Parrot (3/3) October 2022 - Blue-naped Parrot (Lifer 552/688)

This parrot is a feral/introduced from Filipina. In Kota Kinabalu. it can only be seen  Tanjung Aru. It is a sure see bird there as a dozen or so parrot reside permanently in the larger (dead now) Ru tree at the far corner of the beach from away from the human activities below. Once it gone I am not sure it will go.

This was my second attempt after the failed sighting with Theresa team sometime back Luckily the keen eyes of AT got them as I was lured by the call of parrots to the opposite side. Do not expect the local traders to tell you. they will says "di sana dan another di situ dengar dia " 

This is a medium size parrot, around 31 cm (12 in) in length, primarily green except for a light blue rear crown and nape, pale blue lower back and rump, scalloped shoulders with orange brown on black coverts, and blackish underwings with green underwing coverts.

The blue-naped parrot feeds on mangoes, berries, seeds, nuts and grains. It nests in tree holes.

It was a good start to our birding excursion ....................

Munia 5/6 -White-capped Munia (Black-headed Munia Lonchura Ferruginosa) Lifer 550/688

The White-capped  are introduced bird  to Singapore first from Central Java Indonesia. They are  released or escape caged bird then. Recently there is a small colony of them sighted in Melaka padi field. Whether they are brought directly over or they have move upwards peninsula we will not know. I was also hoping the Javan Munia will migrate further up from southern Johor (Muar side) but alas they have yet to be recorded here.

They are nicknamed "Tricolors Nun" with its distinct white crown and nape, black throated and brown/chestnut back. In Craig's book it is  labelled as subspecies of the Black-headed.  I would consider its a lifer though as  feral birds from Indonesia which have become residents and breeding. here 

In July we saw them mainly in pairs feeding together  and collecting nesting material. Only at one time I saw them in a flock of  12-15 birds. They are considered pest to padi farmers as they do feed on rice grains. Hope they will not be a nuisance  too much if not they may be eradicated.

FERAL 3/10 - Guinea Fowl

Guinea Fowl
This is a feral or domesticated bird from Africa ...................reared as pets for their beauty and eggs. Do not see them been eaten here in Malaysia maybe for their eggs ..........

It can be seen kampong and village

New photo uploaded 130318 Free range birds in Janda Baik Pahang. A dozen or so roaming the resort Bidai Sari compound and its jungle fringe.

Avian Sighting - Mandarin Duck

Male above ...........Female below

Last weekend I visited Janda Baik  outback and the many homestay and village resort I was hoping to see the  rare Asian Emerald Cuckoo or its like at the many fruit farm there. I ended in Bidai Sari Resort where they have some open range ponds where they keep a collection of ducks . There  are 2 pair of Mandarin duck which you can shot in full frame in open enclosure. I think you can also see it in Perdana Bird Park KL.

It is a bird of South East Asia and recorded as a vagrant in Central Thailand but  very unlikely to see in the wild in Malaysia except in  captivity reared by private individual for its beauty......

STARLING 4/6 - Black collared Starling

Since 2013 there were sightings by fellow MNS birders at Bukit Jelutong Shah Alam. Again threesome of 2 adult birds and a juvenile were seen foraging on the ground near the Pavilion recently. Like the Red Whiskered Bulbul; Black-collared Starling are feral (KL Bird Park do have them) or released caged birds. Starlings are an adaptive bird which can propagate easily in a suburban environment. It is recorded as a Malaysian bird in www.birdlist.org. Hopefully, they can establish a good size colony and be actually recognised as a permanent  resident of Malaysia. 

However, there is place in the north that you can see these birds in the wild is at Chuping Perlis namely the ex-sugar plantation and refinery.

The Asian Pied Starlings are already making a mark at Port Kelang Golf Club Selangor. There is more than a dozen of these gregarious birds there as we speak. My blogging buddy just informed me that he has also seen a few Black Collared  there too.


My take was in Xiamen China Dec 2014.

FERAL 4/10 - Asian Golden Weaver

Asian Golden Weaver

This is a cousin of our local Baya Weaver. YIf you see it in Peninsula it is most probably an escapee or feral from Thailand.

This one was shot in Penang Bird Park Seberang Prai.

FERAL 1/10 - Eurasian Collared Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

Likely not Red Turtledoves, the Red Turtledoves should be much redder in tone, these are likely the Barbary Doves (either originated from Eurasian Collared Dove or African Collared Dove, its still under debate but African seemed to be the more favored choice for the time being, the Barbary Dove, which is completely domesticated is usually regarded as a distinct species, or a subspecies of the African/European).

This is a common cage bird, it is also often wrongly called the Javanese Turtledove which is in fact another species! I have seen this species as an escapee as well once opposite my house.

The real Red Turtledove has a grey head and very reddish body. Red turtle dove is essentially a plains species, extending to Taiwan and the Philippines but uncommon on the Malaysian archipelago. In Malaysia it is a feral species that make it their home. Probably brought over by the Indians migrants a long time ago. It is the commonest dove throughout the Punjab region. It is a summer migrant visitor to Pakistan and the Republic of India where it is more or less resident.

They prefer open drier country,cultivation plantation and shrubs areas better-wooded tracts such as canal or roadside tree plantations regions. My doves photos are taken in captivity in the state of Kedah opposite my in-laws place. There is even a white one

FERAL 2/10 - Japanese Quail

Japanese Quail

It is not  a Blue-breasted Quail or Barred Buttonquail.......................photo taken in pet shop in Setapak. You know what they selling them RM5-6 each as life feed to pet snakes