Black-collared Starling
Gracupica nigricollis
Large and unmistakable black-and-white starling with a yellow skin around eyes and long, slim bill. Regularly forages on lawns in parks and gardens as well as in agricultural fields. Adult has white head and belly and blackish collar, wings, and tail. Juvenile has dirty-brown head without the adult's collar and less white on the wings. Sexes alike. Well known for its vibrant, undulating song, which it often gives from an exposed perch such as a utility pole or street lamp.
识别特征
The black-collared starling is 26–30 cm (10–12 in) long. The head is white, with a yellow patch of bare skin around the eye, and a black collar around the neck. The mantle, back and wings are dark brown, appearing almost black. The underparts are white, often with a grey-brown tinge. The tail and most of the covert and flight feathers are tipped white, with the primary coverts completely white. The beak is black, and the legs are pale grey. The male and female are alike. The juvenile bird is browner and has a streaked neck and breast; it also has an eye-patch but not a collar.
分类信息
This species was described as Gracula nigricollis by Gustaf von Paykull in 1807. Formerly placed in the genus Sturnus, it and the Siamese pied myna (Gracupica floweri) were separated to the genus Gracupica when Sturnus was split, following phylogenetic studies in 2008. In the past it had also been placed in Sturnopastor, Acridotheres and Graculipica.
- 学名
- Gracupica nigricollis
- 命名信息
- (Paykull, 1807)
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Sturnidae
- 属
- Gracupica
分布与栖息地
This species is found in southern China from Fujian to Yunnan, and south to Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. An individual recorded in Brunei may be an escaped captive or a vagrant. It has been introduced to Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. This starling lives in grassland, dry forest, cultivated areas and human settlements, mostly occurring at low elevations, but also up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
This starling forages on the ground, sometimes around livestock. It feeds on insects, earthworms and seeds. A very vocal bird, its calls include shrill, harsh, melodious and discordant notes, such as a jay-like kraak kraak, a whistling prrü resembling a bee-eater, and a pü-pü-pü-pü similar to a "hesitant" rufous-capped babbler. Its song is transcribed as tcheeuw-tchew-trieuw. Two courtship displays have been recorded. One consists of a pair facing each other, their feathers ruffled and beaks open. In the other, the pair droop their wings and bow their heads. Between displays, the pair run or fly after each other. Pairs also preen each other, a behaviour known as allopreening. The breeding season has been recorded as February to May in Thailand, March to July in China, and April to August in Burma. The large, domed nest is constructed from twigs, grasses, feathers and flowers. It is built on a tree, and may be re-used. Nesting colonies have been observed. Three to five eggs are laid per clutch.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- rising
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Fraser's Sunbird
Deleornis fraseri
A sunbird masquerading as a warbler, this medium-sized sunbird of forest and forest edge is often found in small groups or mixed-species flocks searching the understory deliberately for insects. Overall yellow-green with more olive tones to the head. Has distinctive pale spectacles around its eye and a large, slightly decurved bill. Could be confused with longbills, but note Fraser’s Sunbird’s decurved bill and noticeable spectacles around the eyes. Calls include a short, dry “tiktiktik!” The song is a longer set of sunbird-like notes with noticeable pauses in between, varying in quality from clear whistles to trills: “dree, djier, drtil, drtil.”
Sunda Cuckooshrike
Coracina larvata
Chunky, dark gray bird with a dark face. Dark face patch is more extensive on males than females; males on Sumatra have entirely black heads. Inhabits moist foothill and montane forest. Moves through the upper levels of forest, often with other species in mixed flocks. Gives various high squeaky calls, including an inflected “weee-tee!”.
Rufescent Prinia
Prinia rufescens
Small prinia with gray head, warm brown upperparts, and white underparts. Also shows white eyebrow and graduated tail with pale tips to the outer tail feathers. Note warmer brown tones and lack of strongly “vested” appearance when compared with Gray-breasted Prinia. Favors brushy or grassy edges as well as more open areas, including agricultural fields and gardens. Forages low in the vegetation, sometimes in mixed-species groups. Song is a loud, resonating “chewchewchewchewchew.”
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