Category Archives: Birds

Steppe Eagle: Endangered Bird

By | December 13, 2020

Steppe Eagle is also known as Aquila nipalensis in the scientific language is a scavenger. This species breeds in Eastern European Russia from across Kazakhstan into Kyrgyzstan, China and Mongolia. Birds spend winter mainly in south and south-east Asia. The bird is placed in the Red List by IUCN in the endangered category. There are many… Read More »

Peafowls in our Neighborhood

By | December 11, 2020

Birds evolved from aquatic animals when some of these animals ventured on land to escape the competition for resources and perils from the mightier ones. Reptiles came into existence but even here some of them lost two limbs and grew feathers and became a airborne again to be at safety from marauders. They became tree… Read More »

Purple Sunbird: Beauty in Small Package

By | December 9, 2020

When winter gives way to spring season, the dormant nature wakes up. Every plant and tree begin to bear new leaves. There is a riot of flowers and many of the birds come back to gorge on flower nectar and other insects which also visit the flowers and plants. If you happen to be in… Read More »

Scaly Breasted Munia

By | December 5, 2020

There are grown up Ficus Shrubs with thick canopy of branches and leaves at the top in the small park outside our house. In the morning usually I sit up in the balcony and watch birds and green fields away. There are common birds to be seen dominated by the rock pigeons which are multiplying… Read More »

Shaheen Falcon 

By | December 4, 2020

There is a forest near my home. It is maintained by Department of Forests. The department has converted a small portion of the forest into a Nature Park. I am a regular visitor to this park where sometimes very different birds make their appearance. One day, I was lucky to spot this beauty perched on the… Read More »

Pigeons

By | November 21, 2020

In front of Gateway of India and Hotel Taj in Mumbai, there are hundreds of pigeons. The visitors scatter the seeds and they gobble these with insatiable appetite. They can eat literally from your palms. They are not scared by humans. In one of the visits, I also tried to sit amidst these birds. Here… Read More »

Greater Cormorants: Fishing Experts

By | November 9, 2020

During the winter months, a number of migratory birds visit India from the countries where winter is very severe and food availability becomes low. These annual visitors add colour to the season. Many of the migratory birds are water waders and land in the lakes , big pools and other water bodies. Amongst these are… Read More »

Savanna nightjar

By | November 2, 2020

Savanna Nightjar (Caprimulgus affinis) is a bird which is found in South East India. I was moving about in Ghaggar River in Panchkula. It was in the June month, scorching heat and dry. Bed of the river is almost dry- full of sand and pebbles. As I was descending a raised bank through the pebbles,… Read More »

The Sparrows

By | October 15, 2020

I grew up in a village. In my childhood days, there were lush green fields around our village. The land was very fertile and only animal manure was used to boost the crops. Water for irrigation came  from the canals and a schedule for distribution of water according to the area of land a farmer… Read More »

Oriental Honey Buzzard

By | October 14, 2020

It is also called Crested Honey Buzzard with scientific name as Pernis ptilorhynchus. It  is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles, and harriers. It is quite big raptor with a long tail. It’s head is very small like that of pigeon. It… Read More »