98 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 5 (September-October 2005) Some significant records of birds from the central Indian highlands of R. Jayapal*1, Qamar Qureshi1, and Ravi Chellam2 1Wildlife Institute of , PO Box:18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248001, Uttaranchal. 2UNDP-India, 55 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003. *Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Introduction • (, Betul, and Painted Spurfowl is found (see below). he central Indian highlands in the state districts): 6-13.v.2004. Painted Spurfowl G. lunulata Found in Tof Madhya Pradesh comprise the • Seoni-Chhindwara Plateau (Chhindwara, similar habitat as Red Spurfowl but mainly Satpura and Vindhya Ranges which are Narsimhapur, and Seoni districts): Most in eastern and central Madhya Pradesh. separated by River Narmada. They are part of the study period. Quite frequent north of Narmada (Sagar- ornithologically little explored, with just a • South Maikal Range (Mandla, Balaghat, Damoh Plateau, Vindhya scarplands around handful of papers published on local and Dindori districts): 10-21.vi.2002. Panna Reserve, Rewa Plateau, and east avifauna: Moss King (1911) from Damoh and • East Maikal Range (Shahdol, Umaria, and Maikal Range (Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve). Sagar, Whitehead (1911) from Sehore, Katni districts): 18-26.vi.2003. South of , found in sympatry D’Abreu (1912) from Balaghat, Osmaston • Kaimur Hills (, Katni, Satna, and with Red Spurfowl in Bori- Plateau (1922) from Pachmarhi, Briggs (1931) from Rewa districts): 18-26.vi.2003. and , often in the same Mhow, Hewetson (1939) from Betul, Newton • Vindhya scarplands (Chhatarpur, Panna, locality. However, its apparent absence from et al. (1986) from Kanha, Tyabji (1994) from and Satna districts): 27-30.vi.2003. (south Maikal Range) Bandhavgarh, Mehta (1998) from Bori and, We took great care in species is intriguing and requires further more recently, Pasha et al. (2004) from Pench. identification, supporting each record with investigation. Hewetson (1956) had Extensive surveys were however carried out meticulous observations on field characters, recorded it from . in western and northern Madhya Pradesh, including vocalizations. All the doubtful Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Occurs in the mostly north of the Vindhyas (Edwin-Barnes observations were treated as unconfirmed sal forests of eastern 1886; Ali and Whistler 1939, and 1940). records. This survey is, however, neither Madhya Pradesh from east Maikal through Hewetson’s (1956) comprehensive account exhaustive nor complete, as several localities south Maikal Range south to the teak- of all his bird observations across the region (e.g., Panna Tiger Reserve and Hills) Tectona grandis dominant Pench Tiger was another major document on central were under sampled due to logistic and time- Reserve in . Indian avifauna. The only published constraints. We hope further intensive Grey Junglefowl G. sonneratii Found in scientific collections from the central studies in the field will yield more accurate southern Madhya Pradesh from East Nimar highlands were by D’Abreu (1912, and 1935) information on distribution and status of Hills (Aulia Range, very scarce) through for Nagpur Museum. The other collection, central Indian birds. Betul Hills ( Range and north by Dr Walter Koelz (1929-1950), currently Several significant records and breeding Betul division, fairly common) up to Satpura housed at University of Michigan Museum range extensions noticed during our Range (, very of Zoology, remained largely unknown till surveys are reported below. common). Ali and Whistler (1940) had a Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus In doubtful record of a female, further west catalogued it. Kanha Tiger Reserve a pair was seen near from Manpur, . Apparently, The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Kisli on 15.vi.2002 and another pair at River Pench, running north-south, forms a undertook a survey of breeding land birds Salghat on 18.vi.2002. Probably a scarce barrier between G. gallus and G. sonneratii of the central highlands in Madhya Pradesh resident in and around Kanha (south Maikal in central India. But the reported (Dhamge as part of an ongoing project on the Range). D’Abreau (1935) collected one and Banubakode 2000) occurrence of Grey Protected Area network in central India. The specimen (A. t. indicus) from this locality. Junglefowl in Pench Tiger Reserve survey was conducted between February We also have two more disjunct records () west of River Pench requires and July from 2002 to 2004, with its base- from Satpura Plateau: From Bori Wildlife confirmation, as we did not encounter either camp at Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Sanctuary, a male at Churna on 9.v.2004 and of the Gallus species during our four visits Pradesh), where we carried out year-round a female (?) near Dhain on 13.v.2004. Also a to the Maharashtra section of Pench Tiger observations. We divided the region into couple of winter records at Pench Tiger Reserve. eleven areas and surveyed them as per the Reserve (a male on 11.i.1997 and a pair on Not seen in western Madhya Pradesh, i.e., following itinerary [Note that the coverage 26.ii.2004). west Nimar Hills and Plateau, from of districts under each subregion may be Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea Found where there are historical records (Ali and whole or in part]: all along the forested hills from Indore Whistler 1940). We speculate that the current • Malwa Plateau (Jhabua, Dhar, Indore, and district in the west (one record at Simrole, central Indian population might have now Dewas districts): 25-27.v.2004. 24.v.2004) to south Maikal in the east (Kanha become separated from the • Nimar Hills (, West Nimar, and Tiger Reserve, common) through Nimar Hills population. East Nimar districts): 22-30.v.2004. (Ashapur / Aulia, uncommon), Betul Plateau Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia • Lower Narmada Valley (West Nimar, (Bhainsdehi Range, fairly common and orientalis The peninsular population (S. o. Dewas, , Sehore, and Hoshangabad Rampur, common), Satpura Range (Bori erythrocephala) is found along the hills of districts): 24-26.ii.2002; 22-30.v.2004. Wildlife Sanctuary, common), and Seoni- southern and eastern Madhya Pradesh, • Sagar-Damoh Plateau (Sagar and Damoh Chhindwara Plateau (Pench Tiger Reserve, breeding commonly at c.600m a.s.l., and districts): 14-21.vi.2004. common). Absent north of Narmada, in higher (Betul Plateau, Satpura Range, • Betul Plateau (): 26.iv-5.v.2004. eastern Madhya Pradesh, where only and south and east Maikal Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 5 (September-October 2005) 99 Range including Bandhavgarh Tiger March to late May. Surprisingly few south Maikal Range (Kanha Tiger Reserve), Reserve). Not seen west of Betul (e.g. Nimar historical records from central India 3) East Maikal Range (Bandhavgarh Tiger Hills). In winter, it spreads widely over well- (Osmaston 1922 from Pachmarhi,; Hewetson Reserve), and 4) Deogarh hills in Shahdol wooded parts of the entire region, along with 1939 from Betul). district (Kumerhin Reserve). the Himalayan migratory form S. o. meena. Forest Eagle-Owl Bubo nipalensis Rare Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus Both are often seen together in the same resident in Pench Tiger Reserve, Seoni Central and eastern Madhya Pradesh locality. district. Seen one adult roosting on a huge including Satpura Range, Seoni-Chhindwara Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Occurs Terminalia arjuna tree along the banks of Plateau, and south and east Maikal Range. in moist deciduous forests of central and River Pench in Cheetaghat area on Distribution limits in the region remarkably eastern Madhya Pradesh from Satpura 18.iv.2004. Another bird was photographed identical to that of Emerald Dove (further Range (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary-Pachmarhi) at Raiyagazza (date unknown) (Sen and spatial analyses planned). More frequent in east through Pench and Kanha Tiger Dungriyal 2004). Apparently an addition to sal biome than teak forests. Reserves up to east Maikal Range in the the central Indian avifauna. Small Yellow-naped Woodpecker Picus north-east (e.g. Bandhavgarh Tiger We also suspect seeing one bird near chlorolophus Fairly common in less- Reserve). Absent from Vindhyas (e.g. Churna, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary on 9.v.2004. disturbed forests in Satpura Range (Bori Panna and Sagar-Damoh Plateau). Frequent Interestingly, Mehta (1998) has recorded it Wildlife Sanctuary and Mahadeo Hills), in bamboo forests of the sal biome but less as a rare resident in Bori Wildlife Sanctuary. Seoni Plateau (Pench Tiger Reserve), and so in teak forests. Further field surveys are required to south Maikal Range (Kanha Tiger Reserve Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus and determine its status in central India. east to ). Not found north of Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Both Brown Hawk-Owl Ninox scutulata A scarce Narmada. Our observations agree with the cuckoos are commonly heard in summer and resident in central and eastern Madhya range map in Kazmierczak (2000), but not early monsoon throughout well-wooded Pradesh confined to the dense forests of with Grimmett et al. (1998) or Rasmussen and areas of the entire region. C. micropterus Satpura Range, Mahadeo Hills, Seoni Anderton (2005). was, however, not heard or seen west of Plateau, south and east Maikal Ranges, and Little Scaly-bellied Green Woodpecker Simrole (Indore district). also in and around Panna Tiger Reserve in Picus xanthopygaeus Commonly found in Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris Song the Vindhyas (calls heard near Hinauta a wide variety of forest types in central and commonly heard between June and barrier on 27.vi.2003 and one pair was eastern Madhya Pradesh, from north Betul September throughout the forested tracts observed being mobbed by other birds near Division through Satpura Range, Mahadeo of central and eastern Madhya Pradesh Pawai on Panna-Katni route on 29.vi.2003). Hills, Seoni-Chhindwara Plateau, and south (including East Nimar Hills, Betul Plateau, White-rumped Needletail-Swift and east Maikal Ranges. One unconfirmed Satpura Range, Seoni-Chhindwara Plateau, Zoonavena sylvatica Occurs from sighting around Panna Tiger Reserve (a bird east and south Maikal Ranges, Vindhya Chorbahuli on Nagpur-Seoni Highway in flight near Akola on Panna-Amanganj scarplands, and Sagar-Damoh Plateau). Not (26.vii.2002, 7.iv.2003; 2.vi.2003) north road on 29.vi.2003). Contrary to existing seen west of Khandwa. Surprisingly few through Mahadeo Hills, Seoni Plateau, and literature (Grimmett et al. 1998; Kazmierczak records from central India in the past (e.g. south Maikal Range till east Maikal Range 2000), we did not come across it in western Tyabji 1994, Bandhavgarh). Host species in Umaria district (Bandhavgarh Tiger Madhya Pradesh including Malwa Plateau imperfectly known, though twice seen Reserve). Not seen west of Chhindwara and Nimar Hills (Shahpur in Betul district is chased aggressively by nesting Ashy town. our westernmost record) nor in Sagar- Drongos Dicrurus leucophaeus (near Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis Damoh Plateau. Karmajhiri, Pench Tiger Reserve on athertoni Two small disjunct populations Singing Bush-Lark Mirafra cantillans 15.vi.2003 and at Mukki, Kanha Tiger exist in Madhya Pradesh. One in the Satpura Locally distributed in western and southern Reserve on 19.vi.2002). Range (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary and Madhya Pradesh. Absent from most of The local movements of this population Pachmarhi) and another in and around central and eastern Madhya Pradesh are, however, unclear. It is most probably a Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Possibly also especially north of Narmada River. summer / monsoon breeding visitor to in Deogarh hills in , not far Red-winged Bush-Lark Mirafra central India. We had no winter records in from Bandhavgarh where calls were heard erythroptera Widespread in the region Pench Tiger Reserve, during our stay in in a dense sal patch near Kumerhin on except sal-dominant eastern Madhya 1996-1997, 2002-2003, and 2003-2004. But the 19.vi.2003. Not seen anywhere else. Our Pradesh (Maikal and Kaimur Hills). Also possibility of birds having been overlooked observations largely agree with the absent in Satpura Range. Very common on when they were not calling cannot be ruled distribution map in Kazmierczak (2000). Malwa Plateau (Simrole-Mhow road) and out. However, the range in Rasmussen and Sagar-Damoh Plateau (Nauradehi Wildlife Oriental Scops-Owl Otus sunia Found Anderton (2005) includes the entire stretch Sanctuary). Generally scarcer elsewhere. along the hill-forests of southern and of central Indian highlands. Indian Short-toed Lark Calandrella raytal eastern Madhya Pradesh from Betul Plateau Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros Very few historical records from the region east through Satpura Range, Mahadeo hills, coronatus Distributed in central, southern, (Hewetson 1956 from Narmada). Certainly, Seoni Plateau, south and east Maikal. The and eastern Madhya Pradesh. Our survey more widely distributed in the region than distribution range in the region almost yielded four disjunct populations: 1) North past records indicate. All our sightings were identical to that of Oriental Turtle-Dove Betul Division (Rampur) and Satpura Range invariably along sandy river banks, as (further spatial analyses planned). Not (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary– Pachmarhi), 2) follows: Along Narmada River: Near heard west of Betul. Very vocal from early Seoni Plateau (Pench Tiger Reserve) and Jabalpur (21.vi.2004), near Hoshangabad 100 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 5 (September-October 2005) (26.ii.2002; 2.xii.2002) and, several between Betul and north Betul divisions) and Only a summer / monsoon visitor to Pench Omkareshwar and Mandleshwar (26.v.2004). Satpura Range (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary – Tiger Reserve (from early May to Along : Near Rajgarh, Panna Pachmarhi extending down to Mahadeo September), and presumably so in other district (29.vi.2003). Along Bearma River: Hills, Tamia in ). Despite parts of the region. Near Kudpura, (21.vi.2004). its very restricted range in the region, it is White-rumped Shama Copsychus Along : One pair near curiously abundant wherever it occurs. malabaricus All our records confined to Pandhurna, Chhindwara district (22.v.2004). Apparently there is another disjunct south-eastern Madhya Pradesh. From Sykes’s Crested Lark Galerida deva Quite population in Kanha Tiger Reserve (Newton Pench Tiger Reserve (Very rare. Only three common in western and northern Madhya et al. 1986), but we could not locate it. sightings: one male near Bodanalla tank on Pradesh. Absent from higher hills (above White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus 25.xii.1996, another in a bamboo thicket c.500m a.s.l.) of Satpura Range and the Occurs only in Seoni-Chhindwara Plateau, along Kadasi Nalla on 17.ix.2003 and, a pair eastern sal country. Ken River in the north the northern limit of its distribution in near Bodanalla on 27.ii.2004) to south Maikal and River Pench in the south probably form central India. Very scarce, though Range (Kanha Tiger Reserve: quite the distribution limits, east of which we have reportedly locally common in Nagpur city. common) east to Amarkantak south of no records. Our easternmost record in the Our records include two pairs near Narmada River. north is near Rajgarh, Panna district Pandhurna in Chhindwara district Indian Chat Cercomela fusca Occurs west (29.vi.2003), and in the south near (22.v.2004) and birds sighted on three of a diagonal line from Panna to Khargon Kumbhapani, Chhindwara district different occasions in Pench Tiger Reserve, along the Narmada River. Our easternmost (26.iv.2004). Seoni district (a pair at Karmajhiri in 1996 records along this line from north-east to Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus and on 6.ix.2003, and another pair near Turia south-west in the region are as follows: Occurs in two disjunct breeding gate on 18.ii.2004). Panna-Amanganj road (29.vi.2003), populations. One in north Betul Division Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myophonus Bilayatkalan on Katni-Umaria road (Rampur) and Satpura Range (Bori Wildlife horsfieldii We have four records: South (17.vi.2003), Jabalpur city (30.vi.2003; Sanctuary-Pachmarhi) but not Mahadeo Betul Division (Kukru, Bhainsdehi Range: 22.vi.2004), Suatala on Narasimhapur-Sagar Hills. Another in south Maikal Range fairly common), north Betul Division- road (13.vi.2004), near Hoshangabad (Kanha Tiger Reserve east to Amarkantak). Satpura Range (also frequent in the (26.ii.2002), between Omkareshwar and Not seen anywhere else. adjacent Mahadeo Hills, Tamia, Mandleshwar (26.v.2004), and Khargon Reports of its occurrence (Tyabji 1994; Chhindwara district), near Shahpura in town (28.v.2004). Pasha et al. 2004) in other parts of the region Dindori district (two sightings on Our observations largely agree with the is probably owing to confusion with the 18.vi.2003), and in Deogarh hills near range map in Kazmierczak (2000). Curiously, similar-looking Long-tailed Minivet P. Kumerhin in Shahdol district (one sighting we have one doubtful sighting far from this ethologus, which is a common winter on 19.vi.2003). line near Mansar on Nagpur-Seoni Highway migrant to central India. Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina on 29.v.2004. Pied Flycatcher-Shrike Hemipus picatus cyanotus Found commonly in the forests Spotted Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps We recorded this species in three disjunct of southern and eastern Madhya Pradesh Recorded from central and eastern Madhya localities: 1) South Betul Division from East Nimar Hills (our western-most Pradesh: South Betul (Kukru, Bhainsdehi (Bhainsdehi Range), 2) North Betul division record: Ashapur, Aulia Range on 23.v.2004) Range), north Betul (Rampur), Satpura – Satpura Range (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary), east through Betul Plateau, Satpura Range, Range (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary-Pachmarhi, and 3) South Maikal Range (Kanha Tiger Seoni-Chhindwara Plateau, and south and but not found in the adjacent Mahadeo Reserve east to Amarkantak). There is an east Maikal Range north to Bandhavgarh Hills), south and east Maikal Ranges north old record from Sagar-Damoh district (Moss Tiger Reserve. Apparently occurs in to Bandhavgarh. Not seen west of Betul. King 1911), but we do not have any records Vindhya scarplands (Panna Tiger Reserve, Indian Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus from north of Narmada River. K. Yoganand, verbally). Absent from horsfieldii Range nearly identical to that of The birds in central India are seemingly western Madhya Pradesh (Malwa Plateau Spotted Babbler, often found together in the more withdrawn and less confiding than and West Nimar Hills?), and north-central same locality. In addition, also recorded from northern population in the . Madhya Pradesh (Sagar-Damoh Plateau). Mahadeo Hills, near Tamia in Chhindwara Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus Seen district (22.v.2004), Pench Tiger Reserve (a melanicterus We have only two records of all along the southern hills from Malwa pair at Kadasi Nalla on 17.ix.2003; also see this species and both are restricted to north Plateau (Mandu, 26.v.2004; Simrole, D’Abreau 1935), and Vindhya scarplands Betul Division - Satpura Range. A pair near 24.v.2004), Nimar Hills (Ashapur, Aulia (Panna Tiger Reserve: K. Yoganand Rampur, Betul (27.iv.2004) and a small flock Range, 23.v.2004), Betul Plateau (Kukru, verbally; also distinct dueting calls heard of four near Tamia, Chhindwara district Bhainsdehi Range, 27.iv.2004-5.v.2004), from a dense bamboo forest near Shikarpura, (22.v.2004). Not seen elsewhere, including Satpura Range (Mahadeo hills, Tamia, Panna district on 29.vi.2003). Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, which lies between Chhindwara district, 22.v.2004), Seoni Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus these two localities. Apparently, there are Plateau (Rukhad and Kurai, Pench Tiger Widespread but generally less common. We old records from Pench Tiger Reserve Reserve), and south Maikal east to did not have any records from most parts of (Sterndale 1887), but this population is not Amarkantak and also Deogarh hills, south and east Maikal Ranges (except one seen anymore. Kumerhin, Shahdol district (19.vi.2003). We flock at Manpur near Bandhavgarh Tiger Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus have, however, no records from east Maikal Reserve on 25.vi.2003); probably absent Recorded only in Betul Plateau (both south Range (e.g. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve). from south-eastern Madhya Pradesh. Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 5 (September-October 2005) 101

Quaker Tit-Babbler Alcippe poioicephala may yield further breeding records. Mehta common in and around Kanha but very A bird of the hill-forests. Its range nearly (1998) recorded it as an uncommon resident scarce east to Amarkantak. Distribution overlaps with that of Spotted Babbler. in Bori Wildlife Sanctuary. Incidentally, we intriguingly very local and patchy. Records However, we have one record from west of have three winter records from Pench Tiger from other parts of the region are Betul, near Dhulkot, West Nimar district Reserve, Seoni district (16.xi.2003, questionable (Pasha et al. 1998, from Pench (28.v.2004). 23.xii.2003, 2.ii.2004; see also Pasha et al. Tiger Reserve). Both, this species and Spotted Babbler 2004). Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus The are curiously absent from several localities White-throated Fantail Rhipidura most surprising finding of the survey. where seemingly suitable habitats are albicollis Recorded from three disjunct Widely thought to be a winter visitor from present (Aulia in East Nimar Hills, Mahadeo areas, all south of Narmada River: 1) South the Himalaya Range (Ali and Ripley 1983). Hills in Chhindwara district, and Kurai hills Betul Division (Bhainsdehi Range, Kukru), We found several breeding birds during our in Pench Tiger Reserve). 2) North Betul Division-Satpura Range (Bori survey, mostly in central, southern, and Rufous-fronted Prinia Prinia buchanani Wildlife Sanctuary-Pachmarhi) both these eastern Madhya Pradesh from the Satpura Mainly found in western Madhya Pradesh populations belong to the race R. a. Range (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary-Pachmarhi), extending east to Rukhad (in Pench Tiger albogularis, and 3) South Maikal Range Mahadeo Hills (Tamia, Chhindwara district), Reserve, very scarce) in the south and Satna (Kanha east to Amarkantak), belonging to Seoni Plateau (Pench Tiger Reserve), south in the north (a pair seen near Satna River R. a. orissae. There is one unconfirmed Maikal Range (Kanha Tiger Reserve east to bridge between Nagod and Satna on sighting (apparently R. a. albogularis) from Amarkantak), and up to east Maikal Range 26.vi.2003). No records [absent?] from Pench Tiger Reserve, Seoni district (Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve) in the north- central (Satpura Range and Mahadeo Hills) (Sayantan Biswas, verbally.). east. Not found west (including Betul and eastern Madhya Pradesh (Maikal Curiously, some individuals observed in Plateau) or north of Bori. Quite common Ranges). Bori Wildlife Sanctuary and Kukru Reserve, wherever found. Territorial fights and Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Recorded Betul district, looked very similar to R. a. courtship behaviour are rather prolonged, almost throughout the region except north- orissae. beginning in the second week of April, while eastern Madhya Pradesh including Spotted Creeper Salpornis spilonotus Only nest construction starts around the first week Bandhavgarh (Absent from east Maikal two sightings during the survey, both from of June. The fledglings are usually seen in Range north of Narmada River?). See Tyabji Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, . the first week of July. (1994) for his comments on its reported One pair near Mohali on 19.vi.2004, an The only breeding record from the region, absence from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. individual near Chevla Talab on 20.vi.2004. in the past, was from Bandhavgarh (Tyabji Striated Marsh-Warbler Megalurus Apparently not uncommon in Panna Tiger 1994). Poor coverage during the south-west palustris Very few historical records Reserve (K. Yoganand, verbally.). monsoon (when most parts of the region (D’Abreau 1935). Possibly more widespread Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia become inaccessible) and similarity to the than old records indicate (Rasmussen and zeylonica All our records are from south- commoner Black Drongo D. macrocercus Anderton 2005). We have recorded from central Madhya Pradesh. Uncommon in might explain why the bird has been three localities: Along Narmada River: Bhainsdehi Range, south Betul Division and consistently under-reported from the region. several between Omkareshwar and one pair near Pandhurna, Chhindwara Interestingly, Rasmussen and Anderton Mandleshwar (26.v.2004). Along Ken River: district on 22.v.2004. Reportedly occurs in (2005) have shown a small resident One individual near the bridge between the adjacent Satpura Range as well (Mehta population in southern Madhya Pradesh, Rajgarh and Panna (29.vi.2003). Along River 1998, from Bori Wildlife Sanctuary), though citing Walter Koelz’s unpublished Pench: One pair close to Tikari village, Pench we did not see any there. collections from central India. Tiger Reserve on 15.viii.2003. Grey-headed Starling Sturnus malabaricus Widespread in winter throughout the well- Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa Recorded from forested tracts of central and wooded parts of the region, when the local dauurica Earlier known to breed only eastern Madhya Pradesh from Satpura population is probably augmented by around the hills of Malwa Plateau (Briggs Plateau (Bori Wildlife Sanctuary-Pachmarhi) wintering birds from the Himalayas. 1931; Ali and Ripley 1982). We discovered east to Maikal Ranges (Kanha and We strongly recommend further intensive another disjunct breeding population in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve) through Seoni- surveys between May and July in other south Betul Division (Kukru, Bhainsdehi Chhindwara Plateau (Pench Tiger Reserve), peninsular hills as well (e.g. ) Range, scarce) and also possibly in the Sagar-Damoh Plateau (Nauradehi Wildlife for further breeding records. adjacent Gawilgarh hills, Tiger Sanctuary) and Vindhya scarplands (Panna Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus We Reserve, Maharashtra. Hewetson (1956) Tiger Reserve) in the north. All the records identified four disjunct populations: 1) recorded it from Melghat as a probable were between April and July, indicating a Satpura Range: common in Bori Wildlife breeder, but not from Betul. Our breeding population, and presence of Sanctuary-Pachmarhi, (but not found in westernmost record is from the hills of juveniles further confirms their breeding Mahadeo Hills), 2) Seoni Plateau: very rare Simrole (24.v.2004), where it is not status in the region. Not recorded west of in Kurai Valley, Pench Tiger Reserve (only uncommon. Bori (including Betul Plateau?). Probably two sightings: one pair on 3.v.2002, and Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) show widespread in winter across the entire another nesting pair on 7.vii.2003), 3) South that the species breeds extensively across region. Maikal Range (common in Kanha Tiger the central Indian highlands east to Maikal Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus Reserve and scarce east to Amarkantak), Ranges. Though we did not come across Observed only from south Maikal Range in and 4) East Maikal Range (fairly common in this species east of Betul, intensive searches south-eastern Madhya Pradesh. Is quite Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve east to Deogarh 102 Indian Birds Vol. 1 No. 5 (September-October 2005) Hills). Probably spreads in winter. 2000-01 to 2009-10. Volumes I & II. Govt. of Smithsonian Institution: Washington DC. Maharashtra (Office of the PCCF): Nagpur. Sen, S. R. and N. S. Dungriyal. 2004. Fauna of Edwin-Barnes, H. 1886. Birds’ nesting in Pench Tiger Reserve: Inventory and field guide. Acknowledgements Rajpootana. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 1: 38- Pench Tiger Reserve (MP Forest Dept): Seoni, We gratefully acknowledge Madhya Pradesh State 62. M. P. Forest Department for granting us permission and Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp, and T. Inskipp, 1998. Sterndale, R. A. 1887. Seonee: Camp life on the logistic facilities. We thank our field-assistants D. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford Satpura Range. Thacker, Spink and Co.: Ramesh, Ravi Shankar, and Ishwar for their in- University Press: Delhi. Calcutta. valuable assistance throughout the survey. We also Hewetson, C. 1939. The bird year in Betul (Central Tyabji, H.N. 1994. The birds of Bandhavgarh thank our colleague Bhaskar Acharya for his con- Provinces). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 41: 286- National Park, M. P. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. stant support in the field and an annonymous ref- 310. 91: 51-76. eree for improving an earlier draft of this manu- Hewetson, C. 1956. Observations on the bird life Whitehead, C. H. T. 1911. Notes on the birds of script. of Madhya Pradesh. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Sehore, Central India, with special reference to 53: 595-645. migration. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 21: 153- References Kazmierczak, K. 2000. A field guide to the birds 170. Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley, 1983. Handbook of the of India. OM Book Service: New Delhi. birds of India and Pakistan. Compact edition. Mehta, P. 1998. The effect of forestry practices R. Jayapal is a Research Fellow with Wildlife Oxford University Press: Bombay. on bird species diversity in Satpura Hill Ranges. Institute of India (WII), Dehradun and is currently Ali, S. and H. Whistler, 1939. The birds of central Unpublished Ph.D. thesis submitted to Saurashtra studying the distribution patterns of forest birds in India. Part I. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. J. University (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra central Indian highlands for his doctoral Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 41: 82-106. Dun). dissertation. Ali, S. and H. Whistler, 1940. The birds of central Moss King, R. C. H. 1911. The resident birds of Qamar Qureshi is a senior scientist at WII. He India. Part II. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 41: the Sagaur and Damoh districts, Central has a long association with the study of ecology of 470-488. Provinces. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 21: 87- central Indian forests and his research interests Briggs, F. S. 1931. A note on the birds in the 103. include landscape ecology and quantitative neighbourhood of Mhow. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Newton, P. N., S. Breeden, and G. J. Norman. 1986. methods. Soc. 35: 382-404. The birds of Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Ravi Chellam is a senior scientist at WII. He is D’Abreu, E.A. 1912. Notes on a bird collecting Pradesh, India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 83: currently on deputation to UNDP-India (Energy trip in the Balaghat district of the Central 477-498. & Environment Program) and his main interests Provinces. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 21: 1158- Osmaston, B.B. 1922. Birds of Pachmarhi. J. include ecology of large carnivores and 1169. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 28: 453-459. conservation policy. D’Abreu, E.A. 1935. A list of the birds of the Pasha, M. K. S., R. Jaypal, G. Areendran, Q. . J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Qureshi, and K. Sankar. 2004. Birds of Pench 38: 95-116. Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, central India. Dhamge, K. W. and S. B. Banubakode. 2000. Newsletter for Ornithologists 1: 2-9. Management plan of and Rasmussen, P. C. and J. C. Anderton, 2005. Birds Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. Plan Period of . The Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 and 2.

Fig. 1. Central Indian highlands of Madhya Pradesh.