Great Crested Tern, 8/11/2012

The arrival of the Great Crested Terns in the summer is a feast to the birdwatching fans, since there ain't many migratory birds in summer here in Taiwan. There are estimated about 10 species of migrants in summer, as opposed to over 200 species in autumn through spring. The most common summer migrants include Barn Swallow, Great Crested Tern, Little Tern, Fairy Pitta, Himalayan Cuckoo, Oriental Pratincole, etc. They are the birds, except Taiwan local species, the birdwatching fans can only photograph in summer. So the birdwatching fans usually take pictures of insects and butterflies in summer, in addition to Taiwan local birds.

The pictures below are somewhat blurred since what I used to photograph is a compact digital camera. I apologize if it hurts your eye.

Chinese name:	鳳頭燕鷗
English name:	Great Crested Tern, Crested Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Swift Tern
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Sterna bergii
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Laridae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	migratory birds in Summer
Frequency of appearance:	common in some places of Taiwan
Foods:	fishes
Habitat:	Seashores, reefs, islands, fishing ports, river mouths, open water
Altitude:	Low altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear in flocks near seashores, reefs, islands, fishing ports, river mouths.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 45 cm long. The upperpart is mostly grey. The underpart is mostly white. Bill is yellow. Feet are black. Head top is black, with a shaggy black crest which recedes in winter. Forehead, throat, neck, breast and belly are white. Wings and tail are grey. Summer plumage: Winter plumage: The front head is covered with thin white stripes. Similar species:
Breeding places:	Its range covers almost all ocean in between Southeast Asia, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands, Philipines, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Indonesia, and the coastal area of Eastern Africa, Madagascar, Red Sea, Maale, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
Migration destinations:	Southeast Asia species summer in coastal areas of southern China, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. Indian sub-continent, Maldives and Sri Lanka species summer in Middle East, etc.
Time photographed:	8/5/2012, 8/11/2012
Location found:	YehLiu fishing port, New Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Barn Swallow, 7/11/2012

Most of the Barn Swallows in Taiwan are either common passage migrants in Autumn and Spring or migratory birds in Summer. Few of them are uncommon Taiwan local birds. Hence they can be seen all year round. Dr. Morris Chang, CEO of TSMC, which is the leading company of Taiwanese IC industry, used to describe the economic upturn as "Spring Barn Swallows are coming". This best points out the peak season, which is Spring, that Barn Swallows migrate to Taiwan.

Barn Swallows often fly, in flocks, fast and unorderly in the sky. They will use their bill to carry mud to build the nest. Usually they build their nest on the eaves of a house.



Taken on 7/11/2012 at Tianmu, Taipei City, Taiwan



Taken on 6/11/2011 at Zhuwei, New Taipei City, Taiwan



Taken on 6/5/2011 at Guandu, Taipei City, Taiwan



Video, Taken on 7/11/2012 at Tianmu, Taipei City, Taiwan



Video, Taken on 6/5/2011 at Guandu, Taipei City, Taiwan

Chinese name:	家燕
English name:	Barn Swallow
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Hirundo rustica
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Hirundinidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Most of them are either common passage migrants in Autumn and Spring or migratory birds in Summer. Few of them are uncommon Taiwan local birds.
Frequency of appearance:	Common or uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects
Habitat:	Sky, electric wires, eaves, cliffs
Altitude:	Low to mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear in flocks in the sky, on electric wires and eaves.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 17 cm long. Forehead and throat are reddish brown. Breast and belly are white. There is a blueish black ring on upper breast. The back is black, with blue shine. The tail is split Summer plumage: Winter plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	It breeds almost all over Europe, Asia, North America, the inland highland of central and northern Mexico, except artic area, antartic area, mid-sea islands, Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Arizona and the southeast corner of California of the United States. Asia species breed in northern Asia, central Asia, Middle East, Siberia, Mongolia, China(except southwestern China), Korean Peninsula and Japan.
Migration destinations:	Asia species wintering in Indian sub-continent, southwestern China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Timor-Leste, Philippines, Taiwan, the coastal area of northern and northeastern Australia.
Time photographed:	6/5/2011, 6/11/2011, 7/11/2012
Location found:	Zhuwei District, New Taipei City/Tianmu District, Taipei City/Guandu, Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes: