Birds of Junoon in the Hills A compilation of the birds that have been spotted in the Darmani & Garampani areas with much gratitude to Mohit Midha, who spotted these birds and compiled the list - check out his Facebook page and to eBird.org, where a lot of the photos and descriptions in this document came from. 1. Jungle Babbler This familiar ash-brown colored babbler has a yellow bill and a dark brow in front of the eye that contrasts with its pale eye giving it a perpetual “angry” look. It has vague streaking on the upperparts, diffuse mottling on its throat, and barring on its tail. The multiple races vary slightly in color and strength of markings except the race somervillei of the NW peninsula which has dark brown outer wing feathers that contrast with the rest of the wing. They are often seen in noisy flocks hopping on the ground and flicking litter in search of food. 2. Red-vented Bulbul A dark, sleek, medium-sized bird with a black crest and a white rump. The red color under the tail is often difficult to see. Eats fruit, flower buds, and insects. Conspicuous and sometimes gregarious, often seen high in trees or perched on wires in urban and rural areas; generally prefers scrubby edge habitat instead of dense forest. Calls include a variety of chirps and whistles. Native to South and Southeast Asia. Introduced to several Polynesian Islands, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Polynesian Islands, including Hawaii. 3. Himalayan Bulbul Sharp-looking bulbul with a spiffy mohawk. Note black face and throat, bright white cheek spot, and yellow vent. A species of foothill and montane forested areas; also found in brush, gardens, and towns. Tame and unafraid of people. Typically in pairs or small flocks during the breeding season; congregates in large flocks at other times. Song is a short and rather nasal- sounding burst of gurgling warbles. Calls include dry raspings, chups, and squeaks. 4. Black Eagle Large and distinctive dark eagle of forested mountains and hills. Adults appear all dark from a distance, but closer inspection reveals pale barring on the primaries, secondaries, and undertail, as well as a bright yellow bill and feet. Readily separated from other large birds of prey in range by structure as well as coloration; Black Eagles have broad wings with distinct “fingers”(emarginated primaries) in the tip, as well as a long tail that is fan-shaped when open and slightly wedge-shaped when closed. 5. Peregrine Falcon Burly, powerful, sharp-winged raptor that feeds mainly on birds captured in flight. Found across the globe; considerable plumage variation across subspecies. Chases prey down at high speeds with continuous powerful wingbeats. Becoming increasingly common, especially in cities, where they can nest on tall buildings and feed on pigeons. Also frequents mudflats and open areas with shorebirds. 6. Red-throated Flycatcher Distinctive, small flycatcher. Males have a rusty-orange throat that continues onto the breast. All plumages have a distinctive tail pattern with black terminal bar and white sides. Wings relatively plain and white eyering noticeable. When perched, tail often held cocked with wingtips drooping. Breeds in mature deciduous mixed forest, winters in forest, woodland and parks. Often detected by a rattling "zrrrt" call which is slower than call of the similar looking Taiga Flycatcher. 7. Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Beautiful and intricately-patterned finch. Male has yellow underparts, a black cap, and a dark patch behind the ear on a yellow face. Female is similar to the male, but paler and less contrastingly colored. Like other goldfinches, usually found in pairs to large flocks foraging in both trees and low grassy patches. Inhabits forests, edges, and grassy or brushy outskirts in montane and foothill areas. Song is a series of constant twittering interspersed by lower notes; calls include wheezy notes and high twitters. 8. Pied Kingfisher Boldly marked black-and-white kingfisher with short, bushy crest and glossy all-dark bill. Superficially similar to Crested Kingfisher, but smaller, with much more distinctly patterned head and breast and less erect crest. Frequently seen perched in pairs or small groups. Often hovers over water when seeking prey. Inhabits a wide range of waterside habitats, from lakes to estuaries to mangroves. 9. Crested Kingfisher Large thickset kingfisher of fast-flowing streams in forested inland regions. Dense, fine barring gives it a silvery appearance at a distance; this finer patterning, along with its large, shaggy crest, distinguishes it from the similarly black-and-white Pied Kingfisher. 10. Common Kingfisher Fairly common but small, often rather shy, and inconspicuous. Beautiful blue-and-orange plumage, in combination with habitat and habits, is basically unmistakable. Found along rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds—almost any fresh or brackish habitat with small fish. 11. Black Kite Medium-sized, rather nondescript raptor with overall dark plumage. Slightly forked tail, the fork disappearing when the tail is fully open. Head and neck are short. The juvenile is paler with a pale panel on upperwings and a dark mask around the eyes. Flight style buoyant, gliding and changing direction with ease. Commonly found in urban areas, rubbish dumps, aquatic habitats, grassland, but usually avoids heavily forested areas. May be found solitarily but also in large flocks on migration and at good feeding areas. 12. Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) Uncommon and threatened inhabitant of high and remote mountain ranges, where they build large nests on cliff ledges or in caves. Even as a distant speck this is a super distinctive raptor with an almost albatross-like wing shape and span, coupled with a long diamond-shaped tail. Adults are orange-rust below with a dark underwing, and slate gray above. The young are gray with a dark head. Cruises along ridgetops on flat wings, sometimes arched downwards. 13. Red-wattled Lapwing A distinctly marked lapwing with a black breast and throat and a red bill with a black tip. It also sports red wattles in front of the eyes and a white patch that runs down the cheeks to the underparts. In flight, note the black flight feathers that contrast with the white wing patch. Usually found in small groups around water bodies, agricultural fields, and dry land. They feed primarily on insects, catching them in a typical plover like manner, running a short distance and picking up food from ground. A bird known for its characteristics loud alarm call, often compared to the words “Did we do it?” 14. Streaked Laughing Thrush Orangey-brown laughingthrush with fine streaking all over the body. Breeds at middle to upper elevations, sometimes descending in the winter. Often found around human habitation; also in forest edge and scrubby or bushy areas. Forages on the ground in pairs or small flocks. Song highly variable, brief but often complex; first note often starts off with a distinct bubbling quality. Gives various high call notes. 15. Red-billed Leiothrix A plump, brightly colored babbler of dense forest understory. The yellow-orange breast and red bill are distinctive. The tail feathers have a peculiar outward curve near the tip. The song is a somewhat disjointed series of melodious phrases; calls include harsh scolding, chattering, and a repeated “peter-peter”. Native to Asia, from the eastern China west to the Himalayas; introduced to Hawaii, Japan, Reunion Island, and parts of Europe. 16. Common Green Magpie A neon-colored, noisy, highly social bird of lowland and mid-altitude subtropical forests. Surprisingly difficult to spot as it glides from tree to tree in the middle and upper levels of the forest. Memorable if seen well: bright green with chestnut-tipped wings, a black mask, and a coral-red bill. Similar Indochinese Green-Magpie is yellower-toned and paler-eyed, and lacks the black-and-white “lattice” of feathers on the rear tip of the wings. Gives a series of piercing shrieks followed by a hollow and decisive-sounding “chup” note. 17. Scarlet Minivet Brilliantly-colored forest bird, typically encountered in flocks. Coloration varies significantly throughout wide distribution, with males ranging from black-and-crimson (most of mainland Asia) to black-and-yellow (southern Philippines) and black-and-orange (Java and Bali). Females are predominantly gray-and-yellow, but southern Philippine and western Indonesian birds are black-and-yellow. In all subspecies, note colored “blotches” on the wings (other minivets have cleaner wing patterns) and female’s yellow forehead. Gives high whistled “wheeep” notes, often when flying over the treetops. 18. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Often seen clambering up or headfirst down trees, this small active bird is usually found in the middle levels of the forest, though it will descend down toward the ground on occasion. Gray above and warmly-colored below throughout its range; eastern birds are paler below than western birds, whose males have dark rusty bellies. Western birds also sport a bright contrasting white mustache. Lack of bright white patch on the tail distinguishes this species from White-tailed Nuthatch. 19. Rose-ringed Parakeet Vibrantly bright green parakeet, frequently found in woodland, parks, gardens, where feeds mainly in trees. Nests in cavities, including holes in buildings. Easily overlooked if quiet, as the bright green plumage blends easily with foliage. Note the very long slender tail, bright red bill; male has narrow black-and-rose neck ring. Closely resembles larger Alexandrine Parakeet, which has a wine-red patch on each shoulder. Like other parakeets, raucous and social, often appearing in noisy groups. Native to Africa and South Asia, introduced locally in Europe and Japan. 20. Rock pigeon Essentially the same size and shape as the original wild rock dove, but often display far greater variation in colour and pattern compared to their wild ancestors.