Might is the month through which 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, significantly close to the tip of Might, we have now the standard combination of boredom and pleasure that birdwatchers everywhere in 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 ft. Very similar to a Chartered Accountant proudly displaying his small tasteful ankle tattoo.
Fittingly, eBird calls it a “uninteresting however slightly 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.
Nevertheless it appears slightly engaging.
As does the Chinese language Pond Heron. For these with a morbid streak, I recommend 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 widespread in Shanghai – in truth, it’s slightly 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 citing the subsequent batch of chicks, like baby-sitting youngsters, although the latter will not be associated to the youngsters they babysit and likewise primarily do it for cash, so I suppose these two issues will not be actually comparable in any respect.
If there ever was a misnamed chicken, it’s the white-faced morph of the Black Bulbul.
It’s well-known that chicks of this morph instantly begin having an id disaster when combining the information of their species title with the knowledge gathered from a glance within the mirror.
Happily, this isn’t a difficulty for the White-shouldered Starling.
Apparently, the chicken can heat itself if it will get chilly. In fact, in a scientific paper, this discovering is phrased in another way: “These knowledge present that white-shouldered starlings exhibit excessive phenotypic flexibility in metabolic changes and digestive operate below temperature acclimation, in step with the notion that small birds address the power challenges offered by a chilly setting by modulating tissue operate in a method that might have an effect on BMR.” Hurray for science.
Richard’s Pipit is a slightly 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 towards a wall and shot.
Apparently, Richard’s Pipit appears to be one of many comparatively few species touring from East to West slightly than from North to South, and likewise establishing new migration areas (supply). Vagrancy could also be a mechanism to determine such new areas.
Japanese Sparrowhawks will not be vegetarians. As those that will not be into defending the setting would most likely wish to level out, “Individuals don’t kill birds. Birds kill birds”.
“I don’t want a gun to kill birds”
Based on the second modification of the structure established amongst Japanese Sparrowhawks, the precise to kill different birds can’t be denied.
I do know I simply revealed a separate submit on the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. Nonetheless, a number of days after the publication, I noticed one other one – and because of the lack of a functioning time machine, I couldn’t incorporate these new photographs into the sooner submit. So, listed below are some extra photographs. Consider them because the bonus tracks on a CD that’s launched a number of months after the unique launch (to make keen followers spend more cash).
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 isn’t predation, i.e., the chicks being eaten (supply).
Quite, it’s competitors from different cavity nesters (assume eviction out of your condo, 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 excellent. The one beneath is healthier.
I do know I additionally confirmed some photographs of the Oriental Scops Owl final month. However I’m not going to apologize for displaying some extra.
Let’s face it: for those who don’t like owls, we can’t be pals anyway.
The Bluethroat photographs this month primarily give attention to the feminine – my small contribution to girls’s rights (and a stark distinction to my April submit).
If a male Daurian Redstart is nonetheless seen at Nanhui in mid-Might, doubtless, its need to breed isn’t increased than mine.
Siberian Rubythroat: ditto.
This chicken remains to be at the very least 1000 km away from its breeding grounds.
Possibly it thinks that not having chicks will assist the setting, 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 usually ask them for eating recommendation. Nonetheless, 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 remains to be type of attention-grabbing – primarily as a result of it’s a considerably uncommon sight. It’s a slightly boring chicken although.
The Gray-crowned Warbler doesn’t solely look considerably much like Alstroem’s Warbler but in addition 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 vogue 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 submit, the place they’re probably the most widespread chicken species.
The Lesser Coucal has just lately checked out a reputation change and requested me for recommendation. So, I seemed up synonyms for “Lesser” and got here up with the next (supply):
- insignificant
- minor
- a notch below
- 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 signify a serious enchancment from the present title.
In distinction, the Mugimaki Flycatcher is kind of proud of its title stating that it provides it “a sure unique aura which performs nicely 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 nicely certainly.
Radde’s Warbler: a warbler that at the very least has the decency of being midway straightforward to determine as a consequence of its attribute music. Needs to be a job mannequin for different warblers.
Sure, this can be a snipe. I’m afraid if I advised you which ones snipe, I must kill you.
That is most likely a Taiga Flycatcher. Except it’s a Purple-throated Flycatcher, through which case it’s not a Taiga Flycatcher.
Sure, I don’t significantly like photographs of big flocks of Shorebirds both.
A punk Rufous-tailed Robin
For causes not fairly clear to me, the title of this chicken is Blue Rock Thrush (regardless that it’s not significantly blue – extra greyish-blue and reddish) …
… whereas this chicken is known as White-throated Rock Thrush (regardless that it has a way more convincing blue colour and solely a tiny white spot on its throat).
And eventually, a Whimbrel in its typical habitat on a concrete wall.
