Birds of Solomon Islands 2005 ( Part 1) - Goshawk and others

In relation  with the previous page “ Birds of Solomon Islands . 2005- Pt.1. Blyth's Hornbill “, detail of each stamp described in the following:

Pied Goshawk

The Pied Goshawk (Accipiter albogularis) is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is found in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The Pied Goshawk has length ranged 33 – 43 cm and span 60 – 80 cm.This species is evaluated as Least Concern.

 

Imitator Sparrowhawk

The Imitator Sparrowhawk  or (Accipiter imitator) is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. Accipiter imitator is endemic to Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, and Choiseul and Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands.  Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests at least 400 m and, possibly, 1,000 m and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. As a lowland species, it is likely to be threatened by forest loss and degradation.

There is extensive logging in the lowlands and hills of Choiseul and some on Isabel. Logging may become a problem on Bougainville when the island opens up to development.

Its shorter wings and tail and longer legs suggest that it is better adapted to interior forest.

Eurasian Curlew – Belarus’s Bird of the Year 2011

On March14,2011  the Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Belarus issued the stamp “Eurasian curlew” from the series “Bird of the year”.

The public organization  “Ahova ptushak
Batskaushchyny”(Protection of Homeland
Birds) declared Eurasian curlew the bird of the year 2011 in Belarus.

There are logos of the International organization for the protection of birds “BirdLife International" and Belarus public organization "Ahova ptushak Batskaushchyny" (APB)on the stamps.

Eurasian curlew, or Numenius arquata  is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is the one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia. This is a migratory species over most of its range, wintering in Africa, southern Europe and south Asia.  It is present all year in the milder climate of Ireland, Great Britain and the adjacent European coasts.

Birdlife Stamps of St. Lucia - 2004

To continue  the previous issue of the title " Birds of St. Lucia 2004 ", explanation of 8 stamps are issued for celebration  the Unique Caribbean treasures in the following  paragraphs. The issuance comprised of 8 stamps and all stamps featured the protected bird of St.Lucia, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, Lesser Antillean Pewee , Purple-throated Carib , Grey Trembler,Rufous-throated Solitaire,St. Lucia Warbler,  Antillean Euphonia, Semper's Warbler.

1$    Antillean Crested Hummingbird    Orthorhyncus cristatus

The Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus) is a species of hummingbird in the Trochilidae family. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.

It is found in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, north-east Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius, the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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1$    Lesser Antillean Pewee    Contopus latirostris

The Lesser Antillean Pewee (Contopus latirostris) is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae family. It is found in Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, and Saint Lucia with records from Saint Kitts. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.

New Caledonia 2006–Birdlife Stamps

New Caledonia Post issued the stamp series of birdlife consist of three stamps on year 2006. The stamp set featured Charmosyna diadema,  Aegotheles savesi, Gallirallus lafresnayanus.

Charmosyna diadema

The New Caledonian Lorikeet is 18-19 cm long (the size of a large hand), 7-8 cm of which is the slim and pointed tail.Female birds are green overall, with deep violet blue crown and dark bluish thighs, a yellowish face and underside face, and a red anal region. The tail is green above and yellowish olive below, with the four lateral feathers with red basal markings followed by a black band, tipped yellow on the underside. The beak is orange-red, the iris probably dark orange like the feet.

This bird is hard to track because it is nomadic and is relatively inconspicuous. It is listed as Critically Endangered (D1) by BirdLife International, which means that the effective population size is likely to be less than fifty individuals.

 

Aegotheles savesi

The Enigmatic Owlet-nightjar or Aegotheles savesi, also known as the New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar, is a large owlet-nightjar (a kind of bird related to swifts and goatsuckers) with vermiculated grey-brown and black plumage.

It has a long, slightly rounded tail, short, rounded wings, and long, stout legs.The description of species are 28cm long and large with  dark owlet-nightjar. Plumage rather uniformly vermiculated grey-brown and black. Structurally distinct with short rounded wings, long, slightly rounded tail and relatively long, stout legs

This bird is endemic to New Caledonia’s Melaleuca savanna and humid forests. Other members of its genus are highly territorial and nest in holes in trees. These birds also forage by sitting on a branch and attacking small animals.

Celebrating unique Caribbean Treasures–Birdlife of British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands Post issued the birdlife stamp series to celebrate unique Caribbean Treasures on year 2004. The stamp set comprised of 10 (ten) single stamps feature the Warbler birds of Caribbean.

5c  Black-and-white Warbler   ( Mniotilta varia )

The Black-and-white Warbler is perhaps the easiest warbler to identify with its distinctive nuthatch-like feeding strategy and contrasting black and white plumage.This species is 13 cm long and weighs 11 g. The summer male Black-and-white Warbler is boldly streaked in black and white, and the bird has been described as a flying humbug. There are two white wing bars. Female and juvenile plumages are similar, but duller and less streaked.

The breeding habitat is broadleaved or mixed woodland, preferably in wetter areas. Black-and-white Warblers nest on the ground, laying 4-5 eggs in a cup nest.This species is migratory, wintering in Florida, Central America and the West Indies down to Peru. This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe, mainly to Ireland and Great Britain.

These birds feed on insects and spiders, and unlike other warblers, Black-and-white Warblers forage like a nuthatch, moving up and down tree trunks and along branches. The song is a high see wee-see wee-see wee-see wee-see wee-see, and the call is a hard tick.

 

10c  Prairie Warbler   ( Dendroica discolor )

These birds have yellow underparts with dark streaks on the flanks, and olive upperparts with rusty streaks on the back; they have a yellow line above the eye, a dark line through it, and a yellow spot below it. These birds have black legs, long tails, pale wing bars, and thin pointed bills. Coloring is duller in female and immatures.

Their breeding habitats are brushy areas and forest edges in eastern North America. The Prairie Warbler's nests are open cups, which are usually placed in a low area of a tree or shrub.

These birds are permanent residents in the southern parts of their range. Other birds migrate to northeastern Mexico and islands in the Caribbean.Prairie Warblers forage actively on tree branches, and sometimes fly around with the purpose of catching insects, which are the main food source of these birds.

These birds wag their tail feathers frequently. The numbers of these birds are declining due to habitat loss; this species also suffers from nest parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird.

South Georgia & The South Sandwich Islands. Save Albatross– 2006

South Georgia & The South Sandwich Islands has issued the birdlife stamp series concerning the theme of  ” Save Albatross ” on year 2006. The issuance presented in one souvenir sheet comprised of two stamp Black-Browed Albatross and White-Chinned Petrel, one set of 4 stamps featured Black-Browed Albatross. White-Chinned Petrel, Southern Giant Petrel, Wandering Albatross.

Black Browed Albatross

The Black-browed Albatross is a medium-sized albatross, at 80–95 cm long with a 200–240 cm  wingspan and an average weight of 2.9–4.7 kg . They can have a natural lifespan of over 70 years. It has a bright pink saddle and upper-wings that contrast with the orange, rump, and under-parts.

The under-wing is predominantly white with broad, irregular, black margins. It has a dark eyebrow and a yellow-orange bill with a darker reddish-orange tip.

The Black-browed Albatross is circumpolar in the southern oceans, and it breeds on 12 islands throughout the southern oceans. In the Atlantic Ocean, it breeds on the Falklands, Islas Diego Ramírez, and South Georgia.The Black-browed Albatross feeds on fish, squid, crustaceans, carrion, and fishery discards.

Owls of Belarus. Series of year 2007 .

 

On November 23, 2007 Belarus Post  issued a set of 4 stamps “Owls of Belarus”. The series will continue on the following year 2008 with another species.The stamps featured the Nothern Hawk-owl (surnia sula), Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), Short-eared Owl ( Asio flammeus), and Eurasian Pygmy Owl  (Glaucidium passerinum) and have  printed the logo of Bird Life International.

 

Northern Hawk-Owl ( Surnia ulula)

The Northern Hawk Owl is a non-migratory bird that stays within its breeding range.This bird lays 3-7 white eggs in large tree cavities or nests abandoned by other large birds.It will also nest on cliffsides . It is found in the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia, usually on the edges of more open woodland.

The Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) is a medium sized owl. The term "hawk" refers to its falcon-like wing shape and long tail. This bird is 35-43 cm long with a 69-82 cm wingspan. It has a rounded head with yellow eyes, dark brown upperparts and barred underparts and tail.It is the only living species in the genus Surnia.

 
This is a partially nocturnal owl, which hunts voles and birds like thrushes. It waits on a perch and takes advantage of its rapid flight to overtake prey. The Hawk Owl has exceptional hearing and can plunge into snow to capture rodents below the surface.

Owls–Another Birds of Belarus 2008.

On December22,2008 the Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Belarus will issue the set of 4 stamps “Birds of Belarus. Owls”prepared by the Publishing Centre “Marka” of the EUR “Belpochta”. The stamps are printed the logo of BLI, Bird Life International.

Eurasian eagle owl

The Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is a species of eagle owl resident in much of Europe and Asia. It is also one of the largest types of owls.The Eurasian Eagle-owl is a large and powerful bird which has a wingspan of 138–200 cm and measures 58–73 cm long.

It mainly feeds on small mammals, but can kill prey up to the size of foxes and young deer.The call of the Eagle Owl is a deep resonant “ooh-hu” with emphasis on the first syllable for the male, and a more high-pitched uh-Hu for the female.

The size, ear tufts and orange eyes make this a distinctive species. It has a strong direct flight. The ear tufts of males are more upright than those of females.The horned owls are a part of the larger grouping of owls known as the typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl.

The Eurasian Eagle-owl is largely nocturnal and is found in mountains and forests with cliffs and rocky areas, usually nesting on cliff ledges. They live for around 20 years although like many other bird species in captivity they can live much longer, perhaps up to 60 years.

The House Sparrow as Belarus Bird 2003.

On March 31, 2003 Belarus Post issued the stamp from the series "A bird of the year" dedicated to the house sparrow. The stamp is issued under the aegis of the International organization of birds protection "Bird Life International" and Belarus organization "Protection Homeland Birds ".

The quantity of house sparrows is diminishing in Europe. And it has become less in Belarus too. That is why Belarus organization "Protection Homeland Birds" declared the house sparrow as the bird of the year of 2003.

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a species of passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia. It has also been intentionally or accidentally introduced to many parts of the world, making it the most widely distributed wild bird. It is strongly associated with human habitations, but it is not the only sparrow species found near houses. It is a small bird, with feathers mostly different shades of brown and grey.

Tawny Owl (Strix Nebulosa) as Belarus Bird 2005

On March 31, 2005 Belarus Post issued the stamp “Tawny owl” from the series “A bird of the year”.The stamps are issued with the assistance of the organization “Protection of Belarus Birds”.

The Belarus public organization “Protection of Belarus Birds” declared the tawny owl a bird of the year 2005. It is listed in the Red Book of Belarus.The Tawny owl is rarely encountered in the European territory. In Belarus almost the whole population of the Tawny owl builds their aeries in Brest region. One can see this bird mostly in swamps and marshlands. The Tawny owl as stated and represented on the stamp is Strix nebulosa .

Strix nebulosa   is a very large owl, distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. They breed in North America from as far east as Quebec to the Pacific coast and Alaska, and from Finland and Estonia across northern Asia. They are permanent residents, but may move south and southeast when food is scarce. Strix nebulosa rely almost fully upon small rodents, with voles being their most important food source.

Their breeding habitat is the dense coniferous forests of the taiga, near open areas, such as meadows or bogs. Strix nebulosa do not build nests, so typically use nests previously used by a large bird, such as a raptor. They will also nest in broken-topped trees and cavities in large trees. Nesting may occur from March to May. Four eggs are the usual clutch size.