Birds of India

ENVIS-CenterBombay 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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