Taiwan- Collared Bush Robin

Birds on stamps also includes birds on postal stationary and I was delighted to receive this attractive pictorial aerogram from Gulfmann in Taiwan.  Overprinted with the logo for the Taipei 2000 Stamp Exhibition, the aerogram is up-rated for current use. The colorful little bird is the unique endemic Collared bush robin ( Tarsiger johnstoniae) which lives high in the mountains of Taiwan.

Japan- Lesser Cuckoo

Another nice small definitive bird stamp from Japan, first  issued 1952, it was reprinted in 1971 the only difference being the name Nippon was added to the stamp. The legible postmark  from Fukushima Ward in Osaka is dated 1969. Lesser cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus) is greatly admired for its beautiful song which heralds the arrival of summer.

Japan- Bull Headed Shrike

What a nice SON * cancel we have here from Honjo in Japan on a 1986, 60y Bull headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus) which is a smallish bird of the shrike family Laniidae. These shrikes breed in north-east China, Korea, Japan and far-eastern Russia with some northern birds migrating southwards for a warmer winter. They feed on insects such as crickets and beetles and are also known to impale prey on a sharp point – usually thorns – so the food can be ripped easily into bite-sized pieces.
*SON in philatelic terms means socked on the nose or in plain English a complete postmark  over the centre of a stamp.

Japan-Manchurian (Red-crowned) crane

SG 866 Japan definitive stamp  issued 1961. Cancelled at Kobe Port

The Manchurian crane is also known as the Red Crowned crane and called tancho by the Japanese. This tall bird has a conspicuous presence in Japanese art and  culture  and reputed in folklore to live 1000 years  therefore being a symbol of longevity. Their reputation for fidelity makes them a popular symbol in wedding ceremonies. 

Australia-Silver Gull

All the way from W A...a Seagull from Seabird.  The seagull is holding a potato chip. In some coastal places potato chips have become a major food source for these birds . Studies have shown that chip eating seagulls  higher cholesterol and higher glucose in their blood than birds with a natural diet, and the birds  are significantly heavier.Some coastal towns discourage people from feeding the seagulls by having threats of high fines. Please do not feed the gulls on chips.

Japan-Golden eagle

From the Japan  2002 -Nature in Harmony series comes this great image of the head of a Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos),. Thank you Ruri

Australia- Wedge-tailed Eagle & Rajah Shelduck

Here's a triple whammy. The reverse of the pre-paid postcard  has the latest in bird stamps, head of the magnificent Wedge-tailed eagle cancelled with a tiger on the FDI  28-09-2012, at Parkville Zoo, Melbourne. This is only the second time the Wedgie has featured on an Australian stamp. Front of the card is my favorite duck, the handsome Rajah Shelduck on a maxi-card . Always nice to see the Parkville Zoo permanent marker with the elephant .

Thanks again to my good friend Robin in Victoria .

Australia- Little Penguin

The latest in bird stamps from Australia, the famous Little penguins of Phillip Island. They are of course in more places than Phillip Island but this is a popular place where the small feathered penguins can be observed at close range. 

Notes on the stamps...on the left is the lick n stick version, on the right is a self adhesive.

Many thanks to my friend Robin for sending this with a good clear postmark of Seymour South.

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) also known as fairy Penguin  is  the smallest species of penguin growing to an average of  33 cm (13 in) tall and 43 cm (17 in) tall.  Found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand .