Birding in India...

68. Brown Shrike

2009-11-08T21:21:00.001-08:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka
(Winter Visitor)

67. Pied Bush chat (Female)

2009-11-04T00:52:00.000-08:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka

66. Yellow Billed Babbler

2009-11-01T21:03:00.000-08:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka

65. Paddy Field Pipit

2009-10-29T22:04:00.001-07:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka

64. Pied Cuckoo

2009-10-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka

00 Green Bee eater (old record-new photo)

2009-10-28T22:14:00.001-07:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka

63. Eurasian golden oriole-Male

2009-10-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka

62. Malabar Crested Lark

2009-10-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto
Place: Manipal, Karnataka

61. Paddy Field Warbler

2009-09-02T06:17:00.000-07:00

Photo: Internet
Place: Udupi, Karnataka

60. Plumbeous Water Redstart

2009-07-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Photo: clicked by, toto

Place: Kodiyala, Uttarakhand

59. White Capped Redstart

2009-07-17T23:55:00.000-07:00

Photo: Clicked by, toto

Place: Kodiyala, Uttarakhand

58. Large Grey Babbler

2009-05-05T12:18:00.001-07:00

Photo: Internet

Place: Nippani, Karnataka

57. Little Ringed Plover

2009-05-05T12:16:00.000-07:00

Photo: Internet

Place: Nippani, Karnataka

56. Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark (Male & Female)

2009-05-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

(Male)

(Female)

Photo: Internet

Place: Nippani, Karnataka

55. Purple Sunbird

2009-05-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

Photo: internet

Place: Belgaum, Karnataka

54. Crimson Backed Sunbird

2009-05-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

Photo: internet

Place: Jamboti(Belgaum), Karnataka

53. Stork Billed Kingfisher

2009-05-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

Photo: internet

Place: Jamboti (belgaum), karnataka

52. Snowy Faced Barn Owl

2009-05-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

(photo: internet)

place: Belgaum(jamboti), kanataka

51. Indian Robin (Male)

2009-05-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

(photo: internet)

Place: Panhala, Maharashtra

50. Olive backed sunbird (female)

2009-04-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

(photo: internet)

49. Purple-rumped sunbird

2009-04-18T23:08:00.001-07:00

(photo: internet)

48. Chestnut headed bee eater

2009-04-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

47. Great White Pelicans

2009-04-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

(photo: Clicked by, toto)

46. Common Kingfisher

2009-03-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

45. Spot billed Ducks

2009-03-29T07:40:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

44. Pied Bushchat

2009-03-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

43. Long tailed Shrike

2009-03-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

42. Plain Prinia

2009-03-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

41. Small Minivet (male and female)

2009-03-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

dull yellow breasted is female and orange breasted is male.

40. Oriental Magpie Robin

2009-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

39. Northern Pintail

2009-03-27T09:06:00.001-07:00

(Photos: both clicked by, toto)

38. Darter

2009-03-26T01:53:00.001-07:00

(Photo clicked by me)

37. Scarlet Minivet (Male-orange breasted & Female-Yellow breasted)

2009-03-23T09:02:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

36. Laughing Dove

2009-03-23T09:01:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

35. Jungle Babbler

2009-03-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

34. Brahminy Starling

2009-03-23T08:59:00.001-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

33. Black Naped Monarch flycatcher

2009-03-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

32. Yellow Wagtail

2009-03-23T08:53:00.001-07:00

31. Malabar Grey Hornbill

2009-03-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

(Photo: Internet)

30. White Wagtail

2009-03-23T08:51:00.002-07:00

29. Wooly Necked Stork

2009-03-23T08:51:00.001-07:00

28. White Cheeked Barbet

2009-03-23T08:50:00.001-07:00

27. White Browed Wagtail

2009-03-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

26. White Breasted water hen

2009-03-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

25. Painted storks

2009-03-23T08:43:00.001-07:00

24. White-Throated/White-breasted Kingfisher

2009-03-21T03:08:00.000-07:00

The White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis, also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher or Smyrna Kingfisher, is a tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in Eurasia from Bulgaria, Turkey, into south Asia and east to the Philippines. This kingfisher is essentially resident over much of its range, apart from seasonal movements.
his is a large kingfisher, 28 cm in length. 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 flight of the White-throated Kingfisher is rapid and direct, the short rounded wings whirring. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. There are four geographic races differing mainly it the plumage shades, but H. s. gularis of the Philippines has only the neck and throat white. Race fusca is found in Peninsular India and Sri Lanka and is slightly smaller, bluer and with a darker brown underside than the nominate race found in northwestern India. Race saturatior is found in theAndaman Islands and is larger with darker brown underparts. Race perpulchra (not always recognized) is found in northeastern India and is smaller than fusca with paler underparts. Albinism has been noted on occasion.The call of this kingfisher is a chuckling chake-ake-ake-ake-ake. They are particularly noisy in the breeding season.Local names include Baluchistan: Aspi chidok; Sindhi: Dalel; Hindi: Kilkila, Kourilla;Himachal Pradesh: Neela machhrala; Punjabi: Wadda machhera; Bengali: Sandabuk machhranga; Assamese: Masroka; Cachar: Dao natu gophu; Gujarati: Kalkaliyo, Safedchati kalkaliyo; Marathi: Khandya; Tamil:Vichuli; Telugu: Lakmuka, Buchegadu; Malayalam: Ponman; Kannada: Rajamatsi; Sinhalese: Pilihuduwa.

23. Spotted Owlet

2009-03-21T03:07:00.000-07:00

The Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) is an owl which breeds in tropical Asia from India to Southeast Asia. This species is a part of the larger grouping of owls known as typical owls, Strigidae, which contains most species of owl. The other grouping is the barn owls, Tytonidae.Spotted Owlet is a common resident bird in open habitats including farmland and human habitation. It nests in a hole in a tree or building, laying 3-5 eggs.The Spotted Owlet is small (21cm) and stocky. The upperparts are grey-brown, heavily spotted with white. The underparts are white, streaked with brown. The facial disc is pale and the eyes are yellow. There is a white neckband. Sexes are similar. The flight is deeply undulating.This species is nocturnal but is sometimes seen in the day. It can often be located by the small birds that mob it while it is perched in a tree. It hunts a variety of insects and small vertebrates. The call is a harsh chirurr-chirurr-chirurr.

22. Black-Winged Stilt

2009-03-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

21. Rose ringed Parakeet

2009-03-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that is popular as a pet. Its scientific name commemorates the Austrian naturalist Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer.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.As is the case with all Psittacula (Afro-Asian Ringnecked Parakeet) species, the Rose-ringed Parakeet is sexually dimorphic. The adult male sports a black neck-ring and pink nape-band while the hen and immature birds of both sexes either show no neck rings, or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck-rings and light (lighter coloured than surroundings) nape-bands.

20. River tern

2009-03-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

The Indian River Tern or just River Tern (Sterna aurantia) is a bird in the tern family . It is a resident breeder along inland rivers from Iran east through Pakistan into India and Myanmar to Thailand, where it is uncommon. It does not occur in Sri Lanka. Unlike most Sterna terns, it is almost exclusively found on freshwater, rarely venturing even to tidal creeks.This species breeds from March to May in colonies in less accessible areas such as sandbanks in rivers. It nests in a ground scrape, often on bare rock or sand, and lays three greenish-grey to buff eggs, which are blotched and streaked with brown.This is a medium-sized tern, 38-43 cm long with dark grey upperparts, white underparts, a forked tail with long flexible streamers, and long pointed wings. The bill is yellow and the legs red. It has a black cap in breeding plumage. In the winter the cap is greyish white, flecked and streaked with black, there is a dark mask through the eye, and the tip of the bill becomes dusky.The sexes are similar but juveniles have a brown head, brown-marked grey upperparts, grey breast sides and white underparts. The bill is yellowish with a dark tipAs with other Sterna terns, the River Tern feeds by plunge-diving for fish, crustaceans, tadpoles and aquatic insects in rivers, lakes, and tanks. Its numbers are decreasing is due to the pollution of their habitat.

19. Red-wattled Lapwing

2009-03-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

The Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) is a lapwing or large plover, a wader in the family Charadriidae. It has characteristic loud calls which are variously rendered as Did he do it or Pity to do it leading to colloquial names like did-he-do-it. Usually seen in pairs or small groups not far from water but may form large flocks in the non-breeding season (winter).Red-wattled Lapwings are large waders, about 35cm long (somewhat larger than a Rock Pigeon, with longer legs). The wings and back are light brown, but head and chest and front part of neck are black. Prominently white patch runs between these two colours, 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. In flight, prominent white V-shaped wing bar.Race aigneri is slightly paler and larger than the nominate race and is found in Afghanistan and the Indus valley. The nominate race is found all over India. The Sri Lankan race lankae is smaller and dark while atronuchalis the race in north-eastern India and eastern Bangladesh has a white cheek surrounded by black.Males and females are similar in plumage but males have a 5% longer wing and tend to have a longer carpal spur. The length of the birds is 320-350mm, wing of 208-247mm with the nominate averaging 223mm, Sri Lanka 217mm. The Bill is 31-36mm and tarsus of 70-83mm. Tail length is 104-128mm.It usually keeps in pairs or trios in well-watered open country, ploughed fields, grazing land, and margins and dry beds of tanks and puddles. They occasionally form large flocks, especially in the Gangetic plains. It is also found in forest clearings around rain-filled depressions. It runs about in short spurts and dips forward obliquely (with unflexed legs) to pick up food in a typical plover manner. They are known to feed at night and are especially active around the full moon. Is uncannily and ceaselessly vigilant, day or night, and is the first to detect intrusions and raise an alarm, and therefore a nuisance to hunters. Flight rather slow, with deliberate flaps, but capable of remarkable agility when defending nest or being hunted by a hawk.Its striking appearance is supplemented by its noisy nature, with a loud and scolding did-he-do-it call, often uttered at night.
The local names include Hindi: titeeri, titai,titori, Sindhi: tAteehAr, Gujarati: titodi, Kashmiri: hatatut, Assamese: bAlighorA, Telugu: yennappa chitawa, Tamil: AAl-kaati (meaning "human indicator").

18. Red-vented bulbul

2009-03-21T02:49:00.000-07:00

The Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Burma and southwestern China. It has been introduced and has established itself in the wild in many Pacific islands including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Hawaii. It has also established itself in parts of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. It is included among the world's worst invasive alien species. The Red-vented Bulbul 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. The Himalayan races have a more prominent crest and are more streaked on the underside. The Race intermedius of the Western Himalayas has a black hood extending to the mid-breast. Racebengalensis of Central and Eastern Himalayas and the Gangetic plain has dark hood without scales with dark streaks on the lower belly. Racestanfordi of the South Assam hills is similar to intermedius. The desert race humayuni from a paler brown mantle. The nominate race cafer is found in Peninsular India. Northeast Indian race wetmorei is between cafer, humayuni and bengalensis. about 20cm in length, with a long tail. Sri Lankan racehaemorrhous (=haemorrhousus) has a dark mantle with narrow pale edges. Race humayuni is known to hybridize with Pycnonotus leucogenys and these hybrids have been named by the race magrathi which have pale rumps and yellow-orange or pink vents. In Eastern Myanmar there is hybridization with Pycnonotus aurigaster.Sexes are similar in plumage, but young birds are duller than adults.

17. Indian Pond Heron

2009-03-21T02:48:00.000-07:00

The Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) is a small heron. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Iran and east to India, Burma and Sri Lanka.They appear stocky with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed from their dull colours when they take to flight, when the white of the wings makes them very prominent. It is very similar to the Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, but is darker-backed. To the east of its range, it is replaced by the Chinese Pond Heron,Ardeola bacchus.During the breeding season, there are records of individuals with red legs. The numbers do not suggest that this is a normal change for adults during the breeding season and some have suggested the possibility of it being genetic variants. Erythristic plumage has been noted. The race phillipsi has been suggested for the populations found in the Maldives, however this is not always recognized.They are very silent but may give a harsh croak when flushed or near their nests. This bird was first described by Colonel W. H. Sykes in 1832 and given its scientific name in honour ofJohn Edward Gray.

16. Pied Kingfisher

2009-03-21T02:32:00.000-07:00

The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a kingfisher in the near passerine bird family Cerylidae, the water kingfishers. It is the only member of the genus Ceryle.It is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia from Turkey to India to China. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate, other than seasonal movements.The Pied Kingfisher is estimated to be the world's third most common kingfisher, and is a noisy bird, unmissable within its range.It is mainly a specialist fish-eater, although it will take crustaceans and large aquatic insects. It usually hunts by hovering stationarily over the water and dives down bill first directly below to catch fish.It has evolved two unique strategies, shared by no other kingfishers. The Pied Kingfisher can hunt in both salt and freshwater. It can also deal with prey without returning to a perch, and can, for example, catch a second fish, or eat small prey in flight. These adaptations mean that this kingfisher can hunt over the sea or in estuaries that lack the perches required by other kingfishers.
This approachable largish (25cm) bird is unmistakable, with its exclusively black-and-white plumage. Unlike some kingfishers, it is quite gregarious, and forms large roosts at night. It can be easily tamed.Its nest is a hole in a bank, on its own or in a colony, where it lays 3-6 white eggs. The pied kingfisher sometimes reproduces co-operatively, with young non-breeding birds assisting the breeding pair. As with all kingfishers, the nest of a Pied soon becomes unsanitary.This species was initially believed to be descended from an ancestral American green kingfisher which crossed the Atlantic Ocean about 1 million years ago (Fry & Fry, 2000). However, more recently, Moyle (2006) considered it more likely that the Pied Kingfisher and the American green kingfishers are derived from an Old World species, with the Pied Kingfisher or its ancestor losing the metallic coloration afterwards.

15. Peacock

2009-03-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

The term peafowl can refer to the two species of bird in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. The African Congo Peafowl is placed in its own genus Afropavo and is not dealt with here. Peafowl are best known for the male's extravagant tail feathers, which it displays as part of courtship. The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen, though it is common to hear the female also referred to as a "peacock." The female peafowl is brown or toned grey and pink.
The male peafowl, or peacock, has long been known for and valued for its brilliant tail feathers. The bright spots on it are known as "eyes", and inspired the Greek myth that Hera placed the hundred eyes of her slain giant Argus on the tail of her favorite bird.
Indian Peafowl has iridescent blue-green or green coloured plumage. The so-called "tail" of the peacock, also termed the "train," is not the tail quill feathers but highly elongated upper tail feather coverts. The train feathers have a series of eyes that are best seen when the train is fanned. The actual tail feathers are short and gray-colored and can be seen from behind when a peacock's train is fanned in a courtship display. During the molting season, the males shed their stunning train feathers and reveal the unassuming gray-colored tail which is normally hidden from view beneath the train. Both species have a crest atop the head

14. Lesser Kestrel

2009-03-19T11:37:00.001-07:00

The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small falcon. This species breeds from the Mediterranean across southern central Asia to Chinaand Bangladesh. It is a summer migrant, wintering in Africa and Pakistan. It is rare north of its breeding range, and declining in its Europeanrange. The scientific name of this bird commemorates the German naturalist Johann Andreas Naumann.
It is a small bird of prey, 27-33 cm in length with a 63-72 cm wingspan. It looks very much like the largerCommon Kestrel but has proportionally shorter wings and tail. It shares a brown back and barred grey underparts with the larger species. The male has a grey head and tail like male Common Kestrels, but lacks the dark spotting on the back, the black malar stripe, and has grey patches in the wings.The female and young birds are slightly paler than their relative, but are so similar that call and structure are better guides than plumage. The call is a diagnostic harsh chay-chay-chay, unlike the Common Kestrel's kee-kee-kee. Both sexes do not have dark talons as usual in falcons; those of this species are a peculiar whitish-horn color. This, however, is only conspicuous when seen birds at very close range, e.g. in captivity.The Lesser Kestrel is, as the name implies, a smaller and more delicate bird than the Common Kestrel, and it is entirely sympatric in its breeding range with it; they compete to a limited extent. Thus, the possibility that there is some form of adaptive advantage to the similar coloration deserves study. Considering that the Lesser Kestrel would in fact have an advantage if some would-be predators confuse it with the larger species and consequently avoid it, it might be a case of Müllerian mimicry.The Lesser Kestrel eats insects and small birds , which are often taken on the ground. It nests colonially on buildings, cliffs, or in tree holes, laying up to 3-6 eggs. No nest structure is built, which is typical for falcons. Recent surveys (January 2007) by LPO have revealed that in their wintering grounds, Lesser Kestrels roost communally - sometimes in huge numbers. A roost discovered in Senegal during one of these surveys held 28,600 birds, together with 16,000 African Swallow-tailed Kites Chelictinia riocourii.It is widespread and plentiful on a global scale, but in many areas of its range, it seems to be undergoing a marked and possibly accelerating decline. The IUCN has thus classed it as a vulnerable species (VU A2bce+3bce). This means that the global population and range have declined by some 30% in the last 10 years, and is expected to continue to do so for at least another decade. Apart from possible habitat destruction, it appears that indiscriminate use of pesticides has a strong effect on this species due to its insectivorous habits.

13. Emu

2009-03-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Emus are large birds. The largest can reach up to 190 to 150 centimetres (75–59 in) in height 1 to 1.3 metres (3.3–4.3 ft) at the shoulder. Emus weigh between 18 and 48 kilograms (40 and 110 lb). They have small vestigial wings and a long neck and legs. Their ability to run at high speeds, 48 km/h (30 mph), is due to their highly specialised pelvic limb musculature. Their feet have only three toes and a similarly reduced number of bones and associated foot muscles; they are the only birds with gastrocnemius muscles in the back of the lower legs. The pelvic limb muscles of Emus have a similar contribution to total body mass as the flight muscles of flying birds. They have a soft bill, adapted for grazing. The neck of the Emus are pale blue and show through their sparse feathers. They have brown to grey-brown plumage of shaggy appearance; the shafts and the tips of the feathers are black. Solar radiation is absorbed by the tips, and the loose-packed inner plumage insulates the skin. The resultant heat is prevented from flowing to the skin by the insulation provided by the coat, allowing the bird to be active during the heat of the day. A unique feature of the Emu feather is its double rachis emerging from a single shaft. The sexes are similar in appearance. On very hot days, Emus pant to maintain their body temperature, their lungs work as evaporative coolers and, unlike some other species, the resulting low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood do not appear to cause alkalosis. For normal breathing in cooler weather, they have large, multifolded nasal passages. Cool air warms as it passes through into the lungs, extracting heat from the nasal region. On exhalation, the Emu's cold nasal turbinates condense moisture back out of the air and absorb it for reuse. Their calls consist of loud booming, drumming and grunting sounds that can be heard up to two kilometers away. The booming sound is created in an inflatable neck sac that is 30 cm (12 in) long and thin-walled.

12. Indian Treepie

2009-03-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Black-faced or Black-browed Treepie (Dendrocitta frontalis) is an Asian treepie, a small perching bird of the Corvidae (crow) family. This bird is slightly smaller than a Blue Jay and has the typical compact body and long tail of this group. The forehead, face and bib are black with the chest, neck and shoulders a light silvery or bluish-grey in colour. The back is a warm chestnut brown with similar underparts. The wing coverts are white with the primaries and tail black. It inhabits a broad band (though often very localised) from the north eastern Indian Himalayas, Nepal and across into Burma (Myanmar) in hill forests often at quite high elevations. It feeds mainly on invertebrates of various types, and hawks for termites in flight; it also eats fruits and berries. It probably takes similar overall food types as the other treepies. The nest is a small, neat structure often placed in bamboo clumps, small trees or bushes at the edge of a clearing. There are usually 3-5 eggs laid. The voice is described as varied but contains metallic notes as well as the chatter alarm call sounding similar to the other species.

11. Indian roller- Karnataka's state bird

2009-03-19T10:06:00.001-07:00

The Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis), was formerly locally called the Blue Jay, a misnomer. It is a member of the roller family of birds which breeds in tropical southern Asia from Iraq to Thailand. It is not migratory, but undertakes some seasonal movements. The Indian Roller is a stocky bird, the size of a Jackdaw at 30-34cm. It has a warm brown back, lilac breast and face, and blue crown, wings, tail and belly. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. The Southeast Asian race C. b. affinis has a green back and purple underparts. Indian Roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blues of the wings contrasting with the brown back. This is a common bird of warm open country with some trees. These rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects, lizards and frogs that they eat. They will follow tractors for disturbed invertebrates, and dash into the smoke of a forest fire on a similar mission. They are fearless and will dive and roll at humans and other intruders. The display of this bird is a lapwing-like display, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name. It nests in a lined hole in a tree or building, and lays about 3-5 eggs. The call of Indian Roller is a harsh crow-like chack sound. Also makes a variety of other sounds including a metallic boink calls. Especially vociferous during the breeding season. Indian roller has been given the status of state bird for Indian states of Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

10. Corsican Finch

2009-03-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

9. Coppersmith Barbet or crimson-breasted barbet

2009-03-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Coppersmith Barbet or Crimson-breasted Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala), is a bird with crimson forehead and neck. It is a residentnear passerine bird from South Asia, with occasional presence in Southeast Asia. The name barbet refers to the bristles or barbs fringing its heavy bill. It may sometimes be referred to simply as Coppersmith.
The Coppersmith Barbet is a resident breeder practically throughout South Asia (India, Pakistan,Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc.), and is extralimital in Southeast Asia, with related races in Indonesia and thePhilippines. The most common barbet, it is found in plains, foothills and terai up to 200m in dry- and moist-deciduous biotope. It is entirely arboreal (like most barbets), preferring open wooded country and urban gardens and avoiding dense forestLocal names: Hindi: chhoTA vasant, Bengali: chhoTo basanta, bhAgirath, Gujarati: TukTukiyo Sinhala:mal kottoruwA Tamil: sinna kukuruvAn).The Coppersmith is brightly coloured, with a black-bordered yellow face with black eye stripes, red forecrown and throat patch. Bill stout and dark. Upper parts are grass green and underparts yellowish-green, diffusely streaked with darker green. Juveniles are duller and lack the red patches. The sexes are alike.Somewhat larger than a sparrow, it is a relatively small barbet at 17 cm. It is a plump bird, with a short neck and large head. The short, truncated tail is distinctively triangular in flight.Keeps solitary, pairs, or small groups; larger parties occasionally on abundantly fruiting Ficus trees. Fond of sunning themselves in the morning on bare top branches of tall trees, often flitting about to sit next to each other. The flight is straight, with rapid flaps.

8. Cattle Egret

2009-03-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species. Despite the similarities in plumage to the egrets of the genus Egretta, it is more closely related to the herons of Ardea. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world.It is a stocky white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season which nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. Unlike most other herons, it feeds in relatively dry grassy habitats, oftenaccompanying cattle or other large mammals, since it catches insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the Cattle Egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.The adult Cattle Egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species removes ticks and flies from cattle, but it can be a safety hazard at airfields, and has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.

7. Brahminy kite

2009-03-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), also known as the Red-backed Sea-eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. They are found from Asia to Australia.The Brahminy Kite is about the same size as the Black Kite and has a typical kite flight, with wings angled, but its tail is rounded unlike the Milvus species, Red Kite and Black Kite, which have forked tails. The two genera are however very close. The Brahminy Kite is an attractive bird, with chestnut plumage except for the white head and breast and black wing tips. The juveniles are browner, but can be distinguished from both the resident and migratory races of Black Kite in Asia by the paler appearance, shorter wings and rounded tail.
The breeding season is from December to April. This species nests in trees, often close to water. It feeds as a scavenger, particularly on dead fish and crabs, especially in wetlands and marshland. The call is a mewing keeyew

6. Black kite

2009-03-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such aseagles, buzzards, and harriers.This kite is a widespread species throughout the temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia. Curiously, it is not found in theIndonesian archipelago between the South East Asian mainland and the Wallace Line. Vagrants, most likely of the Black-eared Kite, on occasion range far into the Pacific, out to the Hawaiian islands.Black Kites will take small live prey as well as fish, household refuse and carrion. They are attracted to fires and smoke where they seek escaping insect prey. They are well adapted to living in cities and are found even in densely populated areas. Large numbers may be seen soaring in thermalsover cities. In some places they will readily swoop to take to food held by humans, offered or not, and their habit of swooping to pick up dead rodentsfrom roads often leads to them being hit by vehicles. They are also a major nuisance at some airports where they are considered important birdstrikehazards.
The Black Kite can be distinguished from the Red Kite by its slightly smaller size, less forked tail and generally dark plumage without any rufous.The Black Kite nests in forest trees, often close to other kites. In winter, many kites will roost together.

5. Black-headed Ibis

2009-03-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) is a species of wading bird of the ibis family Threskiornithidae which breeds in South Asia and Southeast Asia from Pakistan to India, Sri Lankaeast up to Japan. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 2–4 eggs.It occurs in marshy wetlands inland and on the coast, where it feeds on various fish, frogs and other water creatures, as well as on insects.Adults are typically 75 cm long and white-plumaged, with some greyer areas on the wings. The bald head, the neck and legs are black. The thick curved bill is dusky yellow. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have whiter necks and a black bill.

4. Black drongo

2009-03-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus), also known as the King Crow, is a small Asian passerine bird of the drongo family Dicruridae. Previously, it was seen as a subspecies (Dicrurus adsimilis macrocercus) of the African Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), but is now recognized as a full species. It is a common resident breeder in much of tropical southern Asia from southwest Iran through India and Sri Lanka east to southern China andIndonesia. It is a wholly black bird with a distinctive forked tail and measures 28 cm (11 in) in length. Feeding on insects, it is common in open agricultural areas and light forest throughout its range, perching conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone lines. The species is famous for its aggressive behaviour towards much larger birds, such as crows, never hesitating to dive-bomb any birds of prey that invades its territory. Smaller birds often nest in the well guarded vicinity of a nesting Black Drongo.The Black Drongo has been introduced to some Pacific islands, where it has thrived and become abundant to the point of threatening and causing the extinction of native and endemic bird species there.

3. Indian Cormorant

2009-03-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

(photo source: internet)The Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It breeds in tropical Asia from Oman, Yemen, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka into Southeast Asia. It is resident but undertakes some seasonal movements.This is a common and widespread bird species, which breeds in freshwater wetlands. 3-6 eggs are laid in a nest in a tree.This is a smallish, slender, cormorant with a triangular head profile. It is 63 cm in length. Indian Cormorant is mainly black in the breeding season, with white neck plumes and a whitish throat. The wing coverts are silvery and it has a longish tail.This species can be separated from the similar looking Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) by its slender bill, more peaked appearance to its head and lack of the glossy black plumage of the smaller bird. It is also more gregarious and is often found in larger bodies of water and rivers.Sexes are similar, but non-breeding adults and juveniles are browner and lack the neck plumes.The Indian Cormorant can dive to considerable depths, but usually feeds in shallow water. It frequently brings prey to the surface. A wide variety of fish are taken.

2. green bee eater

2009-03-18T10:38:00.001-07:00

Like other bee-eaters, 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. The feet are weak with the three toes joined at the base. Southeast Asian birds have rufous crown and face, and green underparts, whereas Arabian beludschicus has a green crown, blue face and bluish underparts. The wings are green and the beak is black. The elongated tail feathers are absent in juveniles. Sexes are alike.

The calls is a nasal trill 'tree-tree-tree-tree, usually given in flight.

1. Asian Koel

2009-03-18T05:10:00.000-07:00

The Asian Koel is a large, long-tailed, cuckoo at 45 cm. The male of the nominate race is glossy bluish-black, with a pale green or grey bill, the iris is red, 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 underparts are whitish, but is heavily striped. The other subspecies differ in colouration and size.

They are very vocal during the breeding season (March to August in South Asia), with a range of different calls. The familiar song of the male is a repeated koo-Ooo. The female makes a shrill kik-kik-kik... call. Calls vary between the races.