December 2021

The Calidrispygmaea (scientific name) or spoon-billed sandpiper is a migratory bird, which breeds in coastal lagoons and bays of North-Eastern Russia and spends in winters in coastal, marine sites of South-East Asia. 14-16 inches in length, this wader has dark black-brown upperparts, white underparts and black legs. Its head, neck and chest are red-brown in […]

The Cuculidae (scientific name) or cuckoo is a family of birds with a cosmopolitan distribution, found in all habitats across all continents excepting Antarctica and parts of South America. Medium-sized, their length varies from 6-25 inches. There are two body types, the arboreal (slender with short tarsi) or the terrestrial (heavy set with long tarsi).

The Frigata andrewsi (scientific name) or Christmas island frigatebird is found only on the Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean. 25-40 inches in height, this bird has glossy black feathers overall, except for the white patch on its belly. It also has a forked tail. The male has a red gular pouch below its beak,

The Pithecophaga jefferyi (scientific name) or Philippine eagle is found only in the Philippines. From 2.8-3.3 feet in height, it is considered one of the largest eagles in the world. The back is dark brown, while the underside is creamy-white. Its face, nape and crown have brown feathers. It also has a shaggy-looking crest, giving

The Sypheotides indicus (scientific name) or lesser florican is typically found in tall grasslands in the Indian sub-continent. Smaller in height than its counterpart, the Bengal Florican, this bird is 25 inches in height. While both birds are nearly similar in appearance, the lesser florican has three ribbon-like feathers that are four inches long and

The Strigops habroptilus (scientific name) or kakapo is native to New Zealand. A heavy flightless bird, the kakapo is 24 inches in length, and stores a large amount of body fat, making it the heaviest parrot in the world. It has yellow moss-green feathers on the upperparts, which are barred or mottled with black or

The Rhynochetos jubatus (scientific name) or kagu is the only surviving member of its family, and is found only in dense mountainous forest of New Caledonia. 22 inches in length, this bird is bluish-grey in colour, has bright orange-red long legs, which help it to walk long distances. This is because the kagu is a

The Aegothelis savesi (scientific name) or new caledonian owlet is found only in the savannah and humid forests of New Caledonia, an island off the coast of Australia. 11 inches in height, its plumage is grey-brown and black in colour. It has a long but rounded tail, short rounded wings, and longer legs than any

The Thaumatibis gigantean (scientific name) or giant ibis is found near marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes, only of Northern Cambodia. Till the 1920s, this bird was a resident breeder in parts of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam as well. Since then, the population has depleted greatly. 40-42 inches in length and 39 inches in height, the

The Oriolus chinensis (scientific name) or black-naped oriole is found not only in forests, but also gardens and plantations across many parts of Asia. A medium-sized bird, the black-naped oriole has a bright yellow plumage, with a black band around its eyes to the back of its head, like an eye mask. The wing tips

The Musophagidae (scientific name) or turaco is a family of arboreal birds native to the forests and savannah of Sub-Saharan Africa. Their average size ranges from 16-30 inches. It is a brightly coloured bird, with a colourful plumage of blue, green and purples. The bird has a crest on its head which gives it a

The Eurylaimidae (scientific name) or broadbills are found from Eastern Himalayas to Indonesia and the Philippines, with the exception of two species which are native to Sub-Saharan regions of Africa. 5-11 inches in height, these birds have brightly coloured plumage, large eyes and heads, and broad flat beaks. They are insectivorous and carnivorous. Their diet

The Cotinga cayana (scientific name) or spangled cotinga is only found in the Amazon rainforests of South America. 5.9 inches in height, the spangled cotinga is sexually dimorphic. The male is bright turquoise-blue, with a deep wine coloured throat. The wing feathers, as also the crest part of its head, are a darker midnight blue.

The Foudia madagascariensis (scientific name) or Madagascar red fody is a native of the grasslands and forest clearings of Madagascar. Just 5 inches in height, this tiny bird has bright red-coloured plumage with black markings around its eyes. The wings and the tail are brown-olive in colour. The male and the female in this species

The Furnarius cinnamomeus (scientific name) or the pacific hornero is generally found in wooded habitats near water, in the west part of South America. Not more than 7.5 inches in height, this bird is brown in colour with pale legs and a long thin sharp beak. Their diet is comprised of arthropods, and at times