Hello birders! I hope you all are having a blast birding around.
Here’s my very first article about the birds I sighted. I wish procrastination didn’t hit me so hard last year, I would have released it a bit earlier 😂. Nevertheless, I’m here now! with a list of 20 birds that I documented from my balcony and backyard.
If you’re new to birding and searching for a guide, here’s something to kick start your birding journey 👇.
Red-vented Bulbul
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Red-vented Bulbuls are resident birds of the Indian subcontinent. There are many types of Bulbul. However, these are identified by their distinct red marking in the vent region. The bulbul family is a regular visitor in our apartment complex, so much that they decided to nest and breed on Plumeria during the summer months. I was lucky enough to witness and document the process.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
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The Yellow-footed Green pigeon is the state bird of Maharashtra, generally spotted in pairs. I found a few of them resting on a tall neem tree and devouring its fruits between April and June. These pigeons camouflage well with the surroundings and might appear as regular pigeons from afar. Therefore, keep a close eye to spot the difference.
Purple Sunbird
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Purple Sunbirds are another regular visitor in our complex. These little birds love to devour the nectar from Tecoma and are spotted easily because of their loud calls. The Purple Sunbirds are spotted easily because of their shiny coat. However, during plumage, they resemble a Female Purple Sunbird. Many of my neighbours confused it with a Hummingbird but, the fact is that India doesn’t have Hummingbirds. The smallest birds found here are Sunbirds and Flowerpeckers.
Indian White-eye
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Indian White-eye also nested in our complex and loved devouring Tecoma. The name white eye is because of a white ring around the eye that helps identify the bird. Once birding, I found a baby white-eye that had fallen off its nest. Luckily, I spotted its nest and his mom, and the little guy was saved. Phew!
White-throated Kingfisher
I find Kingfishers beautiful, they are one of my favourites. However, I have never seen them up and close. Yes, that’s correct! Anyway, the White-throated Kingfisher was a regular visitor and a lone ranger who usually grabbed my attention because of his distinct call during the breeding season. These birds love to eat small reptiles, amphibians, small rodents and even birds, and Dwarka probably has an abundance of it.
Rufous Treepie
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Rufous Treepie was a seasonal visitor, only to be seen right before winters. They are a member of the crow family and have a distinctly long tail and a loud call. I usually spotted this one sitting on the Silk Floss tree eating nectar.
Indian Peafowl
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Peafowl is not very common where I live because of the lack of waterbody. The national bird of India is known for its majestic beauty and vibrant colours. You can spot them in moist and dry deciduous forests. However, one fine Saturday morning, I was sipping tea on my balcony when three peafowls blessed us with their presence.
Brown Rock Chat
A pair of Brown Rock Chat or Indian Chat resided on the terrace opposite my house. They are residents of northern and central India. This one was hard to identify as they resemble Robin. However, the lack of redness around the vent region caught my attention.
Common Tailorbird
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Common Tailorbird is known for its sewing skills and is often called the Darzee. This bird is a resident in the urban gardens. I sighted a bunch of them during the spring season and was delighted by their calling. However, it was hard to document them because of their speed and camouflaging capabilities.
Shikra
Shikra is a small bird of prey found widely in Asia and a resident of my apartment complex’s Peepal tree. I spotted one in May resting under the shade of a Peepal tree while gazing at its prey.
Jungle Babbler
The Jungle Babblers is a resident breeding bird of India, spotted in a group of six to ten in urban localities and jungles. In some parts of northern India, they called them the Seven sisters and the Seven brothers in a few regional languages. They were a regular visitor to our complex and never shied away from me.
Asian Koel
Asian Koel is a member of the Cuckoo family and is known for its beautiful voice. The male is pitch black with deep red eyes, and the female has white spots all over her body. I spotted a male Asian Koel eating the fruit of the Banyan Tree during the rainy season. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera at that time to document it.
Wire-tailed Swallow
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The wire-tailed Swallow is a tiny bird common in Southern and Southeast Asia. They came to our complex before the rainy season and nested in a dark cosy corner of a building. I loved watching them fly around at a very high pace, especially on a windy day.
Laughing Dove
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Laughing Dove is a long-tailed pinkish-brown bodied dove with a lilac tinged head and neck. Their call resembles human laughter and hence the name. We had a few nesting in our complex, and I also found a few eggs in my backyard during the breeding season.
Budgerigar
This one came as a surprise, as Budgerigars are common in the wild. They are known to be exotic household birds. They are neither a resident nor migratory of the Indian subcontinent. However, they are exported from Australia and sold as house pets. I was amazed to spot one on the terrace near my apartment complex. I hope the bird survived the climate and the habitat around it.
A few more that I spotted and are commonly found near every household were Common Myna, Black Hawk, Indian Crow, Rose Ring Parakeet, and Rock Pigeon.
1 Comment
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