Newsletter for

Birdwatchers
Vol. 46 No. 5 Sept. - Oct. 2006
 Vol. 46 No. 5 September - October . 2006

Vol. 46 No. 5 Sept. - Oct. 2006 A Note from the Publisher

Editorial Board
S. Theodore Baskaran Dr. Geeta S. Padate
Dr. A.M.K. Bharos Prof. S. Rangaswami
Harish R. Bhat K. Mrutumjaya Rao
Dr. S.P. Bhatnagar
A.N. Yellappa Reddy
Dr. A.K. Chakravarthy
Dr. Rajiv Saxena
Dr. Ranjan Kumar Das
Dr. S. Devasahayam Dr. A.B. Shanbhag
B.S. Kulkarni S. Sridhar
Arvind Mishra Dr. Abraham Verghese, FRES (London)
Publisher : S. Sridhar
CONTENTS
 A Note from the Publisher
 Talking of albinism, partial albinism
and the other -isms!
Articles ested by chaos and anarchy
 Record of Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros
coronatus) and other birds from Melghat, by Raju
Kasambe and Jayant Wadatkar
 Sighting of some threatened bird species in Vikramshila
Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) Bhagalpur, Bihar,
by Dr. D.N. Choudhary and Mr. Arbind Mishra
 Occurrence of a partial albino Blue-rock Pigeon (Columba
livia) on Burnt Island from 1938 to 2006 : a probale case
of inheritance, by Anil Mahabal and Satish Pande
 Occurrence of isabelline cum partial albino Ashy-
crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus), near Pune,
India, by Amit Pawashe, Satish Pande and Anil Mahabal
 Birds of Pithoragarh district, Uttaranchal, India, by
P. C. Tak and J. P. Sati
 Correspondence
 Sighting of nests of Dusky Horned Owl (Bubo
coromandus) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur,
by Rachna Chandra and B. Anjan Kumar Prusty
 Reappearance of Pied Thrush (Zoothera waardi)
(Blyth) at Nandi Hills, Karnataka, South India, by
Praveen. J.
Address for Correspondence :
Newsletter for Birdwatchers
No 10, Sirur Park B Street, Seshadripuram,
Bangalore 560 020, India. Tel. 080 2356 1142, 2346 4682
E-mail : <navbarat@gmail.com>
Printed and Published bi-monthly by S. Sridhar at
Navbharath Enterprises, Seshadripuram, Bangalore - 560 020, India.
For Private Circulation Only.
Cover pages : Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus) at
nest. (Front Cover : Male, Back Cover : Female. Inset: Female
incubating). Minivets are purely arboreal birds that flit about the
foliage looking for insects. The male begins its day with ‘swee-
sweee’ - a repertoire of high feeble-whistled salute to the sunrise
and continues the tranquil love song to its brooding mate. Later
when the chicks have hatched, the male energetically supplies his
insatiable chicks with worms throughout the long day. Every two
or three minutes, the little heads spring up; mostly gaping pale
orange mouths and the parent birds work hard throughout the day
to keep their nestlings’ crops filled. Photo : S. Shreyas
Dear Fellow Birdwatchers,
Talking of albinism, partial
albinism and the other -isms!
In this issue we are publishing two articles on albinism. ‘Albinism’
refers to birds which have some or all of the pigmentation lacking
in their plumage, and are therefore partly or fully white. True
albinos are deficient in colours not only in their plumage but
also in the soft parts such as the bill and feet, and the eyes are
mostly pink. However, this condition is somewhat rare and many
reported albinos have normal eye, bill and leg coloration. Such
birds are ‘partial albinos’.
Malcolm Ogilvie, a natural history writer and editor, defines
albinism, partial albinism and all the other -isms! All-white birds
are called albinos and they are due to a complete loss of pigment
in the feathers. In its most extreme form, pure albinos, even the
soft parts lack pigment and appear pinkish. These are rare in
the wild, occurring slightly more often in captivity, possibly due to
inbreeding or malnutrition. While all-white birds are rare, birds
with anything from a few to many white feathers in their plumage
are commoner and are called partial albinos. Another colour
abnormality by and large consists of paleness. We had noticed
a small green bee-eater (Merops orientalis) with such an
abnormality, several years ago. It was a semi-bleached, pale
ash-green coloured bird. However this bee-eater’s throat gorget
was a bit darker and it was found nesting cooperatively with a
pair of normal plumaged bee-eaters, at the GKVK campus.
Ogilvie wonders what to call such pale birds which is a matter
of some difference of opinion in the literature. The most
commonly used term is “leucistic”, which is certainly shorter
and easier to declare than the two alternatives of
“chlorochroistic” and “schizochroistic”. The latter is in fact a
comprehensive term for a variety of plumage abnormalities.
The highest occurrence of albinism is in species that are more
or less social, are sedentary and are usually common in urban
areas. There are several possible explanations of albinism.
Most often it is of genetic origin, i.e. inherited. It is, however, a
‘recessive’ character which means that the offspring between
an albino and a normal bird will be normal, but some of their
offspring may show albino characteristics.
Partial albinism may occasionally be caused by the failure of
pigmentation to reach certain feathers as they are growing,
perhaps because of a blocked gland. Shock, unbalanced diet,
disease or injury are all further possible factors in causing albinism.
Partial albinos outnumber pure albinos by about 2 :1, but together
they form only a tiny proportion of wild birds. They are, of course,
generally conspicuous and therefore more likely to fall victim to
predators, and in many cases; where the defect is other than
genetic, they will also be less robust than normal birds.
Like albinos and partial albinos, the occurrence of pale birds
is the result of genetic abnormalities in both male and female.
Except in very small, inbred, populations they will always
remain rare. They are nonetheless, a recurrent source of
curiosity and puzzlement to birders of all ages.
Thanking you,
Yours in bird conservation,
S. Sridhar, Publisher, NLBW
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5), 2006
Record of Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus)
and other birds from Melghat
*G-1, Laxmi Apartments, 64, Vidya Vihar Colony, Pratap Nagar, Nagpur - 440022,
Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) is located in Amravati district
of Maharashtra and covers an area of 1676.93 Sq km. The
geographical location of MTR is 21015’ to 210 45’ N and 76057’
to 77030’E. A preliminary list of 33 birds was prepared by Mr.
R. T. Jenkin (D.F.O. Melghat) in 1925 and was published in
the Guide to Chikhalda (Nelson,1925). Sawarkar (1987)
published the first comprehensive checklist of birds of Melghat,
which included 252 species. Besides the old records of Fairy
Blue-bird (Irena puella) and recent record of Great Black
Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis), Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux
blewitti) has been rediscovered in Melghat.
It was Mr. Kamlakar Dhamge (Dy. Conservator of Forest,
MTR), who first sighted three Malabar Pied Hornbills near
Kolkas rest house on July 20th 2003 in the canopy of a
Banyan tree Ficus benghalensis. These included one
immature bird indicating successful breeding. He being a
bird enthusiast informed me (RK) of this finding.
Jayant stayed for 4 days from 5th to 8th December 2003 at
Raipur village rest house in MTR for the study of butterflies.
On the afternoon of December 6th, he saw two more birds
on a fruit laden Banyan tree. The Raipur rest house is a century
old building constructed by the British and has three equally
aged Banyan trees. During his stay of two more days, Jayant
saw the pair visiting the Banyan trees daily around noon.
Raju visited the Raipur range on 20th and 21st December
2003 for the study of Forest Owlets along Satish Charthal.
On 21st at 0615hrs., when Raju came out with binoculars for
birdwatching, a Malabar Pied Hornbill had just alighted on
one of the Banyan trees.
Apart from A. coronatus, several Indian Grey Hornbills
(Ocyceros birostris), Yellow-footed Green Pigeons (Treron
phoenicoptera) and Asian Koels (Eudynamys scolopacea)
were also flocking the tree. Other birds like Eurasian Golden
Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus
xanthornus), Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima
haemacephala), Large Cuckoo Shrike (Coracina macei),
White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens) and Greater
Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) also visited the
trees. We both took photographs of A. coronatus separately.
The bird has an axe shaped casque on its bill with a large
black patch along the upper ridge of the casque. The outer
tail feathers are white and have a white trailing edge to wings
and have pink throat patches. The male and female can be
differentiated.
It is resident in peninsular hills, from South-West West
Bengal and Bihar to North Andhra, Western Ghats (mainly
67
RAJU KASAMBE* and JAYANT WADATKAR
Maharashtra. E-mail: kasambe.raju@gmail.com
along the eastern edge), South of South Maharashtra
(Ratnagiri) and Sri Lanka (Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005).
It is a near threatened bird species (criterion NT C1) (Islam
and Rahmani, 2002) and its population is declining.
The sighting of five birds in Melghat including an immature
bird, confirms the presence of a small breeding population
of A. coronatus. Many expert birdwatchers like Salim Ali,
Mr. V.B. Sawarkar, Ms. Prachi Mehta, Mr. Aasheesh Kothari,
Mr. Kishor Rithe, Mr. Nishikant Kale etc. have studied the
avifauna of Melghat for many years, but had never come
across this bird. Moreover, this is not a species to be
confused with any other species or which may escape the
attention of a good birdwatcher.
W e can thence presume that the species is trying to
establish itself in a new habitat (Melghat), which is suitable
and safe. A few birds might have probably migrated from
Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) in search of a
suitable habitat. It is a good sign both for the survival of A.
coronatus and for the biodiversity of Melghat.
Additional records for Melghat
Mr. Aashish Kothari (1998) has reported the presence of
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Halcyon capensis) near Kolkhas rest
house. Ms. Prachi Mehta has reported the sighting of Black-
capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) near Sidukund, Bar-
winged Flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus picatus) and Blue-
bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni). In addition, Kishor
Rithe has sighted Fire-capped Tit (Cephalopyrus flammiceps)
and Blue-capped Rock Thrush (Monticola cinclorhynchus)
at Jamoda Padav, Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) in
the Tapi river, and a W hite Stork (Ciconia ciconia) at
Rangubeli. Mr. Nishikant Kale again sighted the Green Munia
(Amandava formosa) near Raipur village.
Raju Kasambe saw many Indian Silverbills (Lonchura
malabarica) at Chourakund and a few Little Cormorants
(Phalacrocorax niger) across Tapi river at Rangubeli. He has
also reported (Kasambe, R. 2003) the occurrence of Little
Green Heron (Butorides striatus), Black-crowned Night Heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax), Crested Bunting (Melophus lathami),
and possibly a Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) in Melghat.
References:
BirdLife International (2001). Threatened Birds of Asia. The BirdLife
International Red Data Book, Cambridge, U.K.
Grimmet R. Inskipp C. and Inskipp T. (2000). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent.
Oxford University Press.
Islam, MZ & Rahmani, A. R. (2002). Threatened Birds of India. Buceros.
Vol.7 (1&2) pp.78.
68
Kasambe, R. M. (2003) Additions to the birds of Melghat Tiger Reserve,
Maharashtra. Zoos’ Print Journal. Vol.18(3) pp.1050.
Kasambe, R., Pande. S., Wadatkar, J., Pawashe, A. (2004): Additional
Records of the Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti in Melghat Tiger
Reserve, Maharashtra, Newsletter for Ornithologists: Vol. I-II:12-14.
Kasambe, R., Wadatkar J., Bhusum N.S., & Kasdekar F. (2005): Forest
Owlets Heteroglaux blewitti in Melghat Tiger Reserve, Distt.
Amravati, Maharashtra, Newsletter for Birdwatchers: Vol.45 No.3.
pp.38-40
Kothari A. (1998) Sighting of Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata in
Melghat Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, Newsletter for Birdwatchers.
Vol.38(1).pp.11.
M.K.S. Pasha, R. Jayapal, G. Areendran, Q. Qureshi, K. Sankar (2004).
Birds of Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, central India.
Newsletter for Ornithologists: Vol.1 (1&2): 2-9
Sighting of some threatened bird species
in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS)
Bhagalpur, Bihar
(Authors are senior activists of Mandar Nature Club, Bhagalpur, Bihar)
It was a pleasant morning of March 23, 2005, when we
started our boat trip to Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin
Sanctuary (VGDS) from Sultanganj Ghat.
Sultanganj Ghat and Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin
sanctuary are internationally recognized places. On one hand
Sultanganj ghat is the famous pilgrimage center for the
Hindus. The renowned “Ajgavinath” temple is situated in the
midst of river Ganga near this ghat. Pilgrims from different
parts of India and abroad visit this place during the month of
Sawan (July- - August), take their holy dip in Uttarbahini
Ganga and carry holy Ganga water to Babadham (Deoghar
in Jharkhand) on foot to worship lord Shiva. On the other
hand, the famous Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin sanctuary
(\/GDS) starts form this place.
VGDS has been recognised as a paradise for Ganges River
Dolphins. The Govt. of Bihar designated in 1991, a 50 km
segment of the river between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon as
Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary, considering the
occurrence of higher number of ‘Soons’ or Ganges River
Dolphins. The VGDS is the only protected area established
specifically for the protection of Ganges River Dolphins.
This sanctuary lies in the alluvial tract interspersed with
agricultural fields. Geographically the sanctuary lies north
of the Tropic of Cancer (Sultanganj Ghat N 25°.15, 247',
Bhagalpur, N 25°.16, 647' & Khalgaon N 25°.15,402') The
area has a moderate climate and July is the rainiest
season. The sanctuary comprises many smaller and
larger islands (sand deposits) chaurs, crisscrossing water
bodies, river banks, a few cultivated fields and the main
river stream.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5),2006
Nelson A. E. (1925) A Guide to Chikalda. Govt. Press Nagpur.
Ranjitsinh M. K. (1985) Saker Falcons in the Melghat, Journal of Bom.
Nat. Hist. Soc. Vol.82.
Rasmussen, P. & Anderton, J. (2005): Birds of South Asia-The Ripley
Guide Vol.2. Attributes and Status pp.152
Rithe K. (2003) New bird species recorded from Melghat. 18th National
Symposium on Recent Trends in Life Sciences, Amravati University,
Amravati. pp.27-29.
R. Jayapal, Qamar Qureshi & Ravi Chellam (2005): Some significant
records from the central Indian highlands of Madhya Pradesh. Indian
Birds. Vol.1 (5): 98-102
Sawarkar V. B. (1987) Bird survey of Melghat Tiger Reserve. Cheetal.
Vol.29.pp.4-27.
Dr. D.N. CHOUDHARY* and Mr. ARBIND MISHRA**
*Dept. of Zoology. P.N.College, Parsa, Saran, 841219, Bihar
**Coordinator, IBCN, Bihar & Jharkhand.
It has a rich biodiversity comprising important flora and fauna.
In addition to Gangetic dolphins, otters, turtles and gharials,
are found in the sanctuary. Moreover, it is a permanent
roosting, feeding and breeding ground for a large number of
resident and migratory birds. In view of these facts, this
sanctuary has been selected as an IBA site of Bihar.
We reached Sultanganj Ghat by 6:00 am, had the Dahi-
Chura (traditional breakfast of Sultanganj ghat) and hired a
mechanized country boat for our survey. As we started our
journey, we saw dolphins sliding on the water surface by
elevating their long snout in the air with a hissing sound su-
su…. We enjoyed watching the frenzied activities of the
dolphins in the main stream throughout our journey. Common
crows and a few pariah kites were seen flying overhead near
this Ghat, hoping to pickup a morsel or two tossed by the
pilgrims. This is a regular feature at this Ghat, particularly
in the mornings.
The survey began at 7:00 am and ended by 3:30 pm at
Bhagalpur near Bararighat. Our boat moved slowly
throughout the main stream, sometimes along the margin
of the river so that we could watch the activities of birds on
the bank and in the nearby cultivated fields. We also halted
now and then on the islands and river banks.
During this eight hour journey, we conducted an exhaustive
survey of birds and aquatic animals on the river banks,
islands, near cultivated fields and in the main stream,
covering a 25 km segment of VGDS.
We encountered many resident and migratory bird species
during this boat ride. It was a fruitful journey. Four large
flocks of migratory birds were recorded at four separate sites.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5), 2006 69
The sighting of 39 Common cranes, 53 Greater adjutant results were not up to the mark. However, this is the first
storks, 57 painted storks, 500+ Brahminy ducks, 200+ time in Bihar that such a huge congregation of Greater
Pintail ducks and small Indian Pratincoles, was indeed adjutants has been recorded in VGDS. We suspect that
exciting. In addition, the presence of a large number of Little Greater adjutants might be breeding in parts of Bihar, similar
cormorants, Black and White ibises, Spoonbills and Terns, to that of the Lesser adjutants. Efforts are underway to visit
added grandeur to the VGDS. other remote parts of Bihar to ascertain this fact.
Black and White Ibis, Spoonbills, Spurwings (River plovers), We counted waterbirds as per the Asian waterfowl census-
Painted storks and Little cormorants were mostly recorded India data sheet. We counted individual birds as well as
on the sandbars (islands). Common cranes and Greater birds in flock following the standard method of sampling
adjutant storks were noticed at two separate locations on technique (Javed et.al. 2000). We tried to approach the
the sandy river bank near Sonbarsa diarah. flocks, as closely as possible to count birds on both the
More than 300 nests of Bank mynas were recorded along the sides of our boat as well.
edge of the riverbank near Chaunia diarah. The nests were Table 1. List of birds recorded in VDGS during two successive
closely excavated horizontal holes that formed a mono-colony. winter seasons (2005 & 2006) and a summer (2006)
A similar survey was taken up during the next successive No. of Birds Observed
season (3rd week of Feb. 2006). We could discern a Common & Scientific Name Sta- 23rd 21st 23rd
tus Mar. Feb. May,
declining trend of migratory birds in the same segment of
2005 2006 2006
VGDS and in its surrounding area, after the second survey.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis R 55 62 37
Before the second survey, we had conducted a local survey Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus M 06 00 00
during the last week of January, 2006 of a few wetlands of Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger R 300 256 337
Bihar in Kursela, Naugachia, Bihpur, Khagaria, Mansi & Large Cormorant P. carbo R 0 06 02
Karwar lake of Begusarai (as these areas have been the Little Egret Egretta garzetta R 25 30 13
Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia R 15 08 02
traditional roosting and beeding grounds for migratory birds
Large Egret Casmerodius albus R 05 00 02
in North Bihar) with a dual objective. The main objective Grey Heron Ardea cinerea R 07 10 06
was to count the birds as a part of our regular waterfowl Asian Openbill stork Anastomus oscitans R 125 189 237
census and the secondary objective was to create awareness Lesser adjutant Stork Leptoptilos javanicus RM 05 09 04
about the ‘Bird Flu’ threat to the local population through Greater adjutant Stork L. dubius RM 02 07 53
distribution of handbills. White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus R 06 06 04
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala RM 00 27 57
After surveying these wetlands, VDGS and its surrounding Black Stork Ciconia nigra M 02 01 01
areas we came to the conclusion that the arrival of migratory White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus R 23 25 17
birds in these parts of Bihar was considerably less in this Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa R 16 22 27
winter (Jan-Feb. 2006) compared to 2005 survey. This is a Spoon bill Platalea leucorodia R 22 08 07
matter of concern about the deterioration of the riverine Lesser Whistling Teal
ecosystem of Bihar. The decline may be either due to scanty Dendrocygna Javanica R 00 35 287
rainfall and scarcity of food for the birds or perhaps due to Brahminy Duck Tadorna ferruginea R 500+ 85 05
Bird Flu (as mass mortality of migratory birds has been Pintail Duck Anas acuta RM 125 35 00
Common teal A. crecca M 130 62 02
reported in different Asian and European countries since
Mallard A. platyrhynchos M 62 00 00
2004). The matter calls for in-depth research and analysis. Shoveller A. clypeata M 85 10 00
Mandar Nature Club of Bhagalpur, Bihar an NGO working in White-eyed Pochard Aythya nyroca RM 00 16 00
the field of conservation of birds and wildlife, is not only Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula M 08 00 00
monitoring the fluctuation of waterfowl populations, but is Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina M 65 22 00
also looking at the potential causative factors. Common Crane Grus grus M 39 00 00
Common Coot Fulica atra RM 0 300+ 00
Recently (on 23rd of May, 2006), when we were moving Red-wattled lapwing Vanellus indicus R 18 12 27
upstream from Kahalgaon to Sultanganj, on our third trip Spurwing (River lapwing) V. spinosus R 25 00 05
specifically to study the breeding waterfowl of VGDS, we Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus R 27 00 07
succeeded in taking photographs of eggs and hatchlings of Little-ringed Plover Charadrius dubius RM 06 02 00
some of the important waterfowl on the exposed sandy river Greenshank Tringa nebularia M 35 22 00
bank among the aquatic weeds. The report of this particular Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos RM 13 08 00
trip is under preparation which will be published with Little Stint Calidris minuta M 32 17 00
photographs at a later date. The most exciting discovery Small Indian Pratincole Glareola lactea R 300+ 300+ 400+
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago RM 03 00 00
came at 5.25 pm on that day, when 53 greater Adjutant
Indian River Tern Sterna aurantia R 35 32 37
storks and 57 Painted storks were sighted on the river bank Little Tern S. albifrons R 17 41 177
about two km from the Sultanganj ghat. Both the flocks Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus R 22 16 02
were seen roosting close to each other. W e tried to Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedo atthis R 06 03 07
photograph these birds, but due to insufficient light the Lesser Paid Kingfisher Ceryle rudis R 05 07 07

Common Snipe RM 03 00 00
70 Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5),2006

White-breasted Kingfisher In two successive seasons we recorded approximately 70

Halcyon smyrnensis R 08 12 03 species (excluding a few unidentified species) of birds
Common Swallow Hirundo rustica RM 50 37 00
White Wagtail Motacilla alba RM 07 00 00 It was found that the bird numbers in some species varied
Pied Wagtail M. maderaspatensis R 05 03 05 in both the seasons. However, the presence of common
Citrine Wagtail M. citreola RM 00 07 00 crane, painted stork. Greater adjutant stork, small Indian
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus R 03 07 05 Pratincole and few species of migratory ducks in Vikramshila
Curlew Numenius arquata M 05 00 00 Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (BGDS) is certainly a matter
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis R 22 37 17 of delight for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. We are
Bank Myna A. ginginianus R 300+ 500+ 400+ regularly visiting this part and hope to add several more
Pied Myna Sturnus contra R 12 25 37
species in the checklist in future.
Common Crow Corvus splendens R 42 57 37
Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos R 05 13 03 Acknowledgments
Osprey Pandion haliaetus RM 02 02 00
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus M 01 02 00 We are thankful to Dr. T.K. Ghosh, Dr. Sunil Kumar Agrawal
Shikra Accipiter badius R 02 01 03 and Dr. T.K. Pan of Mandir Nature Club, Bhagalpur, for
Kestrel F. tinnunculus RM 02 00 00 encouraging us to take up this field work.
Pariah Kite Milvus migrans govinda M 12 15 08
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus R 01 03 00 References
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus M 01 00 00
Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley (1995). A pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian
Black Headed Gull Larus ridibundus RM 08 02 00
subcontinent, Oxford University Press, Bombay.
White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis R 02 00 03
Black Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis R 05 02 23 Ali, S. (1996). The book of Indian Birds, Oxford University Press, Bombay.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis R 04 02 07 Grimmett, R.C., Inskipp & T. Inskipp, (1999). Pocket Guide to the Birds of
Indian Roller Coracias bengalensis R 03 05 11 Indian subcontinent, Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Lesser spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina R 01 02 01 Javed, Salim, Kaul, Rahul & BNHS (2000). Field Methods for Bird Surveys,
Indian Small Skylark Alauda gulgula R 01 03 03 Dept. of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, World Pleasant
Sand Lark Calandrella raytal R 03 07 05 Association, Delhi & BNHS, Mumbai.
Blue Rock pigeon Columba livia R 35 31 17 Islam M.Z. and Rahmani A.R. (2002). Threatened Bird of India. Buceros,
Status : R = Resident, RM = Regional Migrant, M = Migrant. Vol. 7 No. 182 compiled from threatened Birds of Asia.

Occurrence of a partial albino Blue-rock Pigeon

(Columba livia) on Burnt Island from 1938 to 2006
– a probale case of inheritance
We visited the offshore islets of Vengurla Rocks archipelago
in the Arabian Sea (16°35’-16°45’ N latitude and 73°27’-73°30’
E longitude), off the coast of Sindhudurga district,
Maharashtra first time during April 2001. Thereafter we regu-
larly visited the Burnt Island, an islet in this archipelago for
the study of nesting Edible-nest Swiftlets (Collocalia uni-
color) and marine terns up to May 2006 (Pande, et al, 2001;
Pande, 2002 a; Pande, 2002 b).
During all these visits we observed a single partial albino
Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia Gmelin, on the Burnt Is-
land, perching on ground on a particular bare rock. On all
our visits we saw it in the flock of about 25 pigeons of the
same species, in the same locality, but it was always seen
on the periphery of the flock. This partial albino pigeon had a
few white coloured central primary flight feathers in both wings,
a white lateral neck patch and no other body part was white
and it was recorded on a photograph. In all 150 to 200 Blue
Rock Pigeons were seen during our visits and they appeared
to be slightly larger in size than the counterparts seen on
the mainland. These numbers have apparently remained
ANIL MAHABAL* and SATISH PANDE**
*Zoological Survey of India, W.R.S. Akurdi, Pune
**ELA Foundation, Pune. Email: satishpande@hotmail.com
constant from their first sighting by A.O. Hume in 1875
(Hume, 1876).
A noteworthy behaviour of the single partial albino Blue Rock
Pigeon was that it was the first bird to take to wings whenever
we approached the flock and usually remained either a
certain distance away from the flock or at the periphery,
hence easily noticed. It was particularly conspicuous in flight
since the unique white wing mirror patterns of this pigeon
flashed in daylight. Interestingly, a single semi-albino Blue
Rock Pigeon was first reported from the Burnt Island in a
small flock of 10 to 15 pigeons in February 1938 (Abdulali,
1940). Abdulali again visited this island in March 1941 and
May 1983 but has not reportedly sighted the semi-albino
pigeon (Abdulali, 1942; Abdulali, 1983).
We would therefore like to highlight that a single partial albino
Blue Rock Pigeon was re-sighted by us on the Burnt Island
in 2001 after a gap of about 62 years, i.e. 1938. We do not
intend to say that it is the same bird, since the average life
span of wild Blue Rock Pigeon is about 6 years and
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5), 2006
maximum longevity recorded is 35 years (Flower, 1925;
Johnston, 1992). However we would like to suggest that the
trait of partial albinism in Blue Rock Pigeon might have been
passed on to successive generations since 1938. We do
not know the sex, age and fertility status of this single partial
albino Blue Rock Pigeon, but the trait, which appears to be
recessive, can be passed on by normal coloured adults
(Mishra, et al, 1982). We have recorded only one partial
albino Blue Rock Pigeon in all our visits and cannot confirm
that it is the same individual. But the fact that the partial-
albino pigeon was always seen at the same locality as
member of a similar sized flock of about 25 pigeons, on all
our visits for the past 6 years, it is quite possible that this is
the same individual.
Abdulali has stated that the population of pigeons of the
Burnt Island is most likely feral and must have originated
from those on the lighthouse island, half a mile away and
further states that these pigeons also nest on ground on
this island and do not probably go to the mainland for feeding
(Abdulali, 1983). We have also documented the breeding of
these pigeons on the Old lighthouse island (the lighthouse
island mentioned by Abdulali could be either the new or the
old, the latter being half a mile further west to the new
lighthouse island) as well as on Burnt Island. W e
hypothesize that this flock of Blue Rock Pigeons could be
partially confined to the Vengurla Rocks archipelago for
safety. Another reason for strengthening this hypothesis is
their relatively stable numbers of about 150 to 200 birds
over the past several years. This is likely to be a semi-wild
or wild independent island population though it may be
regularly visiting the mainland to meet the dietary
requirements, since adequate quantity of food for so many
pigeons is not available on these barren islands. We have
noticed that some of the pigeons from Burnt Island do fly to
the adjacent old and new lighthouse islands, other islands
of the archipelago as well as to the mainland. They are
most likely using these offshore islands as a safe roosting
and nesting area. Due to the absence of ground pigeon
predators on these islands, the pigeons have even resorted
to ground nesting, a most unusual occurrence for this species
as documented by Abdulali and corroborated by us (Abdulali,
1983; Pande, 2002 c). Similar behaviour is also reported in
dove Streptopelia semitorquata Ruppel, on islets in the Mafia
group off the east African coast (Ibis 1944: 36 as cited by
Abdulali, 1983).
As is commonly seen amongst pigeons tamed by pigeon
fanciers, the wild pigeons interbreed freely with domesticated
varieties, producing a chaotic mixture of races (Ali and
Ripley, 1969). Albinism or isabellinism is usually a freak
incidence (Mishra, et al, 1982; Mahabal and Pande, 2006)
in birds and transmission of this trait in wild bird populations
is not generally documented. However the inheritance and
expression of albinism in subsequent generations of
mammalian population, like Tiger (Panthera tigris) in Rewa
is reported and well documented (Oswald, 1960; Desai,
1970). Another such occurrence is reported in Five-striped
Palm Squirrel (Funanbulus pennanti Wroughton) where one
71
of the parents and a juvenile were albinos (Mahabal, et al,
2005). Although such inheritance may be occurring in wild
populations of mainland birds, they are difficult to detect
due to the large geographical distribution as against confined
populations on islands. A rare and first instance of
transmission of melanism, a type of isabellinism, is reported
in Spotted Owlets (Athene brama Temminck) (Pande,
et al, 2005).
Hutt (1969) considered albinism as an indication of infertility.
However as seen from a few above examples of albino Tiger,
Five-striped Palm Squirrel and Spotted Owlet, this
association of albinism and isabellinism with infertility does
appear to have strong exceptions.
We feel that this phenomenon could be an interesting report
of persistent expression of partial albinism in one individual
in subsequent generations of semi-wild or wild partially
isolated island population of Blue Rock Pigeon at Burnt
Island from 1938 till 2006. It is likely to be an inherited trait
and is worth documenting and for further studies by
interested students. The other possible explanation, though
less likely, is the occurrence of a second unrelated mutation
or a trait acquired by breeding with coastal feral population,
expressing itself in the form of partial albinism after a gap of
several years.
Acknowledgement
We express our gratitude to Mr. Shridhar Metar for taking
us to Vengurla Rocks archipelago in his powered boat for
our surveys. ELA Foundation supported the study.
References
Abdulali, Humayun (1940). Swifts and Terns at Vengurla Rocks.
J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 41(3):661-665.
Abdulali, Humayun (1942). The Terns and Edible-nest Swifts at Vengurla,
West Coast, India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 43(3):446-451.
Abdulali, Humayun (1983). Pigeons (Columba livia) nesting on the
ground-some more bird notes from the Vengurla Rocks. J. Bombay
nat. Hist. Soc. 80(1):215-217.
Ali Salim and S. Dillon Ripley (1969). Handbook of Birds of India and
Pakistan, Oxford University Press, Bombay; vol 3: 1-325.
Desai, J. H. (1970). The White Tiger. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 67(3):551.
Flower, M.S.S. (1925). Contributions to our knowledge of the duration
of life in vertebrate animals - III. Reptiles. Proceedings of the
Zoological Society of London 1925(2): 911-981.
Hume A.O.(1876). Laccadives and the West Coast, Stray Feathers
4(4,5,6);413-483.
Hutt, F. B. (1969) Genetic aspects of infertility : Comparative mammalian
cytogenetics. (Ed. Benirschke, K.) Springer Verlag, New York.
Johnston, R.F. (1992). Columba livia, rock dove, in The Birds of North
America, A. Poole and F. Gill, Editors. Philadelphia: The Ornithologist’s
Union & The Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia. 1(13): 9.
Mahabal, Anil; Sharma, R. M. and Pradhan M. S. (2005). A case of total
albinism in the Five-striped Palm Squirrel (Funanbulus pennanti
Wroughton) in Sindhudurga Districy, Maharashtra state. J. Bombay
Nat. Hist. Soc. Vol. 102(1):98-99.
Mahabal Anil and Satish Pande (2006). Isabelline Jungle Crow (Corvus
macrorhynchos Wagler) in ZSI Collection, Pune. Newsletter for
Birdwatchers 46(2):23-24.
72
Mishra, Ch. G; L. N. Achrjya and L. M. Choudhary (1982) Birth of White
Tiger (Panthera tigris) cubs to normal colourd Tigers in captivity.
J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. Vol.79:404-407.
Oswald, A. (1960) The White Tigers Of Rewa. Cheetal, 2(2):63-67.
Pande,Satish; Katdare V. and Mone Ram (2001) Swift Action that saved
the swifts. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 41:3: 30-31, May-June 2001.
Pande, Satish (2002 a) Terns nesting on the Vengurla Rocks Archipelago.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 42(1):10-12.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5),2006
Pande, Satish (2002 b) A diary of the anxious times of Operation Swift.
Orintal Bird Club Bulletin, 35: 12-14.
Pande, Satish (2002 c) Conservation of habitat and documentation of the
nesting status of Indian Edible-nest Swiftlets and Marine Terns of
Vengurla Rocks : A Report submitted to BNHS under SALOR Grant. P.
1-42. (Unpublished report).
Pande, Satish; Amit Pawashe and Anil Mahabal (2005) Melanism in
southern spotted owlet Athene brama - first report. Indian Birds.
Vol.1. No. 4. July-August, 2005.

Occurrence of isabelline cum partial albino

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark
(Eremopterix griseus Scopoli) near Pune, India
AMIT PAWASHE, SATISH PANDE* and ANIL MAHABAL#
*ELA Foundation, C-9, Bhosale Park, Sahakarnagar-2, Pune 411009 email: satishpande@hotmail.com
#
Zoological Survey of India, WRS, Akurdi, Pune

Ash y-cro wned Sparro w-Lark (E remo pterix g rise us some time. The detailed comparison of plumages of
Scopoli), is a common resident bird that occurs all over normal and isbelline cum partial albino male Ashy-crowned
India from Himalayan foothills to Kanyakumari and also Sparrow-Lark sighted by us is given in Table 1.
in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It inhabits dry
Table 1. Comparison of plumages of normal and isabelline
scrub stony habitat, vicinity of ploughed fields, village cum partial albino male Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark
grazing grounds, paddy stubbles and dry riverbeds (Ali Eremopterix griseus, Scopoli.
and Ripley, 1972; Grimmett, et al, 1998). It is a terrestrial
graminivorous and insectivorous bird with a typical finch- Character Normal Isabelline / Partial
like heavy beak. It keeps in pairs or small parties with / Plumage albino
seasonal change in social organization and rests on Size 13 cm About 13 cm
ground during night but perches on wire during the day. Crown Grey to ashy, Whitish
Sexes are dimorphic. Male has ashy crown, is sandy streaked
brown above and entirely black below from chin to vent Cheek-patch Pale brownish Whitish
Female is hen sparrow like, sandy brown above and below, Nape Ashy brown Whitish
lacks dark eye-stripes and under parts of the male, has
Bill Horny grey Pale
un-streaked upper parts and mantle with black under wing dusky culmen
coverts. Juvenile is pale rufous all over with mottled black-
Eye-stripe Dark black Pale black
brown underparts, grayish eye-stripes and whitish cheek
pat ch (Al i a nd R ip l ey, 19 72 ; P an de , et a l, 2 0 03 ; Half collar & chin Dark black Black
Rasmussen and Anderton, 2005). Upper parts Sandy brown Pale cream
Wings coverts Narrow white Broad white
On 2nd July 2006, during a field study of Hyena (Hyena scalloping scalloping
hyena) and Indian Fox (Vulpus bengalensis), a small
Wings Brown Pale brown
party of Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Larks was sighted near
a water hole in dry, hilly, scrub habitat at noon, in the Under parts Entirely black Only central broad dark
Dive mountain range near Saswad (180,25’ N; 740, 01 E), stripe like in Great Tit,
district Pune, Maharashtra. In this party of six male and with bilateral whitish
flanks joined above vent
female birds one Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark was
strikingly different in appearance from the others of the Under tail coverts Black Blackish brown
same species and was confusingly similar to Great Tit Tail Sandy brown Pale brown
(P aru s ma j or). Th e c on f u s in g s imil a ri ty w a s th e Legs Fleshy brown Pale brown
conspicuous tit-like dark belly stripe. However, the striking
Albinism or isabelline pigmentation is described in several
difference was the typical heavy finch-like beak, unlike
bird species but is a rare occurrence (Pande et al, 2003;
the slender and pointed bill of the Great Tit.
Mahabal and Pande, 2006). The detection of a particular
Close scrutiny and video clipping revealed the true identity colour pigment abnormality such as brown, red, yellow,
of this unusual bird as isabelline cum partial albino male etc may not be always possible, hence abnormal pale
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark. This bird of unusual colouration in birds is termed as luceism and such birds
plumage was freely mixing with the other Ashy-crowned are called isabelline (Heimo Mikkola In Duncan, 2003).
Sparrow-Larks in the party and they all flew away after We justify the use of the term isabelline in the present
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5), 2006
case since the usual brown to sandy brown upper parts
and wings in normal plumage of male Ashy-crowned
Sparrow-Lark have taken an abnormal pale variant plumage.
Further, we have used the term partial albino to denote the
almost white crown, cheek-patches, both flanks and
margins of scalloped wing coverts. To the best of our
knowledge this is the first such report of an isabelline cum
partial albino Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark from India.
Acknowledgement
Prashant Deshpande of ELA Foundation provided video
camera. ELA Foundation supported the study.
References
Ali, S. and S. Dillon Ripley (1969). Handbook of the birds of India and
Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and
Sri Lanka. Vol.3. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Birds of Pithoragarh district, Uttaranchal, India
Northern Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, 218- Kaulagarh Road
P.O. IPE Dehra Dun 248 195 (Uttaranchal) India. E-mail: pctak@sancharnet.in
Introduction
Pithoragarh is the eastern most district of the Uttaranchal
state. Earlier, it was a part of Almora district. It got its identity,
as a separate district, in the year 1960. Recently in 1997, it
was further divided into two districts, namely, Pithoragarh
(the northern part) and Champawat (the southern part).
Pithoragarh district is bordered by Tibet in the north, Nepal
in the east, Chamoli and Almora districts in the west and
by Champawat district in the south.
Information on the birds of this district is very scanty. It is
by Tak and Sati, 1994 (Goriganga Valley); Rawat and
Sathyakumar, 1998 (Panchchuli Trek); and Anonymous
2002 (Gori River Basin).
In the recent past, the authors surveyed the district under
‘General Faunistic Survey’ programmes of the Zoological
Survey of India (1989 and 2005) and under the ‘Environmental
Impact Assessment’ (EIA) study of Hydro-electric Projects
coming up on the river-systems of Gori, Dholi and Kali (2004).
During these surveys, the bird life was also documented
and area-wise records were prepared.
Therefore, an attempt has been made for a comprehensive
systematic list covering 212 bird species from Pithoragarh
district.
Study area
The geographical area of the district is about 7090 km2 and
lies at the co-ordinates 29°22’ to 30°45’ N latitudes and
80000’ to 81°05’ E longitudes. The altitudinal range varies
from between 1,100 and 7,400 m above msl.
About 29% area (2,077 km2 out of 7,090 km2) of the district
is forested (Anonymous, 2003). The vegetation is mainly
composed of unique sub-tropical, temperate and alpine floral
73
Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (1998). Birds on the Indian
Subcontinent. Christopher Helm, London.
Mahabal, Anil and Satish Pande (2006). Isabelline Jungle Crow Corvus
macrorhynchos Wagler in ZSI Collection, Pune. Newsletter for
Birdwatchers, 46(2):23-24.
Mikkola, Heimo (2003). Colour variation in Owls: Albinism and Melanism.
In: Owls of the World by James Duncan, Key Porter Books, Canada.
Pp 137-141.
Pande, Satish; Tambe, Saleel; Francis, C. F. and Sant, Niranjan (2003).
Birds of Western Ghats, Kokan and Malabar (Including birds of
Goa) Oxford University Press and Bombay Natural History Society,
India. Pp-1-378.
Rasmussen, P. C. and Anderton, J. C. (2005). Birds of South Asia: The
Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 & 2. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicion.
Washington D. C. and Barcelona.
P. C. TAK and J. P. SATI
components. The flora of the area consists of Bryophytes,
Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms. Rare
varieties of Orchids occur in higher valleys such as Milam,
Darma, Beyans, Kuthi, etc.
The natural vegetation of the area consists of trees such as
Sal (Shorea robusta), etc., at the lower altitudes; Pine (Pinus
roxburghii), Oaks (Quercus incana and Q. leucotrichophora),
Rhododendron (Rhododendron barbatum), etc., at the
middle altitudes (1500-2800m); Blue Pine (Pinus
wallichiana), Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Fir (Abies pindrow),
Silver Oak (Quercus semecarpifolia), etc., at higher altitudes
(2800-3500m) and Birch (Betula utilis), Rhododendron
(Rhododendron arboreum), etc., along with Brahm Kamal
(Saussurea obvallata), Dhup (Salix sp.), etc., in the alpine
zone (above 3500m).
Methodology
Observations were made with the aid of a 10 x 50 super
Zenith Field Binoculars and birds were identified with the
help of various field guides (Ali & Ripley 1983a, Grimmett
et al. 1999, Krys 2000). The nomenclature followed here is
after Manakadan & Pittie (2001). The numbers, in
parenthesis, following Common English name of the species
are those given in the Handbook of the Birds of India and
Pakistan (Ali & Ripley 1983b).
A three-fold terminology, as given below, has been used to
depict various status categories of 212 bird species.
(i) Residential status presented here is strictly in context
with the district Pithoragarh.
(ii) Abundance status is assessed on an arbitrary frequency
scale as: very common (1), common (2), fairly
common (3), uncommon (4), rare (5), and status not
known (?).
74 Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5),2006
Table: Systematic list of birds of Pithoragarh district, Uttaranchal, India
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
1. Cormorants/Shags Phalacrocoracidae
1 Little Cormorant (28) Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817) + R 4 LC IV
2 Great Cormorant (26) Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) + + R 4 LC IV
2. Herons, Egrets & Bitterns Ardeidae
3 Little Egret (49) Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) + R 4 LC IV
3. Swans, Geese & Ducks Anatidae
4 Eurasian Wigeon (103) Anas penelope (Linnaeus, 1758 + W 4 LC IV
5 Duck sp. Anas sp. + ? ? ? ?
4. Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards & Vultures Accipitridae
6 Black-shouldered Kite (124) Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789) + R 4 LC I
7 Black Kite (132-134) Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) + + + + R 2 LC I
8 Bearded Vulture (188) Gypaetus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + + + + R 2 LC I
9 Egyptian Vulture (186-87) Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + + RA 2 LC IV
10 Himalayan Griffon (181) Gyps himalayensis Hume, 1869 + + + + + A 2 LC IV BRS (05)
11 Red-headed Vulture (178) Sarcogyps calvus (Scopoli, 1786) + + + + R 4 NT IV BRS (11)
12 Crested Serpent-Eagle (196-200) Spilornis cheela (Latham, 1790 + + + + R 4 LC I
13 Pallid Harrier (190) Circus macrourus (S.G. Gmelin, 1770) + + W 4 NT I
14 Eurasian Sparrowhawk (147-48) Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + A 4 LC I
15 Upland Buzzard (154) Buteo hemilasius Temminck & Schlegel, 1845 + + W 5 LC I
16 Black Eagle (172) Ictinaetus malayensis (Temminck, 1822) + + R 3 LC I
17 Golden Eagle (166) Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus, 1758) + + R 4 LC I
18 Booted Eagle (164) Hieraaetus pennatus (Gmelin, 1788) + RW 4 LC I
19 Mountain Hawk-Eagle (158-159) Spizaetus nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836) + + R 3 LC I
5. Falcons Falconidae
20 Common Kestrel (222-224) Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 + + + + RW 2 LC IV
6. Pheasants, Partridges, Quails Phasianidae
21 Snow Partridge (227) Lerwa lerwa (Hodgson, 1833) + + R 2 LC IV BRS (05)
22 Himalayan Snowcock (232) Tetraogallus himalayensis G.R. Gray, 1843 + + RA 2 LC IV BRS (05)
23 Chukor (234-236) Alectoris chukar (J.E. Gray, 1830) + + + + R 2 LC IV
24 Black Francolin (237-239) Francolinus francolinus (Linnaeus, 1766) + + + R 2 LC IV
25 Common Hill-Partridge (266-269) Arborophila torqueola (Valenciennes, 1826) + + R 2 LC IV BRS (07)
26 Satyr Tragopan (286) Tragopan satyra (Linnaeus, 1758) + + RA 4 NT I BRS (07)
27 Koklass Pheasant (303-306) Pucrasia macrolopha (Lesson, 1829) + + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
28 Impeyan Monal (290) Lophophorus impejanus (Latham, 1790) + + A 2 LC I BRS (07)
29 Red Junglefowl (299-300) Gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758) + R 2 LC IV
30 Kaleej Pheasant (293-298) Lophura leucomelanos (Latham, 1790) + + + + A 2 LC IV
31 Cheer Pheasant (307) Catreus wallichii (Hardwicke, 1827) + + R 4 VU I RRS (4)
7. Rails Rallidae
32 Rail sp. Rallina sp. + ? ? ? ?
8. Stints, Snipes, Godwits & Curlews Scolopacidae
33 Eurasian Woodcock (411) Scolopax rusticola Linnaeus, 1758 + A 4 LC IV
34 Snipe sp. Gallinago spp. + ? ? ? ?
35 Common Redshank (393, 394) Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 1758) + W 4 LC IV
9. Pigeons & Doves Columbidae
36 Blue Rock Pigeon (516-517) Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 + + + + + + RA 2 LC NLA
37 Hill Pigeon (515) Columba rupestris Pallas, 1811 + + + RA 3 LC IV
38 Snow Pigeon (513-514) Columba leuconota Vigors, 1831 + + + RA 4 LC IV BRS (05)
39 Ashy Wood-Pigeon (523) Columba pulchricollis Blyth, 1846 + R 4 LC IV
40 Oriental Turtle-Dove (530-533) Streptopelia orientalis (Latham, 1790) + + + RW 3 LC IV
41 Spotted Dove (537-540) Streptopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) + + + + + RA 2 LC IV
42 Eurasian Collared-Dove (534) Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) + + + RA 2 LC IV
43 Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon (494) Treron sphenura (Vigors, 1832) + + R 4 LC IV
44 Mountain Imperial-Pigeon (510-2) Ducula badia (Raffles, 1822) + R 4 LC IV
10. Parakeets & Hanging-Parrots Psittacidae
45 Rose-ringed Parakeet (549-550) Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) + R 2 LC IV
46 Slaty-headed Parakeet (562) Psittacula himalayana (Lesson, 1832) + + + RA 3 LC IV BRS (08)
47 Plum-headed Parakeet (557-558) Psittacula cyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766) + + R 2 LC IV BRS (11)
11. Cuckoos, Malkohas & Coucals Cuculidae
48 Large Hawk-Cuckoo (572) Hierococcyx sparverioides (Vigors, 1832) + S 3 LC IV
49 Indian Cuckoo (576) Cuculus micropterus Gould, 1838 + R 2 LC IV
50 Common Cuckoo (577-579) Cuculus canorus Linnaeus, 1758 + S 3 LC IV
12. Barn Owls Tytonidae
51 Barn Owl (606-607) Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) + R 4 LC IV
13. Owls Strigidae
52 Spotted Scops-Owl (611-612) Otus spilocephalus (Blyth, 1846) + + R 4 LC IV
53 Eurasian Scops-Owl (615) Otus scops (Linnaeus, 1758) + ? ? LC IV
54 Eurasian Eagle-Owl (625-627) Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758) + + R 4 LC IV
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5), 2006 75

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
55 Forest Eagle-Owl (628-629) Bubo nipalensis Hodgson, 1836 + + + R 5 LC IV
56 Asian Barred Owlet (639-641) Glaucidium cuculoides (Vigors, 1831) + + + + RA 3 LC IV
14. Nightjars Caprimulgidae
57 Nightjar sp. Caprimulgus sp. + ? ? ? ?
15. Swifts Apodidae
58 Himalayan Swiftlet (683-684) Collocalia brevirostris (Horsfield, 1840) + R 3 LC NLA
59 Alpine Swift (693-695) Tachymarptis melba (Linnaeus, 1758) + ? ? LC NLA
60 Pacific Swift (699-700) Apus pacificus (Latham, 1801) + ? ? LC NLA
61 House Swift (702-706) Apus affinis (J.E. Gray, 1830) + + + R 1 LC NLA
16. Kingfishers Alcedinidae
62 Small Blue Kingfisher (722-724) Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) + R 3 LC IV
63 White-breasted Kingfisher (735-8) Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) + + + + + R 2 LC IV
64 Greater Pied Kingfisher (717-718) Megaceryle lugubris (Temminck, 1834) + + + + R 3 LC IV
17. Bee-eaters Meropidae
65 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (744-5) Merops leschenaulti Vieillot, 1817 + + R 3 LC NLA
18. Rollers Coraciidae
66 Indian Roller (755-757) Coracias benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) + + R 3 LC IV
19. Hoopoes Upupidae
67 Common Hoopoe (763-766) Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 + + + + R 3 LC NLA
20. Barbets Capitonidae
68 Great Barbet (777-779) Megalaima virens (Boddaert, 1783) + + + + + A 2 LC IV
21. Woodpeckers Picidae
69 Rufous-bellied Pied Woodpecker (832-3) Dendrocopos hyperythrus (Vigors, 1831) + + R 3 LC IV
70 Himalayan Pied Woodpecker (836-7) Dendrocopos himalayensis (Jardine & Selby) + + + A 2 LC IV BRS (07)
71 Large Yellow-naped Woodpecker (812-3) Picus flavinucha Gould, 1834 + + R 3 LC IV
72 Large Scaly-bellied Green
Woodpecker (806-7) Picus squamatus Vigors, 1831 + R 3 LC IV
73 Black-naped Green Woodpecker (809-811) Picus canus Gmelin, 1788 + + R 3 LC IV
74 Himalayan Golden-backed Woodpecker (824) Dinopium shorii (Vigors, 1832) + + R 4 LC IV BRS (09)
22. Wagtails & Pipits Motacillidae
75 White Wagtail (1885-1890) Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 + + + + + W 1 LC IV
76 Large Pied Wagtail (1891) Motacilla maderaspatensis Gmelin, 1789 + R 4 LC IV
77 Yellow Wagtail (1875-1880) Motacilla flava Linnaeus, 1758 + + + W 3 LC IV
78 Grey Wagtail (1884) Motacilla cinerea Tunstall, 1771 + + + + AW 2 LC IV
79 Eurasian Tree Pipit (1854-1855) Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus, 1758) + P 4 LC IV
80 Oriental Tree Pipit (1852-1853) Anthus hodgsoni Richmond, 1907 + AW 4 LC IV
81 Rosy Pipit (1865) Anthus roseatus Blyth, 1847 + + AW 3 LC IV BRS (05)
82 Upland Pipit (1873) Anthus sylvanus (Blyth, 1845) + + + A 3 LC IV
23. Minivets etc. Campephagidae
83 Rosy Minivet (1089) Pericrocotus roseus (Vieillot, 1818) + R 4 LC IV BRS (08)
84 Long-tailed Minivet (1085-1087) Pericrocotus ethologus (Bangs & Phillips) + + + + RA 2 LC IV
85 Scarlet Minivet (1080-1083) Pericrocotus flammeus (Forster, 1781) + + RA 2 LC IV
24. Bulbuls & Finchbills Pycnonotidae
86 Himalayan Bulbul (1125) Pycnonotus leucogenys (Gray, 1835) + + + + + + R 1 LC IV BRS (08)
87 Red-vented Bulbul (1126-1132) Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) + + + + + + R 1 LC IV
88 Black Bulbul (1148-1151) Hypsipetes leucocephalus (P.L.S. Muller, ) + + + RA 1 LC IV BRS (08)
25. Shrikes Laniidae
89 Rufous-backed Shrike (946-948) Lanius schach Linnaeus, 1758 + + RA 2 LC NLA
90 Grey-backed Shrike (944-945) Lanius tephronotus (Vigors, 1831) + + + + + RA 2 LC NLA BRS (05)
26. Dippers Cinclidae
91 Brown Dipper (1775-1776) Cinclus pallasii Temminck, 1820 + + A 2 LC NLA
27. W rens Troglodytidae
92 Winter Wren (1769-1771) Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) + A 2 LC IV
28. Accentors Prunellidae
93 Alpine Accentor (1777-1779) Prunella collaris (Scopoli, 1769) + + A 3 LC NLA BRS (05)
94 Robin Accentor (1781) Prunella rubeculoides (Moore, 1854) + + A 4 LC NLA BRS (05)
95 Rufous-breasted Accentor (1782-3) Prunella strophiata (Blyth, 1843) + RA 3 LC NLA BRS (07)
29. Thrushes, Babblers, Warblers etc. Muscicapidae
29a. Thrushes, Robins, Forktails etc. Turdinae
96 Blue-headed Rock-Thrush (1723) Monticola cinclorhynchus (Vigors, 1832) + + S 2 LC IV BRS (08)
97 Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush (1724) Monticola rufiventris (Jardine & Selby, 1833) + A 4 LC IV
98 Blue Whistling-Thrush (1729-30) Myiophonus caeruleus (Scopoli, 1786) + + + + A 1 LC IV
99 Plain-backed Thrush (1738-1739) Zoothera mollissima (Blyth, 1842) + + A 3 LC IV BRS (05)
100 Long-tailed Thrush (1740) Zoothera dixoni (Seebohm, 1881) + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
101 Tickell’s Thrush (1748) Turdus unicolor Tickell, 1833 + A 4 LC IV BRS (08)
102 White-collared Blackbird (1749) Turdus albocinctus Royle, 1840 + + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
103 Grey-winged Blackbird (1750) Turdus boulboul (Latham, 1790) + + A 3 LC IV BRS (08)
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
104 Indian Blue Robin (1650, 1651) Luscinia brunnea (Hodgson, 1837) + S 3 LC IV BRS (07)
105 Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (1654-6) Tarsiger cyanurus (Pallas, 1773) + + A 2 LC IV
106 Golden Bush-Robin (1657-1658) Tarsiger chrysaeus (Hodgson, 1845) + A 4 LC IV BRS (07)
107 Black Redstart (1671-1672) Phoenicurus ochruros (Gmelin, 1774) + + A 3 LC IV
108 Blue-fronted Redstart (1675) Phoenicurus frontalis (Vigors, 1832) + A 3 LC IV
109 White-capped Redstart (1716) Chaimarrornis leucocephalus (Vigors, 1831) + + + + + A 1 LC IV
110 Plumbeous Redstart (1679) Rhyacornis fuliginosus (Vigors, 1831) + + + + + A 1 LC IV
111 White-tailed Robin (1681) Myiomela leucura (Hodgson, 1845) + A 4 LC IV BRS (08)
112 Little Forktail (1684) Enicurus scouleri Vigors, 1832 + + + + A 2 LC IV
113 Black-backed Forktail (1685) Enicurus immaculatus (Hodgson, 1836) + + R 3 LC IV BRS (09)
114 Slaty-backed Forktail (1686) Enicurus schistaceus (Hodgson, 1836) + + R 3 LC IV BRS (08)
115 Spotted Forktail (1688-1689) Enicurus maculatus Vigors, 1831 + + + + + RA 2 LC IV
116 Common Stonechat (1695-1698) Saxicola torquata (Linnaeus, 1766) + + + AW 2 LC IV
117 Pied Bushchat (1700-1703) Saxicola caprata (Linnaeus, 1766) + RA 3 LC IV
118 Grey Bushchat (1705) Saxicola ferrea Gray, 1846 + + + RA 3 LC IV
29b. Babblers, Laughingthrushes, etc. Timaliinae
119 Wh.-throated Laughingthrush (1273-4) Garrulax albogularis (Gould, 1836) + A 4 LC IV BRS (07)
120 White-crested Laughingthrush (1283-4) Garrulax leucolophus (Hardwicke, 1815) + + + + + R 1 LC IV
121 Striated Laughingthrush (1279-82) Garrulax striatus (Vigors, 1831) + + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
122 Spotted Laughingthrush (1298-99) Garrulax ocellatus (Vigors, 1831) + R 4 LC IV BRS (07)
123 Streaked Laughingthrush (1312-6) Garrulax lineatus (Vigors, 1831) + + + A 1 LC IV BRS (07)
124 Variegated Laughingthrush (1289-90) Garrulax variegatus (Vigors, 1831) + + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
125 Black-faced Laughingthrush (1322-23) Garrulax affinis Blyth, 1843 + A 4 LC IV BRS (07)
126 Red-headed Laughingthrush (1324-30) Garrulax erythrocephalus (Vigors, 1832) + A 2 LC IV
127 Greater Scaly-breasted
Wren-Babbler (1197-8) Pnoepyga albiventer (Hodgson, 1837) + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
128 Jungle Babbler (1261-1265) Turdoides striatus (Dumont, 1823) + + R 2 LC IV BRS (11)
129 Red-winged Shrike Babbler (1341) Pteruthius flaviscapis (Temminck, 1836) + A 4 LC IV
130 Bar-throated Minla (1358-1361) Minla strigula (Hodgson, 1838) + + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
131 Rufous Sibia (1396-1398) Heterophasia capistrata (Vigors, 1831) + + + A 2 LC IV BRS (07)
132 Yellow-naped Yuhina (1367-1370) Yuhina flavicollis Hodgson, 1836 + + A 3 LC IV
29c. Parrotbills Panurinae
133 Great Parrotbill (1236) Conostoma oemodium Hodgson, 1841 + ? ? LC IV BRS (07)
134 Black-throated Parrotbill (1239a-44) Paradoxornis nipalensis (Hodgson, 1837) + R ? LC IV
29d. Goldcrest, Prinias, Tesias, Warblers Sylviinae
135 Brown Prinia (1526-1528) Prinia criniger Hodgson, 1836 + + R 3 LC IV BRS (08)
136 Olivaceous Leaf-Warbler (1581) Phylloscopus griseolus Blyth, 1847 + + S 4 LC IV BRS (05)
137 Orange-barred Leaf-Warbler (1587-89) Phylloscopus pulcher Blyth, 1845 + RA 4 LC IV BRS (07)
138 Grey-faced Leaf-Warbler (1597-99) Phylloscopus maculipennis (Blyth, 1867) + + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
139 Lemon-rumped Warbler (1594-96) Phylloscopus chloronotus (G.R.Gray & J.E.Gray, 1846) + A 3 LC IV
140 Greenish Leaf-Warbler (1602-05) Phylloscopus trochiloides (Sundevall, 1837) + S 2 LC IV
141 Western Crowned Warbler (1606) Phylloscopus occipitalis (Blyth, 1845) + + S 3 LC IV BRS (07)
142 Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler (1608-1611) Phylloscopus reguloides (Blyth, 1842) + AW 3 LC IV
143 Gold-spectacled Flycatch-Warbler (1615) Seicercus burkii (Burton, 1836) + + A 2 LC IV
144 Grey-headed Flycatc-Warbler (1616-19) Seicercus xanthoschistos (G.R. Gray ) + + + + A 3 LC IV BRS (08)
29e. Flycatchers Muscicapinae
145 Sooty Flycatcher (1405-1406) Muscicapa sibirica Gmelin, 1789 + + S 2 LC IV
146 Orange-gorgeted Flycatcher (1414) Ficedula strophiata (Hodgson, 1837) + R 3 LC IV BRS (07)
147 Little Pied Flycatcher (1419-20) Ficedula westermanni (Sharpe, 1888) + + A 3 LC IV
148 Ultramarine Flycatcher (1421-22) Ficedula superciliaris (Jerdon, 1840) + + S 3 LC IV BRS (07)
149 Slaty-blue Flycatcher (1423-1425) Ficedula tricolor (Hodgson, 1845) + RA 3 LC IV BRS (07)
150 Verditer Flycatcher (1445) Eumyias thalassina (Swainson, 1838) + + + A 2 LC IV
151 Small Niltava (1429-1430) Niltava macgrigoriae (Burton, 1836) + A 3 LC IV BRS (08)
152 Rufous-bellied Niltava (1431-32) Niltava sundara (Hodgson, 1837) + + + RA 2 LC IV BRS (07)
153 Grey-headed Flycatcher (1448-49) Culicicapa ceylonensis (Swainson, 1820) + + RA 2 LC IV
29f. Paradise-Flycatchers Monarchinae
154 Asian Paradise-Flycatcher (1460-4) Terpsiphone paradisi (Linnaeus, 1758) + + S 3 LC IV
29g. Fantail-Flycatchers Rhipidurinae
155 Yellow-bellied Fantail-Flycatcher (1450) Rhipidura hypoxantha Blyth, 1843 + + RA 3 LC IV
156 White-throated
Fantail-Flycatcher (1454-59) Rhipidura albicollis (Vieillot, 1818) + + + R 2 LC IV
157 White-browed Fantail-Flycatcher (1451-53) Rhipidura aureola Lesson, 1830 + + + R 2 LC IV BRS (11)
30. Long-tailed Tits Aegithalidae
158 Red-headed Tit (1818-1820) Aegithalos concinnus (Gould, 1855) + + R 2 LC IV BRS (08)
159 White-throated Tit (1822) Aegithalos niveogularis (Gould, 1855) + A 5 LC IV RRS (4)
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
31. Tits Paridae
160 Simla Crested Tit (1804) Parus rufonuchalis Blyth, 1849 + R 3 LC IV BRS (07)
161 Rufous-bellied Crested Tit (1805-6a) Parus rubidiventris Blyth, 1847 + + + R 2 LC IV BRS (07)
162 Spot-winged Crested Tit (1802) Parus melanolophus Vigors, 1831 + + + A 2 LC IV BRS (07)
163 Coal Tit (1803) Parus ater Linnaeus, 1758 + ? 5 LC IV
164 Brown Crested Tit (1807-1808) Parus dichrous Blyth, 1844 + R 4 LC IV BRS (07)
165 Great Tit (1790-1797) Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 + + + R 1 ? IV
166 Green-backed Tit (1799) Parus monticolus Vigors, 1831 + R 2 LC IV BRS (07)
167 Black-lored Yellow Tit (1809-11) Parus xanthogenys Vigors, 1831 + + R 1 LC IV
168 Black-spotted Yellow Tit (1812-a) Parus spilonotus Bonaparte, 1850 + ? ? LC IV BRS (08)
169 Yellow-browed Tit (1813-1814) Sylviparus modestus Burton, 1836 + R 3 LC IV BRS (07)
32. Nuthatches, Wallcreeper Sittidae
170 White-tailed Nuthatch (1834-35) Sitta himalayensis Jardine & Selby, 1835 + A 4 LC NLA BRS (07)
171 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (1838) Sitta frontalis Swainson, 1820 + R 3 LC NLA
172 Wallcreeper (1839) Tichodroma muraria (Linnaeus, 1766) + + + W 2 LC NLA BRS (05)
33. Tree-Creepers, Creepers Certhiidae
173 Eurasian Tree-Creeper (1842-44) Certhia familiaris Linnaeus, 1758 + R 4 LC NLA
174 Bar-tailed Tree-Creeper (1845-48) Certhia himalayana Vigors, 1832 + + + + A 2 LC NLA BRS (07)
34. Sunbirds Nectariniidae
175 Purple Sunbird (1916-1918) Nectarinia asiatica (Latham, 1790) + RA 3 LC IV RRS (1)
176 Green-tailed Sunbird (1922-1924) Aethopyga nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836) + RA 3 LC IV
177 Crimson Sunbird (1927-1929a) Aethopyga siparaja (Raffles, 1822) + RA 3 LC IV
178 Fire-tailed Sunbird (1930) Aethopyga ignicauda (Hodgson, 1836) + RA 3 LC IV BRS (07)
35. White-eyes Zosteropidae
179 Oriental White-eye (1933-1936) Zosterops palpebrosus (Temminck, 1824) + + + + R 1 LC IV
36. Buntings Emberizinae
180 Crested Bunting (2060) Melophus lathami (Gray, 1831) + RA 3 LC IV
181 Rock Bunting (2051-2052) Emberiza cia Linnaeus, 1766 + + + A 2 ? IV
37. Finches Fringillidae
182 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch (1990,2) Carduelis spinoides Vigors, 1831 + + A 2 LC IV BRS (07)
183 Hodgson’s Mountain-Finch (1999-2000) Leucosticte nemoricola (Hodgson, 1836) + A 4 LC IV BRS (05)
184 Dark-breasted Rosefinch (2014-15) Carpodacus nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836) + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
185 Pink-browed Rosefinch (2017) Carpodacus rodochrous (Vigors, 1831) + + A 2 LC IV BRS (07)
186 Scarlet Finch (2034) Haematospiza sipahi (Hodgson, 1836) + A 4 LC IV BRS (07)
187 Red-headed Bullfinch (2039) Pyrrhula erythrocephala Vigors, 1832 + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
188 Black-and-Yellow Grosbeak (1982) Mycerobas icterioides (Vigors, 1831) + A 3 LC IV BRS (07)
189 Collared Grosbeak (1983) Mycerobas affinis (Blyth, 1855) + A 4 LC IV BRS (07)
190 Spotted-winged Grosbeak (1986) Mycerobas melanozanthos Hodgson, 1836 + + A 4 LC IV BRS (07)
38. Munias (Estrildid Finches) Estrildidae
191 Red Munia (1964) Amandava amandava (Linnaeus, 1758) + + R 3 LC IV
192 Spotted Munia (1974-1975) Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758) + R 3 LC IV
39. Sparrows & Snowfinches Passerinae
193 House Sparrow (1938-1939a) Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + + + + + R 1 LC IV
194 Cinnamon Tree Sparrow (1946-1947) Passer rutilans Temminck, 1835 + A 3 LC IV
40. Starlings & Mynas Sturnidae
195 Common Myna (1006-1007) Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) + + + + + + R 1 LC IV
196 Jungle Myna (1009-1011) Acridotheres fuscus (Wagler, 1827) + + R 2 LC IV
41. Orioles Oriolidae
197 Eurasian Golden Oriole (952-953) Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus, 1758) + + R 2 LC IV
198 Maroon Oriole (961) Oriolus traillii (Vigors, 1832) + R 4 LC IV BRS (08)
42. Drongos Dicruridae
199 Black Drongo (962-964) Dicrurus macrocercus Vieillot, 1817 + + + + RA 1 LC IV
200 Ashy Drongo (965-966b) Dicrurus leucophaeus Vieillot, 1817 + + + RA 2 LC IV
43. Crows, Jays, Treepies, Magpies Corvidae
201 Eurasian Jay (1020-1021) Garrulus glandarius (Linnaeus, 1758) + + RA 3 LC IV
202 Black-headed Jay (1022) Garrulus lanceolatus Vigors, 1831 + + + + RA 2 LC IV BRS (08)
203 Yellow-billed Blue Magpie (1025-6) Urocissa flavirostris (Blyth, 1846) + + RA 3 LC IV BRS (07)
204 Red-billed Blue Magpie (1027-28) Urocissa erythrorhyncha (Boddaert, 1783) + + + + + + RA 1 LC IV
205 Indian Treepie (1030a-1034) Dendrocitta vagabunda (Latham, 1790) + R 2 LC IV
206 Grey Treepie (1037-1039) Dendrocitta formosae Swinhoe, 1863 + + + + + + RA 1 LC IV BRS (08)
207 Spotted Nutcracker (1042-1044) Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linnaeus, 1758) + RA 3 LC IV
208 Red-billed Chough (1046-1047) Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax (Linnaeus, 1758) + + + RA 1 LC IV
209 Yellow-billed Chough (1045) Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linnaeus, 1766) + + + RA 1 LC IV BRS (05)
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
210 House Crow (1048-1051) Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 + + + RA 1 LC V
211 Jungle Crow (1054-1057) Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 + + + + + + RA 1 LC IV
212 Common Raven (1059-1060) Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 + RW 4 ? IV
Note: The following abbreviatons have been used in the table
1. A = Sl. No., B = Common English Name, C = Scientific Name, D to I = Areas explored / surveyed {D = Pithoragarh District Survey (2005), E = Dhauli River Basin
(2004), F = Gori River Basin (2002), G = Panchchuli Expedition (1998), H = Goriganga Valley (1994), I = Kali River Basin (1989)} J to N = Status {J = Residential,
K = Abundance, L = BirdLife International 2004, M = Bombay Natural History Society 2002, N = Jhunjhunwala et al. 2001}
2. Residential status: R = Resident, RA = Resident with altitudinal movements, RW = Resident with winter influx, AM = Altitudinal migrant,
AW = Altitudinal migrant with winter influx, W = Winter visitor, S = Summer visitor, P = Passage migrant, ? = Status not known
3. Abundance status: 1 = Very common, 2 = Common, 3 = Fairly common, 4 = Uncommon, 5 = rare, ? = Status not known
4. BirdLife International 2004: Vulnerable (VU), Near Threatened (NT), Least Concerned (LC), Status not known (?)
5. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: I = Schedule I, IV = Schedule IV, V = Schedule V, NLA = Species not listed in the Act
6. RRS (4) [againt Cheer Pheasant] = The Restricted Range Species occurs in Endemic area number 4 that is Western Himalayas, RRS (1) = Western Ghats
7. BRS (05) = Biome Restricted Species of the Biome (05) = Eurasian High Montane, Biome (07) = Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest,
Biome (08) = Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest, Biome (09) = Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest, Biome (11) = Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone.

(iii) Conservation status has been worked out at threatened
as well as protection levels based on the recent
publications. For threatened status BirdLife International
(2004) data have been used, while for protection level status
the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended up to 1993)
as given in BNHS (2002), and for Restricted Range Species
(RRS) and the Biome Restricted Species (BRS) data
provided by Jhunjhunwala et al. (2001) have utilized.
Observation and Results
212 species of birds belonging to 126 genera and 43 families
have so far been spotted and recorded (Table). Analysis of
various categories and subcategories of residential,
abundance, and conservation status revealed the following
results (Table):
(i) Residential Status
Resident (R)
Resident with altitudinal movements (RA)
Resident with winter influx (RW)
Altitudinal migrant (AM)
Altitudinal migrant with winter influx (AW)
Winter visitor (W)
Summer visitor (S)
Passage migrant (P)
Status not known (?)
Total 212
(ii) Abundance status, in terms of frequency of sightings,
indicates that 22 species are very common (1 vide
Table), 59 common (2), 70 fairly common (3), 47
uncommon (4), 04 rare (5) and the abundance status of
the remaining 10 not known (?) (Table).
(iii) Conservation status various analyses reveal that:
a) A total of four species are listed as Globally Threatened
(GT): Three species Near Threatened (NT) (Red-headed
Vulture Sarcogyps calvus; Pallid Harrier Circus
macrourus and Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra), One
Vulnerable (VU) (Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii), and
201 species are listed as Least Concerned (LC), and
the status of the remaining seven species is not known
(?) (BirdLife International, 2004) (Table).
b) Of the 212 species, 14 are listed under the Schedule I
of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, 175 under Schedule
IV, one under Schedule V, 18 are Not Listed under the
Act, while the status of remaining four species is not
known (BNHS, 2002) (Table).
c) Only three species, viz., Cheer Pheasant (Catreus
wallichii) and White-throated Tit (Aegithalos niveogularis)
are categorized as Restricted Range Species- RRS (4)
and one species, viz., Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia
asiatica) as RRS (1). A total of 81 species are known as
the Biome Restricted Species (BRS). Of these, 13
species are from the Eurasian High Montane (Alpine
and Tibetan)- Biome (05); 45 from the Sino-Himalayan
Temperate Forest. Biome (07); 17 from the Sino-
Himalayan Subtropical Forest- Biome (08); two from the
Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest- Biome (09); and four
73
from the Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone- Biome (11)
41
Jhunjhunwala et al. (2001) (Table).
04
61 Remarks
05
Pithoragarh district provides habitat for more than 30% bird
07
species (212 out of 620) of the Uttaranchal state. The avian
10
community of this district is dominated by the resident birds.
01
About 50% of them (114 out of 212 bird species) are resident;
10
this includes both residents (73 species) as well as residents
with altitudinal movements (41). The second dominant
category (about 25%) is of altitudinal migrants (61 species).
The migratory birds are represented comparatively by less
number of species (summer visitors: 10 species and winter
visitors: seven species).
In India, there are 79 Globally Threatened bird species
(comprising of Critical, Endangered, Vulnerable and Data
Deficient and Conservation Dependent species) and 74
restricted range species or the species unique to a small
region of which 38 are confined to the geographic boundaries
of the country (Jhunjhunwala et al., 2001).
Of these, the occurrence of four GT species, 14 Schedule I
species, three RRS and a total of 81 BRS (Table) is, perhaps,
an indication towards some better management practices
in the district by the competent authorities.
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5), 2006
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Director, Zoological Survey
of India, Kolkata for encouragements throughout. We are
also thankful to Officer-in-Charge, Zoological Survey of India,
Dehra Dun for various facilities.
References
Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D. (1983a). A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of Indian
Subcontinent . Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Ali, S. and Ripley, S.D. (1983b). Handbook of the Birds of India and
Pakistan (Compact Edition). Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Anonymous (2002). A Biodiversity Log and Strategy Input Document for
the Gori River Basin : Western Himalaya Eco-region District
Pithoragarh, Uttaranchal. By Foundation for Ecological Security-
Munsiari, District Pithoragarh, Uttaranchal.
Anonymous (2003). State of Forest Report (2003). Forest Survey of India
(Ministry of Environment and Forests) Dehra Dun. Pp. i-xii + 1-134.
BirdLife International (2004). Threatened Birds of the World 2004, CD-
ROM. Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International.
CORRESPONDENCE
SIGHTING OF NESTS OF DUSKY HORNED OWL (BUBO
COROMANDUS) IN KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK,
BHARATPUR, RAJASTHAN. RACHNA CHANDRA and
B. ANJAN KUMAR PRUSTY, Environmental Impact Assessment
Division, Sálim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History
(SACON), Anaikatty (PO), Coimbatore – 641108, India,
Email: rachnaeia@gmail.com.
Keoladeo National Park, a world heritage and one of the early
Ramsar sites, is situated between 27 7.6’ to 27 12.2’ N and
77 29.5’ to 77 33.9’ E at Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Located on
southeastern part of the city it is equidistant from Delhi and
Jaipur on either side. This 2900 ha National Park is unique in
having multiple habitats, i.e. wetland, grassland and woodland,
differentiated by distinct vegetation. The park has been divided
into 15 blocks or compartments for the ease of tourism and
management, and named alphabetically from A to O. It lies in
the semi-arid zone of India with an annual temperature variation
from 1 to 49 C. The terrestrial birds prefer the woodland,
populated by several plant species such as Acacia nilotica,
Syzygium cumini and Mangifera indica, for nesting, foraging
and roosting purposes.
Dusky horned owl (Bubo coromandus, Order: Strigiformes,
Family: Strigidae), one of the common nocturnal bird species
was reported to have a nest in exterior part of the F and J block.
These blocks represent semi wetland and thorny woodland
respectively. Two nests of this bird were recorded on 30th and
31st March 2006 from J (27 09’ 14.7" N and 77 31’ 05.3" E)
and F (27 09’ 14.6" N and 77 32’ 33.5" E) blocks. The nests
were observed each on Acacia (Acacia nilotica) in J block and
Kadam (Mitragyna parvifolia) in F block. After sighting and
recording the co-ordinates with a GPS, photographs of both
the nests were taken. Other relevant field data was also
collected such as tree height (m), GBH (m) and nesting height
(m). In F block the nest was seen at 6.7 m height on a Kadam
tree of 10.97 m height and 2.11 m GBH. The surrounding
vegetation comprised Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora,
79
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) (2002). A BNHS Review of
the Avifaunal list of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Buceros,
7 (3): 1- 56.
Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (1999). Pocket Guide to the Birds
of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.
Jhunjhunwala, S., Rahmani, A. R., Ishtiaq, F. and Islam, Z. (2001). The
Important Bird Areas Programme in India. Buceros, 6 (2): 1-50.
Krys, Kazmierczak. (2000). A Field Guide to the Birds of India,
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
Om Book Service, New Delhi.
Manakadan, R. and Pittie, A. (2001). Standardised common and scientific
names of the birds of the Indian subcontinent. Buceros, 6 (1):
i-ix + 1-37.
Rawat, G. S. and Sathyakumar, S. (1998). Status of Mammals, Birds and
Their Habitats inthe Panchchuli Region, Kumaon Himalaya, in Report
on Scientific and Ecological Research- PANCHCHULI 6.
Multidimensional Expedition- 1998. Sapper Adventure Foundation.
The Corps Engineers, Indian Army.
Tak, P. C. and Sati, J. P. (1994). Birds of Goriganga
Valley: Kumaon Himalaya. Cheetal 33 (1), 17-26.
Ziziphus sp., Capparis sp., Salvadora sp., Kirganelia reticulata,
Vetiveria zizanioides. In J block the nest was seen at 5.79 m
on the tree of 6.7 m height and 1.16 m GBH and plant species
surrounding that were mostly P. juliflora and A. nilotica. The
park is reeling under severe water scarcity in the recent years
and anthropogenic pressures of several magnitudes all
around. The number of winter avian visitors, for which the park
is famous world over, has reportedly gone down due to such
problems. Even the native bird species also seem to migrate
to distant places for nesting, feeding, roosting and other such
routine activities. In view of these facts the recent sighting of
this bird assumes significance so far as the state of the habitat
in the Keoladeo National Park is concerned.
Acknowledgement
The authors express their gratitude to Dr P A Azeez, Sr. Principal
Scientist and Head of EIA Division at SACON for his critical
comments and encouragement.
a a a
REAPPEARANCE OF PIED THRUSH (ZOOTHERA WAARDI)
(BLYTH) AT NANDI HILLS, KARNATAKA, SOUTH INDIA.
PRAVEEN. J. 14/779(2), Ambadi, K. Medu P.O., Palakkad, Kerala
678013, India. Email: paintedstork@gmail.com
Pied Thrush (Zoothera waardi) is considered a passage migrant
through the South Indian hills with many isolated records, but
nowhere putting up a stay for the whole winter (Ali & Ripley
2001). It has been recorded from Nandi hills (78 12E, 12 53N),
one of the highest hillock formation (c. 1560m above MSL) in
1992 (Karthikeyan 1992) and in 1995 (Prasad et.al 1995).
However, L.Shyamal (pers comm. 30.xii.2005) opinioned that
this bird might have been wintering in the Nandi Hills in all
years and it has been once spotted in GKVK Campus in the
outskirts of Bangalore. However, there has been no report of
Pied Thrush from this area by any observer of late and hence
this note is about the re-sighting of this species from Nandi
hills after a gap of thirteen years; the last dated sighting being
on 9.i.1992 by L.Shyamal (Prasad et.al. 1995).
While bird-watching on a misty morning of 11.xii.2005 with Brian
Tinker near the hill top at Nandi, a single male bird was observed
80
on an exposed tree trunk giving us a good view of the black
upper parts and head, speckled white breast and belly, distinct
white eye-brow, yellow bill and white in the outer webs of the
blackish tail. The bird was seen along with a female Indian Blue
Robin (Erithacus brunneus) and two male Blue-capped Rock
Thrushes (Monticola cinclorhynchus). The same bird was
observed a second time in the course of the day rummaging in
the underground and a third sighting was made at 11:00 AM
along with Sudhir Shivaram when he tried to photograph it.
This sighting is of additional interest as it was made in the
month of December. Ali & Ripley consider the main period for
passage migration to be September-October and March-April.
Prasad et.al (1995) have two sightings each in March and
Newsletter for Birdwatchers 46 (5),2006
November while the last sighting was in January. This
corroborates their summary that Nandi hills is a likely wintering
destination for Pied Thrush, rather than just a passage
migration staging point.
References
Ali, Salim & Sidney Dillon Ripley (1986). Handbook of birds of India and
Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and
Ceylon. Vol. 5. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Karthikeyen, S. (1992). Pied Ground Thrush Zoothera wardii (Blyth) in
Bangalore. J BNHS 89:258.
Prasad,J.N., S.Karthikeyan & S. Subramanya (1995). Wintering of Indian
Blue Chat Erithacus brunneus (Hodgson) and Pied Ground Thrush
Zoothera wardii (Blyth) at Nandi Hills, South India. JBNHS 92: 267-269.