The Collared Finchbill just isn’t a uncommon chook, and it isn’t endangered, however it’s a explicit favourite of mine. So, to be able to present just a few extra pictures of the chook than the standard two or three had I included this chook in a put up of birds seen round Wolongshan, Sichuan), right here is one devoted to the species.
The Collared Finchbill is a bulbul, despite the fact that the identify doesn’t state this straight. It’s a little bit of an outsider within the bulbul household, being solely considered one of two bulbuls within the genus Spizixos (“chirping bulbul” – a bit unusual as many different bulbuls together with the omnipresent Mild-vented Bulbul additionally chirp lots). The opposite is the Crested Finchbill.
The Latin species identify is semitorques, which suggests one thing like “half-twisted” – however I don’t know why. The Japanese Scops Owl has the identical phrase in its identify (Otus semitorques), however I couldn’t discover a proof for that both.
The distribution map of the Collared Finchbill contains Shanghai, which is on the Northeastern border of the distribution – however in truth, Collared Finchbills are fairly uncommon right here. Typically talking, although, it’s a frequent chook that advantages from tolerating extremely man-modified environments (HBW). So, I suppose perhaps Shanghai is simply too chilly for it in winter.
In case you are extra involved in feather mites than in birds, a paper describing two new species of pteronyssid feather mite species (considered one of which was collected from Collared Finchbills) could also be extra enticing to you than this put up, regardless of the dearth of pictures. It was revealed within the Journal “Systematic and Utilized Acarology” (apparently, acarology is the examine of mites and ticks).
Consuming greens is sweet in your well being, my mom insisted, although I not often comply with this recommendation except on birding journeys when there aren’t any good alternate options. In one study simply revealed in July 2023, herbivorous Collared Finchbills had the bottom mercury focus whereas an insectivorous species had the best. My mom is useless already, however she might need identified that she informed me so.
And naturally, there may be the anticipated paper characterizing the mitochondrial genome of Collared Finchbill. Should discover work for grad college students, should discover work for grad college students, mumbled the professor manically.
Most Collared Finchbills are usually not very eager on mentioning the chicks of Himalayan Cuckoos. Thankfully for them (although much less so for the cuckoo), in one experiment they ejected 100% of all cuckoo mannequin eggs. A relative of them, the Brown-breasted Bulbul, depends on a unique technique to keep away from being cuckolded – putting their nests away from forests (the place the cuckoo lives), and aggressively attacking cuckoos.
I used to be nearly to comply with the above with the phrase about there being a couple of approach to pores and skin a cat however then shied away from utilizing it as I actually like cats (as witnessed by the 13 sharing my condominium with me). So, I regarded on-line for an alternate and located a web site with the self-explanatory title “Animal-Pleasant Alternate options for Frequent Expressions” (it additionally provides alternate options for phrases reminiscent of “Killing two birds with one stone”). The phrase they recommend utilizing is “Feed two birds with one hand”, or the vegan model “Lower two carrots with one knife”.
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