Size: 71-81 cm. : Overall blackish plumage with prominent whitish patches extending from side of body to inner underwing-coverts diagnostic. Red gular pouch. : Combination of black hood, belly and lower flanks, white remainder of underparts, extending in axillary spur on to inner underwing-coverts.: shows rufous to brownish-white head, black breast-band, triangular white belly-patch. White axillary spur always present, originating from line of breast-band and angled outwards (towards wing- tip). Band across upperwing-coverts buffish, moderately prominent (Fig. 4)

Figure 4.  

The juvenile individuals of Fregata ariel (IEBR B.501) were photographed in My Khe Beach, Da Nang City.

Lesser Frigate-Bird is a scarce non-breeding offshore visitor species in Vietnam, with the only previous records from Cochinchina (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record for the species in Central Annam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded resident in Australia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, China, Christmas Island, Comoros, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, North Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, United States, Vanuatu, breeding in Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Réunion, Seychelles and non-breeding in Micronesia, northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Timor-Leste, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Djibouti, Eritrea, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Mozambique, New Zealand, Oman and Somalia (IUCN 2024).

Size: 12-14 cm. Adult non-breeding: Small with finely dark-streaked breast and flanks and rather uniform base colour of upperside. Bold broad blackish (streaky) lateral crown-stripes, eye-stripe and border to rufous-chestnut ear-coverts. Median crown- stripes, supercillium, submoustachial stripe and spot on rear ear-coverts contrastingly buffish, shows rufescent lores and forehead, whitish eye-ring (Fig. 5). Adult breeding: Attains diagnostic chestnut flush over most of head, lateral crown-stripes solid black. Juvenile: Similar to adult non-breeding. Initially shows much duller lateral crown-stripes, less neat breast and flanks streaking, brower-tinged underparts.

Figure 5.  

The adult non-breeding of Emberiza pusilla (IEBR B.536) was photographed in Con Cuong, Nghe An Province.

Little Bunting has been recorded as a fairly common to common winter visitor in West and East Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record for the species in North Annam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded breeding in Norway, Russian and Sweden, resident in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, non-breeding in Iran, Saudi Arabia and vagrant in Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States (IUCN 2024).

Size: 20 cm. Adult: Brown upperparts, black cap and cheeks, short crest, brown ear-coverts and breast-band, white throat, plain pale greyish underparts, deep yellow undertail-coverts, little or no white on tail-tip (Fig. 6). Juvenile: Breast-band less distinct, dark head markings browner, paler underparts.

Figure 6.  

The adult Pycnonotus xanthorrhous (IEBR B.554) was photographed in Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Brown-breasted Bulbul has been recorded as a locally common resident in West Tonkin and East Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This appears to represent the first confirmed record of the species in North Annam, Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded breeding in China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 23 cm. Adult: Combination of heavy yellowish-white streaking on head and body, prominent crest and yellow spectacles, mostly yellow throat and undertail-coverts (Fig. 7).

Figure 7.  

The adult of Alcurus striatus (IEBR B.569) was photographed in Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Striated Bulbul has been recorded as a uncommon resident in West Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded breeding in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 21.5 cm. Adult: Greenish to yellowish-green plumage, thick pale yellowish bill and erect pointed crest distinctive. Head mostly greyish with blacker lores, crest and throat, blackish tail-tip (Fig. 8). Juvenile: Crown and crest paler and mixed with green, yellowish-green forehead and throat, paler ear-coverts, dark tail-band less distinct.

Figure 8.  

The adult of Spizixos canifrons (IEBR B.579) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Crested Finchbill has been recorded as a common resident in West Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as a resident in Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 15 cm. Male: Uniformly glossy blackish upperside and all white underside diagnostic (Fig. 9). Female: Brown upperparts, greyish underparts, whiter on throat (Fig. 10).

Figure 9.  

The male Saxicola jerdoni (IEBR B.582) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Figure 10.  

The female of Saxicola jerdoni (IEBR B.583) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Jerdon's Bushchat has been recorded as a rare to scarce resident in East Tonkin, with additional records of uncertain status in West Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as resident in Nepal, Bangladesh, China, India, Laos and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 14-15.5 cm. Adult: Upperparts rather warm-tinged drab brown, greyish-pink breast, belly and vent deep ochre-buff with browner flanks and centres of undertail-coverts, primaries mostly blackish with some whitish fringing, tall forward-curved crest, pale pinkish to buffish throat (centre whiter) with blackish streaks, prominent pale orange-buff fringes to secondaries (Fig. 11). Juvenile: Slightly darker and warmer brown above, shorter crest.

Figure 11.  

The adult Yuhina gularis (IEBR B.591) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Stripe-throated Yuhina has been recorded as a common resident in West Tonkin and the southern part of Central Annam (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as a resident in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar and Nepal (IUCN 2024).

Size: 16-18.5 cm. Adult: Golden-rufous crown, greyish head-sides, blackish eyebrow (to above eye), strong submoustachial streaks and mostly whitish throat with broad black bars/scales diagnostic. Olive-greyish upperparts, dull brownish-chestnut and black tail with whitish tip, yellowish underparts, black primary coverts, constrasting orange-yellow flight-feather fringes and broad white-bordered tertials (Fig. 12). Juvenile: Hind-crown, nape and upper parts greyer, paler head-sides, throat-bars narrower and more broken, underparts more washed out.

Figure 12.  

The adult Actinodura strigula (IEBR B.598) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Bar-throated Minla has been recorded as a locally common resident in West Tonkin and the southern part of Central Annam (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as a resident in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 55-65 cm. Adult non-breeding: Mostly uniform dark brownish with white streaks on head and neck, green gloss on scapulars and upperwing-coverts. Pale brownish bill, dark brownish legs and feet, dark facial skin bordered above and below by distinctive narrow white line. Adult breeding: Head, neck and body mostly deep chestnut, forecrown glossed green, much of plumage with purplish tinge, no streaks on head and neck, but more pronounced white border to lores, bill mostly flesh-coloured (Fig. 13).

Figure 13.  

The adult Plegadis falcinellus in breeding plumage (IEBR B.628) was photographed in O Lau rivermouth, Thua Thien Hue Province

Glossy Ibis has been recorded as a vagrant in East Tonkin and a fairly common resident in Cochinchina (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record for the species in Central Annam. Globally, this species is widespread from Africa to southern Europe. In Southeast Asia, Glossy Ibis is recorded as a resident in Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 13-14.5 cm. Adult: Crown and upperparts warm olive-brown with slighly more rufescent rump and uppertail-coverts, underparts whitish with warm buff breast-sides and flanks, whitish supercilium, narrow blackish line on crown-sides, long bill with pale lower mandible, white throat (Fig. 14).

Figure 14.  

The adult Acrocephalus tangorum (IEBR B.637) was photographed in Thuy Trieu Lake, Khanh Hoa Province.

Manchurian Reed Warbler has been recorded as a scarce passage migrant in West Tonkin, East Tonkin and Cochinchina (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first record of the species in South Annam. Manchurian Reed Warbler has recently been listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List 2024. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded breeding in China, Myanmar and Russia and wintering in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Peninsular and Thailand, with vagrant records in Korea (IUCN 2024).

Size: 15-16 cm. Adult: Brown upperparts with buff and white streaks, spots and mottling and an orange-brown rump, brown tail. Combination of drab greyish throat and underparts, buffy vent and indistinct supercilium diagnostic (Fig. 15). Juvenile: Shows faint darker scaling on throat and breast.

Figure 15.  

The adult of Certhia manipurensis (IEBR B.675) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Hume’s Treecreeper has been recorded as an uncommon to locally common resident in West Tonkin and South Annam (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as resident in India (Manipur), Laos, Myanmar and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 12 cm. Male: Grey upperparts with two black lines from eyes to lower nape, buff underside, white on the uppertail coverts, small bill and rufous-orange underparts with unmarked bright rufous undertail-coverts, whitish throat (Fig. 16). Female: Ear-coverts and underparts slightly paler and duller.

Figure 16.  

Male Sitta himalayensis (IEBR B.684) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

White-tailed Nuthatch has been recorded as an uncommon resident in West Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as a resident in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar and Nepal (IUCN 2024).

Size: 16.5 cm. Adult: Large, upperparts black, streaked brilliant blue to white on crown, nape and mantle, broad blue band along scapulars to back and rump, black wings with two narrow white wing-bars, dull rufous-buff underparts with paler throat and head-sides (Fig. 17). Juvenile: Very similar to adult, but white streaks on upperparts may be bluer, whiter and paler underparts, particularly on breast.

Figure 17.  

Adult Sitta formosa (IEBR B.691) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Beautiful Nuthatch has been recorded as a scarce to uncommon resident in West Tonkin and East Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Beautiful Nuthatch was recently listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List 2024. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as a resident in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 17-19.5 cm. Male: Bluish-slate crown, black head-sides, rufous-chestnut rest of upperparts, whitish underparts with bold black bars on breast-sides and flanks, wings black with tertials and flight-feathers fringed bluish-grey, flanks and vent washed buff (Fig. 18). Female: Like male, but mantle, back and scapulars more olive-brown with broad blackish streaks, dark brown head-sides. Juvenile: Duller than respective adults with browner crown and fainter dark bars on underparts.

Figure 18.  

Male Cutia nipalensis (IEBR B.698) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Himalayan Cutia has been recorded as a scarce to fairly common resident in West Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded as a resident in Bhutan, China, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand (IUCN 2024).

Size: 16.5-17 cm. Male breeding : Blackish head and body, chestnut wings and tail, long erect crest (Fig. 19). Male non-breeding: Blackish body feathers edged buffish-grey. Female breeding: Much paler and browner with less chestnut wings and tail, shorter crest. Upperpart olive-brown, streaked darker, underparts paler with faint dark breast streaking. Largely chestnut wings and tail; short crest and lack of white on tail rules out other buntings. Female non-breeding: A little darker than breeding, mantle sandy-brown and more diffusely streaked. Juvenile: Like female, but slightly darker with shorter crest, underparts buffier with more extensive, but fainter breast streaking. Male develops black blotching on body plumage.

Figure 19.  

Male breeding Emberiza lathami (IEBR B.708) was photographed in the Ky Son area, Nghe An Province.

Crested Bunting has been recorded as an uncommon to locally common resident in West Tonkin and East Tonkin (Robson 2008, Craik and Minh 2018, Hung et al. 2021b). This is the first confirmed record of the species for North Annam, Central Vietnam. Elsewhere, this species has been recorded breeding in Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand (IUCN 2024).