​The following illustrations comprising the second post on Birds, have been resized from their originals to expedite quicker uploading for internet purposes. As such, there will be a drop in the picture or text quality. I hope that the posters will inspire or arouse the observer to reflect over matters that concern life and living.

​The Picture Poster blog series have been separated into pictures with flowers, bees, birds, insects and others. Each blog post will contain about six to eight pictures in each series; and there will be more than a blog post for each section. 

The Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker is rather difficult to spot due to its extremely small size and its fondness for hiding deep within clumps of branches. Its call is a short sharp chirp. The Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker is sexually dimorphic, with the male having white underparts and throat, black head-sides, deep glossy-blue wings and a distinctive red stripe running from its crown down to the upper tail. 

The female Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, on the other hand, is primarily olive-green with a scarlet rump. Both sexes have black legs, grey slightly arched bills, and cream underparts. Singapore Botanic Gardens July 31st 2018.

The olive-backed sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), also known as the yellow-bellied sunbird.

The white-headed munia (Lonchura maja), is a species of estrildid finch found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This species is also introduced to Portugal. It is found in wetlands habitat. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern. Wikipedia. Other common names:White-headed Munia, White-headed Nun, White-headed Mannikin, White-haired Munia, Cigar Bird, Maja Munia. Picture taken in my garden.

The Red junglefowl ( Gallus gallus) is the wild ancestor of domesticated chickens.
The colourful male (about 80cm) has white ear patches and a white puff at the base of his tail. The drab female (about 40cm) has dull brown streaky plumage. She also has white ear patches and lacks a comb or wattles on her head. Their feet are lead-grey. The Red junglefowl cockerel’s call sounds just like his domesticated cousin but his crowing is said to be more high-pitched and ends more abruptly.

The yellow-vented bulbul, or eastern yellow-vented bulbul, is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is resident breeder in southeastern Asia from Indochina to the Philippines. It is found in a wide variety of open habitats, but not deep forest. It is one of the most common birds in cultivated areas. Wikipedia.

The pink-necked green pigeon (Treron vernans ), is a bird of the family Columbidae. It is found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Wikipedia.

This is the most abundant species of green pigeons in Singapore. The male is a beautiful bird with a pink neck. The female is duller. Pink-necked Green Pigeons, as with other pigeons, assist in the dispersal of seeds. They also have a role in the control of the insect population.

The male Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis, feeding on Thalia flowers in my garden.

These are attractive small birds with the males having colourful plumage for sexual display. In particular, they have orange pectoral tufts that are displayed during courtship. Male has plain olive-green upper parts, iridescent blue-black forehead, throat and breast and yellow belly and vent. Female can be separated from other sunbirds by combination of obvious down-curved bill, all yellow underparts and extensive white on tail.

The Thalia is an emergent aquatic plant growing up to 1.7 m tall. It has bright green, lance-shaped leaves and dark reddish stems. It produces dense clusters of small, purple flowers. In addition to absorbing excess nutrients of nitrogen and phosphorous, it also accumulates permethrin which is used as an insecticide or insect repellant.