Check Out These 5 Interesting Birds At Zoo Negara’s Bird Aviary
Zoo Negara holds one of the most extensive bird collections in Malaysia. From hornbills and cockatoos to pelicans, discover these wonderful creatures when you visit the bird aviary. The National Zoo also features a range of endangered species. Now’s your chance to catch a glimpse of these elusive birds because you’ll have a hard time spotting them in the wild. Here are a few of the many bird species that are on display at the zoo.
1. Fischer’s Lovebird
Bright and vivid, Fischer’s lovebird is one of the smaller lovebird species, hailing all the way from central Africa. A vivid shade of green covers most of its body, while its neck is a golden-yellow with a gradient that leads to its dark orange face. Lovebirds are social animals and require regular interaction, making them popular as pets too. If you’re thinking of getting one as a pet, you should know that they have a high-pitched chirp and can get noisy.
2. Asian Glossy Starling
A contrast to the previous bird, the Asian glossy starling features a glossy dark green coat on its back with a matte black plumage. Their striking red eyes are a prominent attribute, making them easy to recognise – try to spot them in the bird aviary! On the other hand, the juvenile glossy starling has a grey-brown coat and gains its green gloss as it grows older. Just like the lovebirds, the glossy starling has a reputation of being one of the noisiest birds.
3. Milky Storks
The milky storks are one of the endangered bird species in Zoo Negara. Strictly speaking, these birds aren’t housed in the zoo’s bird aviary, but they roam freely around the zoo’s compound. As it’s a vulnerable species, Zoo Negara took effort in the conservation of milky storks through captive breeding. The conservation efforts have been wildly successful; 20 years ago there were only about 10 of them, but today their numbers have grown to approximately 200!
4. Pink-necked Green Pigeon
The pink-necked green pigeon is a beautiful pastel-coloured bird found predominantly in subtropical and tropical areas in Southeast Asia. Although the species is named the pink-necked green pigeon, only the males have a pink nape and orange plumage. The females of this species are entirely green, as are the juveniles of both sexes. Unlike most birds species, both male and female birds are involved in raising the offspring.
5. White-bellied Go-away-bird
The white-bellied go-away-bird is certainly a mouthful, but the name actually stems from the distinctive “g’way” sound it makes. Additionally, these birds also make calls resembling a loud and nasal “haa-haa-haa”. Native to eastern Africa, this bird is often found in the open country or savannas. Both male and female birds are coloured a dark grey and white. Interestingly, the female birds sport a green beak that turns yellow-ish during the breeding season.