Some state that only 1,000 to 2,500 of these
parrots are still in existence, while a 1998/1999 survey listed
that up to 46,200 of these parrots can still be
found in their natural habitat. This information could not be
substantiated.
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Glossy
Swiftlet - Collocalia esculenta

White-bellied
Swiftlet, Walet Sapi,
Collocalia
esculenta,
Collocalia esculenta Glanssalangan Glossy
Swiftlet
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Order: Apodiformes, Family: Apodidae, Tribe: Collocaliini, Genus:
Collocalia
The Glossy Swiftlet (Collocalia esculenta) is a species of swift in
the Apodidae family. It is found in Australia, Brunei, Christmas Island,
India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea,
the Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vanuatu.
Sangihe
Scops-Owl, Otus collari

Otus
collari, Sangihe Scops Owl , Celepuk Sangihe
Otus collari Sangiheugle Sangihe Scops-Owl
Courtesy: http://www.indonesiatraveling.com
Order: Strigiformes, Family: Strigidae, Genus: Otus .Species: O. collari
The Sangihe Scops Owl (Otus collari) is an owl endemic to the island
of Sangihe
Otus collari Sangiheugle Sangihe Scops-Owl
Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove - Macropygia amboinensis
Macropygia amboinensis Rosengjøkdue Slender-billed
Cuckoo-Dove
Moluccan Swiftlet - Aerodramus infuscatus
Aerodramus infuscatus Wallaceasalangan Moluccan
Swiftlet
White-throated Needletail - Hirundapus caudacutus
Hirundapus caudacutus Pigghaleseiler White-throated
Needletail
se AG.com
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