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UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
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“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV)
Osprey Eating – Viera Wetlands by Dan
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Author Archives: Lee
Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies IV
“And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.” (Exodus 16:13 KJV)
As we continue our journey through the Phasianidae Family of Pheasants and Allies, our next encounter is with more Partridges and Quails.
Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) ©WikiC
The Perdix genus has the Grey Partridge, Daurian Partridge, and the Tibetan Partridges. Perdix is a genus of Galliform gamebirds known collectively as the ‘true partridges’. The genus name is the Latin for “partridge”, and is itself derived from Ancient Greek perdix. These birds are unrelated to the subtropical species that have been named after the partridge due to similar size and morphology. There are representatives of Perdix in most of temperate Europe and Asia. One member of the genus, the grey partridge, has been introduced to the United States and Canada for the purpose of hunting. They are closely related to grouse, koklass, quail and pheasants.
Long-billed Partridge (Rhizothera longirostris) ©WikiC
Long-billed Partridge and Hose’s Partridge belong to the Rhizothera genus. Rhizothera is a genus of bird native to Malaysia. Established by George Robert Gray in 1841.
Madagascar Partridge (Margaroperdix madagarensis) ©Drawing WikiC
Madagascan Partridge (Margaroperdix madagarensis) found only in Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Black Partridge are in genus Melanoperdix. The black partridge occurs in lowland rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra in southeast Asia. It was formerly found but is long extinct on Singapore. The female usually lays five to six white eggs.
Harlequin Quail (Coturnix delegorguei) ©WikiC
The Coturnix genus has seven Quail including the Common, Japanese, Rain, Harlequin, Stubble, New Zealand and the Brown Quails.
King Quail (Excalfactoria chinensis) by Kent Nickel
The King Quail and Blue Quail are in the Excalfactoria genus.
Snow Mountain Quail (Anurophasis monorthonyx) ©WikiC
The Snow Mountain Quail (Anurophasis monorthonyx) is the only one in its genus.
Painted Bush Quail (Perdicula erythrorhyncha) ©WikiC
Perdicula is made up of the Jungle Bush Quail, Rock Bush Quail, Painted Bush Quail, and the Manipur Bush Quail.
Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa †) ©Drawing WikiC
Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) is another loner.
Udzungwa Forest Partridge (Xenoperdix udzungwensis) ©ARKive
The two Forest Partridges are the Udzungwa Forest Partridge and the Rubeho Forest Partridge (Xenoperdix). Both species have boldly barred plumage and a red bill. Xenoperdix are found only in forests of the Udzungwa Mountains and the Rubeho Highlands of Tanzania.
Hill Partridge (Arborophila torqueola) ©WikiC
The largest genus today are Partridges in the Arborophila group. They are the Hill, Rufous-throated, White-cheeked, Taiwan Partridge, Chestnut-breasted, Bar-backed, Sichuan, White-necklaced, Orange-necked, Chestnut-headed, Siamese, Malaysian, Roll’s, Sumatran, Grey-breasted, Chestnut-bellied, Red-billed, Red-breasted, Hainan Partridge, Chestnut-necklaced , and the Green-legged Partridge. The genus has the second most members within the Galliformes after Francolinus although Arborophila species vary very little in bodily proportions with different species varying only in colouration/patterning and overall size. These are fairly small, often brightly marked partridges found in forests of eastern and southern Asia
Crimson-headed Partridge (Haematortyx sanguiniceps) ©Drawing WikiC
There are three more genera with only one bird; Ferruginous Partridge (Caloperdix oculeus), Crimson-headed Partridge (Haematortyx sanguiniceps), and the Crested Partridge (Rollulus rouloul.
Mountain Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola fytchii) ©WikiC at National Zoo
We finish off this week’s Avian Wonders from the Lord with the Bambusicola genus with the Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, and the Taiwan Bamboo Partridge.
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“And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:” (Hebrews 1:10 KJV)
“God’s Still In Control” ~ ©Hyssongs
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Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies I
Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies II
Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies III
Pheasants and allies – Phasianidae
Assurance: The Certainty of Salvation
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Lee’s Six Word Saturday – 3/11/17
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WHOSE FAN IS IN HIS HAND
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“Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
(Matthew 3:12 KJV)
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) by Ian
[In this bird, his fan is in his tail.]
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Lee’s Five Word Friday – 3/10/17
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THOU DIDST HIDE THY FACE
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“LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.” (Psalms 30:7 KJV)
Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus) by SanDiegoZoo
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Lee’s Four Word Thursday – 3/9/17
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A NEST FOR HERSELF
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“Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.” (Psalms 84:3 KJV)
Barn Swallow by Dan Taken in a cabin in Smokies
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Lee’s Three Word Wednesday – 3/8/17
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OF THINE HAND
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“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.” (Proverbs 3:27 KJV)
Chickadee Eating From Hand ©Flickr Ted Sakshaug
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Lee’s Two Word Tuesday – 3/7/17
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MY YOUTH
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“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” (Psalms 71:5 KJV)
Painted Spurfowl (Galloperdix lunulata) by Nikhil Devasar
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Lee’s One Word Monday – 3/6/17
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STEP
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“If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;” (Job 31:7 KJV)
Heuglin’s Francolin (Pternistis icterorhynchus) ©WikiC
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Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies III
Erckel’s Francolin (Pternistis erckelii) ©WikiC
“Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.” (Genesis 7:3 KJV)
This Sunday’s section of the Pheasants and allies – Phasianidae Family has 32 Francolins and 8 Spurfowl contained in 5 genera.
“Francolins are birds that traditionally have been placed in the genus Francolinus, but now commonly are divided into multiple genera (see Taxonomy), although some of the major taxonomic listing sources have yet to divide them. The francolins’ closest relatives are the junglefowl, long-billed partridge, Alectoris and Coturnix. Together this monophyletic clade may warrant family status as the Gallusinidae.
When all are maintained in a single genus, it is the most diverse of the Galliformes, having by far the most members. Francolins are terrestrial (though not flightless) birds that feed on insects, vegetable matter and seeds. Most of the members have a hooked upper beak, well-suited for digging at the bases of grass tussocks and rootballs. They have wide tails with fourteen retrice feathers. Most species exhibit spurs on the tarsi.”
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) ©WikiC Spurs of the male
“Of the approximately 40 living species, the natural range of five (comprising the genus Francolinus) are restricted to Asia, while the remaining genera are restricted to Africa. Several species have been introduced to other parts of the world, notably Hawaii.” (Wikipedia, with editing)
The Francolinus genre is: Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus), Painted Francolin (Francolinus pictus), Chinese Francolin (Francolinus pintadeanus), Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus), and the Swamp Francolin (Francolinus gularis).
Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) by Nikhil Devasar
The four Peliperdix species are the Latham’s Francolin (Peliperdix lathami), Coqui Francolin (Peliperdix coqui), White-throated Francolin (Peliperdix albogularis), and the Schlegel’s Francolin (Peliperdix schlegelii)
Coqui Francolin (Peliperdix coqui) by Dave’s BirdingPix
The next seven belong in the Scleroptila genre. The Ring-necked Francolin (Scleroptila streptophora), Grey-winged Francolin (Scleroptila afra), Red-winged Francolin (Scleroptila levaillantii),
Finsch’s Francolin (Scleroptila finschi), Shelley’s Francolin (Scleroptila shelleyi), Moorland Francolin (Scleroptila psilolaema), and the Orange River Francolin (Scleroptila gutturalis).
Shelley’s Francolin (Scleroptila shelleyi) ©WikiC
The lone Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) is the one in its genre.
Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) ©WikiC
The Pternistis has two names of birds in its genera. The Francolins and the Spurfowls. ” Its 23 species range through Sub-Saharan Africa. They are commonly known as francolins or spurfowl but are closely related to jungle bush quail, Alectoris rock partridges and Coturnix quail. The species are strictly monogamous, remaining mated indefinitely. They procure most of their food by digging. Partridge-francolins subsist almost entirely on roots, beans of leguminous shrubs and trees, tubers, seed, feasting opportunistically on termites, ants, locusts, flowers and fruit.
Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus) ©USFWS
Scaly Francolin (Pternistis squamatus), Ahanta Francolin (Pternistis ahantensis), Grey-striped Francolin (Pternistis griseostriatus), Hildebrandt’s Francolin (Pternistis hildebrandti), Double-spurred Francolin (Pternistis bicalcaratus), Heuglin’s Francolin (Pternistis icterorhynchus), Clapperton’s Francolin (Pternistis clappertoni), Harwood’s Francolin (Pternistis harwoodi), Swierstra’s Francolin (Pternistis swierstrai), Mount Cameroon Francolin (Pternistis camerunensis), Handsome Francolin (Pternistis nobilis), Jackson’s Francolin (Pternistis jacksoni), Chestnut-naped Francolin (Pternistis castaneicollis), Djibouti Francolin (Pternistis ochropectus), Erckel’s Francolin (Pternistis erckelii), Hartlaub’s Spurfowl (Pternistis hartlaubi), Red-billed Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus), Cape Spurfowl (Pternistis capensis), Natal Spurfowl (Pternistis natalensis), Yellow-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis leucoscepus), Grey-breasted Spurfowl (Pternistis rufopictus), Red-necked Spurfowl (Pternistis afer), and Swainson’s Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii).
“I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” (Psalms 50:11 KJV)
“Hiding in the Shadow of the Rock” ~ Dr. Richard Gregory
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Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies I
Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies II
Pheasants and allies – Phasianidae
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1st Lady Eagle with her eggs ~ by Bellamoonature
Just thought you might enjoy watching this from Bellamoonnature.
“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:” (Deuteronomy 32:11 KJV)
Lee’s Seven Word Sunday – 2/26/17
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AND HIS RAIMENT WAS
WHITE AND GLISTERING
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“And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.” (Luke 9:29 KJV)
Brazilian Teal (Amazonetta brasiliensis) ©WikiC
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Sunday Inspiration – Pheasants and Allies II
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) by Nikhil Devasar
“Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.” (1 Samuel 26:20 KJV)
Last week the introduction to the avian wonders of the Phasianidae – Pheasants and Allies Family I began. The first twenty-one (21) species were presented. With a 183 in this family, we will stay with this family for a few Sundays.
Today there are 2 Monal-Partridge (Tetraophasis) , 5 Snowcock (Tetraogallus), 10 Partridges in 3 genera (Lerwa) (Alectoris) and (Ammoperdix), and 17 Francolin in 4 genera (Francolinus), (Peliperdix), (Scleroptila) and (Dendroperdix). The Pternistis genus will be covered next time. It consistes of Francolins and Spurfowls.
Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge (Tetraophasis obscurus) ©gbwf.org
(Tetraophasis obscurus) is a species of bird in the Phasianidae family. It is found only in central China. Its natural habitat is boreal forests. The common name commemorates the French naturalist Jules Verreaux. The Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge or buff-throated partridge (Tetraophasis szechenyii) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in China and India. Its natural habitat is boreal forests.
Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus) ©WikiC
The Snowcocks are a group of bird species in the genus Tetraogallus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are ground-nesting birds that breed in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Caucasus to the Himalayas and western China. Some of the species have been introduced into the United States. Snowcocks feed mainly on plant material. Snowcocks are bulky, long-necked, long-bodied partridge-like birds. Males and females are generally similar in appearance but females tend to be slightly smaller and rather duller in colouration than males. Their plumage is thick with a downy base to the feathers which helps them to withstand severe winter temperatures that may fall to −40 °C (−40 °F).
Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca) ©Pixabay
The genus Alectoris is a well-defined group of partridge species allied with coturnix and snowcocks and also related to partridge-francolins (Pternistes) and junglebush quail (Perdicula ). They are known collectively as rock partridges. The genus name is from Ancient Greek alektoris a farmyard chicken.
Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) ©WikiC
The See-see partridge occurs in southwest Asia, and the Sand partridge in Egypt and the Middle East. Both are resident breeders in dry, open country, often in hill areas. Both partridges in this genus are 22–25 cm long, rotund birds. They are mainly sandy brown, with wavy white and brown stripes on their flanks.
Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) by Nikhil Devasar
Francolinus is a genus of birds in the francolin group of the partridge subfamily of the pheasant family. Its five species range from western and central Asia through to southern and south-eastern Asia.
Coqui Francolin(Peliperdix coqui) by Dave’s BirdingPix
Peliperdix – Its four species range through tropical Sub-Saharan Africa.
Shelley’s Francolin (Scleroptila shelleyi) ©WikiC
Scleroptila – Its seven species range through Sub-Saharan Africa.
Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) ©WikiC
The Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) – It is found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
(Wikipedia, with editing)
“As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.” (Jeremiah 17:11 KJV)
“In the Garden” ~ Flute Solo Lauren D – Orchestra Concert
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Pheasants and allies – Phasianidae
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 