Softbilled birds
Softbilled Birds
Birdland is home to a large representation of these birds whose diets include fruit, insects, meat and seed. Delicate members of the group can be found in the Temperate and Desert House.
Azure-Winged Magpie
Also known as the Blue-tailed Magpie. Adapts well to habitat/climate change from warmer areas in Europe to heavy snows in Japan. Very fast, flighty birds that congregates in small groups, sometimes as large as 30 individuals, even in the breeding season. Hunting insects, invertebrates etc. in trees, bushes and on...
Bali Starling
The Bali Starling is also known as the Rothschild’s Mynah. This rare white member of the starling family was first discovered in 1912 by Dr.E.Stressemann and was named after Baron Rothschild, a zoologist and author There are 28 collections with this species in the UK and all are part of an internationally co-ordinated...
Occipital Blue Pie
Also known as the Red-billed Blue Magpie. Like other magpies and jays they will use their powerful feet to clutch pieces of food and tear at them. It does not appear to like holding wet or sticky food in its feet and will place these in a crevice and hack at...
Java Sparrow
Also known as the Rice Eater because of the devastation they can cause to a rice crop. The Java Sparrow inhabits open woodlands, often bordering cultivated areas, and is also found in mangroves, grassland, towns and villages. It is found in both coastal and inland areas, up to 1,500 metres...
Red-Winged Starling
Nesting: There is a variation in the type of nest construction, depending on where they choose to nest. Some will nest in tree hollows, which is lined sparsely. Whereas others will build an external nest which is a larger construction and will involve mud to hold the nest together. Usually...
Laughing Thrush
There are approximately 51 species of Laughing Thrushes, all of which have fairly similar habits and diets. They build similar nests, laying between 2-6 eggs ranging in colour from white or blue to brown and black and some may be speckled or streaked. Incubation of the clutch will be between...
