Could is the month wherein spring migration principally involves an finish in Shanghai. The month begins with many birds and ends with only a few – however a few of these are fairly spectacular. So, notably close to the top of Could, we’ve the standard combination of boredom and pleasure that birdwatchers all around the world are accustomed to.
To defend itself from being accused of being boring at dinner events, the Brown-breasted Flycatcher proudly factors to its orange toes. Very similar to a Chartered Accountant proudly exhibiting his small tasteful ankle tattoo.
Fittingly, eBird calls it a “boring however reasonably cute flycatcher”.
Final month, I confirmed you a Chestnut Bunting. Right here’s one other one.
Apparently, the species title rutila means “pink, golden pink, reddish yellow”, which sounds a bit like a contradiction in itself.
But it surely seems reasonably engaging.
As does the Chinese language Pond Heron. For these with a morbid streak, I counsel trying out the paper “Genetic Characterization and Pathogenesis of Avian Influenza Virus H3N8 Remoted from Chinese language Pond Heron in China in 2021″.
The HBW distribution map of the Masked Laughingthrush reveals it to be frequent in Shanghai – in truth, it’s reasonably uncommon.
The English title “Masked” makes extra sense than the scientific title perspicillata, or “spectacled” (except with spectacles you imply these wrap-around sun shades most popular by pimps {and professional} bullshitters).
The species is a cooperative breeder – chicks from earlier breeding makes an attempt assist mentioning the following batch of chicks, like baby-sitting youngsters, although the latter should not associated to the children they babysit and in addition primarily do it for cash, so I suppose these two issues should not actually comparable in any respect.
If there ever was a misnamed fowl, it’s the white-faced morph of the Black Bulbul.
It’s well-known that chicks of this morph instantly begin having an identification disaster when combining the information of their species title with the data gathered from a glance within the mirror.
Thankfully, this isn’t a difficulty for the White-shouldered Starling.
Apparently, the fowl can heat itself if it will get chilly. In fact, in a scientific paper, this discovering is phrased otherwise: “These information present that white-shouldered starlings exhibit excessive phenotypic flexibility in metabolic changes and digestive operate underneath temperature acclimation, in keeping with the notion that small birds deal with the vitality challenges introduced by a chilly surroundings by modulating tissue operate in a method that may have an effect on BMR.” Hurray for science.
Richard’s Pipit is a reasonably aristocratic-looking pipit. If the tree sparrows ever begin a revolution, this species is prone to be among the many first to be lined up in opposition to a wall and shot.
Apparently, Richard’s Pipit appears to be one of many comparatively few species touring from East to West reasonably than from North to South, and in addition establishing new migration areas (supply). Vagrancy could also be a mechanism to ascertain such new areas.
Japanese Sparrowhawks should not vegetarians. As those that should not into defending the surroundings would in all probability wish to level out, “Individuals don’t kill birds. Birds kill birds”.
“I don’t want a gun to kill birds”
In line with the second modification of the structure established amongst Japanese Sparrowhawks, the correct to kill different birds can’t be denied.
I do know I simply printed a separate put up on the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. Nevertheless, a couple of days after the publication, I noticed one other one – and as a result of lack of a functioning time machine, I couldn’t incorporate these new photographs into the sooner put up. So, listed below are some extra photographs. Consider them because the bonus tracks on a CD that’s launched a couple of months after the unique launch (to make keen followers spend extra money).
Edvard Munch, “The Scream”, Ornithological Model
“I might by no means put on such an extended tail if the females weren’t so bloody picky”
“Look after a spider?”
The Yellow-rumped Flycatcher principally nests in cavities of tree trunks.
The primary purpose for breeding failure shouldn’t be predation, i.e., the chicks being eaten (supply).
Slightly, it’s competitors from different cavity nesters (assume eviction out of your house, or learn “Evicted: Poverty and Revenue within the American Metropolis” by Matthew Desmond if you wish to study concerning the US equal).
Whereas the primary species picture on the HBW web page was taken by me, it’s not superb. The one under is best.
I do know I additionally confirmed some photographs of the Oriental Scops Owl final month. However I’m not going to apologize for exhibiting some extra.
Let’s face it: in case you don’t like owls, we can’t be pals anyway.
The Bluethroat photographs this month primarily deal with the feminine – my small contribution to girls’s rights (and a stark distinction to my April put up).
If a male Daurian Redstart is nonetheless seen at Nanhui in mid-Could, seemingly, its need to breed shouldn’t be increased than mine.
Siberian Rubythroat: ditto.
This fowl continues to be at the least 1000 km away from its breeding grounds.
Perhaps it thinks that not having chicks will assist the surroundings, however I suppose that basically solely applies to people.
Brown Shrikes are typically recognized for his or her beautiful style in meals, and when arriving at in an unfamiliar metropolis, I typically ask them for eating recommendation. Nevertheless, as this picture reveals, they’re additionally completely able to having fun with hearty avenue meals.
For some purpose, seeing a Forrest Wagtail in Shanghai continues to be type of fascinating – primarily as a result of it’s a considerably uncommon sight. It’s a reasonably boring fowl although.
The Gray-crowned Warbler doesn’t solely look considerably just like Alstroem’s Warbler but additionally is known as after a useless ornithologist, Edward Gray-Topped (*1955). Surprisingly, he stored this double title even after his extremely acrimonious divorce from Alicia Topped, a feted however considerably capricious style mannequin.
A current abroad customer was stunned to listen to that Massive-billed Crows are a rarity in Shanghai.
There was extra on them in a current Hokkaido put up, the place they’re one of the vital frequent fowl species.
The Lesser Coucal has just lately checked out a reputation change and requested me for recommendation. So, I appeared up synonyms for “Lesser” and got here up with the next (supply):
- insignificant
- minor
- a notch underneath
- backside
- bush
- bush-league
- dinky
- much less vital
- low
- decrease
- minor-league
- nether
- second-fiddle
- second-string
- slighter
- small
- small-fry
- small-time
- subjacent
- subordinate
- third-string
- undersized
We then agreed that none of those alternate options actually characterize a serious enchancment from the present title.
In distinction, the Mugimaki Flycatcher is kind of proud of its title stating that it offers it “a sure unique aura which performs effectively with the females of the species”.
Much like the Bluethroat proven above (and naturally many different species), the species title of the Siberian Blue Robin, cyane (darkish blue) solely applies to the male.
However to that it applies very effectively certainly.
Radde’s Warbler: a warbler that at the least has the decency of being midway simple to establish resulting from its attribute tune. Ought to be a job mannequin for different warblers.
Sure, it is a snipe. I’m afraid if I informed you which of them snipe, I must kill you.
That is in all probability a Taiga Flycatcher. Until it’s a Pink-throated Flycatcher, wherein case it’s not a Taiga Flycatcher.
Sure, I don’t notably like photographs of big flocks of Shorebirds both.
A punk Rufous-tailed Robin
For causes not fairly clear to me, the title of this fowl is Blue Rock Thrush (though it’s not notably blue – extra greyish-blue and reddish) …
… whereas this fowl is known as White-throated Rock Thrush (though it has a way more convincing blue shade and solely a tiny white spot on its throat).
And eventually, a Whimbrel in its typical habitat on a concrete wall.
