Birds of Tiruvannamalai

The below is a current list of birds found, or have been sighted in the Tiruvannamalai District, particularly in the Arunachala area. If any readers have sighted birds in this area other than those on the list, please get in touch (at the email address at the top left corner of Arunachala Birds) so I can add them onto the list.

B

Babbler, Common

Babber, Large Grey

Babbler, Tawny Bellied

Babbler, Yellow Billed

Babbler, Yellow Eyed

Barbet, Coppersmith

Bee Eater, Blue Tailed

Bee Eater, Chestnut Headed

Bee Eater, Small Green

Bittern, Cinnamon

Bulbul, Red Vented
Bush-Lark, Jerdon

C

Chat, Pied Bush

Coot, Common

Coucal, Creater

Cormorant, Little

Crow, House

Crow, Jungle

Cuckoo, Grey Bellied

Cuckoo, Indian

Cuckoo, Pied Crested

D

Darter

Dove, Laughing (Collared)

Drongo, Ashy

E

Eagle, Black

Eagle, Crested Serpent

Eagle, Short Toed Snake

Eagle, Spotted

Egret, Cattle

Egret, Great

Egret, Little

F

Falcon, Peregrine

Flower-Pecker, Pale Billed

Fly-Catcher, Asian Brown

Fly-catcher, Asian Paradise

Fly-Catcher, Tickell’s Blue

Francolin, Grey

G

Gargeney

H

Harrier, Pied

Heron, Back Crowned Night

Heron, Grey

Heron, Indian Pond

Heron, Purple

Hoopoe, Common

I

Ibis, Black Headed

Ibis, Glossy

K

Kestrel, Common

Kingfisher, Common

Kingfisher, Pied

Kingfisher, White Throated

Kite, Black

Kite, Black Shouldered

Kite, Brahminy

L

Lapwing, Yellow Wattled

Red Wattled, Lapwing

Lark, Rufous Winged Bush

M

Malkoha, Blue Faced

Malkoha, Sirkeer
Minivet, Small

Monarch-Flycatcher, Back-Naped

Moorhen, Common

Munia, Black Headed

Munia, Indian Silver bill

Munia, Scaly Breasted

Munia, White Rumped

Myna, Common

N

Nightjar, Indian

O

Oriole, Eurasian Golden

Owl, Barn

Owl, Eurasian Eagle

Owl, Mottled Wood

Owlet, Spotted

P

Parakeet, Rose Ringed

Peafowl, Indian

Pipit, Paddyfield

Pigeon, Rock

Pintail, Northern

Pitta, Indian

Prinia, Ashy

Prinia, Jungle

Q

Quail, Jungle Bush

R

Roller, Indian

Robin, Indian

Robin, Oriental Magpie

S

Sandpiper, Green

Shag, Indian

Shikra

Shama, White Rumped

Shrike, Bay Backed

Shrike, Black Headed Cuckoo

Shrike, Brown

Shrike, Common Wood

Shrike, Southern Grey

Sparrow, House

Sparrow, Yellow Throated

Spoonbill, Eurasian

Spurfowl, Painted

Starling, Brahminy
Starling, Rosy

Stilt, Black Winged

Stint, Little

Stone Curlew, Eurasian Thick Nee

Stork, Asian Open Bill

Sunbird, Loten’s

Sunbird, Purple

Sunbird, Purple-Rumped

Swallow, Red Rumped

Swamphen, Purple

Swift, Asian Palm

Swift, House

T

Tailor Bird, Common

Thrush, Blue Rock

Thrush, Orange Headed

Treepie, Rufous

W

Wagtail, Forest

Wagtail, White Browed

Warbler, Blyth’s Reed

Water Hen, White Breasted

Weaver, Baya

Woodpecker, Black-Rumped Flameback

Wryneck, Eurasian

The Grey Heron

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. Its is both a migratory and resident bird depending upon the climate.

There are four subspecies of the Grey Heron, of which Ardea Cinerea Cinerea Linnareus (Tamil = Sambal Narai) is found in Tamil Nadu and Tiruvannamalai District.

This bird flies with steady wing beats with neck folded back and head drawn in between the shoulders and its long legs trailing behind. It’s a big bird with large wing span and has a comparatively lumbering take off.

This bird is the size of an Asian openbill stork. Its field characteristics is that of a lanky stork-like bird. It is ashy grey above with white crown and neck, greyish white below, with long slender S-shaped neck, narrow head, and pointed dagger bill.

There is currently a colony of Grey Herons residing on the reedy banks of Samudram Erie but they will undoubtedly fly off as the lake water recedes. Several years ago when the Samudram was stocked with fish, the migratory Grey Heron was found in large quantities throughout that season.

The Grey Heron wades into shallow water with neck craned and bill poised, or stands hunched up but alert waiting for a frog or fish to blunder within striking range.

Its nesting season in South India is November to March. Its nest is comprised of a twig platform with the central depression lined with grass. Built gregariously in trees, often amongst mixed heronries. It lays 3 to 6 eggs of deep sea-green colour. Both sexes share all domestic duties.

To view a selection of videos of the Grey Heron click this link here.

Fork-Tail Black Kite

The Fork-Tailed Black Kite is commonly found at Tiruvannamalai, and is particularly noticeable flying in the thermals around Arunachala. The Tamil name for this bird is Kalu Parandu.


The nest of the Fork-Tailed Black Kite is usually an untidy platform of twigs, rags, wire and all sorts of rubbish. The nest is commonly located in a large tree, roof, or cornice of a building. Two or four eggs are laid in a batch.

Both sexes share in domestic duties.

In the below photograph a juvenile bird is practising his flying action.

The Fork-Tailed Black Kite is India's commonest raptor and is usually found in the neighbourhood of human habitations, whether a populated city or outlying village.

This Kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. It is about the size of a vulture.

The Kite will take small live prey as well as fish, household refuse and carrion. They are attracted to fires and smoke where they seek escaping insect prey. They are well adapted to living in cities and are found even in densely populated areas. Large numbers may be seen soaring in thermals over cities. In some places they will readily swoop to take to food offered by humans.

 
Differences between Raptor birds:

Kite - Any of several small graceful Hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals

Eagle - Any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight

Hawk - Diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail

Falcon - Diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight

The Fork-Tailed Black Hawk is a very accomplished flier; turning and twisting, banking and stooping to scoop up scraps from the roadside and easily avoiding overhead telephone and electric wires.

Indian Pond Heron

The Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) is a very common species throughout Tiruvannamalai District, where it is often quite tame and easily approachable. Found wherever there is water, river, jheel, roadside ditch or Temple pond.

Its normal way of feeding is to stand hunched up at water's edge or wading in the shallows, waiting patiently for movements and jabbing at the quarry when opportunity offers - its diet consists of freshwater molluscs, amphibians and insects

Searching for food

Non breeding Indian Pond Heron

Indian Pond Heron with Breeding Plummage

In Flight

Its an egret-like marsh bird chiefly earthy brown when at rest, but with glistening white wings, tail and rump that flash into prominence immediately it flies. Its flight is heron-like; steady wing beats with neck pulled in. This bird at rest is quite drab, and the contrast when it takes flight and suddenly becomes a blur of white, is really spectacular.

Nesting

Its breeding habitat is marshy wetlands nesting in mixed congregations of crows and other birds in large leafy trees. Its nesting season in South India is November to January and it lays 3-5 pale greenish blue eggs. In the below photograph an adult Heron is tending some very hungry juveniles.

Chinese Pond Heron

To the east of its range, The Indian Pond Heron is replaced by the Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola Bacchus) which is slightly larger but almost indistinguishable during the non-breeding season.

Non Breeding Adult Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron in Breeding Plummage

White-breasted Kingfisher

This is a bird commonly seen around Arunachala, particularly around Samudram Erie, which gets nice and marshy during rains. This morning I had one of these birds sitting outside my garden - probably didn't come in because way too much competition from crows dropping by for breakfast, lunch and dinner . . . !!!. Yes, the colours are magnificent and authentic, the White-breasted Kingfisher REALLY does look like this.

The White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon Smyrnensis) is found on plains and lower hills all over India and is very common at Tiruvannamalai. This Kingfisher is not dependent upon water and although seen at ponds, puddles and rain filled ditches also habitates light forests situated considerable distances from water. From a favourite lookout on a telegraph wire or post, the Kingfisher pounces down on creeping prey and flies off with it to another perch nearby where the victim is battered to death and swallowed. This bird's food comprises; fish, tadpoles, lizards, grasshoppers, insects and occasionally young birds and mice

This Kingfisher is a beautiful bird that never fails to get attention. It is a brilliant turquoise-blue with deep chocolate-brown head, neck and underparts, a conscious white ‘shirt front’, and long, heavy, pointed red bill. A white wing-patch prominent in flight. It’s size is that between a Myna and a Pigeon. Both sexes are alike but juveniles are a duller version of the adult.

This is a large Kingfisher, 28 cm in length with a flight both rapid and direct with short rounded wings whirring. This bird has a loud musical frequently repeated chattering song delivered from a tree top or some exposed elevated perch. The call is a chuckling chake-ake-ake-ake-ake. This Kingfisher is noisy and territorial. Nesting season is principally March to July and generally takes place in a horizontal tunnel dug into the side of a dry earth cutting or tunnel. Eggs 4 to 7, white, spherical. Both sexes excavate, incubate and feed the young.

Bird Watching

The most important point for bird watching is to remember that although birds constantly move about, their activity is greatest in the early mornings. This is also the time birds are generally more vocal and one can hear their songs.

In wooded areas birds often congregate in large assemblies where they mix in co-operative bands of mixed species, often in regular daily circuit. All the members of the association profits through the co-ordinated efforts of the assembly. While Babblers rummage amongst the fallen leaves for insects, they disturb a moth which is presently swooped upon and captured in mid–air by a Drongo on the look-out. A Woodpecker scuttling up a tree-trunk in search of beetles, stampedes numerous winged insects camouflaged upon the protectively coloured bark or lurking within its crevices, thereby sending out insects for a vigilant Flycatcher.

Banyan and Peepul trees when in ripe fig attract a multitude of birds of many species. A lively scene presents itself as the birds arrive, all eager to gorge themselves on the abundance of fruit around. Some of the best venues for bird watching are afforded by the Silk Cotton, Coral Flower, or Flame-of-the-Forest (Butea) trees in bloom. Almost every small bird of the surrounding countryside flocks to the blossom for the sake of the sugary nectar.

Another popular time to view birds is just after rain when winged termites are emerging from their nests. A termite swarm acts like a magnet upon the bird population. At such times, common birds found at Arunachala are in abundance: such birds; Crows, Kites, Kestrels, Crows, Owls, Mynas, Bulbuls, Sparrows, Bayas, Munias, Treepies, Drongos, Woodpeckers and Barbets.