Birds

Indian Roller

(Picture taken at Bandhavgad National Park, Madhya Pradesh in May 2012)

It has blue cap contrasting with remainder of head and throat. The breast is rufous-brown. In flight the alternating brilliant pale blue and dark blue bands in the wing are spectacularly distinctive. It is found in light woodland.

Wire-tailed Swallow

(Picture taken at Masai Pathar, Kolhapur, Maharashtra in August 2014)

The wire-like streamers on the outer tail feathers are diagnostic, but only visible at close range. There are clean-cut pure white under parts and chestnut cap. In flight the tail appears conspicuously, short and square-cut with the outer tail-wires only visible at close range. 

Indian Peafowl (male)

(Picture taken at Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan in June 2013)

In the wild state usually found in deciduous forest, often near water, commonly semi-feral in the vicinity of villages and cultivation. Usually in small groups of a male and 3-5 hens in the breeding season, otherwise often in separate groups of males and females. Forages on the ground. Roosts in tall trees. 

Eurasian Thick-knee

(Picture taken at Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan in June 2013)

Found in dry open scrub, sandy semi-desert, dry river beds, open woodland. Largely crepuscular and noctural.

 Collared Scops Owl

(Picture taken at Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan in June 2013)

It has buffy hind-collar, lightly streaked below, weak scapular spots. Found in woods.

Crested Serpent Eagle

(Picture taken at Kaziranga National Park, Assam in March 2014) 

It has rufous-brown underparts spotted with silvery-grey; black crown and nape finely streaked with white; cere and unfeathered legs yellow. Found in forest, woodland, mangroves.

Jungle Owlet

(Picture taken at Kaziranga National Park, Assam in March 2014)

It has rusty colour of barring on primaries and secondaries, barring on upperparts narrowly spaced, barring below usually extends to include flanks and belly. Found in open mixed and secondary forest. Partly diurnal.

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

(Picture taken at Eravikulam National Park, Kerala in November 2011)

The adult has a grey head and breast, green upperparts and bright yellow underparts. Breeds in hill forests and other wooded area. It nests on a rock ledge or in a tree trunk and lays three or four eggs.

Northen Shoveler (male)

(Picture taken at Bhigawan, Maharashtra in March 2011)

The very large, spatulate bill is the most distinguishing feature of the aptly named Northern Shoveler. The male in breeding plumage has bright wings, a bright iridescent-green head with a yellow eye, bold white breast, and chestnut sides. Females, juveniles, and males in eclipse plumage (from May through August) are mottled brown with orange legs and a green-black iridescent speculum with a blue patch on the forewing.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

(Picture taken at Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan in June 2013)

The body and wings are white. Long-tailed white-plumaged birds have dark shaft streaks (absent in rufous birds). The edges of the wings and tail feathers are sometimes black. Their legs are relatively short, and they tend to sit very upright when perched. Asian Paradise Flycatchers mostly feed on insects captured in the air. They usually hunt in the under-story of densely canopied trees.

Black-rumped Flameback

(Picture taken at Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan in June 2013)

It has a typical woodpecker shape, and the golden yellow wing coverts are distinctive. The rump is black. The underparts are white with dark chevron markings. The black throat finely marked with white immediately separates it from other golden backed woodpeckers in the Indian region. The head is whitish with a black nape and throat, and there is a greyish eye patch.

Great Hornbill

(Picture taken at Kaziranga National Park, Assam in March 2014)

The body is covered with black feathers and the wing tips have a ban of white feathers. The tail is white with bans of black feathers across. The neck of this bird is surrounded with circle of fur. The bill is yellow and curved downward. One distinct mark of the hornbills is their bright yellow and black casque on top of its massive bill, a helmet like head and is solid ivory. The casque is hollow with little functions although they are believed to be the result of sexual selection. Male hornbills have been known to indulge in aerial casque butting flights. Females are smaller than males and have blue instead of red eyes. They usually have short legs, but have broad feet.

Indian Peafowl (female)

(Picture taken at Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan in June 2013)

In the wild state usually found in deciduous forest, often near water, commonly semi-feral in the vicinity of villages and cultivation. Usually in small groups of a male and 3-5 hens in the breeding season, otherwise often in separate groups of males and females. Forages on the ground. Roosts in tall trees.