My Garden Birds 2015

This post was created in conjunction with MY Garden Birdwatch 2015 event which will be officially held from 20 - 21 June 2015. This citizen science project which is basically similar as the "Big Garden Birdwatch" held in UK every year is organised to survey primarily the type of birds which can be found near to our residence/home. In Malaysia, this project was initiated by the Bird Conservation Council of the Malaysian Nature Society but run and participated by ordinary people like you and me. Here are some of the birds which i have seen near my housing area in KL and other nearby cities.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Some has called this a "Common House Sparrow" but Craig Robson's field guide had actually differentiated the two species. The field mark which defined a Eurasian Tree Sparrow is the black patch on the head sides which are absent from a House Sparrow.  I believe the Eurasian Tree Sparrow will again top the chart in this year's count.

Occasionally and especially in the morning i could see them (about 10 to 12 birds) coming down to the road side pecking on the gravels like some sand martins would do. It would be interesting to find out what are those 'stuff" which they are eating.

Javan Myna

Some young punks must have copied its hair style.

Now how about this way?

A well combed hair with some gel applied.

Javan Myna appears to be more common only in certain areas particularly in Klang Valley and in areas where human population are denser. However the population of its close relative i.e. the Common Myna are apparently more abundant elsewhere (i.e based on the survey results collated by MY Garden Birdwatch since 2010)

Yellow-Vented Bulbul

It appears to me that Yellow-Vented Bulbul are more common in the outskirts of town but some of them have also adapted well to city life.

Rock Pigeon

They look like chickens and they do walk like chickens but they ain't chickens ! These are common rock dove/pigeon. Although their population may not be as many as those in Trafalgar Square but they can be quite numerous in towns and cities.

Oriental Magpie Robin

You can find OMR in both rural as well as urban areas.

So as this Peaceful Dove

Peaceful Dove

From the above photo, you may think that one adult bird was feeding a juvenile but the reality was that the bird was actually providing some "inducement" to the other bird  - something like a "buah tangan/hantaran" as a pre-copulation gesture.

This was what i meant.

A group of Pink-Necked Green Pigeon

You would expect to see Pink-Necked Green Pigeon more often in the forest but in some areas of the cities like in Petaling Jaya, they can be quite numerous. Here is a few of them on top of my neighbour's mango tree.

Pied Fantail

If you are staying in the "kampung" or near the forest edge, you may at times find Pied Fantail coming to your home to forage or even to nest.

Black-Naped Oriole 

Black-Naped Oriole can be seen in your garden or neighbourhood if it has lots of fruiting trees but their population may not be as widespread as the above birds.

 Here is a juvenile/sub adult Black-Naped Oriole

This "Nona" fruit (Annona squamosa) is super delicious! You must try it.

Brown-Throated Sunbird (Male)

One of my favorite sunbirds. Note the color on its head sides which appears greenish and not brownish as described by some field guides. Any other opinions out there?

Here is another sunbird.

Olive-Backed Sunbird (Male)

A splendid looking male Olive-Backed Sunbird which you may occasionally find in your garden. You may be aware that internationally there is currently a bird called "Blue Throated Brown Sunbird" (Cyanomitra cyanoleama) which can be found in Africa. 

So perhaps a consideration can be made to re-named the above bird as a "Blue Throated Olive-Backed Sunbird" (Nectarinia jugularis) or just "Blue Throated Sunbird" instead? Other notably common birds which you would most likely come across but their photos are not depicted here are the common House Crow, Common Myna and Asian Glossy Starling.

HAPPY BIRDING !