A mouthful

A mouthful

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with a rich chestnut crown and nape, and a black patch on each pure white cheek. The sexes are similarly plumaged, and young birds are a duller version of the adult. This sparrow breeds over most of temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, where it is known as the Tree Sparrow, and it has been introduced elsewhere including the United States, where it is known as the Eurasian Tree Sparrow or German Sparrow to differentiate it from the native unrelated American Tree Sparrow. Although several subspecies are recognised, the appearance of this bird varies little across its extensive range.

Gray-capped Woodpecker

Gray-capped Woodpecker

The Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus) is an Asian bird species of in the woodpecker family (Picidae).

This is a small, dark woodpecker with dark irides. Barred black and white above, it usually has unbarred central tail feathers. Its dark buff underside has prominent dark streaking. The dark grey crown – with a red nape in males –, strong black eyestripes and thin dark malar stripe contrast with broad white supercilia and cheeks.

Featured Photo

Featured Photo

This image is featured on http://www.viewbug.com/ 
April 4/24/2013

Scaly-breasted Munia

 The Scaly-breasted Munia or Spotted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) known in the pet trade as Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice Finch is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia extending from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines.

Black-browed Barbet

The Black-browed Barbet or Müller's Barbet (Megalaima oorti) is a bird belonging to the Asian barbet family, Megalaimidae.

It is 20-23.5 cm long. The plumage is mostly green apart from the head which is patterned with blue, yellow and red. There is a black stripe above the eye. The bill is black and the feet are grey-green. The Chinese name for the bird, "five-colored bird" (五色鳥) refers to the five colors seen on its plumage. Because of its colorful plumage and that its call resembles that of a percussion instrument known as a wooden fish, the species is also referred to as the "spotted monk of the forest" in Taiwan.

A few egrets

I seldom take pictures of egrets....they are kind of too common here! I see them every day!Sometimes hundreds of them!

The black-faced Spoonbill

I had the chance to take some more pictures of the black-faced Spoonbill!

Around 100 Spoonbills started to stay just 5 km from where I live! Exciting!
The black-faced Spoonbill is one almost extinct bird in the world and protected by regulation. The Black-faced Spoonbill is a large wading bird. Males and females look alike, with long, black bills and black facial skin. During the breeding season adult birds also develop yellow ornamental feathers on the head and breast, and yellow patches of skin under the eyes.
Every year, between September and April next year, large flocks of an endangered species, the "Black-faced Spoonbills", visit Taiwan to spend the winter here. In 2011, the global population of Black-faced Spoonbills was approximately 2,600, with 1,500, or more than half of the population, appearing in Tainan.
The number of black-faced spoonbills in southern Taiwan’s Tainan region has hit a record high of more than 1,500, according to Taijiang National Park Headquarters Jan. 14.2013!