Coloration. Central coronal streak, supercilium, sides of the head, and the whole lower plumage yellow suffused with an ochraceous tinge; lores and behind the eye dusky; upper plumage and margins of wings and tail clear greenish yellow; tips to greater wing-coverts pale yellow and distinct; tips to median-coverts greenish yellow and less distinct.;...

In winter the cap is white, streaked with black, aud the lower parts white. According to Hume the winter plumage is not assumed till December, and is only retained for about two months. Very young birds have broad buff outer and blackish inner borders to the feathers of the upper parts....

Food: Feeds on tiny morsels picked while probing near the marsh surface. Spiders (Araneida) and beetles (Coleoptera), were identified in diet samples (Schmidt et. al.). Not seen sallying for insects on the wing...

Differs in having the whole upper plumage greyish brown, with only the back streaked, the few traces of streaks visible on the crown being obscure or obsolete; the lateral black bands on the crown are broader and more massive;...

According to Mr. R. Thompson this Pigmy Woodpecker breeds in the dense forest districts of the bhabar and lower valleys of Kumaun in April and May, laying 4 or 5 eggs. The birds migrate into cultivated districts in winter...

This is a highly predatory species, living on squirrels, rats, and other small mammals, doves, pigeons, &c. It frequently carries away fowls, and Jerdon remarks that Kites are often unjustly credited with the depredations of this little Eagle on pigeons and poultry...

The Peregrine is seldom found far from water, and is most common on the sea-coast or near rivers and large swamps, doubtless from the abundance of its prey, which consists largely of ducks and waders; pigeons,...

The Bearded Vulture keeps to rocky hills and mountains, and is usually seen beating regularly over precipices and slopes with a steady sailing flight very like that of a Vulture. It occasionally soars also, and may be recognized at a great elevation by its pointed wings and long wedge-shaped tail...

I am inclined to think that this bird is resident on all the hill-ranges within its area of distribution, and merely descends to the adjoining plains in the winter.

Habits, &c. Breeds in the Himalayas in May and June up to 7000 feet at least....

Original description: Notes on various Indian and Malayan Birds, with Descriptions of some presumed new Species. By Edward Blyth, Curator to the Museum of the Asiatic Society.
5. Indicator xanthonotus, Nobis. (Golden-Backed Honeyguide). The discovery of this species...

H. sylvana.-Above clear brown, picked out marginally with clear rufous, as in the Larks; below rufescent, with narrowing central stripes; chin immaculate; a dark mustache; superciliary line pale; tail-feathers internally and laterally albescent; upper coverts prolonged and pointed, as in the Larks; bill sordid fleshy or horn; legs clear,...

Distribution. Nepal and Sikhim, extending to the Bhutan Doars and across the valley to Shillong. Godwin-Austen also records this species from the Megna river in Sylhet. In the British Museum there are specimens collected in the N.W. Himalayas by Pinwill, and in Kashmir by Jerdon....

Distribution. The whole of India as far east as Western Bengal, Ball recording this species from Manbhoom. It is found on the lower ranges of the Himalayas as far east as Sikhim. It extends to Ceylon, and is said to have occurred in the Andamans. It is absent from India from about the middle of May to the beginning of July, but is abundant at other times. It occurs over a considerable portion of Europe and Western and Central Asia...

The Demoiselle Crane appears early in October-often I think in September-generally in vast flocks, either flying in a straight line or in a line which the letter M. represents very well. Occasionally, but rarely, they will settle on large shallow jhils; but on the Chowka and Gogra at Byramghat they are often numerous, particularly during the very cold weather. They migrate in March, going, as they came, in immense flocks...

Coloration. Male. Head and neck all round, and upper breast, deep crimson; chin blackish; remainder of lower parts bright crimson behind an ill-marked white gorget; back, scapulars, and wing-coverts along forearm ferruginous-brown, brighter and more rufous on rump and upper tail-coverts; wings as in H. fasciatus; middle tail-feathers rich chestnut, black-tipped, the next two pairs black, with usually part of the outer web chestnut; outer three pairs black, with long white tips...

Habits, &c. The Great Indian Bustard is usually found singly or in twos or threes, more rarely in flocks, and it keeps chiefly to open dry country, especially wastes covered with low grass and scattered cultivation, or sandy ground with small bushes; it is never found in forests nor on hills, but it sometimes enters high grass...

Coloration. Upper plumage greyish brown, tinged with rufous on the upper tail-coverts and slightly streaked with blackish on the crown; tail brown margined with pale rufous, the outer web of the outer tail-feather entirely of this colour, the bases of all the feathers tinged reddish; wing-coverts and quills brown margined with pale fulvous, the inner web of all the quills largely pale rufous; lores brown; a ring round the eye and a line above and below the lores fulvous white; ear-coverts greyish brown; chin and throat pale fulvous white, with a few brown spots on the lower throat; remainder of lower plumage fulvous grey, with a few brown streaks on the breast; under wing-coverts and auxiliaries rufous...

Distribution. A winter visitor to the plains of India, ranging as Coloration. Male. Resembles male of P. grisea, but differs in having the forehead broadly white, the whole crown dark chocolate-brown or blackish, and the white of the ear-coverts produced narrowly round the hind neck to form a collar; the black sides of the neck are also produced as a collar over the mantle, immediately behind the white collar...

Habits, &c. Those of the family. The nesting does not appear to have been recorded within Indian limits, though there can be no doubt that this bird breeds in the Himalayas. In Europe it breeds about February or March, sometimes on cliffs, more often in trees;...

Distribution. A winter visitor to the plains of India, ranging as far east as about the longitude of Mudhupur on the E.I. Railway, where it meets P. superciliosus, and the two are found there together. It extends south to about the latitude of Belgaum. It is found throughout the Himalayas as far as Nepal, but it has not occurred in Sikhim...

The Grass-Babbler is not uncommon about Deesa in the rains at which season it breeds. I found a nest containing four eggs on the 18th August 1876. When the hen bird flew off I mistook her for Chatarrhoea caudata (Common Babbler, Turdoides caudata - ED). On looking, however, into the bush I saw at once by the eggs that it was a species new to me...

Coloration. Whole upper plumage, sides of the head and neck, chin, and throat umber-brown (deepest on the crest) shading off into pale brown on the lower plumage; every feather of the plumage, both upper and lower, the wing-coverts, and tertiaries with a long median white streak, the streaks larger but less defined on the abdomen and under tail-coverts; quills dark brown, the outer webs of the first few primaries hoary,...

Previous entries...

Size comparable to Shikra. Broad tail bars, dark and light bars have equal width.;...more Besra

Forehead and the sides of the head and neck rich brown with bright fulvous shaft-streaks; the whole upper...more Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler

To a casual observer these birds closely approximate to L. ridibundus in winter plumage;...more Slender-billed Gull

Forehead, crown, and nape chestnut; ear-coverts chestnut...more Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

It nests in holes in bank-sides, under tree-roots, or fallen tree-trunks...more Orange-flanked Bush Robin

Bill black; eyelids orange; irides dark brown; claws dusky;...more Mottled Wood Owl

This handsome Buzzard is found throughout all the northern and central parts of India...more Long-legged Buzzard

Distribution. Upper Assam, the Daphla and other hills to the northward, and the Naga hills to...more Pied Falconet

Coloration. Adult. Middle of crown and the long Spizaetus-like crest black;...more Jerdon's Baza

In habits the Broad-billed roller (Dollardbird - Ed) differs conspicuously from C. affinis. (Indian Roller 'affinis' - Ed)...more Dollarbird

This species was in considerable force at the Logtak lake;...more Spot-billed Pelican

Generally diffused throughout the forests of the western and Eastern Hills...more Maroon Oriole

765 Spizalauda Deva, Sykes. The Small Crown-crest...more Sykes's Lark

Nevertheless it has, in my opinion, little title to be considered a Fishing Eagle....more Pallas's Fish Eagle

Again I have 338.- Brachypteryx cruralis, Bly., from the Khasi hills and Shillong...more White-browed Shortwing

This very pleasingly plumaged Leiothrix is found in the Himalayas from Nepal to Bootan...more Blue-winged Minla

They are to be found about their nests from December to March...more White-rumped Vulture

The Pale Harrier is only a cold weather visitor, but a very common one. It...more Pallid Harrier

Bill and claws black; feet black, tinged with brown; irides dark brown...more Wallcreeper

This bird, though not rare, is yet not common. It is found everywhere along...more White-bellied Sea Eagle

Upper mandible brownish black; lower mandible fleshy brown, greyish horny at base; irides...more Whiskered Yuhina

I shot at the beginning of 1872 two specimens of a Pratincola which appears to be distinct....more Stoliczka's Bushchat

Relative to the separation of the males and females of this species in the cold weather...more Greater Painted-snipe

Common in the cold weather on the mud and sedge banks of the tidal creeks and ...more Pacific Golden Plover

Sykes' Warbler is found all through India, frequenting low jungles, groves...more Sykes's Warbler

It is found throughout the greater part of India, except the more moist and wooded...more Tawny Eagle

The Orange-gorgeted Flycatcher is not common in the Nepal Valley...more Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

This fine Barbet is common in the valley of Nepal throughout the year. It inhabits...more Great Barbet

The Bengal Sirkeer is a permanent and fairly common resident, but is also...more Sirkeer Malkoha

An Alaudula, which I believe to be raytal, is very common...more Sand Lark

A permanent resident, widely spread throughout the country...more Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

This pretty little Fantail is found in Nepal, Sikhim and Bootan. It affects...more Yellow-bellied fantail

The Indian Grey Shrike is common in the plains, but does not occur, that I...more Southern Grey Shrike

The Kokla Greeen Pigeon is spread throughout the Himalayas...more Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon

I never saw this about the capital or in the central part of the basin, but...more Speckled Piculet

There is but little to be said about the habits of this species; it is...more Isabelline Shrike

Probably arrives and leaves about the same dates as the next species...more Little Stint

S. deserti was common to a degree throughout...more Desert Wheatear

Very scarce in most parts of Manipur and...more Grey Heron

Very common below 6,000 feet in winter, disappearing...more Bar-tailed Treecreeper

It has only been found in the Himalayas, frequenting...more Crested Kingfisher

It feeds less exclusively perhaps on grain than...more Sarus Crane

The Red-crested Pochard arrives rather late...more Red-crested Pochard

I never met with this in either the Eastern...more Yellow-bellied Prinia

This little species though found throughout...more Temminck's Stint

It is found throughout the Himalayas...more Blue-throated Flycatcher

As to habits: - I have never as yet met them...more Sind Sparrow

The black-bellied finch-lark is very plentiful. It...more Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark

Several nests in the month of Jun, all...more Scaly-bellied Woodpecker

Like captain Feilden (S.F. III, p.26) I have found...more Changeable Hawk Eagle

This handsome bird, like that last...more Pheasant-tailed Jacana

The Courier-plover is found throughout the...more Indian Courser

The Shikra is very common throughout the...more Shikra

Towards dusk and early morning, and throughout...more Spotted Owlet

The White eyed Buzzard is common at all...more White-eyed Buzzard

This magnificent Grosbeak has been found...more Spot-winged Grosbeak

The Adjutant is found throughout the greater...more Greater Adjutant

The Yellow-wattled Plover is found throughout...more Yellow-wattled Lapwing

I give a short description of these specimens,...more Small Niltava

This Goose is very common in Central and Western...more Comb Duck

Very common. Appears to breed early in March, as...more Brown Dipper

Pennants Scops Owl is very common about Lucknow...more Collared Scops Owl

The Paradise flycatcher, though by no means common...more Asian Paradise-flycatcher

The Mangoe Bird or Indian Oriole, though a permanent...more Eurasian Golden Oriole

Extremely common all the winter, but goes higher about...more Rock Bunting

The following are the dimensions of three fine males...more Great Cormorant

The Wood Sandpiper is found throughout India during...more Wood Sandpiper

It is an excessively noisy bird, going about in parties...more Oriental Pied Hornbill

The Pied Kingfisher is exceedingly common on...more Pied Kingfisher

The Crested Honey Buzzard is fairly common about...more Oriental Honey-buzzard

Common at Mussoori, and at several other places...more Black-throated Tit

This pretty little owlet is found throughout the Himalayas...more Collared Owlet

The common grey hornbill is fairly abundant in...more Indian Grey Hornbill

Very abundant in the grass plains west of the canal. It...more Bluethroat

A writer in the Bengal Sporting Magazine states...more Pied Avocet

This fine duck is common, though nowhere...more Spot-billed Duck

"The Skylark is very common on the Nilghiris, and occurs...more Oriental Skylark