WILDLIFE OF INDIA

Ictinaetus malayensis Temminck

(Black eagle)

Size and Form : 69-81 cm.; kite.

Field Identification : Distinctive wing shape and long tail. Flies with wings raised in V, with primaries upturned. At rest, long wings extend beyond tip of tail. Adult dark brownish-black, with striking yellow cere and feet; in flight shows whitish barring on uppertail-coverts, and faint greyish barring on tail and underside of remiges.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Himalayas, hills of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Habitat : Broadleaved forest in hills and mountains.

Food : Bird eggs and nestlings, frogs, lizards, small mammals, birds and large insects.

Breeding : November-April.

Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus Horsfield

(Grey-headed fish eagle)

Size and Form : 69-74 cm.; kite.

Field Identification : A medium-sized, mainly grey-brown fish eagle with striking white belly, thighs and undertail-coverts. Glides and soars with short, broad wings held level; neck projects noticeably and head appears rather small. It has a very upright posture when perched.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : India, S Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.

Habitat : Near slow moving rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and tidal lagoons in wooded country.

Food : Fish.

Breeding : November-March.

Sarcogyps calvus Scopoli

(King vulture)

Size and Form : 85 cm.; large kite.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult is mainly black, with bare pinkish or reddish head and cere and broad black bill, white patches at base of neck and upper thighs, and reddish legs and feet.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Widespread but rare in Northwest and Northeast India.

Habitat : Open country near human habitation; also well wooded hills.

Food : Carcases of small animals.

Breeding : December-April.

Gyps bengalensis Gmelin

(White-backed vulture)

Size and Form : 75-85 cm.; peacock minus tail.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult from below, mainly white, underwing-coverts contrast with blackish under parts and black leading edge to underwing. From above, has blackish mantle and wing coverts, and white rump and back.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Common and widespread throughout India.

Habitat : Cities, towns and villages near cultivation.

Food : Carrion.

Breeding : September-March.

Neophron percnopterus Linnaeus

(Egyptian vulture)

Size and Form : 60-70 cm.; kite.

Field Identification : A small vulture, with long pointed wings, small and pointed head and wedge-shaped tail. Adult has bare yellowish face, dirty white neck ruff, body, wing-coverts and tail, and black flight feathers.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Widespread in Indian plains and hills, up to 2500 m. in Himalayas.

Habitat : Towns, villages and city outskirts, especially around rubbish dumps and slaughter houses.

Food : Mainly carrion.

Breeding : February-May.

Circus macrourus Gmelin

(Pale harrier)

Size and Form : 46-51 cm.; kite.

Field Identification : A slender, grey and white hawk with black tips to the long narrow pointed wings. Tail long, white, crossbarred with grey. Female under brown, has prominent pale rufous owl-like ruff.

Status : Winter visitor.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Open country in plains and foothills, semi-desert, grassy slopes, cultivation, scrub-covered plains and edges of marshes.

Food : Small mammals and reptiles, large insects.

Breeding : Extralimital.

Circus melanoleucos Pennant

(Pied harrier)

Size and Form : 41-47 cm.; crow.

Field Identification : Adult male has black head and breast contrasting with white under body, black upper body, median coverts and primaries contrasting with grey of rest of wing and white leading edge to wing. Adult female has paler underwing with narrow dark barring on flight feathers and grey tail with dark barring.

Status : Winter visitor.

Distribution : Locally frequent in Northeast India, rare elsewhere.

Habitat : Open grassland and cultivation in plains and hills.

Food : Frogs, small birds, mammals, reptiles and large insects.

Breeding : April-July.

Circaetus gallicus Gmelin

(Short-toed eagle)

Size and Form : 62-67 cm.; kite.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A thickset brown and white eagle, with large greyish owl-like head; chin, throat, upper breast pale earthy brown, while rest of under part white, barred with pale brown. Tail with 3 or 4 dark bands, the terminal one broadest.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Open country, cultivation, semi-desert and dry stony and scrub covered hills.

Food : Frogs, small mammals and reptiles, large insects.

Breeding : December-June.

Spilornis cheela cheela Latham

(Crested serpent eagle)

Size and Form : 56-74 cm.; kite.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A dark brown eagle with a full, rounded, black and white nuchal crest, a conspicuous yellow patch at base of bill and unfeathered yellow tarsus. Under parts pale brown with white spotting, tail black and white banded.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Widespread in Indian plains and hills, up to 2135 m. in Himalayas.

Habitat : Forest and well wooded country in quite high rainfall area.

Food : Mainly snakes but also frogs, lizards, rodents and weak birds.

Breeding : December-June.

Pandion haliaetus Linnaeus

(Osprey)

Size and Form : 55-58 cm.; kite.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult has mainly white head with black stripes through eye, white under body and underwing-coverts, the latter contrasting with black carpal patches and band across greater coverts, paler base to underside of primaries contrasting with black tips and uniformly dark upper parts with paler barring on tail.

Status : Winter visitor.

Distribution : Widespread in India and uncommon winter visitor below 1800 m.

Habitat : Major rivers, lakes, large reservoirs, coastal lagoons and estuaries.

Food : Feeds entirely on fish.

Breeding : March and April.

Falco peregrinus peregrinator Sundevall

(Shaheen falcon)

Size and Form : 38-46 cm.; jungle crow.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A large, heavy looking falcon with broad based and pointed wings and short, broad-based tail. Adult has slightly darker grey upper parts, with more extensive black hood, under parts are rufous, with dark barring on belly and thighs.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Rugged hills, large lakes, rivers, marshes, sea cliffs, coastal lagoons and mangroves.

Food : Waterfowl, pigeons, partridges and other birds.

Breeding : December-May.

Falco chicquera Daudin

(Red headed merlin)

Size and Form : 31-36 cm.; crow.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A powerful falcon with pointed wings and longish tail. Adult has rufous crown, nape and moustachial stripe contrasting with white cheeks and throat, pale blue-grey upper parts with faint dark barring and streaking, white under parts finely barred with black, and grey tail with broad black subterminal band and whitish tip.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Widespread in India but now uncommon.

Habitat : Cultivation with groves, groves at edges of desert and open country with trees.

Food : Small birds.

Breeding : January-May.

Francolinus francolinus asiae Bonaparte

(Black partridge)

Size and Form : 34 cm.; partridge.

Field Identification : Male with white ear-covert patch on otherwise black face, rufous collar, black upper mantle spotted with white and black under parts with flanks boldly spotted with white. Female has rufous patch on hind neck and pale buff to rufous-buff supercilium and ear coverts divided by dark eye stripe.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : From Pakistan and Northwest India east to Arunachal Pradesh.

Habitat : Cultivation, tea estates and tall grass and scrub, especially near rivers and canals.

Food : Omnivorous.

Breeding : March-October.

Francolinus pictus Jardine & Selby

(Painted partridge)

Size and Form : 31 cm.; partridge.

Field Identification : A brownish black spotted grey partridge with supercilium and face pale chestnut, throat chestnut in male, while whitish in some females.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : From Gujarat north to S Uttar Pradesh, east to Orissa and South through the peninsula and Sri Lanka.

Habitat : Tall thick grassland and cultivation with scattered trees and bushes, also thin forest.

Food : Mainly grains, termites and other insects.

Breeding : March-October.

Francolinus pondicerianus Gmelin

(Indian grey partridge)

Size and Form : 33 cm.; partridge.

Field Identification : Adult has buffish-white or buffish-orange throat surrounded by necklace of black spotting, fine buff, chestnut, grey-brown and dark brown barring to upper parts, fine blackish-brown barring to entire under parts.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India except the Northeast.

Habitat : Dry open grass plains and thorn scrub, often under a bush, rock or other shelter.

Food : Seeds, insects.

Breeding : March-October.

Perdicula asiatica asiatica Latham

(Jungle bush quail)

Size and Form : 17 cm.; sparrow.

Field Identification : Male has rufous-orange throat and supercilium, whitish moustachial stripe, brownish ear-coverts, orange-buff vent and under parts heavily barred with black. Female is vinous-buff on the under parts, without black barring.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : From Gujarat east to Orissa, north to Himachal Pradesh and south throughout the peninsula and Sri Lanka.

Habitat : Dry grass and scrub jungle and both open and fairly dense deciduous forests, preferably on dry and stony ground.

Food : Grass and weed seeds, bajra, millets and small insects.

Breeding : Almost all moths, varying locally.

Perdicula argoondah Sykes

(Red jungle fowl)

Size and Form : 17 cm.; quail.

Field Identification : Male has duller, more vinaceous-buff throat which is concolorous with ear-coverts, creamy white supercilium, white under parts heavily barred with black, buffish-white vent and lacks white moustachial stripe. Female is vinaceous to vinaceous-buff on the under parts, without black barring.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : From Harayana south to N Kerala and from Gujarat east to Central Madhya Pradesh and Central Andhra Pradesh.

Habitat : Dry rocky or sandy areas, thinly vegetated with thorn scrub.

Food : Seeds and insects.

Breeding : Almost all year.

Galloperdix spadicea Gmelin

(Red spurfowl)

Size and Form : 36 cm.; partridge.

Field Identification : Male, with brownish-grey head and neck and dark brown crown, rufous upper parts and under parts scaled with grey and buff and brownish-black unbarred tail. Female has browner head and neck, buffish-brown upper parts with bold blackish markings, rufous under parts with irregular blackish barring and buff barring on tail.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Widespread and locally common from Utter Pradesh south to the peninsula; foothills up to 1250 m.

Habitat : Dense scrub near cultivation, dry and stony scrub-covered foothills, bamboo thickets and secondary growth.

Food : Seeds and insects.

Breeding : January-June.

Gallus gallus Linnaeus

(Red jungle fowl)

Size and Form : Male 65-75 cm., female 42-46 cm.; domestic fowl.

Field Identification : Male with red comb and wattle, elongated rufous-orange and golden-yellow hackles around nape and mantle, blackish-brown under parts, crimson band across back, rufous secondaries and long greenish-black, sickle-shaped tail. Female has shawl of elongated feathers across nape and mantle, and naked reddish face.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Himalayas from Jammu & Kashmir east to Arunachal Pradesh; Northeast and East India and Bangladesh.

Habitat : Well watered areas. Undergrowth in moist mixed forest and scrub jungle interspersed with patches of cultivation.

Food : Seeds and insects.

Breeding : January-October.

Pavo cristatus Linnaeus

(Common pea fowl)

Size and Form : Male 180-230 cm., female 90-100 cm.; large fowl.

Field Identification : Male with fan-like crest, glossy blue crown, neck, upper mantle and breast; metallic green lower mantle and back; spectacular glossy green train. Female lacks sweeping train.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout much of India, also SE Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan.

Habitat : In the wild state, in undergrowth in deciduous forest near streams, where semi-feral, lives in villages and cultivation.

Food : Omnivorous.

Breeding : January-September.

Turnix suscitator Gmelin

(Bustard quail)

Size and Form : 15 cm.; sparrow.

Field Identification : Bold black barring on buffish sides of neck, breast and wing-coverts and warm orange-rufous to orange-buff flanks and belly. Male usually has greyish or buffish-white throat and has bold black and buff barring on neck sides and across whole of breast. Female, generally, has black throat and centre of breast and buff barring on breast sides.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : From Gujarat and E. Punjab, India east to Assam and south through the peninsula and Sri Lanka.

Habitat : Grassland and scrub at edges of cultivation and near villages; also open deciduous forest, usually not far from water.

Food : Grass and weed seeds, grain, green shoots and small insects.

Breeding : Almost throughout the year.

Grus grus Linnaeus

(Common crane)

Size and Form : 110-120 cm.; crane.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult is mainly greyish, with largely black head and fore neck, with white stripe behind eye extending down neck sides and red patch on crown.

Status : Winter visitor.

Distribution : Recently recorded mainly from Gujarat and N. Madhya Pradesh; formerly common in winter from Pakistan and N. India east to W. Bengal and south to N. Andhra Pradesh.

Habitat : Winter crops, rivers with sandbanks, lakes and reservoirs.

Food : Mainly vegetarian.

Breeding : May-June.

Grus antigone antigone Linnaeus

(Sarus crane)

Size and Form : 156 cm.; crane.

Field Identification : A huge, mainly pale grey crane, with reddish legs. Adult has naked scarlet head and upper neck (except for ashy green crown) and very large bill. Sexes alike.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Recently recorded mainly from Gujarat and Rajasthan east to E. Uttar Pradesh and S. Madhya Pradesh. Formerly ranged from Pakistan and North India east to Assam and south to N. Andhra Pradesh.

Habitat : Open cultivation in well-watered country, marshes, lakes and rivers.

Food : Mainly fish, also crustaceans, large insects, frogs and lizards.

Breeding : July-December.

Anthropoides virgo Linnaeus

(Demoiselle crane)

Size and Form : 90-100 cm.; crane.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult mainly grey in colouration, with short, fine bill, mainly black head and neck with downcurved white tuft behind eye and grey crown; black feathers of neck often extend as a point beyond breast; elongated grey and black tertials project as a shallow arc beyond body, giving rise to distinctive shape.

Status : Winter visitor and passage migrant.

Distribution : Recently recorded mainly from Pakistan and from Gujarat and Rajasthan south to N. Karnataka and east to C. Uttar Pradesh.

Habitat : Cultivation, large rivers with sand banks and reservoirs.

Food : Mainly vegetarian.

Breeding : May-July.

Gallinula chloropus Linnaeus

(Moorhen

Size and Form : 32-35 cm.; hen.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult breeding has yellow-tipped red bill and red frontal shield, red irides, blackish head and neck, slate-grey under parts and dark olive-brown upperparts; very striking white lateral undertail-coverts, white border to flanks, and yellow-green legs with red above knee. Adult non-breeding has duller brownish-red bill and duller leg.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout most of the Indian subcontinent except parts of the north-west, north-east and Himalayas.

Habitat : Marshes, lakes, ponds, village tanks and ditches with emergent aquatic vegetation.

Food : Omnivorous, eating vegetable matter and insects.

Breeding : March-September.

Porphyrio porphyrio poliocephalus Latham

(Purple moorhen)

Size and Form : 45-50 cm.; duck.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A very large rail, mainly purplish-blue in colouration, with huge red bill and red frontal shield. It has long, stout legs, huge feet and white undertail-coverts.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout much of the Indian subcontinent, except parts of the north-west, north-east and Himalayas.

Habitat : Large marshes and extensive reedbacks bordering lakes.

Food : Mainly seeds, grains and vegetable matter, also insects and molluscs.

Breeding : March-September.

Fulica atra atra Linnaeus

(Coot)

Size and Form : 36-38 cm.; duck.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult is entirely greyish-black, with white bill and frontal shield, red irides and large dull green legs and feet. Shows paler trailing edge to secondaries in flight.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout much of the Indian subcontinent, except parts of the north-west, north-east and Himalayas.

Habitat : Lakes and irrigation tanks with large areas of open water and marginal emergent vegetation.

Food : Mainly vegetarian, also molluscs, worms and insects.

Breeding : May-December.

Hydrophasianus chirugus Scopoli

(Pheasant tailed jacana)

Size and Form : 31-58 cm.; duck.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult breeding is elaborate, with white head and fore neck, orange-yellow hind neck, dark brown body contrasting with white of wings and long downcurved tail. Adult non-breeding lacks long tail and has white under parts.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India, except most of Himalayas.

Habitat : Lakes, tanks and village pools well vegetated with floating aquatic plants.

Food : Mainly vegetarian, also molluscs, aquatic insects.

Breeding : May-September.

Metopidius indicus Latham

(Bronze winged jacana)

Size and Form : 28-31 cm.; hen.

Field Identification : Adult has white supercilium contrasting with glossy black head, black neck and under parts and bronze-green upper parts. Further, has rufous-chestnut rump, uppertail-coverts and tail. Bill is yellow, with bright red shield. Sexes alike.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Mainly from Gujarat and NW Uttar Pradesh east through the Nepal lowlands to NE India and Bangladesh and south throughout the peninsula.

Habitat : Lakes, ponds and village tanks well vegetated with floating aquatic plants.

Food : Mainly seeds and roots and also aquatic invertebrates.

Breeding : June-September.

Vanellus indicus indicus Boddaert

(Red wattled lapwing)

Size and Form : 32-35 cm.; grey partridge.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult with black crown, throat and centre to breast which contrast with white cheeks, sides of breast and belly. It has black-tipped red bill, red wattle, iris and eye-ring and yellow legs.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Any open flat ground near water.

Food : Insects, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding : March-September.

Vanellus spinosus Linnaeus

(Spur-winged lapwing)

Size and Form : 29-32 cm.; grey partridge.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A distinct, riverain lapwing. In all plumages has black cap and throat with diffuse white border, grey sides to neck, cold sandy-brown upper parts and breast-band contrasting with white belly. It has a small black patch in the centre of belly and black legs and bill.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : From Himachal Pradesh east through N. India and the Himalayan foothills to NE India and Bangladesh.

Habitat : Sandy and shingle banks and islands of rivers; also estuarine coasts in Bangladesh.

Food : Insects, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding : March-September.

Vanellus malabaricus Boddaert

(Yellow-wattled lapwing)

Size and Form : 26-28 cm.; grey partridge.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult has lobe shaped yellow wattles, long yellow legs, black cap contrasting with white supercilium, sandy brown upper parts and breast contrasting with white belly, with a narrow dark breast-band.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Dry stubbles and fallow fields, stony ground, abandoned cultivation, bare gravel plains and open dry country with very short grass.

Food : Mainly insectivorous.

Breeding : March-August.

Charadrius dubius Scopoli

(Little ringed plover)

Size and Form : 14-17 cm.; sparrow.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Adult breeding has broad black mask and frontal band, white forehead, bold yellow eye-ring and black breast-band. Non-breeding adult has brownish cap with whitish fore head, indistinct supercilium and blackish-brown breast band.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Sand, shingle and mud margins of lakes, pools and rivers, wet grasslands and paddy-fields, intertidal areas on sea-shore, mudflats and tidal creeks.

Food : Small insects, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding : March-August.

Tringa glareola Linnaeus

(Spotted sandpiper)

Size and Form : 18-21 cm.; grey partridge.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A slim sandpiper, with heavily spotted under parts, distinct white supercilium and streaked breast ending in breast-band. Adult breeding has heavily streaked breast and barred flanks. Adult non-breeding has more uniform grey-brown upper parts, spotted whitish.

Status : Winter visitor.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Marshes, village tanks, lakes, wet paddy fields, mudflats and tidal creeks.

Food : Insects, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding : Extralimital.

Tringa hypoleucos Linnaeus

(Common sandpiper)

Size and Form : 19-21 cm.; grey partridge.

Field Identification : A small sandpiper, with olive-brown upper parts strongly contrasting with white under parts, long tail projecting well beyond closed wings and constant bobbing action when feeding. Adult breeding has irregular dark streaking and barring on upper parts. Adult non-breeding is duller and more uniform above with less distinct breast pattern.

Status : Winter visitor.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Village tanks, banks of streams, rivers, canals, lakes, tidal creeks, coastal wetlands.

Food : Insects, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding : May and June.

Gallinago gallinago Linnaeus

(Common snipe)

Size and Form : 25-27 cm.; myna.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. Dark brown and buff stripes on head, warm buff colouration to breast and prominent mantle and scapular stripes; typically, buff supercilium contrasts with white cheek-stripe and bulges less in front of eye.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Marshes, flooded paddy stubbles, muddy edges of rivers and pools.

Food : Aquatic invertebrates.

Breeding : Late April-mid June.

Calidris minuta Leisler

(Little stint)

Size and Form : 13-15 cm.; sparrow.

Field Identification : Adult non-breeding is brownish-grey above and white below, with grey patches on sides of breast; a straighter all-black bill and dark legs. Adult breeding is more rufous, in colouration, with a more extensive white throat and shows cream V on mantle. Sexes alike.

Status : Winter visitor.

Distribution : Much of the Indian subcontinent, except parts of the northwest and northeast and most of Himalayas.

Habitat : Mudflats, coastal lagoons, tidal creeks, marshes, paddy fields and lakes.

Food : Insects, crustaceans and worms.

Breeding : Extralimital.

Rostratula benghalensis Linnaeus

(Painted snipe)

Size and Form : 25 cm.; grey partridge.

Field Identification : Adult female has striking white spectacles and white braces, which join with buff scapular lines; maroon head and neck, becoming blacker on breast, buff-crown stripe, dark greenish mantle and wing-coverts. Adult male is smaller and duller; spectacles are buff, head and neck lack maroon colouration and wing-coverts are boldly spotted with golden-buff.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Widespread in India but few records from parts of Northwest, Central and East India.

Habitat : Freshwater marshes, pools and ditches thickly vegetated with reeds and with mud patches; also mangroves in Bangladesh.

Food : Crustaceans, insects, molluscs, vegetative matter.

Breeding : Almost all year.

Himantopus himantopus Linnaeus

(Blackwinged stilt)

Size and Form : 35-40 cm.; hen.

Field Identification : An elegant, very long-legged, black and white wader, with fine, straight black bill. Adult with mainly white head, neck and under body, contrasting with upperparts and reddish-pink legs. Both sexes can have dusky grey on crown, nape and hind neck. Female has browner mantle and scapulars than male.

Status : Resident.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Freshwater and brackish marshes, pools, village tanks, reservoirs, saltpans and shallow margins of lakes.

Food : Fishes, insects and other aquatic invertebrates.

Breeding : March-August.

Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus

(Avocet)

Size and Form : 42-45 cm.; duck.

Field Identification : Sexes alike. A striking black and white wader with pronounced upward curve to black bill and blue-grey legs. Adult has prominent black cap and hind neck, black bands across wing-coverts and scapulars and black wing-tips.

Status : Winter visitor and passage migrant.

Distribution : Throughout India.

Habitat : Shallow alkaline or brackish pools; also tidal creeks, saltpans, estuarine mudflats and marshes.

Food : Crustaceans, molluscs and insects.

Breeding : Probably April-June.