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
2001
138
Total
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
Thank You!
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