Spot-throated Grebe (scientific name: minla strigula) is a small bird with a body length of 14 to 17 cm. The head has a feather crown, the forehead and crown of the head are golden-brown, and the side of the head is grayish yellow with yellow eye circles. The upper body is gray-olive-green , with orange-yellow surfaces on the outer flight feathers and black wing spots on the base ; the inner flight feathers have pale grey with black subterminal spots and white end spots. The tail feathers are black with a maroon base, and the margins and ends of the feathers are yellow. The cheeks are black , the chin is orange , the throat is white with black transverse spots , and the rest of the underparts are pale yellow. Features stand out and are easy to identify. China has not yet seen a similar species.
It is a common curious bird that inhabits low trees and thickets in mountainous broad-leaved and coniferous forests. Roost in groups and join the "bird tide". The calls are mixed whistles chu~u~wee, chu~u~wee, the second sound falls, the others are upswing, and there are also metallic chuw sounds.
Morphological characteristics:
The average weight of the spot-throated grebe is about 19.2 grams and the body length is about 17.5 cm.
Males and females have similar plumage. The forehead, crown, pillow and crown feathers are bright orange-brown or golden yellow, the base of the feathers at the back of the head is grayish green or light grayish-brown; there is a pale yellow eye ring, eye front, face, head side, ear feathers pale gray or yellowish gray around the eyes, mixed with black fine markings, yellow and white feathers, forming arrow-like stripes, hair lines and the back of the ear feathers black. The upper body from the back to the tail coverts, including the two winged coverts, are olive yellow or olive grey. The central pair of tail feathers is maroon or maroon red, with a wide black sub-terminal spot and a narrow pale yellow end spot, from the central tail feather to the outward tail feather black gradually increase, the maroon area gradually decreases, the pale yellow end is wider, the two outer tail feathers adjacent to the center are only chestnut at the base, the rest are black with wide pale yellow end spots, to the outermost tail feathers are almost all yellowish, the feather margin is embellished with orange, the length of the inner secondary end is also light yellow, the base is black, and the feather margin is also yellowish. The upper winged coverts are similar to the dorsal, with small wingted and large coverts lightly olive yellow, the inner wing feathers slightly gray, the primary coverts black; the flight feathers are dark gray or black brown, the feather shaft is black, the outer base of the primary flight feathers is orange-yellow, the inner tip gradually turns yellow, the outer edge of the secondary flight feathers is dark orange-red, and the end is gradually turned off-white to the end, and the inner secondary flight feathers are pale gray and the end is white. The chin is orange-yellow , the throat is white or yellowish white , the black of the feathers constitute transverse or scaly spots ; the rest of the underparts are pale yellow , the thorax is slightly dark and gray , and the two sides are olive-gray.
The iris is brown, the upper mouth is grayish brown or dark brown, the lower mouth is grayish yellow or grayish brown, and the feet are dark gray.
Habitat:
Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical high-altitude sparse shrubland and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The type origin of this species is in Nepal.
Its natural habitats are evergreen broad-leaved forests, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests and secondary forests at an altitude of 1800 to 3500 m, as well as low-lying forests, poplar forests, bamboo forests and shrublands in the upper part of the mountain.
Life Habits:
Habits: During breeding, they move in pairs, in other seasons, they are more than 3 to 5 or more than 10 small groups, and sometimes mix with other Greek ibises. It is commonly active and foraging among the branches of tall tree canopy and sometimes in the middle and lower layers of forests, as well as in the lower and lower forest layers and in the forest margins. Sexually lively, agile, often frequent jumping or flying between branches and leaves, from time to time issued a "long ~ lost, long ~ lost" cry.
Migration: Resident birds.
Diet: Feeds mainly on insects, but also eats plant fruits and seeds, of which almost all insects feed in summer.
Breeding method:
The breeding period is from May to August. Maybe breed 2 litters a year. The nest is located in shrubland, 1.5 meters above the ground, the nest is cup-shaped, the outer layer is mainly composed of weeds and moss, and the inner cushion is covered with fine grass. The size of the nest is 12 cm outer diameter, 5 cm inner diameter, 8 cm high and 4 cm deep. Each clutch lays 3 eggs, the eggs are blue, the size is 21 mm× 15 mm, and the weight is 3.9 g
Geographical distribution:
It is found in Bhutan, Laos, Chinese mainland, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia and Nepal. The global activity area is about 815,000 square kilometers.
Native species: Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam.
In China, it is mainly distributed in huidong, Muli, Butuo, Yanyuan and Jiulong in southwest Sichuan, Gongshan, Lijiang, Binchuan, Lushui, Yingjiang, Longling, Tengchong, Fengqing, Yongde, Zhenkang, Lancang and Jingdong in southwestern Tibet, Bomi, Yigong, Zhangmu in the south, and Rongzhi River Valley in the Mount Everest region of southeastern Tibet.
Population status:
Global populations are not quantified, but are described as common species. The spot-throated grebe is not well-founded in China.
Population trends: declining.
Protection Level:
Listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species : Non-Threatened Species (lc), 2012 assessment.
The pictures in this article are taken by teacher Wang Renmei, only for sharing and learning, and the copyright belongs to the original author