10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

The archipelago consists of 17,000 islands stretching out over 2500 miles along the Equator with a varied history of avian research and study, most on the under- or not-studied side. So–the book covers islands that belong to the Republic of Indonesia and to Malaysia. So, this is no ordinary bird guide. Does it make a difference?

Indonesia 124

Indonesia Brunei Malaysia Papua New Guinea 124

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2023

One paper describes them living in the cemeteries of Yogyakarta in Indonesia. The Scaly-breasted Munia has a larger head size than the White-rumped Munia , and a research paper speculates that this is a reason for its wider distribution range. Scaly-breasted Munias seem to be fairly eclectic in their choice of habitat.

Blackbirds 192

Blackbirds Birds Indonesia Bhutan 192

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2024

Greater Coucal body parts are used as traditional medicine by the Malays in Kuok Village in Indonesia ( source ). ” Researchers studying these birds must be grateful for camera traps – one study using such traps obtained 1.74 The Greater Coucal spends most of its life feeling superior to the Lesser Coucal.

Vietnam 190

Vietnam Fowl Birds Iran 190

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 18, 2015

However, that would be unfair since Asian scientists had to cope with tropical heat, leeches, kraits, and thick jungle while North American researchers just had to get over more or less severe cases of warbler neck, so I guess I’ll leave it at that and quickly return to the Pygmy Wren-babbler.

Vietnam 159

Vietnam Timor Myanmar Asia 159

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2017

I love taxonomic research, speciation in birds was one of my primary subjects during my university days. The pittas ( Garnet Pitta seen above) are just such a sacred group of birds that even taxonomists dare not screw them over. Look, I am definitely not part of the reason scientists were forced to march the streets recently.

Brunei 153

Brunei 2009 2014 2016 153

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2024

While it is laudable to publish a paper about the threat to laughingthrushes (including this) by the bird trade, I still feel that lame-joke titles such as “Nothing to laugh about – the ongoing illegal trade in laughingthrushes ( Garrulax species) in the bird markets of Java, Indonesia” should be avoided.

Indonesia 221

Indonesia Birds Charlotte Breeding 221

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2022

Apparently, soloensis stands for “Discovered in or native to the Solo River valley” (Wikipedia; the Solo river is a river in Indonesia). Confusion ensues (HBW): “Usually considered conspecific with B. ” In other words, ornithologists seem to think that the current status is wrong, but have no good alternative either.

Falcons 239

Falcons Japan China South Africa 239

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2023

For example, a researcher and presumed ornithologist set out with two hypotheses related to the Ashy Drongo (and another drongo species) and wrote a paper about it. In Indonesia, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers can be ordered online – offers are posted in closed Facebook groups.

China 179

China 2017 Birds Indonesia 179

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2023

Apparently, in many regions of Indonesia, songbird contests are frequently held. I guess this is partly also because their foraging style is not exactly helpful to lose weight – mostly they just sit on some high bare tree, look around, and catch insects from that post before returning to it.

Malaysia 130

Malaysia Indonesia Lifestyle Japan 130

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2015

During my previous five trips to Indonesia, I only heard but never caught a glimpse of three species. At least in the northeastern United States, their rate of so doing is high, according to research I summarized here. Now, the real challenge is this: not only did I see a pitta, I saw several!

2015 183

2015 Costa Rica Birds Sparrows 183

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2023

At some point, a Chinese researcher had a brilliant idea: Let’s prepare a paper on the complete mitochondrial genome of the Grey-backed Shrike! He spent the years from 1836 to 1858 in Asia, first in Indonesia, then in China, partly as the consul of the city of Hamburg in China.

Hamburgers 204

Hamburgers China Science Birds 204

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2024

One paper – describing research conveniently done at the university campus of Chittagong University, presumably close to the canteen – looks at resource partitioning between this bee-eater and another one, the chestnut-headed bee-eater. Still, it was worth it for seeing several Asian Green Bee-eaters alone.

Vietnam 166

Vietnam Zebras Dissection Birds 166

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2023

Also as video … eBird does not seem to be very excited about the Buff-bellied Pipit , calling it a “drab songbird of open country” I heard that the pipit tried to get a more favorable review from eBird by inviting them to an all-expenses-paid luxury trip to Indonesia, but eBird refused.

Monkeys 147

Monkeys Birds South Korea Owls 147

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

The Crested Serpent-eagle is not a vulture, but that does not keep me from mentioning a recent Economist article here, “The sudden demise of Indian vultures killed thousands of people” And while this article is behind a paywall, the original research paper is not.

Los Angeles 182

Los Angeles Woodpeckers Birds Wounded 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Given the complexity of the research, the result feels like a bit of a letdown – “northern populations start migration earlier than southern populations, especially in autumn” The species name of the Chestnut-eared Bunting is fucata , from the Latin “fucare”, to paint red.

Eggs 203

Eggs Birds Bangladesh China 203