10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

Not a cover species The Black Kite is not actually black, but of course, misleading bird names are not exactly rare. No surprise then that the species is listed as Vulnerable. But then, sanity (or maybe respect for you, the reader) prevailed. Fortunately, they are quite common in Shanghai. It is also called Chinese Bulbul.

Iraq 130

Iraq Birds China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

I am not entirely sure whether most birders outside Germany know or realize that Germany still has a decent population of one of Europe’s most attractive and desired bird species: the Great Bustard Otis tarda. All other harrier species may also be around, including Pallid Harriers which are recorded each year as (semi-)vagrants.

Germany 103

Germany Mongolia Abandon Abandoning 103

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2020

A Field Guide to the Birds of Mongolia by Dorj Ganbold and Chris Smith (2019) offers more than 500 species in one neat edition. A Field Guide to the Birds of Mongolia by Dorj Ganbold and Chris Smith (2019) offers more than 500 species in one neat edition. Common, scientific and Mongolian names are given for each species.

Mongolia 278

Mongolia Falcons 2019 Birds 278

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2022

Second note: Inner Mongolia has a land area larger than that of France and Germany combined, and I only spent one week there. So, to claim that I birded Inner Mongolia is a massive exaggeration. Like many other species, the Chinese Nuthatch is expected to be affected by climate change. Third note: no more notes.

Mongolia 226

Mongolia Hedgehogs Russia Morals 226

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2018

It divides countries into categories, where the next category has 200 more species. In some cases the data are outdated, e.g. Costa Rica has 900 and not 800 species, but I made no corrections, remaining faithful to the original map data. Shown as a list, it looks like this: Less than 200 bird species: Antarctica; oceanic islands.

Equatorial Guinea 226

Equatorial Guinea Costa Rica Central African Republic Guyana 226

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 3, 2015

I probably missed the fossilized remains of a nesting oviraptorid found in Mongolia in 1994, located in the hallway leading to the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs. And, flight became a secondary consideration as fossils of new species, found in rapid succession in Liaoning, indicated that feathers were used for courtship displays.

Mongolia 207

Mongolia Reptiles Science Indiana 207

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2023

Being lazy, a bunch of researchers used camera traps to investigate the species rather than following the birds directly (which would have had some health benefits). They found that the species is diurnal (well, using cameras, would they even have seen nightly activities?), Being wet seems to help, though.

China 130

China Science Birds Mongolia 130

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2016

Baicalensis inhabits southern Siberia around lake Baikal and ranges into the northern half of Mongolia. Now, if you quickly call to mind the pattern of Asian species reaching Europe as vagrants, you will remember that most are from Siberia. But there is – apparently – not a single record of either ocularis or baicalensis.

Germany 100

Germany Sharks Morocco Asia 100