Rock Pigeon or Rock Dove

The Rock Pigeon or Rock Dove is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as a "pigeon". 

Pigeons come in many different shades and plumage patterns. There is the typical “blue-bar” form (a bluish-gray bird with two black bands on the wing and a black tip to the tail); a “red bar” version (similarly marked, but with rusty red replacing bluish gray); “checker” (birds that have spots on the wings); “spread” (all black or all gray); “pied” (birds of any color that are splotched with white); and mostly red or mostly white forms. They average 13 oz. in weight and are about 11 inches in length. 

Feral pigeons form the majority of prey for several raptor species (who live in urban areas) like Falcons and Sparrowhawk, who are adept at catching them. 

Although the Rock Pigeon is a relatively strong flier, it also glides frequently, holding its wings in a very pronounced V shape as it does. Though fields are visited for grain and green food, it is often not plentiful enough as to be a viewed as pest. 

Excellent at flying

This bird is distributed throughout Tiruvannamalai District. In its perfectly wild state it lives in open country with rocky hills and cliffs. But mostly seen in a semi-domesticated condition, it lives in an urban environment close to man. The semi-feral stock has become inured to the noise of urban life and is now well established in most Indian towns. Grain warehouses, railway stations and old or disused buildings are their favourite places. 

Their food is comprised of cereals, pulses and groundnuts. Pigeons feed on the ground in flocks or individually. They roost together in buildings or on walls or statues. When drinking, most birds take small sips and tilt their heads backwards to swallow the water. Pigeons are able to dip their bills into the water and drink continuously without having to tilt their heads back. 

There are few visible differences between males and females. The nesting season of this bird is practically all year in semi-feral birds. Its nest is a flimsy collection of a few sticks on a ledge or in fissure of rocks, or on rafters and ceilings of dwelling houses, occupied or deserted. It generally lays two, white elliptical birds. Both sexes share all the domestic duties. 

The call of this bird is a deep gootr-goo, gootr-goo. The species is generally monogamous, with two squeakers (young) per brood. Both parents care for the young for a time. Baby pigeons are called squabs.

Pied Rock Pigeon nesting at Adi Annamalai Temple

Pigeon at Palani Andavar Temple, Girivalam Road

The Pigeon's happy abode

Nesting inside Temple, outside the Sanctum Sanctorum. Good Karma!

Cycle of Pigeon Hatching:  Hatching takes around 18 days. 

The newly hatched squab has pale yellow down and a flesh-coloured bill with a dark band. For the first few days, the baby squab is tended and fed (through regurgitation) exclusively on “crop-milk” (also called "pigeon milk" or "pigeon's milk"). The pigeon milk is produced in the crops of both parents in all species of pigeons and doves. The fledging period is about 30 days. Males guard and care for the female and nest. 

Young birds show little lustre and are duller. Eye colour of the pigeon is generally orange but a few pigeons may have white-grey eyes. The eyelids are orange in colour and are encapsulated in a grey-white eye ring. The feet are red to pink. 

The young mature and leave the nest 4 to 6 weeks after they hatch and more eggs are laid before the first young leave the nest. Breeding occurs during all seasons but mainly in spring and fall. Pigeons commonly live up to 15 years, but in more urban areas they tend to live only 3-4 years 

Cycle of Pigeon Hatching

Elliptical Egg

Usually there are two eggs per batch

1 day old "Squabs"

5 days old "Squab"

Age 10 days old

Age 22 days old

Adult Blue Rock Pigeons

The bird cycle sequence came from this link here.

The below narrative is taken from “Garden and Aviary Birds of India” by Frank Finn (1915) 

The Pigeons 

Pigeons form a family of birds which are found all over the world, and, like Parrots, are very distinct from all others, so that they are given an order to themselves. Their characteristics are easily seen in the common tame Pigeon—the weak bill, soft and swollen over the nostrils, the small head, powerful wings and heavy body clothed in close powdery plumage. The feet are also very noticeable, with three toes before and one smaller one behind, a single row of scales down the front of the shank and none at all at the back, which is covered with soft skin. Most Pigeons have red or purple feet, a few yellow ones. 

Pigeons build very slovenly nests of twigs or dry grass, generally on the bough of a tree, but sometimes, like the tame Pigeon, in holes. They never lay more than two eggs and the young from these are usually cock and hen. The eggs are always white or—very rarely faintly tinted and never show any spots. 

Rock Pigeon Nest Building 

The young are hatched blind and nearly naked and are very ugly helpless little things with swollen soft beaks. They do not gape for food like most young birds, but put their bills into that of the old one, which thereupon throws up the food from its crop and lets them suck it in. The proverbial Pigeons' milk really does exist as a matter of fact, for during the first few days of their lives the young Pigeons are fed on a secretion from the crop of the old birds, which much resembles milk in appearance and chemical composition. Later this is mixed with softened grain, until at length the old Bird gives the young the grain almost at once, merely keeping it in their crops till they have got enough of it. 

Grain of various kinds is, as everyone knows, the favourite food of most Pigeons, but as they cannot always get it they eat a good deal of green food and a few small snails as well. A good many species, however, are fruit-eaters, and never touch grain. These have stouter beaks and shorter shanks than the grain-eating Pigeons. 

Pigeons are strong fliers and use their powerful wings in fighting, their beaks being so weak, although they can do each other a good deal of harm with them if too closely confined. For, in spite of their reputation for gentleness, they are inveterate fighters in a petty nagging way. 

It is, however, in most cases almost impossible to tell the cock from the hen, as their plumage is exactly similar; the young are rather different in many cases. The actions of the cock when courting are very interesting and differ much in the different groups. 

Pigeons are not usually migratory and are most numerous in a hot climate; there are many wild species in India. 

Sri Seshadri’s power over birds

The below two stories illustrate the power over birds and nature exhibited by the great mahan, Sri Seshadri Swamigal. 

Calling out for Garuda Birds (Brahmini Kite):

“One one occasion the writer was given a send-off by Swamiji. It was 8 a.m. They were passing near Sadhu Chatram. Swamiji put his hands around the writer’s neck and stood for a while. In the distant sky it appeared as if a lone bird was flying. Pointing to that, Swamiji asked the writer, “Is that a Garuda?” The writer replied, “Yes, it looks like a Garuda.” At that time Swamiji made a gesture with his hands as if calling that bird. He bade farewell to the writer saying, “That bird will come, you can go.” 

Hardly had the writer walked on a few yards on the way to the railway station, when two Garuda birds flew very close to him, one on his left and another on his right. As Swamiji had said that the birds would come hundreds of Garuda birds flocked there. It was if the devotee’s journey should have a good augury. One could normally expect a few such birds like sparrows, crows. But hundreds of Garuda birds would not normally be seen. The confusion is irresistible that Swamiji had purposely called them in.” 

Beautiful Brahminy Kite

The Garuda bird in Hindu mythology is the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu and in daily life is believed to be the Brahminy Kite. To find out more about the Brahminy Kite, go to this link here, and for in-depth information about Garuda mythology go to this link here. Incidentally the photograph at the top of this page is of the Brahminy Kite.

Calling various Birds:

“Venkatachala Mudaliar and his wife Subbalakshmi Ammal were earnest devotees of Swamiji. Quite often Swamiji used to visit them, take food in their house and talk to them in a jolly fashion. In the centre of their house there were two Poovarasa (Portia) trees and two drumstick trees. It was a new moon day. Swamiji dropped in a 4 p.m, and said, 'Subbalakshmi, come here, I will show you some fun.'

When she asked what he was going to show, Swamiji was looking into the sky through the open verandah and raised his hands calling out, “Come! Come!” Immediately one crow came, then another crow flew in, then five, then, fifty, hundred crows flew in; likewise a number of other species of birds like pigeons, parrots, various types of sparrows—yellow sparrows, black sparrows, etc., all flew in. 

They all crowded the whole place including the neighbouring house, sitting on the ground, on the roof, on the trees and started making a noise and jumping hither and thither and playing. Swamiji was standing in their midst and played with the birds. Subblalakshmi was watching the scene with curiosity. A few minutes elapsed when she told Swamiji: 'You have called the birds from somewhere and are playing with them like this! After all they will also feel hungry and thirsty. Will their young ones not feel anxious?' Swamiji asked, 'But should I ask them to go back?' Saying that, he took a strand from his shoulder cloth and blew it. Immediately all the birds departed.” 

Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary

I am posting the below story about an extraordinary Bird Sanctuary located near the tiny village Koothankulam in Tamil Nadu, where migratory nesting birds live in ecological harmony with the villagers of the community. This Bird Sanctuary is a great template to us all in how to live symbiotically with the planet and the creatures on it. 

Perhaps we here at Tiruvannamalai, with our large reservoirs which get flooded in the rainy season can learn essential ecological lessons from the simple, earnest village folk of Koothankulam. Every day brings the possibility of a new beginning and what amazing potential exists here at Arunachala for great wonders and great success. 

Bal Pandian with young fledgling

Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary, which adjoins the tiny village of Koothankulam is comprised of a couple of tanks spread over 130 hectares (300 acres). It was declared a Bird Sanctuary in 1994 and is the largest reserve for breeding water birds in South India. Located inside this reserve is a Babul plantation of 30 hectares (70 acres) and it serves as the main breeding ground for visiting birds. 

What makes this sanctuary unique is that it is actively protected and managed by the Koothankulam village community. Local people take a keen interest in protecting the Sanctuary and they live together in total harmony. Birds that live in villagers’ backyards are regarded as harbingers of luck and are protected. Bird excreta and silt from the tanks are collected by villagers in the summer and applied as fertilizer to the fields. The villagers’ interest and concern for the birds is evident from the way they tolerate the nesting of over 5,000 painted storks and other birds in trees scattered through the village (outside the sanctuary area). In peak nesting season, the noise is deafening with the added nuisance of bird droppings everywhere. 

Nesting Migratory Birds at Sanctuary

Year after year the villagers go about their business like any ordinary settlement. Protecting the birds, their nests and fledglings. Fallen chicks are taken care of in a rescue centre till they are able to fly on their own. Anyone disturbing the nests are punished by ignominiously shaving their heads, or making the miscreant ride on a donkey in a public procession. The Indian festival of Lights (Diwali) is not celebrated in this area because the sound of crackers would drive away the winged visitors. 

More than forty-three species of resident and migratory water birds visit Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary here every year. More than 100,000 migratory birds start coming by December and fly away to their northern homes by June or July after they lay and hatch their eggs and the young ones are mature enough to fly with the adults. 

Bal Pandian with one of his patients

An inspiration behind this unique, symbiotic bird sanctuary is that of Bal Pandian (and his wife Vallithai Pandian, until her demise several ago). Bal Pandian has been instrumental in the protection of birds for the last thirty years and has dedicated his life to avian conservation. 

Nesting Birds at Sanctuary

Over the decades, Pandian has studied nesting, feeding, and other behaviour of several species. He maintains a daily diary of species, numbers, nesting, and other key features that he observes. His checklist currently has 203 species. 

Bal Pandian with his Bird records

A very interesting narrative of Koothankulam describe Bal Pandian as follows: 

“He is often hailed as the “bird-man” of Koothankulam by the mainstream media. But he is rather much more than half human and half bird. He is more human than the mainstream philanthropists as he has the greater insight and wisdom that only by conserving the environment and fellow beings like birds and fauna we humans can survive and hope to face the ecological catastrophes in the near future. He is more human than our mainstream humanity in the sense that he has invested his whole life and energy for the preservation of life and its numerous manifestations in his immediate environment. He is not just a bird-man but a greater human being who acts for the whole humanity and the planet, for our greater futures and posterity at large.” 

Asian Openbilled Stork

I've never noticed this bird in large numbers around the Samudram Lake (south of Arunachala and popular location for migratory waterbirds). But occasionally spot small groups of the Openbill. This season have spotted this bird on several occasions visiting for a few days, but none have been actually residing at the Samudram this season.

The Asian Openbill is a large wading bird of the Stork family. It is white or greyish white, with black on the wings. It can sometimes be confused with other Storks, except for its unique black bill with narrow open gap.

Openbills at Samudram
Indian Spot Billed Ducks background

One of the commonest Storks throughout India. It is both a resident breeder and also migratory. Sexes are alike and the Asian Openbilled flocks singly or in groups at jheels and marshes.

Openbills foraging for food at Samudram

Openbill at Takeoff

This bird is broad-winged and soaring, relying on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched. When on ground it walks slowly and steadily.

Openbill in flight

The origin of the bill is unknown but believed to have originated with the opening of thick shells of snails found on marshes which forms a large part of its food in season. The Openbill also eats frogs, crabs, large insects.

The bird gets its name (Openbill)
from its peculiarly shaped bill

Juvenile Bird

Nesting season mostly between November and Marsh in South India. This bird breeds in colonies amongst mixed flocks of cormorants, egrets, painted storks etc.

Its nest is a platform of twigs in a tree with a central depression lined with leaves. It lays around 2-4 white eggs.

Brahminy Starling

I receive many bird visitors throughout the day to my garden and am always on the lookout for the first time visitor. Whereupon I generally hurry for my camera, take a snap, and thereafter identify and learn more about the bird. In this case I observed for the first time a visit by two Brahminy Starlings to my garden

Starling on my Compound Wall

The Brahminy Starling (Sturnia Pagodarum) is a member of the Starling family. The species name Pagodarum was given based on the usual occurrence of the species on Temple Pagodas. The name Brahminy relates to its black crest which is similar to that of a Brahmin.

The bird is creamy orange with a black cap and a slight crest. The adult male has a more prominent crest than the female and also has longer neck hackles. Young birds have crestless sooty brown heads and duller coloration. The bill of this bird is yellow with a bluish base.

Adult Bird with Hackles
Photo by Douglas Janson

The Brahminy Starling has a merry chattering call with a pleasing song uttered during the breeding season.

Brahminy Starling on Drumstick Tree

The Brahminy Starling is usually seen in pairs or small flocks in open habitats. The bird which is a resident breeder in India is found in dry forest, scrub jungle and cultivation and is often found close to human habitations. It especially favours areas with waterlogged or marshy lands. It roosts communally in large numbers in leafy trees, often in the company of Parakeets and Mynahs.

The bird is omnivorous, eating fruit, insects and flower nectar and has been known to feed on the fruits of Thevetia Peruviana (Yellow Oleander) which are toxic to many vertebrates.

Pair of Brahminy Starlings
Photo by Koshy Koshy

It builds its nest in tree holes or artificial cavities. The breeding season is May to July. Both sexes take part in nest building. The nest is lined with grass, feathers and rags. The normal clutch is 3-4 eggs which are pale bluish green. The eggs hatch in about 12 to 14 days.

Bird with Nesting Material
Photo by J.M. Garg

In Flight

For more videos and photos go to this link here.

Lesser Golden Back Woodpecker

I started to want to know more about this interesting looking bird, after I had seen the Woodpecker at various agricultural farms around Tiruvannamalai.

The Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker or Black-rumped Flameback is a Woodpecker commonly found in Tiruvannamalai District and although mainly frequenting agricultural areas, it can also be seen in wooded urban areas.

Such a Long Way to Climb

This bird is large around 26–29 cm in length. Its rump is black with white underparts and dark chevron markings. The adult male Black-rumped Flameback has a red crown and crest. Females have a black forecrown spotted with white, with red only on the rear crest. Young birds are like the female, but duller.

Woodpecker Preening

Its call is like a loud, harsh, chattering laugh uttered mostly when flying. As is common with woodpeckers, this species dips in flight.

My Friend's Tiruvannamalai Farm

Playtime with Friends

This bird has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks and four-toed feet for traction on trees, with two toes pointing forward, and two backwards. It has a long tongue which it darts forward to catch insects.

Catching Insects: Notice the Four-Toes

This Woodpecker flies from tree to tree, finding food, starting from the bottom of the tree to the top. The bird works up on the stems of old trees, tapping them to find rotten and hollow wood and then drilling holes to ferret out insects hiding within. This bird also feeds on ripe fruits and sometimes flower nectar. The species is normally seen in pairs or small parties and sometimes joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Checking out a Nest

Breeding season is between March and August. A nest is usually excavated in a tree with a horizontal entrance descending into a cavity. Sometimes the Woodpecker takes over the nests of other birds. The normal number of a clutch is three glossy china-white eggs which hatch after about 11 days with both parents sharing domestic duties. The chicks generally leave their nest after about 20 days.

Safe and Resting

For more photos and videos go to this link here.

White Browed Wagtail

The White-browed Wagtail also known as the Large Pied Wagtail is the largest member of the Wagtail family at around 20 cm in length. It has black and white plummage, a prominent white eyebrow, shoulder stripes and outer tail feathers. In the female the black portions are duller and browner. This slender bird has the characteristic wagging tale of its genus.

Illustration by John Gould

Whilst swimming in the Samudram Erie I noticed a very nice White-browed Wagtail perched on some branches protruding from the water. Although the Wagtail noticed me it was completely unconcerned as I swam around its perch to get a better look.

Its not a surprise that the bird should be at the Samudram, as its commonly found at water bodies, village tanks and irrigation reservoirs. It has also successfully adapted to urban environments and can often be found perched on water tanks at homes and buildings taking advantage of overflows.










It has loud, whistling pleasant calls particularly evident by the male during breeding season.







Breeding season is generally March to September which may be extended depending on river and water levels.

The nest of the Wagtail is a cup-shaped pad of grass, hair, wool, rootlets etc under such projections as rocks, girders or rafters but always located close to water. Normally a clutch is comprised of 3-4 blotched and streaked eggs with both sexes sharing domestic duties.

Chicks in Nest

Photo by Lip Kee

The Wagtail which is insectivorous, is an active bird that flies rapidly for long distances and has been recorded at a speed of around 40 km/h.

Bird in Flight

Common Tailorbird

The Common Tailorbird is an Asian songbird common throughout Tiruvannamalai District. This passerine bird is typically found in open farmland, scrubs and gardens. Its song is a loud cheerful towit-towit-towit.

Adult Bird [Photo: J.M.Garg]

It is a small restless bird olive-green in colour with whitish underparts, a rust coloured crown and two elongated pinpointed feathers in the tail. The Common Tailorbird is insectivorous and is particularly attracted to insects and grubs at flowers and also favours flower nectar.

The Tailorbird gets its name from the way its nest is constructed. The passerine bird has a long pointed beak with which it makes tiny holes in leaves. The edges of a large leaf are pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider silk to make a cradle in which the actual nest is built.

Stitched Nest

The nest is a deep, soft cup lined with soft materials and is placed in thick foliage and the leaves used to hold the nest have the upper surfaces outwards so that the nest is difficult to spot. It is said that only the female stitches the leaves of the nest.

Nest with young

A juvenile bird

Eating insects at flower buds

This bird’s breeding season is March to December peaking from May to August. The usual clutch is 3-4 eggs reddish or bluish white in colour. The incubation period is about 12–14 days with both male and female feeding the young, and the young birds fledgling in around 14 days. Mortality of eggs and chicks is high due to predators.

Tailorbirds roosting on my verandah

The birds roost alone during the non-breeding season but may roost side-by-side during the breeding season.The roost sites chosen are thin twigs on trees with cover above them and close to human habitation and lights.

This bird is fearless and the Tailorbirds currently visiting my verandah move around within feet of myself and my large dogs as they have taken a particular liking to the above plant for their night-time perch.

To view videos, audios and more photos of the Common Tailorbird, go to this link here:

Asian Paradise-flycatcher

The Asian Paradise-flycatcher, also known as the Common Paradise-flycatcher is a medium sized Passerine bird. Neighbours with a wooded garden mentioned to me that they had a pair of Flycatchers nesting in their garden some years back, but for me this week was my first actual sighting of the beautiful adult white male Asian Paradise Flycatcher.

I spotted the bird at a lily pond near Samudram Erie. The lily pond which is skirted by trees is cool, inviting and enjoys the presence of many birds, and as the Flycatcher is very territorial, may well be its current permanent place of occupation.

I now understand why this bird has been described as looking ‘fairy-like’ as it appeared ethereal in presence with its graceful, darting movements and tail feathers trailing behind it.

Fairy Like Male Adult

The below video is a short take of the bird in flight.







However this beautiful white male bird is in fact similar to the rufous colour of the female in the first few years of its life.

Sub Adult Male Before Colour Change

Female Bird

As a sub-adult the male's head is glossy black with a black crown, crest and eyes and the female is red on the back with a greyish throat and underparts. But as the male adult matures, its rufous plummage moults into white with a central pair of tail feathers growing into 30 cm long streamers. The function of the long tail is assumed to be related to sexual selection, with females choosing males based on the length of the tail.

Adult Male After Rufous Moulting

The Paradise-flycatcher inhabits thick forests and well-wooded habitats all over India. It is both migratory and residential, and the climate of tropical South India hosts both visiting migrants and locally breeding birds.

This bird is noisy with sharp skreek call. It has short legs and sits upright whilst perched prominently. It feasts on insects using a variety of techniques, including hawking from a perch.

Chick in Nest

Breeding season for this monogamous bird is April-August during which time the female lays 3-4 pink eggs. The nest is a tiny cup of grasses, roots, fibers and leaves bound together with cobweb and plastered on the outside with egg-bags of spiders. The eggs are incubated by both the male and female.

To view videos of this bird, including nest building videos go to this link here.