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Short Communications Pakistan J. Zool., vol. 38(1), pp. 77-82, 2006. Ali and Ripley ( Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan , vol. 19, Oxford University NON-SONG BIRDS OF VALLEY Press, New Delhi, 1968-1974) have been followed SWAT: PAKISTAN for birds identification. However, help has also been taken from Roberts ( Compact handbook of The Abstract.- The checklist includes 38 non- birds of Pakistan , vol. 1, and 2) for distribution, song birds (Non-passeriformies) of the valley migration and status especially about the high Swat along with their key characters, status, specific locality, English and vernacular names. attitude birds unapproachable for us. Foraging, roosting, breeding, plumage and This work will help in reviewing the existing migratory characters are also being considered. database regarding birds of the valley Swat. Key words: Non-song birds, checklist, Swat. ENUMERATION OF THE BIRDS Valley Swat is situated in the North of Pakistan, 150 km away from Peshawar. It is 1. Alcedo atthis Linnaeus bounded on the west by the Malakand Agency and Small blue Kingfisher (E.*), Kir-keray, Mahi- District Dir, on the north by the District Chitral and khurak (Ver.**) Gilgit, on the east by Kohistan of the Northern areas A small graceful kingfisher with a large head, and District Mansehra and on the south by the short neck and stout bill. The bill is black, District Buner. Climate of the valley is moderate, straight and pointed like a dagger. Often January is the coldest month and June is the hottest. hover over open water and then suddenly Summer season temperature seldom rises 37°C . The dives when sees its prey (fish). Common on annual rainfall ranges between 81-88 cm. River the banks of the River Swat and its Swat is the main source of irrigation and it flows tributaries. along the length of the valley. The valley has rich fields of rice, maize and wheat. Orchards of apricot, 2. Alectorus chukar J.E.Gray peaches, apples, oranges and walnut common Chukar or Rock Partridge (E.), Zarka (Ver.) throughout the valley, provides suitable feeding, Common rounded looking game bird with breeding and nesting habitat to the indigenous and vermillion legs and orange red bill. Brown in migratory birds. colour. Inhabits bare stony and dry hillsides Valley Swat is famous for floristically rich and agricultural fields. Common in lower mountains. Although deforestation has caused great altitudes (2,100 metres) of the valley from harm to the forests, but still it provides an ideal winter till late spring, foraging on insects 'and habitat for high altitude migratory and local birds. seeds. Broad leafed and conifer forests are common on the mountains. Among conifers Cedrus deodara, Pinus 3. Ammoperdix griseogularis J.F .Brandt See vallichii, Picea smithiana, Pinus roxburghii and Partridge (E.), Seesay (Ver.) Pinus gerardiana are common (Stewart, Pakistan J. A small sized game bird, like small chukar in Forest ., 4: 457-528, 1967; Beg, Wildlife habitats of appearance. Buff in color with yellow legs Pakistan, Bull. No . 5, Pakistan Forest Institute, and orange bill. The iris is bright yellow. Peshawar, 1975). Foraging on buds, green shoots and leaves, Brief description and trivial names of the berries and insects. Common in late spring birds have been included for the benefit of the and summer in the valley in lower altitudes amateurs as well as professionals. The first part of (2,000 metres) in agricultural fields in areas this work has already been published (Muhammad like Shamozai and Bunair. et al ., Sci. Khyb ., 9: 93-102, 1996). _____________________________________ 0030-9923/2006/0001-0077 $ 8.00/0 (*E. = English name **Ver.= Vernacular name) Copyright 2006 Zoological Society of Pakistan. 78 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 4. Apus apus Linnaeus 8. Ardeola grayii Sykes Common Swift (E.), Gharaez Tothakarkay Pond Heron (E.), Bugla (Ver.) (Ver.) Small in size than night heron. Forages both It is with pale brown body coloration and day and night. Neck is short and bill is comparatively larger in body size than other powerful, dark yellow and horny at the tip. species. Plumage is pale brown. Gregarious Legs are olive green. The iris is bright golden in nesting and foraging. According to Roberts yellow. The down cheeks are whitish. (1991) it can travel 160 km even in stormy Feeding upon fish, crabs, molluscs, insects weather and can sleep in the air. Commonly and tadpoles. Summer visitor to the valley found in Kalam area upto Mankial on one and resides on the banks of River Swat and its side and Ushu on the other side. tributaries. Status: common in summer. 9. Cacomantis passerinus Vahl 5. Apus melba Linnaeus Grey-bellied Plaintive Cuckoo (E.), Koyal Alpine Swift (E.), Zangalee Tothakarkay (Ver.) (Ver.) It is a small gray-bellied cuckoo with a long Larger in size than common swift. The wings tail and slimy body. The iris is brown and the are long narrow, dark brown and pointed on legs and feet are brownish yellow. During the upper side. Gregarious in foraging, flight a small white patch is conspicuous on nesting and roosting. Forages on insects in the under surface of the wing. Secretive bird, the air. Found commonly in Marghuzar and call in early night and evening. Forage mainly Saidu Sharif areas. on insects including caterpillars. Confined only to the side areas of Shangla Pass, the hill pass near Khwaza Kheila. Status: Not 6. Apus affinis J.E. Gray common. House Swift or little Swift (E.), Tothakarkayor Tothakaray (Ver.) 10. Ceryle rudis Linnaeus The smallest in all the swift species with Pied Kingfisher (E.), Kir-kiray (Ver.) dorsally black body and forked tail. Ventrally A small kingfisher with a large head and the body is creamy white. Sexes are alike. short neck. The bill is black long, sharp, Summer migrant. Gregarious in foraging, pointed and slightly down curved. The legs nesting and roosting. Forages upon insects in are small weak and greenish gray. It perches the air including honeybees. Mostly nests in near water to watch prey (fish). If it sees a cracks and holes in the walls and roofs of the fish it at once goes into a vertical dive with buildings. Status common during spring and wings closed. Exclusively forages on fish. summer. Breeds in late spring. Occurs along River Swat unto Bahrain. Status: not common. 7. Aquila chrysaetos Linnaeus 11. Columba livia Gmelin Golden Eagle (E.), Tapus (Ver.) Rock Dove, Blue Rock Pigeon (E.), Dark brown or blackish in plumage. Bigger in Bughdaday Koontara or Koontara (Ver.). size than the other eagles found in Pakistan Inhabits low rocky mountains. It is thought to with longer tail and wings. Females are larger be ancestor of most of the domesticated in size than males. Often solitary soaring high pigeons. Mostly living in hills but flies to overhead searching ground. Bird of prey. agricultural fields for foraging. Gregarious Occurs in higher altitudes, feeding upon and occurs in flocks while roosting and hares, pigeons, snow cocks, chickens etc. foraging. Voracious in feeding habit, forages Status: not common. on seeds. Common throughout the valley. SHORT COMMUNICATIONS 79 12. Coracias garrulus Linnaeus common habitat with gray partridge in lower Kashmir Roller (E.), Sheen Tagh (Ver.) altitudes. Foraging on seeds, young buds, Stout, graceful bird with a large head, short shoots and insects. Status: common. neck and a powerful curved bill. Blue, pale yellow and brick red feathers form the body 17. Francolinus pondicerianus Gmelin plumage. Sexes are alike. It is a summer Grey Partridge (E.), Tanzaray (Ver.) breeder visitor to the vale. Breeds in the Most abundant and favorite game bird. holes, earth cliffs and tree trunks. Common Brown in colour with a short thick tail, long during late spring and early summer. thin neck with upright carriage while running on the ground. Occurring in the lower open, 13. Coturnix coturnix Linnaeus dry, rocky and bushy areas throughout the Common Quail or Grey Quail (E.), Maraz valley. Common in occurrence in Bunir and (Ver.) Shamozai areas. Small gray brownish rounded game bird with a short tail. It is a game bird and is 18. Glaucidium brodiei Burton domesticated by locals for fighting Collard Pigmy Owlet (E.), Goungay (Ver.) competitions. Migratory bird common in The smallest owl with large head and grey autumn, spring and summer. Occurring in brown body plumage. Head is large for the lower altitudes throughout the valley. Status: size of the body. The legs are densely covered common. with white feathers. Active by late afternoon, can even be seen during day. Forages and 14. Dendrocopus himalayansis Jardine and Selby roosts solitary. Status: rare. Himalayan Pied Wood Peeker (E.), Thurkan (Ver.) 19. Halcyon smyrnensis Linnaeus Found in low and higher elevations of the White-throated Kingfisher (E.), Kir-kiray, valley, foraging on insects and their larvae, Mahi-khurak (Ver.) ants, wood boring beetles and their larvae on Small king fisher with a large bill. Head is the main tree trunk and branches. In males the chocolate or maroon brown in color, the body crown is red but in females it is black. Limbs is with a white patch from the base of the are greenish gray and irises are red brown. lower mandible down to the center of the Breeds in holes in the main tree trunk under a breast. The bill and legs are dull dark red in lateral branch. Status: not common. colour. It occurs along the sides of River Swat and its tributaries from lower Swat till 15. Elanus caeruleus Desfontaines Madyan in upper Swat. Often sits on trees Black-winged or black shouldered Kite (E), and bushes in search of prey near water from Baakha (Ver.) where it dives down at an angle to catch the A small bird of prey with black wings and prey, forages on insects, grasshoppers, crabs, white throat.