December 2021

The Didunculus strigirostris (scientific name) or tooth-billed pigeon is endemic to Samoa in the Pacific. This pigeon is large in size, 31 inches in length. The head, neck and underpart plumage is an iridescent blue-green in colour. The wings, coverts and tail are chestnut in colour. The beak is bright red, large and curved like […]

The Rostratula australis (scientific name) or Australian painted-snipe is a uniquely patterned wader which is found in the wetlands with low dense vegetation in Australia. With a height of 9-11 inches, this bird has a chocolate brown head, neck and upper body, which changes to rufous at the back of the neck, and merges with

The Charadriinae (scientific name) or plover is a sub-family of 66 different species of wading birds that have a cosmopolitan distribution, excepting in the Sahara and polar regions. They are medium-sized birds, which have plumage colouration of black, white, rufous, grey and brown. Their height can vary depending on the species and the length of

The Sagittarius serpentarius (scientific name) or secretarybird is found mostly in grasslands and Sub-Saharan regions of Africa. With a height of 4 feet, this bird is identifiable because of its body type, which is similar to that of an eagle, but on the legs of a crane. The flight feathers and thigh plumage are black.

The Aegypius Monachus (scientific name) or vulture is divided into Old World vultures which are found across Asia, Africa and Europe, and the New World vultures which are found in warmer climates only in the Americas. While the height may vary, these birds have a formidable wingspan going up to 10-11 feet. Their plumage is

The Pseudochelidon sirintarae (scientific name) or white-eyed river martin is an extremely rare bird which has only been sighted a few times in a freshwater lake area in Thailand. First discovered in 1968, it hasn’t been seen since 1980. About 7 inches long, it has a glossy green-black plumage overall, which is divided at the

The Phodilus prigoginei (scientific name) or congo bay owl is found only in high altitude grasslands and tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is 9-11 inches in height and has a beautiful chestnut brown plumage on the upperparts, and a rusty lighter brownish-orange plumage on the underside. Its face is compact and

The Atrichornis (scientific name) or scrubbird is an extremely rare species of bird found only in 2 parts of Australia. This species has 2 types of birds, one found in tropical forests of Queensland and New South Wales, and the other found in the heaths on the West coast of Australia. Both the species are

The Eutriochis astus (scientific name) or Madagascar serpent eagle is found only in the tropical forests of Madagascar. With a height of 22-26 inches, this medium-sized eagle has a dark barred brownish-grey plumage on the upperside. The underside (throat, belly and chest) is a lighter grey. It has yellow eyes and a sharp hooded beak.

The Centropus steeril (scientific name) or black-hooded coucal is found only in the tropical, moist forests of Mindora, the Philippines. With a height of 18.8 inches, this bird has a glossy black head which resembles a hood. The rest of the body has brownish-black plumage, while the tail is greenish-black. Its diet consists largely of

The Macrocephalon maleo (scientific name) or maleo is native to the tropical hill forests of Sulawesi, Indonesia. With a height of 39 inches, the maleo has black plumage on the upperparts, and a rosy salmon-coloured chest and underparts. It has a yellow bare facial skin, reddish iris and a reddish-orange beak. It has a black

The Podicipedidae (scientific name) or grebe is a family of birds with a cosmopolitan distribution. Small-medium sized birds, their height varies from 9-28 inches depending on the genera. They have pointed bills, tiny tails and rounded bodies. Their plumage colouration varies from white and brown-grey (non-breeding males) to rusts and chestnut (breeding male). Their plumage

The Porcellariiformes (scientific name) is an order of birds in which the petrel exists. The petrel is mostly found on the open seas of the Southern Hemisphere. It is pelagic and comes to land only to breed. Depending on the species, its size can vary from 7-16 inches. Plumage colouration is in shades of white,

The Pedionomus torquatus (scientific name) or plains wanderer is native to the sparse grasslands of Australia, and is the only living representative of its family. 5.0-7.5 inches in length, this bird is a ground bird. The male and the female differ, with the male having brown upperparts and whitish underparts, with black crescents and the

The Threskiornithinae (scientific name) or ibis is a group of wading birds which are found almost all across the globe in warm regions, except the South Pacific Islands. Depending on the species, their height ranges from 22-30 inches. Known for their long necks and beaks, these birds usually have brown, white and grey plumage. They