Common birds of Madhya Pradesh(Native names, Identification, Habit, Eggs, facts ) Birds of Central India
Over 400 species of birds are known to be found in Madhya Pradesh. There are so beautiful birds in Madhya Pradesh. Here I covered 36 common birds of M.P. which we can see around our houses, gardens and jungle.
1. Indian Grey Hornbill
Native names - धनचिड़ी, चलोत्रा, सेलगिल्ली , Dhanchidi, Chalotra, Selgilli
The Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) is a common hornbill, found on the Indian subcontinent. It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white
belly. The ear coverts are darker. The flight feathers of the wing are dark brown with a whitish tip. They have a red iris and the eyelids have eyelashes. It has a large beak and the casque is short and pointed. "Casque" is the enlargement of bone on the beak. The male has a larger casque on a dark bill. The juveniles lack the casque, and the bare skin around the eye is dull orange.
It is found in urban areas
in many cities where they are able to make use of large trees.
The nesting season is April to June and it usually lays one to five very
symmetrical white eggs. Indian grey hornbills usually nest in tree
hollows on tall trees. The
female enters the nest hollow and seals the nest hole, leaving only a small
vertical slit through which the male feeds her. The nest is sealed by
the female using its excreta and mud supplied by the male. While inside the nest, the female incubates the eggs.
They play an essential role in the ecosystem as prime dispersers of seeds. In
cities, we may find them feeding on fig trees like banyan, Goolar (a variety of
fig). They are cavity
nesters, making use of big hollows in trees as nesting sites. They are threatened primarily by habitat loss in the city and the
cutting down of large trees, which is important for both food and nesting. We
must protect the natural heritage of our city by conserving these old
beneficial trees around our houses.
2. Oriental Magpie Robin
Male Oriental magpie Robin
- Native names- doyel or doel, Dahiyar. In Sri Lanka, this bird is called Polkichcha
The Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) is a small passerine bird They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously. They are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests, often close to human habitations. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cage-birds.The male has black upperparts, head and throat apart from a white shoulder patch. The underparts and the sides of the long tail are white. Females are greyish black above and greyish white. Young birds have scaly brown upperparts and head. This magpie-robin is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and eastern Pakistan, eastern Indonesia, Thailand, south China, Malaysia, and Singapore .Magpie-robins breed mainly from March to July in India and January to June in south-east Asia. Eggs usually pale blue green with brownish speckles that match the color of hay. The diet of magpie-robins includes mainly insects and other invertebrates. They are known to occasionally take flower nectar, geckos, leeches, centipedes and even fish. This species is considered as one of "least concern" globally, but in some areas it is declining.
The oriental magpie-robin is considered as the national bird of Bangladesh.
3. Yellow-Wattled Lapwing
- Native names- laori in Madhya Pradesh , zirdi in Hindi ,pili titahari in Punjabi
The yellow-wattled lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) is a lapwing that is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. They are dull grey brown with a black cap, long yellow legs and a large triangular wattle at the base of the beak.
This species is common in much of India. It is found mainly on the dry plains of peninsular India and has a sharp call and is capable of fast flight. It tends to be seen in drier habitats than the red-wattled lapwing. They are found in most parts of India, parts of Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Lapwings breed in the dry season with peak breeding in March to May ahead of the monsoons. Like other lapwings and plovers, they are ground birds and their nest is a mere collection of tiny pebbles within which their well camouflaged eggs are laid. They lay four eggs in a ground scrape. The food of the yellow-wattled lapwing is beetles, termites and other invertebrates, which are picked from the ground.
4. Red Wattled Lapwing
- Native Names- titeeri (Hindi), ateehar (Sindhi).
The red-wattled lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is an Asian lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae.Red-wattled lapwings are large waders. A red fleshy wattle in front of each eye is present, It has a black-tipped red bill, and the long legs are yellow.Like other lapwings they are ground birds that are incapable of perching.They nest in a ground scrape laying three to four camouflaged eggs.The breeding season is mainly March to August.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. They feed mainly during the day but they may also feed at night. They may sometimes make use of the legs to disturb insect prey from soft soil.
In parts of India, a local belief is that the bird sleeps on its back with the legs upwards and an associated Hindi metaphor Tithiri se asman thama jayega ("can the lapwing support the heavens?") is used to refer to persons undertaking tasks beyond their ability or strength.
5. White Throated Kingfisher
- Native Names- Sindhi: dalel, Hindi: kilkila, kourilla.
The white-throated kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) also known as the white-breasted kingfisher is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in Asia. This is a large kingfisher. The adult has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut, and the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red. The white-throated kingfisher is a common species in a variety of habitats, mostly open country in the plains (but has been seen at 7500 ft. in the Himalayas) with trees, wires or other perches. It feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents and even birds. This kingfisher is widespread and populations are not threatened. The white-throated kingfisher begins breeding at the onset of the Monsoons. The nest building begins with both birds flying into a suitable mud wall. A single clutch of 4–7 round white eggs is typical. This species mainly hunts large crustaceans, insects, earthworms, rodents, snakes, fish and frogs.
It is the State bird of West Bengal.
6. Indian Black Drongo
- Native Names- Jungle Kotwal, brhingraj
The black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) is a small Asian passerine bird of the drongo family Dicruridae It is an all black bird with a distinctive forked tail and measures 28 cm (11 in) in length. The species is known for its aggressive behaviour towards much larger birds, such as crows, never hesitating to dive-bomb any bird of prey that invades its territory. This behaviour earns it the informal name of king crow.This bird is glossy black with a wide fork to the tail. Adults usually have a small white spot at the base of the gape. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Asia from southwest Iran through India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southern China and Indonesia and accidental visitor of Japan. They feed mainly on insects such as grasshoppers, cicadas, termites, wasps, bees, ants, moths, beetles and dragonflies. Black drongo breed mainly in February and March in southern India, and until August in other parts of the country.
7. Indian Jungle Babbler
- Native Names- गयंगा, पेंगिया मैना; gayanga, pengya maina
The jungle babbler is a common resident breeding bird in most parts of the Indian subcontinent and is often seen in gardens within large cities as well as in forested areas. The sexes are identical, and it is of brownish grey colour with a yellow-bill. It has short rounded wings and a weak flight. The jungle babbler's habitat is forest and cultivation. These birds are gregarious and very social. They feed mainly on insects, but also eats grains, nectar and berries. They are known to gather and mob potential predators such as snakes. In northern India and are well known for their habit of moving in groups giving them the local name of "Sath Bhai" which means seven brethren but translated by the English in India to "Seven sisters". When threatened by predators, they have been said to sometimes feign death.
8. Pond Heron
Native Names- Bagla, Andha bagla, Chama bagla, Khunch bagla
The Indian pond heron or paddybird (Ardeola grayii) is a small heron. They appear stocky with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. They are very common in India, and are usually solitary foragers but numbers of them may sometimes feed in close proximity during the dry seasons. The Indian pond heron's feeding habitat is marshy wetlands. They usually feed at the edge of ponds but make extensive use of floating vegetation such as water hyacinth to access deeper water. They may also on occasion swim on water or fish from the air and land in deeper waters. They have also been observed to fly and capture fishes leaping out of water. Sometimes, they fly low over water to drive frogs and fishes towards the shore before settling along the shoreline. The primary food of these birds includes crustaceans, aquatic insects, fishes, tadpoles and sometimes leeches. The breeding season begins with the onset of the monsoons. They nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs
9. Merops Orientalis (Asian green bee-eater )
- Native Names- पतरिंगा, हरियल
The Asian green bee-eater (Merops orientalis), also known as little green bee-eater, is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family. It is found widely distributed across Asia from coastal southern Iran east through the Indian subcontinent to Vietnam. 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 wings are green and the beak is black. 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. They are mainly insect eaters and they are found in grassland, thin scrub and forests. The little green bee-eater is also becoming common in urban and sub-urban neighborhoods. The eggs are spherical and glossy white. The breeding season is from March to June. Unlike many bee-eaters, these are often solitary nesters, making a tunnel in a sandy bank.
10. Laughing Dove
- Native Names- पँड़की, फाखता, पंडुक और सिरोटी ,कपोतक
The laughing dove is a pinkish brown pigeon with a pale violet head and neck that has a long tail. The sides of the neck have a chequered rufous and grey patch made up of split feathers.
The laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) is a small pigeon that breeds throughout Africa, the Middle East, India, and Western Australia. It is also called by another names such as laughing turtle dove, palm dove and Senegal dove while in India the name of the little brown dove is often used. It is a common and widespread species in human-inhabited areas. Two eggs are placed within a day of one other, and both parents help build the nest, incubate the eggs, and feed the young. During the day, males spend more time incubating the nest.
11. Peacock / Peahen
Peacock
Peahen
- Native Names- mor, mayur, shikhandi
Male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are referred to as peahens, The Indian peacock has iridescent blue and green plumage, mostly metallic blue and green, In both species, females are a little smaller than males in terms of weight and wingspan, but males are significantly longer due to the "tail", also known as a "train".
The blue peacock can be found in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock can be found in Java and Myanmar (Burma). The Congo peacock is a more distinct and little-known species that lives in African rain forests.
Peafowl are omnivores, consuming seeds, insects, fruits, small mammals, and reptiles. They prey on small snakes but stay away from larger ones. Near human habitations, they feed on a variety of food scraps and even human excreta.
In courtship, males raise their upper-tail coverts into an arched fan. The wings are held half open and drooped, and the long feathers are periodically vibrated, producing a ruffling sound.
12. Rose Ringed Parakeet
- Native Names- tota, popat, sua, mitthoo
These parakeets have also demonstrated their ability to live in a variety of climates outside of their native range, including cold winter temperatures in Northern Europe. In the wild, rose-ringed parakeets usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, and seeds. In north-west India, Indian rose-ringed parakeets form pairs from September to December.
13. Brahminy Starling
- Native Names- ब्राह्मणी मैना, पुहैया मैना
The brahminy myna or brahminy starling (Sturnia pagodarum) is a member of the starling family of birds. It is most commonly seen in pairs or small flocks in open environments across the Indian subcontinent's plains.
This myna is pale buff and creamy in colour, with a black cap and a loose crest. The bill is yellow with a bluish base.
Like most starlings, the brahminy starling is omnivorous, eating fruit and insects. They have been known to feed on the fruits of Thevetia peruviana (a yellow flower plant which is commonly known as Kaner) which are toxic to many vertebrates. It is a resident breeder in Nepal and India, a winter visitor to Sri Lanka and a summer visitor in parts of the western and northeastern Himalayas. The breeding season is March to September. The female lays three to four eggs which are pale bluish green.
14. Indian Roller
- Native Names- Neelkanth
The Indian roller occurs widely from West Asia to the Indian subcontinent. The bird's face and throat are pinkish, its head and back are brown, the rump is blue, and the wings and tail have contrasting light and dark blue colour. The bright blue markings on the wing are prominent in flight. The sexes are similar in appearance.
It mainly feeds on insects, especially beetles, they also feed on spiders , scorpions , small snakes and amphibians. In India, the Indian roller received legal protection in 1887, when hunting it was banned under the Wild Birds Protection Act of 1887 and later under the Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act of 1912. The Indian roller is associated with Hindu legends and said to be sacred to Vishnu; it used to be caught and released during festivals such as Dussera or the last day of Durga Puja. neelkanth, meaning 'blue throat', a name associated with the deity Shiva who drank poison resulting in the blue throat.
15. Red Vented Bulbul
- Native Names - कालासिर बुलबुल, गुल्दुम
The red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. It is a resident breeder throughout the Indian subcontinent, from Sri Lanka to Myanmar and parts of Tibet.
The red-vented bulbul is easily identified by its short crest which give the head a squarish appearance. The body of the bird is dark brown with a scaly pattern and the head is darker or black. The rump is white while the vent is red. The black tail is tipped in white. Red-vented bulbuls feed on fruits, petals of flowers, nectar, insects and occasionally house geckos. They breed from June to September. The eggs are pale-pinkish with spots of darker red more dense at the broad end.
16. Golden Oriole
Male Golden Oriole
Female Golden Oriole
- Native Names- पीलक
The Indian golden oriole (Oriolus kundoo) is a species of oriole found in the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia. Males are bright yellow with black feathers and there is yellow patches on wings and strips on the end. There is black patch around the eye, and fleshy pink beak. Females are dull yellowish green colour and whitish bottom with black dots. The feathers have grey patches on ends. Orioles feed on fruits, nectar and insects. Two or three white eggs with reddish, brown and black speckling form the typical clutch. Both parents take part in nest and brood care. The breeding season is April to August.
17. Hoopoe
- Native Names - घेरा पक्षी, hudhud .
The Eurasian hoopoe is a medium-sized bird. Hoopoes can be found all over India, Asia, Europe and Africa.
Hoopoe are light orangy brown colour bird with striking black and white striped wings. It has a big crown on his head with black strips and a long slender beak and black eyes. The Eurasian hoopoe's diet consists primarily of insects, though small reptiles, frogs, and plant matter such as seeds and berries are also consumed. It is a solitary forager that feeds on the ground. The hoopoe also appears in the Quran and is known as the "Hudhud". The hoopoe has broad, rounded wings that allow for strong flight.
18. Mahok (Greater Coucal)
Native Names- महोख या महोक
The greater coucal, also known as the crow pheasant (Centropus sinensis), is a large non-parasitic bird in the cuckoo family. They are large, crow-like with a long tail and coppery brown wings. The head is black, the back and wings are brown. The eyes are ruby red. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including the jungle, cultivation, and urban gardens. They are slow fliers and are frequently seen clambering through vegetation or walking on the ground in search of insects, eggs, and nestlings of other birds.
The greater coucal is a large bird that feeds on insects, caterpillars, snails, and small vertebrates like Saw-scaled vipers. They have also been observed eating bird eggs, nestlings, fruits, and seeds. In southern India, the breeding season follows the monsoon, but it varies in other parts of its range, but it is primarily from June to September. The bird's flesh was once consumed as a folk cure for tuberculosis and pulmonary ailments.
19. Little Egret
- Native Names-करछिया बगुला
The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs with yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds in colonies, often with other water bird species, and builds a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush, or reed bed. A clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents for about three weeks. Little egrets are sociable birds and are often seen in small flocks.
20. Cattle Egret
Native Names- मवेशी बगुला,Surkhia/Badami/Dorai/Gai bagla
The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan heron (family Ardeidae) that can be found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones. Cattle egret is white bird with with short neck ,yellow feets and yellow beak. In the breeding season the males can be seen with a buff feather pattern on the neck, head and wings. They make nest near water bodies with sticks and shrubs. Their feeding habitats include seasonally inundated grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies. The cattle egret removes ticks and flies from cattle and consumes them. The cattle egret feeds on a wide range of prey, particularly insects, especially grasshoppers, crickets, flies (adults and maggots), and moths, as well as spiders, frogs, lizards and earthworms.
21. Rock Pigeon
Native Names-kabutar, kapot.
The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). It has a dark bluish-grey head, neck, and chest with glossy greenish, and reddish-purple iridescence along its neck and wing feathers. The iris is orange with black pupil in a grey-white eye ring. The bill is grey-black with a conspicuous off-white cere, and the feet are red to pink and the two black bars on its pale grey wings are also distinctive. The tail has a black band on the end. Clutch contain two to three eggs. Habitats include various open and semi-open environments. Rock doves are omnivorous, but they prefer plant matter, particularly fruits and grains.
22. Indian Robin
Native Names- काली चिड़ी ,भुजइन, कलचुरी, गँड़ुलर, फुदकी.
The Indian robin (Copsychus fulicatus) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is widespread in the Indian subcontinent and ranges across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The Indian robin is sexually dimorphic in plumage, with the male being mainly black with a white shoulder patch or stripe . The northern populations have the upper plumage brownish, while the southern populations are black above. The males have chestnut undertail coverts and these are visible as the bird usually holds the tail raised upright. The females are brownish above, have no white shoulder stripe and are greyish below. The long tail is usually held up and the chestnut undertail coverts and dark body make them easily distinguishable from pied bushchats and Oriental magpie-robins. This bird is found in open stony, grassy and scrub forest habitats. They are mainly found in dry habitats and are mostly absent from the thicker forest regions and high rainfall areas. All populations are resident and non-migratory. The species is often found close to human habitation and will frequently perch on rooftops.
They feed mostly on insects but are known to take frogs and lizards especially when feeding young at the nest.
23. Sparrow
Female sparrow
Native Names- gauriya
The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world.The sexes exhibit strong dimorphism: the female is mostly buffish above and below with pinkish brown beak and bold brown colour pattern on the end of wings while the male has boldly coloured head markings, a reddish back, and grey underparts with black bill. The male has a dark grey crown from the top of its bill to its back, It has black around its bill, on its throat, and near the eyes. Clutches usually comprise four or five eggs, though numbers from one to 10 have been recorded. The eggs are white, bluish white, or greenish white, spotted with brown or grey. The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, and deserts away from human development. It feeds mostly on the seeds of grains and weeds, but it is an opportunistic eater and commonly eats insects and many other foods. 24. Indian Spotted Eagle
Native names- गरुड़, चील, उत्क्रोश, गिद्ध
The Indian spotted eagle is native in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Nepal.It is mainly found in middle and eastern India. The Indian spotted eagle is about 60 cm in length and has a wingspan of 150 cm. It is broad-headed, with the widest mouth of all spotted eagles. It is brown colour bird with dark brown and black colour feathers. The beak tip is black coloured and the bottom part is yellow coloured with yellow colour feets and darker eyes.
These eagles hunt small birds, mammals, reptiles, and frogs.The breeding season for spotted eagles lasts from March to August. These birds build their nests in trees. The nest is constructed of sticks and lined with leaves.
25. Indian Paradise Flycatcher
Male Flycatcher
Native Names- दूधराज या सुल्ताना बुलबुल
Adult Indian paradise flycatchers are 19–22 cm (7.5–8.7 in) long. Males heads are glossy black with a black crown and crest, their black bill round and sturdy, their eyes black. Female are rufous on the back with a greyish throat and underparts. Their wings are 86–92 mm (3.4–3.6 in) long. Males develop up to 24 cm (9.4 in) long tail feathers with two central tail feathers growing up to 30 cm (12 in) long drooping streamers.The Indian paradise flycatcher is a migratory bird and spends the winter season in tropical Asia. The Indian paradise flycatcher is a noisy bird uttering sharp skreek calls. It is insectivorous and hunts in flight in the understorey. Its breeding season lasts from May to July. Three or four eggs are laid in a neat cup nest made with twigs and spider webs on the end of a low branch.
It is the state bird of M.P..
26. Sunbird
Female sunbird Native Names-फुलचूही
The purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) is a small bird in the sunbird family found mainly in South and Southeast Asia but extending west into parts of the Arabian peninsula. Sunbirds mainly feeds on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. This small sunbird has a relatively short bill with tongue, a dark and short square ended tail with distinctive sexual dimorphism. The male is glossy metallic bluish to purplish black on the upper parts with the wings appearing dark brown. The breeding male also has underparts of the same purplish black, but non-breeding males may show a central streak of black on yellow underparts.
Females are olive brown above with a 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.
They feed mainly on nectar but also take fruits and insects
The primary breeding season is before the Monsoons, April to June in northern India and January to June in Sri Lanka.
Sunbirds have been known to live for nearly 22 years in captivity.
27. Myna
Native Names- myna
The common myna or Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis), sometimes spelled mynah, is a member of the family Sturnidae (starlings and mynas) native to Asia. An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, the common myna has adapted extremely well to urban environments.
The common myna is identified by the brown body, black hooded head and the bare yellow patch behind the eye. It has yellow beak and yellow feet.The range of the common myna is increasing at such a rapid rate that in 2000.The IUCN Species Survival Commission declared it one of the world's most invasive species and one of only three birds listed among "100 of the World's Worst Invasive Species" that pose a threat to biodiversity, agriculture and human interests. Common mynas are popular as cage birds for their singing and "speaking" abilities. The common myna uses the nests of woodpeckers, parakeets, etc. and easily takes to nest boxes; it has been recorded evicting the chicks of previously nesting pairs by holding them in the beak and later sometimes not even using the emptied nest boxes. This aggressive behaviour contributes to its success as an invasive species.
28. Asian Koel
Female Koel
- Native Names- koyal
The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. The Asian koel is a large and long-tailed cuckoo measuring 39–46 cm. The male is glossy bluish-black, with a pale greenish grey bill, the iris is crimson, and it has grey legs and feet. The female of the nominate race is brownish on the crown and has rufous streaks on the head. The back, rump and wing coverts are dark brown with white and buff spots. The bottom is whitish, but is heavily striped. They are very vocal during the breeding season (March to August in the Indian Subcontinent), with a range of different calls.
The Asian koel is a brood parasite, and lays its single egg in the nests of a variety of birds, including the jungle crow, and house crow. The Asian koel is omnivorous, consuming a variety of insects, caterpillars, eggs and small vertebrates. Adults feed mainly on fruit. The bird is a widely used symbol in Indian and Nepali poetry
29. Common Tailor Bird
The common tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) is a songbird found across tropical Asia. 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 coloured forehead and crown. This passerine bird is typically found in open farmland, scrub, forest edges and gardens. Tailorbirds get their name from the way their nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider silk to make a cradle in which the actual nest is built.
When calling, the dark patches on the sides of the neck become visible. These are due to the dark pigmented and bare skin that are present in both sexes and sometimes give the appearance of a dark gorget.
Like most warblers, the common tailorbird is insectivorous.
The breeding season is March to December peaking from June to August in India, coinciding with the wet season.
30. Streak-throated woodpecker
Native Names- कठफोड़वा
The streak-throated woodpecker (Picus xanthopygaeus) is a woodpecker species native to the Indian subcontinent. It is a medium-sized, green woodpecker with streaked throat and scaly whitish underparts. It is Green above with white in bottom with black freckels all over.The Crown is red in male and blackish in female. Tail dark and plain. Small, dark bill. It can be found in open deciduous forests, dry dipterocarp forests, semi-evergreen forests, sal forests, and mixed bamboo forests, as well as secondary growth. It feeds on ants, termites, and other insect larvae. Flower nectar and seeds are also consumed. It forages on the ground frequently and may climb over boulders. They breed from January to May in India, April to September in Sri Lanka, and March to May in Southeast Asia. Both sexes excavate the nest-hole in a tree trunk or large branch. They lay 3–5 eggs in a clutch. The chicks are fed by both parents.
31. Indian cormorant
Native Names- Ghogur, paan-kowwa, Jal-kowwa.
It is found mainly along the inland waters of the Indian Subcontinent but extending west to Sind and east to Thailand and Cambodia. It is a medium-sized bronze brown cormorant which is black on the upper plumage, and has a small and slightly peaked head with a long narrow bill that has a hooked tip. The eye is blue .The breeding season is July to February but depends on rainfall and water conditions. In northern India, they breed from July to February and in Sri Lanka, between November and February. The usual clutch is three to five eggs which are bluish green and with a chalky surface.
The Indian cormorant makes short dives to capture the fish and a group will often fish communally, forming a broad front to drive fish into a corner.
32. Spotted Owl
Native Names-उल्लू, ulak.The spotted owlet (Athene brama) is a small owl found in tropical Asia, ranging from mainland India to Southeast Asia. .The spotted owlet is a small and stocky bird. The upperparts are grey-brown, heavily spotted with white. The underparts are white, streaked with brown. The facial disc is pale and the iris is yellow. Sexes are similar. This species is nocturnal but is sometimes seen in the day. It hunts a variety of insects and small vertebrates. Bats, toads, small snakes. They may also take scorpions and molluscs. A common resident of open habitats including farmland and human habitation, it has adapted to living in cities. It nests in a hole in a tree or building, laying 3–5 eggs. Nests near human habitations may show higher breeding success due to increased availability of rodents for feeding young.
The breeding season is November to April. The brain has a pineal gland, formerly thought to be absent in the owls. These birds, being very familiar to humans especially with their loud calling, have been associated with bad omens.
33. Indian Eagle Owl
Native Names- उल्लू
The Indian eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis), also known as the rock eagle-owl or Bengal eagle-owl, is a large horned owl species native to the Indian Subcontinent's hilly and rocky scrub forests . The facial disc is buffy coloured and iris is yellow with black pupil. The feather are dark brown colour with white streaks and legs are white. They primarily hunt rats and mice, but will also take birds up to the size of peafowl. They will also eat reptiles, frogs, crabs and large insects. Nesting season lasts from November to April. The eggs have a smooth texture and are three to four in number. They are placed on bare soil in a natural recess in an earth bank, on the ledge of a cliff, or on level ground under the shelter of a bush.
34. Indian Jungle Crow
Native Names-जंगली कौवा
This glossy all-black crow has a heavy black bill and has a fine tip. The feathers have a purple gloss throughout. The breeding season is mainly March–April in northern India and earlier in southern India. In Sri Lanka, it is from May–July. The nest is a platform of twigs placed in a large tree and very rarely on buildings. The usual clutch is three to five pale blue-green eggs speckled with brown. It may soften its food by dropping it in water, and have also been observed to eat sand after feeding on meat from a carcass.
35. House Crow
Native Names-काग, कौआ, काक
The house crow (Corvus splendens), also known as the Indian, greynecked, Ceylon or Colombo crow, is a common bird of the crow family that is of Asian origin but now found in many parts of the world. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed black, whilst the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in colour. The wings, tail and legs are black.
House crows feed largely on refuse around human habitations, small reptiles and mammals, and other animals such as insects and other small invertebrates, eggs, nestlings, grain and fruits. House crows have also been observed swooping down from the air and snatching baby squirrels.
At least some trees in the local environment seem to be necessary for successful breeding although house crows occasionally nest on telephone towers. It lays 3–5 eggs in a typical stick nest, and occasionally there are several nests in the same tree.
36. Little Grebe
Native Names- Pandubbi, Pantiri, Dubdubi, Churaka
The little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as dabchick, is a member of the grebe family of water birds.The little grebe is a small water bird with a pointed bill. The adult is unmistakable in summer, predominantly dark above with its rich, rufous colour neck, cheeks and flanks, and bright yellow gape. The rufous is dirty brownish grey in non-breeding and juvenile birds. Juvenile birds have a yellow bill with a small black tip, and black and white streaks on the cheeks and sides of the neck as seen below. This yellow bill darkens as the juveniles age, eventually turning black in adulthood. The little grebe is an excellent swimmer and diver and pursues its fish and aquatic invertebrate prey underwater. It uses the vegetation skilfully as a hiding place. Like all grebes, it nests at the water's edge, since its legs are set very far back and it cannot walk well. Usually four to seven eggs are laid.
These are the birds I have observed so far but there are more many species to explore and to tell you about them so stay tuned ! . Birds are so beautiful creature and they are always there for you wherever you go, so please don't hurt them and if you found nests of birds around you please don't harm them.
Comment below how many birds you have seen...
Quite Adjuvant.
ReplyDeleteA Complete Blog.
Thanks, there was so much confusion before this.
P.S.: What a treat it would be if we could hear each bird's voice on the blog as well.