ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING

Photographed in Singapore November 2016

(see      850)              ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING                  Aplonis panayensis 

SINGAPORE         (3)        

Open woodland bird, found along forest edges and roadsides, and in plantations and villages with large trees. 20 cm. Oriental region: locally common resident own northern Sulawesi, but generally scare throughout Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java and Bali.

PINK-CHEEKED PIGEON

Photographed in Singapore November 2016

(see      824)           PINK-CHEEKED PIGEON             Theron vernans

SINGAPORE         (2)

Also known as Pink-cheeked Green Pigeon. 25 cm. A coastal bird, found mainly in mangroves and coastal woodlands, has expanded successfully into disturbed forest, plantations, parks and gardens. Range: Southeast Asia: common resident of the Sunda subregion; extends into Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa and some adjacent islands. 

JAVAN MYNA

Photographed in Singapore November 2016

(see    816)                  JAVAN MYNA            Acridotheres javanicus

SINGAPORE         (1)

Also known as White-Vented Myna. 25 cm. Found in open country, along forest edges and in drier fields, often seen near urban villages, generally not settled in cities. Range: Indonesian endemic; Uncommon resident in Java and Bali only; introduced into other islands, such as Sumatra, Riau Islands and abroad to Singapore.

RUFF

Photographed near Bunbury, Western Australia, November 2016 

(881)              RUFF                   Philomachus pugnax  

AUSTRALIA         (654)        

Breeds on lowland grassy wet meadows; winters on wet meadows, muddy fringes of pools and lakes, and brackish coastal lagoons. Male larger, between 29-32 cm; female 22-26 cm. Breeds in northern Eurasia, winters mainly in Africa, but also southern Asia and Australia.

Note: It is usually considered the only member of its genus, Philomachus. A group of ruffs is collectively known as a collar. An unusual bird where the males grow an elaborate collar of feathers used for display in the mating process.

Photographed at Lake Murdeduke, January 2017

COMMON MYNA

Photographed in Denpasar, Bali October 2016

(see  27)              COMMON MYNA                    Acridotheres tristis  

INDONESIA (Bali)            (104)        

Also known as Indian myna or mynah. An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct; very adaptive to urban environment, so much so it was listed in 2000 as the world's most invasive species. 23 cm. Native to Asia; but introduced to other parts of the world, such as Canada, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Hawaii, South Africa and Florida, as well as others.

TAWNY-BREASTED PARROTFINCH

Photographed on Lombok, Indonesia November 2016

(880)              TAWNY-BREASTED PARROTFINCH              Erythrura hyperthra  

INDONESIA (Lombok)          (103)        

Occurs in forest edges and bamboo thickets where it feeds on seeds and probably some insects. 10 cm. Distribution: Sunda and Wallacea subregions into the Philippines in Indonesia; a generally rare montane resident on Java and northern Kalimantan as well as on Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa and Flores.

Note: listed as rare, secretive, active and difficult to watch.

JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK

Photographed on Lombok, Indonesia November 2016 

(879)              JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK               Accipiter gularis  

INDONESIA (Lombok)          (102)        

Frequents forests and open woodlands and is often seen near the coast. 27 cm. Breeds in northeastern Asia; migratory; widespread winter visitor in the Sunda and parts of Wallacea subregions; probably overlooked on many islands; generally fairly common and locally abundant during peak migration.

MOLUCCAN SWIFTLET

Photographed on Lombok, Indonesia November 2016

(878)              MOLUCCAN SWIFTLET                    Aerodramus infuscatus 

INDONESIA (Lombok)          (101)        

Identified as Moluccan Swiftlet. This 'species' has now been split into three species: Sulawesi swiftlet (Aerodromes sororum), Halmahera swiftlet (Aerodromes infusccatus) and Seram swiftlet (Aerodromes swiftlet). The taxonomy remains confusing and neither of the three species are listed as occurring on Lombok. Natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest and subtropical moist montane forests.

ELEGANT PITTA

Photographe on Lombok, Indonesia November 2016

(877)              ELEGANT PITTA               Pitta venusta  

INDONESIA (Lombok)         (100)        

Found in dry monsoon forest, both primary forest and dense secondary regrowth; outside breeding season mobile and somewhat nomadic flying between islands. 18 cm. Distribution: Indonesia and Timor Leste; widespread and locally fairly common resident throughout Wallacea from Nusa Penida off Bali east to among others Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Timor, Buru, Seram and Kai islands.

RINJANI SCOPS OWL

Photographed on Lombok, Indonesia October 2016

(876)              RINJANI SCOPS OWL                    Otus jolandae 

INDONESIA (Lombok)          (99)        

Found in forest habitation. Endemic to Lombok.

Note: This owl was first discovered in 2003 and was formally described in 2013.

HOUSE SWIFT

Photographed on Lombok, Indonesia October 2016 

(875)              HOUSE SWIFT                    Apus nipalensis 

INDONESIA (Lombok)          (98)        

Also known as Little Swift. 15 cm. Hunts for insects on the wing over open country and marshy areas, rarely near forests. Distribution: Africa, tropical and subtropical Eurasia: widespread and locally common resident in Sumatra, kalimantan, Java and Bali; has recently expanded to parts of Wallacea.

WALLACEAN DRONGO

Photographed on Lombok, Indonesia November 2016

(874)              WALLACEAN DRONGO                   Dicrurus densus 

INDONESIA (Bali)         (97)        

Found in a variety of wooded habitats, from tall primary forest to disturbed areas and along roadsides with some large trees; sometimes seen n nearby plantations. 32 cm. Distribution: Indonesia and Timor Leste; widespread common resident throughout Nusa Tenggara.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE

Photographed between Nusa Penida and Bali October 2016 

(873)              RED-NECKED PHALAROPE                Phalaropes lobatus

INDONESIA (Bali)          (96)        

Peculiar shorebird breeds in tundra marshes, feeding in small ponds; turns pelagic during winter and spends non-breeding season at sea feeding on plankton. 18 cm.  Distribution: breeds worldwide: high in the north, winters to the south, reaching southern Australia; Indonesia a major wintering area: widespread and fairly common winter visitor in most inland seas.