GRASSLAND ORNITHOLOGY PROJECT

| March 18, 2019 INTRODUCTION

Grassland habitats are occupied by a small number of uniquely adapted species. Most species select a particular suite of habitat features. Mountain plovers (Charadirus monatnus) and Horned Larks (Erem gvophila alpestris), for example, require short, sparse vegetation, whereas Henslow’s Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) and sedge wrens (Cistothorus platensis) require taller, more dense vegetation. Some grassland species are more abundant on recently burned or grazed grasslands, whereas others are more abundant on undisturbed or idle grasslands. Also, habitat preferences can vary throughout the range of a species. Because of these differences in habitat preferences, and because of regional differences in soils and floristics, the response of a particular species to a specific grassland management prescription may be variable.

PAGE 1 TRICOLORED MUNIA

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Kingdom : Animalia ➢ Phylum : Chordata ➢ Class : Aves ➢ Order : Passeriformes ➢ Family : Estrildidae ➢ Genus : Lonchura ➢ Species : malacca DISTRIBUTION:

Native to Bangladesh, , , and Southern china. The species was also introduced to Trinidad, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Venezuela

HABITAT: The tricolored munia is a small gregarious bird which feeds mainly on grains and other seeds. It inhabits wet grassland habi- tats. It may also be found in tropical lowland moist forest habitats

FOOD AND FORAGING:

The scaly- breasted munia feeds mainly on seeds but also eats small berries such as those of Lantana. Other munias, they may also feed on algae, a rich protein source, prior to the breeding season.

PAGE 2 STATUS AND CONSERVATION:

Lonchura punctulata is an abundant species and classified as “least concern” by the international union for conservation of nature (IUCN). The species occupies an extremely large range, and its population, while still unquantified, is large and stable.

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SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : ➢ Family : ➢ Subfamily :

HABITAT:

Francolin are birds of open habitats that frequent grassland, shrubby, uplands, open thorn forests and forest edges.

DISTRIBUTION:

The gray Francolin naturally occurs from to Bangladesh. The distribution is south of the foothills of the Himalayans westwards to the Indus valley land eastwards to . It is also found in north-western Sri Lanka. Introduced populations are found in the Andaman and chagos Islands. They have been introduced to Nevada in the United State of America and Hawaii along with several other species of francolin.

FOOD AND FORAGING:

Omnivores: feed on assortment of plants and especially seeds and insects. Food includes seeds, grains as well as insects, particularly termites and beetles (especially Tenebrionidae and Carabidae). They may occasionally take larger prey such as snakes.

PAGE 4 The grey francolin is normally found foraging on bare or low grass covered ground in scrub and open country and is rarely found above an altitude of 500 m above sea level in India and in Pakistan.

CONSERVATION:

Least concern (population stable). They are hunted in much of their range using low nets and easily caught using calling decoy birds

PAGE 5 PRINIA

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Passeriformes ➢ Family : Cisticolidae ➢ Genus : Prinia

HABITAT:

These are birds mainly of open habitats such as long grasses or scrub, in which they are not easily seen. They are mainly resident, migration being limited to local cold weather movements. Non- breeding birds may form small flocks.

DISTRIBUTION:

This passerine bird is found in dry open grasslands, open woodland, scrub and in home gardens in many cities. The northern limits of this species are along the Himalayan foot hills extending into the upper system. The species is absent from the dry desert of the west of India and extends east into Burma. The Sri Lankan population is found mainly in the lowlands but going up into the hills to about 1600 m.

FOOD:

They are mostly insectivorous.

PAGE 6 BABBLER

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Passeriformes ➢ Family : Leiothrichidae ➢ Genus : Argya ➢ Species : caudata HABITAT:

The jungle babbler is a common resident breeding bird in most part of the and is often seen in gardens within large cities as well as in forested areas.

DISTRIBUTION:

In the past, the orange- billed babbler, Turdoides rufescens of Sri Lanka was considered to be a subspecies of jungle babbler, but has now been elevated to a species.

FOOD:

They feed mainly on insects, but also eats grains, nectar and berries

PAGE 7 WARBLER

SCIENTIFIC CALSSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Passeriformes ➢ Family : Sylviidae ➢ Genus : Sylvia

HABITAT:

This passerine bird is a species found in large reed beds often, with some bushes. 3-6 eggs are laid in a basket nest in reeds. Papyrus (Cyperus) stands, reeds (Phragm- ites) around lakes, ponds and along rivers.

DISTRIBUTION:

Most population are sedentary, but the breeding birds in Pakistan, Afghanistan and north India are migratory, wintering in peninsular India and Sri Lanka.

FOOD AND FORAGING:

Most warblers are insectivorous, (dragon flies, mayflies, stoneflies) but will take other small prey items.

STATUS AND CONSERVATION:

PAGE 8 Not globally threatened. Common to abundant in much of range: uncommon in Myanmar, uncommon in Philippines. Density 10-20 singing birds in Nile Delta.

PAGE 9 SPOTTED DOVE

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Columbiformes ➢ Family : Columbidae ➢ Genus : Spilopelia ➢ Species : chinensis

HABITAT:

Their habitats are open woodland and agricultural areas, and they have also adopted well to urban areas and are common in streets, gardens and parks. They generally don’t venture into deep forest.

DISTRIBUTION:

Native to Asia. The species has become established in many areas outside its native range. These areas include Hawaii, Southern California, Mauritius, Australia and New Zealand.

FOOD AND FORAGING:

Spotted Doves feed on grains, grass seeds and bits of other vegetation. They may also enter chicken coops and other houses to feed on commercial animal feeds. They are usually seen foraging on ground, typically feeding alone, in pairs or small groups.

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STATUS AND CONSERVATION:

Spilopeila chinensis is classified as least concern by the IUCN

PAGE 11 COLLARED DOVE

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Columbiformes ➢ Family : Columbidae ➢ Genus : Streptopelia ➢ Species : decaocto

HABITAT:

Suburbs, farmland, wood edges, open country. Apparently very adaptable. In original Asian range, found in semi- open dry country with scattered trees and grooves

DISTRIBUTION:

Native to Europe and Asia. Introduced to North America.

FOOD AND FORAGING:

Eat mostly seeds, some berries and insects. Also eats bread crumbs and other foods provided by humans. Forages mostly while walking on the ground. When not breeding, usually forages in flocks. Sometimes flutters among branches of trees or shrubs to take berries.

PAGE 12 STATUS AND CONSERVATION:

Because of its vast global range and increasing population trend, it has been listed as “Least concern” on the IUCN Red List since 2014.

PAGE 13 SPARROW

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Passeriformes ➢ Family : Passeridae ➢ Genus : passer

HABITAT:

Habitat includes grasslands, deserts and scrubland. Eurasian tree sparrow inhabit open woodland. Cinnamon ibon has the most unusual habitat, inhabiting the canopy of cloud forest in Philippines.

DISTRIBUTION:

Indigenous to Europe, Africa and Asia. House sparrows found throughout North America, Australia, parts of Southern and Eastern Africa and South America.

FOOD AND FORAGING:

Diet consist mainly of small seeds. They can be attracted to corn, oats, wheat and other types of grains or weed seeds. They also feed on small insects usually found in fields.

STATUS AND CONSERVATION:

They are listed as “Least concern” on the IUCN Red List.

PAGE 14 RED WATTLED LAPWING

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Charadriiformes ➢ Family : Charadriidae ➢ Genus : Vanellus ➢ Species : indicus

HABITAT:

Red wattled lapwing are being seen at almost any wetland habitat in its range.

DISTRIBUTION:

Breeds from west Asia eastwards across South Asia. May migrate altitudinally in spring and autumn and spreads out widely in the monsoon.

FOOD AND FORAGING:

Diet includes a range of insects, snails and other invertebrates mostly picked from the ground. May feed on some grains. They feed mostly at day but may also feed at night.

STATUS AND CONSERVATION:

This species is declined in its western range but is abundant in much of South Asia.

PAGE 15 BLACK DRONGO

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

➢ Order : Passeriformes ➢ Family : Dicruridae ➢ Genus : Dicrurus ➢ Species : macrocercus

HABITAT:

The black drongo can be seen in savanna, fields and urban habitats.

DISTRIBUTION:

They are found as summer visitors to North eastern Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan but are residents from Indus valley until Bangladesh and onto India. Predation by and competition from black drongos have been suggested as factors in the decline of endemic birds species such as the Rota bribled white-eye Gaum flycatcher.

FOOD AND FORAGING:

Feed mainly on insects such as grasshoppers, termites, wasps, bees, ants, moths, beetles and dragonfly. They sometimes fly close to free branches attempting to disturb any insects that may be present. There some cases of black drongo preying on small reptiles or may be even bats. They are only rarely known to take arthropods such as scorpions and centipedes. They feed on milkweed butterflies that are often avoided by other predators.

PAGE 16 CONCLUSION

Grassland birds prefer a wide range of grass heights and densities, with some species preferring short sparse vegetation, and others preferring taller, more dense vegetation. Due to differences in species habitat preferences and regional differences in soils and floristics, the responses of individual grassland species to specific grassland management practices can be variable and often are regionally dependent. As a result, management of grassland areas is best directed towards the creation of a mosaic of grassland habitat types. This habitat mosaic is probably best maintained through some type of rotational management system in which selections of large grassland areas receive management on a regular schedule. Such a rotational system would provide a variety of habitat types in every year, would ensure the availability of suitable habitat for birds at either end of the grassland management spectrum, and als0 would provide habitat for birds whose preferences lie between these extremes.

GROUP MEMBERS:

o Prathyusha S o Pooja Radhakrishnan o Aswathy B o Renjisha Venugopal T o Renjith V S

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