Java Sparrow

Java Sparrow aka. Java Finch, aka. Java Rice Bird, aka. Paddy Bird (sounds potentially offensive, tread with care)
Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Native of: Java, a few other Indonesian islands
Member of the Weaver-Finch Family (huh?)
§A Trembling of Finches§
★Largest Weaver-Finch★

~true bird fact~ Those aka's ain't kidding, the Java Sparrow is serious about rice. Considered a major threat to rice-based agriculture, it was a popular cage-bird in America until it was banned for concern that they would wreak havoc on our grain fields if they escaped.

~true bird history~ Ironically, they remain popular pet birds throughout Asia despite this. Java Sparrow domestication goes back centuries, at least until the Ming Dynasty. A famous and well regarded Japanese novelist, Natsume Sōseki, wrote about his pet Java Sparrow in the 1909 essay, Buncho.

How endangered are they? The real numbers are not really known, but the places he lives are so small and so under-threat, that they are considered a Vulnerable species.

Mild-mannered and friendly
A good, active listener
Upbeat, but sympathetic
Communicates a lot with a simple look

Japanese White-eye

Japanese White-eye aka. Mejiro (Japanese)
Koloa, Kauai, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Native of: Japan (obvs), much of East Asia
Member of the White-eyes Family
§A Circle of White-eyes§

~true bird fact~ A true study in the unforeseen consequences of introducing non-native species, the Japanese White-eye has been subject to much tampering by humans. A native of Japan, where is has cultural and artistic significance, it was introduced to Hawai'i in 1929 deliberately as a means to combat insects. Within 60 years, it was the most common bird on the Hawaiian islands, and was a major threat to native bird species (via carrying avian parasites) and native plant species (via spreading the seeds of non-native plants). Complicating things further, the White-eye may now be too important for the survival of native plants to ever really get rid of. I'm as happy to see the White-eye as anyone, I think it's a cool bird, but we really out to stop doing this stuff.

Struggles with small talk
Just wants to fit in, be 'one of the guys'
Early adopter of technology
Tends to fixate

Doves of Hawaii

Spotted Dove aka. Mountain Dove aka. Pearl-necked Dove aka. Lace-necked Dove aka. Terkurkur (Malay)
Ha'ena Beach Park, Kapaa, Kauai, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Native of: India and Southeast Asia
Member of the Dove and Pigeon Family
§A Bevy of Doves§

~true dove fact~ Doves are really distinct among birds in that they actually produce a kind of 'milk' for their chicks, rather than doing the whole partially-digested-food-regurgitation thing. When mating season arrives, both male and female doves have a special gland in their crop that engorges with it. They can feed their young off of this stuff, rather than having to go hunt or forage with chicks in the nest. This strategy means that doves only lay one or two eggs at a time, rather than a whole mess of em'. Evolutionarily, this seems to have worked out for doves.

Gets in a big huff over minor breaches of etiquette
Professorial. Or, more critically, a mansplainer
Loves whiskey, bacon, and tobacco, but not in a hipster kind of way
Friends with your boss

Zebra Dove aka. Barred Ground Dove
Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Native of: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore
Member of the Dove and Pigeon Family
§A Dule of Doves§

~true bird fact~ Quite popular as a captive bird, they are considered to bring good luck to their home in their native Thailand. This may explain how they've spread to so many places, including Hawai'i. They are such a part of the cultural fabric in Thailand, that people bring out their doves for annual cooing competitions.

Scrappy, street-smart
Well prepared for disasters or misfortunes
A natural whiz at figuring out public transportation
Keen observer of human nature. Armchair psychologist

Saffron Finch

Saffron Finch aka. Yellow Finch aka. Pelzeln's Finch aka. canario de tejado (lit. Roof Canary) aka. canário da terra (lit. Native Canary)
Kahaluu Beach Park, Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Member of the Tanager Family
§A Trembling of Finches§ (so once again, are they finches or are they tanagers or are they canaries or what? I did my research, and the most recent information seems to suggest they're now categorized as tanagers, although they were once considered to be sparrows, and still often get called canaries or finches. If you think this is confusing, you should try reading these wikipedia pages)

~true, sad bird fact~ One of the all-too-many animals that humans make fight each other for entertainment. Saffron Finches were originally taken as pets for their pleasant song and appearance, but male finches become very territorial during mating season, leading garbage people to put them in a cage together to fight. Way to go, humans.

~another bird fact, to cheer you up~ Saffron Finches are polygamous, with males taking two (and only two) partners during nesting season.

female

does whatever she wants; she's a grown woman
shows a lot of swagger and self confidence in her physical movement
has lived through many hardships

male

boundless energy which is spent on a variety of projects and hobbies of varying levels of importance
laughs easily, enjoys life
not a good judge of the safety or sensibility of an idea. Tends to charge in head-first

'Apapane

'Apapane
Kalalau Lookout, Koke'e State Park, Waimea, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Member of the Finch Family
§A Hive of Honeycreepers§ (nb. although technically most closely related to finches, the 'Apapane and his compatriats are still collectively referred to as 'Hawaiian Honeycreepers'. In reality, they are not that close to the True Honeycreeper family, although you can see why someone would think so.)


~true bird fact~ While most of the impressively colorful group of birds known as Hawaiian Honeycreepers are threatened by extinction (for the usual reasons), 'Apapane appears to be doing ok for herself. In fact, some groups of 'Apapane appear to be developing resistance to Avian Malaria, one of the bird's most dangerous threats. Great job, 'Apapane, you're really staying ahead of the curve!



~true bird history~ In per-colonisation days the 'Apapane played an important role in Hawaiian feathercraft. His red feathers were used to adorn the ceremonial robes, hats, and leis of the noble class, the Ali'i.

Takes great care and effort in the things she does. Very mindful
Yogurt fan
Resilient
Makes others feel secure with her stable attitude

Hawaii's Cardinals

Cardinal A

Cardinal B 

Welcome back to 2 Different Birds, the popular feature in which we help you step up your amateur birding game by explaining how to tell the difference between two different birds. In this case, I feel like the name is going to give away a lot, so I'll hold off on that for a minute. Today's subjects are a pair of non-native Hawaiian birds with a lot in common. First, they're both called Cardinals, and neither of them actually are (although you can see why someone thought maybe they were). They're tanagers native to South America. The most striking similarity is their distinct coloration pattern, but their shape, size, habitats, and behavior are all pretty much right in line. So what do you think, dear reader, how would you tell these birds apart. I'll give you a minute to think about it...















Have you thought about it? I know you have, I trust you. We here at Amateurnithologist all trust you. You might be thinking that it's that crest, right? The mohawk-style hairdo that only one of these birds appears to be rocking. You would be mostly correct, but actually this crest is not always on display. What else do you have? A minor difference that could help is in the coloration- the dark wings of Cardinal A are darker, almost black, while Cardinal B's dark wings are more of a grey color. There's also a dark triangle on the chest of Cardinal A, where Cardinal B continues to be red there. If you're a longtime Amateurnithologist reader, familiar with our motto "Always get Light on the Feet" you might have already stumbled upon an even more obvious difference. Cardinal A has yellow legs, Cardinal B, grey. Finally, and most helpfully is that beak. Cardinal A has a bright yellow one, and Cardinal B is again, you guessed it, grey. So how did you do, reader? Did you win the game? As always on 2DB, the lesson here is one that can be generalized for even greater bird learning. Pay attention to beaks, as well as legs, because those things are specific colors. Let's close by learning a few things about our Two Different Birds.

Cardinal B is...

Red-crested Cardinal aka. Brazilian Cardinal

Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Member of the Tanager Family
§A Season of Tanagers§

~true bird fact~ Introduced to Hawaii in 1928.

Always willing to fight for what he believes in. Like, physically fight. Just likes to fight, really
Not one to let others get in the way of his personal relaxation time
A philanderer

While Cardinal A is revealed to be...

Yellow-billed Cardinal
Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Member of the Tanager Family
§A College of Cardinals§

~true bird fact~ A popular caged-bird throughout South America, their population on Hawaii was probably established by escaped pets.

Prim and proper, good manners
Resents being associated with cardinals, who he sees himself as better than
Highly alert to his surroundings

Nene

Nene aka. Hawaiian Goose

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kilauea, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Member of the Duck, Goose, and Swan Family
§A Blizzard of Geese§
★Hawai'i's State Bird★
★Rarest State Bird★
★Rarest Goose★

{Etymology Corner} They make a 'Nay Nay' Sound

~"true" bird fact~ Unlike other geese, the Nene doesn't migrate. In fact,he generally doesn't even leave his home island. He's somewhat more terrestrial than other geese, having his webbed foot partially evolved into a non-webbed one, to make him better at walking on bare lava rock. He has an extinct cousin called the Giant Hawaii Goose, who was 4 times larger (!!!) and couldn't fly at all.

How endangered are they? There are only 2500 Nene. At one point, the bird was extremely common on the islands. Anyone want to guess when? If you were thinking 'before white people got there', you would be correct. Between 1778, when 'discoverer' Captain James Cook arrived, and 1952, the population dropped from 25,000 to 30. Three Zero. Drastic action was taken to save the bird, and an extensive captive breeding program helped bring them back from the brink, enabling them to make a comeback to the point where they could be reintroduced back into the wild. Much of the credit for saving this species falls to Sir Peter Scott, a british naturalist and conservationist who founded the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. He oversaw their recovery at the Slimbridge WWT, a reserve in Gloucestershire, England.

Bears a mysterious smile
Overeats and doesn't mind
Has no ill-will towards others, although it would be very justified
Lives on 'island time' for sure