Sunday, December 15, 2013

>Pericrocotus divaricatus (Ashy Minivet)

Ashy Minivet


Ashy Minivet
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Pericrocotus
Species:P. divaricatus
Binomial name
Pericrocotus divaricatus
(Raffles, 1822)
The Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus) is a passerine bird of eastern Asia belonging to the minivet genus Pericrocotus in the cuckoo-shrike family Campephagidae. While most of the minivets have shades of yellow, orange and red in their plumage, this species has only greys, whites and blacks. The male is distinctive with a white face and black nape although females can be confused with the female of the Brown-rumped Minivet. They forage in the canopy, often along with other minivets and join mixed-species foraging flocks.

Description

Patterning of the male
It is 18.5–20 cm long. The male is grey above and whitish below. It has a black cap with a white forehead and there is a white band across the flight-feathers. The outer tail feathers are white. The bill and feet are black. The female's cap is grey apart from a black band between the bill and eye and a narrow white band above it. The call is a high-pitched, metallic trill. It is considered as closely related to Pericrocotus roseus and Pericrocotus cantonensis but differs in moult pattern. It is one of the few passerine birds that moult their primaries twice in a year and is the longest distance migrant among the minivets.
It breeds in south-east Siberia, north-east China, Korea and Japan. Birds in the Ryūkyū Islands of southern Japan are commonly considered to be a separate species—Ryukyu Minivet (P. tegimae). The Ashy Minivet is a long distance migrant, wintering in South and South-east Asia as far south as Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines. It is found in forest as well as in more open areas with scattered trees. It forages in the tree canopy for insects sometimes joining mixed-species foraging flocks.Migrant birds can often be seen in large flocks.
The status of the species is considered to be secure and is considered as a "least concern" species by the IUCN. Populations of the species on the Amami Island was found to have increased from 1985-2001.
In the South Asian region, they are considered rare. They were first noted on the Indian mainland only in 1965 although they had been reported in 1897 from the Andaman Islands. It has since been reported with greater regularity.
Four to seven eggs are laid. These are incubated for 17 to 18 days.




>Pericrocotus cantonensis (Swinhoe's Minivet)

Swinhoe's Minivet


Swinhoe's Minivet
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Pericrocotus
Species:P. cantonensis
Binomial name
Pericrocotus cantonensis
Swinhoe, 1861
Swinhoe's Minivet or Brown-rumped Minivet (Pericrocotus cantonensis) is a species of bird in the cuckoo-shrike family, Campephagidae. It is found in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

>Pericrocotus roseus (Rosy Minivet)

Rosy Minivet



Rosy Minivet
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Pericrocotus
Species:P. roseus
Binomial name
Pericrocotus roseus
(Vieillot, 1818)
The Rosy Minivet (Pericrocotus roseus) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.Male is distinguished from other minivets by having deep pink/light red shade in wings and tail and female having olive /olive yellow rump as against bright yellow in other minivets.Both male and female are grey above.
Distribution
It is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam.In India, it is found in the Himalayas from west to east to Arunachal Pradesh and hills of Nagaland and Manipur.In winter in peninsula. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

>>Genus Pericrocotus (Minivet)

Genus Pericrocotus (Minivet)



Minivets
Female Scarlet Minivet (P. flammeus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Pericrocotus
Boie, 1826
Species
See text.
The minivets are passerine birds belonging to the genus Pericrocotus in the cuckoo-shrike family Campephagidae. There are about 13 species, occurring mainly in forests in southern and eastern Asia. They are fairly small, slender birds with long tails and an erect posture. Many species have bright red or yellow markings. They feed mainly on insects, foraging in groups in the tree canopy.

Species list
  • Rosy Minivet, Pericrocotus roseus
  • Swinhoe's Minivet or Brown-rumped Minivet, Pericrocotus cantonensis
  • Ashy Minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
  • Ryukyu Minivet, Pericrocotus tegimae
  • Small Minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
  • Fiery Minivet, Pericrocotus igneus
  • Little Minivet, Pericrocotus lansbergei
  • White-bellied Minivet, Pericrocotus erythropygius
  • Grey-chinned Minivet, Pericrocotus solaris
  • Long-tailed Minivet, Pericrocotus ethologus
  • Short-billed Minivet, Pericrocotus brevirostris
  • Sunda Minivet, Pericrocotus miniatus
  • Scarlet Minivet, Pericrocotus speciosus
  • Orange Minivet, Pericrocotus flammeus


























Wednesday, December 11, 2013

>Lobotos oriolinus (Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike)

Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike



Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike
Conservation status

Data Deficient (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Lobotos
Species:L. oriolinus
Binomial name
Lobotos oriolinus
(Bates, 1909)
Synonyms
Campephaga oriolina
The Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike or Oriole Cuckooshrike (Lobotos oriolinus) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.






>Lobotos lobatus (Western Wattled Cuckooshrike)

Western Wattled Cuckooshrike



Western Wattled Cuckooshrike
Conservation status

Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Lobotos
Species:L. lobatus
Binomial name
Lobotos lobatus
(Temminck, 1824)
Synonyms
Campephaga lobata
The Western Wattled Cuckooshrike or Ghana Cuckooshrike (Lobotos lobatus) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family. It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

>>Genus Lobotos

Genus Lobotos



Lobotos
Western Wattled Cuckooshrike (Lobotos lobatus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Lobotos
Reichenbach, 1850
Lobotos is a genus of bird in the cuckooshrike family Campephagidae. It is sometimes included in the genus Campephaga. It contains the following species:
  • Western Wattled Cuckooshrike (Lobotos lobatus)
  • Eastern Wattled Cuckooshrike (Lobotos oriolinus)








>Campephaga quiscalina (Purple-throated Cuckooshrike)

Purple-throated Cuckooshrike







Purple-throated Cuckooshrike
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Campephaga
Species:C. quiscalina
Binomial name
Campephaga quiscalina
Finsch, 1869
The Purple-throated Cuckooshrike (Campephaga quiscalina) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family. It is found in Angola,Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea,Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.








Saturday, December 7, 2013

>Campephaga phoenicea (Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike)

Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike



Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike
A male
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Campephaga
Species:C. phoenicea
Binomial name
Campephaga phoenicea
(Latham, 1790)

Female















The Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike (Campephaga phoenicea) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.
It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana,Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, 
Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and dry savannas.






>Campephaga petiti (Petit's Cuckooshrike)

Petit's Cuckooshrike






Petit's Cuckooshrike
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Campephaga
Species:C. petiti
Binomial name
Campephaga petiti
Oustalet, 1884
The Petit's Cuckooshrike (Campephaga petiti) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family. It is found in Angola, Cameroon,Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.













Tuesday, December 3, 2013

>Campephaga flava (Black Cuckooshrike)

Black Cuckooshrike


Black Cuckooshrike
Female in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, coastal Kenya
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Campephaga
Species:C. flava
Binomial name
Campephaga flava
Vieillot, 1817
The Black Cuckooshrike (Campephaga flava) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana,Burundi,
 Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi,
 Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

>>Genus Campephaga

Campephaga






Campephaga
Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike (Campephaga phoenicea)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Campephaga
Vieillot, 1816
Campephaga is a genus of bird in the cuckoo-shrike family Campephagidae. It contains the following species:
  • Black Cuckooshrike (Campephaga flava)
  • Petit's Cuckooshrike (Campephaga petiti)
  • Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike (Campephaga phoenicea)
  • Purple-throated Cuckooshrike (Campephaga quiscalina)













Monday, December 2, 2013

>Lalage leucopyga leucopyga (Norfolk Triller)

Norfolk Triller



Norfolk Triller
Illustration by Henrik Gronvold
Conservation status

Extinct (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Lalage
Species:L. leucopyga
Subspecies:L. l. leucopyga
Trinomial name
Lalage leucopyga leucopyga
(Gould, 1838)
The Norfolk Triller (Lalage leucopyga leucopyga) was a small passerine bird in the cuckooshrike family, Campephagidae. It is the extinct nominate subspecies of the Long-tailed Triller which was endemic to Norfolk Island, an Australian territory in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. Little is known of its biology.

Description

Illustration by Georg Forster from the 1770s
The Norfolk Triller was similar to other subspecies of the Long-tailed Triller, though it was slightly larger and had a richer buff wash on the underparts and rump and a broader white tip to the outer rectrices.




Behaviour

Breeding

Breeding was recorded in September, with eggs in December and February. Nests were shallow and cup-shaped, made of lichen, moss and fibrous roots, and lined with finer material. The clutch was usually two eggs.

Extinction
The Triller was last recorded in 1942. The cause of its extinction was probably predation by Black Rats combined with clearance of its habitat, Norfolk Island’s native subtropical rainforest.
There are specimens of this bird held in the museums at Leiden, Vienna, Tring and in the H. L. White Collection at Melbourne.

>Lalage leucopyga (Long-tailed Triller)

Long-tailed Triller



Long-tailed Triller
Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Campephagidae
Genus:Lalage
Species:L. leucopyga
Binomial name
Lalage leucopyga
(Gould, 1838)
The Long-tailed Triller (Lalage leucopyga) is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.
It is found in New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The Norfolk Island subspecies of the Long-tailed Triller, the Norfolk Triller, has become extinct. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.