Bali's Birds, Bali

Birds love a tropical island paradise, and Bali is home to some brilliant examples of this colourful, charismatic order of animals.  As I walk around Lake Batur, here are some of the beautiful species I encountered.

The Bali myna is relatively common and stands out with his bright white plumage, a treak of cobald blue lining his eyes.  He’s curious and relatively unperturbed by humans, hopping from branch to branch, letting you get a good look at him.

Then there’s the majestic Brahminy kite, named because his white head resembles the shroud of a Brahmin, or Hindu Priest.  This kite is found all over South and Southeast Asia, and in the Hindu tradition is considered a representation of Garuda, a powerful hawk-like being that serves as the mount of Lord Vishnu.

The Java sparrow might be small, but he’s highly distinguished.  Actually a finch, he possesses a large pink beak and dark black hood making him one of the most handsome birds in the rainforest.

And finally, there’s the Pink-headed fruit dove, who is just a beautiful pastel delight.  Though he is extremely brightly coloured, this is an incredibly shy bird, with even its call a quiet little ‘hoo’, and so is considered by birders to be a great privilege to spot.