Christmas Island- White-tailed Tropicbird

Each year Christmas Island produces colorful Christmas stamps which are a joy to collect with the quirky humor and special birds.

White-tailed Tropicbird   ( Phaethon lepturus

)

Indonesia- Bird Life International 2012

An attractive block of four endemic species from Indonesia promoted by Bird Life International 2012
 Siau Scops Owl (Otus siaoensis) Flores Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus floris)

Elegant Sunbird   (Aethopyga duyvenbodei

) Invisible Rail  (Habroptila wallacii)

Singapore- Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed parakeets  (Psittacula krameri ) are trained to work with astrologers.

A parrot astrologer/fortune teller typically sits beneath a tree or by the side of the road where people congregate in numbers. He has a cage which contains one or two trained parrots. The tarot like cards are either spread out or stacked in front of him. They are 27 in number representing the Indian cosmic system. Each card contains the image of a Hindu deity and some cards contain images of Buddha or Virgin Mary with Infant Jesus. When a patron sits before the fortune teller, the latter opens the cage and lets the parrot out. He instructs the parrot to pick a card for the patron. The parrot walks over to the cards, picks one from the stack or the spread with its beak and gives it to the astrologer. It then walks back inside its cage. The astrologer opens the card and based on the image tells the fortune of the patron.^[1][2]

The practice of Parrot astrology is diminishing in Tamil Nadu due to lack of patronage.In Singapore it is a tourist attraction in Little India along the Serangoon Road. A variant is practiced in Pakistan.^[4]   (Wikipedia)

Ireland- Golden Eagle

Golden eagle  ( Aquila chrysaetos) with a fine roller cancel from Dublin , Ireland

Australia- Eagles

An unusual approach for a personal stamp is to use pictures of eagles on the tabs.

Pakistan- Chukor Partridge

2009 was national Environment Year in Pakistan.  The Chukar Partridge (Alectris chakor) , native to Asia and a popular game bird is the National Bird of Pakistan.

Germany- Bird of the Year 2013

The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) was bird of the year in Germany 2013. Although not yet on the threatened list the numbers have declined steadily over the years mainly due to habitat destruction from field drainage and agriculture. Snipe are migratory and  breed in marshy areas of northern Europe and northern Asia. Snipe have always been  popular  as gamebirds and hunting continues within its range. The pictorial postmark cancels the commemorative stamp of Jasmund National Park famous for its massive chalk cliffs but also home to many snipe in the marshes and wetland areas.

Denmark- Common Kestrel ( Falso tinnunculus)

Denmark 2004 Birds of Prey- from the 4v set is this small raptor a Common Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus) which belongs to the kestrel group of the Falcon family ( Falconidae). It is widespread over Europe , Asia and Africa. In Britain, it is the only kestrel which has a brown plumage.
 Postmarked in Sydjyllands, Denmark

Czech Republic- Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

From the latest  Karlstejn National Park nature sheet from the Czech Republic comes a Common Buzzard - a  medium to large sized bird of prey  seen all over Europe with their range extending to Asia. THe Buzzard is flying over the  High Gothic castle Karlsteyn  built by Czech king and Roman Emperor Charles 1V in 1348.   Postmarked from Vodochody.

Netherlands - Birds 1994 & 1995

Netherlands 1995 Birds of Prey
 Red Kite  (Milvus milvus),  Hen Harrier   ( Circus cyaneus), Common Kestrel   ( Falco tinnunculus )

1994 Fepapost

Garganey  ( Anas querquedula),  Bluethroat  ( Luscinia svecica) , Barnacle Goose    (Branta leucopsis )

South Korea - Eagles

Posted from Seoul in Korea a  couple of definitive stamps, a 2000 Black-crowned Night heron and the 2002 Chinese Grosbeck to make up the rate with the two eagle stamps which are from the 2009 Philakorea commemorative sheet for the exhibition.

Sweden- Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)

Sweden- 2002 from a two stamp booklet commemorating the South polar expedition 1901-1903

Malta - European Storm Petrel ( Hydrobates pelagicus)

Malta has issued less than 40 bird stamps so I feel very lucky to receive one on a cover. Here you see the 2010  European Storm Petrel ( Hydrobates pelagicus)  from a 4v  for the International year of Biodiversity.

Canada - Grey Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)

Here's late usage of a 1968 bird stamp on a recent  cover from Ville St Georges, Canada

Christmas Island - White-tailed Tropicbird ( Phaethon lepturus)

We look forward to the end of the year when Christmas Island issues it's colorful stamps in time to be used on Christmas mail from Australia and it's Territories. Not to be disappointed this year we see a White-tailed tropicbird flying close to the hot air balloon where you see a Frigate bird and the ubiquitous crabs and a frog.

Singapore - Chinese Egret ( Egretta eulophotes)

Arrived in the mail today from a postcrossing member in Singapore - a postcard showing Flamingoes which are one of 8000 birds found at the famous Jurong Bird Park..it come highly recommended for a visit if ever you are in Singapore. The sender used a full strip of the 1993 WWF Chinese egrets which are also known as Swinhoes egret.  These elegant birds of east Asia are becoming rarer to see as they are now on the endangered list.

Malaysia - Ochraceous Bulbul & Spotted Dove

These definitive bird stamps were first  issued in 2005 and are still in production in Malaysia. The joy of  collecting definitive stamps issued over many years is that you hope to find varieties and errors in the reprints.
Although you've seen these stamps many times , these cancellations from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia are a first for me. Many thanks to the sender for the Ochraceous bulbul and Spotted dove.

Georgia - Eagles 2007

Issued in 2007 this fine set of eagles flew in from Tblisi in Georgia. Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) Short-toed Snake eagle (Circatus gallicus) and my favorite of all- Golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos)

Brasil - Green-headed Tanager & Violet-capped Woodnymph

A fine cover from Caxias Do Sul, Brasil with stamps from the 2011 m/s for Tijuca National park featuring a 

Green-headed Tanager  ( Tangara seledon	) & Violet-capped Woodnymph    (Thalurania glaucopis)

Netherlands- Black-tailed Godwit & Great Tit

A finely cancelled bird stamp cover from Oldebroek in  the Netherlands with stamps commemorating 100 years of bird ringing and the Black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) and the Great tit (Parus major) on stamps promoting conservation .

Sarawak - Brahminy Kite

Here's a first for me ,a neat cancel from  Kuching ,Sarawak, on a 20c Malaysia 1996 Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Czech Republic- Karlstejn Nature Reserve

7th in the series ,since 2005, on nature reserves in the Czech Republic, is this colorful and busy sheetlet representing Karlstejn Nature Reserve, containing four actual stamps two of which are bird stamps . The  18Kc stamp has a perched Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) and the 20Kc stamp has a flying Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) except for this Common Buzzard  all other fauna and flora have Latin and Czech names.

Received on a registered cover, this is a delightful addition for Traveling Birds.

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

Three Semi-postal (for the youth) songbirds on a registered cover  from Germany. Very attractive stamps of three very pretty little birds with the illustrations clearly seen against  a white background.

Jamaica - White-chinned Thrush

This   bird is known by many names- White-chinned Thrush (Turdus aurantius) and Hopping Dick, Jumping Dick, Twopenny Chick, Chick-me-Chick, or Chap-man-Chick.
Cancelled at Kingston Jamaica . Issued in 1980 as a definitive stamp

Gabon - African River- martin

Gabon 1980 African River-martin (Pseudochelidon eurystomina

)

  cancelled at Port Gentil

Mexico - Great Egret

From the huge 2002, 22v set of Conservation, I received this fabulous large block on cover. 10 stamps of the Great Egret  (Ardea alba).  Cancelled at San Benito, Hermosillo, Sonora

Portugal - European Bee-eater & Little Tern

Portugal 2001 European Bee- eater ( Merops Apiaster) and 2002 Little Tern ( Sternula albifrons). Cancelled at PORTIMÃO city in the south of Portugal in the Algarve region.

Portugal- European Bee-eater & Little Bustard

Portugal 2001  2002 European Bee-eater   ( Merops apiaster) and  Little Bustard  (Tetrax tetrax) 

cancelled at CTC Lisboa 1800 

Mexico- A Flock of Birds

Indeed a flock of birds flew in from Mexico. There are ten bird stamps on this cover and more than twenty birds. The semi postal stamp on the front and reverse are from 1961-2 in aid of tuberculosis and the block of 4 contains hidden sea creatures which show up under UV light. Hand cancelled in Sonora.

Norway-Western Capercallie & Golden Eagle

Norway 2006  issued a set of five "Wild Animals", including this pair of birds.
Western Capercallie (Tetrao urogallu) and the magnificent Golden Eagle ( Aquila chyrsaetos)
Posted with a first day cancel from Sollia in Norway

Singapore- Red Jungle Fowl & Grey Peacock Pheasant

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Diplomatic relations with Vietnam, Singapore released this joint-issue pair of stamps on September 12, 2013 appropriately at  Jurong Bird park in Singapore. The Grey Peacock -pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum) also known as the Burmese Peacock pheasant is the national bird of Myanmar. The Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus) is said to be the ancestor of all domestic fowl. The image is cropped from a DL sized envelope posted to me  from Singapore.

Germany- European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

From the latest German series of semi-postal songbirds on stamps , here is the colorful European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)  with a matching pictorial postmark. Cancelled in " Weltvogelpark Walsrode which  is home to a total of about 4,000 birds with 675 different species. It is the world’s largest bird park and one of the ten species-richest zoos in the world. The Park is not only a paradise for animal and garden lovers but also an attraction for international avian researcher." 

What a wonderful place, I would love to visit it one day to see so many birds in the one place.

Germany- Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

A perfect SON, socked on the nose, of  the newest  semi postal Eurasian Bullfinch ( Pyrrhula pyrrhula) from Germany. Thank you Tom.

Australia -Little penguin (Eudyptula minor)

Little penguins live along the southern shores of  mainland Australia as well as New Zealand, Tasmania and Chatham Islands. They featured in the recent Australian stamp series of Road Trips where you can see a family driving to Phillip Island in Victoria, where they can easily see the penguins which  come ashore each evening to roost in the tussocks on the sand dunes.

Norway- White-tailed Eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla)

The second only  bird stamp issued from Norway 1970, a White tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
Clear postmark from Molde a coastal town .

Ireland-Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

A similar stamp to the one above only the value of .90 Euro has been imprinted which is the basic 20g weight for international postage from Ireland to Malaysia.

Ireland- Common Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus)

 August 9, 2012,  An Post (Ireland) put a Common Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus) on one of the new definitive stamps from the Animals and Marine Life set of 8. These self-adhesive stamps are made in rolls of 600 on which the denomination is printed  at the time of purchase. The five digit number on the SOAR ( stamps on a roll) is the Julian date which is based on the Julian calendar and the sequence below this contains POst Office information such as the location of the stamp printer etc.

The kestrel is a small bird of prey feeding almost exclusively on small mammals such as rats and voles.  Like other birds of prey, the kestrel is also seen as a symbol of power , showing the vitality of nature.

This counter printed stamp has high value to cover the cost of registration for international postage. Posted from Droichead Atha  (Eng: Drogheda)

USA- Bald Eagle on meter

The Bald Eagle has been the national symbol of the United States of America since 1782. The first postage stamp featuring the bald eagle was issued in 1938 and since then there have been numerous stamps, postal stationary items and meter cancels with images of the eagle. Here's is a current Postalia  franking meter featuring the eagle in an unusual upright stance.

Thailand-Owls 2013

Barred eagle-owl (Bubo sumartranus), Western barn owl (Tyto alba), Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) and Collared owlet (Glaucidium brodiei). Issued at the end of July 2013, a set of four owls, all resident in Thailand and seen here on large stamps. Clear postmarks from Petchaburi, Thailand.

Czech Republic- Hunting and Gamekeeping 2000

Issued in october 2000, a set of four stamps titled Hunting and Gamekeeping, three of which have birds. Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), Common Pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus) and Mallard (Anas platyrhynchus)
The stamp with the Goshawk shows it as a trained bird for hawking and also on the ground with the pheasant which it is has captured. Postmarked in Breclav, Czech Republic, an excellent addition for my theme of hunting , wild animals and of course birds.

Pakistan-Migratory Birds

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Snow geese(Chen caerulescnes) Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) and Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) are some of the many species of birds which breed in the far northern hemisphere during the summer  and fly  to a region which has a warmer winter away from freezing conditions. Nearly one million migratory  birds from Europe, India and Central Asia use the Indus Flyway to arrive in Pakistan where there are many wetlands and protected areas for these magnificent winged creatures. The stamps were issued 27-09-2012

Pakistan- Red-vented Bulbul ( Pycnonotus cafer)

Here is my first ever bird cover from Pakistan, and what a beauty with the attractive positioning of the stamps and nice clear cancels. The front of the cover has a block of 8 stamps, and the back a strip of four plus older definitive stamps to make the correct postage. Issued as a definitive stamp, the bird is a Red-vented bulbul, endemic to Pakistan and also introduced to other countries such as Hawaii, Fiji, new Zealand and Samoa,  where the birds have become pests from damaging orchard fruits.

USA- Purple Martin (Progne subis)

The Purple Martin (Progne subis) is the largest North American Swallow. Theses birds have great speed and agility in flight at the same time also  feeding on insects in the air. In the eastern parts of the USA , artificial nesting boxes are provided for the birds which migrate south after breeding season. Populations of Purple martins are under threat from introduced European starlings as they compete for breeding sites.
The Purple Martin stamped envelope is for 1st class mail at the 1 ounce rate. The illustration  was created by  American artist Matthew Frey, featuring a  Purple martin perching and a smaller illustration showing the bird in flight.

Thailand- Owls 2013

Thanks to Tom for the very latest bird stamps with clear cancellations from Thailand, a 4v set comprising.
Western barn owl (Tyto alba)
Collared Owlet ( (Glaucidium brodiei)
Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia)
Barred Eagle-owl ( Bubo sumatranus)

South Africa- Tauraco corythaix

This true maxi-card  of a  Knysna Turaco (Tauraco corythaix)arrived today , the three elements  on the card are concordant, meaning the picture on the card, the pictorial cancel and the stamps are all related.
These birds have spectacular colors and the crimson flight  feathers of some Turacos   are treasured as status symbols by royalty and Chiefs all over Africa.

Germany-Bird of the Year 2013

Many countries now select a "Bird of the Year" to bring attention to  threatened of species. This year Germany selected to highlight  the Common Snipe ( (Gallinago gallinago) - a migratory  wading bird of the Old World which breeds in marshy wetlands in Northern Europe and Northern Asia. During courtship display, the bird vibrates its tail feathers creating a  sound which can be similar to a bleating sheep or goat. In many languages the bird is also known as the Goat bird, Flying Goat, Heather-bleater or Heaven's ram.
These attractive commemorative postmarks have been issued annually since 1971.

Portugal- African Grey Parrot

Birds from vending machines. First issued in 2000 from a set of  four designs featuring pets  is this African Grey Parrot  (Psittacus erithacus). The set design did not correspond to an issue of ordinary postage stamps.  The bird is not endemic to Portugal but was a popular companion to  Portuguese sailors during their long journeys at sea.

Singapore-Our Garden in a City

My favorite type of bird covers are when I get multiples of the same stamp as you see here with the Orienttal Pied Hornbill. There's also a Crimson Sunbird  illustrated on these stamps .

Singapore-Our Garden in a City

A set of four very colorful attractive stamps from Singapore to highlight the many flowers and birds which can be found on this highly urbanized and well organized island state.
The birds are
1st Local-Collared kingfisher ( Todiramphus chloris)
50c-Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja) & Oriental Pied Hornbill ( Anthacoceros albirostris)
80c-Oriental Magpie robin ( Copychus saularis
$1.10-Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

Canada-Yellow-headed Blackbird

An attractive Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) on a card from Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre where this bird can be seen in typical habitat west of the Great Lakes. These medium sized birds forage in the marshes and nearby fields for insects or seeds.