9-11-2016 MANDALAY, MYANMAR - BURMESE MYNA (Acridotheres burmannicus)

The Burmese myna (Acridotheres burmannicus) is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Myanmar and Yunnan, China.

The Burmese myna was considered conspecific with the vinous-breasted myna. Common names of the two split species were changed to "mynas" instead of "starlings" to match the genus. 

Burmese Myna Lifestyle Info

The Burmese Myna, scientifically known as Acridotheres burmannicus, is a small to medium-sized bird that is native to Southeast Asia. It has a distinct appearance with its glossy black feathers, bright yellow eyes, and a yellow patch of skin around its eyes. This species is known for its adaptability and intelligence, making it a successful colonizer in various habitats, including urban areas.

When it comes to the diet of the Burmese Myna, it is an omnivorous bird, meaning it consumes both plant matter and small animals. Its diet primarily consists of fruits, berries, insects, spiders, small reptiles, and even small mammals. This adaptability allows the Burmese Myna to thrive in a wide range of environments, from forests to agricultural fields.

In terms of its living habits, the Burmese Myna is highly social and often forms large flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. These flocks are not only for socializing but also for safety and foraging purposes. They communicate with each other through a variety of vocalizations, including whistles, screeches, and mimicry of other bird species. The Burmese Myna is known for its exceptional ability to mimic sounds, including human speech, which has earned it the reputation of being a talented mimic.

As a diurnal species, the Burmese Myna is active during the day, spending a significant amount of time foraging for food. Its strong beak and agile feet enable it to search for insects in the soil or leaf litter, as well as pluck fruits from trees. It is a highly opportunistic feeder, taking advantage of available food sources, which contributes to its successful adaptation in various habitats.

When it comes to sleep patterns, the Burmese Myna typically roosts in large groups, seeking shelter in trees, buildings, or other structures. These communal roosting sites provide safety in numbers and protection from predators. The Burmese Myna is known to exhibit communal breeding behavior as well, with multiple pairs nesting close to each other, often in tree cavities or man-made structures such as buildings or nest boxes.

During the breeding season, which varies depending on the region, the Burmese Myna engages in courtship displays, which include vocalizations and elaborate flights. The female typically lays a clutch of three to six eggs, which are incubated by both parents. The incubation period lasts around two weeks.

9-11-2016 MANDALAY, MYANMAR - COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)

The Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a tropical bird with a strong territorial instinct, which has adapted extremely well to urban environments. The range of the Common myna is increasing at such a rapid rate that in 2000 the IUCN Species Survival Commission declared it one of the world's most invasive species and one of only three birds listed among "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species" that pose a threat to biodiversity, agriculture, and human interests.

Common mynas can be recognized by their brown body, black hooded head, and the bare yellow patch behind the eye. Their bill and legs are bright yellow. There is a white patch on the outer primaries and the wing lining on the underside is white. The male and female look similar and are usually seen in pairs.

Common mynas are native to Asia with their home range spanning from Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka; as well as Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Myanmar, to Malaysia, Singapore, peninsular Thailand, Indo-China, Japan (both mainland Japan and the Ryukyu Islands) and China. These birds are typically found in a wide range of habitats with access to water; they inhabit open woodland, mangroves, grasslands, farmlands, orchards, and urban areas.

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17-2-2018 GANDIA, VALENCIA - SPOTLESS STARLING (Sturnus unicolor)

18-2-2018 GANDIA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN SERIN (MALE) (Serinus serinus)

8-11-2016 MANDALAY, MYANMAR - ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata)

The zebra dove (Geopelia striata ), also known as the barred ground dove, or barred dove, is a species of bird of the dove family, Columbidae, native to Southeast Asia. They are small birds with a long tail, predominantly brownish-grey in colour with black-and-white barring. The species is known for its pleasant, soft, staccato cooing calls.

The birds are small and slender with a long, narrow tail. The upperparts are brownish-grey with black-and-white barring. The underparts are pinkish with black bars on the sides of the neck, breast and belly. The face is blue-grey with bare blue skin around the eyes. There are white tips to the tail feathers. Juveniles are duller and paler than the adults. They can also have brown feathers. Zebra doves are 20–23 centimetres in length with a wingspan of 24–26 cm.

Their call is a series of soft, staccato cooing notes. In Thailand and Indonesia, the birds are popular as pets because of their calls and cooing competitions are held to find the bird with the best voice. In Indonesia this bird is called perkutut. In the Philippines they are known as batobatong katigbe ("pebbled katigbe") and kurokutok ; in Malaysia this bird is called merbuk, onomatopoeic to their calls. They are also known as tukmo in Filipino, a name also given to the spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis ) and other wild doves.

8-11-2016 MANDALAY, MYANMAR - SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis)

The Spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) is a small pigeon that is a common across its native range on the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia. These birds are also called the Mountain dove, Pearl-necked dove, Lace-necked dove, and Spotted turtle-dove.

The ground color of this long and slim dove is rosy buff below shading into grey on the head and belly. There is a half collar on the back and sides of the neck made of black feathers that bifurcate and have white spots at the two tips. The median coverts have brown feathers tipped with rufous spots in the Indian and Sri Lankan subspecies which are divided at the tip by a widening grey shaft streak. The wing feathers are dark brown with grey edges. The center of the abdomen and vent are white. The outer tail feathers are tipped in white and become visible when the bird takes off. The male and the female are similar, but juveniles are duller than adults and do not acquire the neck spots until they are mature.

Population size

Unknown

Life Span

8 years

Weight

160

goz

g oz 

Length

28-32

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

43-48

cminch

cm inch 

8-11-2016 MANDALAY, MYANMAR - RED VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus cafer)

The red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer ) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. It is a resident breeder across the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka extending east to Burma and parts of Bhutan and Nepal. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world and has established itself in New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Fiji, as well as parts of Samoa, Australia, USA and Cook Islands. It is included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

The Red-vented bulbul is a medium-sized songbird that can be found across the Indian subcontinent. It can be easily identified by its short crest giving the head a squarish appearance. The body of this bird is dark brown with a scaly pattern while the head is darker or black. The rump is white while the vent is red. It has a long black tail, tipped in white. The males and the females of this species look similar, but young birds are duller than adults.

Red-vented bulbuls occur across Sri Lanka extending east to Burma and parts of Bhutan and Nepal. These birds don’t migrate and inhabit dry scrub, open forests, plains, cultivated areas, parks, and gardens.

Red-vented bulbuls are diurnal social birds. Outside of the breeding season, they like to form large flocks and gather together in communal roosts. The typical call of Red-vented bulbuls has been transcribed as ginger beer, but they also produce a number of sharp single-note calls sounding like a pick. Their alarm calls are usually responded to and heeded by many other species of bird.

Population size

Unknown

Life Span

11 years

Weight

26-45

goz

g oz 

Length

20

cminch

cm inch 

11-11-2016 MANDALAY, MYANMAR - GREAT MYNA (Acridotheres grandis)

The great myna (Acridotheres grandis ), also known as the white-vented myna, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Northeast India, through Bangladesh to Southeast Asia.

It is black with elongated forehead feathers, forming a frontal crest that may curl backwards. Its beak and feet are yellow. It has white from the vent to the tip of the tail and a white wing patch.

A black myna with a spiffy crest. Not actually significantly larger than other dark crested mynas, but the combination of the bright yellow bill, prominent spiky crest, and white vent serve to distinguish it from other similar mynas. Forages in flocks in open areas such as meadows, agricultural fields, and urban parks and gardens, often with other species of mynas and starlings.

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16-2-2018 MARXUQUERA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)

15-2-2018 ULLAL DE BOLDOVI, VALENCIA - COMMON CHAFFINCH (FEMALE) (Fringilla coelebs)

15-2-2018 ALBORAYA, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)

15-2-2018 ALBORAYA, VALENCIA - MUSKOVY DUCK (Cairina moschata)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovy_duck

15-2-2018 ALBORAYA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo)

15-2-2018 ALBORAYA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)

15-2-2018 ALBORAYA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)

EURA

25-11-2016 INLE LAKE, MYANMAR - ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN (Copsychus saularis)

The Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis ) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. These birds are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds.

The Oriental magpie-robin is 19 cm (7.5 in) long, including the long tail, which is usually held cocked upright when hopping on the ground. It is similar in shape to the smaller European robin, but is longer-tailed. The male has black upperparts, head, and throat apart from a white shoulder patch. The underparts and the sides of the long tail are white. Females are greyish black above and greyish white. Young birds have scaly brown upperparts and heads.

Oriental magpie-robins are resident breeders in tropical southern Asia from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and eastern Pakistan, eastern Indonesia, Thailand, south China, Malaysia, and Singapore. They inhabit open woodlands, mangroves, and cultivated areas often close to human habitations.

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15-2-2018 MOROS MARJAL, VALENCIA - WHITE SPOTTED BLUETHROAT (MALE) (Luscinia svecica ssp. cyanecula)

15-2-2018 ALBORAYA, VALENCIA - BLACK REDSTART (FEMALE) (Phoenicurus ochruros)