Bird of Day 66: Demoiselle Crane

Anthropoides virgo

The Demoiselle Crane breeds in central Asia, with a few found in Cyprus and eastern Turkey, even far as western and Northern Pakistan. The crane migrates to Africa and South Asia in winter.

This crane measures 85-100cm long with a 155-180cm wingspan. It has a loud trumpeting call. Like other cranes it has a dancing display, elegant and balletic.

Demoiselle Cranes have to take one of the toughest migrations in the world. In late August through September, they gather in flocks of up to 400 individuals and prepare for their flight to their winter range. During their migratory flight south, Demoiselles fly like all cranes, with their head and neck straight forward and their feet and legs straight behind, reaching altitudes of 16,000-26,000 feet. Along their arduous journey they have to cross the Himalayan mountains to get to their over wintering grounds in India, many die from fatigue, hunger and predation from birds such as eagles.

In Khichan, Rajasthan in India, villagers feed the Cranes on their migration and these large congregations have become an annual spectacle.

[All text: Ref (97)]

Bird of Day 65: Japanese White-eye

Zosterops japonicus

Also known as mejiro, meaning white-eye in Japanese.

The Japanese White-eye's native range includes much of east Asia, including Japan, China, Vietnam,Taiwan, and the Philippines. It has been intentionally introduced to other parts of the world as a pet and as pest control, with mixed results.

This very active little bird is about 10.2-11.4cm in size and feeds on both insects and nectar. When building nests, they often steal material from the nests of other birds.

Zosterops japonicus is depicted in Japanese art on numerous occasions, and historically was kept as a cage bird. Find an example of the White-eye in Japanese art here: http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/51/5142/DRPEG00Z/posters/hiroshige-ando-a-japanese-white-eye-on-a-persimmon-branch.jpg

[All text: Ref (96)]

Bird of Day 64: Steller's Sea Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

One of the largest of all raptors, Steller's Sea Eagle lives in coastal northeastern Asia and feeds mainly on fish. The typical size range is 85-105cm long with a wingspan of 195-230cm. It is the heaviest eagle in the world: females at 6.8-9kg, while males are considerably lighter with a weight range of 4.9-6kg.

Steller's Sea Eagle builds several large platform nests (aeries) high up on trees and rock. Usually only one chicks survives and at the age of ten weeks, the young bird learns to fly. They reach sexual maturity at around four to five years. Full adult plumage in the Steller's Sea Eagle only appears at age eight to ten years.

[All text above: Ref (94)]

This bird is named after the German botanist, zoologist, physician and explorer Georg Wilhelm Steller. Steller has several animals and plants name after him, including Steller's Jay, Steller's sea cow and Cryptochiton stelleri
(Gumboot chiton). [This text: Ref (95)]

Bird of Day 63: Mute Swan

Cygnus olor

The Mute Swan is native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. It is less vocal than other swan species and thus its name.

Measuring 125 to 170cm in length, with a 200 to 240cm wingspan, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. Males (known as cobs) are larger than females and have a larger knob on their bill.

Cygnus olor is monogamous and often reuse the same nest each year, restoring or rebuilding it as needed. Male and female swans share the care of the nest, and once the cygnets are fledged it is not uncommon to see whole families looking for food.

Reference to the Mute Swan is rich in cultural history. The phrase swan song refers to this swan and to the legend that it is utterly silent until the last moment of its life, and then sings one achingly beautiful song just before dying.

[All text: Ref (93)]

Bird of Day 62: Purple-naped Sunbird

Hypogramma hypogrammicum (formerly Nectarina hypogrammica)

The Purple-naped Sunbird is found in Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. (91)

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. (91) The Purple-naped Sunbird eats nectar from flowers (92).

Sunbirds are active diurnal birds that generally occur in pairs or occasionally in small family groups (92). A few species occasionally gather in larger groups, and sunbird will join with other birds to mob potential predators, although sunbirds will also aggressively target other species, even if they are not predators, when defending their territories (92). A few species of sunbirds have lekking* behaviour (92). The nests of sunbirds are generally purse-shaped, enclosed and suspended from thin branches (92)

*Refer to Bird of Day 24

Bird of Day 61: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Picoides minor (previously Dendrocopos minor)

The range of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is the Palearctic* region. It is a little bird which spends most if its time in the tops of tall trees in woods ands parks. The Woodpecker featured here is the male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker; the female has a white crown.

The note of Picoides minor is a repeated keek, loud for such a small bird, and its vibrating rattle can with experience be distinguished from that of the larger species (Greater Spotted Woodpecker).

[All text: Ref (89)]

* The Palearctic (or Palaearctic) is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth's surface. Physically, the Palearctic is the largest ecozone. It includes the terrestrial ecoregions of Europe, Asia north of the Himalaya foothills, northern Africa, and the northern and central parts of the Arabian Peninsula. (90)

Bird of Day 60: Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

The Grey Heron is native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions.

It is a large bird, standing 90–100cm tall, with a 175–195cm wingspan and a weight of 1–2kg. It feeds in shallow water, catching fish, frogs, and insects with its long bill. Herons will also take small mammals, reptiles and occasionally warbler nestlings, plovers, young and adult snipes, takes ducklings and tern chicks and other small birds. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.

The call of the Grey Heron is a loud croaking fraaank. This species breeds in colonies in trees close to lakes, the seashore or other wetlands, although it will also nest in reedbeds. It builds a bulky stick nest.

The Australian White-faced Heron is often incorrectly called Grey Heron.

[All text: Ref (88)]