The Odd Birds of India

The chirp and their flight make it worth a while. Birds are one of the most beautiful creations in the world. In this highly industrial world, these creatures make us human feel very close to nature. It is said that 1250 species of birds are found only in the Indian Subcontinent. It’s beautiful how the birds make such a beautiful addition to the world. Birds make a lot of difference to the environment. The existence of birds proves that the air we breathe is fresh and clean. The unique birds that exist in India are as follows:-

 

Grey Tit

They are the most joyous birds and reside in well-wooden localities.  These busy-bodies spend most of their time hunting for insects- climbing about and clinging to sprigs and flowering stems in every conceivable position, peering under the leaves, probing into flowers and searching the crevices of the bark. Their food consists mainly of insects, but seeds and berries are also eaten. In the breeding season, the male utters a loud, clear, whistling song. Both sexes share in building, incubation and care of the young.

 

The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch is not a bird of deep forest though it likes wooded tracts. It is partial to mango groves on the outskirts of villages. On a casual glimpse, it is possible to mistake it for a tree mouse. It utters feeble mousy squeaks and also has a quick-repeated double note: Chilp-Chilp.

 

The Jungle Babbler

These birds are found throughout India especially in Assam. The Babbler inhabits outlying jungle as well as well-wooded compounds, gardens and groves of trees about towns and villages. They keep up a constant harsh chatter and squeaking. To outsiders, they always present a united front. Their food consists of spiders, cockroaches and other insects.

 

The Green Bulbul

They inhabit forests and on the whole, prefer a more thickly wooded country. Its colour harmonizes with the leaves beautifully. Its food consists of spiders, insects, fruits and berries. Flower – nectar is also regularly eaten.

The Red-Vented Bulbul

This bird is a common bird of gardens and light scrub jungle both near and away from human habitations. It is usually seen in a pair. Although it has no song as such, its notes have a peculiar air of joyousness which, coupled with the bird’s vivacious disposition, always make it a welcome visitor to the garden.

 

The Pied Bush-Chat

This bird is usually found in Himalayan foothills. It loves stony open and sparsely scrubbed country, in the neighbourhood of villages and cultivation. It is seen singly, but usually has its mate somewhere close at hand. The bird indulges in short display flights and to and fro with slow ‘delayed action’ wing beats above his back as in a pigeon ‘clapping’. 

The Collared

This bird is only met with in the plains during the cold weather. The pretty little song is seldom heard while the birds are in their winter quarters. 

The Redstart

It is frequently be seen perched on a roof-top or wall dipping forward jerkily every little while and ceaselessly flirting its tail. The notes commonly uttered are a sharp squeaky whil.. whil.

The Indian Robbin

This bird is one of the most familiar and confiding birds of our country.  It inhabits the drier and more open parts and is a frequent visitor to gardens and compounds. It loves the neighbourhood of villages where one may come across it perched on a thatch roof, and cactus hedge or stone, uttering its cherry notes.