Common Birds

The House Crow and Myna, perhaps are the most common and abundant of birds. They have followed man everywhere and hence we see them around us always. There are many other common birds like pigeons, owls, kites, parakeets, bulbuls and cuckoos. Photographs of some common birds are presented here. Beginning from the left and going row wise, the birds are

01. Red-wattled Lapwing
02. Bee Eaters
03. Indian Myna
04. Brahminy or Blackheaded Myna
05. Redvented Bulbul
06. Barbet
07. Drongos
08. Common Pariah Kite
09. Male Purple Sun Bird in non-breeding plumage
10. Male Purple Sun Bird in breeding plumage
11. Peacock
12. Peahen
13. Hoopoe
14. Ring Dove
15. Roseringed Parakeet

The size of a dove, the Red-wattled Lapwing's presence is given away by its loud shrill call that sounds like Did-he-do-it or Pity-to-do-it, repeated frantically or gently depending on whether it is agitated or not.

One of the colourful birds, Bee Eaters are easily noticeable by their green colour and a pointed tail. They are acrobatic in flight and can catch flying insects.

A very familiar bird, the Indian Myna is a dark brown bird with a bright yellow bill and legs. The large white patch in its wings is clearly seen during flight.

The Brahminy or Blackheaded Myna has a typical Myna look but has a grey back and is reddish fawn coloured below. The striking feature of this bird is the glossy black crown and a long recumbent crest.

Redvented Bulbul can be easily identified by a crimson patch below the root of its tail. It is very common in gardens and light scrub jungles. Its call is very pleasant to hear.

Barbets are more often heard than seen. They make a very loud call kor-r-r-r or kutroo kutroo kutroo, resounding endlessly. These birds can be seen in wooded country groves and gardens even in populous cities.

Drongos cannot be missed because of their long, deeply forked tail. This glossy black bird is a familiar sight in open country and can be found perching on telegraph wires or around grazing cattle.

This Kite (Common Pariah Kite) is very common near human habitations and feeds on almost anything it can procure like winged termites, lizards, mice, earthworm, injured or young birds and so on. Identified easily by its curved beak, it is distinguished from other kites by a forked tail.

Purple Sun birds are tiny birds and can be spotted in gardens with nectar bearing flowers. The male and the female birds look different. The picture is of a male bird in non-breeding plumage. The female bird is similar but without the dark stripes--brown to olive-brown above and pale dull yellow below. The next picture is of a male Purple Sun Bird in breeding plumage.

The national bird of India, the peacock has a spectacular tail. These birds are commonly found in deciduous forests and dense scrubs but are a common sight in the northern plains.

The next picture is of a peahen with her young ones.

Hoopoe is a pretty fawn coloured bird with black and white zebra markings on the back, wings and tail. It has a conspicuous fan-shaped crest and a long slender gently curved bill.

A prominent narrow black half-collar or ring on the hindneck is the distinguishing feature of a Ring Dove.

Roseringed Parakeet. One of the most familiar of Indian birds. Often seen in large flocks. Very destructive to crops and orchard fruits, gnawing and wasting far more than actually eating.