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Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

STUDY OF THE DECLINING POPULATION OF

COMMON “” ( DOMESTICS)

IN URBAN AND SUB-URBAN AREAS OF

DIGVIJAY SINGH TEOTIA*1, ANUJ YADAV2, Universal Impact Factor 2012:0.9285; VISHAL KUMAR2 AND AMIT KUMAR3 2013:1.2210 *1DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, Index Copernicus Value 2011:5.09, 2012:6.42, SUBHARTI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & 2013:15.8, 2014:89.16, 2015:78.30 , 2016:91 ENGINEERING, SUBHARTI UNIVERSITY, MEERUT-250005 (U.P.) INDIA. NAAS Rating 2012:1.3; 2013-16: 2.69 2DEPARTMENT OF FOOD TECHNOLOGY, SUBHARTI 2017-18: 3.98 INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING, SJIF 2012: 3.947, 2013:4.802 SUBHARTI UNIVERSITY, MEERUT-250005 (U.P.) INDIA 3 InfoBase Index DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, FACULTY OF 2015:4.56 SCIENCE, SUBHARTI UNIVERSITY, MEERUT-250005 (U.P.).

Cosmos Impact Factor Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] 2015: 4.366

Received on: ABSTRACT: 9th February 2018 The common house sparrows are distributed all over India. The Revised on: disappearance of sparrows has been widely reported in India. The various 12th May 2018 Accepted on: ornithologists and lovers fear that if appropriate conservation initiatives st 21 June 2018 are not taken urgently, the sparrow may soon cease to exist and became Published on: 1st July 2018 extinct. The sparrow population in Andhra Pradesh alone had dropped by Volume No. 80%. In other states like Kerala, , and Uttar Pradesh, it had Online & Print 101 (2018) dropped by 20%. The decline in coastal areas was about 70-80%. The Page No. reliable on sparrow populations is not available. No one is actually counting 01 to 11 and keeping a record of the sparrows. The Indian sparrow popularly known Life Sciences Leaflets is an international open as house sparrow (passer domestics) is widest spread of sparrow access print & e in India. The bird has lost prominence due to its vanishing numbers. journal, peer reviewed, The decline of sparrows is a warming signal to all of us. The spread of worldwide abstract listed, published every diseases due to decline in sparrow population is an alarming danger. The month with ISSN, RNI introduction of unleaded petrol, flow of electromagnetic waves from mobile Free- membership, towers, reducing areas of free growing , competition for food by other downloads and access. species are possible reasons for this decline of sparrows. The Bird Life http://lifesciencesleaflets.petsd.org/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 1

Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

International, Royal Society for Protection of (RSPB, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have taken plan for the protection of sparrows. This research papers attempts to explain the reasons of decline in the population of house sparrows in the last few years. It also includes the creation of awareness to develop ecosystem where sparrow can continue to co-exist in harmony.

KEY WORDS: Passer domestics, Ecosystems, Alarming danger, Disappearance,Population, Harmony.

INTRODUCTION: India is a blessed country, as far as the diversity of the birds is concerned. India has more than 1200 bird species. India is the third among the countries having the largest number of rare & threatened species followed by Brazil and Indonesia habitat loss is the greatest threat to most of the Indian birds (Rahmani, 2008). There are 35 bird protected areas in India. About two years ago, fast disappearing of vultures across the country was reported. Today environmentalists fear that unless certain pesticides are not banned, we may altogether lose the species in about one year (Times of India, 2004). The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that 14$ of the world manual population will become extinct by 2020. Nearly 12% of India’s birds are facing extinction. The Bird Life International and the IUCN have listed 12 species in India as “critically endangered”. These are at highest and immediate risk of extinction. There are growing indications that the numbers of these species are declining. The house sparrow, once and exemplar of a common place bird, is becoming increasingly rare. Mankind has been to an extent responsible for driving this bird to extinction. Each of us have been associate with the house sparrow, be it through local folktale & pleasant chirping of these birds in the mornings. Now the humble sparrow is struggling for survival and existence. The house sparrow populations have declined by nearly 70% since 1977. The reasons for the decline of house sparrows in habitats are well understood. The stress from growing anthropogenic activities, such as urbanization, deforestation, extensive use of pesticides & technological advancements in mobile communication and threat from other invasive avian species, like pigeons is known to adversely affect the sparrow population. The various ornithologists fear that if conservation initiatives are not taken urgently, the house sparrow may soon become extinct. The house sparrow (Passer domestics), a member of family passé ride is considered to be a relative of the weaver Finch family. House sparrows are relatively sedentary birds and don’t travel more than a kilometre or two in search of food. They prefer thatched houses & bungalows to concrete structures such as flats which are a part of civilization, is stepping towards extinction. It is very unfortunate to say that the coming generation may not be able to see the house sparrow it the present situation is

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Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) going on. The sparrow population has declined by almost 70% in certain places in India. The Royal society for protection of Birds (RSPB), UK, recently added the house sparrow to its Red List. Distribution of House Sparrow The sparrow is widely distributed species in most parts of Europe & , is slowly disappearing from urban areas (Gulati, 2005). The Romans introduced the house sparrow to Europe from & Eurasia. The birds have been introduced to most of the America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and . In Australia, between 1863 & 1870 they were first released in Victoria and then to other areas including Sydney, Brisbane 2-Hoboost. The number of American cities between 1850-1875 as a means of pest control. In North America, the population reaches approximately 150 million. House sparrows kill adult and other native cavity nesters and take over their nesting sites (Gowaty, 1984). In the United States and Canada, the House Sparrow is not protected by low. It is now the most widely distributed bird on the planet. (Anderson, 2006). India encompasses almost all the ecosystems to be found on the planet; The house sparrow is abundant in template climates; They survive in all temperatures from the humid coastal regions to the hot plains & to the chills of and beyond to Ladakh, up to 15,000 feet above sea level. A sparrow survives for around three years in the open & up to 13 years in captivity. The abundance of skilled grain used for feeding horses and the artificial nesting cavities provided by man helped the sparrow (Lowther and Cink, 1992).

Habitats of House Sparrow In India, five species of sparrows, out of total 32 sparrow species documented across the world, are sighted. This includes the House sparrow, , , (Passer domestic) is one of the most commonly found birds all over India. From the ancient times, sparrows have been closely associated with humans and the human habitat. They are often spotted feeding on groins and tiny worms present on the ground. Thatched houses, crevices in households and bushy vegetation serve to be an ideal habitat for nest in of this species. However, the species has been adopted to nest in concrete buildings as well. Sparrow are highly vocal and usually make a monotonous slightly metallic ‘cheep chirrup’ sound which has been a natural “wake-up alarm” for the rural and urban population. These birds are usually found in pairs of small family groups when breeding, otherwise they are found in flocks which may also have hundreds of them. Pairs often remain faithful to their nest site and to each other for life time. The male house sparrow is highly territorial, aggressively defending the nesting site during breeding season. General Features of House Sparrow The local name of “House sparrow” is Gowsiya in & Guora in Nepali. The size of the bird is about 14-16 cm long. The weight is about 26-32 gm. It is basically a small & stocky sang bird. The http://lifesciencesleaflets.petsd.org/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 3

Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) legs are short. The most common breeding months are March to August. The male chooses nesting site and prefers to return to it every year. The mortality is highest in the first year of life. The male is characterized by grey crown, cheeks and under parts, block on the throat, upper breasts and between bill and eyes. The female does neither possess block of head or throat, nor a grey crown & upper-parts are streaked with brown. The sound calls a slightly metallic “cheep, chirrup”.

Food of House Sparrow The house sparrows eat especially waste grain, the stock feed, , seeds and . They are primarily seedeaters. They are sedentary birds. They also each especially during the breading season (Lowther and Cink, 1992). Behaviour of Sparrow The house sparrow is gregarious at all seasons. They live in groups & feed on grains, insects, kitchen & flower buds. The sparrow’s most common call is a short & incessant chirp. Sometimes, the older birds utter a long churr. Social Organization of Sparrow It is found in pairs of small family groups when breeding. It usually forms purges flocks, sometimes of hundreds of birds. They are highly vocal. The male house sparrow is highly territorial. It defends the nesting site during breeding season. Migration of Sparrow The house sparrow is a summer visitor. This period is usually from March to October. It goes to higher elevations in Baluchistan and in the . Reproduction in House Sparrow The house sparrow lays five to six , at one time. They are profusely dusted, speckled or blotched with black, ash-grey on creamy white ground. The incubation period varies from 10-12 day. The reproductive success increases with age. This is mainly by changes in timing, with older birds breeding earlier in the season (Hatch & West neat, 2007). Nest of Sparrow The nest of house sparrow is usually in the form of a ball of dried vegetation, feathers, strings & papers with an opening one side. The nest site is selected by the male house sparrow the male house sparrow does most of the nest building. The female sparrow may help in the nest building. The nesting begins in March to April. Baths of Sparrow Sparrows perform four types of baths in order to keep their feathers clean from dust and parasites. It is also a recreational activity for the bird. Dust both absorbs excess oil from feathers, while sun & water http://lifesciencesleaflets.petsd.org/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 4

Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) bath helps them to regulate their body temperature. bath is a special of bath, in which the sparrow allows to crawl in their feathers. Arts secrete formic acid which proves to be a good pesticide for the sparrow, thereby killing pests on its body. History Associated with Sparrows The house sparrows have been significant since the historical time. They are represented in literature throughout history from the ancient Greek & Roman poets, to large number of religious texts. In India context, the sparrow has always been regarded as a bird of love. It is believed that if a sparrow builds a nest in a new laws it is an indication for good fortune. The sparrow was a sacred bird to “”, the Goddess of Love. It symbolized true love & spiritual connection. It is documented in the Bible that sparrows were used as offerings given by the very poor. It represents the concern of God for even the smallest & most insignificant life faring. Significance of Sparrow Sparrow play a major role in the environment and the ecosystem, acting as a natural pest control by feeding on insects & larvae of mosquitoes which are known to cause diseases like malaria & dengue. They also act imp. Plant pollinators as the pollen grains which get stuck to their & feathers are transferred to other plants. Irrespective of these significant roles and close association of these significant roles and close association with humans, a drastic decline in the population of house sparrows has been observed since the last decade. The decline was observed majorly in cities, such as Mumbai, Hyderabad, , Pune, , Meerut. Sparrow as Indicator of Change The house sparrows are sensitive to changes in the environment. House sparrows serve as important Bio-indicators for a healthy urban ecosystem. The decline of sparrows has started resulting in increasing diseases among the people. The growing numbers of “Rock Pigeons” has created in imbalances among the species & they now dominate the bird population. These pigeons are now occupying the nesting spaces of house sparrows, as a result of which sparrow population has drastically reduced in urban areas in the country. Human Activities disturbing House Sparrow Human population is growing at a frantic place. As a result, the development is happening too fast. It does not take issues like biodiversity conservation conservation, when buildings, town skips & development is undertaken. The new building and land scoped gardens are not at all sparrow friendly. The modern buildings do not have cavities which are important for sparrows to make nests. We are becoming increasingly intolerant toward house sparrows. Today people would not like sparrows nesting in their homes and dropping nesting material inside.

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Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

The life style of people has also changed. Women no longer offer grains or chapatti, which was a source of food for house sparrows. As the habitat and food is shrinking, the number of the house sparrows is declining. The people should create alternative habitats for house sparrows by adopting nest boxes and bird feeders. Recent Population Decline of Sparrows In most of Europe, populations of house sparrows are decreasing. In , this species is even considered as (BBC News, 2008). The population has adapted to half since 1980. Similar decline in population of “House sparrow” have also been recorded in the United Kingdom (U.K.). The “British Trust” for ornithology estimated that the house sparrow population in London had declined by 71% between 1994 & 2002. Edinburgh, Dublin, Glasgow, Hamburg and Berlin are other European cities that have reported a decline in house sparrow population. A study by a conservation biologist “Cogan sekercioglu” at Stanford had predicted that about 10% of all bird species are likely to disappear & another 15% could be on the brink of extinction by the year 2100. The pollination & dispersal will likely to decline as a result of decline in bird population. Predatory Attacks on House Sparrow House sparrow decline was due to predatory attacks by the “Eurasian sparrow ” — A raptor that often swoops down on unwary sparrow & kills and eats them. The construction of mobile phone sparrow numbers in both rural and urban areas. Electromagnetic radiations from mobile phone are also affecting the sparrow population. Disease has been cited as a factor, even though it has generally been held that house sparrow is a robust, hardy bird. Present Situation in India In recent years India also has been a dramatic decline of house sparrow populations. In recent years, ornithologists have observed sharp decline in house sparrow populations across Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Chennai, Delhi, Assam, Meerut and other cities in India. The house sparrow populations have declined by nearly 70% since 1977. The reasons for the decline of the house sparrows in rural and urban habitats are well understood. A survey by ICAR in 2010 reveals that Andhra Pradesh has lost 80% of its house sparrow population. The scenario in other states of India is no different. (Mohan Kumar, 2010) studied the different reasons for the decline of the Indian house sparrow population. He concluded that factors like modern housing, predations depleting food resources, pesticides, pollution and electro smog are the causes of decline. The sparrow population in Kerala, Gujarat & Rajasthan had dropped by 20%. The decline in coastal areas was as sharp as 70-80%. In many parts of India, where small flocks of six to eight sparrows were noticed till 1998, they had

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Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) disappeared without a trace by 2008. In India, the changing of urban lifestyles, lower ceilings and apartments meant no looks and concerns for the birds to nest. Reasons for Decline in Sparrow Population  The most obvious reasons for the decline of house sparrow population is the increased urbanization & rise of multi-storied buildings.  Rising urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in the cities is also an important catalyst for decline.  Mobile towers also have a major share in the decline of house sparrow.  Drinking polluted water containing chemicals is also a cause for death of sparrows.  The bio-magnification of methyl nitrite in the insect population, develop immunity towards sparrows & their fledglings are directly affected by the poisonous effect of chemical.  Loss of natural hedge type of habitats for feeding, roosting & other purposes.  Loss of mud routes leaving no place for mud bath for sparrow to maintain their body temperature.  The sparrows feed on grains contaminated by harmful chemicals present in pesticides and die due to poisoning.  The competition from other birds such as Blue Rock Pigeon, Mynas has resulted in migration of sparrows to other areas and thereby reducing their urban population in the country.  Increases in predator population of is also one of the reasons contributing to the decline of house sparrows.  Introduction of unleaded petrol Reducing areas of free growing weeds of reducing numbers of badly maintained building.  The decline is due to lack of holes for nesting in modern houses.  The old buildings are being replaced by modern flats.  Mono-culture grasses that are grown for beautification by destroying various native variety of gasses, deplete others flora & fauna that they depend upon.  The reducing bushes & grass patches in cities & towns.  Paved gardens with no mud to battle in hedges being replaced by wrought iron fences.  The chemically treated seeds or grains available in the market are also a slow poison for the bird.  One possible fallout could be increased spread of mosquito borne diseases among human beings. (Mudur, 2008).  The criss-crossing cable wires & flow of electromagnetic waves from cell phone towers injure the sparrows.  Increasing air pollution is also a cause for decline of sparrows. http://lifesciencesleaflets.petsd.org/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 7

Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

There issues haves in some say or the other contributed significant in the decline of population from city environment. Today this cute little bird can only be found in a few localities in the city areas. In 2010, the Britain’s Royal Society of protection of birds has enlisted the “House sparrow” in the ‘Red list’ on the basis of the findings of researchers in different parts of the world including those from India. Alarming Danger of Decline in Sparrow Population A new study has indicated that the loss of birds may contribute to the spread of diseases among human beings. The high bird diversity appears to protect humans from exposure to the West Virus which, like several other infections is transmitted by mosquitoes. Where there are more birds to bites, mosquitoes. Where there are more birds to bites mosquitoes will bite fewer people, partly reducing their chances of either picking up or spreading the infection. Recently, BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society) has sent a proposal to India’s “Environment & Forests Ministry” seeking financial support for a nationwide project to search for sparrow. The alarming decline in sparrow population indicates that air pollution levels in the metropolitan cities are rising dangerous since the sparrows are mainly grain eaters, it could mean that gains that people are consuming contain higher amount of pesticides than before (Gulati, 2005). Initiatives taken to Save Sparrows Due to the decline in the numbers of house sparrow in the cities many organizations and bird leavers love taken various initiatives in India to increase awareness on the issue. The steps taken to sensitive general public on the issue are as indicated:—  SOS (Save our Sparrow) is an initiative undertaken by “The Nature Forever Society” in association with “Berlin Foundation” in India.  In order to increase awareness among the citizen of Mumbai, TERI has installed lectern at Kopar & Chairane garden which educate people on various aspects related to sparrows.  The “Hiraval Foundation” which is a Nasik based agricultural NGO runs the “save house sparrow campaign”. The foundation has developed suitable nest box for the Indian house sparrow.  “Citizen Sparrow” is an online initiative started by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) helps to document the presence or absence of sparrows in respective areas.  The Indian Postal Department released a stamp of the house sparrow on 20 March, 2010. In 2012,, the house sparrow was declared as the state bird of Delhi.  To increase global awareness & induce conservation efforts, world sparrow day is celebrated on 20 March, every year.

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Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

Sparrow Conservation Plan in India The impact of climate change on birds is yet to be studied in India. The climate change will re-arrange the distribution of birds. It will also change the migration patterns of birds. Since 1960 house sparrows have been studied extensively using nest boxes at the M.S. University campus in Baroda. (Goyal, 2005) studied the population density of house sparrow in different localities of Haridwar, India. The Study was conducted to find out the reasons and effects of changing population of house sparrow. The population pattern was studied using point count and line sparrows do not inhabits dense forest. They are more abundant in agricultural field as compared to residential colony (Goyal, 2005). There is a definite decline in their numbers over the last decade. This is because of loss of nesting sites, food, sources, increase in predators & pollution (Gulati, 2005). (Rajashekar and Venkatesha, 2008) studied abundance and seasonal occurrence of passer domestics Indices adults in the Bangalore region in India during 2005-06. To flight this decline of sparrows the box initiative was started from Mumbai city by putting up little wooden boxes on trees, which sparrows could use as nets. The little feeders with grains, insects and water are also kept to help the sparrows settle (Parmar, 2008). Three years ago common birds monitoring programme currently this programme is grounded due to lack of funds and policy guidelines. The bird life International, Royal Society for Protection of Bird (RSPB) & Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have identified 466 sites for the long term protection of threatened and common Indian birds. These sites are denoted as IBA (Important Bird Areas). Sparrow populations can be supported by providing regular supplies of weed seeds (Hatch, 2007).

CONCLUSION: House sparrow is an important indicator of the city environment. Since, these birds are sensitive to changes in the environment; they serve as an important Bio-indicator for a healthy urban ecosystem, indirectly indicating human health. Thus, to maintain an ecological balance in the city environment, the conservation of sparrows is the need of the hour. It is every citizen’s duty to respect and conserve this important species to ensure a better future. The major initiatives to be taken to conserve the sparrow should revolve around three major concerns which include loss of habitat, nesting locations and competition from other invasive species like pigeons. In order to address these concerns specially designed nest boxes can be used, with features like a small entrance. These nests allow the house sparrows to reside, lay eggs and feed young ones with appropriate protection from other species. Easy to make & use bird feeders can also be utilized outside the house as in gardens allowing the sparrows to have access to food. During the summer season, water bowls or bird bath should be kept in the trees & hedges should be actively undertaken to bring back this species. Increasing awareness among the community & effective public participation would surely help in saving the bird from extinction. http://lifesciencesleaflets.petsd.org/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 9

Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The author acknowledges the support and valuable guidance of Professor Dinesh Bhatt, (Gurukula Kangri University, Haridwar, Uttrakhand) in preparing the manuscript.

REFERENCES:

Anderson Ted, R. (2006) Biology of the Ubiquitous House sparrow; From Genes to Populations, Oxford University Press. BBC News, (2008) Sparrow death mars record attempt. BBC News Channel. Retrieved July 20, 2008, from htt://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/ world/europe/ 4450958.stm. Gowaty Patricia Adair, (1984): House Sparrows Kill Eastern Bluebirds. Journal of Field Ornithology 53 (3):378-380. Goyal Monika, (2005) Preliminary Survey of House sparrow (Passer domesticus) in three Different Areas of Haridwar, Uttaranchal. M.Sc. Thesis, Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, india. Gulati. V, (2005) House sparrow on verge of extinction. Tribune news Service. Chandigarh, India. 20, 2005, from http://www. Tribuneindia.com/2005/20050920/cth1.htm#11. Hatch Margret, I. and Westneat David, F. (2007) Age related patterns of reproductive success in house sparrows Passer domesticus. Journal of Avian Biology 38:603-611. Lowther, P. E. and Cink, C. L. (1992) The Birds of North America (Editor : A Poole, P. Stettenhein, and F. Gill). No. 12, The Academy of natural Science, Philadelphia, PA and the American ornithologists Union, Washington, D.C. Mudur, G. S. (2008) Bye bird,hello virus. The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Retrieved November 03, 2008, from http://www. telegraphindia.com/ 10811003/jsp/atleisure/story_10055641.jsp. Parmar, B. (2008): Where are all the sparrows gone? Retrieved June 09, 2008, from http://indiwo.in.com/india/features/harmony-in-life-life/where-are-all-the-sparrows- gone/40681/0. Rahmani Asad, R. (2008): Flight to extinction. Spectrum, The Tribune. Retrieved June 8, 2008, from http://www.tribuneindia. com/2008/20080608/ spectrum/Main1.htm. Rajashekar, S. and Venkatesha, M. G. (2008) Occurrence F of house sparrow, Passer domesticus indicus in and around Bangalore. Current Science 94 (4):446-449. Reddy, S. (2008) The Fall of a Sparrow. Retrieved May 12, 2008, from www.outlookindia.com. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). http://www.rpb. org.uk/birds/guide/h/house sparrow/index.asp.

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Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online)

Table no 1

S.No. Scientific Classification of Sparrow 1. Kingdom Animalia 2. Phylum Chordata 3. Class Aves 4. Order Passeriformes 5. Family Passeridae 6. Passer 7. Species P. Domestics 8. Binomial Name Passer Domestics

Table no. 2

S.No. General Features of Sparrow 1. Local Name Gouriya (Hindi, Urdu) 2. Size 14-16 cm 3. Wingspan 19-25 cm 4. Weight 26-32 gm 5. Bill Thick 6. Legs Short 7. Chest Unstressed 8. Mating Behaviour Monogamous 9. Breeding Months March to August 10. Mortality Highest in Ist year office 11. Food Seeds, weed, insects 12. Behaviour Gregarious 13. Social Organization Pairs or small family groups 14. Migration March-October 15. Breeding Season March-June (North India) Sept.-October (Central India) January-December (Southern India) 16. Nest Type Ball of dried vegetation feathers, strings & papers 17. Foraging Forages primarily on ground (by hopping)

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