Showing posts with label Chordata. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chordata. Show all posts

Saturday 29 November 2014

Actitis hypoleucos (Common Sandpiper) - Sikkim Bird

Actitis hypoleucos (Common Sandpiper)

Venue: Sirwani, Singtam,  South Sikkim

Date: February 16 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan





Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Subclass:        Neornithes
Infraclass:      Neognathae
Superorder:   Neoaves
Order:            Charadriiformes
Superorder:   Neoaves
Family:           Scolopacidae
Genus:            Actitis
Species:           A. hypoleucos
Binomial name: Actitis hypoleucos (Linnaeus, 1758)

Other Names:  Common Sandpiper

Special feature:  This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper, make up the genus Actitis.

In the Nukumanu language of the Nukumanu Islands (Papua New Guinea), this species is usually called tiritavoi. Another Nukumanu name for it, matakakoni, exists, but this is considered somewhat taboo and not used when children and women are around. The reason for this is that matakakoni means "bird that walks a little, then copulates", in reference to the pumping tail and thrusting head movements the Actitis species characteristically perform during foraging. (Source: Wikipedia)


Spilornis cheela (Crested Serpent Eagle) - Sikkim Bird

Spilornis cheela (Crested Serpent Eagle)

Venue: Sirwani, Singtam,  South Sikkim

Date: February 16 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan




Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Order:            Accipitriformes
Family:           Accipitridae
Genus:            Spilornis
Species:           S. cheela
Binomial name: Spilornis cheela Latham, 1790

Other Names:  Crested serpent eagle

Special feature:  They often feed on snakes, giving them their name.

The specific name cheela is derived from the Hindi name for kites. (Source: Wikipedia)

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Streptopelia orientalis (Oriental Turtle-Dove) - Sikkim Bird

Streptopelia orientalis (Oriental Turtle-Dove)

Venue: Chisopani, Singtam  East Sikkim

Date: February 16 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan



Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Order:            Columbiformes
Family:           Columbidae
Genus:            Streptopelia
Species:           S. orientalis
Binomial name: Streptopelia orientalis (Latham, 1790)

Saturday 22 November 2014

Anthus hodgsoni (olive-backed pipit) - Sikkim Bird

Anthus hodgsoni (olive-backed pipit)

Venue: Chisopani, Singtam,  East Sikkim

Date: November 20, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan



Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Order:            Passeriformes
Family:           Motacillidae
Genus:            Anthus
Species:           A. hodgsoni
Binomial name: Anthus hodgsoni (Richmond, 1907)


Other Names:  Olive-backed pipit, Indian pipit or Hodgson's pipit,

Special feature:  The scientific name of this bird commemorates the British ornithologist Brian Houghton Hodgson. (Source: Wikipedia)