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Archive for the ‘Birds’ Category

The Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. This species was formerly referred to as the Black-shouldered Kite, but this name is now only used for the Australian species. This bird is unmistakable. It has a white head with a black “mask”, and white underparts except for black tips to its narrow falcon-like wings.Upperparts are blue-grey except for black shoulder patches. It takes live prey such as small mammals, birds and insects. The slow hunting flight is like a harrier, but it will hover like a Kestrel. The tail is short and square, quite unlike the more familiar Milvus kites. This bird was seen at the Koshi Tappu, Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Black-winged Kite

The Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae. Adults are 103-110 cm (41-43 inches) long, have a wingspan of 260-289 cm (102-114 inches) across the wings and weigh 8-12 kg (18-26.4 lbs). They are the second largest Old World vulture, behind only the Cinereous Vulture in size. It breeds on crags in mountains in the Himalayas and Tibet, laying a single egg. Birds may form loose colonies. The population is mostly resident. Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly from carcasses of animals, which it finds by soaring over open areas and mountains. These birds often move in flocks. The Himalayan Griffon Vulture is a typical vulture, with a bald white head, very broad wings, and short tail feathers. It is even larger than the European Griffon Vulture. It has a white neck ruff and yellow bill. The whitish body and wing coverts contrast with the dark flight feathers. This vulture grunts and hisses at roosts or when feeding on carrion. This bird was seen at Koshi Tappu, Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Himalayan Griffon Vulture

The Coppersmith Barbet, Crimson-breasted Barbet or Coppersmith (Megalaima haemacephala), is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. Flight is straight, with rapid flaps. They have a loud metallic tuk…tuk…tuk call. They feed on Banyan, Peepul, and other wild figs, various drupes and berries, and the occasional insect, caught in aerial sallies. They also feed on petals of a flower. They eat nearly 1.5 to nearly 3 times their body weight in berries each day. Three or four eggs are laid. Like other barbets, they chisel out a hole inside a tree to build their nest. They are mainly fruit eating but will take insects. This bird was seen at Balgram, Sunsari, Itahari, Nepal.

The Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is a resident breeder in open woodland in tropical Asia east from Nepal to India, China and Indonesia. They forage in small groups, feeding on nectar and small insects. They are easily identified by the distinctive white eye-ring and overall yellowish upperparts. This bird is small about 8-9 cm long with yellowish olive upper parts, a white eye ring, yellow throat and vent. The belly is whitish grey but may have yellow in some subspecies. Both male and female look similar. This species is found in a wide range of habitats from scrub to moist forest. It builds a tree nest and lays 2-5 unspotted pale blue eggs. Their nest is a neat cup made of cobwebs, lichens and plant fiber. They have a soft nasal cheer. This bird was seen at Koshi Camp, Madhubhan, Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Oriental White-eye

The Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is a jacana in the monotypic genus Hydrophasianus. The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is capable of swimming, although it usually walks on the vegetation. The females are more colourful than the males and are polyandrous. This is the only jacana to have a different breeding plumage. The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is a conspicuous and unmistakable bird. They are around 31 cm long, with the females larger than the males. During the breeding season, the long tail adds another 8 cm. Breeding adults are mainly black other than white wings, head, and fore neck. The hind neck is golden. There is a striking white eye stripe. The legs and very long toes are grey. The Pheasant-tailed Jacana’s main sources of food are insects and other invertebrates picked from the floating vegetation or the water’s surface. They lay about four black-marked brown eggs. .Their call is a mewing me-onp and a nasal teeun. This bird was seen at the wetland of the Morang district, Biratnagar, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Pheasant-tailed Jacana

The Bar-Headed Goose (Anser indicus) is a bird, which is habitat to the cold places. Its size is about 75 cm. They mostly gather in a large flock near pond and rivers. They mainly feed on barley, rice and wheat, and may damage crops. They fly in a flocks making long V formation. Its size is about 75 cm. Their wild musical honking sound is best heard when they fight. In Nepal it is a winter visitor bird. It is known to fly at very high altitudes when on migrating over the Himalayas. This bird was seen near the wetland of Koshi Tappu (Koshi Barrage), Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal… Bar-Headed goose

Coucal

Coucal (Centropus sinensis) is also known as the crow pheasant. Heavily built and ungraceful bird, frequent tangled undergrowth or rank grassy areas and scrub, often near water. Creeping of clambering through the vegetation, it is often mistaken for a gamebird, but has a distinctive hollow or blooming note. It feed on small animals or snakes, and is very destructive to small baby birds and eggs. They built their nest with twigs, grasses or vines.Coucal is unique in the cuckoo family in having a long straight claw on the hind toe. This bird was seen at the forest of Tarahara (Charkose Jhadi), Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Coucal

The Hair-crested Drongo or Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus) is an Asian bird. Hair-crested Drongos move in small flocks and are very noisy. Its size is about 32 cm. They mainly feed on insects. They are found in light woodland. It is a aggressive towards other birds which might constitute a threat to its nest or eggs. They made their nest with fibers and lichens. This bird was seen at the forest of Tarahara (Charkose Jhadi), Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Hair-crested Drongo

The Large Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina macei) is a species of cuckooshrike. They are mostly insectivorous and usually fly just above the forest canopy. They have a loud call Klu-eep and have a characteristic habit of shrugging their closed wings shortly after landing on a perch.They lay about 3-4 eggs. Its size is about 30cm in length.This bird was seen at the Koshi Tappu, Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal… Large Cuckoo-shrike

Leaf-warblers are small insectivorous birds belonging to the genus Phylloscopus.These are active, constantly moving, warblers always associated with trees, though normally in fairly open woodland rather than tight plantations.They occur from top canopy to undershrubs.Most are greenish or brownish above and off-white or yellowish below. They have a simple call as compared to other warblers. They feed on small insects, seeds, etc. They lay about 2-3 eggs.Its size is about 11 cm. This bird was seen at the forest of Tarahara (Charkose Jhadi), Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Leaf-warbler

Baya Weaver

The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaver bird. They inhabit grassland, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growths usually near fresh or brackish water. These are sparrow sized (15 cm) and in their non-breeding plumage, both males and females resemble female house sparrows. They have a stout conical bill and a short square tail. Non-breeding males and females look alike, dark brown streaked fulvous buff above, plain (unstreaked) whitish fulvous below, eyebrows long buffy, bill is horn coloured and no mask. Breeding males have a bright yellow crown, dark brown mask, blackish brown bill, upper parts are dark brown streaked with yellow, with a yellow breast and cream buff below. The breeding season of the Baya Weavers is during the monsoons. They nest in colonies of up to 20-30, close to the source of food, nesting material and water. Baya Weavers are best known for their elaborately woven nests. They feed on insect, paddy, crops, etc. This bird was seen at the forest of Tarahara (Charkose Jhadi), Sunsari, Nepal.

The Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) is a member of the roller family of birds. They are found in open grassland and light forest areas. The Indian Roller is a stocky bird about 26-27cm.The crown and vent is blue. In flight the primaries and secondaries show bright shades of blue. The main habitat is cultivation, thin forest and grassland. They are often seen perched on roadside electric wires. They nests in a lined hole in a tree or building, and lays about 3-5 eggs. They have a harsh call. They feed on small reptiles, small insect, small snakes and amphibians. This bird was seen at the forest of Tarahara (Charkose Jhadi), Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Indian Roller