Bird Name:

Hwamei

Latin Name:

Garrulax conorus

Status:

Least concern

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Timaliidae

Genus: Garrulax

Species: G. canorus

General information:

Common names include Hwamei Laughing Thrush, Melodious Laughing Thrush and Chinese Thrush. The name "hwamei" comes from Chinese and means "painted eyebrow" referring to the distinctive marking around the bird's eyes. There are three subspecies: G. canorus owstoni, G. canorus taewanus, and G. canorus canorus. Due to the males' elaborate songs, the Hwamei is the most popular caged bird in the global Chinese community. Hwamei's song is a loud, clear, varied whistling with regular repetition and imitations of other birds.

Physical Description:

The Hwamei is 21 to 25 cm long with broad, rounded wings and a fan-shaped tail. The plumage is reddish-brown with dark steaks on the crown, back and throat. There is a white ring around the eye which extends backwards to the nape forming a white streak. The bill is yellow as are the feet and the short legs. G. c. owstoni is paler and more olive-colored. G. c. taewanus is greyer and streaks are more evident. This subspecies also lacks the trademark white markings around the eyes. Sexes are similar. The

Diet:

Diet consists mainly of insects but the Hwamei will also eat fruit and seeds. They forage for food on the ground in leaf litter.

Habitat:

The Hwamei inhabits scrubland, secondary forests, parks and gardens up to 6000 feet above sea level.
G. c. canorus occurs across south-eastern and central China and in northern and central Vietnam and Laos. It has been introduced to Hawaii, Singapore, and Taiwan. G. c. owstoni is found on Hainan while G. c. taewanus is found on Taiwan.

Reproduction:

The breeding season lasts from May to July. A pair is monogamous. A cup-shaped nest is built up to two meters above the ground in a tree, bush or amongst undergrowth. Two to five blue or blue-green eggs are laid. The female will incubate the eggs for 15 days. Nestlings are feed by both parents. The young fledge after about 13 days.

Bird Name:

Iris Glossy-starling

Latin Name:

Coccycolius iris

Status:

Deficient Data

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Sturnidae

Genus: Coccycolius

Species: C. iris

General Information:

Another common name is the Emerald Starling. The scientific classification of the Iris Glossy-starling is disputed, with many placing it with other glossy-starlings in the genus Lamprotormis.
It is classified as "data deficient" by the IUCN. This means that it is unlikely to be seriously threatened with extinction, but that its status in the wild is in need of assessment. The "data deficient" status has been upheld since 2000.

Physical Description:

It is one of the smallest species of starlings, at about 7 inches in length. The Iris Glossy-starling has a metallic green crown, upper body, wings, and tail. The ear-coverts and underparts are metallic purple. The sexes are similar. They have a strong narrow beak. Juveniles are brown below, and brown green mixed above, with green wings.

Diet:

This species feeds on figs, berries and other fruits, seeds, ants and other small insects.

Habitat:

The Iris Glossy-starling is distributed in West Africa, from west and south-east Guinea, Sierra Leone and west-central Ivory Coast. It is found in orchard bush and wooded and open savannahs, where it keeps to the tops of tall trees. It often uses dead trees for perches. It avoids forests, but is occasionally found at the edge of gallery forests. Cup-shaped nest are built in tree cavities.

Reproduction:

Clutch consists of 2 to 4 pale blue eggs. The female does the majority of the incubation, which lasts 13 to 15 days. The female has a fully developed brood patch (bare spot on belly) that helps her to transfer heat more efficiently to the eggs.