Avian Adventures 🐦

Barn owls are among the most widespread birds on Earth, found almost everywhere except Antarctica 🌍. In India, however, the one you often notice gliding silently over fields at dusk or perched in an old ruin 🏚️ is not just any barn owl—it’s a distinct subspecies, the Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto javanica stertens). 🌾 Meet the Indian Barn Owl If you’ve ever caught sight of a pale owl with a heart-shaped face ❤️ drifting low over farmland, you’ve likely encountered the Indian barn owl. This subspecies ranges across most of the Indian subcontinent and extends into Sri Lanka 🇮🇳🇱🇰. ...

Walk through the leafy streets of Kochi, Bengaluru, or even Mumbai, and you’ll likely hear a sharp, rhythmic “kutroo-kutroo” echoing through the trees. That’s the call of the White-cheeked Barbet (Psilopogon viridis)—a small green bird with a white cheek patch that has become one of the most familiar sounds of South India. 🔎 A Bird You Can’t Miss This barbet is hard to mistake once you know its signature look: ...

On this Happy Independence Day 🫡, I find myself reflecting an experience on sighting of two cuckoos , Jacobin Cuckoo and Chestnut-winged cuckoo. These cuckoos are member of clamator genus which I find most cool looking cuckoos in the wild, but India has only two of them. Below I put some details about them: Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) — famous in Indian folklore as the harbinger of the monsoon, this black-and-white beauty carries a touch of drama in its plumage and a deep place in our culture. Early monsoon migrant to out eastern side of India and as well as resident in South India. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo (Clamator coromandel) — an equally stunning bird, adorned with rich chestnut wings and a crest that gives it an unmistakable elegance. This bird resident in north of our country and migrates to South India during the monsoon. What makes this story special for me is not just their beauty — but the fact that I spotted both species right from my own backyard. Watching them up close, listening to their calls, and observing their behavior was nothing short of magical. ...

On a monsoon day of August 2024, I went to a nearby place for birding. I was hoping to photograph a colourful prinia that can be found in my area, that is a Yellow-bellied prinia (prinia flaviventris). These prinias are generally very active during the monsoon for breeding. They used to sit in a tree and start singing for a long time. After reaching the destination, I first tried to hear their sounds as these songstars sing very loudly and have a distinct call which one can identify if one knows beforehand. Attaching a sound for better usage. ...

Purple Sunbirds (Cinnyris asiaticus) are common across India, except in the high Himalayas and some remote islands. They’re a familiar sight in gardens, parks, and open wooded areas — known for their rapid wingbeats, vibrant plumage, and important role as pollinators. We often see them flitting among the flowers in our locality. Watching these little nectar thieves up close is a truly rewarding experience. In the image above, you can see a male in breeding plumage, with its shimmering metallic blue and purple feathers glowing in the light — a signature feature of the species during the mating season. Also another fun fact is that these males have pectoral tuft which they showcase to attract the female. ...

During the pre-monsoon season, on a cloudy day in May, I went bird watching in a local patch. Monsoon is breeding season for many birds in West Bengal. I first spotted some lesser whistling ducks perched on a wall, which was delightful to observe. Suddenly, I heard distinctive calls from baya birds. Following the sounds, I discovered a reed bed with tall grasses where several streaked weaver birds were busily constructing nests. I checked the birds for some time and then left them so they can carry out their work. ...

I first encouter with Greater racket-tailed drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) in niriyamangalam Kerala where we stayed in a homestay. Homestay was very nice for bird photography. This bird was the first one I saw and it was calling loudly outside. I saw almost 4-5 drongos seems to be very common at that place. Though due to low light in morning my photgraphs are lacking details but I am very happy to see those birds. ...

The Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus), also known as the Pied Cuckoo, is one of the most fascinating and symbolic birds in Indian culture. Often hailed as the ‘harbinger of monsoon’, its arrival from Africa is timed with the onset of rains in northern India. This sleek black-and-white bird with a prominent crest and long tail is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of babblers, especially Jungle Babblers. The foster parents unknowingly raise the young cuckoo. ...

Photo by Debo The Crimson-backed Sunbird (Leptocoma minima) is one of the smallest and most dazzling birds found in the Western Ghats of India. Measuring just around 8 cm in length, this energetic bird is easily recognized by the male’s deep crimson back, metallic green crown, and glossy purple throat that shimmer in sunlight. Habitat and Behavior Crimson-backed Sunbirds thrive in moist evergreen forests, plantations, and even gardens. They’re primarily nectarivorous, often seen darting between flowers with rapid wingbeats, much like hummingbirds. However, they don’t hover as long—instead, they often perch while feeding. ...