221 Exotic Birds Encyclopedia

The Leiothrix lutea (scientific name) or red-billed leiothrix or pekin robin is native to the forests of the Indian sub-continent. This bird is just 6 inches in length. It is olive-green in colour, with orange shading on its chest and a yellow throat. It has a red beak and wingtip feathers are a bright mix […]

The Cossypha albicapila (scientific name) or white-crowned robin-chat is found in the savannah or sub-tropical habitat of Africa. This bird’s habitat ranges from West Africa towards Central Africa, from Benin and Burkina Faso to Central African Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Togo. Nearly 11 inches in length, the white-crowned robin-chat

The Copsychus malabaricus (scientific name) or white-rumped shama is native to densely vegetated regions of India and South-East Asia. They are 9-11 inches in length. Males and females differ slightly, with the male being glossy black with a chestnut coloured belly and a white rump, and the female is more greyish-brown than black. Both have

The Garrulax chinensis (scientific name) or black-throated laughing thrush is found in moist tropical forests, mostly in Cambodia, South and South-West China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Its height does not exceed 9.8 inches. With soft, fluffy plumage, this bird has a black face and beak, and a splash of white below the eyes. From

The Garrulax leucolophus (scientific name) or white-crested laughing thrush is a sociable bird native to the teak and bamboo forests from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Indo-China area. 6-8 inches in length, this bird has iridescent rust and white plumage, with the upper body, wings, back and tail all rust in colour. Only

The Garrulax milnei (scientific name) or red-tailed laughing thrush is a medium-sized bird with 4 different species. All these species are found in South-East Asia, from China to Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The red-tailed laughing thrush is on an average 10-11 inches in length. It has a bright red colour on the wings and

The Mino Dumontii (scientific name) or yellow-faced myna is typically found in moist tropical rainforest areas, specifically New Guinea and the surrounding islands. With a height of 9.0-10.1 inches, the yellow-faced myna is one of the largest in the starling species. Its plumage is dark black or brown with a metallic shine all over its

The Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (scientific name) or violet-backed starling is found in savannah forests, specifically South of the Sahara Desert, Africa. They are a sexually dimorphic species, which mean that the male and the female look very different from each other. In this instance, the male has a beautiful iridescent amethyst colour on its head, neck,

The Lamprotornis superbus (scientific name) or superb starling is a small bird found mostly in East Africa, ranging from Ethiopia to Kenya and Tanzania. These birds are 7 to 7.5 inches in length. They have black heads, and metallic blue-purple backs, upper body, neck, wings and tail. Their chest and underbelly are burnt orange colour.

The Lamprotornis Regius (scientific name) or golden-breasted starling is native to Africa. It is found in grasslands and savannah regions of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Northern parts of Tanzania. With a height of 13.7 inches, this bird is medium-sized, with a metallic green upper body and head. Its wings, back, neck and long tail feathers

The Coccycolius iris (scientific name) or emerald starling is one of the smallest species of starlings. It is found in the lowlands of West Africa. Its height is not more than 7.5 inches. Apart from a small glossy purple patch under its wings and as markings near the eye, this bird is glossy emerald green

The Lamprotornis chalybaeus (scientific name) or greater blue-eared starling is native to Africa, from Senegal to Central Africa, and down to the North of South Africa. They are seasonal migratory birds. Not more than 8 inches in length, it has a lovely blue green glossy shine to its dark plumage, with a purple-blue belly and

The Lamprotornis purpureiceps (scientific name) or purple-headed glossy starling is endemic to Africa, specifically the West and Central African region. The purple-headed glossy starling is a total of 9 inches in length. With the male and the female being identical, these birds have metallic purple heads and bodies. Its wings are a lovely glossy metallic

The Aplonis panayensis (scientific name) or Asian glossy starling is found in the moist tropical forests and mangroves of Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand. With a maximum height of 7.8 inches, this bird’s overall plumage is a glossy jet black colour with striking red eyes. Its feet and beak are also

The Sturnus burmannicus (scientific name) or vinous-breasted starling is a species of starling found in the South-East Asian sub-continent, from China to Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia. 9.4 inches in length, this bird is attractive to look at, with a dark black eye patch, and a reddish-brown colour on its chest. It has a