What makes the peregrine falcon or shaheen unique?


          The most remarkable characteristic of the peregrine falcon is its speed of flight. During its hunting dive in the air, it is found to move as fast as 320 km per hour. There are reports that some peregrine falcons can fly at a speed of 389 km per hour.



          The peregrine falcon is as large as a crow. The female birds are larger in size. But both are similar in appearance with black plumage and broad shoulders. These are compact and powerful birds and are one of the most common birds in the world. They are seen nearly everywhere on Earth, except in the extreme polar regions, on very high mountains and dense tropical forests. They build nests on spots which are not easily accessible. Typically, there will be typically three or four eggs in a nest and they use the same nest for long periods.



          They hunt pigeons, parakeets and other birds of similar size as prey. Due to their superior hunting skills, these birds were favourites in the collections of professional falconers. 


Why is the red headed merlin an unusual bird?


          The red headed merlin is a kind of falcon which is small, but powerful. It is also known as red-headed falcon. It is a little bird with pointed wings and pale grey plumage on its upper parts. Its head and the back of its neck are bright chestnut colour. They make a high-pitched, squealing bird call.



          In India, they are found in open habitats and are not found in dense forests or high hills. Despite their small size, these birds fly at great speeds in search of prey and catch small birds, rats, lizards and large insects. Sometimes, they may even hunt down bats. In some places, the relatively larger females among these birds are trained to hunt birds like rollers, hoopoes, mynas and partridges.



          The red headed merlins are usually found in pairs, near cultivation areas and they perch on small hills. They build their own nests in date palms or may sometimes use an old crow’s nest. The clutch consists of two to four eggs.



          These birds are very common in India. Apart from India, these birds are also found in Africa.



 


What are the characteristics of the Bonelli’s eagle?

     The Bonelli’s eagle is a large bird of prey, found on hilly and mountainous environments which are open to vegetated land. They prefer dry or not-so-moist climates and are seen from sea level to an altitude of 1.5 kilometres.

           The upperparts of this bird are generally brown and the lower parts are light in colour. It has dark covert feathers and light flight feathers. This bird is gifted with a very strong bill which is pale with a dark tip.



          The Bonelli’s eagle does not fly as high as other eagles and prefers staying close to prey sources. These birds often chase preys in pairs. They take large prey items, usually mammals or birds. Mammals up to the size of a hare are regularly taken. They may also attack the nests of some water birds to rob them of their fish collection.



         The breeding spots of these birds are usually mountainous cliffs or large trees. They construct very big nests and reuse these nests for many years.



         These birds are found in many parts of India.



 


Where can we see tawny eagles?

          The tawny eagle is a large bird of prey, typically around 60-75 cm in length. Their wing span can extend up to 190 cm.



          They prefer to live in regions like deserts, semi-deserts or vast grasslands where trees are less in number. They are found perching on poles and leafless tree branches.



          Tawny eagles are yellowish brown in colour, with a darker shade on the tail and flight feathers. Although the adult birds show a range of variation in colour, young ones usually show less contrast. They make a crow-like barking sound, but are generally silent in nature.



          They are raptors, and feed on the remains of dead animals. But if in need, they will attack and kill live mammals as large as a rabbit, reptiles or birds. They may even attack other raptors to rob their preys. The tawny eagle makes its nest using sticks which can be on trees, cliffs or even on ground. The eggs may be one to three in number.



          Tawny eagles are seen in many parts of India and also in Africa and in other parts of Asia. 




Why is the shikra different from other birds?


          The shikra is a little killer! It is a bird of prey which is only as big as a pigeon. The female birds are slightly larger in size. They are grey on their upper parts, while the under parts are white, with fine reddish-brown bars on it. They have short rounded wings and a comparatively long tail. Their flight is made possible by long glides.



          These birds are found in pairs, in the neighbourhood of villages and cultivation. Their nests resemble those of crows and are found built on trees rich in leaf cover. Their diet includes small animals like locusts, lizards, frogs and rats. Apart from these, they are clever enough to steal domestic chicken, making them a head ache for poultry farmers.



          Shikra’s calls are mimicked by drongos and this behaviour helps drongos in stealing food by alarming other birds that the drongos associate with. The shikra is found in all parts of India and is also called the little banded goshawk.



 


What are the unusual features of the crested serpent eagle?


           The crested serpent eagle is a large bird of prey, which feed on snakes - this characteristic has given it its name.



          Its head is big, with a bare yellow face. The younger birds will have a whitish head. There is a waxy fleshy covering in front of the eyes, at the base of upper beak, called the ceres. The powerful feet are unfeathered and heavily scaled.



          It is found mainly over areas with thick vegetation both on the low hills and the plains. They hunt in pairs. Sometimes, they’ll fly very high in the air and sometimes, just skim over the leaf cover of trees, looking for small mammals and reptiles living on tree branches.



          They also make their nests atop trees. A study found that most nests were built along riverside trees. Both birds in a pair build the nest but the female alone incubates. The usual clutch is one egg. The young ones are always guarded by parents.



          Crested serpent eagles are very common in many regions of our country, but are not found in Northwest India. Within the tropical regions of Asia, there are 21 different subspecies of these birds. 


What are the features of the Indian vulture?


          The Indian vulture is also called the long-billed vulture. They are medium-sized and bulky, with very broad wings.  Their main feathers are very dark, while the inner covert feathers are pale. If you see them from below when they are flying, the forewings will appear light brown. They have a small head and long neck.



          They are found as colonies, on cliff edges and buildings. Earlier, these birds were very common in peninsular India except the extreme south. But their population is decreasing severely and the IUCN has included them in the list of Critically Endangered species since 2002.



           A major reason for the deaths of Indian vultures is the poisoning caused by a veterinary drug called diclofenac. If they eat the remains of dead animals treated by diclofenac, the vultures face kidney complaints which eventually lead to their death.



          There are attempts to save them by breeding them artificially in captivity. But there is a limitation here - these birds have a long life span and are slow to reproduce. Therefore, the captive-breeding programme may take decades to make a significant difference. 


Why is it said that the White-rumped vulture is useful to humanity?

               The white-rumped vultures help us by clearing off unwanted or even harmful garbage. They are often found flying near garbage dumps and slaughter houses. These birds eat the animal waste produced in these areas. 





               These birds are purple black in colour and have a remarkable white back. They are also called white backed vultures because of this. Their head is bald, with dark purple shading. There is a notable white ring of feathers around the neck, called the ruff. This bird has very broad wings, making the head and tail appear very small.



               The white-rumped vultures nest on tall trees. They have very keen eye-sight and fly very high in the air. But their sense of smell is very poor.



               Their most active time is during the sunrise, when the air is slowly warming up. Earlier, we could see them throughout mainland India, but now, they are very rare. 


What are the special characteristics of Egyptian vultures?


            The Egyptian vulture does not look much like a vulture. They have a peculiar feather cover over their heads. The adult birds are generally white in colour.



            They have a yellow bill and a leathery patch on their face. The young birds are often brown, with a strange combination of white and grey.





           Egyptian vultures are silent birds, seen as small groups in the premises of villages and towns. Adding to their shabby image, these birds are commonly seen near garbage and dumps. These happen to be their usual roosting sites too.



            In their search for food, they cover large areas, flying high in the air. They can be seen perching on ruins, high roofs and tombs. They build nest atop buildings, tall trees or cliffs, where the females lay beautiful white eggs.



            These birds can be seen in Northwest India. They are also common in Europe and Africa.


Why is it said that the black shouldered kite is similar to the owl in appearance?


                  The black shouldered kite looks like and owl primarily due to its broad head. It is a comparatively small bird of prey, around 35 to 40 cm in length, with a wing span of up to 95 cm.



             These birds prey upon reptiles and large insects. They are normally found perching on tall poles or open tree branches. When they spot a prey, they slowly hover over it, in the air and then, float down to pounce on it. This flight is very graceful to see.



            These birds are usually seen as single or in pairs, near cultivation fields, open grassland with scrubs or open woodlands. They prefer to make their nests atop isolated trees.



            The black shouldered kite is a very common bird in India. It can be seen in other continents like Europe and Africa. The black shouldered kites are not threatened and are evaluated as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN Red List.


What are the features of the Brahminy kite?

          Brahminy kites seen in most parts of India have a striking chestnut coloured plumage. But their head is white and wing tips are black.



          They are usually seen as solitary birds near the coasts and in inland wetlands. But occasionally, they can also be seen in large gatherings. They build their nests atop tall isolated trees near water. The nests will be like large stick platforms where we can see greyish or pinkish eggs with reddish brown spots.



          They prefer to collect their food from the surface of water, rather than from land and therefore, sea ports and fishing docks are places where we can commonly see these birds. These birds also enter human settlements, just like pariah kites and crows. The bird is a common one in most parts of India. Outside India, Brahminy kites are seen in China and Australia. 




Why is the black kite popular?


               Black kites are very familiar to humans because these birds prefer to live under artificial conditions created by humans. They are also called pariahs and can be seen in human settlements, like towns, large villages or along rivers and lake shores.



               These birds are mainly black in colour and have a shallow-forked tail. These birds eat dead animals, especially fish and they hunt for food in garbage. Meanwhile, there are two things they have a special liking for; worms on freshly ploughed land and young chicken. They ‘kidnap’ little chicks to feed their young and this makes them a serious nuisance to poultry farmers.



               Black kites are very common in India. Outside India, they are also seen in Europe, Africa, throughout Asia and Australia. 


What are the characteristics of the little grebe?


            The little grebe also called the dabchick is a common breeding bird in India. It is a small, short water bird with an overall brown plumage. They are around 20 to 30 cm in length and are the smallest European member of their family. Its flanks and neck are of a slightly of lighter shade. The necks of younger birds have some stripes.



            Little grebes produce a high-pitched vibrating sound. These birds prefer open water bodies and are found in scattered flocks in winter. They are very shy and if they are disturbed, they will either dive into water or just hide in vegetation. They are very skillful in camouflaging themselves among plants.



            They are not much interested in flying and even if they are, they do it after walking a few gentle steps. But their legs are placed very far back in their body which makes it difficult for them to walk well. Therefore, they always make their nests at the water’s edge. They are very good at swimming and diving and hence, can chase their preys under water. Fish is their primary diet. But their preys can also be other edible invertebrates in water. 


Why is the large cormorant so called?


          The large cormorant or the great cormorant is a cormorant as large as a goose, as its name suggests. This bird is mainly black and has a yellow patch on its face. Its bill is long and hooked. The female birds are slightly smaller when compared to the male birds. The bird has a wingspan of about 160 cm. Their weight can vary from 1.5 kg to as heavy as around 5.3 kg.



          These birds are very commonly seen in seas, estuaries, fresh water lakes and rivers. Although they can dive to considerable depths, they often prefer to feed in shallow waters and bring their prey to the surface before eating. They breed in colonies in tall trees and try to keep away from other birds. Their nests are made from seaweed and twigs. They roost on the branches of tall trees or pylons.



           The large cormorants are very common in India. Since our fishermen found it very difficult to compete with these birds for fish, they were once heavily hunted nearly to extinction. It was due to deliberate conservation efforts that the number of these birds increased again. 


What are the special features of the little cormorant?


            The little cormorant is another fish-loving bird which is black and as large as a duck. Unlike the darter, it has a short thick neck and a long tail. These birds have web like feet that help to propel them in water. They are generally found in lakes or large inland waters, as single birds, small flocks, or even as an assembly of close knit birds.



            The major diet of these birds is fish caught from under water while swimming. The caught fish are brought to the surface and swallowed. The cormorants can fly very fast, often close to the water. They also have the habit of drying their wings by opening them out in the sun. They build their nests along with other water birds in trees. These birds produce low roaring sounds when they are near their nests.



            The little cormorants are widely distributed in India and they are sometimes called Javanese cormorants.