The Bornean Bristlehead is sort of the star chook of Sepilok. eBird calls it “a ‘grail chook’ of many birders visiting Borneo.
Satirically, whereas I used to be very eager on seeing it throughout my week at Sepilok, I assumed I failed to take action solely to comprehend later – going by way of my photographs – that I had certainly seen it. If that sounds implausible to you, I absolutely agree. Notably provided that eBird calls the species “distinctive and unmistakable”. Effectively, I assume the everyday eBirder is a greater birder than me.
It’s listed as Weak or Close to Threatened (the HBW charmingly offers each classes in its species portrait, thus assuring that one of many two nearly actually is right).
Its scientific species title gymnocephala means naked-headed relatively than bristle-headed, which is a bit disappointing as I hoped to be taught the Latin or Greek phrase for bristle. Perhaps bristles weren’t invented but in these vintage occasions.
The Blue-eared Kingfisher appears like a premium model of the Widespread Kingfisher present in Europe – it’s smaller and has deeper blue upperparts with out turquoise blue tinge and blue ear-coverts (supply).
In line with the HBW, the species “dives vertically into water and returns to perch with the catch, which is struck on perch earlier than being swallowed head first”. So, presumably the fish on the photograph continues to be alive.
Unusually, the illustration proven within the HBW entry for the Rufous-backed Kingfisher does probably not match the photograph beneath very nicely. Fortuitously for me (however considerably sadly for the HBW), this isn’t my ID mistake, because the photographs within the HBW entry present. So far, I assumed that the B within the HBW stands for chook, however I assume I used to be flawed.
The considerably extra open areas close to the Sepilok Rainforest reserve are an excellent location to see the wrecks of rusty automobiles in addition to two munia species: Chestnut Munia …
… and Scaly-breasted Munia
As I already talked about the Sabah Partridge in a current publish, I shouldn’t have a lot so as to add right here – although the photographs I took at Sepilok are higher and don’t solely present a sleeping chook. That’s what progress is all about.
Scientifically talking, the Darkish-throated Oriole is the Yellow-backed Oriole (xanthonotus).
It’s listed as Close to Threatened. These two photographs present a male – the feminine is generally olive-colored relatively than yellow. Actually, provided that these photographs had been taken in Sabah, they presumably present the Ventriloquial Oriole (consobrinus), if this paper is right. The 2 species differ in genetics and in tune, apparently.
The Lesser Inexperienced Leafbird can also be categorized as Close to Threatened. I discover it fairly fascinating how nicely it blends into the leaves.
Its scientific species title cyanopogon doesn’t discuss with a dance type most popular by punks however relatively to its darkish blue beard (which solely the male has, in fact).
When you wish to examine avian illnesses, a paper on iron storage illness in a Lesser Inexperienced Leafbird might be a good selection for you.
If like me you take pleasure in cute birds, you’ll just like the Malaysian Pied Fantail.
In line with Wikipedia, it’s regionally known as murai gila, actually “loopy thrush” within the Malay language.
There are additionally a number of bulbul species at Sepilok. The title Furry-backed Bulbul makes the species sound relatively unappealing (one way or the other I affiliate bushy backs with ugly males in low-budget softporn films), however it’s really a relatively nice-looking chook …
… with what eBird calls “surprised-looking giant darkish eyes”.
The English title could not instantly make sense judging from the photographs however the HBW mentions “hair-like filoplumes (as much as 50 mm lengthy) prolong[ing] from nape and mantle over again (not often seen in discipline)”.
The title of the Asian Purple-eyed Bulbul is way more apparent.
Although surprisingly, for the scientific species title brunneus (brown), a a lot much less apparent characteristic was chosen.
The knowledge on the conservation standing of the Gray-cheeked Bulbul within the HBW is especially muddled, even by the HBWs low requirements. Throughout the similar paragraph, the species is described as Weak, Close to Threatened and Least Concern – presumably because the entry is seemingly the results of lumping a number of bulbul species.
Like a number of of the bulbul species talked about above, the HBW calls the Olive-winged Bubul “unassuming”.
The scientific title plumosus (“feathered”) clearly separates this bulbul species from all of the unfeathered birds.
Verditer Flycatchers apparently wish to nest in human homes as they supply good nesting websites – in distinction, Daurian Redstarts decide human homes as a result of the presence of people lowers the predation danger (supply).
And in what appears to me to be a relatively far-out paper, some Chinese language researchers have developed a camouflaged short-range communication methodology based mostly on the imitation of Verditer Flycatcher songs. I’m not making this up.
Wallace’s Hawk-eagle conveniently nests in a tree near one of many commentary towers at Sepilok, permitting for good photographs of the one chick.
The species is classed as Weak, with an estimated inhabitants of 2500–9999 mature people.
Apparently, the commerce in birds has partly shifted on-line from brick-and-mortar marketplaces – a paper lists one Wallace’s Hawk-eagle accessible on-line. Progress this isn’t.
Within the time-honored and resource-saving custom of doing chook surveys at the most common of habitats – college campuses – there may be a paper on the species in a forest round Kota Kinabalu College. It consists of observations of Wallace’s Hawk-eagle.
There’s a lengthy Wikipedia article on Alfred Russell Wallace, the namesake of this species – it appears that evidently aside from developing with the idea of evolution unbiased of Charles Darwin, he additionally had attention-grabbing ideas on a variety of different matters. For instance, he wrote a paper advocating a pure paper cash system, not backed by silver or gold, which inspired the economist Irving Fisher a lot that he devoted his 1920 e book “Stabilizing the Greenback” to Wallace.
Nonetheless, this didn’t hold him from dropping severe cash in a collection of dangerous investments in railways and mines.
Apparently, some younger birders at Sepilok name the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha the superhero chook. The face masks, I assume. I usually really feel that the creativity of youngsters is vastly overrated.
An area Sandakan birder and knowledgeable chook photographer, YC Lee, has taken a implausible video of the chook.
The scientific species title curvirostris (“curved-billed”) is a bit unusual given the placing colours of the chook, which appear way more value highlighting.
Whereas the HBW usually doesn’t appear to be too fascinated about birds, they appear to have taken a shine to the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, talking of the “relatively clown-like look that’s wholly distinctive” and including that “the species is pleasingly fairly widespread”.
It primarily feeds on bugs, as there are not any comfort shops in its forest habitat.
Like the opposite malkohas, it isn’t a brood parasite regardless of being a cuckoo.
Given the exaggerated position of Sir Stamford Raffles within the institution and success of Singapore – and the parallel underestimated position of William Farquhar – Raffles’s Malkoha would possibly higher be referred to as Farquhar’s Malkoha – although this assumes that deserves for good deeds are attributed to those that do them, not their superiors. Everybody who has ever labored in an organization is aware of that this isn’t the case.
It’s the solely malkoha species with marked sexual dimorphism (i.e., if the birds had been to make use of bathrooms assigned to completely different sexes, the 2 indicators on the 2 doorways would look completely different).
Which means it’s crucial to point out a minimum of two photographs – the feminine …
… and the male.
Within the “Different” part ending this publish, we’ve got some animals which have the benefit of not being mammals. At all times a bonus given how simply mammals are related to Donald Trump.
It’s attention-grabbing to note that some animals – akin to this earthworm being eaten by a snake not a lot greater than itself – battle far much less when going through demise than Mr. Trump struggles with admitting he has misplaced an election.
