The magnificent Peacock in Flight

Photo by Daniel Stoychev

In both my Arunachala Birds and Arunachala Grace blogs I have written about and posted many excellent photographs of the Peacock, which is a very common bird in these parts. Not only is it an inhabitant of many ashrams, homes and farms, it is also lives wild in large numbers throughout the Arunachala countryside. 

The below photographs were not taken at Arunachala, and instead they are a selection of photographs from the Web of the Peacock in Flight. Where known I have accredited the photographer. 

Photo by Two Summers

Photo by Zhayynn James

Unknown photographer

Unknown Photographer

Photo by Sachin Kumar

Photo by Captain Supachat

Photo by Chandrashekar Badami

Southern Grey Shrike

Shrikes are passerine birds of the family Laniidae. The family name, and that of the largest genus, Lanius, is derived from the Latin word for "butcher" because of their feeding habits. Among its super family, the closest relatives of the Laniidae are the Corvidae (crows and allies). 

Adult male

The Southern Grey Shrike, Lanius Meridionalis, is a member of the Shrike family. It is closely related to the Great Grey Shrike, Lanius Excubitor, but the species do not interbreed and are separated by choice of habitat. This bird is not a common resident in Tamil Nadu, but I have viewed it several times in the open scrub country (which it prefers to habituate) of the Samudram Eri. 

Bird Preening

The Southern Grey has a narrow black forehead and broad face mask, grey mantle with white scapulars, broad white tips to secondaries, white sides tip to tail, and white underparts. Juveniles have sandy cast to grey upperparts, buff tips to tertials and coverts, and grey mask. 

Bird in Flight from Above

This bird eats small vertebrates and insects. Most important among invertebrate prey are insects, especially beetles, crickets, grasshoppers and bumblebees. To hunt it perches on an elevated spot in a conspicuous upright stance some distance above ground not only to watch for prey but also to advertise its presence to rivals. Alternatively this bird may scan land below during flight, staying in one place during prolonged bouts of hovering that may last up to twenty minutes. 

Bird in flight from below

This Shrike is medium-sized with a hooked beak reminiscent of a bird of prey. It has a harsh strident call. Prey is killed by hitting it with its beak, aiming for the skull in vertebrates. If too large to swallow in one or a few chunks, it is transported to a feeding site by carrying it in the beak or (if too large) in the feet. 

 

Adult Bird with impaled food in its "larder"

It is then impaled upon a sharp point such as thorns or barbed wire or even just wedged between forking branches. These “larders” are typically around a metre above ground and although they can be found anywhere within the birds' territory generally tend to be in the general vicinity of the bird’s nest sites. 

Eggs of the Southern Grey Shrike

Shrikes are territorial and are generally monogamous. Males attract females to their territory with well stocked caches, which may include inedible but brightly coloured items. During courtship the male will perform a ritualised dance which includes actions that mimic the skewering of prey on thorns and will feed the female. To lay its eggs, Shrikes make simple, cup-shaped nests from twigs and grasses, in bushes and the lower branches of trees. 

Juvenile Bird

My Junior Francolin

The Grey Francolin (Francolinus Pondicerianus) is very common in scrubland throughout this area. This bird can also be found in large numbers in grasslands and in cultivated areas near villages. To read my previous posting go to this link here.

Checking for Seeds

I intentionally prevent thorny bushes around the side of my cottage being felled by wood cutters in order to provide a safe sanctuary for the large number of Francolins that rummage and nest near my cottage. 

Sharing the table with Babblers

Some time back a Francolin nesting at the back of my cottage, started to visit my compound with her six chicks, and my dogs and I got quite used to Mother and her young brood wandering around the compound looking for nice eatables. Glad to see that Mother’s tuition has had positive results, and her chicks, now grown to be juveniles have enough confidence to pay regular visits to my compound and to the eating table. 

My Junior

I can talk -- can you fly? Common Mynah

The Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) is a member of the family of Sturnidae (Starlings and Mynahs) native to Asia.

The Mynah is the size of a Pigeon. It’s a familiar dark brown bird with bright yellow bill, legs and a yellow peri-orbital skin around the eye. The Mynah displays a conspicuous white wing patch during its flight. The sexes are similar and birds are usually seen in pairs. With the Crow and Babbler, the Mynah is probably the most common bird at Arunachala.

Yellow peri-obital skin around eye

The range of the Common Mynah is increasing at such a rapid rate that the IUCN Species Survival Commission has declared it one of the world’s most invasive species and is one of only three birds in the top 100 species that pose an impact to biodiversity. The other two birds on the list are the Red-vented Bulbul and the European Starling. The Common Mynah is regarded as a pest in South Africa, North America, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and many Pacific islands. It is particularly problematic in Australia. Several methods have been tried to control the bird's numbers and protect native species.

Close up of yellow skin around eye

This Bird favours open woodland but has adapted well to urban environments. Like most Starlings, the Common Mynah is omnivorous. It feeds on insects, arachnids, crustaceans, reptiles, small mammals, seeds, grain and fruits and discarded waste from human habitation. It forages on the ground among grass for insects, and especially for grasshoppers, from which it gets the generic name Acridotheres, "grasshopper hunter". It however feeds on a wide range of insects, mostly picked from the ground. It is a cross-pollinator of flowers such as Salmalia and Erythrina. It walks on the ground with occasional hops and is an opportunistic feeder on the insects disturbed by grazing cattle as well as fired grass fields.

Conspicuous wing patch during flight

This bird breeds for life and its nesting season is April to August. Its nest is comprised of a collection of twigs, roots, paper and rubbish in a hole in a tree, wall or ceiling. It lays around 4 or 5 glossy blue eggs with both sexes sharing domestic duties.

Nesting in Tree Hollow

The Common Mynah uses the nests of woodpeckers, parakeets and other birds and easily takes to nest boxes; it has been recorded evicting the chicks of previously nesting pairs by holding them in the beak and later sometimes not even using the emptied nest boxes. This aggressive behaviour is considered to contribute to its success as an invasive species.

Nest with eggs and first hatchling

The Mynah has a number of sharp calls and chatter. The call of this bird includes croaks, squawks, chirps, clicks, whistles and 'growls', and the bird often fluffs its feathers and bobs its head in singing. The Common Mynah screeches warnings to its mate or other birds in cases of predators in proximity or when its about to take off flying. Common Mynahs are popular as cage birds for their singing and "speaking" abilities. Before sleeping in communal roosts, Mynahs vocalise in unison, which is known as "communal noise". 

Young Mynah Bird

The Mynah is a superb imitator, as this charming and amusing video shows.

I can talk - can you fly?

Erythrina Indica Bird Visitors

Currently I have a beautiful Erythrina Indica -- Coral Tree, in bloom outside my front door. This tree with its lovely, striking scarlet flowers is daily attracting a large number of feathered friends. Just in a few short moments sitting on my steps, I took photos of the below bird visitors to the tree. Erythrina Indica is one of the indigenous trees in this country that the famed Ornithologist Salim Ali in his, “Book of Indian Birds,” positively identifies as a tree (with its seeds and brightly coloured leaves) that is strongly favoured by birds. To find out more about the Erythrina Indica tree, go to this link here. 

 

Common Babber

Loten Sunbird

Mynah Bird

Brahminy Starling

Purple Sunbird

White Breasted Kingfisher

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.

White-breasted Waterhen

Right-click on all photographs to view enlargements.

The White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) is a waterbird of the Rail and Crake family (Rallidae) and widely distributed across South Asia. During a previous season a couple of White-breasted Waterhens would daily visit my garden, which was my introduction to this bird, however since that time I haven’t personally spotted the White-breasted Waterhen in the Arunachala area.

Adult Waterhen [Photo: J.M. Garg]

This bird is a slaty grey stub-tailed long-legged marsh bird with white face and breast and bright rusty red under the tail. Immature birds are much duller versions of the adults. The adults are similar in size with the female being slightly smaller. The downy chicks are black, as with all Rails.

These birds are usually seen singly or in pairs as they forage slowly along the edge of a waterbody mainly on the ground but sometimes clambering up low vegetation. The tail is held up and jerked as they walk. They probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects, small fish, invertebrates and seeds.

White-breasted Waterhen in flight

Although ordinarily a silent bird its very noisy during breeding season during the rains, when it makes loud, repetitive croaking calls. At that time it is heard chiefly on overcast days and often through the night.

The nesting season is mainly June to October but varies locally. They nest in a dry location on the ground in marsh vegetation, laying 6-7 eggs. Courtship involves bowing, billing and nibbling. The eggs hatch in about 19 days. Both sexes incubate the eggs and take care of the chicks. Chicks often dive underwater to escape predation. Adults are said to build a roost or brood nest where young chicks and the adults roost.

Mother White-breasted Waterhen with Chicks

Waterhen Chick

Juvenile Waterhen

Glossy Ibis

Right-click on all photographs to view enlargements.

The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis Falcinellus) is a wading bird and is the most widespread of the Ibis family.

For feeding, the Ibis probes in the mud and silt with its bill looking for prey like the fiddler crab, freshwater shrimp, insects and small snakes.

Painting by John James Audubon

The Glossy Ibis nests as part of a colony in trees, and often shares with other water birds such as Herons. In flight, the Ibis flies gracefully in a straight line or V-formation with its neck outstretched.

This bird is migratory and a colony of 40-50 are currently resident at Samudram Erie where they have been since the end of last year

Colony of Ibises at Samudram Erie

Video of Ibis Feeding

This bird lays 3-4 eggs in a nest of twigs and sticks usually built in trees or bushes but rarely on the ground. It builds its nests in colonies that includes other Ibises as well as the nests of different species such as Egrets and Herons. Occasionally, the Glossy Ibis will use an abandoned nest. The Ibis is very territorial during nesting.

The Ibis has a bleating call during breeding season but at other times is usually silent. Eggs take about three weeks to hatch. The female and male incubate the egg, but the female does most of the work. Both parents feed the chicks. The chicks fledge in about a month. They leave the nest and start to forage for food with their parents when they are two months old.







This bird is about 20 inches tall with a wingspan of about three feet. It has a long, dark gray bill that is curved down. Breeding adults have reddish-brown bodies and shiny bottle-green wings. Non-breeders and juveniles have duller bodies. This species has a brownish bill, dark facial skin bordered above and below in blue-gray (non-breeding) to cobalt blue (breeding), and red-brown legs.

Juvenile Bird

Adult Bird

To view more photographs and videos go to this link here.