Tuesday 16 February 2016

Blue-fronted redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis - female) - Sikkim Bird

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Order:            Passeriformes
Family:           Muscicapidae
Genus:            Phoenicurus
Species:           P. frontalis
Binomial name: Phoenicurus frontalis Vigors, 1832


Other Names:  The female is brownish-grey, with paler under parts. Its range includes the northern regions of the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. (Wikipedia)

Monday 15 February 2016

Yellow-bellied fantail (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) - Sikkim Bird


Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:              Aves
Order:            Passeriformes
Family:           Stenostiridae
Genus:            Chelidorhynx Hodgson, 1844
Species:           C. hypoxantha
Binomial name: Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Blyth, 1843

Other Names:  yellow-bellied fairy-fantail

Special feature:  It is yellow below and has a black eye-stripe, white wing-bar and broad black tail tipped white.


It used to be placed in the family of the fantails (Rhipiduridae), but DNA analysis has shown it to be a close relative of the fairy flycatcher and it has therefore been transferred to the Stenostiridae (IOC World Bird List), in the re-validated monotypic genus Chelidorhynx. (Wikipedia)

Friday 8 January 2016

Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia) - Sikkim Flora



Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Plantae
Family:           Euphorbiaceae
Genus:            Euphorbia
Species:           E. pulcherrima

Binomial name: Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch



Other Names:  Poinsettia, Christmas plant, lobster flower and the flame-leaf flower

Lalupate (Nepali)

Special feature:  The colored bracts—which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled—are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves. (Wikipedia)

Poinsettias received their name in the United States in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the country in 1828. Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. He sent cuttings of the plant he had discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina. The word Poinsettia is traditionally capitalized because it is named after a person. December 12th is Poinsettia Day, which marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851. (extension.illinois.edu/)

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Sunday 3 January 2016

Garrulax ocellatus (Spotted laughingthrush) - Sikkim Bird



Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Order:            Passeriformes
Family:           Leiothrichidae
Genus:            Garrulax (disputed)
Species:          G. ocellatus

Binomial name: Garrulax ocellatus (Vigors, 1831)

Other Names: 


Special feature:  The spotted laughingthrush (Garrulax ocellatus) is a bird species in the Leiothrichidae family. In the proposed rearrangement of the laughingthrushes, it is sometimes placed in the genus Ianthocincla, as I. ocellata. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. (Wikipedia)