2013 | 307 | 03Nov13 | Vedanthangal

1. Yellow-Throated Sparrow

Yellow-Throated Sparrow
Description	01.	It has a finer bill than typical sparrows and unlike them has no streaks on the plumage.
	02.	The white double wing bar on the shoulder is diagnostic on the otherwise dull grey-brown sparrow.
	03.	Males have a chestnut shoulder patch.
	04.	They also have a pale yellow spot on the throat in fresh plumage.
	05.	Females are duller and lack the chestnut shoulder patch.
	06.	The yellow spot is much reduced or lacking in females.
	07.	This species is tree-loving although sometimes seen on wires and hopping on the ground.
	08.	The usual call is a "chirrup" but the song is distinctive and repetitive "chilp chalp cholp".
	09.	It has a bounding flight and dips deeply before rising up.
Habitat	10.	Found in Asia.
	11.	It is found in forest, gardens and open scrub habitats.
Behaviour	12.	The species breeds in tree hollows from April to July, often making use of the holes made by primary hole-nesting birds such as barbets and woodpeckers.
	13.	They may also make use of hollows on buildings.
	14.	The nest is built mainly by the female.
	15.	The female alone incubates the eggs.
	16.	The eggs hatch after about 12 to 14 days.
	17.	They roost communally in low bushes.
	18.	Some populations are migratory, moving in response to rains.
	19.	They feed mainly on grains but also on insects, nectar and berries.
Distribution	20.	The Chestnut-shouldered Petronia is found from Turkey into Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and as a vagrant in Sri Lanka and possibly parts of Myanmar.
	21.	It is found in forest, gardens and open scrub habitats.
		Source : Wikipedia

2. Caterpillar

3. Indian Roller

Audio Credit : David Edwards, Vietnam

http://www.xeno-canto.org/browse.php?species_nr=&query=indian+roller&dir=0&order=loc3

Indian Roller
01	Found widely across tropical Asia
02	Best known for the aerobatic displays of the male during the breeding season.
03	Seen perched along roadside trees and wires and in open grassland and scrub forest habitats.
04	It is not migratory, but undertakes some seasonal movements.
05	Is a stocky bird about 26–27 cm long.
06	The breast is brownish.
07	The crown and vent are blue.
08	The primaries are deep purplish blue with a band of pale blue.
09	The tail is sky blue with a terminal band of Prussian blue and the central feathers are dull green.
10	The neck and throat are purplish lilac with white shaft streaks.
11	The bare patch around the eye is ochre in colour.
12	Have a long and compressed bill with a curved upper edge and a hooked tip.
13	The nostril is long and exposed and there are long rictal bristles at the base of the bill.
14	They perch mainly on 3—10 metre high perches and feed mostly on ground insects.
15	Nearly 50% of their prey are beetles and 25% made up by grasshoppers and crickets.
16	During summer, they may also feed late in the evening and make use of artificial lights and feed on insects attracted to them.
17	Holes created by woodpeckers or wood boring insects in palms are favoured for nesting in some areas.
18	The normal clutch consists of about 3-5 eggs. The eggs are white and broad oval or nearly spherical.
19	Both sexes incubate the eggs for about 17 to 19 days.
20	The call of the Indian Roller is a harsh crow-like chack sound.
21	The Indian Roller has been chosen as the state bird by the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Odisha.
Source : Wikipedia

4. Shikra

Audio Credit : Sagar Chandane, India

http://http://www.xeno-canto.org/recordist.php?id=ZESCHIPGNJ

Shikra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
01	Found widely distributed in Asia and Africa.
02	Is a small raptor 26–30 cm long
03	Has short rounded wings and a narrow and somewhat long tail.
04	Adults are whitish on the underside with fine rufous bars while the upperparts are grey.
05	The lower belly is less barred and the thighs are whitish.
06	Males have a red iris while the females have a less red (yellowish orange) iris and brownish upperparts apart from heavier barring on the underparts.
07	The females are slightly larger.
08	The mesial stripe on the throat is dark but narrow.
09	The central tail feathers are unbanded and only have a dark terminal band.
10	Juveniles have dark streaks and spots on the upper breast and the wing is narrowly barred while the tail has dark but narrow bands.
11	A post juvenile transitional plumage is found with very strong barring on the contour feathers of the underside.
12	The call is pee-wee.
13	In flight the calls are shorter and sharper kik-ki ... kik-ki.
14	The Shikra is found in a range of habitats including forests, farmland and urban areas.
15	They are usually seen singly or in pairs.
16	The flight is typical with flaps and glides.
17	During the breeding season pairs will soar on thermals and stoop at each other.
18	They feed on rodents, squirrels, small birds, small reptiles and insects.
19	They will descend to the ground to feast on emerging winged termites
20	Hunt at dusk for small bats
21	The breeding season in India is in summer from March to June.
22	The nest is a platform similar to that of crows lined with grass.
23	Both sexes help build the nest, twigs being carried in their feet.
24	The usual clutch is 3 to 4 eggs
25	Eggs are pale bluish grey stippled on the broad end in black.
26	The incubation period is 18 to 21 days.

5. Bay Backed Shrike

Audio Credit : Sander Bot

http://http://www.xeno-canto.org/recordist.php?id=HZKCNRIPRH

Bay-backed Shrike
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
01	Resident in South Asia.
02	It is smallish shrike at 17 cm,
03	Maroon-brown above with a pale rump and long black tail with white edges.
04	The underparts are white, but with buff flanks.
05	The crown and nape are grey, with a typical shrike black bandit mask through the eye.
06	There is a small white wing patch, and the bill and legs are dark grey.
07	Sexes are similar, but young birds are washed-out versions of the adults.
08	Percheing on a bush, it sallies after lizards, large insects, small birds and rodents.
09	Prey may be impaled upon a sharp point, such as a thorn.
10	Thus secured they can be ripped with the strong hooked bill, but its feet are not suited for tearing.
00	It is a widespread resident breeder in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka.
00	It nests in bushes in scrubby areas and cultivation, laying 3-5 eggs.

6. Jacobin Cuckoo

7. Jacobin Cuckoo

8. Ashy Wood Swallow

Ashy Woodswallow - சாம்பல் தகைவிலான்
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
01	Sometimes called the Ashy Swallow-shrike is a woodswallow which is found in south Asia.
02	Has a short curve bill and a short square tail and long wings.
03	Usually seen perched in groups, high on powerlines, tall bare trees and most often in areas with a predominance of tall palm trees.
04	In flight, the broad base to the wings gives it a very triangular outline
05	This stocky woodswallow has an ashy grey upperparts with a darker head and a narrow pale band on the rump.
06	The underside is pinkish grey and the short slaty black tail is tipped in white.
07	The finch-like bill is silvery.
08	The first primary is very short.
09	There are no geographic variations in plumage and no subspecies have been designated.
10	Males and females are indistinguishable in the field.
11	Young birds appear barred on the underside.
12	Habitat and distribution
13	Woodswallows are found in a range of habitats from the plains to about 2000 m, over cultivated areas, in forest clearings and often in areas with tall palm trees.
14	The species is widely distributed across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Malaysia and China.
15	Length 190 mm (7.5 in), Weight 37–42 g (1.3–1.5 oz)
16	Ashy Woodswallows are usually seen in small groups.
17	Several birds may sit huddled side-by-side.
18	Insects may be caught in the beak, transferred and held in their feet, torn up with their bill and swallowed without returning to the perch.
19	Known to visit bird baths.
20	Although mainly feeding on insects, they may take nectar from flowers
21	The breeding season is March to June.
22	The nest is a shallow cup placed at some height.
23	The clutch consists of 2–3 greenish white eggs with brown spots.
24	Both parents take part in nest building, incubation and feeding the young.
25	They will mob larger birds such as crows and birds of prey
26	The song consists of a varied combination of wheezy notes that may include imitations of the calls of other birds.
27	The usual call is shrill nasal chewk.
28	They make seasonal movements, possibly in response to rainfall.