Category Zoology

            The spotted dove is also known by various other names like the mountain dove, pearl-necked dove or lace-necked dove. It is a medium-sized bird with a pink and brown plumage. The back and hind neck are black with white spots on them.

            These birds are found in pairs or in small scattered groups in open forests and cultivated lands, near to water.

            The nests are built on low branches of trees or in bushes. They feed on grains; seeds etc. from dusty paths and straw fields and often eat grit on roads and tracks. The way they fly up from the ground is with an explosive flutter and they glide down before perching somewhere.

            The spotted doves are common in almost all parts of India. They have also been introduced in many other parts of the world, like the United States of America, Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand. 

          The blue rock pigeon is a common bird, as familiar as a crow or a house sparrow to us. It is bluish-grey in colour, with a shining metallic green, purple and magenta shades on the neck and upper breast. The wild variety of birds is pale grey in colour and their wings will have two black bars on them. The domesticated and stray birds have varying colour patterns on their plumage.

          One peculiarity of the rock pigeon is the way it drinks water. These birds can actually dip their bill in water and simply drink water, continuously. But often, what they do is to take a small sip and tilt the head backwards to swallow the water. Most birds do this repeatedly when drinking.

          These birds can be found in cultivations, rocky and urban areas. They feed on grains, often in large numbers, as a flock. If a group of pigeons are disturbed, they will fly up together, producing a noisy clapping sound which our movies have often pictured on screen dramatically. They build nests using twigs and straw, often in cavities or on tall rocks. They tend to live in colonies. These birds are abundant in India. It can also be seen in Europe and Africa. 

The black-headed jay is a lean, light-pink coloured bird with a black head and a thick, short bill. There is a notable small tuft of feathers on its head.

It is found in wooded country with large areas of open ground rather than dense forest. It also found in some cultivated areas and even near villages as long as there are enough trees nearby. They have a wide range of food items that they eat, including plant and animal food like eggs and baby birds. They build nests in the low branches of trees. Their call is a loud screech, with long pauses in between.

In India, these birds are seen in the Himalayas. Outside, countries like Afghanistan, and Bhutan also hosts them. 

          The Indian tree pie is a small bird, with mainly chestnut coloured plumage. But its head and neck are black in colour. Although it is only as big as a mynah, it has a long tail of about 30 cm.

          These birds can live wherever there are trees, like in open forests, city parks and gardens. They have a diverse menu, including insects, reptiles, small birds, fruits, nectar and even garbage. Stealing eggs from other nests is a weakness of these birds. But since they are efficient at searching for and trapping pests, they are considered to be of great help to farmers cultivating palm trees. Their nests will be situated high on tree branches. They like to stay hidden in leaf cover, but are adventurous and curious. They often follow one another while moving through branches.

          These birds are found in almost all parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. 

            The common raven is a large bird found in dry or mountainous deserts and grasslands. It is totally glossy black in appearance and has a thick bill. They are exceptionally intelligent birds that can be seen flying very high in the air, with outstretched wings.

            This bird has lived along with humans for a long time past. Sometimes, these birds were so large in number that they were literally considered as pests. Dead, decaying flesh of animals is the favourite food of ravens. At the same time, they lead a ‘thug’s life’, stealing eggs or little birds, from other nests. They may even prey upon other adult birds, if they get a chance. They have an average lifespan of around 21 years.

            In India, common ravens are found in Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. They are also found in Europe, North Africa, Central America and other regions of Asia. 

               The large-billed crow has a glossy black plumage and a steep forehead. It is a large bird with a large curved bill. It usually lives in rural areas, in the vicinity of human settlements. This is to make use of the dirty conditions created by humans, since this bird can find calories from almost anything, including dead bodies. This bold and adventurous bird is highly sociable and is fond of a large company. They are found to roost communally in thousands of numbers, often including other species of birds. Roosting in large groups is a night-time habit while, they build and look after nests in pairs during daytime.

               The large-billed crow has the ability to adapt to any living condition. This helps them colonize new places, often making them a nuisance in places like islands. They are very common in India and most parts of Asia. Johann Georg Wagler was the first person to describe these birds in 1827, based on a specimen he got from Java.