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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