Indian Roller

Factual Description:-

Common Name:- Indian Roller

Scientific Name:- Coracias benghalensis

Description 

The Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis), is a member of the roller family of birds. It belongs to the Coraciidae family of birds. They are found widely across tropical Asia stretching from Iraq eastward across the Indian Subcontinent to Indochina and are best know for the aerobatic displays of the male during the breeding season. It is also called as the "Blue Jay" in former times is a member of the roller family of birds. The largest populations of the species are within India, and several states in India have chosen it as their state bird. It is not migratory but undertakes some seasonal movements. They are very commonly seen perched along roadside trees and wires and are commonly seen in open grassland and scrub forest habitats. The IUCN status of the bird is "Least Concern". The Indian Roller gains its name from its elaborate courtship displays, during which it performs some starting aerobatics culminating in a series of 'rolling' motions.  

Shape & Size

The Indian Roller is a stocky bird about 26-27 cm long and can only be confused within its range with the migratory European Roller. It weights around 90 gm and has a wingspan of 65-74 cm. The Indian Roller is a medium-sized bird which, when perched, appears a fairy drab brown, with a blue crown and lower wing. In flight, however, it is extremely striking, with its deep purple-black wings, bright blue rump, and a blue band across the tail becoming visible. Its eyes are greyish-brown and the strong, hook-tipped bill is a blackish-brown. The nostril is long and exposed and there are long rictal bristles at the base of the bill. Male and female are similar in appearance. 

Habitat

The Indian Roller is distributed across Asia, from West Asia (Iraq), through Indian Subcontinent (including Sri Lanka and the islands of Lakshadweep and Maldive islands) into Southeast Asia. 

The main habitat is usually areas of thin deciduous forests and grasslands. This bird also dwells in wide open cultivated areas. However, the bird is often spotted in parks and on electric wires of urban cities. 

Diet

Indian Roller is omnivorous. It mainly feeds on frogs. It also favours lizards, acorns, grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies and moths. Fires attract them and they will also follow tractors for disturbed invertebrates. They are often attracted to road kills. Nearly 50% of their prey was beetles and 25% made up by Grasshoppers and crickets. When hunting, the Indian roller typically sits motionless at a high vantage point, from which it can scan the ground for potential prey items. When prey is spotted, it will drop down to snatch it and then return immediately to its perch to consume it. On other occasions the Indian roller feeds directly from the ground, and moves around an area foraging for potential insect prey. 

Breeding 

The breeding season of the Indian Roller begins in the early summers just after spring. The starting courtship displays by the males become evident right from the month of February itself. During this interesting display the male flies high up in the sky and returns back down towards the earth in a rotating motion, while flapping its wings rapidly and producing harsh sounds. April is the month of bird lays eggs in tree holes or similar places. It lays 4-5 eggs. The incubation period for the eggs last for a maximum of 20 days. The eggs are incubated by both male and female. The young birds begin to acquire their flight feathers after approximately 35 days. Although groups of Indian rollers are rarely seen, family groups may form, and communicate with a series of loud 'chack' calls, which become harsher and more regular during times of threat. 

Ecology and behaviour

The bird usually seen perched on prominent bare trees or wires. They descend to the ground to capture their prey which may include insects, arachnids, small reptiles and small snakes and amphibians. They perch mainly on 3-10 metre high perches and feed mostly on ground insects. Nearly 50% of their prey are beetles and 25% made up by grasshoppers and crickets. The feeding behaviour of the roller and habitat usage are very similar to that of the Black Drongo. During summer, they may also feed late in the evening and make use of the artificial lights and feed on insects attracted to them. They are attracted to swarms of winged termites and as many as 40 birds have been seen perch on a 70 metre stretch of electric wires. Their habit of feeding near roadsides sometimes results in collisions with traffic. The display of this bird is an aerobatic display, with the twists and turns that give this species its English name. The breeding season is March to June, slighty earlier in southern India. Displays when perched include bill-up displays, bowing, allopreening, wing drooping and tail fanning. Holes created by woodpeckers or wood boring insects in palms are favaoured for nesting in some areas. Nest cavities may also be made by tearing open rotten tree trunks or in cavities in building. The cavity is usually unlined and is made up mainly to 19 days. The young fledge and leave the nest after about a month. Nearly 80% of the eggs hatch and feldge. 

The bird bathes in open water by plunge-diving into it, a behaviour often interpreted as fishing. But it may occasionally attempt fishing from water. 

Blood parasites Leucocytozoon of the family Plasmodiidae have been noted in the lung tissues. Parasitic helminth worms Hadjelia truncata and Syanhimantus spiralis were recorded as well. 

Call

The call of the Indian Roller is a harsh crow-like 'chack' sound. It also makes a variety of other sounds including metallic 'boink' calls. It is especially vociferous during the breeding season. 

Sub-species

There are two sub-species of Indian Roller, namely- European Roller (Coracias garrulus) amd Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis).

In culture

Being very common in the populated plains of India, it is associated with legends. A local name is "Neelkanth" (meaning blue throat), a name associated with the deity Shiva (who drank poison resulting in the blue throat). During former times, a captive roller would be released by the local ruler during festivals such as Dussera and Durga Puja. Adding its chopped feathers to grass and feeding them them to cows was believed to increase their milk yield. 

Interesting fact

Being such a charismatic species, Indian Roller has been chosen as the State bird by the Indian States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha.

Lifespan 

The longevity of Indian Roller exceeds up to 17 years of age. 

References:

1. http://www.animalspot.net/indian-roller.html

2. http://beautyofbirds.com/indianrollers.html

3. http://www.arkive.org/indian-roller/coracias-benghalensis/

4. http://apbiodiversity.ap.nic.in/Indian%20Roller.html

5. http://www.ecoindia.com/animals/birds/indian-roller.html

6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Roller

7. 

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House Sparrow

Factual Description:-

Common Name:- House Sparrow

Scientific Name:- Passer domesticus

Description:-

The House Sparrow belongs to the Passeridae family. Almost found every part of the world. House sparrow are very much associated with human habitations, and can live in urban or rural environment. House sparrow has a wide range range of habitats, but it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands and deserts which are away from human development. Since sparrows are in association to human settlements, the sparrow is culturally prominent. But in recent era, the house sparrow population is decreasing drastically from urban areas and due to that the IUCN status of house sparrow is "Least Concern" and it is on the IUCN Red List. 

Size & Shape

The House Sparrow is typically about 16 cm long, ranging from 14 to 18 cm. It is a compact bird with a full chest and a large rounded head. Its bill is stout and conical bill with a culmen length of 1.1-1.5 cm strongly built as an adaptation for eating seeds. It's tail is short, at about 5.2-6.5 cm long. 

In weight, the house sparrow ranges from 24-39.5 gm. Females usually are slightly smaller than males. 

Color Pattern

Male house sparrows are brightly colored birds with grey heads, white cheeks, a black bib, and rufous neck. Females are a plain buffy-brown underparts. Their backs are noticeably striped with buff, black, and brown. 

Habitat

House sparrows have lived around humans for centuries. They are in close association to humans and that is the reason, they can be easily found in city streets, parks, cheeping from a perch on your roof or trees at your nearby. Sparrows are absent in from undisturbed forests and grasslands, but they are common in countryside around farmsteads. 

Behaviour

The House Sparrow is a very social bird. It is gregarious at all seasons when feeding, often forming flocks with other types of bird. It roosts communally, and its nests are usually grouped together in clumps, and it engages in social activities such as dust and water bathing, and social-singing, in which birds call together in bushes. The house sparrow feeds mostly on the ground, but it flocks in trees and bushes. At feeding stations and nests, female house sparrows are dominant despite their smaller size. 

House sparrows are noisy sparrows that flutter down from eaves and fencerows to hop and peck at crumbs or birdseed. Usually found flying in and out of nest holes hidden behind shop signs or in traffic lights, or hanging around parking lots waiting for crumbs and picking insects off car grills. 

Feeding

As an adult, the House Sparrow mostly feeds on the seeds of grains and weeds, but it is opportunistic and adaptable, and eats whatever foods are available. It's diet chiefly includes insects- beetles, caterpillars, dipteran flies, aphids. In most places, grasshoppers and crickets are the most abundant foods of nestlings. 

Locomotion

The House Sparrow's flight is direct and flapping, averaging 45. kms per hour and about 15 wingbeats per second. On the ground, the bird usually hops rather than walking. 

Breeding

House Sparrow can breed in the breeding season immediately following their hatching, and sometimes attempt to do so. Birds breeding for the first time are rarely successful in raising young, and reproductive success increases with age, as older birds breed earlier in the breeding season, and fledge more young. 

Voice 

Cheep or Chirrup

Predation

House Sparrows are very sensitive to their predators. Main predators are cats and birds of prey. 

References:-

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_sparrow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Sparrow

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World Sparrow Day is coming

Delhi is the capital of the India.In Delhi, earlier the sparrow population was abundant and sparrow were frequent in number. But over the coarse of time, the number of sparrow population has dropped drastically. Now, sparrow population are hard to see. There are many reasons behind the disappearance of this little beautiful bird from Delhi. That is the reason, Sparrow is declared as the State Bird of Delhi by Delhi government few time back. In our next post, we will be discussing the reasons for the disappearance of this little beautiful bird from Delhi and other cities. 

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Indian Silverbill

Factual Description:-

Common Name: Indian Silverbill

Scientific Name: Lonchura malabarica

# Indian Silverbill is also known as the ''White-throated Munia''. 

# Indian Silverbill is a small passerine bird, belongs to finch family. 

# Adult Indian Silverbill is about 11-11.5 cm long and has a conical silver-grey bill, buff-brown upperparts, white underparts, buffy flanks and dark wings. 

# Its most distinctive character is its conical silver-grey bill. Bill has a dark, curved, upper mandible while the lower mandible is lighter often reflecting. 

# The male and female are similar in appearance, with brown plumage on the upperparts, brownish-buff flanks and a distinctive white rump. 

# Indian Silverbill is typically found in flocks of up to 60 individuals, although it roots in groups of 5 or 6. 

# Indian Silverbill are gregarious and feeds on the ground or on low shrubs and grass stalks. 

# They constantly utter a low cheeping or chirping contract call as they forage. 

# Indian Silverbill feeds mainly on seeds, but also takes insects and has been known to visit nectar bearing flowers. 

# Found near dry open scrub, fallow land and cultivation, sometimes near water.

# IUCN status of Indian Silverbill is "Least Concern". 

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Little Egret

Factual Description:-

   Common Name: Little Egret

   Scientific Name: Egretta garzetta

  # The little egret is a small white heron with attractive elongated, sinuous neck, white plumes on crest, back and chest, black legs and  stabbing bill and yellow feet. 

# Little egret belongs to family Ardeidae. 

# The adult is about 55-65 cm long with an 88-106 cm wingspan, and weighs 350-550 grams. 

# In breeding season, the adult has two long nape plumes and gauzy plumes on the back and breast, and the bare skin between the bill and eyes becomes red or blue. 

# Juveniles are similar to non-breeding adults but have greenish-black legs and duller yellow feet. 

# The little egret is never far from water and is usually found in large wetland areas, typically on mudflats and marshland, but it can also be found hunting near estuaries and small streams. 

# It usually nests in bushes, trees, marshes, swamps, dry open country, woods and on sea cliffs. 

# Little egret is an opportunistic hunter, feeding mainly during the day whilst walking through shallow, open water, stabbing prey with its bill. 

# It feeds primarily on small fish, which are usually around 1.2 to 6 cms in lengths, but bivalves, crustaceans, and other invertebrates are also consumed. 

# IUCN status of the Litte Egret is ''Least Concern''. 

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Painted Stork

Factual Description:-

Common Name:- Painted Stork

Scientific Name:- Mycteria leucocephala

# Painted Stork is a large wading bird which belongs in the storks family. 

# Painted Storks are only found nearer to wetlands, water bodies. 

# Their name is because of their colorful (pink) feathers. 

# Painted Stork has a long, yellow-orange bill, an orange face, and pink legs. It has a ling neck that it holds outstretching in flight. 

# Adults have mostly white plumage, with bright pink near the tail and a black band across the chest. 

# Males and females look alike, though males tend to have a larger body and bill. 

# Breeding season occurs from August to October in the north of its range and November to March in the south. 

# Painted Stork eats fish, reptiles, frogs and crustaceans. It walks slowly in shallow water with its bill partly open in the water, groping for prey. 

 # They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. They immerse their half open beaks in water and sweep them from side to side and snap up their prey of small fish that are sensed by touch. 

# Painted Storks are not migratory birds but only make short distance movements in some parts of its range in response to food and breeding. 

# IUCN status of Painted Stork is "Near Threatened".

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Cattle Egret

Factual description of Cattle Egret:-

  Common name:- Cattle Egret

  Scientific name:- Bubulcus ibis

#  Cattle Egret are cosmopolitan bird species, belongs to heron family. 

#  Cattle Egret is a stocky heron with a 88-96 cm wingspan, the bird is 46-56 cm long and weighs 270-512 g. 

#  Cattle Egret has a relatively short thick neck, sturdy bill, and a hunched posture. The non-breeding adult has mainly white plumage, a yellow bill and greyish-yellow legs. 

#  During breeding season, adults develop orange-buff plumes on the back, breast and crown, and the bill, legs and irises become bright red for a brief period prior to pairing. 

#  The sexes are similar, but the male is marginally larger and has slightly longer breeding plumes than the females. 

# Cattle Egret are opportunistic feeders, they follow the large animals or farm machines around to catch insects.

#  Cattle Egret are known to come in from far places to catch insects fleeing from a fire. 

#  Cattle Egret are known to greatly reduce the number of flies that bothers cattle by pecking off their skin, that is the reason, cattle egret are found in a close relationship with the large cattles. 

#   IUCN status of the Cattle Egret is ''Least Concern". 

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