AjarnNorth

9 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Further reading ftom eBird/Clements. The last paragraph emboldened by me for emphasis:

 

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei) is split, following Rasmussen and Anderton (2005). The two groups, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Fulvous-breasted) (Dendrocopos macei [macei Group]) and Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Spot-breasted) (Dendrocopos macei analis), each are recognized as separate species, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei), and Freckle-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos analis). Note the change of the English name of Dendrocopos analis, to avoid the overlapping with the well-established name Spot-breasted Woodpecker for Colaptes punctigula of the New World tropics. Subspecies longipennis and andamanensis, previously assigned (erroneously!) to the group Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Fulvous-breasted) (Dendrocopos macei [macei Group], are transfered to Freckle-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos analis).

What does this source say on Purple vs. Black-backed Swamphen? I know at least one notable Ornithologist who - at least some years ago - did not agree with the split and thought it more of a "splitters" vs. "lumpers" distinction.

I don't know much about all this, as I have said. But I also note that when it comes to popular names, they can stick even after the split has been made. Note that on the oriental bird club images they still list as popular names for what they call "Fulvous-breasted" as including many variation, including "Spot-breasted," thus further confusing the issue. 

They were Spot-breasted for a while. Is this an instance of "splitting" or is this an instance where it becomes clear that a popular name (as opposed to the latin) is already in use so they simply change the name. I thought that was what happened with Fulvous-breasted vs. Spot-breasted. And how in heck did Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler become Rusty-rumped? 

Likely sunbird species - some are larger than others - and plumage (color) changes on the males when they are ready to breed. 

Does anyone else hear Plaintive Cuckoo every single day no matter where they are. I am in Bangsaen, Chonburi listening to one right now. I hear one every day. Last year i lived in Bangkok all year. I heard one every day. Everywhere i go, every day. I feel like I am being followed. 

21 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Sadly the 4 day old bulbul chick died yesterday. Saw at 6am one bird on the nest and the other next to it on the helmet which I'd never seen before so suspected something. Had a look at 6.30am on my way out and the chick was on its back dead with two swellings: one in its neck area and a bigger one belly area. At 8am the wife had a look on her way out and the birds had removed the chick from the nest. The birds hung around for a while on the unhatched egg but have now moved on: unsuccessful for the 2nd time with chicks.

I wonder what the survival rate is. Last time I had YVBB nesting in my garden, both chicks died as well. 

Great shot of the Lesser C. I used to see them fairly often in Surin, always in reed bed areas near water. Greater of course I saw constantly there and see constantly here in Chonburi. Don't recall having seen a lesser here in Chon as yet, so if I have it would have only been once or twice and definitely not from my yard. 

19 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Nice shots of Zebra Doves (Geopelia striata), which until fairly recently were considered the same species as the Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida), but have since been split and are now classed as separate species. Obviously, they are quite similar and closely related. However, the correct name here in Thailand and SE Asia is Zebra Dove, as the Peaceful Dove is found in Australia and New Guinea.

 

Of course I don't care what anyone calls them and this is technical and FYI only, but the science is in...for the time being anyway. It is not unheard of in Ornithology for split species to be lumped back together again as more data is gathered...same as any branch of science.

 

The obvious differences...

Peaceful Doves have barring extending all the way across the breast, while Zebra Doves have barring confined to the sides of the breast. Check out Google Images to see the diff. The two species also have different vocalizations. 

Interesting. I always like the name "Zebra Dove" better. I don't know a lot about all the splits. I do know that there are groups of folks who consider themselves "splitters" and others who consider themselves "lumpers." And there are even well respected ornithologists who ID themselves as "lumpers." Something I need to learn more about. I recently started reading "The Wisdom of Birds" an Illustrated History of Ornithology by Tim Birkhead. Picked it up in BKK at Kinokuneya. Very interesting start - and great illustrations throughout - but I imagine I am far off from any discussion of splitting vs. lumping. 

GB Malkoha are common enough that I think you will probably see one in your BKK patch eventually. If memory serves, I have seen them between Lumpini and Benjakiti in trees along the green mile. I see them regularly from my yard here in Bangsaen, Chonburi.  

On 3/6/2018 at 11:21 AM, Bredbury Blue said:

Can you identify this bird for me please (taken by the wife on her gym treadmill hence the quality)?

 

 

LINE_MOVIE_1520219450592.mp4

Black-naped Oriole. 

Skeptic. In Vientiane at the moment. House Sparrow seem to dominate, though still a fair share of Eurasian Tree. 

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

I think is it. Wish it would sit for more than a second some where so I could get a photo. ?

 Bulbul.

Yellow-vented Bulbul, most likely. http://www.oiseaux.net/birds/photos/yellow-vented.bulbul.html

Overherebc: At a pretty random guess, one of the Munia species, possibly juveniles if seemingly all brown. Check the inside the trees she was spraying and you may find a ball like nest. 

Me, too, Skeptic. The night after my post the flameback woke my wife and I with it's high pitched piercing call. It was near 4 AM. The following morning I had to go into Bangkok and just got back last night. As yet, no call, no pecking and no visual. One of the reasons I missed the shot is my camera is acting up. I get Focus errors almost every time i turn it on and have to turn it off and on a few times before I can get a shot or two off before another "focus error." It's been dropped one too many times, I think. Looking for a Fuji HS50 now to replace it. 

Bangsaen yard list species #89. Common Flameback. No photo yet, but clear and close looks with bins and with naked eye in trees just over my wall. I heard it pecking yesterday but couldn't get s sight through the foliage. Today, a few clear as day looks. Maybe tomorrow morning I can get a photo. Common resident but the first I have ever seen this close and all other looks have been fleeting and in very wooded areas. Never so close to houses. 

The Fantail in the last picture is a Pied Fantail. No supercilium. Black breast band and pale underparts. Or has that already been covered? I am a bit lost in the thread here. 

Great Egret and Grey Heron, to be specific. Not to sound finicky, but most birders are finicky like that. 

yes common hoopoe

On 12/10/2017 at 6:25 PM, BrownShrike said:

So I am guessing the animal protection laws are not enforced much here. A few months ago I was feeding a few local birds that would visit my garden daily, I'm guessing a few got trapped around the area as I haven't seen them anymore.

Enforced? Ha. No. Not even much in protected areas. As to your yardbids you were feeding, depends much on where you are and what species. Migration period so they may have just Moved on.

Both, I think. When I lived in Surin the rice farmers said they put them up to catch munia but of course all manner of species get caught up and some get collected and eaten and others just left.  Where I Iive now fish farmers put them up and say cormorant are their main target.  But I also find them a lot near migrant labor camps in mangrove areas and those are definitely for food collection. 

On 4/11/2560 at 1:06 PM, kgpr said:

Not sure what this eagle is it was going very low around the rice fields looking for food

Sent from my SM-N910C using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Eastern Marsh-Harrier, I believe. Anyone else? Could also be a Juv. Pied Harrier. Edit: Ooops. Just noticed Teflon Don beat me to it. I'm leaning Juv. Pied but it's been a long while since I had regular field experience with harriers. 

Ashy Drongo arrived on my soi in Bangsaen, Chonburi today. They are the dominant drongo on my soi, with black being more common back in the wooded areas and mangrove areas I visit locally.