Indian Birds: Being a Key to the Common Birds of the Plains of India

PART I. _a. Hindustani Names of Common Birds_

A. Hindustani Names of Common Birds B. Classification according to Structural Peculiarities C. Classification according to Colour D. Classification according to Habits

A. HINDUSTANI NAMES OF COMMON BIRDS

In all cases the number in brackets which follows the name of a bird is the number of the bird in the Descriptive List that composes Part II of this book.

Ababil, Swallow, Martin, Swift (80-90, 124 and 125). Ablak Maina, Pied Myna (54). Baglā, Paddy bird (224). Bara Kowā, Corby (1). Batér, Quail (171). Bāya, Baya or Weaver bird (70). Bāz, Eagle (146); also Goshawk. Bhairi, Peregrine Falcon. Bhīmrāj, Racket-tailed Drongo (27). Brāhmini Chīl, Brahminy Kite (151). Buchanga, King Crow (25). Būlbūl, Bulbul (15-21). Chahā, Snipe. Chakwá, Brahminy Duck (229). Chandūl, Lark (97-103). Chīl, Kite (152). Chotā Chahā, Jack Snipe. Daryā Mainā, Bank Myna (53). Dayāl, Magpie Robin (68). Desi Shāma, Brown Rock-chat (64). Dhobin, Wagtail (91-94). Fakhtā, Dove (166-169). Gheti, Goose (Mirzapur district). Gidh, Vulture (141-145). Golābi Mainā, Rose-coloured Starling (48). Gonriya, Sparrow (82). Gūgū, Dove (166-169). Hāns, Barred-headed Goose (228). Harre Lāl, Green Munia (78). Harriāl, Green Pigeon (163 and 164). Jānghil, Painted Stork. Jangli tota, Sirkeer Cuckoo. Kabūtār Pigeon (165). Kālā Pidhā, Pied Bush Chat (61 and 62). Kālā Tītar, Black Partridge (172). Kārkarra, Demoiselle Crane (179). Koil, Koel (130). Kotwāl, King Crow (25). Kowā, House Crow (3). Kūlang, Common Crane (177). Laggar, Lugger Falcon (160). Lahtora, Shrike (34-37). Lāl, Lāl Mūnia, Amadavat (77). Machlimār, Osprey (140). Mainā, Myna (52). Mōhok, Crow-pheasant (131). Mor, Peafowl (170). Nīlkant, Roller (115). Pahāri Mainā, Grackle (46 and 47). Pāndubi, Dabchick. Pan-kowa, Cormorant (209-211). Perki, Dove. Phutki, Tailor-bird, warbler (28-33). Pīlak, Oriole (44 and 45). Popīyā, Brain-fever bird (128). Rāj Hans, Grey-lag Goose (227). Safēd Gīdh, Scavenger Vulture (144 and 145). Sārās, Sarus Crane (178). Sāth Bhai, Seven Sisters (7-9). Sawan, Bar-headed Goose (Unao district). Shāh Būlbūl, Paradise Flycatcher (57). Shikrā, Shikra (158). Silahi, Whistling Teal. Siphāhi Bulbul, Red-whiskered Bulbul (20 and 21). Sūbak, Night Heron (Baraich district). Sūga, Paroquet. Sūrkiā Baglā, Cattle Egret (223). Surkhābi, Brahminy Duck. Thampāl, King Crow (25). Tilyer, Rose-coloured Starling (48). Tīsa, White-eyed Buzzard (147). Tītar, Grey Partridge (173). Tītiri, Plover, Lapwing (183 and 184). Tōtā, Paroquet (132-134). Turamti, Red-headed Merlin (161). Tūti, Rose Finch (80). Ūllū, Owl (135-139). Wāk, Night Heron (225). Wokāb, Tawny Eagle (146).

The following words are used by Indians as equivalent to the English word “nest.”

Jhonj or Jhūnj. (In some parts of the country this is used to describe a hanging nest.) Ghonsla or Gonchila. Bil or Gahda. Used for a nest in a hole.

B. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO STRUCTURAL PECULIARITIES

I. Bills. II. Crest. III. Legs. IV. Tail. V. Sexual Dimorphism.

I. BILLS

Birds with Long Bills

1. The Sunbirds (106-108). (Very small birds with long curved bills.) 2. The Kingfishers (118-120). (Fairly long and straight.) 3. The Hornbills (121 and 122). (Big birds with long tails.) 4. The Hoopoe (123). (Bill very long and slightly curved.) 5. The Black-winged Stilt (187). (Fairly long, very slender.) 6. The Avocet (188). (Fairly long, slender, with an upward curve.) 7. The Curlew (189). (Very long and curved.) 8. The Whimbrel (190). (Long and curved.) 9. The Black-tailed Godwit (191). 10. The Snipes. 11. The Pelicans (207 and 208). 12. The Ibises (212-214). (Very long and slightly curved.) 13. The Spoonbill (215). (Long, straight, and flattened with a ladle-like tip.) 14. The Storks (216-221). 15. The Herons (222-225). (Fairly long and dagger-shaped.).

II. CREST

Crested birds

1. The Madras Red-vented Bulbul (15). 2. The Burmese Red-vented Bulbul (16). 3. The Bengal Red-vented Bulbul (17). 4. The Punjab Red-vented Bulbul (18). 5. The White-eared Bulbul (19). 6. The Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul (20). 7. The Southern Red-whiskered Bulbul(21). 8. The Large Racket-tailed Drongo (27). 9. The Rose-coloured Starling (48). 10. The Brahminy Myna (51). 11. The Paradise Flycatcher (57). 12. The Crested Lark (101). 13. Sykes’s Crested Lark (102). 14. The Malabar Crested Lark (103). 15. The Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (110). 16. The Golden Woodpecker (111). 17. The Pied Kingfisher (small crest) (118). 18. The Indian Hoopoe (123). 19. The Pied-crested Cuckoo (129). 20. The Common Peafowl (170). 21. The Large Cormorant (small crest) (209). 22. The Indian Spur-winged Plover (184a). 23. The Herons (222-225).

III. LEGS

Birds with very long legs

1. The White-breasted Water-hen (174). (Moderately long.) 2. The Purple Coot (175). 3. The Cranes (177-179). 4. The Stone Curlew (180). 5. The Lapwings (183 and 184). 6. The Black-winged Stilt (187). 7. The Avocet (188). 8. The Curlew (189). 9. The Whimbrel (190). 10. The Spoonbill (215). 11. The Storks (216-221). 12. The Common Flamingo (226). 13. The Indian Spur-winged Plover (184a).

Birds with legs feathered to the toe

1. The Owls (135-139). 2. The True Eagles (146). 3. The Sandgrouse.

IV. TAIL

1. Birds with the tail deeply forked

1. The Drongos (25-27). 2. The Swallows (88-90). 3. The Palm Swift (125). 4. The Common Kite (152). (Tail slightly forked. This distinguishes the Kite from all other raptorial birds which have round, square, or wedge-shaped tails.) 5. The Terns (200-206).

2. Birds with long tails (i.e. long in proportion to rest of body)

1. The Indian Tree-pie (5). 2. The King Crow (25). 3. The White-bellied Drongo (26). 4. The Larger Racket-tailed Drongo (27). 5. The Tailor Bird (cock in breeding plumage when the two middle feathers are prolonged as two bristles) (28). 6. The Paradise Flycatcher (cock only) (57). 7. The Shama (69). 8. The Wire-tailed Swallow (two of the tail feathers are prolonged beyond the others and look like wires. These frequently get broken off) (89). 9. The Common Indian Bee-eater (the two median tail feathers are prolonged as bristles) (116). 10. The Blue-tailed Bee-eater (the two median tail feathers are prolonged as bristles) (117). 11. The Hornbills (121 and 122). 12. The Cuckoos (128-130). 13. The Crow-pheasant (131). 14. The Large Indian Paroquet (132). 15. The Rose-ringed Paroquet (133). 16. The Western Blossom-headed Paroquet (134). 17. The Peacock (170). In this species it is not the tail, but the upper tail coverts which are elongated. 18. The Pheasant-tailed Jaçana (in breeding plumage) (182). 19. Terns (202-204).

3. Birds with a very short tail

1. The Nuthatches (23 and 24). 2. The Munias (74-79). (Fairly short). 3. The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (105). 4. The Indian Pitta (109). 5. The Woodpeckers (110 and 111). (Fairly short.) 6. The Barbets (113 and 114). 7. The Kingfishers (118-120). 8. The Common Indian Swift (124). 9. The Spotted Owlet (135). 10. The Scops Owl (138). 11. The Vultures (140-142). (Fairly short.) 12. The Common Quail (171). 13. The Partridges (172 and 173). 14. The White-breasted Water-hen (174). 15. The Purple Coot (175). 16. The Coot (176). 17. The Plovers (185 and 186). 18. The Avocet (188). 19. The Black-tailed Godwit (191). 20. The Sandpipers (192-194). 21. The Little Stint (195). 22. The Pelicans (207 and 208). 23. The Cormorants (209-211). 24. The Ibises (212-214). 25. The Spoonbill (215). 26. The Egrets (223). 27. The Paddy Bird (224). 28. The Night Heron (225). 29. The Common Flamingo (226). 30. The Geese (227 and 228). 31. The Ducks (229 and 230). 32. The Little Grebe (231). (No tail at all.)

4. Birds in which a part of the tail feathers are prolonged beyond the rest as bristles

(a) Median pair prolonged

1. (Cock) Tailor Bird (in hot weather). 2. The Bee-eaters (116 and 117).

(b) Outer pair prolonged

1. The Larger Racket-tailed Drongo (27). (The web reappears at the tip, so as to form a disc at the terminal part of the feather.) 2. The Wire-tailed Swallow.

V. SEXUAL DIMORPHISM

Birds in which the sexes differ greatly in appearance

1. The Common Iora (13). 2. The Minivets (39-41). 3. The Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike (42). 4. The Orioles (44 and 45). 5. The Rose-coloured Starling (48). 6. The Indian Paradise Flycatcher (57). 7. The Pied Bush Chats (61 and 62). 8. The Indian Bush Chat (63). 9. The Indian Redstart (65). 10. The Indian Robins (66 and 67). 11. The Magpie Robin (68). 12. The Shama (69). 13. The Weaver Birds (70-73). (In breeding season only.) 14. The Indian Red Munia (79). (Particularly in breeding season.) 15. The Common Rose-Finch (80). 16. The Common Sparrow (82). 17. The Buntings (84 and 85). 18. The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (105). 19. The Sunbirds (106-108). 20. The Koel (130). 21. The Blossom-headed Paroquet (134). 22. The Harriers (153-157). 23. The Red Turtle Dove (169). 24. The Common Peafowl (170). 25. The Black Partridge (172). 26. The Shoveller (230). (In breeding plumage.)

C. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO COLOUR

I. Black. II. Blue. III. Brown. IV. Coffee or fawn colour. V. Green. VI. Grey. VII. Pink. VIII. Red. IX. White. X. Yellow. XI. Birds of many colours.

Colour affords the easiest means of identifying the great majority of birds, but in many cases the colours displayed, although conspicuous and easily recognised, are not of a nature to admit of strict classification. Take, for example, the blues—various species display almost every known shade from slaty grey to turquoise, from purple to ultramarine and indigo. To attempt to distinguish in the lists between the many shades of blue would have led to inevitable confusion. I have, therefore, divided my blues into bright blue, dark blue, and slaty blue. My method is probably inartistic, but it will, I hope, facilitate the task of identification.

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