World Bird Stamps of a feather - come flock together!

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 24 Mar 2020 18:45

New Zealand has just issued a set of five postage stamps featuring parakeets. Individual images will follow this minisheet.

Thanks for this item are extended to teals1.

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 25 Mar 2020 18:19

New Zealand issued a set of five postage stamps on 4 March 2020 featuring parakeets.

Yellow-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps)

sagi2917 · Post by **sagi2917** » 25 Mar 2020 23:24

Stamp depicting Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus ssp. aureus) issued by France on 24th September 1984 on a souvenier sheet from Mophila'85

sagi2917 · Post by **sagi2917** » 25 Mar 2020 23:29

22c Broadbill Duck Decoys: Canvasback stamp issued by USA on 22nd March 1985 on a souvenier sheet from Mophila'85

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 26 Mar 2020 18:54

New Zealand issued a set of five postage stamps on 4 March 2020 featuring parakeets.

Malherbe's Parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 27 Mar 2020 20:19

New Zealand issued a set of five postage stamps on 4 March 2020 featuring parakeets.

Red-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)

sagi2917 · Post by **sagi2917** » 28 Mar 2020 01:35

Joint Issue Between Sweden & China issued in 1997. The set of 2 stamps feature pheasants commonly occurring in both countries

Engraved by Czeslaw Slania, the below stamp features Chinese Lady Amherst's Pheasant

The Lady Amherst's pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae) is a bird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae. The genus name is from Ancient Greek khrusolophos, "with golden crest". The English name and amherstiae commemorates Sarah Amherst, who was responsible for sending the first specimen of the bird to London in 1828

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 28 Mar 2020 18:32

New Zealand issued a set of five postage stamps on 4 March 2020 featuring parakeets.

Chatham Parakeet (Cyanoramphus forbesi)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 29 Mar 2020 18:37

New Zealand issued a set of five postage stamps on 4 March 2020 featuring parakeets.

Antipodes Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 30 Mar 2020 18:47

Armenia issued two postage stamp on 12 November 2019 showing Flora and Fauna of Armenia.

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 31 Mar 2020 18:37

Armenia issued its contribution to Europa2019 on 21 May 2019.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 01 Apr 2020 19:25

Uruguay issued a set of four postage stamps on 25 November 2019 as a Spring 2019 Series.

Gilded Sapphire (Hylocharis chrysura)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 02 Apr 2020 19:05

Uruguay issued a set of four postage stamps on 25 November 2019 as a Spring 2019 Series. Here is the minisheet.

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 21 Apr 2020 20:30

Moldova joined in EUROPA 2019 on 19 April 2019 when it issued two postage stamps.

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 09 May 2020 12:05

Moldova joined in EUROPA 2019 on 19 April 2019 when it issued two postage stamps.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 10 May 2020 17:59

Chile issued a set of four postage stamps on 29 October 2019 to celebrate 50 Years of the "President Frei" Antarctic Air Base.

Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 10 May 2020 18:11

In its continuing series of Departments of Colombia another set of 12 was issued by Colombia on 27 December 2019 for Putumayo.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 11 May 2020 13:11

In its continuing series of Departments of Colombia another set of 12 was issued by Colombia on 20 December 2019 for Caquetá.

Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 11 May 2020 13:17

Kiribati issued a set of four postage stamps on 1 July 2019 marking the 40th Anniversary of Independence.

Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 11 May 2020 20:08

Kiribati issued a set of four postage stamps on 1 July 2019 marking the 40th Anniversary of Independence.

Leach's Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 12 May 2020 13:24

Kiribati issued a set of four postage stamps on 1 July 2019 marking the 40th Anniversary of Independence.

Juan Fernandez petrel (Pterodroma externa)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 12 May 2020 13:26

Kiribati issued a set of four postage stamps on 1 July 2019 marking the 40th Anniversary of Independence.

Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 12 May 2020 19:24

Mongolia issued a set of four postage stamps on 6 July 2017 featuring Owls of Mongolia.

Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 13 May 2020 11:30

Mongolia issued a set of four postage stamps on 6 July 2017 featuring Owls of Mongolia.

Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 13 May 2020 20:18

Mongolia issued a set of four postage stamps on 6 July 2017 featuring Owls of Mongolia.

Northern Hawk-Owl (Surnia ulula)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 13 May 2020 20:20

Mongolia issued a set of four postage stamps on 6 July 2017 featuring Owls of Mongolia.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiaca)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 14 May 2020 19:03

Mongolia issued a set of seven postage stamps on 21 June 2018 featuring 'Beautiful Landscapes of Mongolia'.

Henderson's Ground Jay (Podoces hendersoni)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 15 May 2020 19:21

Mongolia issued a set of seven postage stamps on 18 November 2019 for the second 'Beautiful Landscapes of Mongolia'.

Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)

sagi2917 · Post by **sagi2917** » 15 May 2020 21:55

KevinHedley wrote:Uruguay issued a set of four postage stamps on 25 November 2019 as a Spring 2019 Series. Here is the minisheet.

Beautiful minisheet with the description

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 16 May 2020 19:48

Mongolia issued a set of seven postage stamps on 18 November 2019 for the second 'Beautiful Landscapes of Mongolia'.

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)

aladeral · Post by **aladeral** » 17 May 2020 11:27

DEFINITIVES

Fauna del Perú - Cóndor
Vultur Gryphus
Printing: 300,000
Facial Value: S/ 2.60
Size: 24.1mm x 20.3mm

Fauna of Peru - Gallito de las rocas
Rupicola Peruvinus
Printing: 400,000
Facial Value: S/ 1.20
Size: 24.1mm x 20.3mm

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 17 May 2020 11:31

aladeral wrote:
DEFINITIVES

Fauna del Perú - Cóndor
Vultur Gryphus
Printing: 300,000
Facial Value: S/ 2.60
Size: 24.1mm x 20.3mm

Fauna of Peru - Gallito de las rocas
Rupicola Peruvinus
Printing: 400,000
Facial Value: S/ 1.20
Size: 24.1mm x 20.3mm

Nice stamps

When were they issued?

aladeral · Post by **aladeral** » 17 May 2020 12:08

This year, January

KevinHedley wrote:
aladeral wrote:
DEFINITIVES

Fauna del Perú - Cóndor
Vultur Gryphus
Printing: 300,000
Facial Value: S/ 2.60
Size: 24.1mm x 20.3mm

Fauna of Peru - Gallito de las rocas
Rupicola Peruvinus
Printing: 400,000
Facial Value: S/ 1.20
Size: 24.1mm x 20.3mm

Nice stamps

When were they issued?

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 17 May 2020 20:13

Mongolia issued a set of seven postage stamps on 22 November 2019 on the subject of 'Intangible cultural heritage'. This one is 'Falconry, a living human heritage'.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 18 May 2020 19:25

The Vatican issued two postage stamps on 19 March 2019 for EUROPA 2019.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 19 May 2020 19:51

The Vatican issued two postage stamps on 19 March 2019 for EUROPA 2019.

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 23 May 2020 13:17

Cocos (Keeling) Islands issued a set of three postage stamps on 12 May 2020 featuring 'Booby Birds'.

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 23 May 2020 15:58

On 21 April 2020 Australia issued a set of six postage stamps presenting official emblems of 'our states and territories'.

I intend to post images and descriptions of the six stamps in the next few days.

The issue poses at least two questions. Why were the particular states and territories selected (or perhaps why were others not selected) and, given the vast number of depictions of the featured birds, why were these illustrations used?

Australia is a federation with six states and two mainland territories. Only four states are included in the set with the 'absentees' being Tasmania and South Australia.

The media statement by AusPost says 'This stamp issue features six bird species that have been proclaimed as government emblems.' Given that announcement it is easy to see why Tasmania is not included. Although they have proclaimed the Tasmanian devil as the official animal there is no official bird. However, it is generally recognised that the Yellow Wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa) fulfills that role in an unofficial capacity.

The non-inclusion of South Australia is more of a mystery. In this case there is an official bird which is variously described as White-backed Magpie, Piping Shrike and Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) - see my avatar.

In the short time since the release of this set social media has debated the omission without reaching a firm conclusion. Given that the illustrations come from Elizabeth Gould (see later) it might be supposed that this bird was not included in her portfolio. That is extremely unlikely as John Gould first described the White-backed Magpie in 1837 and, in any one form of the nine sub-species, it was, and still is, found across much of Australia.

So, unless someone can post an official comment from AusPost, the omission of South Australia remains a mystery.

Now we come to the depictions used for the six birds.

I cannot explain why, as there does not appear to be any anniversary or special event, but I am happy to report that the illustrations come from John Gould’s 1848 publication, The Birds of Australia: in seven volumes. More accurately the major contributor was Elizabeth Gould.

The Birds of Australia 'contains descriptions and coloured lithographs of more than 680 species, more than 320 of which had not been previously described.

This is why John Gould (1804-1881), zoologist and ornithologist, is considered the “father of bird study” in Australia. And while his achievements are considerable, it is worth noting that so too were the achievements of Gould’s wife, natural history artist Elizabeth Gould (née Coxen, 1804—1841), who sadly passed away, at age 37, prior to The Birds of Australia being published. While John Gould was the editor of this impressive publication and provided all of the descriptions, there would be no publication in the visual sense, if not for the tireless efforts of Elizabeth Gould in producing hundreds of sketches from the specimens collected during the couple’s two-year visit to Australia.'

'Artist Elizabeth Gould spent her life capturing the sublime beauty of birds the world had never seen before. But her legacy was eclipsed by the fame of her husband, John Gould … (She was) a passionate and adventurous spirit who was so much more than the woman behind the man. Elizabeth was a woman ahead of her time, juggling the demands of her artistic life with her roles as wife, lover, helpmate, and mother to an ever-growing brood of children. In a golden age of discovery, her artistry breathed wondrous life into hundreds of exotic new species, including Charles Darwin’s famous Galapagos finches.

Elizabeth Gould is commemorated in the name of the Gouldian Finch (also known as the Lady Gouldian Finch), a beautiful finch, common to northern Australia. It was described by John Gould and named in honour of his late wife, who by all reports he loved and grieved deeply.

Some of the above information was extracted from the following lengthy article provided by Australia Post:
https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/elizabeth- ... ralia.html

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 23 May 2020 20:53

Cocos (Keeling) Islands issued a set of three postage stamps on 12 May 2020 featuring 'Booby Birds'.

Red-footed Booby (Sula sula)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 24 May 2020 12:14

Cocos (Keeling) Islands issued a set of three postage stamps on 12 May 2020 featuring 'Booby Birds'.

Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra)

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 24 May 2020 20:18

On 21 April 2020 Australia issued a set of six postage stamps presenting official emblems of 'our states and territories'.

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops)

It will be noted that the bird is described on the postage stamp as a Helmeted Honeyeater. This illustrates a frequent conflict between what appears on stamps and what is recognised by the scientific authorities. The recent revision of taxonomic names following advances in DNA technology has accentuated the differences.

In this case the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater has four sub-species and one of these (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) is colloquially known as the Helmeted Honeyeater. This bird was officially recognised as an emblem in 1971 and has twice before been pictured on postage stamps.

From Wikipedia:
The helmeted honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) is a passerine bird in the honeyeater family. It is a distinctive and critically endangered subspecies of the yellow-tufted honeyeater, that exists in the wild only as a tiny relict population in the Australian state of Victoria, in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve. It is Victoria's only endemic bird, and was adopted as one.

From AusPost:
The Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix), proclaimed in 1971 as Victoria’s bird emblem, is a critically endangered bird, limited to only a few small populations east of Melbourne. As well as distinctive yellow tufts on the side of its head, this small bird has a bright yellow crest (or “helmet”) on the top of its head, which distinguishes it from other honeyeaters.

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 25 May 2020 19:25

On 21 April 2020 Australia issued a set of six postage stamps presenting official emblems of 'our states and territories'.

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

The last post was for an endangered bird found only in a localised region. This certainly does not apply to the Wedge-tailed Eagle which, including two sub-species, is found throughout Australia and in parts of Papua New Guinea. I have lived in cities and towns, on the coast, near the mountains and on the western plains and these huge birds have always been present.

The Northern Territory government made this eagle a state emblem in 1978. Unsurprisingly this largest of flying birds from this part of the world has been included on stamp items many times:

From Wikipedia:
The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is the largest bird of prey in Australia, and is also found in southern New Guinea, part of Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. It has long, fairly broad wings, fully feathered legs, and an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail.

The wedge-tailed eagle is one of 12 species of large, predominantly dark-coloured booted eagles in the genus Aquila found worldwide. A large brown bird of prey, it has a wingspan up to 2.84 m and a length up to 1.06 m.

From AusPost:
The Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) is Australia’s largest bird of prey, so named for its wedge-shaped tail. It was proclaimed as the bird emblem of the Northern Territory in 1978. These impressive birds use their 2.5-metre wingspan to soar to altitudes of up to 2,000 metres.

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 26 May 2020 19:36

On 21 April 2020 Australia issued a set of six postage stamps presenting official emblems of 'our states and territories'.

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

John Gould called this bird the 'great brown kingfisher' and it is still known by many names. As a youngster I knew it as the laughing jackass and these days we often refer to it as a ha-ha pigeon.

There are many versions of the call on sites like YouTube and here is one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqdRQxgtZtI

Under the name of 'Kookaburra (Dacelo Gigas) the New South Wales government adopted this popular bird as a state emblem in 1971. In 1914, not long after the first federal stamp issue in 1913, a Kookaburra appeared on a postage stamp and this became a habit with further issues in 1928, 1932, 1937, 1942 and many times since.

From Wikipedia:
The laughing kookaburra is native to eastern Australia and has a range that extends from the Cape York Peninsula in the north to Cape Otway in the south. It is present on both the eastern and the western sides of the Great Dividing Range. In the south the range extends westwards from Victoria to the Yorke Peninsula and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.

A predator of a wide variety of small animals, the laughing kookaburra typically waits perched on a branch until it sees an animal on the ground and then flies down and pounces on its prey. Its diet includes lizards, insects, worms, snakes, mice and are known to take goldfish out of garden ponds.

From AusPost:
The Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) was proclaimed the bird emblem of New South Wales in 1971. This large kingfisher, known for its laugh-like call, is native to eastern mainland Australia but has also been introduced to parts of Tasmania and Western Australia. It lives in dry eucalyptus forests, woodlands, city parks and gardens.

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 27 May 2020 20:07

On 21 April 2020 Australia issued a set of six postage stamps presenting official emblems of 'our states and territories'.

Brolga (Antigone rubicunda)

I once knew this stately bird as the Native Companion although John Gould called it the Australian Crane. It has a wide distribution in northern and eastern Australia but Queensland has the largest population. No doubt this was recognised in 1986 when it was adopted as the official Queensland Bird Emblem.

In 1997 the Brolga twice graced an Australian postage stamp, first in the Kakadu Wetlands set and then as part of "The Dreaming" cartoons from Aboriginal stories.

From Wikipedia:
The brolga is a tall, upright bird with a small head, long beak, slender neck, and long legs. Its plumage is mainly grey, with black wing tips, and it has an orange-red band of colour on its head. The brolga's courting dance is similar to that of other cranes, and is well recognized by Australians. The nest is built of wetland vegetation, either on an elevated piece of land, or floating on shallow water in marshland, and usually two eggs are laid. The adult diet is omnivorous and includes plant matter, invertebrates, and small vertebrates.

Brolgas are widespread and often abundant in north and north-east Australia, especially north-east Queensland, and are common as far south as Victoria. They are also found in southern New Guinea and as rare vagrants in New Zealand and the northern part of Western Australia. The population in northern Australia is estimated at between 20,000 and 100,000 birds and in southern Australia, 1,000 birds. The number of individuals in New Guinea is unknown.

From AusPost:
The Brolga (Grus rubicunda) has featured on the Queensland Coat of Arms since 1977 and was proclaimed as Queensland’s bird emblem in 1986. Of the 14 species of cranes worldwide, the Brolga is native only to Australia. This tall bird, known for its elaborate mating dance, is found along the Queensland coast, from Rockhampton to the Gulf of Carpentaria.

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 28 May 2020 19:29

On 21 April 2020 Australia issued a set of six postage stamps presenting official emblems of 'our states and territories'.

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

Another bird which is common through all but the most arid regions of Australia although it generally breeds in the south-east and the south-west. It has an early postage stamp pedigree, first appearing in 1929 and again in 1954 when I used them on my letters. It has remained a postal favourite. It became the State Bird Emblem of Western Australia in 1973.

From Wikipedia:
Black swans are mostly black-feathered birds, with white flight feathers. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; and legs and feet are greyish-black. Cobs (males) are slightly larger than pens (females), with a longer and straighter bill. Cygnets (immature birds) are a greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers.

A mature black swan measures between 110 and 142 centimetres in length and weighs 3.7–9 kilograms. Its wing span is between 1.6 and 2 metres. The neck is long (relatively the longest neck among the swans) and curved in an "S"-shape.

The black swan utters a musical and far reaching bugle-like sound, called either on the water or in flight, as well as a range of softer crooning notes. It can also whistle, especially when disturbed while breeding and nesting.

The black swan is common in the wetlands of southwestern and eastern Australia and adjacent coastal islands. In the south west the range encompasses an area between North West Cape, Cape Leeuwin and Eucla; while in the east it covers a large region bounded by the Atherton Tableland, the Eyre Peninsula and Tasmania, with the Murray Darling Basin supporting very large populations of black swans. It is uncommon in central and northern Australia.

From AusPost:
The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) was officially proclaimed as the bird emblem of Western Australia in 1973 and also forms part of the state badge, seal, flag and coat of arms. It was during the voyages of Dutch explorers to the west coast of Australia in the 17th century that the existence of black (as opposed to white) swans was reported to the rest of the world.

KevinHedley · Post by **KevinHedley** » 29 May 2020 19:13

On 21 April 2020 Australia issued a set of six postage stamps presenting official emblems of 'our states and territories'.

Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum)

With the exception of Victoria's Helmeted Honeyeater, all of the birds adopted as official emblems are familiar to me and can be seen here in the ACT - although not too many Canberrans will have seen a Brolga locally. And this brings us to the Gang Gang.

I first saw one decades ago in the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney but had to wait a few decades before again coming across this stunning bird. Before I retired I worked at the Australian National University. One of the pleasures of lunch time on campus (often spent birdwatching) was strolling along the paths and hearing the gentle murmurings of Gang Gang families keeping in touch while feeding in the gum trees. These intriguing sounds were in complete contrast to the full call when in flight - often resulting in the birds being called 'squeaky doors'.

From Wikipedia:
The gang-gang cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) is found in the cooler and wetter forests and woodlands of Australia, particularly alpine bushland. Mostly mild grey in colour with some lighter scalloping (more pronounced and buffy in females), the male has a red head and crest, while the female has a small fluffy grey crest. It ranges throughout south-eastern Australia. The gang-gang cockatoo is the faunal emblem of the Australian Capital Territory (1997). It is easily identified by its distinctive call, which is described as resembling a creaky gate, or the sound of a cork being pulled from a wine bottle.

From AusPost:
Gang-gang Cockatoo
This outgoing cocktaoo was proclaimed as the faunal emblem of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 1997 – making the ACT the only state or territory to feature a bird as their faunal emblem, rather than a mammal. However, following community interest and a public vote, the endangered Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) became ACT’s mammal emblem in November 2018.

turtle-bienhoa · Post by **turtle-bienhoa** » 29 May 2020 20:20

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) and Grey Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum):

BlackTuesday · Post by **BlackTuesday** » 11 Jun 2020 20:47

On 17th August 1983 Bangladesh issued its "Birds of Bangladesh" 1st series, a set of four postage stamps and a m/s.

1. Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis), which is called "Doel/ দোয়েল" in Bengali, the mother tongue of Bangladesh.

The oriental magpie-robin is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously.

Occurring across most of the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, they are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds. The oriental magpie-robin is the national bird of Bangladesh.

2. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), which is called "Machhranga/ মাছরাঙ্গা" in Bengali.

The white-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) also known as the white-breasted kingfisher is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in Asia from the Sinai east through the Indian subcontinent to the Philippines. This kingfisher is a resident over much of its range, although some populations may make short distance movements.

This is a large kingfisher, 27–28 cm (10.6–11.0 in) in length. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red.

It can often be found well away from water where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. During the breeding season they call loudly in the mornings from prominent perches including the tops of buildings in urban areas or on wires.

3. Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense), which is called "Kath-thokra/কাঠঠোকরা" in Bengali.

The black-rumped flameback (Dinopium benghalense), also known as the lesser golden-backed woodpecker or lesser goldenback, is a woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the few woodpeckers that are seen in urban areas. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight. It is the only golden-backed woodpecker with a black throat and a black rump.

This flameback is found mainly on the plains going up to an elevation of about 1200m in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India south of the Himalayas and east till the western Assam valley and Meghalaya and Sri Lanka. It is associated with open forest and cultivation. They are often seen in urban areas with wooded avenues.

4. White-winged Duck (Asarcornis scutulata), which is called "Badi Hans/ বাদি হাঁস" in Bengali.

The white-winged duck or white-winged wood duck (Asarcornis scutulata) is a large species of duck, formerly placed in the genus Cairina (Muscovy duck) and allied with the dabbling ducks. But this species might more appropriately be placed in a monotypic genus, as Asarcornis scutulata, which appears to be closer to the redhead (Aythya americana, diving ducks).

Historically, the white-winged duck was widely distributed from north-east India and Bangladesh, through South East Asia to Java and Sumatra. It is extinct in Java. The white-winged duck occurs in dense tropical evergreen forests, near rivers and swamps.

They tend to nest in tree cavities. Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, and because this duck is hunted for eggs, pets and food, the white-winged duck is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

BlackTuesday · Post by **BlackTuesday** » 11 Jun 2020 21:04

And the MS issued with the 4 stamps
.

BlackTuesday · Post by **BlackTuesday** » 24 Jun 2020 02:33

"Birds of Bangladesh" 2nd series

Issued on 31st August, 1994 ... consists a set of four postage stamps and a m/s.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus) ... though labelled in the stamp as "হলদে পাখি", it is more generally known as "কালোমাথা বেনেবউ"

2. Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus), locally known as "লাল বনমোরগ ও বনমুরগী"

3. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) ... though labelled in the stamp as "বিরাজ পাখি", it is more generally known as "ভিমরাজ", or somewhere "বড় র‍্যাকেট ফিঙে"

4. Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda), locally known as "হাঁড়িচাচা" or "খয়রা হাঁড়িচাচা"