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A collection of observations of the feathered
bipeds resident and visiting India
More bird behaviour, facts and images in the individual pages...
In the Chronology:
• Pallas's Fish Eagle on 28th Apr, 2008
• Kaziranga FBR on 19th April, 2008
• Layout modified with lots of Object Oriented Programming for Nameri FBR on 31st Mar, 2008, comments welcome; webmaster at birdpoints dot com
• White-browed Shortwing on 27th Mar, 2008
• Blue-winged Minla on 20th Mar, 2008
• New Indonesian Bird Species (under World-wide Ornithology) on 17th Mar, 2008
• White-rumped Vulture on 13th Mar, 2008
• Pallid Harrier on 10th Mar, 2008
• Wallcreeper on 28th Feb, 2008
•Web
submissions, updated on 22nd Feb, 2008

Pallas Sea Eagle is a common and permanent resident. There is not a jhil of
any pretensions in the Division that is not frequented by a pair or two of these
Eagles, nor a river that cannot boast of their presence. Nevertheless it has,
in my opinion, little title to he considered a Fishing Eagle. It seldom, as
a rule, attempts...
Ried,
George 1881. The Birds of the Lucknow Civil Division. Stray Feathers
X: 2-88.

Again I have 338.- Brachypteryx cruralis, Bly., from the Khasi hills and Shillong,
but never met with it in Manipur, nor do I know of its having been found elsewhere
in Assam, Sylhet, Cachar or British Burmah, though Ramsay obtained it just outside...
Hume,
A.O. 1888. Detailed list of Species observed in Manipur, together with notices
of all other Species observed in Assam, Sylhet and Cachar. Stray Feathers
XI: 1-353.

This very pleasingly plumaged Leiothrix is found in the Himalayas
from Nepal to Bootan, and also in the hills of Assam. It is common
near Darjeeling, from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, being...
Jerdon, T.C. 1862. The Birds Of India. Vol I, II & III.

They are to be found about their nests from December to March. I have seen fully-fledged
young in a nest in the first week in March. The nests are generally placed on
Peepul trees, but even the toddy palm tree is sometimes chosen. One nest, which...
Cripps, J.R. 1878. First List of the Birds of Furreedpore, Eastern Bengal. Stray Feathers VII: 248-315.

The Pale Harrier
is only a cold weather visitor, but a very common one. It arrives
as early as September and leaves as late as the end of April, though
the majority may be said to leave about the end of March...
Ried,
George 1881. The Birds of the Lucknow Civil Division. Stray Feathers
X: 2-88.

Bill and claws black; feet black, tinged with brown; irides dark brown. The
sixth and seventh primaries have the spot on the inner webs golden yellow. Mr.
Hodgson gives a figure of this species in which the yellow spots on the wings
are pro-minently shown, but he says:- "Golden drops of alars often wanting."
The Wall-Creeper was found in winter only, in the Nawakot district, the valley of Nepal, and the Markhu Valley, but not in any great numbers. It frequented the rocky sides of streams, and boulders along their course.
Scully,
J. 1879. A contribution to the ornithology of Nepal. Stray Feathers
VIII: 204–368.

Sparingly distributed along the entire
coast.
[This bird, though not rare, is yet not common. It is found
everywhere along and near the coast in Tenasserim, but never except
singly or in pairs, more frequently I think in pairs. I have seen
it going up the Rangoon River as well as off Moulmein, and in many
places along tile coast. A pair used to frequent the harbour at Mergui,
and many a weary hour have I spent in futile attempts to circumvent
them.
Early in the morning as the fishing boats came in, accompanied
by sundry Sterna bergii, Gelochelidon anglica and sometimes a specimen
or two of Xema bruneicephala, these two eagles would swoop down...
Hume,
A.O. & Davidson, W. 1878. A Revised List of the Birds of Tenasserim.
Stray Feathers VI: 1-496.

Upper mandible brownish black; lower mandible fleshy brown, greyish horny at
base; irides light to dark brown, sometimes reddish brown; feet fleshly buff;
claws pale brown horny. The sexes hardly differ in colour. The upper surface
is tinged with olive; the moustache is darker in the breeding season (being
then nearly black) than in winter; the lores are dark brown; and there is a
conspicuous ring of white feathers round the eye; the flanks are pale olivaceous
streaked with white.
The Yellow-naped Flowerpecker is common, and a permanent resident
on the hills round the valley of Nepal; it is also tolerably common
in the upper part of the Chitlang Valley in winter. It is found at
an elevation of not more that 5,000 feet in winter, but in summer
it is only met with at elevations from 7,000 to 8,000 feet; it does
not occur in the central part of the Great Valley.
Scully,
J. 1879. A contribution to the ornithology of Nepal. Stray Feathers
VIII: 204–368.

I shot at the beginning of 1872 two specimens of a Pratincola, (probably female,
the sex was unfortunately not determined), which appears to be distinct from
any other yet known. General plumage, above dull brown, all the feathers margined
with pale isabelline or fulvescent whitish, most broadly on scapulars and tertials,
narrowly on the quills; upper tail-coverts nearly uniform pale fulvescent or
sandy only along the centre of a darker hue. Central tail feathers brown, the
succeeding also brown and very pale rufescent fulvous about the basal half of
both webs, (not along the shafts), the rufescent colour gradually, not abruptly,
passing into the brown; outer web of last tail feather wholly sandy or pale
fulvescent white, and all have pale tips which easily wear off. Lores and supercilium
sandy white; ears dusky. Lower plumage fulvescent white throughout, with a slight
shade of cream colour; all the feathers on their basal halves are dark slaty,
which is also the case on the upper plumage.
Bill and feet nearly quite black...
1
1. The original description by Dr. F. Stoliczka - ED
Stoliczka, Dr. Ferdinand 1872. The Journal of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal. 41: 238.

Referring to my remarks, ante Vol IV., p.15, relative to the separation of
the males and females of this species in the cold weather. I may
mention that it has since occurred to me that the females may assume
the plumage of the males after breeding, which would account for
the number of what I imagined to be males found congregated separately
in the cold weather. The young birds of the year are all in the
same plumage at first, viz., that of the male, as I flushed several
broods last rains and verified the fact myself. The sentence "I
have shot a large number of females without flushing a male"
should be expunged, as I find on reference to my game books that
all of the birds alluded to were in the garb of the male. This tends
to support the suggestion I have now brought forward, and it remains
to be decided whether the gaudy dress of the female Painted Snipe
is seasonal or not...
Butler,
E.A. 1877. The Avifauna of Mount Aboo and North Guzerat. Addenda.
Stray Feathers V: 207-236.

Common in the cold weather on the mud and sedge banks of the tidal
creeks and wet paddy fields. At high tide, when the mud flats are
covered, these Plovers congregate in largish flocks, and after circling
round a few times often fly inland to the dry plains and uplands
where they pass their time till the receding tide again leaves their
feeding grounds accessible.
Vidal,
G.W. 1880. A First List of the Birds of the South Konkan. Stray
Feathers IX: 1–96.

Sykes' Warbler is found all through India, frequenting low jungles, groves,
hedges, gardens and trees near villages, and also among fields.
It is lively and active, hopping about the branches, and capturing
various insects, occasionally on the wing but generally on the leaves
or branches. It has a rather harsh chuckling note, which it incessantly
utters on being approached, and it usually endeavours to hide itself,
creeping to the further side of the tree.
Jerdon, T.C. 1862. The Birds Of India. Vol I, II & III.

It is found throughout the greater part of India, except the more moist
and wooded portions. It is unknown on the Malabar Coast, and in
Lower Bengal, and does not extend into the Indo-Chinese countries.
It prefers the dry open plains, and cultivated land, especially
if there are hills near. It is rather rare in the Carnatic, but
very abundant in the Deccan, in Central India, and the upper plains
of India above Monghyr. Till an hour or two after sunrise it may
be seen seated on the top of some tree, and in the very centre,
and nearly concealed from view; after which...
Jerdon, T.C. 1862. The Birds Of India. Vol I, II & III.

Male: Bill black; irides dark brown; feet dark horny brown; claws black.
Female: Bill black; gape fleshy whitish; irides dark brown; feet dingy brownish.
This specimen differs from the males in being browner above, with
the frontal band narrower; and the colours of the under surface
are less intense.
The Orange-gorgeted Flycatcher is not common in the Nepal Valley. I
obtained it in March, in the thorny rose-hedges, about the Residency
grounds; and towards the end of May it was found on the Sheopuri
Ridge, at about 7,000 feet, solitary or in pairs, in thick small-tree
forest where the ground was very damp.
Scully,
J. 1879. A contribution to the ornithology of Nepal. Stray Feathers
VIII: 204–368.
Previous entries...
This fine Barbet is common in the valley of Nepal throughout the year. It inhabits...
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Great Barbet
The Bengal Sirkeer is a permanent and fairly common resident, but is also...
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Sirkeer Malkoha
An Alaudula, which I believe to be raytal, is very common...
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Sand Lark
A permanent resident, widely spread throughout the country, and breeding in...
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Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
This pretty little Fantail is found in Nepal, Sikhim and Bootan. It affects...
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Yellow-bellied fantail
The Indian Grey Shrike is common in the plains, but does not occur, that I am
aware of, on the hills...
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Southern Grey Shrike
The Kokla Greeen Pigeon is spread throughout the Himalayas, extending into
the hilly regions of Assam and Sylhet...
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Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon
I never saw this about the capital or in the central part of the basin, but I met with it at
the edges of this along...
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Speckled Piculet
There is but little to be said about the habits of this species; it is...
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Isabelline Shrike
Probably arrives and leaves about the same dates as the next species...
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Little Stint
S. deserti was common to a degree throughout...
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Desert Wheatear
Very scarce in most parts of Manipur and...
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Grey Heron
Very common below 6,000 feet in winter, disappearing...
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Bar-tailed Treecreeper
It has only been found in the Himalayas, frequenting...
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Crested Kingfisher
It feeds less exclusively perhaps on grain than...
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Sarus Crane
The Red-crested Pochard arrives rather late...
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Red-crested Pochard
I never met with this in either the Eastern...
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Yellow-bellied Prinia
This little species though found throughout...
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Temminck's Stint
It is found throughout the Himalayas...
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Blue-throated Flycatcher
As to habits: - I have never as yet met them...
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Sind Sparrow
The black-bellied finch-lark is very plentiful. It...
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Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark
Several nests in the month of Jun, all...
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Scaly-bellied Woodpecker
Like captain Feilden (S.F. III, p.26) I have found...
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Changeable Hawk Eagle
This handsome bird, like that last...
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Pheasant-tailed Jacana
The Courier-plover is found throughout the...
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Indian Courser
The Shikra is very common throughout the...
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Shikra
Towards dusk and early morning, and throughout...
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Spotted Owlet
The White eyed Buzzard is common at all...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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Collared Owlet
The common grey hornbill is fairly abundant in...
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Indian Grey Hornbill
Very abundant in the grass plains west of the canal. It...
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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
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