Birds of India

ENVIS-Center
Bombay Natural History Society
 What are Birds?
• Warm blooded
animals – body
covered with feather –
which can fly, swim
and walk – lay eggs –
shows parental care
• They evolved from
dinosaurs millions of
years ago
• The first bird is called
as Archaeopteryx
 Some facts about the birds
• Birds are found all over the world - Antarctic and Arctic to
Deserts of Sahara and Kalhari, Tropical South America and
Africa to Himalayan forest and Pelagic islands

• They can tolerate extreme cold and extreme heat

• They migrate long distances – Arctic Tern trips from North

Pole to South Pole twice a year

• Some migrate non-stop over the oceans – Bar-tailed Godwit

• Some flies at very high altitude – Bar-headed Geese were

observed at an altitude of 20,000 feet above sea level
 Diversity of the Birds
• There are about 10,000 species of birds
found all over the world
• Of them 1400 species found in South Asia
• 1200 found in India
• 565 + found in Maharashtra
• 350 found in and around Mumbai
• According to our study there were 140 bird
species in New Mumbai
 Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii
• Very common bird
found near water
bodies
• Mainly feeds on fish,
frogs and aquatic
insects
• During breeding
season get very
attractive golden
plumage
Indian Shikra Accipiter badius
• One of the common
birds of prey found in
countryside and in
forests
• Feeds on small birds,
lizards and frogs
• Specialised hunter
and hunt the birds in
midair.
 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela

• One of the huge birds

of prey. Found mainly
in well wooded
streams in forests
• Specialised in killing
reptiles such as
snakes and larger
reptiles
• Build huge nests on
big trees
White-breasted Waterhen
Amaurornis phoenicurus
• Commonly found near
water in marshes and
swamps.
• Known for its chorus
call during breeding
season
• Its long legs and
fingers enable it to
walk on floating
vegetaion
 Barn Owl Tyto alba
• Wide spread through out
the world. Except
Antarctica and remote
pelagic islands

• Specialised rodent
hunter. 90% food
contains mice.

• Very common bird in

Mumbai
 Greater Coucal Centrops sinensis
• Very strong and effective
hunter feeds on various
types of animals such as
rats, lizards, frogs, insects
and small birds

• Member of cuckoo family

but makes its own nest
and takes care of the eggs
and offsprings

• Considered as good omen

if seen during morning
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala

• Common bird found in

gardens and well
wooded areas

• Famous for its typical

call from which it gots
its name

• Feeds especially on
fig fruits
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

• Found near water

bodies, streams, fields
and water logged areas
• Feeds on variety of
animals such as fish,
frogs, large insects,
lizards, small snakes etc.
• Known for its
magnificent colours and
patience for catching the
prey
 Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

• As the name suggests it

eats honey bees, wasps
dragonflies and other
insects.
• Most of the hunting is
carried out on wings
• They live in small flocks
and hunt together or
solitarily
• Very interesting roosting
behaviour – they sit in
closely tight flocks in
green leafy trees.
• Communal breeding sites
Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis

• Nests on Palmera
Palms
• Highly dependent on
palm and could have
co-evolved with it
• Feeds in air itself live
in large colonies
• Nests on palm in
colonies
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
• Local migrant to our
region during winters

• Small bird of prey feeds

on insects, frogs, lizards
and small birds

• Peculiar habit of hanging

the food remains on
thorny bushes – therefore
also called as Butcher
Bird
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus (somervillei)

• Live in groups of 7-9

birds. They are mainly
members of same
clan
• Hunt in groups feeds
on insects and berries
• Communal nesting
behaviour – 2-3
females lay eggs in
single nest
 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

• Commonly found in
well wooded and
moist areas.
• Feeds on fruits,
berries and
occasionally on
insects
• Famous for
Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica

• One of the beautiful

birds of India, found
every where
• Can be seen easily
over the flowers
sucking nectar
• Works as pollinator
for many flowering
plants
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile

• One of the smallest

birds of India
• Very active and agile
bird
• Very important factor
in forest ecosystem
works as pollinator for
many flowering plants
Oriental Magpie-robin Copsycus saularis

• One of the songster

birds of India
• Prefers wooded areas
• Feeds exclusively on
insects
• Male sings melodious
songs during
breeding season
 Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

• Commonly found in
forested areas.
• Famous for mimicking
calls of other birds
• Some times steals
food from other birds
by mimicking
predators call
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda

• Commonly found in
forests and well
wooded areas.
• Hunt in pairs of
parties
• Predator of chicks
and eggs of small
birds
Threatened Birds of India
 Why birds are threatened

• Habitat Destruction

• Expansion of Agriculture

• Rapid Industrialization

• Poaching and Trade

• Global Warming and Climate

Change
 Categories of threatened birds
- Extinct – not seen at least for 50 years
- Critically Endangered – likely to be extinct
- Endangered – high risk of extinction
- Vulnerable – risk of extinction
- Near threatened – close to vulnerable
- Least Concern – not qualify any of the above
- Data deficient – no information available
 Threatened Birds Scenario

Species World India

Critically Endangered 181 9

Endangered 351 12

Vulnerable 674 59

Near Threatened 795 58

Total 2001 138

 Critically Endangered

• In Central India we have 9 species of the

birds which come under this category
 White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis

• This species is widely distributed in

India

• Till late 1990 it was in abundant but

declined rapidly

• Cause – veterinary use of diclofenac

for livestock
Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus

• This species is also widely

distributed in India

• Like White-backed Vultures their

population declined rapidly after
1990

• Cause – veterinary use of

diclofenac for cattle
 Jerdon's Courser Rhinptilus bitorquatus

• This is endemic bird found in south-

eastern Andhra Pradesh. Earlier
known from few places in Central India
from Godavari River basin.

• Habitat specialist bird found only in

scrub forest

• Threats – habitat destruction because

of human activities
 Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti

• This bird is endemic to Satpuda

Mountains known from only from six
places in Central India. Because of the
Forest Owlet, the Central Indian Forests
come under Endemic Bird Area

• Only found in dry deciduous forests

• Threats – habitat destruction for fuel

wood, illicit wood cutting, overgrazing
and direct persecution by tribal
 Endangered

• We have 12 bird species which come

under this category
Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps

• Historically spread all over Indian

subcontinent. Now restricted to only a
few places in Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh

• Habitat specialist birds representative of

Grassland

• Threats – expansion of agriculture,

habitat fragmentation, overgrazing,
pesticides and hunting
 Vulnerable

• We have 59 species which come under

this category
Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis

• The species found all over

India in large wetlands

• The population is declining

very fast

• Threats – destruction of
nesting habitat, drainage
and pollution of wetlands
and dearth of food
Sarus Crane Grus antigone

• Historically widespread all

over south Asia and
Australia. Now declining all
over its range

• Threats - primarily
threatened by a combination
of habitat loss and
modification (owing primarily
to agricultural expansion),
pollution and persecution
 Near Threatened

• We have 58 species which fall under

this category
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
• Widespread and locally common
resident in South east Asia

• It frequents freshwater marshes,

lakes and reservoirs, flooded
fields, paddy fields, freshwater
swamp forests, riverbanks,
intertidal mudflats and saltpans

• Threats - habitat loss,

disturbance, pollution and
hunting of adults and collection
of eggs and nestlings from
colonies is cause for concern
Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor

• Found only in Asia and African

Continent

• Every year 10% population

decline is observed in Africa. It
breeds in Little Run of Katch in
Gujarat

• After breeding, disperse over

Indian Subcontinent

• Threats – water pollution,

disturbance to nesting sites and
habitat destruction
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