Identification of Swiftlets and Swallows (PART 1)

Would you be able to filter out which species of swiftlets and swallows from this flock? The answer to this question can range from "quite easy" to "near impossible".  Let me begin with the difficult ones first.

Introduction

Avian literature on some bird species has been limited or otherwise scarce. At times their conclusion can be both confusing and challenging for most bird-watchers as well as the common people. One of the bird species in question should be the study on swiftlets. While the taxonomy of some swifts and swallows are straight forward and indiscreet throughout its range, for example "Whiskered Treeswift" (Hemiprocne comata), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and House Swift (Apus affinis), however there are some of which are still in the state of flux, particularly the swiftlets.

"The taxonomy study of South-East Asian swiftlets has proved challenging due to their limited variation in size and plumage coloration" { Earl of Cranbrook et al (2013), Forktail 29; 107-119 }

Classification of Swiftlets

In their research titled "Phylogenetic relationships amongst swifts and swiftlets: A multi locus approach", Henri A. Thomassen et al (2005) reported that originally, all swiflets were placed into a single genus, "collocalia" and this classification has been used for many years. However in 1959, echolocation was discovered in swiftlets which led to a revision of swiflets taxonomy. Brooke research in 1970 and 1972 split the genus "collocalia" into three (3) different genera:

i) non-echolocation "collocalia"
ii) non-echolocation "Hydrochous" - i.e Giant Swiflet (now named as "Waterfall swiftlet")
iii) echolocation Aerodramus

The classification based on echlocation however did not gain much support by the scientific community. Later many more research were carried out and the most reliable results todate are the ones on their nest construction and tarsal feathering. This has subsequently led to a general division of swiflets into "white-nest swiftlets" and "black-nest swiftlets". In their research titled "The species of white-nest swiftlets (Apodidae, collocaliini) of Malaysia and the origins of house-farm birds: morphometric and genetic evidence",  Earl of Cranbrook et al (2013) reported that swiflets were described as small swifts "Apodidae", of subfamily "Apodinae" and tribe "Collocaliini".  

Results from the research on their nest construction has further led to the classification of subspecies "germani", "javensis", "vestita" and "micans" as white-nest swiftlets ! Meanwhile in this region, it was reported that the nominated subspecies "Collocalia germani germani" is considered to be conspecific with the edible-nest swiflet (Wikipedia) ! Allen J & Pearson (2012) field guide however has treated both "C. germani" and "edible-nest swiftlets" as a single species of "Aerodramus fuciphagus". Robson's field guide and Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) meanwhile described "C.germani" as a resident swiftlet while "edible-nest swiftlet" occurs from Java to lesser sundas. 

Note: there are also research which have reported that "long distance movements of swiftlets cannot be discounted as they can overlapped in their diurnal activity range"

General Comparison of Germani and Edible-Nest Swiflets

So, you might asked what's in for bird-watchers then ? Moving aside from the mumbo-jumbo of science and for the fun of bird watching, here is a more simplistic description of both the swiftlets (i.e in terms of their external features).  

According to HBW, "germani" is described as having "strikingly pale underparts and broad whitish rump" while Earl of Cranbrook et al (2013)  has divided "germani" into "Northern Grey-rumped Swiftlets"  which is reported to occur in Northern Peninsular Malaysia and the "Southern Brown-rumped Swiftlets" which is reported to occur further south and in Sabah ! Aside from the above description and based on my personal field exposure, generally you will be able to observe some noticeable differences. 

Let see whether we can differentiate the species from the photos below:

Plate 1.1

Plate 1.2

Plate 1.3

Plate 1.4

Plate 1.5

The one below was taken in KL - Mar 2016

Note: its rump color is more brownish/less whitish.

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Plate 2.1

Plate 2.2

Plate 2.3

Plate 2.4

Plate 2.5

The ones below were taken in KL - Mar 2016

Nice wing profile

Summary

From the above photos,  you will noticed that there are considerable amount of variations in their wing shape, body size and colors. Here is the summary of the structural differences:

Plate 1.1 to 1.5                                               Plate 2.1 to 2.5

* longer wings and more pointed                   * shorter wings
* looks plummer                                               * smaller size
* uniformly darker                                            * body color paler

Other observable information (which can only be seen from the field):

* fluttering flight, gliding intermittently            * flight more rapid 
* more abundant                                             * lesser in numbers

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all the above photos were taken at three Northern states in Peninsular Malaysia i.e i) Penang (A.I.D), Kedah (near Sg Petani paddy fields) and iii) Perlis (at Chuping) from the months of December 2015 to February 2016 and between 8.30am to 12.30pm. 

Also take note of the notch tail in the first 2 photos (plate 1.1 and 1.2). For general identification purposes and for the fun of bird watching, it can be said that the birds shown from Plate 1.1 to Plate 1.5 could probably be from the subspecies "Germani" while those depicted from Plate 2.1 to 2.5 could point to those of "edible-nest swiftlets". While we wait for more conclusive results from the scientific community especially from the advent increase of using nuclear and mitochondrial as markers (also to determine the existence of hybridisation), let us enjoy the swiftlets as it is for now. Also note that generally swiftlets fly higher than swallows. So whenever you have noticed some birds flying nearby a thermaling raptor kettle high up in the sky then they are mostly likely be swiftlets.

......to be continued in Part 2.

Birds and Critters of the Mangroves - Dec 2015

Ever thought of having a tea reception here?

It felt like autumn but with a bit of humidity plus some mozzies and critters which may join you for the fun.


While exploring the mangrove area recently, i came across this "rare visitor" foraging deep inside the mangrove.

I didn't really get his name but i believe he is either a zoologist or perhaps a naturalist. While you are with a group of people, how would you know whether the person is a birder or not? Here are some pointers which you can look out for:

* He would try to name his son, "Albatross Lee" and his daughter "Niltava Smith".
* He would prefer to listen to the calls of Blyth's Pipit than the songs of Beatles.
* He would spent long hours looking at the photos of the birds rather than his wife's photos.
* He would decorate his house with things with bird motifs example mugs, wall paintings, clay figurines, etc
* He would insist that the pair of earrings with two doves is the nicest thing he has ever bought for his wife.
* He would named a corner of his house as the "stonechat corner" and would prefer to drive a car with some birds name imprinted on it, such as harrier or falcon.
* He would usually carry only a pair of bins and/or occasionally a field scope as well.
* He would be talking some terminology which sounded very alien to you eg 'carpal bars', 'scapulars', 'tarsus', 'median coverts', 'primary coverts', 'supercilium' etc etc.

....... bet you can come out with more !

The first bird which i have came across was this "Indian Cuckoo"  

Based on B.i.W record, this was the only second reported sighting at this mangrove area while in E-Bird, this was the first recorded sighting at the moment. Apparently there are two subspecies of this cuckoo which are generally recognised (at the moment) in this region i.e i) C.m. micropterus and ii) C.m concretus. According to the Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (HBW Alive), C.m. microterus is the winter visitor while C.m concretus is the resident bird which is reported to be much smaller and darker in color. Hard to tell whether the bird above is a winter visitor or a resident bird but i could only guess that it could be a winter visitor as its usual habitat is in the forest and not in the mangroves and to a certain extent due to its silent presence. However i could be wrong as R.K Sharma et. al (2015) in their study of the "Ecology and Evolution of Nest Parasitism in Indian Cuckoo" reported that the favourite host for the Indian Cuckoo are jungle babblers (T. affinis) while Sajeda Begum (2011) in her research reported that "Black Drongo" was the main host. Both the reported hosts however can't be found in this mangrove area while Abbot's Babbler (M. abbotti) and Javan Mynah are frequently seen here.

Beside Indian Cuckoo, Asian Koel or some books have called them "Black Cuckoo" (Eudynamys scolopacea) also practices brood parasitism or technically known as "klepto-parasitism" {cited R.K Sharma et al. (2015) }. 

Asian Koel

Chestnut-bellied Malkoha

I am happy to say that i have seen and photographed all the six (6) species of malkohas which can be found in Peninsular Malaysia

Holy crab ! This one looks like a disfigured crustacean.

One of the most common resident of the mangroves - the mudskippers (Periophthalmus gracilis)

There were no other waders around except for this lone Grey Heron.

Hiding inside the mangrove was this Crested Serpent Eagle. It tried to look elsewhere (buat dunno !) but i am sure it is aware of my presence. The traces of mud on its talons may have suggested that it could have preyed on some critters or fishes on the mud.

Here are some common woody woodpeckers which can be found in the mangroves.

Common Flameback


If you have difficulties in differentiating between a Laced Woodpecker and a Streaked-Breasted Woodpecker, here are the photos of the two for comparison:

Laced Woodpecker

This Laced Woodpecker was seen in this mangrove area.

Streaked-Breasted Woodpecker

This Streaked-Breasted Woodpecker photo was taken at A.I.D swamp area recently.

From the above photos, the subtle difference which can be seen here is the color of their submoustachial stripe. The Laced Woodpecker has darker/more blackish stripe while the Streaked-Breasted Woodpecker's stripe is much brighter. Other feature which you can observe are their calls. Although their calls are alike which sounded like "trrrr", "trrrr", the calls made by a Streaked-Breasted Woodpecker are much louder than the ones made by a Laced Woodpecker (pers obs).

So there you go ! If your hubby or bf decided to take up bird watching as a hobby, do encourage him as it is a noble and interesting hobby. You can rest be ensured that they will certainly not able to find any foxey blondes or free flowing pubs in the jungle. The most they could find (besides the birds) are some crazy birders or a researcher like the above gentleman.

HAPPY BIRDING !

A Comparison Between Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper

When you are out there watching birds, you will probably meet two types of people, namely the bird photographers and the birders. How do you differentiate them? Just listen to their conversation:

Wood Sandpiper

A Friend and A Bird Photographer

Friend:  "Wow ! nice. what bird is this?

Bird photographer: TQ. Dunno but i think it is rare. Probably from Alaska or Mongolia. I have waited two hours for this bird.

Friend: I think it is a common sandpiper or maybe a green sandpiper.

Bird photographer: Dunno ! but it looks the same lah.

Friend: You use 1 stop exposure compensation?

Bird photographer: No. i actually used +3 stops, iso speed: 4000, exposure time: 1/640 sec, f/stop: 5.6, metering: spot and auto white balance. You must put one of your hands on the lens you know. So that your camera can be more stable.

Friend: same place ah?

Bird photographer: Yeah ! near the small lake area. Don't tell Ah Seng ah !

Friend: OK, OK !

Tringa glareola

A Friend and A Birder

Friend: Wow ! what bird is this?

Birder: aah ! its just a wood sandpiper. Very common winter visitor. Can be found almost everywhere, paddy fields, river banks, wetlands but rarely on mudflats.

Friend: It looks like a common sandpiper.

Birder: No. Common sandpiper do not have speckles or a prominent white supercilium as a wood sandpiper. Both birds bob their tail but common sandpiper does it more. Common sandpiper has a distinctive gap between its carpal area and breast patch. It also has dull greenish legs as compared to more yellowish of a wood sandpiper. Their legs are also longer than a common sandpiper. In flight, wood sandpiper shows fine black barrings at its outer tail while a common sandpiper does not show any.

Despite the differences, the gap between a birder and a bird photographer is narrowing by the day. Nowadays most bird photographers has shown deep interest in the birds' welfare besides just taking their photos.

Recently i have a rare opportunity to watch a wood sandpiper and a common sandpiper side-by-side. 

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

This is how they look in flight.

Wood Sandpiper in Flight (above)

Common Sandpiper in Flight

Here are both of them side-by-side

Common Sandpiper (left) and Wood Sandpiper (front)

Here are the other birds which were seen together with the sandpipers.

Common Moorhen

This was the first time that i was able to get it on photo.

White-Breasted Waterhen

"Hey guys, this fella here looks very strange" !

A group of Jungle Myna having a look at an odd looking friend of theirs.

Here is the close-up look of their mutant friend

Note: the above bird could have been just a juvenile Jungle Myna

A large flock of Asian Glossy Starling. In flight they can form amazing murmurations.

Note: It is encouraging to see that many bird photographers have taken the initiative to identify and learn more about the birds they shoot. Organisers of photography competitions should also encourage photographers to identify and put a name on their subjects especially those which depicts wildlife.

"Wisdom begins with putting the right name on a thing"

(old Chinese proverb) - IOC World Bird List

Happy Birding !

Common Birds of Paddy Fields - Dec 2015 to Jan 2016

When i was young i used to be confused by the words rice and paddy. So for the benefits of those who are just as blur as me, here is an abstract on the differences / similarity between a paddy and a rice.

"Paddy becomes rice after the removal of its husk by threshing. Therefore, rice is a part of paddy. Paddy is the rice grain with husk. The term paddy was derived from the Malay word "Padi" which means “rice in the straw or husk”. Rice is the seed of paddy. Generally, rice plant also is called paddy. This is a crop which belongs to the family Graminae. Botanical name of the paddy is Oryza sativa. It is a staple food of the majority of the world population. It is the second major crop in the world" 

When you travel around Peninsular Malaysia especially before the harvest season, you can be treated with some spectacular views of the paddy fields. Along with the views you can also find yourself with some of the birds which you may be hoping to see. Here are some of the common birds which can be found around the paddy fields in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Those little white spots in the above photo were dews / water droplets. This photo was taken in the early morning - about 7.30am.

The most common bird of them all are the Cattle Egret

Black-Shouldered Kite are also common in paddy fields as well as around open grass lands.

At times you may also come across some Intermediate Egrets. Just wonder how it has kept its feathers so clean and white.


Another common bird which you may find foraging in paddy fields are the pond herons. Apparently all three types of pond heron (Chinese, Indian and Javan ) do occur in the paddy fields here and they are virtually indistinguishable in the field during non-breeding season.

Some field reports however described that Chinese Pond Heron is slightly larger than the Indian Pond Herons and Javan Pond Herons. While the smallest of em all is the Indian Pond heron.

This pond heron is noticeably smaller than the earlier one. Although i do not discount that it could have been a juvenile but based on its features - blue lore, shorter wingspan and bolder neck stripes, this could have been an Indian Pond Heron.

White-Rumped Munia are also common in the paddy fields

Striated heron has been a very adaptive bird lately

Black-Winged Stilt can at times be as common in certain paddy fields.


Once the paddy fields are cropped the scene can be significantly different but the common birds will still be around.

Could this be a pseudo Collared Crow or a real thing?

There are still plenty of food to look for - example worms, frogs, small fishes, insects etc.


When you go birding in the paddy fields, don't forget to bring plenty of your sun block with appropriate SPF properties.