Lanius tephronotus (Grey-backed shrike) - Sikkim Bird

Lanius tephronotus (Grey-backed shrike)

Venue: Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim

Date: November 20, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:              Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:           Laniidae

Genus:            Lonchura

Species:           Lanius

Binomial name: Lanius tephronotus (Vigors, 1831)

Other Names:  grey-backed shrike, Tibetan Shrike, etc

Special feature: Among the shrikes, they breed at the highest altitude.  (Source: Wikipedia)

Upupa epops (Common Hoopoe) - Sikkim Bird

Upupa epops (Common Hoopoe)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date: October 15, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:              Aves

Order:            Coraciiformes

Family:           Upupidae, Leach, 1820

Genus:            Upupa, Linnaeus, 1758

Species:           U. epops

Binomial name: Upupa epops, Linnaeus, 1758

Other Names:  Common Hoopoe, Hudhud  (Arabic name). Fapharay Chara (Nepali), Rumfun fo (Lepcha)

Special feature:  Hoopoe is a national bird of Israel and one of the birds that were considered sacred in Ancient Egypt.

Hoopoe is named after onomatopoeic sound produced by the bird: oop-oop-oop.

Tree sparrow (Passer montanus - male) - Sikkim Bird

Tree sparrow (Passer montanus - male)

Place : Shantinagar, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date: May 25, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

  

Kingdom:                   Animalia

Phylum:                      Chordata

Class:                         Aves

Order:                        Passeriformes

Family:                       Passeridae

Genus:                        Passer

Species:                       P. montanus

Binomial name:         Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Other Names: Eurasian tree sparrow, tree sparrow

Special feature: The Tree Sparrow differs from the House Sparrow in having a much smaller bib and a bright chocolate brown cap. There is also a noticeable black patch on the white cheek with the back being streaky orange-brown and the bird is slightly smaller and slimmer.

Lophura nycthemera (Silver Pheasant) - Sikkim Bird

Lophura nycthemera (Silver Pheasant)

Venue: Himalayan Zoological Park,  Gangtok,  East Sikkim

Date: October 10, 2009

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Lophura nycthemera (Silver Pheasant)

Venue: Himalayan Zoological Park,  Gangtok,  East Sikkim

Date: October 10, 2009

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:              Aves

Order:             Galliformes

Family:           Phasianidae

Subfamily:     Phasianinae

Genus:            Lophura

Species:           L. nycthemera

Binomial name: Lophura nycthemera (Linnaeus, 1758)

Other Names:  silver pheasant,

Special feature: The male is black and white, while the female is mainly brown. Both sexes have a bare red face and red legs (Source: Wikipedia)