鳥類知識科普

The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a small bird, a common resident in Taiwan, often found near streams, rivers, and ponds. Its most striking feature is its blue-green and bright blue back feathers, contrasted with an orange-red breast and belly, and a long, pointed beak. What makes the Common Kingfisher remarkable is its fishing prowess. It usually perches on branches or rocks by the water, observing the surface. Upon spotting prey, it suddenly dives into the water, catches the fish with its beak, and flies back to its perch. When entering the water, it uses its nictitating membrane to protect its eyes and can adapt to surface reflections and light refraction underwater. After catching a fish, it often beats the fish against hard objects like branches before swallowing it. Its nest is also unique; instead of building nests in trees, it excavates tunnels in riverbanks or earth slopes and breeds inside these burrows. Don't underestimate this small bird; the Common Kingfisher is a formidable hunter by the water—once it locks onto its target, it plunges into the water like a tiny blue missile. Note: Sorry everyone, I've been really busy lately, which is why I haven't been posting daily 🥹 Image source: https://share.google/1TwDofqS67WkOmXoF https://share.google/6sxC6GuA6LLyefoh1

The Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a bird with a very striking appearance. In Taiwan, it's mainly a rare migratory bird, more likely to be seen in spring, while Kinmen has a stable population. Its most noticeable feature is the large, brownish-orange crest on its head. Normally, it lies flat like ordinary feathers, but when spread, it's as if a fan has suddenly opened above its head, with the black tips of the feathers becoming very prominent. The Hoopoe has a long, slightly downcurved bill. It's often found foraging on the ground, probing into soil or leaf litter with its long beak to find small invertebrates like insects, larvae, spiders, and earthworms. It also has a unique survival strategy. During the breeding season, the preen gland secretions of the female and chicks turn dark, become sticky, and emit a strong odor. Besides potentially having antibacterial properties, this is also thought to help reduce the risk of predation. Normally unassuming, but instantly transforming when its crest is raised, the Hoopoe is truly a distinctive bird. Image source: https://share.google/t6OAlZW7kCtAsO1ks

The Taiwan Whistling Thrush (Tarsiger formosanus) is an endemic bird species to Taiwan, primarily inhabiting forest environments in mid-to-high altitude mountain areas. It has been recognized as a distinct species following recent taxonomic research. Its most striking feature is a prominent white eyebrow stripe above its eyes, complemented by a dark head and an orange-yellow belly, resembling natural eyeliner. The Taiwan Whistling Thrush is often found in the forest understory, shrubbery, and forest edges, preferring to perch on lower branches to observe its surroundings. When it spots insects or other small invertebrates, it swiftly flies out to capture them. Despite its small size, it is remarkably agile. It often perches quietly on a branch, only to dart out for food the next moment, making it a delightful little bird in the mountains. With a white eyebrow line and a warm orange hue, the Taiwan Whistling Thrush is like a discreet yet precious little sprite of the forest. Image source: https://share.google/szBs7E3BYBQlCxQN2

Anna's hummingbird (scientific name Calypte anna) is a common hummingbird in western North America, mainly distributed in the western United States, southwestern Canada, and northern Mexico. It is also one of the few hummingbirds that can remain active year-round in the colder regions of North America. The most striking feature of the male is the iridescent rose-red feathers on its crown and throat. When light hits from different angles, the feathers flash with a brilliant metallic red sheen, making them appear to change color. Anna's hummingbirds are about 10 cm long and weigh only 3-6 grams, yet they possess astonishing flight capabilities, able to hover in front of flowers and even fly backward. They primarily feed on nectar, while also catching insects and spiders for nutrition. Hummingbirds have very high metabolisms. In cold weather, Anna's hummingbirds can enter a state of 'torpor,' lowering their body temperature, heart rate, and metabolic rate to conserve precious energy. They are also highly adaptable to human environments and can be seen in cities, parks, and residential gardens. With their tiny bodies, they lower their metabolism on cold nights and transform into a sparkling little red jewel during the day. Image source: https://share.google/r4nFeYl9v9hiJBl6S

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus) is a small woodpecker, about 16-17 cm in length. It's a common resident bird in Taiwan, primarily found in low to mid-elevation forest environments. It features black, white, and grayish-brown markings, with males having distinct red patches on the sides of their heads. Don't let its small size fool you; it's quite the skilled 'tree engineer'. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker climbs tree trunks and branches, searching for insects hidden in bark crevices or within the wood. When foraging, it pecks at trees with its strong beak and uses its slender tongue to extract prey from hidden spots. Its central tail feathers are also quite special. The stiff feather shafts act as a prop against the tree trunk, supporting its body and allowing for stable movement on the tree. During breeding season, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker excavates nesting cavities in tree trunks or deadwood. Despite its small size, its constant pecking allows it to work busily in the forest, making the nickname 'mini engineer' quite fitting. Image source: https://share.google/AxVVxcaaApX4qOAhf

The Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae, formerly Erythrura gouldiae) is a small, vibrantly colored bird native to northern Australia, commonly known as the Rainbow Finch. What makes them most captivating is their plumage, which seems to gather multiple colors. Adult birds have green backs, purple chests, and yellow bellies. Their faces come in three head color morphs: black, red, or the very rare yellow. This gives them the appearance of a tiny rainbow. Gouldian Finches primarily inhabit tropical savannas and open woodlands, typically staying close to water sources. They mainly feed on mature or semi-mature grass seeds and also consume insects during their breeding season. They are often seen in flocks, and outside the breeding season, they can gather in very large groups. Gouldian Finches are quite quiet, occasionally emitting small, high-pitched calls. Currently, the Gouldian Finch is listed as an endangered species in Australia. Factors such as changes in fire management, habitat degradation, and grazing can impact their food sources and breeding environments. Red, yellow, blue, green, purple… a single Gouldian Finch looks like it's wearing an entire box of paints on its body. Image source: https://share.google/NuayqxfsmewjdARsx

The Fairy Pitta (scientific name: Pitta nympha) is a bird with vibrant colors, classified as a precious and rare endangered summer migratory bird in Taiwan. It arrives in Taiwan every spring for breeding and migrates to Southeast Asia and other regions to spend the winter in autumn. Its most distinctive feature is the multiple bright feather colors on its body, including green, blue, yellow, red, black, and white, hence its name 'Fairy Pitta'. It has a plump body and a short tail, appearing like a small jewel of the forest. Fairy Pittas primarily inhabit dense forests, bamboo groves, and humid woodlands in low-altitude to hilly areas. They are often found foraging on the forest floor, using their beaks to sift through leaf litter in search of earthworms, insects, and other small invertebrates. During the breeding season, they emit loud and rhythmic calls. Despite their brilliant plumage, Fairy Pittas are elusive by nature and difficult to spot, making each sighting a precious event. They rely on intact forest environments for survival and are one of Taiwan's most anticipated beautiful summer visitors. Image source: https://share.google/FjWLjizwS3I8B7rki

The Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) is a common medium-sized diurnal bird of prey in Taiwan, with the Taiwanese population being an endemic subspecies. It is widely distributed in lowland to mid-low elevation forests and can also adapt to urban green spaces like parks and campuses. Its most distinctive feature is a short crest at the back of its head, which it raises when alerted or startled, making it look like it's wearing a small crown, hence the name 'Crested Goshawk'. The Crested Goshawk is a formidable hunter, with its diet including birds, rodents, squirrels, lizards, frogs, and large insects. It often perches in forests, waiting for an opportunity before striking quickly to catch its prey. Interestingly, they don't necessarily live in deep mountains. As long as there are sufficiently tall trees and food, large parks, campuses, and even urban green spaces can become their homes. The Taiwan Raptor Research Center also points out that Crested Goshawks have established stable breeding populations in many urban areas. During the breeding season, Crested Goshawks are highly territorial. If any animal approaches the nest, the parent birds may emit alarm calls or even drive away intruders. So, the next time you see a bird of prey with a small crest on its head in the city, don't just assume it's an ordinary large bird. It might just be the 'urban hunter' living near you – the Crested Goshawk. Image source: https://share.google/Tfm18UUyTLmI6t8sS

The Vivid Niltava (Niltava vivida) is a beautiful bird found in the mountains and forests of Taiwan, belonging to the Old World flycatcher family. It's a resident bird in Taiwan, primarily inhabiting broadleaf and mixed forests in mid-altitude mountain areas. Its most striking feature is the male's vibrant blue and yellow plumage. The male has glossy blue on its head, back, and tail, with a black face and throat, and a conspicuous orange-yellow belly. The combination of blue and orange is quite eye-catching. The female is more subdued, with grayish-brown and olive-brown body colors that help her blend into the forest environment. Vivid Niltavas mainly feed on insects and other small invertebrates. They often perch on branches to observe their surroundings and quickly fly out to catch prey when spotted. They are usually found moving among the forest trees, being quiet and agile, making them a beautiful sight in the mountains that's hard to miss. With its deep blue and a touch of orange-yellow, the Vivid Niltava is like a small flash of color darting through the forest. Image source: https://share.google/Qcx8KDgoJsKGd3POx

The Brown Shrike (scientific name Lanius cristatus) is a bird of the shrike family, primarily a winter visitor and passage migrant in Taiwan. They pass through Taiwan in large numbers during their southward migration each autumn, with some individuals also staying to overwinter. They are commonly found in farmland, grasslands, shrublands, vegetable fields, park green spaces, and other open environments. Its most striking feature is the black "mask" across its face, complemented by reddish-brown tail feathers and a slightly downward-curving black beak. However, multiple subspecies of the Brown Shrike have been recorded in Taiwan, so the color of the head and back can vary noticeably among individuals. It also has a very peculiar habit: sometimes it will impale uneaten prey on sharp twigs or the forks of branches. This behavior is known as "caching" and is used to temporarily store food. Brown Shrikes typically prefer to perch alone on prominent branches, stakes, or similar spots, observing their surroundings from a height. Once they spot prey, they swiftly fly down to capture it. With their sharp beaks and strong talons, they are astute predators in open environments, despite their small and cute appearance. So, don't be fooled by its cute black eye mask and petite size – this little bird that visits Taiwan every year is actually a genuine little hunter. Image source: https://share.google/9IYxNfNty9iBSMMUZ