Feathers

What impressed me was the parent (photo below) which was seen looking dull and haggard with mud stains over its head, face and plumage, a result of working hard hunting for insects in the mangrove mudflats for the fledgling. Before breeding, the parents were fresh, clean and bright. That’s what all parents would work very hard to make sure their children get the best food to grow up. A haggard parent bringing food to its chicks. A clean, fresh fledgling waiting for the parent to feed. A young offspring. Parent and child, after feeding. Right is fledgling. A parent feeding its fledgling. Parent and fledgling, left is parent. An adult mangrove pitta, taking a rest after feeding its young. Feeding two offsprings the size of its own is not easy for the parent.

Grey-breasted Spiderhunter 灰胸捕蛛鸟 I was delighted to come across a parasitic mistletoe species at Sg Sedim which bore white flowers, my first encounter of its kind. Flowers of common Malayan mistletoe species which we usually see are yellow or orange in color. I was even happier when I saw a spiderhunter, the mistletoe’s pollinator, sipping nectar from the flowers, and the bird turned out to be a grey-breasted spiderhunter, a lifer for me. ... (14th July 2016, Sungai Sedim Kedah.) The mistletoe’s pollinator, sipping nectar from the flowers, and the bird turned out to be a grey-breasted spiderhunter,  After studying and comparing the various species of spiderhunters, my method of identifying if it is a grey-breasted spiderhunter is as follows:  a: It has grey with short dashes from the throat down which ends with vague and wavy longer streaks on the breast.  b: It has yellow linings on the ...

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Female) 紫颊直嘴太阳鸟 ( 雌 ) Early in the morning, a pair of these sunbirds came out to the riverside of Sg Sedim carpark, hopping between branches in search of breakfast. They moved so quickly I only managed to snap this female. (July 2016, Sg Sedim Kedah)   Early in the morning, a pair of these sunbirds came out to the riverside of Sg Sedim carpark, hopping between branches in search of breakfast. The ruby-cheeked sunbird moved so quickly I only managed to snap this female.

White-bellied Erpornis 白腹凤鹛 ,   綠畫眉   It can be simply called Erpornis, because it is the only member of the genus Erpornis, .   Its prominent feature is its crest. It was found in foothill area of Sungai Sedim, Kedah. It was in a flock of about 5, actively flying and stopping from tree to tree for only a few seconds so it was difficult to photograph them. (July 2016, Sungai Sedim, Kedah) White-bellied Erpornis  is the only member of the genus Erpornis White-bellied Erpornis. It was found in foothill area of Sungai Sedim, Kedah. It was in a flock of about 5, actively flying and stopping from tree to tree for only a few seconds so it was difficult to photograph them.

White-headed Munia 白头文鸟 When the paddy fields turn from green to golden yellow, it is about time ready for harvest, it is also a time of celebration for a variety of birds that include these lovely white-headed munias. For certain reasons, white-headed munia seems to be less commonly seen nowadays in comparison with scaly-breasted munias. I only saw a flock of 4 over half a day in the paddy fields. When we were small, large flocks of more than 30 birds is often seen flying a cross abandoned tin-mining pools. (June 2016, Balik Pulau Penang) When the paddy fields turn from green to golden yellow, it is about time ready for harvest, it is also a time of celebration for a variety of birds that include these lovely white-headed munias.

Black-winged Stilt 黑翅长脚鹬 ( 红腿娘子 ) A flock of about 8 of these waders came to the padi fields of Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara looking for food. The name stilt suggests they have very long, thin pink legs, which allows them to stay above the water whilst walking to pick up aquatic insects and crustaceans from the mud. (June 2016, Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara)  Black-winged Stilt, Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara  Black-winged Stilt, Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara Black-winged Stilt, Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara Black-winged Stilt, Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara Black-winged Stilt, Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara Black-winged Stilt, Sungai Dua Seberang Perai Utara

Asian Brown Flycatcher 灰鶲 This small bird is about the size of a sparrow, but with the ability to migrate to South-east Asia from northern part of Asia during winter. (Sg Sedim, Kedah)