OUR WORLD WITHIN THEIRS !!!!!

BIRDS OF NEW MOTI BAGH. (Dedicated to the residents of New Moti Bagh)

There is a world within our world and all one has to do is be aware of the surroundings. Every time you step out of your house, you enter the house of another and the inhabitants of the house we enter are creatures ranging from small to big, right from the sun-birds on the flower to kites soaring high up like diamonds in sky. Birds are special creatures as depicted by their colorful plumage, melodious chirping and busy schedules throughout the day that keep onlookers entertained for hours at a stretch. Birds of several species take refuge amidst the abundance of greenery found in New Moti Bagh and they have adapted to life in an Ecosystem amongst humans, which is quite rare during present times. The sparrows, common Hoopoes', Koels' are fast disappearing from the world and New Moti Bagh is fortunate enough to play host to some of the rare species that are on the brink of extinction.

Many people have a habit of walking within the New Moti Bagh complex and I am sure that the regular walkers are testimonial to the abundance of chirps and melodies played out by our gracious guests. I write the following article, with hopes of creating an interest amongst the members of the colony to appreciate and enjoy the beautiful spectacles displayed by our new inhabitants in the form of building nests, displaying their colorful feathers and singing beautiful melodies. Birds are very interesting creatures as they are always active and performing various tasks throughout the day such as gathering material for their nests, sucking nectar from flowers, hunting for insects or just quarreling amongst themselves. Birds are also special creatures as they change their appearances during the mating seasons, while some birds such as the peacock grow extravagantly long tail feathers that they display to attract their potential mate others grow dark and colorful feathers such as the Pond Heron and the beaks of certain birds turn black as their mating season approaches. During the mating season, which falls during summer for many birds, the males are engaged in a game of ‘show-off’ where each one tries to attract a female member of its species and so engage themselves in several activities to attract their partner such as displaying their feathers, building nests or through their vocal calls. Hence Moti Bagh is home to not only to human beings but a diversity of birds and I wish all our members live in harmony with them.

P.S: All the photos in this article have been taken by me within our colony and the information on birds has been taken from Wikipedia and other bird guide books.

Sparrows.

BIRDS

1)      WHITE-CHEEKED BARBET (Megalaima viridis).

The species has a broad white cheek strip below the eyes which gives it its name. The birds are usually around 23 centimetres in length and are found in parks, gardens and wooded areas. They breed from December to July and occasionally raise two broods. The birds range along the Western Ghats to the foothills of southern India and Eastern Ghats. They usually feed on insects and fruits. Their calls are a ‘prrr-rrr’ followed by repeated ‘pucack or pukrak’.

2)      BRAHMINY STARLING (Sturnia pagodarum).

The bird is around 22 centimetres in length and its coat is creamy orange with a black cap and a crest on its head. It belongs to the same family as the Mina’s and is usually found in pairs or flocks in the sub-continent. The breeding season falls between March to September but may also vary according to the location. Both Sexes take part in nest building and materials such as feathers, grass and rags constitute the nest. The normal clutch is 3 to 4 eggs which are pale bluish green and take about 12 to 14 days to hatch. They emit creaking and chattering notes; rambling warble mixed with mimicry.

3)      HOUSE CROW (Corvus ruficollis).

  

The birds size around 43 centimetres in length. A common bird of the Crow family and is of Asian origin. It’s now found all over the world. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are glossed black whilst the neck and breast are light grey-brown in colour. The wings, tail and legs are black. They are found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Preferred mating season falls between April and July. Their nests are located on trees and telephone wires. 3 to 6 eggs are laid at a time. Their diet consists of small reptiles, insects, eggs, nestlings, grains, fruits, baby squirrels and wastes at garbage dumps. They emit calls of ‘quah quah’.

4)      LAUGHING DOVE (Streptopelia senegalensis).

  

The bird is around 23 centimeters. The bird is characterized by a rufous and black chequered necklace. It is a long tailed dove with pinkish brown underside with lilac tinged head and neck. The legs are red. The species is usually found in scrub and farmland habitat. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. The species are usually found in pairs or parties and rarely in large groups. The breeding season is between February and June and the birds may lay up to two eggs which hatch after a period of 13 to 15 days. The laughing dove usually eats fallen seeds of grass, fruit, vegetable matter, small insects, termites and beetles. Their call is a soft ‘coo-roo-roo-rororoo’.

5)      EURASIAN COLLARD DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto).

  

It is often called the collared dove. It is about 32 centimetres in length. It is grey-buff to pinkish grey all over with a blue-grey under wing patch. It has a black half collar edged with white on its nape. The dove is not migratory but strongly dispersive. It is found in China, India and Sri Lanka. The breeding occurs throughout the year when food is abundant. The female lays two eggs with an incubation period of 14 to 18 days. Their diet consists of grain, seeds and shoots. Their call is a ‘ku-koo koo; khaa…..khaa’.

6)      INDIAN ROBIN (saxicoloides fulicata).

Male Indian Robin.

Female.

Female Indian Robin.

The Indian Robin is about 15 centimetres in length. It is sexually dimorphic in plumage with the males being black with a white shoulder patch. The females are brownish above and have no white shoulder patch. The birds range across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The birds are found in open stony, grassy and scrub forest habitat. The breeding season is from December to September but varies according to the location and usually begins with the first rains. Nests are between rocks, in holes in the walls and tree hollows. The eggs are darkish red brown in colour. They mostly feed on insects but are known to take on frogs and lizards. Their call is a ‘chee-choo-choo-tseewit’.

7)      ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN (Copsychus saularis).

Female.

Male.

The bird sizes around 20 centimeters and was formally classes under the thrush family Turdidae but now considered an old world flycatcher. They are birds with black and white coloration with a long tail that they hold upright while feeding on the ground or when perched conspicuously on a tree. The bird is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia ranging from Bangladesh, across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Malaysia and Singapore. They have recently been introduced to Australia. Magpie Robins’ are usually found in open woodlands, cultivated areas and around human habitations. Magpie Robins generally breed between March and July in India. The males sing from high perches during the mating season in order to attract a mate. They nest in tree hollows or niches in walls or buildings. They line the cavity with grass. Around 4 to 5 eggs are laid in a clutch in intervals of 24 hours with the eggs being oval shaped and pale blue green with brownish speckles that match the colour of hay. The female alone incubates the eggs for 8 to 15 days after which they hatch. The birds are insectivorous and occasionally take on geckos, leeches, centipedes and fish. Their call is a ‘swee-ee, chrr’ and a variable song that goes like ‘chee-which-which….chee-chee-witch-chee-chi’.

8)      White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata).

  

The bird is also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher or the Smyrna Kingfisher and is around 28 centimetres in size. It is a large kingfisher with the adult having a blue back, wings and tail. The large wings and legs are bright red. Sexes are similar in colouration but juveniles have a dull colouration when compared to the adults. It is commonly found in Eurasia, Bulgaria, Turkey, west Asia, Indian subcontinent and the Philippines. The bird begins to breed at the onset of monsoon. They nest in a tunnel about 50 centimetres in the earth bank. They lay around 4 to 7 white eggs which hatch in about 20 to 22 days. The bird perches on wires or other exposed perches while hunting for food. Insects, earthworms, rodents, snakes, fish and frogs constitute their diet. Their call is a loud ‘ke-ke-kek-kek-kek-kek’ in flight.

9)      Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea).

The Asian Koel belongs to the genus of Cuckoo’s. They size around 43 centimeters and are sexually dimorphic. They resemble a slender crow with pale green bill, red eyes and a long tail. They birds are found in Australia and along the Pacific. koels eat fruit and insects and are found in woodlands, parks and gardens. Their call is a loud ‘ko-eu….ko-eu’……..; kruk-keookeookeoo…’.

10)   Common Myna( Acridotheres tristis).

 

Myna's nest in the tree along with its chicks.

Sometimes spelled ‘Mynah’, the bird is a member of the ‘Sturnidae’ family composed of starlings and mynas.  Mynas are omnivorous open woodland birds sizing around 23 centimeters. They have adapted extremely well to urban environments have flourish around human settlements. The IUCN survival commission has declared the Mynas as one of the world’s most invasive species. The common Myna has a brown body, black hooded head and a bare yellow patch behind the eye. The bill and legs are bright yellow. There is a white patch on the wing lining and the underside is white. The sexes are similar and are usually seen in pairs. The species is native to Asia spanning from Iran to Sri Lanka. The birds breed throughout the year depending on the availability of food and the location and nest in holes of tress and walls. The normal clutch size is 4 to 6 eggs with an incubation period of 17 to 18 days. The eggs are turquoise blue in color. The birds have a wide range of calls which are composed of croaks, squawks, chirps, clicks, whistles and growls. Before sleeping the Mynas vocalize in unison a sound termed as ‘communal noise’. Most prominent call of the Myna goes a little something like ‘kew-kew-kreew-kreew-kreew’; harsh ‘chake-chake, kweerh’.

11)   Asian Pied Starling (Sturnus contra).

  

Also known as pied Myna, Asian pied Starling is around 23 centimeters in length and found around plains and low foothills. They are not as bold as the common Myna and quite rare to see in the city. They are found in the Indian Subcontinent and South-East Asia. The Myna is strikingly marked in black and white and has a yellowish bill with a reddish bill base. The bare skin around the eye is reddish. The upper body, throat and breast are black while the cheek, lore, wing coverts and rump are contrastingly white. The breeding season in India spread from March to September. The clutch of eggs is comprised of 6 glossy blue eggs with an incubation period of 14 to 15 days. Both sexes are similar to look at and they sing together. They feed on grains, fruit, insects and earthworms. Their calls are composed of chuckles, warbles and whistles. 

12)   Oriental White Eye (Zosterops palpebrosus).

The Oriental White Eye is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is found in the woodlands of tropical Asia, from the Indian subcontinent to South-East Asia extending to Indonesia and Malaysia. They forage in small groups feeding on nectar and insects. The bird is small in size about 8 to 9 centimetres with yellowish olive upper parts, a white eye ring with a yellow throat and vent. The belly is whitish grey with some having a yellow belly as well. They have a wide range of habitats ranging from scrub to moist forests. The breeding season f from February to September but April is when the breeding is at its peak. The nest is built in about 4 days with two pale blue eggs within a couple of days of each other. The eggs hatch in 10 days’ time. The call is a plaintive ‘cheer, prrree-u’ tinkling jingle. 

13)   Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria).

   

The Alexandrine Parakeet is named after Alexander the great who was credited with exporting numerous specimens of the species from Punjab to various European and Mediterranean countries where they were considered prized possessions for the noble and royalty. The Alexanderine Parakeet is the largest species of all parakeets which measures around 58 centimetres in length. The bird is mainly green with blue-grey sheen on its cheek and nape particularly in males. The abdomen is yellowish green and the tail is bluish green. They boldly display a maroon patch at the top of their wing coverts. The breeding season is from November to April with a clutch size of 2 to 4 and an incubation period of 28 days. Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, buds, flowers and nectar constitute their diet. Their call is a squeaking ‘kree-arr’.

14)   Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus).

The Indian Peafowl also known as the blue peafowl is a large and colorful bird that is native to South Asia. The national bird of India is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. The male, known as the peacock is about 110 centimeters while the female, peahen is about 86 centimeters. The male is metallic blue on the crown with the feathers on the head being short and curled. The fan-shaped crest on the head is made of feathers with bare black shafts and tipped with blush-green webbing. A white stripe above the eye and a crescent shaped white patch below the eye are formed by bare white skin. The sides of the head have iridescent greenish blue feathers. The back has scaly bronze-green feathers with black and copper markings. The scapular and the wings are buff and barred in black, the primaries are chestnut and the secondaries are black. The tail is dark brown and the "train" is made up of elongated upper tail coverts (more than 200 feathers, the actual tail has only 20 feathers) and nearly all of these feathers end with an elaborate eye-spot. The adult peahen has a rufous-brown head with a crest as in the male but the tips are chestnut edged with green. The upper body is brownish with pale mottling. The primaries, secondaries and tail are dark brown. The lower neck is metallic green and the breast feathers are dark brown glossed with green. The remaining under parts are whitish. Downy young are pale buff with a dark brown mark on the nape that connects with the eyes. Peacocks are polygamous, and the breeding season is spread out but appears to be dependent on the rains. The peak season in southern India is April to May and January to June in northern India. The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground lined with leaves, sticks and other debris. Nests are sometimes placed on buildings. The clutch consists of 4–8 fawn to buff white eggs which are incubated only by the female. The eggs take about 28 days to hatch. Peafowl are omnivorous and eat seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals and reptiles. They feed on small snakes but keep their distance from larger ones. Around cultivated areas, peafowl feed on a wide range of crops such as groundnut, tomato, paddy, chilly and even bananas. The call is a loud ‘mayaah’.

15)   Rock Pigeon (Columba livia).

  

   

Domestic Pigeon.

The Rock Pigeon is also known as the Rock Dove but is commonly referred to as Pigeon. It is around 33 centimeters in size and has a dark bluish-grey head, neck, and chest with glossy yellowish, greenish, and reddish-purple iridescence along its neck and wing feathers. The iris is orange, red or golden with a paler inner ring, and the bare skin round the eye is bluish-grey. The bill is grey-black with a conspicuous off-white cere, and the feet are purplish-red. Habitats include various open and semi-open environments. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. The Rock Pigeon breeds at any time of the year, but peak times are spring and summer. Nesting sites are situated along coastal cliff faces, as well as the artificial cliff faces created by apartment buildings with accessible ledges or roof spaces. The type of nest constructed is a flimsy platform of straw and sticks, put on ledge, under cover, often window ledges of buildings. Two white eggs are laid with incubation that is shared by both parents lasting from 17 to 19 days. The call is low ‘koo-roo-koo; oorh-oorh’.

16)   Yellow Footed Green Pigeon (Treron phoenicoptera).

The Yellow Footed green Pigeon is also known as the Yellow Legged green pigeon is around 33 centimetres in length. The species feeds on fruit, including many species of Ficus. They forage in flocks. In the early morning they are often seen sunning on the tops of emergent trees in dense forest areas. The bird has yellow legs; grey head contrasting with orangey yellow-green collar, lilac shouldered patch. The calls range with modulated, mellow, musical whistles. 

17)   Red-Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer).

The Red-Vented Bulbul is a common member of the Bulbul family that is resides across the Indian subcontinent including Sri Lanka, Burma and parts of Tibet. The bird sizes around 20 centimeters and is easily identified by its short crest giving the head a squarish appearance. The body is dark brown with a scaly pattern while the head is darker or black. The rump is white while the vent is red. The black tail is tipped in white. This is a bird of dry scrub, open forest, plains and cultivated lands. Red-vented bulbuls' feed on fruits, petals of flowers, nectar, insects and occasionally geckos. Red-vented bulbuls' build their nests in bushes at a height of around 2–3 m. Nests are occasionally built inside houses or in a hole in a mud bank. They breed from June to September. The eggs are pale-pinkish with spots of darker red more dense at the broad end. They are capable of having multiple clutches in a year. Nests are small flat cups made of small twigs but sometimes making use of metal wires. The eggs hatch after about 14 days. Both parents feed the chicks. Their call is a sharp ‘chwee; jit-jew’.

18)   Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus).
   

  

The Red-Whiskered Bulbul is a frugivore found mainly in tropical Asia. It is around 20 centimetres in length and is found in parks, gardens, scrubs, light forest and second growth, occasionally in flocks. The Red-Whiskered Bulbul has brown upper-parts and whitish under parts with buff flanks and a dark spur running onto the breast at shoulder level. It has a tall pointed black crest, red face patch and thin black moustachial line. The tail is long and brown with white terminal feather tips, but the vent area is red. It is more often heard than seen. The Red-whiskered Bulbul feeds on fruits, nectar and insects. The breeding season is spread out and peaks from December to May in southern India and March to October in northern India. Breeding may occur once or twice a year. The nest is cup-shaped, and is built on bushes, thatched walls or small trees. It is woven of fine twigs, roots, and grasses, and embellished with large objects such as bark strips, paper, or plastic bags. Clutches typically contain two to three eggs. The eggs have a pale mauve ground colour with speckles becoming blotches towards the broad end. Eggs take 12 days to hatch. Both parents take part in raising the young. Young birds are fed on caterpillars and insects which are replaced by fruits and berries as they mature. The call is a ‘cherry (kick) – Pettigrew; pleased-to-meet-you’.

19)   White-Eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis).

The White-Eared Bulbul is around 20 centimetres in length and is found in scrub forest and garden land. Also found in flocks or pairs in the mangroves, gorging on the fruits of the Meswak bush. The bird is usually seen in pairs or small groups. It feeds on fruits and insects, and breeds in March–June. 

20)   Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

Male Sparrow

Female Sparrow.

The house sparrow was once found all over the world but now on a rapid decline from urban areas and moving towards extinction. A small bird of 15 centimeters in length is strongly associated with human habitations, and can live in urban or rural settings. It feeds mostly on the seeds of grains and weeds, but it is an opportunistic eater and commonly eats insects and many other foods. The plumage of the House Sparrow is mostly different shades of grey and brown. The sexes differ: the female is mostly buff, and the male has bolder markings and a reddish back. The male has a dark grey crown from the top of its bill to its back, and chestnut brown on the sides of its head. It has black around its bill, on its throat, and on the spaces between its bill and eyes (lores). It has a small white stripe between the lores and crown and small white spots immediately behind the eyes (postoculars), with black patches below and above them. The under parts are pale grey or white, as are the cheeks, ear coverts, and stripes at the base of the head. The upper back and mantle are a warm brown, with broad black streaks, while the lower back, rump and upper tail coverts are greyish-brown. House Sparrows can breed in the breeding season immediately following their hatching, and sometimes attempt to do so. Some birds breeding for the first time in tropical areas are only a few months old and still have juvenile plumage. Nest sites are varied, though cavities are preferred. Nests are most frequently built in the eaves and other crevices of houses. Holes in cliffs and banks, or tree hollows are also used. Clutches usually comprise four or five eggs, though numbers from one to ten have been recorded. The eggs are white, bluish-white, or greenish-white, spotted with brown or grey. Eggs hatch after a short incubation period lasting 11–14 days. Their call is composed of a variety of chirps and chirrups; ‘cheer, cheer, cheer’.

21)   Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica).

Male Purple Sunbird.

Female Purple Sunbird.

Female Purple Sunbird chick.

The purple Sunbird is a small bird, about 10 centimeters in length. The reason it is called a sunbird is because the true colors of the bird are shown only when the sunlight falls on them and at other times seem to be very dark bird to the onlooker. They have a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird but often perch at the base of flowers. This small sunbird has a relatively short bill, a dark and short square ended tail with distinctive sexual dimorphism. Less than 10 cm long they have a down-curve bill with brush-tipped tubular tongues that aid in nectar feeding. The male is glossy metallic purplish black on the upper parts with the wings appearing dark brown. The maroon shine on the feathers of the collar around the neck is visible mainly during the breeding seasons. Females are olive brown above with yellowish underside. There is a pale supercilium beyond the eye. There is a darkish eye stripe. The throat and breast are yellow becoming pale towards the vent. The species is widely distributed throughout West Asia, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. These birds are very vociferous. The primary breeding season is before the Monsoons, April to June in India. The nest is a pouch made of cobwebs, thin strips of vegetation, lichens and bark. The nest is built almost entirely by the female. Two eggs are usually laid. Only the female incubates the eggs which hatch after 15 to 17 days. Males assist in feeding the chicks although females involve themselves to a greater extent, making more trips as the chicks get older. Sunbirds have been known to live for nearly 22 years in captivity. Their call is a ‘chip; chweet; (chit-chitty) cheewit-cheewit-cheewit’.

22)   Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater (Merops persicus).

The Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater is around 31 centimeters in length and ranges in North Africa and Middle East from Turkey to Kazakhstan and India. This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly-colored, slender bird. It is predominantly green; its face has blue sides with a black eye stripe, and a yellow and brown throat; the beak is black. Sexes are mostly alike but the tail-streamers of the female are shorter. This is a bird which breeds in sub-tropical semi-desert with a few trees, such as acacia. It winters in open woodland or grassland. As the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. However, this species probably takes more dragonflies than any other food item. Its preferred hunting perch is telephone wires if available.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters may nest solitarily or in loose colonies of up to ten birds. They may also nest in colonies with European Bee-eaters. The nests are located in sandy banks, embankments, low cliffs or on the shore of the Caspian Sea. Both the male and the female take care of the eggs, although the female alone incubates them at night. Incubation takes 23–26 days. Their call is a liquid trilling ‘prrreew’.

23)   Rufous Treepie (Urocissa flavirostris).
    

 

Rufous Treepie is a large bird around 50 centimeters in length and is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is a member of the crow family. It is found commonly in open scrub, agricultural areas, forests as well as urban gardens. Like other corvids it is very adaptable, omnivorous and opportunistic in feeding. The sexes are alike and the main color of the body is cinnamon with a black head and the long graduated tail is bluish grey and is tipped in black. The wing has a white patch. The bill is stout with a hooked tip. The under parts and lower back are a warm tawny-brown to orange-brown in color with white wing coverts and black primaries. The bill, legs and feet are black. The breeding season in India is from April to June. The nest is built in trees and bushes and is usually a shallow platform. There are usually 3 to 5 eggs that are laid. The call is a ringing ‘ko-ki-lee;’ harsh ‘kitter kitter kitter; ta-chuck chuck chack chack; mee-aao’. 

24)   Common Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius).

The Common Buzzard is a medium to large bird of prey whose range covers most of Europe and Asia. Its total length is around 54 centimeters. The bird occurs in at least three races and each exhibiting a range of colour variation (a) vulpinus, (b) refectus and (c) japonicas. They are usually found in open country with scattered perches, forest edges and open forests. Despite its name the species is not particularly common in the subcontinent. The call is a mewing ‘meeee-ew’.

25)   Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus).

The Grey Francolin is also known as the Grey Partridge is found in plains and other drier regions of South Asia. The bird is around 33 centimetres in length and is found in open cultivated lands as well as scrub forest and their local name of teetar is based on their calls, a loud and repeated ‘ka-tee-tar...tee-tar’. The francolin is barred throughout and the face is pale with a thin black border to the pale throat. The male can have up to two spurs on the legs while females usually lack them. They are weak fliers and fly short distances, escaping into undergrowth. The main breeding season is from April to September and the nest is a hidden scrape on the ground. The nest may sometimes be made above ground level in a niche in a wall or rock. The clutch is 6 to 8 eggs but larger clutches have been noted. Food includes seeds, grains as well as insects, particularly termites. They may occasionally take larger prey such as snakes. They roost in groups in low thorny trees. Apart from the call mentioned above, other vocalizations include repeated ringing ‘pukee-jew…..pukee-jew…..; pateela…..pateela……’; high ‘tee tee tee; kirrr..kirrr..kirrr’.

26)      Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica).

 

  

The Brown-headed barbet also known as the Large Green Barbet is an Asian Barbet that is around 29 centimeters long and is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent. The barbets get their name from the bristles which fringe their heavy bills. It is an arboreal species found in gardens and wooded countries that feeds on fruits such as mangos, ripe jack, papaya, banana, figs and insects. It is a plump bird with a short neck, large head and short tail. The adult has a streaked brown head, neck and breast, with a yellow eye patch. The rest of the plumage is green. The bill is thick and red with the sexes being similar. The bird is fairly tolerant of humans and is often seen in cities. It nests in a tree hole, laying 2-4 eggs. Its call is a ‘(KURR-R-R-R-RRR kurruh)…..kuteroo…kuteroo….kuteroo….;’ repeated ‘kutroo; kuk-uk-uk-(uk)’.

27)   Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus).

This species, like most babblers is non-migratory and has short rounded wings and a weak flight. The sexes are identical, drably colored in brownish grey with a yellow-bill. The upper parts are usually slightly darker in shade and there is some mottling on the throat and breast. It is a noisy bird, and the presence of a flock may generally be known at some distance by the harsh mewing calls, continual chattering, squeaking and chirping produced by its members. They feed mainly on insects, but are also known to feed on grains, nectar and berries. The groups maintain territories and will defend it against neighbors. When foraging, some birds take up a high vantage point and act as sentinels. They are known to gather and mob potential predators such as snakes. They breed throughout the year. The nest is built halfway in a tree, concealed in dense masses of foliage. The normal clutch is three or four deep greenish blue eggs. Helpers assist the parents in feeding the young. Post fledging survival is very high. Birds fledge and females tend to leave their natal group after about two years. Their call is a harsh ‘ke-ke-ke’ discordant squeaking and chattering.

28)     Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis).

Male.

Male

Female.

The Ashy Prinia is a small warbler ranging across the Indian subcontinent, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. It is 13 centimeters in length and is foind in urban gardens and farmlands. The Ashy prinia warblers have short rounded wings and longish graduated cream tail tipped with black sub-terminal spots. The tail is usually held upright and the strong legs are used for clambering about and hopping on the ground. They have a short black bill. The crown is grey and the under parts are rufous in most plumages. They are found singly or in pairs in shrubbery areas and will often visit the ground. The breeding season varies with the location and in India falls between June and September. The species is believed to be monogamous and both the male and the female take part in incubation and feeding the young. The Ashy Prinia builds its nest close to the ground in a shrub or tall grass and lays 3–5 eggs. The eggs are of a somewhat pointed oval form and exceedingly glossy. They vary from brick-red to rich chestnut in colour, some being paler, some darker. The broad end of the egg is generally darker than the remainder of the shell, and exhibits a cap or zone. The eggs hatch in about 12 days. The call is a nasal ‘nyer nyer nyer, jimmy-jimmy-jimmy; (trik) eetchit-eetchit-eetchit’.

29)      Common Raven (Corvus corax).

The Common raven is also known as the Northern Raven. It is a large black bird around 69 centimeters long and is distinguished from crows by its large size, heavy bill and shaggy throat feathers. The bill is large and slightly curved, it has a longish, strongly graduated tail, and mostly black iridescent plumage, and a dark brown iris. The throat feathers are elongated and pointed and the bases of the neck feathers are pale brownish-grey. Juvenile plumage is similar but duller with a blue-grey iris. Common Ravens can be very long-lived, especially in captive or protected conditions have lived for more than 40 years. Lifespans in the wild are considerably shorter at typically 10 to 15 years. Common Ravens are omnivorous and highly opportunistic: their diet may vary widely with location, season and serendipity. In some places they are mainly scavengers, feeding on carrion as well as the associated maggots and carrion beetles. Plant food includes cereal grains, berries and fruits. They prey on small invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, small mammal and birds. In most of their range, egg laying begins in late February. Breeding pairs must have a territory of their own before they begin nest-building and reproduction, and thus aggressively defend a territory and its food resources. The nest is a deep bowl made of large sticks and twigs, bound with an inner layer of roots, mud, and bark and lined with a softer material, such as deer fur. The nest is usually placed in a large tree or on a cliff ledge, or less frequently in old buildings or utility poles. Females lay between 3 to 7 pale bluish-green, brown-blotched eggs. Incubation is about 18 to 21 days. The call is ‘quah quah’.

30)      Bulbul Hatchlings.

The following picture shows a nest with 3 Bulbul hatchlings in it. The nestlings have hatched just a couple of days before this picture was taken. The hatchlings could belong to any of the three species of Bulbuls i.e. Red-vented Bulbul, Red-whiskered Bulbul or White-Eared Bulbul. One cannot be sure of the exact species at this time and the species of the hatchlings can only be determined when the bird grows its plumage. The hatchlings are ashy blue in color with white pigments on either side of their cheek. The beak is maroonish-yellow in color. Their eyes haven’t yet opened up and are completely dependent on their parents. The nest was formed inside a pot; with dry branches, flowers, grass and leaves. 

 

With a heavy heart I write the following paragraph on the Bulbul hatchlings. Three days after having photographed the hatchlings, I made my way to the nest site hoping to document the growth of the hatchlings but instead I was witnessed to an empty nest. A person later told me that the three hatchlings were picked up and eaten by a feral cat. Since the nest was made inside a pot and not on a tree or a creeper, it was easy for the cat to hear the chirps of the hatchlings before feeding and the hatchlings paid the price with their lives. I was hurt on seeing the empty nest but soon realised that it was part of life and life must go on for those who have the great fortune of making it to a stage where they can live on their own without depending on their parents. Cherish life; cherish your life because you only get to live once and are lucky enough to make it this far. Unfortunately; the Bulbul hatchlings did not make it beyond a week after hatching. 

 

31)      Brown Rock-chat (Cercomela fusca).

Also known as the Indian Chat, a small bird about 17 centimeters in length, is found mainly in northern and central India. It resembles the female Indian Robin but lacks the reddish vent and differs in posture and behavior apart from being bigger. It is uniformly rufus brown with the wings and tail of a slightly darker shade. The brown on the undersides grades into a dark grey-brown vent. The sexes are indistinguishable in the field. When feeding on the ground it sometimes flicks open its wings and tail. It also has a habit of slowly raising its tail slightly, fanning it and bobbing its head. They feed mainly on insects, picked off the ground. The breeding season extends from spring to summer and more than one brood is raised. The nest is a cup of grass, hair and clods placed in a ledge in a roadside cutting, wall or window even making use of occupied houses. The foundation of the nest is made up of pebbles and clay. The usual clutch is 3 to 4 pale blue eggs which are incubated by the female alone. The young leave the nest after about two weeks after hatching. The call is a ‘chee; check-check’ thrush-like song. It is also a good mimic.

32)      White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla).

Also called the Sea-eagle is a very large bird of prey ranging from 66 to 94 centimeters. The bird in the picture is that of a juvenile White-tailed Eagle. This species has broad "barn door" wings, a large head and a large thick beak. The adult is mainly greyish-brown except for the slightly paler head and neck, blackish flight feathers, and distinctive white tail. All bare parts are yellow in color, including both the bill and the legs. In juvenile birds, the tail and bill are darker, with the tail becoming white with a dark terminal band in sub-adults. The combination of mousy-brown coloration, broad, evenly-held wings, white tail, strong yellow bill and overall large size render the White-tailed Eagle essentially unmistakable in its native range. Some individuals have been found to live over 25 years. The White-tailed Eagle's diet is varied, opportunistic and seasonal. Prey specimens can often include fish, birds and mammals. White-tailed Eagles are sexually mature at four or five years of age. They pair for life, though if one dies replacement can occur quickly. A bond is formed when a permanent home range is chosen. Mated pairs produce one to three eggs per year. The eggs are laid two to five days apart in March or April and are incubated for 38 days by both parents. The bird has a yelping ‘kew kew klee klee….;’ hoarse ‘kurr kurr kurre…..’ call.

 

33)      Large Grey babbler (Turdoides malcolmi).

The bird is around 28 centimeters long and is found in the scrub, open forest and gardens. This long-tailed and large babbler has a brown body with creamy white outer tail feathers which are easily visible as they fly with fluttery wing beats low over the ground. The lores are dark and forehead is grey with white shaft streaks on the feathers. The rump and upper tail covers are pale grey. The mantle has dusky blotches and no shaft streaks. The three outer tail feathers are white and the fourth pair has the outer web white. The wings are darker brown. The iris is yellow and the upper mandible is dark brown while the lower mandible is yellowish. They are known to breed throughout the year but mainly during the rainy season from March to September. The usual clutch is four eggs. The nest is a shallow cup placed in a shrub often of thorny species. They feed mainly on insects but also feed on small lizards, molluscs and arachnids. They also feed on seeds, grains and berries. The call is a persistent nasal ‘naeh-naeh-naeh….’ often for minutes at a time.

34)      Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius).

A common and familiar garden bird found across tropical Asia. The bird is around 13 centimeters in size and is popular for its nest made of leaves "sewn" together. Although shy birds that are usually hidden within vegetation, their loud calls are familiar and give away their presence. They are distinctive in having a long upright tail, greenish upper body plumage and rust colored forehead and crown. Tailor birds get their name from the way their nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fiber or spider silk to make a cradle in which the actual nest is built. They have short rounded wings, a long tail, strong legs and a sharp bill with curved tip to the upper mandible. They are wren-like with a long upright tail that is often moved around. The crown is rufous and the upper parts are predominantly olive green. The underside is creamy white. The sexes are identical, except that the male has long central tail feathers during the breeding season. Tailorbirds are found in singly or in pairs, usually low in the undergrowth or trees sometimes hopping on the ground. They forage for insects and have been known to feed on a range of beetles and bugs. They are attracted to insects at flowers and are known to favor the inflorescences of mango. The breeding season is March to December peaking from June to August in India, coinciding with the wet season. The usual clutch is three eggs. The incubation period is about 12 days. The males are said to feed the incubating female. Their call is a loud ‘pit-pit-pit-pit-…..; tew-tew…..’; monotonous ‘chee-up….; pitchik-pitchik-pitchik…’

 

35)      Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis).

The Northern Goshawk is a medium to large bird of prey around 50 to 61 centimeters in size. It is a widespread species that inhabits the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere. The Northern Goshawk is the largest member of the genus Accipiter. It is a raptor with short, broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees in the forests it lives and nests in. Across most of the species’ range, it is blue-grey above and barred grey or white below, but Asian subspecies in particular range from nearly white overall to nearly black above. The juvenile is brown above and barred brown below. Juveniles and adults have a barred tail, with dark brown or black barring. Adults always have a white eye stripe. This species hunts birds and mammals in a variety of woodland habitats, often utilizing a combination of speed and obstructing cover to ambush birds and mammals. Goshawks are often seen flying along adjoining habitat types, such as the edge of a forest and meadow; flying low and fast hoping to surprise unsuspecting prey. Adults return to their nesting territories by March or April and begin laying eggs in April or May. Usually once they are "paired up" a breeding pair will mate for life. Nests are bulky structures made of dead twigs lined with leafy green twigs or bunch of conifer needles and pieces of bark. The clutch size is usually 2 to 4, but anywhere from 1 to 5 eggs may be laid. Each egg is laid at 2 to 3 day intervals. The eggs are bluish-white. The male does most of the hunting for both the female and the young at the nest. The incubation period can range from 28 to 38 days. Nestling goshawks are highly vocal. They may use a "whistle-beg" call as a plea for food. It begins as a ‘ke-ke-ke’ noise, and progresses to a ‘kakking’ sound. Their call is a short squeal ‘kweeah’; chattering ‘yiek-yiek..’

36)      Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus).

The following is a juvenile Long-legged Buzzard characterized by its dark brown coat. The bird is around 61 centimeters in length and is found across central India. Open, uncultivated areas, with high bushes, trees, cliffs or hillocks are favored as nesting areas. Usually silent in winters; its calls are similar to that of a Common Buzzard.

 

37)      Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus).

 

The red-wattled Lapwing is a medium size bird around 33 centimeters in size and is commonly found near fresh water in open country and arable land. It has characteristic loud alarm calls which are variously rendered as ‘did he do it or pity to do it^’ leading to colloquial names like the ‘did-he-do-it’ bird. Usually seen in pairs or small groups not far from water but may form large flocks in the non-breeding season (winter). The wings and back are light brown with a purple sheen, but head and chest and front part of the neck are black. Prominently white patch runs between these two colors, from belly and tail, flanking the neck to the sides of crown. Short tail is tipped black. A red fleshy wattle in front of each eye, black-tipped red bill, and the long legs are yellow. The diet of the lapwing includes a range of insects, snails and other invertebrates, mostly picked from the ground. They may also feed on some grains. The breeding season is mainly from March to August. The eggs are laid in a ground scrape or depression sometimes fringed with pebbles, goat or hare droppings. Nests are difficult to find since the eggs are cryptically colored and usually matches the ground pattern. When nesting they will attempt to dive bomb or distract potential predators. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and divert predators using distraction displays or flash their wings to deter any herbivores that threaten the nest. The eggs hatch in 28 to 30 days. The call of the bird is a loud ‘(did-did….)-diid-(ye)-do-it.’

38)      Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis).

Bee eater eating a bee.

Also known as Little Green Bee-eater, it is a resident but prone to seasonal movements and is found widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and The Gambia to Ethiopia, the Nile valley, western Arabia and Asia from India to Vietnam. They are mainly insect eaters and are found in grassland, thin scrub and forest often quite far from water. This species is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is about 9 inches (16–18 cm) long with about 2 inches made up by the elongated central tail-feathers. The sexes are not visually distinguishable. The entire plumage is bright green and tinged with blue especially on the chin and throat. The crown and upper back are tinged with golden rufous. The flight feathers are rufous washed with green and tipped with blackish. A fine black line runs in front of and behind the eye. The iris is crimson and the bill is black while the legs are dark grey. Like other species in the genus, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and ants, which are caught in the air by sorties from an open perch. Before swallowing prey, a bee-eater removes stings and breaks the exoskeleton of the prey by repeatedly thrashing it on the perch. The breeding season is from March to June. Unlike many bee-eaters, these are often solitary nesters, making a tunnel in a sandy bank. The breeding pairs are often joined by helpers. They nest in hollows in vertical mud banks. The nest tunnel that they construct can run as much as 5 feet long and 3-5 eggs are laid on the bare ground in the cavity at the end of the tunnel. The eggs are very spherical and glossy white. The eggs hatch asynchronously with an incubation period of about 14 days and the chicks grow fledge in 3 to 4 weeks. Their call is a liquid 'trri trri’.

39)      Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala).

This Barbet is a medium sized bird around 17cm in size and has a crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Like other barbets, they chisel out a hole inside a tree to build their nest. They are mainly fruit eating but also prey on insects, especially winged termites. The bird has a red forehead, yellow eye-ring and throat patch with streaked underside and green upper parts, and it is fairly distinctive. Juveniles are duller and lack the red patches. The sexes are alike. Courtship involves singing, puffing of the throat, bobbing of the head, flicking of the tail, ritual feeding and allopreening. The breeding season is mainly between February and April. Three or four eggs are laid and like in many hole nesting birds the incubation period is not well known but has been estimated to be about 2 weeks. Both sexes incubate. Often two broods are raised in quick succession. The call is a resonant mechanical ‘tok tok tok’.

40)      Indian Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica).

The Indian Silverbill is also known as the White-throated Munia. They forage in small flocks in grassland and scrub habitats. The adult Indian Silverbill is 11cm long and has a conical silver-grey bill, buff-brown upperparts, white underparts, buffy flanks and dark wings. The tail is black and the wings are dark contrasting with a white rump. The sexes are similar, but immatures have buff underparts and a shorter tail. The tail appears pointed as the length of the feathers reduces from the centre outwards. It feeds mainly on seeds, but also takes insects and has been known to visit nectar bearing flowers. It frequents dry open scrub, fallow land and cultivation, sometimes near water. Although mainly found on the plains, they can be found up to about 1200 m in some sub-Himalayan regions. The breeding season is spread out and varies with region. They nest in winter in southern India and after summer in northern India. Their nest is an untidy ball of grass with an opening on the side and is placed in low shrubs, often on thorny Acacia and are known to make use of the old nests of Baya Weaver sometimes even visiting those that are occupied by the weaver birds. They will sometimes build their nest below the platform nests of vultures or storks. Females are known to lay their eggs in the nests of other pairs. The clutch varies from 4 to 8 white eggs and these are incubated by both parents for about 11 days. Their call is a sharp ‘chip; cheep; twchwit’; soft ‘seesip’ trilling ‘zip-zip’.

41)      Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense). 

   

The bird is also known as the ‘Lesser golden-backed Woodpecker’ or ‘Lesser Goldenback’ is about 29 centimetres and is found widely distributed in the Indian Subcontinent. It is one of the few woodpeckers that are seen in urban areas. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight. It is the only golden-backed woodpecker with a black throat and black rump. It has a typical woodpecker shape, and the golden yellow wing coverts are distinctive. The rump is black and the head is whitish with a black nape and throat with a greyish eye patch. The adult male has a red crown and crest. Females have a black fore crown spotted with white, with red only on the rear crest. Young birds are like the female, but duller. The breeding season varies with the weather and is usually between February and July. They frequently drum during the breeding season. The nest hole is usually excavated by the birds and has a horizontal entrance and descends into a cavity. Sometimes birds may usurp the nest holes of other birds. The eggs are laid inside the unlined cavity. The normal clutch is three and the eggs are elongate and glossy white. The eggs hatch after about 11 days of incubation. The chicks leave the nest after about 20 days. The call is a rattling, trilling or laughing ‘kyi kyi kyi-kyi-kyikyiirrrr-r-r-r’; single ‘kierk’ in flight a scream.  

42)      Indian Grey Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris).

Female with her young one.

The Indian grey Hornbill is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent. It is mostly arboreal and is commonly sighted in pairs. They have grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly. The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending up to the point of curvature in the horn. They are one of the few hornbill species found within urban areas where they are able to make use of large avenue trees. The Indian Grey Hornbill is a medium-sized hornbill, measuring around 61 cm in length. The upper parts are greyish brown and there is a slight trace of a pale super cilium. The ear coverts are darker. The flight feathers of the wing are dark brown and whitish tipped. The tail has a white tip and a dark sub terminal band. They have a red iris and the eyelids have eyelashes. The casque is short and pointed. The nesting season is from April to June and the clutch varies from one to five very symmetrical white eggs. Indian Grey Hornbills usually nest in tree hollows on tall trees. An existing hollow may be excavated further to suit. The female enters the nest hollow and seals the nest hole and leaves only a small vertical slit that the male uses to feed her. The nest entrance is sealed by the female using its excreta and mud-pellets supplied by the male. While inside the nest, the female moults her flight feathers and incubates the eggs. The regrowth of the feathers in the female coincides with the maturity of the chicks at which point the nest is broken open. They are known to feed on molluscs, scorpions, insects, small birds and reptiles. They also feed on the fruits of Thevetia peruviana which are known to be toxic to many vertebrates. The call is a squealing ‘wheeee; kew; k-k-k-ka-e.

43)      Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis).

Female.

      

The Olive-backed Sunbird is also known as the Yellow-bellied Sunbird. It is a species of sunbird found from Southern Asia to Australia. The sunbirds feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering, but usually perch to feed most of the time. They are small songbirds, at most 12 cm long. The under parts of both male and female are bright yellow, the backs are a dull brown colour. The forehead, throat and upper breast of the adult male is a dark, metallic blue-black. Originally from mangrove habitat, the Olive-backed sunbird has adapted well to humans, and is now common even in fairly densely populated areas, even forming their nests in human dwellings. The birds mate between the months of April and August. Both the male and the female assist in building the nest which is flask-shaped, with an overhanging porch at the entrance, and a trail of hanging material at the bottom end. After building the nest, the birds abandon the nest for about a week before the female returns to lay one or two greenish-blue eggs. The eggs take a further week to hatch. The female may leave the nest for short periods during the day during incubation. After the chicks have hatched, both male and female assist in the care of the young, which leave the nest about two or three weeks later. The call is a ‘sweet’.

44)      Spotted Owlet (Athene brama).

The Spotted Owlet belongs to the small owls which are commonly found in Asia ranging from India to Southeast Asia. A common resident of open habitats including farmland and human habitation, it has adapted to living in cities. They roost in small groups in the hollows of trees or in cavities in rocks or buildings. It nests in a hole in a tree or building, laying 3–5 eggs. The species shows a lot of variation including clinal variation in size and forms a super species with the very similar Little Owl. The Spotted Owlet is small (21 cm) and stocky. The upper parts are grey-brown, heavily spotted with white. The under parts are white, streaked with brown. The facial disc is pale and the iris is yellow. There is a white neckband and supercilium. Sexes are similar. The flight is deeply undulating. This species is nocturnal but is sometimes seen in the day. When disturbed from their daytime site, they bob their head and stare at intruders. It hunts a variety of insects and small vertebrates. The breeding season is from November to April. Courtship behavior includes bill grasping, allopreening and ritual feeding. The female may call with the male, bob head and deflect its tail in invitation. The social organization of family groups is not clear and multiple males may copulate with a female and females may attempt pseudo-copulation, possibly a kind of displacement behavior. They nest in cavities often competing with other hole-nesters such as Mynas. They may also nest in holes in vertical embankments. The nest may be lined with leaves and feathers and may also use the existing lining from a prior occupant. The brain has a pineal gland, a feature formerly thought to be absent in the owls. Birds shows variation in the melatonin concentration between day and night. A high melatonin level is associated with sleep and low levels are associated with high alertness and foraging activity. Spotted Owlets however show only a slightly lower melatonin concentration at night with a slight increase in the early afternoon. The calls are harsh screeches and chuckles ‘chirurr-chirurr-chirurr’ ending with a ‘chirwak-chirwak’.

45)      Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus).

Black-eared Kite.

Black-eared Kite hatchling.

Two hatchlings of the Black-eared Kite.

The Black-eared Kite is a sub-species of the commonly found Black Kite. Unlike the resident Black Kites these subspecies are migratory birds that come to India during the winters. That Black-eared Kite is around 66 centimetres, much larger than the Black Kite that is around 61 centimetres. The sexes are alike. The upper plumage is brown but the head and neck tend to be paler. The patch behind the eye appears darker. The outer flight feathers are black and the feathers have dark cross bars and are mottled at the base. The lower parts of the body are pale brown, becoming lighter towards the chin. The body feathers have dark shafts giving it a streaked appearance. The cere and gape are yellow, but the bill is black. The legs are yellow and the claws are black. They have a distinctive shrill whistle followed by a rapid whinnying call. Black-eared Kites are most often seen gliding and soaring on thermals as they search for food. The flight is buoyant and the bird glides with ease, changing directions easily. They will swoop down with their legs lowered to snatch small live prey. They are opportunist hunters and have been known to take birds, bats and rodents. They are attracted to smoke and fires, where they seek escaping prey. The breeding season in India begins in winter, the young birds fledging before the monsoons. The nest is a rough platform of twigs and rags placed in a tree. Nest sites may be reused in subsequent years. After pairing, the male frequently copulates with the female. Unguarded females may be approached by other males, and extra pair copulations are frequent. Males returning from a foraging trip will frequently copulate on return, as this increases the chances of his sperm fertilizing the eggs rather than a different male. Both the male and female take part in nest building, incubation and care of chicks. The typical clutch size is 2 or sometimes 3 eggs. The incubation period varies from 30–34 days. Chicks of the Indian population stayed at the nest for nearly two months. Their call is a long drawn-out squealing ‘kweeeeeee-(wi-wi-wi-wi-wi)’.

46)      White Wagtail (personata: black ear coverts).

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family. This species breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa. The White Wagtail is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures. The White Wagtail is a slender bird about 19 cm in length. The most conspicuous habit of this species is a near-constant tail wagging, a trait that has given the species and indeed the genus, its common name. In spite of the ubiquity of this behavior, the reasons for it are poorly understood. It has been suggested that it may flush prey, or signal submissiveness to other wagtails. A recent study has suggested that it is a signal of vigilance to potential predators. White Wagtails are monogamous and defend breeding territories. The breeding season for most is from April to August, with the season starting later further north. Both sexes are responsible for building the nest, with the male responsible for initiating the nest building and the female for finishing the process. For second broods in the subspecies ‘personata’ the female alone builds the nest which is a rough cup assembled from twigs, grass, leaves and other plant matter as the male is still provisioning the young. The nest is lined with soft materials, including animal hair. The nest is set into a crevice or hole; traditionally in a bank next to a river or ditch, but the species has also adapted to nesting in walls, bridges and buildings. One nest was found in the skull of a walrus. The species will nest in association with other animals, particularly around the dams of beavers and also inside the nests of Golden Eagles. Around 3–8 eggs are laid. Its eggs are cream-colored, often with a faint bluish-green or turquoise tint, and heavily spotted with reddish brown dots. The eggs begin to hatch after 12 days. Their call is a sharp ‘chi-cheep, chissik’.

47)      Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops).

The common Hoopoe is not common anymore. It is found across Afro-Eurasia and is rarely sighted in open country, light woodland, parks and cultivation. The bird is popular for its crown of feathers on its forehead. The Hoopoe is a medium size bird around 31 centimeters in length. In what was long thought to be a defensive posture, Hoopoes sunbathe by spreading out their wings and tail low against the ground and tilting their head up; they often fold their wings and preen halfway through. The Hoopoe also enjoys taking dust and sand baths. The diet of the Hoopoe is mostly composed of insects, although small reptiles, frogs and plant matter such as seeds and berries are sometimes taken. It is a solitary forager which typically feeds on the ground. More rarely they will feed in the air, in pursuit of numerous swarming insects, where their strong and rounded wings make them fast and manoeuvrable. The Hoopoe is monogamous, although the pair bond apparently only lasts for a single season. They are also territorial with the male calling frequently to advertise his ownership of the territory. Chases and fights between rival males (and sometimes females) are common and can be brutal. Birds will try to stab rivals with their bills, and individuals are occasionally blinded in fights. The nest is in a hole in a tree or wall, with a narrow entrance; it may be unlined or various scraps may be collected. The female alone is responsible for incubating the eggs. The clutch size is around 12. The eggs are round and milky blue on laying but quickly discolour in the increasingly dirty nest. The incubation period for the species is between 15 and 18 days. During incubation the female is fed by the male. The incubation period begins as soon as the first egg is laid, so the chicks are born asynchronously. The call is composed of three hollow notes ‘oop-oop-oop’.

48)      Shikra (Accipiter badius).

The Shikra is a small bird of prey that belongs to the Accipitriade family. The bird is found much throughout Africa and Asia and is more commonly known as the Branded Goshawk. Like most other Accipiter hawks, this species has short rounded wings and a narrow and somewhat long tail. Adults are whitish on the underside with fine rufous bars while the upperparts are grey. The lower belly is less barred and the thighs are whitish. Males have a red iris while the females have a less red (yellowish orange) iris and brownish upperparts apart from heavier barring on the underparts. The females are slightly larger. The mesial stripe on the throat is dark but narrow. In flight the male seen from below shows a light wing lining (underwing coverts) and has blackish wing tips. When seen from above the tail bands are faintly marked on the lateral tail feathers. The central tail feathers are unbanded and only have a dark terminal band. Juveniles have dark streaks and spots on the upper breast and the wing is narrowly barred while the tail has dark but narrow bands. A post juvenile transitional plumage is found with very strong barring on the contour feathers of the underside. The Shikra is found in a range of habitats including forests, farmland and urban areas. They are usually seen singly or in pairs. The flight is typical with flaps and glides. During the breeding season pairs will soar on thermals and stoop at each other. Their flight usually draws alarms among smaller birds and squirrels. They feed on rodents, squirrels, small birds, small reptiles and insects. Small birds usually dive through foliage to avoid a Shikra and a Small Blue Kingfisher has been observed diving into water to escape. Babblers have been observed to rally together to drive away a Shikra. They will descend to the ground to feast on emerging winged termites, hunt at dusk for small bats and in rare instances they may even resort to feed on carrion. In one instance a male was found feeding on a dead chick at the nest. The breeding season in India is in summer from March to June. The nest is a platform similar to that of crows lined with grass. Both sexes help build the nest, twigs being carried in their feet. The usual clutch is 3 to 4 eggs which are pale bluish grey stippled on the broad end in black. The incubation period is 18 to 21 days. The call is a loud harsh ‘titu-titu; ki-weew’; long drawn screaming ‘iheeya, iheeya’; high piping ‘kyeew’; noisy sharp ‘ti-tui’ during breeding season.

49)      Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus).

The Ashy Drongo belongs to the Dicruridae family of birds. The adult Ashy Drongo is mainly dark grey, and the tail is long and deeply forked. There are a number of subspecies varying in the shade of the grey plumage. Some subspecies have white markings on the head. Young birds are dull brownish grey. The Ashy Drongo breeds in the hills of tropical southern Asia from eastern Afghanistan east to southern China and Indonesia. Many populations in the northern part of its range are migratory. In winter, the species is particularly fond of hill forests. The population that wintered in central India breeds along the Himalayas. The Ashy Drongo has short legs and sits very upright while perched prominently, often high on a tree. It is insectivorous and forages by making aerial sallies but sometimes gleans from tree trunks. They are found singly, in pairs or small groups. During migration they fly in small flocks. The breeding season is May to June with a clutch of three or four reddish or brown eggs laid in a loose cup nest in a tree. The call of the bird ‘chaa ke-wip; kit-whew; chah-kip…..(chrah)’; harsh ‘cheece-cheece-chichuk…tililili’. This bird can also mimic the calls of most other birds in its vicinity.

  

50)  Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis).

The Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant is a large non-parasitic member of the cuckoo family. A widespread resident in Asia, from India, east to south China and Indonesia, it is divided into several subspecies, some being treated as full species. They are large, crow-like with a long tail and coppery brown wings and found in wide range of habitats from jungle to cultivation and urban gardens. They are weak fliers, and are often seen clambering about in vegetation or walking on the ground as they forage for insects, eggs and nestlings of other birds. They have a familiar deep resonant call which is associated with omens in many parts of its range. This is a large cuckoo bird measuring about 48 centimetres. The head is black, upper mantle and underside are black glossed with purple. The back and wings are chestnut brown. The eyes are ruby red. The breeding season is after the monsoon in southern India but varies in other parts of its range but chiefly June to September. Greater Coucals are monogamous, and the courtship display involves chases on the ground and the male brings food gifts for the female. The female lowers her tail and droops her wings to signal acceptance. The nest is built mostly by the male over about three to eight days. The nest is a deep cup with a dome in dense vegetation inside tangles of creepers, bamboo clump or Pandanus crowns. They can be built as high as 6m above the ground and the typical clutch is 3-5 eggs. This large bird feeds on a wide range of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates such as the Saw-scaled Vipers. They are also known to eat bird eggs, nestlings, fruits and seeds. They are also known to feed on the toxic fruits of Thevetia peruviana (Yellow Oleander). In Oil palm cultivation, they are considered as avian pests due to their habit of eating the fleshy mesocarps of the ripe fruits. The birds’ call is a deep hollow ‘(pr)oop’ the notes of which decrease in volume towards the end.

 

51)      Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri).

Female.

Male.

The Rose-ringed Parakeet is also known as the Ring-necked Parakeet as it turns out is a gregarious tropical Afro-Asian parakeet species. Rose-ringed parakeets are popular as pets. This non-migrating species is one of few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in 'disturbed habitats', and in that way withstood the onslaught of urbanisation and deforestation. In the wild, this is a noisy species with an unmistakable squawking call. Rose-ringed parakeets measure on average 40 cm (16 inches) in length including the tail feathers. The Rose-ringed parakeet is sexually dimorphic. The adult male sports a red neck-ring and the hen and immature birds of both sexes either show no neck rings, or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck rings. In the wild, Rose-ringed parakeets usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds. Indian rose-ringed parakeets form pairs during September to December. During this cold season, they select and defend nesting sites, and thus avoid competition for sites with other birds. Feeding on winter pea crops provides in particular the female with nutrients necessary for egg production. During April to June, they care for their young. Fledgings are ready to leave the nest before monsoon. Both males and females have the ability to mimic human speech. First it listens to its surroundings, and then it copies the voice of the human speaker. Some people hand-raise Rose-ringed parakeet chicks for this purpose. Such parrots then become quite tame and receptive to learning. They can also show emotions similar to human beings and adjust easily to family life. Their call is a squeaky ‘keew; keeow’; shrill ‘kee-ak’.

 

52) Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus).

The Rosy Starling is also known as the Rose-coloured Starling or Rose-coloured Pastor. The adult of this species is highly distinctive, with its pink body, pale orange legs and bill, and glossy black head, wings and tail. Males in the breeding season have elongated head feathers which form a wispy crest that is fluffed and more prominent when the bird gets excited; the crest is shorter in winter and the black areas have paler feather edges, which get worn away as well as the black becoming more glossy in the breeding season. The Rosy Starling is a colonial breeder, and like other starlings, is highly gregarious, forming large winter flocks. The bird also shares other species' omnivorous diet, although it prefers insects. The call of the bird is a 'prrp' continuous chattering, whistles and a long varied song with mimicry.

53) Barn Owl (Tyto alba).

The Barn Owl is the most widely distributed species of owl, and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is known by many other names, which may refer to the appearance, call, habitat or the eerie, silent flight: White Owl, Silver Owl, Demon Owl, Ghost Owl, Death Owl, Night Owl, Rat Owl, Church Owl, Cave Owl, Stone Owl, Monkey-faced Owl, Hissing Owl, Hobgoblin or Hobby Owl, Dobby Owl, White-breasted Owl, Golden Owl, Scritch Owl, Screech Owl, Straw Owl, Barnyard Owl, and Delicate Owl. The Barn Owl is a pale, long-winged, long-legged owl with a short squarish tail. Generally a medium-sized owl, measuring about 25–50 cm in overall length, with a wingspan of some 75–110 cm. The light face with its heart shape and the black eyes give the flying bird an odd and startling appearance.  It is nocturnal, as is usual for owls, but often becomes active shortly before dusk and can sometimes be seen during the day when relocating from a sleeping place it does not like. It hunts by flying low and slowly over an area of open ground, hovering over spots that conceal potential prey. They may also use fence posts or other lookouts to ambush prey. The Barn Owl feeds primarily on small vertebrates, particularly rodents. The Barn Owl has acute hearing, with ears placed asymmetrically for improved detection of sound position and distance, and it does not require sight to hunt. Hunting nocturnally or crepuscularly, it can target and dive down, penetrating its talons through snow, grass or brush to seize rodents with deadly accuracy. In the wild their life span is around 12 years. Their calls are hisses, snorts and shrieks.


54) Besra (Accipiter virgatus).

The besra (Accipiter virgatus) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. The besra is a widespread resident breeder in dense forests throughout southern Asia, ranging from the Indian subcontinent eastwards across Southeast Asia and into East Asia. It nests in trees, building a new nest each year. It lays 2 to 5 eggs. This bird is a medium-sized raptor (29 to 36 cm) with short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to fast manoeuvring.The normal flight of this species is a characteristic "flap–flap–glide", and the barred underwings are a distinction from the shikra. In winter, the besra will emerge into more open woodland including savannah and cultivation. Its hunting technique is similar to other small hawks such as the sparrowhawk and the sharp-shinned hawk, relying on surprise as it flies from a hidden perch or flicks over a bush to catch its prey unaware.The bird preys on lizards, dragonflies, and small birds and mammals. Their call is loud squealing 'ki weeer' and a rapidly repeated 'tchew-tchew-tchew' during displays.