Taiwan Birds (III) FDC

Taiwan FDC
Name: Birds of Taiwan (3rd Series)
Date of Issue: 05 June 2008
Number: Def. 128 (III)

After having issued the first two sets in the "Birds of Taiwan" definitive stamp series on November 3, 2007 and January 30, 2008, this Post is following up with a third set of four stamps, featuring Streptopelia orientalis, Passer montanus, Pica pica and Zosterops japonicus.

Denominations:
NT$7.00: Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
This common resident bird, about 30 centimeters in length, is an endemic subspecies of Taiwan. It has orange irises and black pupils. It is lavender from its crown, to its forehead, cheeks, throat and belly, with a black and white striped patch on the side of its neck. The edges of the feathers on its back are brownish orange. The flight feathers are black. The undersides of its wings, and the uppertail and undertail coverts are gray. The tail is black with white edging.

NT$15.00: Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
This common resident bird is about 14 centimeters in length. It has black eyes and inconspicuous ivory eye rings. Its black beak is short and wide. There is a black spot on its throat and both of its cheeks. It is chestnut from head to nape. Its back is reddish brown with black streaks. There are two white wing bars visible when the wings are closed. The edges of the wings are black. It has buff underparts. Its tail feathers are wheat colored with black trim.

NT$20.00: European Magpie (Pica pica)
This uncommon resident bird is about 45 centimeters in length. It is black from the head to the breast. Its belly is white, its back is the deepest hue of blue, and its undertail coverts are black. Its wings are blue-green with white scapulars. In flight, the white stripes that form a V on its back and the white on the outer edges of its wings become obvious.

NT$34.00: Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus)
This common resident bird ranges between 10 to 11 centimeters. It has black lores and obvious white eye rings, a distinctive feature used for identification. Its back is yellow-green, and its forehead, cheeks, throat and undertail coverts are yellow. It is dull white from the lower breast to the belly. Its tail feathers are green.

Taiwan "Birds of Taiwan" FDC (I)
Taiwan "Birds of Taiwan" FDC (II)
Taiwan "Birds of Taiwan" FDC (III)
Taiwan "Birds of Taiwan" FDC (IV)