19 Responses to “Birds”

1. 
   Heather Hapeta Jan 24th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

   I noticed the button for donations to saving parrots worldwide … and I wondered if this extends to New Zealand where one of the worlds rarest birds - the kakapo - survive. six million people and only 90 - yes ninety, kakapo.

   The kakapo is a flightless and nocturnal, moss-green parrot. Read more about it on my blog at - kiwitravelwriter.wordpress.com

2. 
   Judith A Thurber Jan 28th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

   Friend put this on a listserve for our area to show the picture of Rochester, NY area wintering Virginia Rail . Very impressed with your goals and site. I look forward to viewing it often. Thank you very much.

   Judy Thurber

3. 
   Cindy Mar 24th, 2009 at 10:22 am

   If I sent you a picture of a bird I took here in the Calif Desert Mtns. could you please tell me what sort of bird this is? It sings and sings. Mimmics all sorts of other birds.. I once counted 30+ different tunes it does. beautiful whistling sounds. It is all grey.. with a bright yellow under belly. Maybe you know by this discription alone. Its a fair sized bird Grey everywhere else on its body.. with the exception of a light, almost white chin and chest. Then there’s its yellow belly. It will sing long before the sun comes up, and throughout the day. If you have time to answer this.. I would be so grateful. YOur pictures are phenominal.

4. 
   Charlie Mar 24th, 2009 at 10:26 am

   Hi Cindy

   Of course, please send it to charlie10000birds@gmail.com and I’ll do my best!

   Thanks for the lovely comments too.

   Charlie

5. 
   Roger Clark Apr 20th, 2009 at 12:10 am

   Confusion over White-eared Bulbul & White-cheeked Bulbul. Following is my letter to authors of “Birds of the Middle East”:

   Dear R.F. Porter, S. Christensen, & P. Schiermacker-Hansen,

   First let me say how much I appreciate your “Birds of the Middle East”.

   There is one matter which I feel compelled to raise with you in view of future corrections to your text. On page 146 (& on page 356), you describe the White-cheeked Bulbul, using the scientific name Pycnonotus leucogenys. This is incorrect. The illustration is correct but the name should be White-eared Bulbul, with the scientific name Pycnonotus leucotis. The following authorities concur:

   IOC (International Ornithological Congress)World Bird List (1.7): Supplements “BIRDS OF THE WORLD Recommended English Names” (Frank Gill and Minturn Wright)

   Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul
   Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul

   World Institute for Conservation and Environment (WICE, Birds Worldwide) & GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):

   Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul (authority: Gould, 1836)
   Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul (authority: Gray, J.E., 1835)

   Sibley/Monroe, World List of Bird Names (1998):

   Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul
   Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul

   ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) Standard Report (2009)

   Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul (authority: Gould, 1836)
   Pycnonotus leucogenys Himalayan Bulbul (authority: Gray, J.E., 1835)

   Clements (6.3.2. December 2008):

   Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul (e. Iraq to S. Iran, n. Arabia, s. Afghanistan, w. India)
   Pycnonotus leucogenys White-cheeked Bulbul
   Lists 4 sub-species (mesopotamiae, dactylus, humii, leucogenys)

   On the basis of these (& other) references, the preferred name for the White-cheeked Bulbul would be Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys). This would avoid further confusion & would be consistent with the clear majority of authorities.

6. 
   Courtney Davies May 2nd, 2009 at 6:21 am

   I live on Discovery Bay on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. I have been researching what birds migrate via Hong Kong at this time of year (Feb-May) as there is a black feather tipped head bird that makes a unique sound, awaking early and amusing, frustrating, disturbing the residents - the sounds is almost owllike in nature. It stimulates a great deal of discussion amongst the residents, and i want to find out more about the species. Having done some research i have not found much information. Would you know where to start looking for this type of information?

7. 
   Todd Reaves May 21st, 2009 at 8:11 pm

   I took a picture of a bird behind our pond and would like for someone to tell me what kind it is. Is there a link I could upload a photo to?

8. 
   Charlie May 22nd, 2009 at 2:47 am

   Hi Todd
   Send it to me at charlie10000birds AT gmail.com and I’ll see if I can identify it for you.
   Charlie

9. 
   Tony Buczynski Jul 26th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

   Was at the beach on South Shore of Long Island ( Point Lookout ). Sawa dark sea bird, size of a small gull, with a long and very distinctive red beak. Was walking to the ocean, bringing back small clams or crabs in his beak and walking back from the water toward the grass ( possibly nest site ). Anyone know what it was. Never saw in around these parts. There were several of them, pretty noisy too

10. 
    Corey Jul 26th, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    @Tony: Undoubtedly an American Oystercatcher. You can see a picture of some, from that very beach, here.

11. 
    Tony Buczynski Jul 26th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Thanks Corey………..you were right. That was them. I see plovers every year, but this was the first time I’ve seen these guys. Very good looking, and pretty funny to watch. Thanks for the info.

12. 
    Lauren Aug 2nd, 2009 at 1:04 am

    I’m going nuts trying to identify an egret type bird. I live in Fort Lauderdale. We do have the flocks of white egrets but we also have these brownish birds. They have extremely long legs and very long thin downturned beaks. They are on a mission - pecking at the grass and oblivious to all distractions. Their bodies are smaller than a duck and brownish but the downturned beaks and shorter necks have me baffled. Does anyone know what they are?

13. 
    Mike Aug 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    Are you describing Limpkins, Lauren? They’re pretty common in parts of Florida.

14. 
    Lauren Aug 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    I’ve never heard of Limpkins - could very well be - I’m reviewing them now. Much thanks Mike! Never a dull bird moment here on the canal.

15. 
    laura Aug 29th, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    I was looking on your website to identify this wild looking bird I saw the other night around dusk. I see from your website it was a Night Heron. So cool! I live in Hollywood, FL and almost daily see wild parrots and yellow orioles. I love bird watching. At the beginning of the summer I watched a mom and dad mockingbird raise 3 babies. 2 fell out of the nest of the palm trees in our front yard and below we have a little pond! Thank goodness they didn’t land in that! Mom and dad took care of them and in about a month, they were flying!! It was really neat!!

16. 
    Peggy Sep 27th, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    I hope you can help,I live on the northwest side of Chicago and for the last week or so we have seen a group of about a thousand black birds acting as if they are going nuts, they are flying around three or four trees in a two block radius. Any idea why? Is it the weather?Or what?My kids say it’s a scene from The Birds movie.

17. 
    Corey Sep 27th, 2009 at 7:28 pm

    @Peggy: Nothing needs to be done to help. In Autumn blackbirds, starlings, and other similar species often gather together in very large flocks, usually to roost for the night (safety in numbers). Appreciate this avian spectacle and enjoy!

18. 
    Lauren Jan 4th, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    I live in Fort Lauderdale near the water and we have so many birds here in the yard (we are on a canal). I can’t identify the one I saw several times this week and didn’t get to the camera fast enough this morning. This bird is the size of a crow, brown spots/patterned - but the most unusual thing about it is this wonderful full crown that looks more like a fur hood than feathers. I have never seen this bird before. I assume it’s a migrating bird since I’ve not seen it before.

    Anyonw know?

19. 
    Lauren Jan 4th, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    I live in Fort Lauderdale near the water and we have so many birds here in the yard (we are on a canal). I can’t identify the one I saw several times this week and didn’t get to the camera fast enough this morning. This bird is the size of a crow with a long body and tail - a bit more delicate then a crow = brown spots/patterned - but the most unusual thing about it is this wonderful full crown that looks more like a fur hood than feathers.
    Anyonw know?

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