About SAP Birds Book

1. By Ramakrishna Yarlapati & Roshan Kadaramandalagi K

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ashy Prinia-Prinia socialis .......................................... 02
Asian Brown Flycatcher- Muscicapa dauurica ..................... 02
Asian Koel - Eudynamys scolopaceus .............................. 02
Black Drongo-Dicrurus macrocercus ............................... 03
Black Kite-Milvus migrans .......................................... 03
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis ........................................ 03
Common Myna-Acridotheres tristis ................................ 04
Common Swallow - Hirundo rustica ............................... 04
Eurasian Golden Oriole (Female & Male) -Oriolus oriolus ....... 04
Great Tit-Parus major ....................................................... 05
Pied Bushchat (Female & Male) - Saxicola caprata ................ 05
Purple-Rumped Sunbird (Male & Female) - Nectarinia zeylonica . 05
Red-vented Bulbul-Pycnonotus cafer .............................. 06
Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri ........................ 07
Rosy Starling - Sturnus roseus ..................................... 07
Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda .......................... 07
Small Bee Eater-Merops orientalis ................................. 08
Spotted Dove - Stigmatopelia chinensis .......................... 08
Spotted Owlet - Athene brama ..................................... 08
Tickell's Flowerpecker-Dicaeum erythrorhynchos ................. 08
White Cheeked Barbet-Megalaima viridis ......................... 09
White-breasted Kingfisher-Halcyon smyrnensis .................. 09
White-browed Wagtail-Motacilla madaraspatensis ............... 09
Purple Sunbird (Male) – Nectarinia asiatica ...................... 09
Indian Robin (Male) – Saxicolides fulicata ....................... 10
Jungle Myna – Acridotheres fuscus ............................... 11
Brahminy Kite – Haliastur indus ................................ 11
Shikra – Accipiter badius ........................................... 11
Blyth’s Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus dumetorum ................ 11
Indian Cormorant – Phalacrocorax fuscicollis .................. 12
Brahminy Starling – Sturnus pagodarum .......................... 12
Oriental Magpie Robin – Copsychus saularis ...................... 12
Greater Coucal – Centropus sinensis ............................... 12
Chestnut-tailed Starling - Sturnus malabaricus .................. 13
Indian Silverbill – Lonchura malabarica .......................... 13
Indian Pitta – Pitta brachyura ..................................... 13

3. Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis
Features : Sized around 13 cm (beak to tip of tail) these warblers are earthy brown with a longish graduated white-tipped tail - usually
held upright. They also have a whitish narrow supercilium and Lores (space in front of the eye). Crown is grey and underparts cream
coloured. In breeding, crown and cheek are black with no supercilium. Some races have a more darker winter plumage. Usually found in
pairs or with other warblers. It nests from March to October with about 4 eggs varying in colour. Both sexes share parental chores.
Habitat : Mostly insectivorous they are usually found in tall grass and scrub at the edges of cultivation, gardens and reedbeds. Lookout
for these in our campus near the pathways and inside bushes. The barred perked-up tail when it sits and its gingerly flight from bush to
bush makes it a great common bird to lookout for. The prinias mating here proves that our campus is an important ecological support
system for these and many other species.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

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5. Asian Koel - Eudynamys scolopaceus
Features : 43 cm in size this is one of the more popular birds in India. The male is glossy black with crimson eyes and yellowish green
bill, female is brown with a lot of white and buffed spots – underparts whitish and striped. This bird is Brood parasitic. It nests during
April to August which is the same as the birds it is brood-parasites on – the jungle crows and the house crows. Eggs are stone coloured
and very similar to the crows’ eggs although smaller. Dr Salim Ali reports as many as 13 of its eggs being found in a crow’s nest (a nest
parasite) !
Habitat : Found mostly in open country, lightly wooded, gardens and groves with trees characterized by large leaves. Found across the
entire Indian Union, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and host of other south and south east asian countries. Watch out for this black bird flying
straight and quick from tree to tree in our campus. This is mostly Frugivorous but eats insects also.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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7. Asian Brown Flycatcher - Muscicapa dauurica
Features : About 14 cm in size the Asian Brown Flycatcher has conspicuously large eyes with a white ring around it, is ashy brown above
and dirty white below. The one in our office is a summer migrant. The male Asian Brown Flycatcher sings a simple melodic song during
courtship. Nests in holes in trees. Season is from April to June with about 4 eggs which the female incubates- the female is fed by the
male.
Habitat : The bird is mostly insectivorous and found in the foothills of himalays, woodland, scrub and cultivations, hilly continental
areas of India, western ghats to the south of north Kanara. Lookout for this bird near the rear car parking lot – it will be great spotting if
you see it as it is not found through the year.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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8. Black Drongo - Dicrurus macrocercus
Features : It is a glossy and completely black bird with a deep forked tail size being nearly 31 cm. The species is known for its
aggression where it is heavily territorial and chases away larger birds like crows and many birds of prey! Sexes alike. Some smaller birds
like common mynas nest in the well guarded area of a Black Drongo. This is mutually beneficial in foraging for food. Quite beneficial to
agriculture because it eats a large number of grasshoppers and insects. Nesting happens from April to August – usually with 3 to 5 eggs.
Habitat : Open Forest and cultivation, found generally throughout the Indian subcontinent and right across tropical southern asia.
Largely insectivorous, drinks flower nectar, sometimes even smaller birds, reptiles, bats. Found almost always flying around the reception
area there are a number of these on our campus which brood at SAP Labs year on year and their deft flights are a pleasure to watch!
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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9. Black Kite - Milvus migrans
Features : Sized about 61 cm this is one of the most common birds of prey in and around Bangalore. The black kite is a large brown bird
distinguished from all other similar birds by its forked tail. It has an extremely large range and has been seen in over a 100 countries
worldwide!
Habitat : Found mostly in the neighborhoods of human habitations.
Food : Forages in garbage, worms, small reptiles, small rodents, young birds and anything else. Frequents our campus all the time, can
be heard almost always (wherever we are in our campus) and perhaps the reason why the rodent population (read Rats) here is
controlled! This bird is an adept flier and are our campus’s frequent fliers!
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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10. Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
Features : This bird is again a frequent sight, quite gregarious and found with grazing cattle, also near tilling farmers in villages! Sized
about 51cm the sexes are alike. In non breeding seasons plumage is pure white but in breeding they have orange-buff head, neck and
back. It has a yellow bill. It is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. This is a common sight. Nests from November to March, with
about 3 to 5 eggs.
Habitat : Again found mostly near the rear side of our campus and flit about where the cattle stray. They benefit from the worms in the
ground that are forced out when the cattle graze. The smokers of SAP might have noticed these more than the rest of us! Eats mostly
grasshoppers, flies, cicadas and other insects. Also eats frogs, small reptiles, fish. Roosts at night in favourite trees with other birds like
crows and mynas.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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11. Black Headed Munia
Features : Sized around 13 cm (beak to tip of tail) these warblers are earthy brown with a longish graduated white-tipped tail - usually
held upright. They also have a whitish narrow supercilium and Lores (space in front of the eye). Crown is grey and underparts cream
coloured. In breeding, crown and cheek are black with no supercilium. Some races have a more darker winter plumage. Usually found in
pairs or with other warblers. It nests from March to October with about 4 eggs varying in colour. Both sexes share parental chores.
Habitat : Mostly insectivorous they are usually found in tall grass and scrub at the edges of cultivation, gardens and reedbeds. Lookout
for these in our campus near the pathways and inside bushes. The barred perked-up tail when it sits and its gingerly flight from bush to
bush makes it a great common bird to lookout for. The prinias mating here proves that our campus is an important ecological support
system for these and many other species.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

12. Common Myna - Acridotheres tristis
Features : The bird species is usually about 23 cm in size and is native to Asia and has a large range. This is a dark brown bird with
bright yellow bill, yellow legs and the white wing patch in flight is very hard to miss. Sexes alike. A master mimicker of other birds, this
benefits a lot from human habitation and are usually pests and quite noisy at that.
Habitat : Found abundantly in neighbourhoods of villages and cities. Found wherever man inhabits! Omnivorous – eats insects, fruits
and human food leftovers. Nesting happens from April to August with about 4 to 5 eggs.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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13. Common Swallow - Hirundo rustica
Features : Also known as the Barn Swallow it is a glossy blue bird about 18 cm in length, with a long forked tail with curved pointed
wings. The forked tail is especially prominent during flight. The bird has an extremely large range and is estimated to be the most
widespread swallow species. It normally uses man-made structures to inhabit itself. Extremely agile and very difficult to snap up in
flight!
Habitat : Around human habitations in open cultivated country, it eats flies and other insects.
A migrant that comes that arrive in our campus sometime in October every year they are found preening themselves on the sills every
morning at about 8 am on the 6th floor cafeteria of phase III building!
Photo By : Roshan Kadaramandalagi
03

14. Black Headed Munia
Features : Sized around 13 cm (beak to tip of tail) these warblers are earthy brown with a longish graduated white-tipped tail - usually
held upright. They also have a whitish narrow supercilium and Lores (space in front of the eye). Crown is grey and underparts cream
coloured. In breeding, crown and cheek are black with no supercilium. Some races have a more darker winter plumage. Usually found in
pairs or with other warblers. It nests from March to October with about 4 eggs varying in colour. Both sexes share parental chores.
Habitat : Mostly insectivorous they are usually found in tall grass and scrub at the edges of cultivation, gardens and reedbeds. Lookout
for these in our campus near the pathways and inside bushes. The barred perked-up tail when it sits and its gingerly flight from bush to
bush makes it a great common bird to lookout for. The prinias mating here proves that our campus is an important ecological support
system for these and many other species.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

15. Black Headed Munia
Features : Sized around 13 cm (beak to tip of tail) these warblers are earthy brown with a longish graduated white-tipped tail - usually
held upright. They also have a whitish narrow supercilium and Lores (space in front of the eye). Crown is grey and underparts cream
coloured. In breeding, crown and cheek are black with no supercilium. Some races have a more darker winter plumage. Usually found in
pairs or with other warblers. It nests from March to October with about 4 eggs varying in colour. Both sexes share parental chores.
Habitat : Mostly insectivorous they are usually found in tall grass and scrub at the edges of cultivation, gardens and reedbeds. Lookout
for these in our campus near the pathways and inside bushes. The barred perked-up tail when it sits and its gingerly flight from bush to
bush makes it a great common bird to lookout for. The prinias mating here proves that our campus is an important ecological support
system for these and many other species.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

16. Eurasian Golden Oriole (Female & Male) - Oriolus oriolus
Features : It is a bright golden yellow bird with wings and tail black and a black streak through the eye, about 25 cm in size. Found
singly or in pairs. Practically found throughout the Indian subcontinent and has an extremely large range. Is found in and around groves
of large trees near cultivation and human habitations. Nesting is from April to July with a clutch of about 2 to 3 eggs. Both sexes share
domestic duties.
Habitat : Deciduous and semi-evergreen in open well wooded country with leafy trees. Eats insects, peepul and banyan figs and some
fruits. Watch out for these flitting about near the big trees in the rear side of our campus. This is also a locally migrant species and is
not found on our campus all the time.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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18. Greater Coucal – Centropus sinensis
Features : This is a large bird sized about 48 cm. Bronze wings and black body this is a shy bird but found easily in the mornings when it
suns itself. Its call, a deep and resonant hoop-hoop-hoop is a common thing to hear. When disturbed, tries to disappear amongst the
thicket of trees/shrubs! Sexes alike, these are found singly or in pairs. A clutch of 3-4 eggs are laid in large untidy nest.
Habitat : Found in most parts of India except parts of Rajasthan in tall bamboo, grass and scrub jungle around human habitation.
Lookout for these in the neem tree & the east common compound walls of our campus. Eats insects,lizards, fruits, young mice, snails etc.
Photo By : Roshan Kadaramandalagi
03

19. Great Tit - Parus major
Features : This 13 cm bird has a black head and white cheek patches with a black band down the center (underparts). Found practically
throughout India. This bird is found singly, or in pairs or in parties often with other small insectivorous birds. We spotted it once in a
noisy hunting party that had Ioras, Brahminy Starlings and Bushchats. Nesting happens from February to November with about 4 to 6
eggs in a clutch. Both sexes share parental duties.
Habitat : Light wooded surroundings. Common throughout Asia, Europe and parts of Africa. This bird is a pleasure to listen to with its
varied number of calls and song! This frequents our campus near the 2 bike parking lots and is a pleasure to watch. Food is chiefly
insects, larvae, flower buds, fruits and others.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

20. Pied Bushchat (Female & Male) - Saxicola caprata
Features : Sized about 13 cm the male is black with white on rump, abdomen and conspicuously on wings. The female is earthy brown
with rusty rump. Found in pairs on bush tops perched and looking out for insects and other food. Nesting is mostly between February and
May where about 3 to 5 eggs are incubated by the female. The male helps in feeding young.
Habitat : Found near cultivations, reeds, scrub jungles near water. The pairs flit about from bush to bush in our campus near the recep-
tion block and canopy and frequently fly to a spot on the ground nearby to catch an insect. Food is mostly insects.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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22. Purple-Rumped Sunbird (Male & Female) - Nectarinia zeylonica
Features : About 10 cm in size, these small sunbirds are found in pairs in wooded country. The male is more colorful with upperparts and
breast in metallic crimson, green and purple and lower parts yellowish. Nesting season is not defined clearly. Female alone builds the
nest incubates about 2 eggs while the male helps in feeding the young. The nest is built, used and then discarded!
Habitat : Dry cultivated country, scrub, light jungle, gardens and groves. Found in peninsular India. Drinks nectar from different flowers
– (chiefly responsible for cross pollination of numerous species of flowers). Chiefly in search of nectar from various flowers this bird can
be found right near the ground floor canopy in our campus every morning! One can observe both the male and the female flit about one
after another in their favorite perches. With a sweet song, this is a treat to the eyes and ears- watch out for this bird drinking nectar
from the bottle brush flowers (and many other flowers for that matter!).
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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24. Purple Sunbird (Male) – Nectarinia asiatica
Features : About 10 cm in size. The male seen here is a metallic blue-green – looks mostly blackish. The female is a brownish and quite
a dimorph. This is a typical sunbird that has a quick and direct flight. Breeds throughout the year in an untidy nest with about a couple
of eggs. They are the nearest thing to hummingbirds in India in that they can hover at times to draw nectar!
Habitat : Open deciduous forests and gardens. Found in most parts of India (except some north-eastern parts and parts of Rajasthan).
Found in Sri Lanka as well. Eats flies and insects. Lookout for these drinking nectar from flowers in our campus especially near the rocks
and the red flowers nearby along the pathway quite near to the ABC blocks.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

25. Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer
Features : This bird is a common sight in cities and villages, has a partially crested black head, crimson patch at the tail root and a
white rump with it - all in about 20 cm size. It is found all over the subcontinent. Sexes alike. The calls are popular and cheerful and a
common hearing. Nesting is mostly from February to May. 2 to 3 eggs can be seen in a nest. Both sexes share the parental chores.
Habitat : Gardens, Cultivation and light scrub areas mostly near human as well as away from human habitation. Found throughout India.
Found mostly near our campus canopy, they brood at SAP Labs and we have observed their numbers grow from last year! They usually eat
fruits, insects and nectar.
Photo By: Ramki Yarlapati
01

26. Rosy Starling - Sturnus roseus
Features : Sized about 23 cm these are rosy colored birds with a black head, neck and wings. Young birds and adults are dull and buffish
(instead of rosy-pink) in winter – this is what we see in the photograph here. They flock together so much that sometimes they outnum-
ber the resident common mynas! Breeding has been found to be in western as well as central Asia and eastern Europe during May to end
of June.
Habitat : Found abundantly in northwest India and deccan but found all over India in winter. These beautiful migrants can sometimes
be seen at our campus lawns every morning until mid April when their winter visit comes to an end (the winter visit starts somewhere in
July-August). They feed on locusts largely (Beneficial to agriculture). Watch out for these on our sprawling lawns but don’t forget to
arrive early as they depart before 7 AM.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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27. Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri
Features : Quite a popular sighting, this 42 cm colorful bird is more a pest to agriculturists! The female does not have the rose ring
collar. Found throughout the subcontinent, it usually moves around in flocks noisily and destroys crops and orchards. Also a popular cage
bird, the bird is captured young and sold on almost all bird markets unfortunately. Nests usually from February until April with about 4 to
6 eggs.
Habitat : Cultivation and lightly wooded surroundings found commonly both in villages and cities. Is mostly frugivorous and feeds on
crops as well. Is a pleasure to watch fly about in groups almost all times of the day over our campus. Our campus also offers in the form
of certain seeds an irresistible food to these colorful birds due to which we see them often here.
Photo By : Roshan Kadaramandalagi
03

28. Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda
Features : Also known as the Indian treepie, this 50 cm bird is native to southern Asia. Sexes are alike. It is usually reported in pairs or
parties though we found this singly on our campus near the rear parking slots. Has variegated calls. Nesting mostly happens during
February to mid July with about 4 to 5 eggs in one nest. Both sexes share domestic chores.
Habitat : Lightly wooded country, gardens and groves. Found in the subcontinent. It is Omnivorous, has insects, reptiles, frogs etc and
sometimes also eggs and young ones of smaller birds! After finding it for the first time we found the mother later tending to 3 young
ones in our campus. And the young ones now seem to be back now, in 2011, to continue their mother’s legacy of continuing parentage.
With a harsh call, big size and characteristic tail this bird is difficult to find but hard to miss!
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
03

29. Small Bee Eater - Merops orientalis
Features : Features: Resident and locally migratory, this 21 cm bird is a delicate looking green bird with a conspicuous black collar,
reddish nape and head and has a characteristic long feathers. These are best seen when right after it rains, these come out in search of
worms and perch on wires and fences. Nesting is usually from February to May. The nest itself is an earth tunnel dug together by male
and the female and usually about 4 to 6 eggs are seen. We leave the photograph do all the talking.
Habitat : Open country and cultivation. Eats bees and some other insects by snapping them up during aerial sallies!
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
03

30. Spotted Dove - Stigmatopelia chinensis
Features : Sized about 30 cm the bird is a kind of a pigeon characterized by the black and white chessboard like formations on its neck
& nape. Sexes look alike. Found usually in pairs these are common across villages and cities alike. Nests all year with about 2 eggs
usually.
Habitat : Open well wooded and cultivated country. Found all over the Indian union except the dry parts. Prefers moist deciduous
places. Eats grass seeds, insects, grains and other vegetation. Found almost always in our campus near the training block (reception
area) as well as the rear side of phase III.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

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32. Spotted Owlet - Athene brama
Features : This small owl of size 21 cm is nocturnal and found mostly found in tropical parts of Asia and southeast Asia. Sexes look alike
and the staring yellow eyes are spectacular. It is usually found in pairs or parties sleeping during the day. Nesting season is usually from
November to April with about 3 to 4 eggs laid in tree holes lined with fibres and other material. Both male and female share the domes-
tic chores.
Habitat : Grasslands, marshy areas and scrub jungle. Eats insects, rodents, small reptiles. Another reason (apart from the black kite)
which helps the rat population in check on our campus. The night shot with red eyes was taken behind the phase III building of SAP
Labs campus in this case we chose not to do the red-eye reduction!
Photo By : Roshan Kadaramandalagi
08

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34. Shikra – Accipiter badius
Features : We observed this smaller sized (36 cm) bird of prey swoop in a flash and pickup a worm – this speed is what characterizes this
beautiful bar-tailed bird. Quite secretive, it usually hides amidst leaves when it sets about scanning for food. Breeds usually from January
to June with a clutch of about 3-6 eggs in an untidy nest of twigs.
Habitat : Open wooded country and cultivation. Most of the subcontinent except north-west India. Eats small birds, small reptiles, large
insects etc. The female has yellow eyes and the male red eyes.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati/Roshan Kadaramandalagi
03

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36. Tickell's Flowerpecker - Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Features : Also known as the pale-billed flowerpecker, it is one the smallest birds in India roughly the size of one thumb and even
smaller than the sunbirds (about 8 cm)! The birds are the chief pollinators of the Dendrophthoe clumps in mango orchards and thin
deciduous forests. Nesting is from February to June with about 2 eggs.
Habitat : Scrub jungle, plantations, forests, orchards and groves. Found all over the subcontinent. Eats berries of the Dendrophthoe and
Viscum, the plant parasites. Here we see the bird squeezing the juice out of the berry it is eating. Though it is found in Bangalore
throughout the year, they come to our campus in large numbers once the poppy seeds are aplenty! This bird proves to us that our
campus is a ecological green lung.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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38. Jungle Myna – Acridotheres fuscus
Features : A common sight, this 23 cm bird can be quite boisterous with its varied and loud harsh calls. Frequently found together with
common mynas on our campus. Breeding is usually from February to July. Tree holes, crevices are the most common breeding places for
large colonies typically with 3-6 eggs.
Habitat : Found at forest edges and cultivations near well wooded areas. The western ghats belt as well as the northern Himalayan belt
with a good presence in the north east. Eats mostly insects, fruits and grains. Our campus lawns seem to be these birds’ favourite haunt.
Photo By : Roshan Kadaramandalagi
01

39. Indian Robin (Female & Male) - Saxicolides fulicata
Features : A reddish vent and a graduated black tail that is almost always perked up characterizes this beautiful 19 cm bird which is
endemic to the subcontinent. Frequently found foraging near human habitation, the male is a glossy black while the female a buff brown.
Breeds from about December to September with about 3 to 4 eggs in a clutch. Nests are shallow cups either in a rock crevice, hole in a
wall or trees.
Habitat : Often around villages and human habitation found in most parts of India (except parts of Rajasthan and the Himalayan belt as
well as the northeastern states). Mostly insectivorous but known to eat small frogs and lizards as well.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
08

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41. White-breasted Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis
Features : This is a brilliant turquoise blue bird with a dark brown head and a white breast with a heavyset bill used to batter its food
sized about 28cm. It is found singly in wooded country. Nesting is from March to July and the nests are horizontal tunnels dug in earth.
About 4 to 7 eggs are placed. Both the parents build the nest (more like dig!) and feed the young.
Habitat : Streams, rivulets, gardens and edges of forests. Found abundantly in the subcontinent. Found here almost symbolically on the
safe-assembly point board- perhaps a time for us to start caring about our avian friends.Eats fish, tadpoles, crabs, and other insects,
sometimes mice.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

42. White Cheeked Barbet - Megalaima viridis
Features : It is a 23 cm grass green bird with eye patch black, a white cheek and striated neck and breasts. Once perched it is very
difficult to spot due to its matching color with the tree. Usually found in pairs or parties, they flock together on fruity trees. Nesting is
usually found to be from December to June with about 3 eggs. Parental chores are shared equally by the male and the female.
Habitat : Evergreen forests, orchards and groves. Eats fruits, figs and loves coffee berries, flower nectar and termites. Lookout for these
at the rear side car near the car parking and the neem tree.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
01

43. Oriental Magpie Robin – Copsychus saularis
Features : Sized about 23 cm this bird is a widespread resident found in most parts of India. The bird is black (male) or washed out grey
(female) and white characterized by a white side wing bar and at tail-sides. They call out with a sweet swee-swee whistle and are a
pleasure to listen to. Usually quite conspicuous, hangs around edges of villages and cultivation.
Habitat : Forages on the ground, lawns and gardens. Found in open dry broad leaved forests and towns and villages. Locally migrant.
Lays about 3-5 eggs in pads of grass in snags of old walls and tree trunks. Eats insects, drinks flower nectar mostly.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati / Roshan Kadaramandalagi
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45. Indian Cormorant – Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Features : A blackish bird of about 63 cm, this is a frequent sight near most water bodies in most parts of India – typically found
sunning its feathers wide open. Usually found in large flocks. It is a pleasure to watch these swim, stay underwater for a few seconds
while fishing. Breeding is usually from July to February with 3-6 eggs.
Habitat : Most water bodies. Widespread in India except the northern parts.Eats a lot of fish varieties. These birds frequently fly over
our heads to the lake behind our campus.
Photo By : Ramki Yarlapati
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46. Indian Silverbill – Lonchura malabarica
Features : This is a munia sized about 11 cm. Also known as the white-throated Munia this has brownish upperparts and whitish under-
parts with a narrow whitish supercilium. Bill is blue-grey which gives it the name of silverbill. Calls are predominantly a sweet tchirp!
Breeds throughout the year varying locally, lays about 4-6 pure white eggs.
Habitat : Found in most parts of India in drier habitats in comparison to other finches. This bird we found was building its nest right
near our main campus block!
Photo By : Roshan Kadaramandalagi
03

47. Indian Pitta – Pitta brachyura
Features : This is an uncommon bird for Bangalore sized about 19 cm. Called a Navaranga in Kannada (which means 9 colours) it is truly
a feast to the eye with black stripe through the eye, white throat and supercilium, buff lateral crown-stripes, has colors of blue near the
tail tips and reddish pink underbelly and vent! Breeds mainly from may to august with a globular nest made of twigs in which 4 to 6 eggs
are laid.
Habitat : Breeds in himalayan foothills and the north eastern parts while it winters in southern parts of the peninsula. Difficult to find,
we have the best chances in the early mornings amongst leaf litter where it usually hops around to upturn leaves and litter to find
worms/insects which is its primary food.
Photo By : Roshan Kadaramandalagi
03