Birding@XLRI Jamshedpur

Common Tailorbird

2009-02-25T11:02:00.004+05:30

This bird is resident breeder in India and quite common in XLRI campus. They are around 5 inches long with brightly coloured, with bright green upperparts and whitish underparts. The crown of the head is chestnut/reddish. They have short rounded wings, a short tail, strong legs and a long decurved beak. The tail is typically held upright.

The Common Tailorbird is insectivorous. The song is a loud cheeup-cheeup-cheeup.

This bird is typically found in open woodland, scrub 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's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest is built.

In XLRI they can be spotted around trees near hostel.

Tickell's Flower pecker

2008-11-23T18:51:00.002+05:30

Tickell's Flower pecker also known sometimes as the Pale-billed Flower pecker is a tiny frugivorous bird found in India. The species is quite common and is easily seen in urban gardens with fruit trees. The call of this flower pecker is a short tick call. Length is about 3 inches, upper plumage is ashy olive in colour. It has a curver beak, which resembles similar to female sunbird.

The bird is very restless and flies from tree to tree. Most of the time it utters an inceassant squeak chik-chik-chik.

Scaly Breasted Munia

2008-10-05T10:52:00.002+05:30

Scaly-breasted Munias are among the most common Munias found in XLRI campus. It is about 10-12 cm in length. Generally found in flocks. They roost in smaller groups or pairs within nests, even outside the breeding season. Sometimes, up to a dozen birds may squeeze into a nest. These roosting nests are spread far apart. They may also roost with other Munias or even with weaver birds.

This bird could be found around MDP building. They nest in overhangs of MDP or spaces between drainage pipes.

References:
http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/Lonchura_punctulata.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaly-breasted_Munia

Black Headed Munia

2008-08-09T21:52:00.002+05:30

Munias are small gregarious, extremely restless and playful birds. These birds are generally very sociable and hence popular as captivity bird. Amongst various species of Munia, Black headed Munia had been spotted in XLRI campus.

The Black-headed Munia is 11-12 cm in length. The adult has a stubby pale grey bill, black head, and brown body. The sexes are similar, but immature birds have uniform pale brown upperparts, lack the dark head and have white to pale buff underparts. The Black-headed Munia is also known as Chestnut Munia due to it’s body colour. This specie is distributed throughout India, Ceylon and some parts of Bengal.

They are generally seen in small flocks in gardens, open grassland, cultivated fields and light forest. It feeds mainly on grass seeds, grain and other seeds. Their nests are large domed grass structure built in a bush or tall grasses with a small side entrance visible to outside. They lay 4-7 white eggs and the chicks are raised by the flock not the parent alone. Black headed Munias are constantly on the move and somewhat nomadic, although they don't migrate. They fly close together in groups, in an undulating flight.

In XLRI campus, this bird can be spotted around MDP campus. It was also spotted near GH3 hostel and Learning Centre lawns. (last sightings July-August 2008)

Photo credits: Flickr user cheer2

Bronze winged Jacana

2008-08-03T14:13:00.002+05:30

Bronze winged Jacana not so commonly seen near XLRI. It was spotted along with two chicks during Birding Trail in the water canal just behind the football ground in Jubliee park.

This specie breeds in India and southeast Asia. It is sedentary apart from seasonal dispersion. It is known as conspicuous and unmistakable birds. About 28-30 cm long, females are larger than males.They are mainly black, although the inner wings are very dark brown and the tail is red. There is a striking white eyestripe. The yellow bill extends up and the legs and very long toes are grey. Young immature birds have brown upperparts with white underparts and buff foreneck. They feed on insects and other invertebrates picked from the floating vegetation or the water's surface.

Thier call is a wheezy piping seek-seek-seek given mostly in alarm. When forced they sometimes choose to hide by submerging themselves. The male may carry chicks between the wings and body.

Jacanas are also known as Lotus Birds, Jesus Birds or Lily Trotters. In Tamil Nadu, they call it manal pura (sand dove) while in Kerala they call it tamara kozhi (lotus hen).

Watch Video

Golden Oriole

2008-07-19T16:29:00.012+05:30

One of the most beautiful bird found in and around the campus, Golden Oriole is rarely seen, mainly near the faculty houses. In Hindi, its called "Peelak", for its yellow (Peela) color. A legend is that Golden Oriole belongs to Heaven (Swarg Lok) for its amazing beauty.

Golden Oriole is medium sized bird, around 25–30 cm in length, with the females only slightly smaller than the males. The beak is slightly curved and hooked, and, except in the Figbird, as long again as the head. The plumage of most species is bright and showy, although the females often have duller plumage than the males do. The plumage of many Australiasian orioles mimics that of friarbirds (a genus of large honeyeaters), probably to reduce aggression against the smaller orioles.

Orioles are arboreal and tend to feed in the canopy. Found mainly in open forests and woodlands. They are opportunistic omnivores, with the main components of their diet being fruit, berries, and arthropods.

Orioles are monogamous, breeding in territorial pairs. Nesting sites may be chosen near aggressive species such as drongos, shrikes or friarbirds, which confer a degree of protection. The nest is a deep woven cup suspended like a hammock from a branch. They usually lay two or three eggs.

In XLRI, few faculty birders have spotted this bird in past. This bird however wasn't spotted very recently. Trees around MDP and faculty residence could be a good place to spot this bird.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriole
Photo Credit: Anand Arya : http://orientalbirdimages.org

Common Koel

2008-06-29T19:36:00.005+05:30

The word koel also means "nightingale" in India because of the Indian Koel's melodious call.

At XLRI, it can be seen around the campus on the top branches of tall trees, but sensed more through its calls.

Koel is a large, long-tailed, cuckoo at 45 cm. The male is bluish-black, with a pale green bill, rich red eyes, and grey legs and feet (Pic on Top). The female is brownish above and whitish below, but is heavily striped and spotted brown on the underparts and white on the upperparts (Next pic). She has an olive or green beak and red eyes.
Commonly found throughout the subcontinent, Koel is a bird of light woodland and cultivation.
It is a brood parasite, and lays its single egg in the nests of a variety of birds, including Jungle Crow and House Crow. The young Koel does not always evict its host's chicks, and initially calls like a crow. The adult koels however may not be leaving their offspring alone entirely.
Koels are very vocal, with a number of different calls.

Koel is omnivorous, consuming a variety of insects, caterpillars, eggs and small vertebrates. Adults predominanty feed on fruit. It has occasionally been known to take eggs of small birds.

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Koel
See Video

Crow

2008-06-29T11:13:00.004+05:30

How can we miss this bird? :( The bird must have been the first bird to come to XLRI campus after it was established. This bird has habit of following humans and staying close to their habitat.

We have been reading stories about intelligence of crow in various of our childhood books like Aesop fables and Panchatantra. It was the thirsty crow who put pebbles in the pot so that he could drink water. Research also shows similar results. Crow score very high avian IQ. Crow is a social animal and lives in groups. When it finds any food, it calls for other crows. A sharing behaviour which sanskrit poets were impressed and have created verses telling difference between greedy human and a Crow. Read for more about research on crow intelligence, language and culture

Crows make a wide variety of calls or vocalizations. Whether the crows' system of communication constitutes a language is a topic of debate and study. Crows have also been observed to respond to calls of other species. Some of the many vocalizations that crows make are a "caw", usually echoed back and forth between birds, a series of "caws" in discrete units, counting out numbers, a long caw followed by a series of short caws, an echo-like "eh-aw" sound, and more. In many species, the pattern and number of the numerical vocalizations have been observed to change in response to events in the surroundings (i.e. arrival or departure of crows). Crows can hear sound frequencies lower than those that humans can hear, which complicates the study of their vocalizations. Loud, throaty "caw-aw-ah"'s are usually used to indicate hunger or to mark territory. When defending a nest site or food, crows will usually enlarge their crest feathers and hunch their shoulders to increase their size. Softer, gurgling sounds have also been observed as a sort of beckoning call, or a call of affection. These noises are emitted from within the throat of the bird, much like a cat's purring.

At XLRI, Common crow is the speces commonly found. Jungle crow is the other species spotted near Jamshedpur. Jungle crow is bigger in size and completely black. While common crow would have slightly gray region around its head or neck region.

Cattle Egrets

2008-06-27T21:48:00.004+05:30

Widespread resident of India. We also know them as बगला. Generally from XLRI campus you can see them in flight. Else they could be seen near the lake in Jubliee park or water canals behind football ground. During breeding season, there nests could be spotted in trees around the faculty houses.

Interestingly, Cattle Egret is an opportunistic feeder, and will follow large animals or machines to catch insects they stir up. It also is attracted by smoke from a large fire. Egrets come from long distances to catch insects trying to escape the fire.

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, often accompanying 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.

This species has a large range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 10 million square kilometres (3.8 square miles). Its global population estimated to be 3.8–6.7 million individuals.

Ref:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Cattle_Egret.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_Egret

Indian Pond Heron

2008-06-27T21:33:00.003+05:30

The Indian Pond Heron is found commonly throughout the Indian subcontinent. This is a very common species in India, where it is often quite tame and easily approachable. It be seen around XLRI campus near the Jayanti Sarovari in Jubliee park or near banks of Subernarekha river or near water canals around the foodball ground. This is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings.

Pond herons feed on a diet of insects, fish and amphibians. One usually finds the bird standing all hunched up at a far corner of a water body. It watches and waits patiently till the time the prey comes within reach. The moment this happens, the prey is pulled out in a flash.

See video

Red Wattled Lapwing

2008-06-27T20:58:00.008+05:30

Hindi local names: titeeri, titai, titori

The Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), is sometimes called the 'did-he-do-it bird' due to its unmistakable call.. Very common in the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found not exactly in the XLRI campus but at the near by Jubilee Park lake.

Red-wattled Lapwings are about 35 cm long. 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.

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. 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. 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.

Nesting Season: mainly March to August-September. Has a preference for marshes and similar freshwater wetland habitats. Lays eggs in a ground scrape or depression sometimes ringed around with a few goat droppings or pebbles. About 3-4 black-blotched buff eggs shaped a bit like a peg-top, 42x30 mm on average. Nests are difficult to find since eggs and nest usually match the ground to perfection.

Diet: Ants, Beetles, Caterpillars, and other insects, snails and other invertebrates, mostly picked from the ground. Also a quantity of vegetable matter. Feeds in the day as well as night.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-wattled_Lapwing

See Video

Hear call

Common Coot

2008-06-27T20:28:00.008+05:30

A Migratory bird, which comes from as far as Europe to India in winters and can be seen at freshwater lakes and ponds.

Not exactly in the XLRI campus, but very nearby, it can be seen at Jubilee Park Lake during the winters.

The Coot is 36-42 cm long, and is largely black except for the white facial shield (which gave rise to the phrase "as bald as a coot"). As a swimming species, the Coot has partial webbing on its long strong toes.

It is reluctant to fly and when taking off runs across the water surface with much splashing. They do the same, but without actually flying, when traveling a short distance at speed in territorial disputes. As with many rails, its weak flight does not inspire confidence, but on migration, usually at night, it can cover surprisingly large distances. It bobs its head as it swims, and makes short dives from a little jump.

The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult black plumage develops when about 3-4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old, some time later.

The Coot is an omnivore, and will take a variety of small live prey including the eggs of other water birds. This is a noisy bird with a wide repertoire of crackling, explosive or trumpeting calls, often given at night.

See Video

White Throated Kingfisher

2008-06-27T18:29:00.003+05:30

After common kingfisher, White Throated Kingfisher is another specie of kingfisher found in campus. Though this specie is widespread across the country, around XLRI campus it could be located near the Jayanti Sarovar in Jubliee park or you can hear its distinctive call.

This 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. In flight, large white patches are visible on the blue and black wings. White-throated Kingfisher has a striking display in which the wings are spread to show the white patches.

Click to hear the call

Common Kingfisher

2008-06-02T11:17:00.004+05:30

A bird which happens to have lost its identity, especially with XLRI MBA students. Its beer or airlines, which one recalls from the name.

Kingfisher is mostly visitor to the campus during rains. Common Kingfisher could be spotted on tree tops along the stretch of Faculty residence and Tata Auditorium. This bird is widespread in Asia. In India, the bird species can be spotted near water bodies. While travelling by bus or train, look for this bird on electirc or telephone wires near rivers or lakes. The bird has a distinguished long beak and harsh call.

The flight of the Kingfisher is rapid, the short rounded wings whirring until they appear a mere blur. You might have seen Kingfishers shown on Discovery, hovering over the water and then suddenly taking plunge in water, emerging with fish in its beak.

Common Swift

2008-04-19T18:11:00.006+05:30

Common Swift can be sighted on the cricket ground of corporative college adjacent to XLRI. Is visible through out the year.

It is a slender small black bird of size 15 cm. swifts have a characteristic shape, with a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang.

The bird feeds on insects. This bird is found in most habitats in India near human habitation. Frequents old forts, deserted houses and ruined buildings.

Swifts are called birds without feet since swifts have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead on vertical surfaces.Swifts are the most aerial of birds and can even sleep and mate on the wing.

Swifts look very similar to Swallows, but the difference being Swifts are social bird and are seen in big groups while Swallows are solitary birds.

Hindi Name - Ababeel, Babeela (अबाबील बबीला)

See Video

House sparrow

2008-04-06T09:24:00.004+05:30

This bird needs no introduction. Ever since your childhood, you have grown up with this bird. May be because of this too much of encounter with this bird, we do not have much respect for it. Probably this is the reason we don't realize that this bird is very rapidly vanishing. Research shows that this bird has paid price of its closeness with humans. Electromagnetic radiations from mobile towers is resulting in decline of house sparrows.

Some research:

A possible effect of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone base stations on the number of breeding house sparrows (Passer domesticus). (read more)
Missing 10 million House sparrows (read more)
The urban decline of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus): a possible link with electromagnetic radiation. (read more)
Mobile phones and vanishing birds (read more)

House sparrows are very common in our XLRI campus. Hundreds of them reside in the Ashoka trees in JLT. As they start from home early dawn or return back to tress at dusk, you would find surrounding echoing with the voices of hundreds of sparrows.

Pariah Kite

2008-04-06T08:46:00.004+05:30

A bird which you might be very much aware. Can also be see circling and soring in skies even in urban areas. A dark brown kite found throughout the country. It is very easily distinguished by the shallow 'v-shaped' tail. Interestingly the scientific name of Pariah Kite is Milvus migrans govinda. No idea what it means by govinda.

Go to any of our hostel terrace, you ought to spot one. Few nests of Pariah Kite were spotted on huge trees near Faculty houses.

Rufous Turtle Dove

2008-03-14T02:50:00.005+05:30

The Rufous Turtle Dove or is a pigeon like bird which is found in moist deciduous biotope and mixed forests across subcontinent. Quite rrely seen near Wormi-compost park area near XLRI, mostly on top of some dry tall tree.

Size of the bird is around 33 cm, appears like a pigeon and quite round and puffed in build. Head, neck and back brown tinged with vinous; on each side of the neck a patch of black feathers tipped with bluish-grey; sides of the wings blackish with broad ferruginous borders giving a scaled appearance; quills brown with pale edges; lower back and rump slaty-grey; upper tail- coverts brown; tail blackish-brown, all, except the central pair of feathers, tipped with slaty-grey; lower plumage vinous, paler on the chin and throat; wing lining and a patch under the tail dark slaty-grey. Iris orange; eyelids pale blue with red edges; bill brown, vinous at base ; legs vinous red, claws black. The tail is rather long and graduated.

Note: The uploaded image is that of Oriental Rufous Turtle Dove, which looks quite similar to indian cousin.

Reference:
Waders

Indian Roller

2008-03-11T21:31:00.004+05:30

Indian Roller or commonly known as Blue Jay is not so commonly seen in and around XLRI campus. Though this bird is widespread across India. It has also got the status of State bird for states of Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh (did you know that!?)

This 13 inch bird has a harsh crow like call [hear call]. When it takes flight it displays its bright blue colour of its wings- this is where it earns its name Blue Jay. In India it is also called Neelkanth (blue throat - name it shares with Lord Shiva). Though actually thorat is lilac or purple in colour,

This is a common bird of warm open country with some trees. These rollers often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires (can be seen frequently while traveling by bus or train), whilst watching for the large insects, lizards and frogs that they eat.

Interestingly around february, the males perform ornate sexual displays as they fly upward, then roll and fall through the air while wildly flapping their wings and screaming harshly. This is how they earned the name roller.

Wagtail

2008-03-11T19:23:00.007+05:30

White Wagtail is commonly sighted in XLRI campus during winters. The bird can be seen even in JLT, particularly when grass wet. The bird got its name because it runs about near water waging its tail rather than fly. It is a very active bird and not at all shy, so its a real pleasure to watch it from close distance.

It is a slender bird, around 19 cm in length. It feeds on insects. It breeds in Himalaya and basically a winter visitor. The call is a combination of short sweet whistles. [hear call]

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_wagtail
See Video

Green Bee-eater

2008-03-11T17:08:00.009+05:30

Green Bee-eater are common across sub-continent. This species is found in a variety of habitats with some trees and open country. They can be spotted sitting on electric lines in and around XLRI campus. The electric line along with main road of adjacent science college is the ideal place to spot Green Bee-eater, where they can be seen in a group of 20-30. Their fly catching skills are worth watching and their restless nature makes them a pleasure to see.

The bird is small, slender, around 16-18 cm in length. There are many species of Bee-eater. It catches insects in the air and brings them back to perch to eat. For nesting, it digs tunnels on mud banks. Green Bee-eaters can be identified by their distince long, nectar plucking beak.

Their call is a series of short sweet whistles. [hear call]

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Green_Bee-eater
See Video

Hoopoe

2008-03-10T18:35:00.005+05:30

Hoopoe can be spotted occasionally in the campus. This bird had been spotted around the fountains and lawns. Its habitat is open cultivated ground with short grass or bare patches. They spend much time on the ground hunting insects and worms.

It is 25–29cm long. This black, white and pink bird is quite unmistakable, especially in its erratic flight. The crest is erectile, but is mostly kept closed. The song is a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop", which gives rise to its English and scientific names.

There is mention of Hoopoe in Greek mythology, Quran and Chinese poetries. This shows how widespread this bird is.

Drongo

2008-03-10T18:34:00.004+05:30

Drongo can be easily spotted with its black colour and broken tail. The common specie found at XLRI is the Black Drango. Drongo can be found around JLT. It is about 25-30 cm in length.

Drongos are widespread across the country. They are aggressive birds, and it is not unusual to see one or two of them chasing a (much larger) crow or kite. They feed on insects, flower nectar and also occasionally on small birds.
[hear call]

Reference:
Wikipedia

Coppersmith Barbet

2008-03-09T10:21:00.020+05:30

Coppersmith Barbet is widespread across India. In XLRI campus, sightings are frequent. However you may hear their call often.

Large trees around the Bodhi Tree and backside of Learning Centre is good place to spot them. They are also spotted around the dumping area back side of Faculty houses.

The Coppersmith is brightly coloured, with a black-bordered yellow face with black eye stripes, red forecrown and throat patch. The beak or bill is stout and dark. It is 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.

It is generally found alone or in pair or small groups. Loves parting on fruit trees and chances of spotting them are abundant around Ficus trees (Banyan, Umbar, etc). They are fond of sunning themselves in the morning on bare top branches of tall trees, often flitting about to sit next to each other. So the best time to spot them is in the morning from GH1 or GH3 terrace.

The call is a loud rather metallic tuk…tuk…tuk (or tunk) [hear call], just like a copper sheet being beaten, giving the bird its name. Repeated monotonously for long periods, starting with a subdued tuk and building up to an even volume and tempo, the latter varying from 1.5 to 2 per second.

The beak remains shut during each call - a patch of bare skin on both sides of the throat inflates and collapses with each tuk like a rubber bulb, with much body and tail shaking. It is one of India's most familiar sounds in the hot season.

Crow Pheasant

2008-03-09T10:21:00.018+05:30

Crow Pheasant or also know as भरद्वाज - Bharadwaj is occasionally sighted in XLRI campus. [hear call 1 2] The bird is quite shy and seen in dense shorter trees. It is member of cuckoo family and also known as Greater Coucal. It is a widespread resident in India and other parts of south east asia. It found in wide range of habitats from jungle to cultivation. It nests in a bush. A nest of Crow phesant was spotted in the bushes near the JUSCO compost pit road in Jubliee park.

The bird is quite large around 48 cm. Its head and body are purple black, the wings are chestnut above and black below, and the long tail is dark green. The bird feeds on wide range of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates. It occasionally eats other food items.

The call is that of most cuckoos is a simple repetition, in this case of a deep booming note.

The resonant call, as if arising from within an earthen pot, is the sound of this chestnut bird. ........... Kalpadrukosh [1]

Sunbird

2008-03-09T10:21:00.017+05:30

[hear call]
Sunbirds are abundant across India. This species is found in a variety of habitats with some trees, including forest and cultivation. They can be spotted around parks and XLRI campus with many trees and Jubliee park in the vicinity is ideal place to spot a sunbird.

The bird is very small and smaller than sparrow, only 10 cm long. There are many species of sunbird. One very common and also found in XLRI is the Purple sunbird (see photo). Sunbirds can be identified by their distince long, nectar plucking beak. They have medium-length thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding. Generally found on tree tops and morning time ideal to spot them.

These birds feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Flight is fast and direct on their short wings. Most species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed most of the time.

Their call is a humming zit zit.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_Sunbird
See video

Bulbul

2008-03-09T10:20:00.018+05:30

You must have heard about bulbul so often. Bulbuls are abundant in our campus too (pun intended ;) ). In XLRI we can spot the common bulbul and red whiskered bulbul very often. At morning, if you happen to hear sweet bird calls, just like some one whistling, it quite sure that it had been a bulbul. [hear call]

Two speicies of bulbul which are common in XLRI are the Red vented Bulbul and the Red Whiskered bulbul.

Red vented bulbul in India are known as singer bird, one reason is definitely their call which is sweet and as if one is whistling a song. The bird also looks like a musician with turban on top of head - the crest. The red vented bulbul has a distinct red spot just below its tail - vent region. This makes them easy to identify while their flight. This is a bird of scrub, open forest, plains and cultivated lands. It is about 20cm in length, with a long tail. It feeds on fruit, nectar and insects.

Red-whiskered Bulbul is about 20cm (7 inches) in length. It has brown upper-parts and whitish underparts with buff flanks and a dark spur running onto the breast at shoulder level. It has a tall pointed black crest, distinct red face patch and thin black moustachial line. The tail is long and brown with white terminal feather tips, but the vent area is red just like its cousin - Red vented bulbul. (see video)

Oriental Magpie Robin

2008-03-09T10:20:00.017+05:30

[hear call]
Oriental magpie-robin would be frequently seen in the JLT or admin building lawns. It is an insectivorous species and found in open woodland, cultivated areas and around human habitation. This species is 19cm long, including the long cocked tail. The male (left photo) has black upperparts, head and throat apart from a white shoulder patch. The underparts and the sides of the long tail are white. Females (right photo) are grey above and grayish white.

This bird is common and known as tame bird. It is terrestrial, hopping along the ground with cocked tail. The male sings loud melodic notes from the top of a perch during the breeding season.

It is also known as dayal bird and during Hong Kong bird flu virus break, this bird was also infected.

Spotted Dove

2008-03-09T10:20:00.016+05:30

The Spotted Dove or known as the Spotted Turtle Dove, is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in tropical India and frequently seen at XLRI.

It is a long-tailed, slim pigeon, ranging in length from 28 to 32 centimetres (11.2 to 12.8 inches). Its back, wings and tail are pale brown, heavily spotted with buff. In flight, it shows blackish flight feathers bordered on the inner edge with pale grey.

There is a distinct black neck patch finely spotted with white which gives this dove its name. The call is a low and gentle coo-coo-croo, with the emphasis on last note. The call occasionally is "coo-coo krrroo, krook!" [hear call](Imagine you are dense jungle along at night and you hear this call :) )

Spotted Doves eat grass, seeds, grain and other vegetation. They are fairly terrestrial, foraging on the football ground in XLRI.
[ Images ]

Parakeet

2008-03-09T10:19:00.003+05:30

Rose ringed parakeet is very common in XLRI campus. Probably you are confused with the name. Here I am talking about what you know as parrots. Infact, it would be wrong to call them parrots, however they are known as parrot / tota / popat.

These species have adopted themselves with human habitat and are very common in many cities. They have a distinct red ring in their neck hence they are also Indian Ring-Necked Parakeet/Parrot. They measure on average 40 cm (16 inches) long.

This bird is so common that it doesn't need more introduction.

One other species cousin to this, is the blossom headed parakeet. Though it is a rare visitor to the campus, it doesnt have a rose ring, instead a purple patch on head. They have a distinct call as tweek tweeek; hence known as tweekers. While rose ringed parakeets call is bit harsh.

Indian Tree Pie

2008-03-07T23:42:00.001+05:30

If you happen to hear a polyphonic sound, keep a watch on the nearby tree tops. You may find this bird.

This bird is also known as Handi Chacha and is of size about 46-50 cm when fully grown.

Click here to hear the sound of Tree pie.

This long-tailed chestnut-brown bird, with sooty head and neck has a black-tipped tail and grayish-white wing patches noticeable in flight. At flight, it makes a swift noisy flapping followed by a short glide on outspread wings and tail.

It is widely seen in scrub jungles. The bird eats fruits, insects, lizards, frogs, centipedes and even carrion, in addition to the eggs and helpless young of birds and rodents. Nesting season is from February to July.

This bird could be traced on the big trees along the roads in campus. Probably, GH1 or Admin building terrace is good place to spot this bird.

Common Myna

2008-03-07T23:25:00.001+05:30

Common Myna is the most popular bird in our campus.

Read more about Common Myna at Wikipedia - click here

Other Myna specie which can also be seen is the Pied Myna. (Pied suggests Black and white).

See Wikipedia article to read more about Pied Myna

Most common places where this bird can be seen is in Lawns of JLT and Learning Centre. Mynas have adopted their lifestyle in proximity of human beings. Hence not a surprise when you see a myna coming through your hostel window to find something to eat.

Common Myna is supposed to have be native to India and is called the “Farmer’s Friend” because it eats insects that destroy crop plants. Mynas in India are also regarded as symbols of undying love, because they often pair for life and maina is also sometimes used as a term of endearment for young girls.

Common Indian Mynas and some other species of myna, particularly Indian Hill Mynas, Gracula religiosa, are accomplished mimics and can learn to talk. For this reason mynas have been taken to many parts of the world as cage birds. For more information see the Mynah bird home page: http://www.mynahbird.com

Interestingly, Common Mynas were brought to Melbourne in 1862 to control insect pests in market gardens, but even though they were not successful at this, they were taken from Melbourne to many other places in Australia, including north Queensland, where it was thought they would control insect pests of sugar cane. Its success is mostly a result of its opportunistic behaviour and aggressiveness towards other species, bullying them around food sources and out competing them for nesting sites. The voice is unpleasant: a collection of growls and other harsh notes. Read about research on Mynas in Australia.

Common Mynas are accomplished scavengers, feeding on almost anything, including insects, fruits and vegetables, scraps, pets' food and even fledgling sparrows. During the breeding season, normally from October to March, there is usually considerable competition for nesting sites. Favoured locations are in the walls and ceilings of buildings, making these birds a nuisance to humans. Nests are also placed in tree hollows, which are used by native birds. Nests are quite messy and consist of a variety of materials. Leaves, grasses, feathers and assorted items of rubbish are common materials.

Violent battles often erupt between occupants of nesting sites and the couple that wish to evict them. Each partner grapples with its opposite number and contestants drop to the ground secured in each other's claws. Bills are jabbed ruthlessly at the opponent. Finally, the defeated couple leaves to search for another site