Chart 810 - Birds of India

Birds of India Chart

Spectrum Chart - 810 : Birds of India

1. Rain Quail - Rain quail or black-breasted quail is a species of quail found in the Indian subcontinent. These quails are small birds, measuring 16 to 18 cm in length and weighing 65 to 85 grams. The male birds have a distinctive black patch on the breast. The male bird also has a distinctive black and white head pattern. They inhabit open grasslands. These rain quails feed on insects, grass, seeds, seeds and other plant matter. They breed during March to October. The quail nest usually contains six to eight eggs and the female incubate the eggs.

2. Indian Pitta - Indian pitta is a passerine bird native to the Indian subcontinent. The Indian pitta is a small stubby-tailed bird that is mostly seen on the floor of forests or under dense undergrowth, foraging on insects in leaf litter. It has long, strong legs, a very short tail and stout bill, with a buff coloured crown stripe, black coronal stripes, a thick black eye stripe and white throat and neck. The upperparts are green, with a blue tail, the underparts buff, with bright red on the lower belly and vent. Indian pittas breed mainly in the Himalayan foothills. They also breed in the hills of central India and in the Western Ghats south to Karnataka. They migrate to all parts of peninsular India and Sri Lanka in winter.

3. Asian Koel - Asian koel is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent. The Asian koel is a large, long-tailed, cuckoo measuring 39–46 cm and weighing 190–327 g. The male of the nominate race 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 Asian koel is a bird of light woodland and cultivation. It is a mainly resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to southern China. The Asian koel is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of crows and other hosts, who raise its young.

4. Indian Roller - Indian roller, is a member of the roller family of birds. They are found widely across tropical Asia from Iraq eastward across the Indian Subcontinent to Indochina and are best known for the aerobatic displays of the male during the breeding season. Indian roller is a stocky bird about 26–27 cm long. The breast is brownish, crown and vent are blue. The primaries are deep purplish blue with a band of pale blue. The tail is sky blue with a terminal band of Prussian blue and the central feathers are dull green. The neck and throat are purplish lilac with white shaft streaks. Its main habitat includes cultivated areas, thin forest and grassland. The Indian roller is very common in the populated plains of India and associated with Hindu legends. It is said to be sacred to Lord Vishnu. A local Hindi name is neelkanth, meaning "blue throat".

5. Black Kite - Black kite is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. The species is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The temperate populations of this kite tend to be migratory while the tropical ones are resident. Black 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, fish, household refuse and carrion.

6. White Rumped Shama - White-rumped shama is a small passerine bird of the family Muscicapidae. Native to densely vegetated habitats in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, its popularity as a cage-bird and songster has led to it being introduced elsewhere. They typically weigh between 28 and 34 g and are around 23–28 cm in length. Males are glossy black with a chestnut belly and white feathers on the rump and outer tail. Females are more greyish-brown and are typically shorter than males. Both sexes have a black bill and pink feet.

7. Blue Rock Thrush - Blue rock thrush is a species of chat. This thrush-like Old World flycatcher was formerly placed in the family Turdidae. Blue rock thrush is a starling-sized bird, 21–23 cm in length with a long slim bill. The male blue rock thrush sings a clear, melodious call that is similar to, but louder than the call of the rock thrush. Blue rock thrush breeds in open mountainous areas. It nests in rock cavities and walls, and usually lays 3-5 eggs. An omnivore, the blue rock thrush eats a wide variety of insects and small reptiles in addition to berries and seeds.

8. Grey Francolin - Grey francolin is a species of francolin found in the plains and drier parts of South Asia. The francolin is barred throughout and the face is pale with a thin black border to the pale throat. The only similar species is the painted francolin, which has a rufous vent. The male can have up to two spurs on the legs while females usually lack them. Grey francolin is normally found foraging on bare or low grass covered ground in scrub and open country, and is rarely found above an altitude of 500 m above sea level in India.

9. Common Hoopoe - Hoopoe is a bird of the family Upupidae. This colorful bird can be found across the Europe, Asia, Africa and Madagascar. Hoopoe inhabits wide variety of habitats: grasslands, savannas, forests and wooded steppes. Hoopoe is a medium-sized bird that can reach length between 9.8 to 12.6 inches. It has a wingspan of 17.3 to 19 inches. Hoopoe is easily recognized because of its colourful feathers. Bird is cinnamon to chestnut in colour, with white and black stripes on the wings and tail. It has prominent, upright crest on its head. Hoopoe eats different type of insects, small reptiles, snails, frogs, seeds, berries and other types of plant materials. Hoopoe is a territorial animal. Average lifespan of hoopoe in the wild is 10 years.

10. Greater Coucal - Greater coucal or crow pheasant, is a large non-parasitic member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. 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. This is a large species of cuckoo at 48 cm. The head is black, upper mantle and underside are black glossed with purple. The back and wings are chestnut brown. There are no pale shaft streaks on the coverts. The eyes are ruby red.

11. Kestrel – Kestrel are members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 10–20 metres (35–65 ft) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. Kestrels can hover in still air, even indoors in barns. Because they face towards any slight wind when hovering, the common kestrel is called a "windhover" in some areas.

12. Sunbird – Sunbirds are part of Nectariniidae family of passerine birds. They are small, slender passerines from the Old World, usually with downward-curved bills. Many are brightly coloured, often with iridescent feathers, particularly in the males. Many species also have especially long tail feathers. Their range extends through most of Africa to the Middle East, South Asia, South-east Asia and southern China, to Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia. Species diversity is highest in equatorial regions. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, but will also eat insects and spiders, especially when feeding their young. Sunbird are active diurnal birds that generally occur in pairs or occasionally in small family groups.

13. Woodpecker - There are over 200 species of woodpeckers that can be found all around the globe except in Australia, New Zealand and Madagascar. Woodpeckers live in forests, backyards and various other types of habitat where trees are available. Several species of woodpeckers are endangered or already extinct due to habitat loss and increased urbanization. Woodpeckers are usually red, white, black and yellow in color. Their plumage can also be combination of orange, green, brown and golden color. Woodpeckers have very long tongue which is designed for capturing of prey that is hidden inside the trees. Woodpeckers are omnivores. They eat insects, insect larvae and eggs, tree sap, seed, nuts etc. Woodpecker is able to peck 20 times per second. It produces between 10,000 and 12,000 pecks per day. Woodpeckers can survive between 5 and 11 years in the wild.

14. Shikra – Shikra is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found widely distributed in Asia and Africa where it is also called the little banded goshawk. Shikra is a small raptor (26–30 cm long) and like most other Accipiter hawks, this species has short rounded wings and a narrow and somewhat long tail. 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.

15. Indian Paradise Flycatcher - Indian paradise flycatcher is a medium-sized passerine bird native to Asia that is widely distributed. Adult Indian paradise flycatchers are 19–22 cm long. Their heads are glossy black with a black crown and crest, their black bill round and sturdy, their eyes black. As adults they develop up to 24 cm long tail feathers with two central tail feathers growing up to 30cm long drooping streamers.

16. Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), also known as the northern sparrowhawk or simply the sparrowhawk, is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. The sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey with short, broad wings and a long tail. These adaptations help it to fly between trees. Females can be up to 25% larger than males and can be twice as heavy. Eurasian sparrowhawk is a major predator of smaller woodland birds, though only 10% of its hunting attacks are successful. It hunts by surprise attack, using hedges, tree-belts, copses, orchards and other cover near woodland areas, its choice of habitat is dictated by these requirements. Most sparrowhawks live for about four years.

17. Brahminy Myna - Brahminy myna or brahminy starling is a member of the starling family of birds. It is usually seen in pairs or small flocks in open habitats on the plains of the Indian subcontinent. This myna is pale buff creamy with a black cap and a loose crest. The bill is yellow with a bluish base. The iris is pale and there is a bluish patch of skin around the eye. The adult male has a more prominent crest than the female and also has longer neck hackles. It is a resident breeder in Nepal and India, a winter visitor to Sri Lanka and a summer visitor in parts of the western Himalayas and northeastern Himalayas. Like most starlings, the brahminy starling is omnivorous, eating fruit and insects.

18. Great Indian Bustard - Great Indian Bustard or Indian bustard is a bustard found in India. A large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds. Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, as few as 250 individuals were estimated in 2011 to survive and the species is critically endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat. These birds are often found associated in the same habitat as blackbuck. The habitat where it is most often found is arid and semi-arid grasslands, open country with thorn scrub, tall grass interspersed with cultivation. It avoids irrigated areas.

19. Rufous Treepie - Rufous treepie is a treepie, native to the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining parts of Southeast Asia. It is a member of the crow family, Corvidae. It is long tailed and has loud musical calls making it very conspicuous. 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 range of this species is quite large, covering all of mainland India up to the Himalayas and south easterly in a broad band into Bangladesh, Burma(Myanmar), Laos and Thailand in open forest consisting of scrub, plantations and gardens.

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