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Blue Throated Barbet
Blue Throated Barbet (Megalaima asiatica) (Blue Throated Barbet near Palampur) Size(22-23cm): It is a medium-sized Barbet, a bit smaller than the Brown-Headed Barbet. Area: Only Himalayas of India, Nepal and Bhutan. Habitat: They can be found simply anywhere in the Himalayas. My two words: I cannot call this bird a ‘common sighting’ but at the […]
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Brown-Headed Barbet
Brown-Headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanicus) Size(25-28cm): It is a medium sized Barbet and is the most common one in India. Area: Almost all India except the Himalayas and is replaced by the White-Cheeked Barbet in the Western Ghats. Habitat: Gardens, parks, forests and anywhere there are trees. (Brown Headed Barbet on an Indian Gooseberry tree at my residence […]
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Barbets (Megalaimidae)
Barbets are small to medium-sized, pleasantly fat birds. They have a large head and bill. In comparison with other birds, barbets have a bulky bill. They feed mostly on figs and fruits but can also take to small insects – beetles, locusts, centipedes and even small lizards. The Great Barbet is the largest of the […]
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Black Crowned Night Heron
Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (adult Black Crown Night Heron in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur) Size(58-60cm): It is a small Heron but according to its size it is quite heavy. Area: All India till 2000m in Himalayas. Habitat: They can adjust simply anywhere around water-marshes, lakes, ponds and small streams. (immature Black Crowned Night Heron) My two words: The […]
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Indian Pond Heron
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) (Indian Pond Heron spend most of the day standing still close to water) Size(44-45cm): It is a small Heron almost the same size as that of the Little Heron. Area: This specific species of Heron can be found anywhere around India. Ranging from dry areas of Rajasthan to the wettest place on […]
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Little Heron
Little Heron (Butorides striata) (Little Heron usually rest on a branch near to water) Size(44-45cm): It is smaller than the previous Herons. Area: All India except Himalayas. Habitat: It can be found in marshes, ponds, lakes and riversides. My two words: It is a grey and metallic-green bird. They have bluish-grey back and dark green-black crown and forehead. Like the […]
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Purple Heron
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) (Adult bird during flight) Size(80-95cm): Purple Heron is a large wader, slightly smaller and slimmer than the Grey Heron. Habitat: It is quite evasive and prefers heavy vegetation near water where they could fish. Area: All India except Himalayas. (adult with its prey which it has pierced in the middle using its sharp, pointed […]
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Grey Heron
(Ardea cinerea)(Adult in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur) Size(80-100cm): It is a pretty large and handsome wader. (adult with crest visible) Habitat: Lakes, ponds, jheels, marshes, river banks. Area: All India till about 3900m in Ladakh. (adult in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur) My two words: Grey heron is ash grey above with long, white neck. There is […]
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Herons (Ardeidae)
They are long-legged waders that are found in wetlands. The Ardeidae family with Herons also includes Bitterns and Egrets but here I am going to talk solely about Herons. The main characteristics common in any species of Herons is that they have long legs and a long beak. They share many similarities with storks and […]
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Shikra
Shikra (Accipiter badius) (adult) Size(26-30cm):It is a small raptor bird which has short and rounded wings with a narrow tail. Area:Almost all India except higher areas of Jammu and Kashmir (above Jammu). Habitat:Prefers to live in mild forests and open country. Nowadays it’s becoming more common near human inhabitation. My two words:Shikra might sometimes be […]
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Oriental Magpie Robin
Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) (Adult female) Size(20-22cm): Magpie Robin is a small bird, just a bit smaller than the Jungle Babbler. Area: All India till about 1800m in Himalayas; not found in western Rajasthan and other hot and dry regions around. Habitat: It doesn’t really matter because they are seen everywhere- near homes, forests, gardens, parks etc. […]
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Black-winged Stilt
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) (adult) Size(33-36cm): Small wader with incredibly long legs (comparing to their body size). Area: Resident as well as migratory bird found all over India till about 1600m in Himalayas. Habitat: Its habitat is much similar to that of the Sarus Crane– Marshes, ponds, lakes and riversides. My two words: They have black and white […]
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Birding With Arjun 