A few months ago my wife and I identified an urban night roosting site for Java Sparrows (Lonchura oryzivora). I have visited the site a few times and the birds use the site daily. There are about 300-400 Java Sparrows … Continued
“We have had this house guest, a Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus bimaculatus), for the past 1yr and 9 months that has delighted us and friends/visitors, especially non-bird watchers. “Since our urban garden is intentionally kept wild, it attracts many other … Continued
“The Plume-toed Swiftlet (Collocalia affinis) has been split from the Glossy Swiftlet (C. esculenta) by a number of authorities including: 1. Rheindt, Christidis, Norman, et al (2017). Speciation in Indo-Pacific swiftlets (Aves: Apodidae): integrating molecular and phenotypic data for a … Continued
In November 2017, the Australian Bush-cherry (Syzygium myrtifolium Dark Red) trees that grew along the fence separating two of my neighbours’ houses were trimmed LINK. This in turn discouraged the Red-whiskered Bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus) from roosting on the branches of … Continued
An earlier post document the pre-roost behaviour of Pink-necked Green-pigeons (Treron vernans) on top of a large tree LINK. I took it for granted that they would not gather when it rains. Well, I was wrong. The rain was not … Continued
“After many months, I finally had the opportunity to take a shot of the night roosting Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) this evening. “It had been raining earlier, and I was home in Yishun central at about 7pm, and heard the … Continued
Jeremiah Looei’s 2012 video caught Red-breasted Parakeets (Psittacula alexandri) roosting in a leafless tree at Pasir Ris Greenbelt (image above, video below). It would appear that parakeets prefer trees with open crown to roost in. Here Long-tailed Parakeets (Psittacula longicauda) … Continued
“A juvenile Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) was documented snoozing on our parapet,” wrote Lakshmi Ravishankar. Birds typically close their eyes when they sleep, but only one eye at a time (Gill, 2007). This allows them to be vigilant. According to … Continued
“A migratory flock of 350-400 Purple-backed Starlin/Daurian Starling (Agropsar sturninus) making a loud ‘starling-chatter’ while preening together (above, below). “Also seen in large flocks in flight (below). They were feeding extensively on this fruit of a wayside bush (identity unknown) … Continued
Pink-necked Green-pigeons (Treron vernans), as with many birds, gather together prior to roosting. But unlike Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters (Merops leschenaultia), Long-tailed Parakeets (Psittacula longicauda) or even Red-whiskered Bulbuls (Pycnonotus jocosus), Pink-necked Green Pigeons gather quietly and in small numbers before flying … Continued
