I can’t get enough of these tropical birds. I observed these pigeons, hornbills and starlings in Singapore, central Malaysia and Borneo. Every encounter is a nice surprise even though I read they're supposed to be around.
Hornbills are super noisy, bigger species fly swooshing over as loud as a train approaching. They startle smaller birds – they may hunt them. They communicate in screechy voices. But at rest, they’re quiet. We observed a family group in Pasir Ris in Singapopre, a park by the mangroves. They spent hours perched on thin branches, all fluffed and cat-like.
Pigeons are very quiet, only making noise when they slip in the canopy, sometimes they hang upside down, going after round shiny figs and other fruit. It’s difficult to spot them, green on green. But once you get used to it, you may notice that pigeons are clumsy, they flap their wide wings, when they try to stay on thinnest of branches.
Starlings are lively, multiple, noisy and fussy. Males have bright crimson eyes, they're really glossy and shiny, their plumage sparkling blue and purple under hot midday sun. First time I see them in Sandakan, Borneo, when I look outside the hotel window and instantly wonder if may be it was too hot today, as I've never seen such bright red eyes on a bird before.
