Bird of Singapore Archives - Singapore Geographic

Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo

vids — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:40:34 +0000

The Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx nisicolor) is a medium-sized, shy cuckoo species found across South and Southeast Asia. It is named after the British naturalist Brian Houghton Hodgson and is best known for its “hawk-like” appearance and its unique survival strategy as a brood parasite.

Appearance: Adults have slate-grey upperparts and white underparts with rufous-orange blotches and streaks on the breast. They feature a distinct yellow eye-ring and a grey tail with four black bands.

Deceptive Behavior: As a brood parasite, it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, such as niltavas and babblers. To ensure its survival, the chick evicts the host’s biological offspring.

“Wing Gape” Strategy: To trick foster parents into bringing more food, the chick displays gape-coloured patches of skin under its wings that resemble additional hungry mouths.

Vocalisation: Known as the “Whistling Hawk-Cuckoo,” its call is a shrill, piping sequence of high-pitched whistles that often rises in a crescendo.

Distribution: It breeds in the Himalayas, northeast India, and southern China. During the winter, it migrates to Southeast Asia, including Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.

Location: Choa Chu Kang – February 2026

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Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

vids — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 07:04:06 +0000

The blue-crowned hanging parrot is a parrot species endemic to southern Burma and Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, and Indonesia. These parrots are 12 cm in height and weigh 28 g and have a longevity of 14 years. Wikipedia

A tiny (13-15cm), mainly green, endangered native bird in Singapore. Known for sleeping upside down, males feature a blue crown and red throat, while females are duller.

Scientific name: Loriculus galgulus

Identification: Small green birds with red tail coverts. Males have a distinctive small blue patch on the crown (forehead), a red patch on the throat, and a yellow patch on the back. Females lack the red throat patch and have a less distinct blue crown.
Behavior: They are known for hanging upside down to sleep, which helps them hide among leaves to avoid predators. They are fast flyers and often detected by their high-pitched, screeching call.
Conservation Status: Rare to uncommon resident. Although once considered highly endangered, they are now sometimes described as “Least Concern” in a local context, though still considered uncommon

Location: Clementi, Jan 2026

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Von Schrenck’s bittern

vids — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:36:58 +0000

Von Schrenck’s bittern or Schrenck’s bittern is a small bittern named after Leopold von Schrenck, the 19th-century Russian zoologist. It breeds in southeast Siberia, east China, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It winters from the Malay Peninsula to the Greater Sunda Islands, Sulawesi and the Philippines. Wikipedia

Scientific name: Ixobrychus eurhythmus

Location: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – Feb 2025

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Black Paradise Flycatcher

vids — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 07:47:35 +0000

The black paradise flycatcher, also known as the Japanese paradise flycatcher, is a medium-sized passerine bird native to southeastern Asia. It is a glossy black, chestnut and white bird, slightly smaller than either the Amur paradise flycatcher or Blyth’s paradise flycatcher, but similar in appearance. Wikipedia

Known also as Japanese Paradise Flycatcher

The photos are the female

Scientific Name: Terpsiphone atrocaudata

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation status: Near Threatened (Population decreasing)

Location: Bidadari Park – December 2024

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Blue-eared Kingfisher

vids — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 13:01:26 +0000

The blue-eared kingfisher is found in Asia, ranging across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is found mainly in dense shaded forests where it hunts in small streams. Wikipedia

Location: Sungei Buloh – October 2025
Dairy Farm Nature Park – July 2024

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Chestnut-winged cuckoo

vids — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 13:37:21 +0000

The chestnut-winged cuckoo or red-winged crested cuckoo is a cuckoo found in Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia. It has dark glossy upperparts, a black head with long crest chestnut wings, a long graduated glossy black tail, rufous throat dusky underside and a narrow white nuchal half collar. Wikipedia

Scientific name: Clamator coromandus

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – March 2024

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Common Hill Myna

vids — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 13:01:45 +0000

The common hill myna, sometimes spelt “mynah” and formerly simply known as the hill myna or myna bird, is the myna most commonly sighted in aviculture, where it is often simply referred to by the latter two names. It is a member of the Starling family, resident in hill regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Wikipedia

Scientific Name: Gracula religiosa

Location: Upper Seletar Reservoir – Feb 2024

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Sunda Scops Owl

vids — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 05:12:05 +0000

Scientific Name: Otus lempiji

Identification: Adult resembles Oriental Scops Owl but is bigger and has dark eyes, dusky-yellowish bill, brownish vermiculated upperparts and pale sandy-buffish underparts with fine blackish streaks. Juvenile resembles adult but has paler overall plumage. ( Birds of Singapore )

It’s a small brown Owl with dark eyes and has a light collar.

Location: Pasir Ris – January 2024

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Spiderhunter

vids — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 05:23:50 +0000

The spiderhunters are birds of the genus Arachnothera, part of the sunbird family Nectariniidae. The genus contains thirteen species found in the forests of south and southeastern Asia. They are large representatives of the sunbird family, with drab plumage and long strongly curved bills. Wikipedia

Scientific Name: Arachnothera longirostra

Location: Thomson Nature Park – May 2023

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Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

vids — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 11:47:35 +0000

The greater racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) is a medium-sized Asian bird which is distinctive in having elongated outer tail feathers with webbing restricted to the tips. They are placed along with other drongos in the family Dicruridae. They are conspicuous in the forest habitats often perching in the open and by attracting attention with a wide range of loud calls that include perfect imitations of many other birds. ( Wikipedia )

Location: Singapore Botanic Garden – December 2023

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