VietNamNet Bridge introduces several rare species of birds in Vietnam.

Chim hút mật.
Vietnamese sunbird (Nectariniidae): The Nectariniidae are found extensively in Vietnam. The sunbirds are known as Chim hút mật or 'suck-nectar bird'. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but also take insects and spiders, especially when feeding young. Sunbirds are found in Di Linh, Tay Ninh, Bien Hoa and Phu Quoc.

Cận cảnh chim Cu Rốc lớn.
Great barbet (Ramphastidae): There are 84 species of barbets in the world, with ten in Vietnam. Barbets are named for the bristles at the bases of their stout, sharp bills. They are big-headed, short-tailed birds, 9–30 cm long, greenish or brownish, with splashes of bright colors or white.

Barbets sit stolidly in treetops when not feeding on insects, lizards, birds’ eggs, fruit, and berries. Some climb like woodpeckers; all fly weakly. The nest is a hole dug with the beak, high up in a rotting tree or in a termite nest. Barbets call loudly, jerking the head or tail; a male and a female may call alternately or together. Barbets are considered important agents to distribute seeds in tropical forests.

Chèo bẻo xám.
Grey drongo (Ashy drongo): In Vietnam, grey drongo build nets in northern forests and mountains. They emigrate to the south in winter.

The adult Ashy Drongo is mainly dark grey, and the tail is long and deeply forked. There are a number of subspecies varying in the shade of the grey plumage. Some subspecies have white markings on the head. Young birds are dull brownish grey.

The Ashy Drongo has short legs and sits very upright while perched prominently, often high on a tree. It is insectivorous and forages by making aerial sallies but sometimes gleans from tree trunks. They are found singly, in pairs or small groups. During migration they fly in small flocks.

: Chim Họa mi Langbiang – Một trong những loài đặc hữu của Việt Nam
Grey-crowned crocias (Crocias langbianis): Crocias langbianis is endemic to the Da Lat Plateau, southern Vietnam, where it is known from the Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces. Previously known from only five specimens collected at two localities in 1938-1939, it was rediscovered in 1994. It appears to be very locally distributed and is considered fairly common only at Chu Yang Sin Nature Reserve, one of three sites with recent records.

A survey in Lam Dong province in 2009 resulted in the discovery of the species at three previously unknown sites, with two pairs in Da Nhim Watershed Protection Forest, three pairs in D'Ran Watershed Protection Forest and seven pairs in forest compartments of Don Duong Forest Company, which is being logged on a 35-year rotation.

The population size is preliminarily estimated to fall into the band 2,500-9,999 individuals. This equates to 1,667-6,666 mature individuals, rounded here to 1,500-7,000 mature individuals. There is not sufficient evidence available to downlist the species.

Up-to-date information on population status is lacking, but various factors influencing habitats in the region are thought likely to be causing a population decline of 1-19% over ten years. The impact of these factors may increase in the near future with growing human population pressure.

It is resident in closed-canopy, tropical montane evergreen forest from 900-1,700 m (most recent observations come from a narrow altitudinal band from 910-1,130 m). Generally encountered in singles, pairs, and occasionally small groups of up to five, it is arboreal and forages with mixed-species flocks for invertebrates, particularly caterpillars, primarily in the outer canopy of broadleaved evergreen and coniferous trees.

Chim Xanh
Leafbird (Chloropseidae) are a family of small passerine bird species found in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. They are one of only three bird families that are entirely endemic to the Indomalayan ecozone.

The leafbirds range in size from 14–21 cm, and in weight from 15–48 g. They resemble bulbuls, but whereas that group tends to be drab in color, leafbirds are brightly plumaged, with the predominant green over the body giving rise to their common name. Like bulbuls, leafbirds drop many body feathers when they are handled.

Leafbirds are always found in trees and shrubs. Most are restricted to evergreen forests. The highest altitude they occur at is 2500 m.

Unlike most tropical Asian passerines, the nests of leafbirds are not located low down in the forest, but are instead found on the ends of branches near the tree crown. As such the nests of many species have rarely, if ever, been seen. Females lay 2 or 3 pinkish eggs. The only information for incubation times come from captive birds, and incubation lasts around 14 days. Incubation is apparently performed only by the female, although in at least two species the male feeds the incubating females.

Chim Cành cạch đen
The Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus Gmelin) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found in southern Asia from India east to southern China. In Vietnam, the Black Bulbul live in forests and mountains from the northern border to Hai Van pass and in the Bidoup Nui Ba national park in Lam Dong province in the Central Highlands.

The Black Bulbul is 24–25 cm in length, with a long tail. The body plumage ranges from slate grey to shimmering black, depending on the race. The beak, legs, and feet are all red and the head has a black fluffy crest. Sexes are similar in plumage, but young birds lack the crest, have whitish underparts with a grey breast band, and have a brown tint to the upperparts.

Black Bulbuls feed mainly on seeds and insects, and they are often seen in small groups, either roosting or flying about in search of food. It builds its nest in a tree or bush; the nest is a cup placed in a fork and made from grasses, dry leaves, mosses, lichens and cobwebs. The eggs hatch after an incubation period of 12 to 13 days and the chicks fledge after about 11 or 12 days.

Chim Phướn lớn
Green-billed Malkoha is a species of non-parasitic cuckoo found in the southern central and southern Vietnam. The birds are waxy bluish black with a long graduated tail with white tips to the tail feathers. The bill is prominent and curved. These birds are found in dry scrub and thin forests.

Chim Cu rốc đầu đỏ
The Blue-throated Barbet (Megalaima asiatica) is an Asian barbet, seen across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Barbets and toucans are a group of near passerine birds with a world-wide tropical distribution. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills; this species eats fruits and insects. In Vietnam, this species is everywhere that is not over 800m high.

Chim hút mật họng hồng – Chim trống
Rosy-throated suck-necta bird.

Chim hút mật họng hồng – Chim mái
Rosy-throated suck-necta bird.


Compiled by Le Ha