Month: December 2014

Species: Ceryle rudis English Name: Pied Kingfisher Chinese Name: 斑魚狗 Family: Alcedinidae Description: Black and white, medium-sized (25-31 cm long), crested kingfisher with a black stout bill and black legs and feet. The head has a black cap and eye mask with a white supercilium. Below, the plumage is mainly white with a double black breastband (males) or…

Species: Alcedo atthis English Name: Common Kingfisher Chinese Name: 普通翠鳥 Family: Alcedinidae Description The Common Kingfisher is a small kingfisher (16-20 cm) with a long black bill (with an orange base on females) and red feet and legs. Plumage is mainly orange-rufous underparts and blue upperparts, with a white throat and neck patch. This Macao resident can be…

Species: Halcyon pileata English Name: Black-capped Kingfisher Chinese Name: 藍翡翠 Family: Alcedinidae Description: The Black-capped Kingfisher has 28-30 cm in length. The stout bill, legs and feet are red. Adult have a black head, white collar, throat and breast, rufous underparts and blue on the back and tail. Wings are blue, black and white.  Is occurs in Macau…

Species: Halcyon smyrnensis English Name: White-throated Kingfisher Chinese Name: 白胸翡翠 Family: Alcedinidae Description: This large kingfisher (27-28 cm) has a large, stout, dark red bill and red legs and feet. Adults have a prominent  white patch on the chin and breast that contrast with the brown plumage on head and belly, wings, mantle and tail are mainly blue.…

Species: Eurystomus orientalis English Name: Oriental Dollarbird Chinese Name: 三寶鳥 Family: Coraciidae Description: This medium-sized bird (27-32 cm) has long wings and short neck and tail. Legs and feet are red and the bill is red with a black tip. The plumage is black on the head, side-neck and tail and the rest is blue and green. It occurs…

Species: Apus nipalensis English Name: House Swift Chinese Name: 小白腰雨燕 Family: Apodidae Description: This species is similar to the Fork-tailed Swift but is smaller (12-15 cm), slightly forked tail and broader wings. The plumage is black with a white rump. Bill, legs and feet are black. It is a common resident in Macau. Photos used under a Creative Commons…

Species: Apus pacificus English Name: Fork-tailed Swift Chinese Name: 白腰雨燕 Family: Apodidae Description: The Fork-tailed Swift has 17-18 cm in length and a deeply forked tail. Bill, legs and feet are black. Plumage is mainly black with a white rump band and heavily marked underparts. This is a strong migratory swift who spends most of their live in open-air…

Species: Glaucidium cuculoides English Name: Asian Barred Owlet Chinese Name: 斑頭鵂鶹 Family: Strigidae Description: Small (22-25 cm), short winged owl with yellowish eyes, bill, feet and legs. Head, neck, breast and upperparts are brownish and below it is white with brown-rufous patterns. It is a Macao resident. Photos used under a Creative Commons license References: – Department of Gardens and…

Species: Bubo bubo English Name: Eurasian Eagle Owl Chinese Name: 鵰鴞 Family: Strigidae Description: The Eurasian Eagle Owl is the largest owl in China, with 56-75 cm length. It has distinctive feathered  legs and prominent ear tufts. Plumage is brown with black patterns on the mantle and covers and whitish streaked black on the breast and belly. It is…

Species: Cuculus micropterus English Name: Indian Cuckoo Chinese Name: 四聲杜鵑 Family: Cuculidae Description: The Indian Cuckoo has 32-33 cm in length. The plumage is grey-brown upperparts and white with brown bars underparts. Legs and feet are yellow and the eyes are brown with a prominent eye ring. It occurs in Macao as a summer visitor. Photos used under a…