Little Cormorant

BURUNG PEPENDANG KECIL

Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

Sri Iskandar, Batu Gajah

23/09/2023

The Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) is a small waterbird found across South and Southeast Asia. It is the smallest cormorant species in the region, distinguishable by its all-black plumage during the breeding season and brownish feathers with a whitish throat patch in the non-breeding season.

This bird is often seen swimming low in freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds, and estuaries, where it dives underwater to catch fish. After feeding, it perches on rocks or branches with its wings spread out to dry. Unlike the Indian Cormorant, it has a stouter bill and a flatter head shape.

IUCN REDLIST 2024 - Least Concern (LC)

Pink Necked Green Pigeon

 BURUNG PUNAI GADING

Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)

The Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) is a strikingly colorful bird found across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. It is a medium-sized pigeon, measuring around 25–30 cm in length. The species is sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females have distinct plumage.

• Male: Features a soft pink neck, an orange breast, and a gray-blue head. Its back and wings are primarily green, with black primaries and yellow-edged tertiaries that create a striking wing pattern in flight.
• Female: More subdued in appearance, with an overall greenish plumage that helps her blend into foliage.

These pigeons are fruit specialists, particularly favoring figs, and play an essential role in seed dispersal. They thrive in open habitats, including urban areas, as long as fruiting trees are present. Their nests are simple twig structures, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs.

Common Flameback Woodpecker

BURUNG BELATUK PINANG MUDA

Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense)

The Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense), also known as the Common Goldenback, is a striking woodpecker species across South and Southeast Asia. It is a medium-sized bird, measuring around 28–30 cm in length.

Key Features

• Plumage: Golden-yellow back with black-and-white markings on the underside.
• Sexual Dimorphism: Males have a bright red crest, while females have a black crest with white streaks.
• Feet: Unlike many woodpeckers, it has three toes instead of four.
• Call: A loud, high-pitched trill, often heard in mixed-species foraging flocks.

Habitat & Behavior

• Prefers moist open forests, scrubs, and mangroves.
• Typically found in lowland areas, but can reach altitudes of 1,700m in India.
• Feeds on insects by pecking into tree bark.
• Nests in holes of fruit trees, coconut palms, or stumps, with clutch sizes of 2–3 eggs.

This species is often confused with the Greater Flameback, but can be distinguished by its smaller bill, black nape, and red rump.