5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - RED WATTLED LAPWING (Vanellus indicus)

The Red-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus, is a striking bird with a robust build, approximately 35 cm in length. Its upperparts are a light brown with a sheen that can appear purple or green, while the head and neck boast a contrasting black. A white patch extends from the underbelly and tail, along the neck, and up to the sides of the crown. The tail is short with a black tip. Notably, it sports a red fleshy wattle before each eye, a red bill with a black tip, and long yellow legs. In flight, one can observe the distinctive white wing bars.

When identifying the Red-wattled Lapwing, look for the characteristic red wattles in front of the eyes, the black-tipped red bill, and the yellow legs. The white wing bars are particularly visible in flight. Males and females are similar in appearance, though males may have slightly longer wings.

This lapwing favors well-watered open landscapes, such as ploughed fields, grazing lands, and the peripheries of tanks and puddles. It is also known to inhabit forest clearings near rain-filled depressions.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - BARONET BUTTERFLY (Euthalia nais)

Symphaedra nais, also known as the baronet, is a species of Nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia. It was formerly included in the genus Euthalia but it is a sister to members of the genus Bassarona.

It is widely found in India and Sri Lanka. In India its distribution ranges from lower Himalayas to southern India.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - RED WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus)

The red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), or crested bulbul, is a passerine bird native to Asia. It is a member of the bulbul family. It is a resident frugivore found mainly in tropical Asia. It has been introduced in many tropical areas of the world where populations have established themselves. It has a loud three or four note call, feeds on fruits and small insects and perches conspicuously on trees. It is common in hill forests and urban gardens.

The red-whiskered bulbul is about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length. It has brown upper-parts and whitish underparts with buff flanks and a dark spur running onto the breast at shoulder level. It has a tall pointed black crest, red face patch and thin black moustachial line. The tail is long and brown with white terminal feather tips, but the vent area is red. Juveniles lack the red patch behind the eye, and the vent area is rufous-orange.[citation needed]

An albino red-whiskered bulbul has also been recorded.

The loud and evocative call is a sharp kink-a-joo (also transcribed as pettigrew or kick-pettigrew or pleased to meet you) and the song is a scolding chatter. They are more often heard than seen, but will often perch conspicuously especially in the mornings when they call from the tops of trees. The life span is about 11 years.

This is a bird of lightly wooded areas, more open country with bushes and shrubs, and farmland. Irruptions have been noted from early times with Thomas C. Jerdon noting that they were "periodically visiting Madras and other wooded towns in large flocks."

It has established itself in Australia and in Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Florida in the United States, as well as in Mauritius, on Assumption Island and Mascarene Islands. In Florida, it is only found in a small area, and its population could be extirpated easily. It was eradicated from Assumption Island in 2013–2015 to prevent colonisation of nearby Aldabra, the largest introduced bird-free tropical island.

The red-whiskered bulbul was introduced by the Zoological and Acclimatization Society in 1880 to Sydney, became well established across the suburbs by 1920, and continued to spread slowly to around 100 km away. It is now also found in suburban Melbourne and Adelaide, although it is unclear how they got there.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - WHITE BELLIED TREEPIE (Dendrocitta leucogastra)

The white-bellied treepie (Dendrocitta leucogastra) is a bird of the crow family endemic to the forests of southern India. They overlap in distribution in some areas with the rufous treepie but are easy to tell apart both from appearance and call.

The white of the head and body makes it easy to distinguish from the sympatric rufous treepie. This tends to be found in more dense forest and is less associated with human habitation than the rufous treepie. The white-bellied treepie is 48 cm (19 in) long. The back of the neck is white, and the throat and breast are black. The thighs are black, and the undertail coverts are chestnut. The rest of the underparts is white. The back is chestnut-brown. The wings are black and have a white patch. The rump is white. Two-thirds of the two central tail feathers are silver-grey, and the terminal third is black. The other tail feathers are black. The beak is black, and the legs are greyish-black.

It is found in the forests of the Western Ghats mainly south of Goa. A record from Erimalai near Dharmapuri and reports from the Surat Dangs and the southeastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh stand outside its main distribution range. A record from central India (Chikalda, Gawilgarh) has been questioned.

The white-bellied treepie eats fruits, seeds, nectar, invertebrates, reptiles, rodents, nestlings and eggs. When calling, the bird bows and droops its wings. Several birds may arrive at one tree and call repeatedly during the pre-monsoon breeding season (mainly April–May but some nests from February). The nest is a platform of twigs on a medium-sized tree. Three eggs are laid, ashy grey with green and grey blotches.

It is associated with mixed-species foraging flocks and is often found along with greater racket-tailed drongos.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - GREATER FLAMEBACK WOODPECKER (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus)

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - CHESTNUT HEADED BEE-EATER (Merops leschenaulti)

The chestnut-headed bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti), or bay-headed bee-eater, is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and adjoining regions, ranging from India east to Southeast Asia.

This species, like other bee-eaters, is a richly coloured, slender bird. It is predominantly green, with blue on the rump and lower belly. Its face and throat are yellow with a black eye stripe, and the crown and nape are rich chestnut. The thin curved bill is black. Sexes are alike, but young birds are duller.

This species is 18–20 cm long; it lacks the two elongated central tail feathers possessed by most of its relatives.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - BRAHMINY STARLING (Sturnia pagodarum)

The brahminy starling or brahminy myna (Sturnia pagodarum) is a member of the starling family of birds. It is usually seen in pairs or small flocks in open habitats on the plains of the Indian subcontinent.

It is a resident breeder in Nepal and India, a winter visitor to Sri Lanka and a summer visitor in parts of the western and northeastern Himalayas. They are spotted in the plains of Pakistan as well. They have musical call notes that are long, made up of a series of slurred notes that end abruptly. Although mainly seen on the plains, there are a few records from above 3,000m, mainly from Ladakh.

This passerine is typically found in dry forest, scrub jungle and cultivation and is often found close to human habitations. They especially favour areas with waterlogged or marshy lands.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - BRAZILIAN SNAPDRAGON (Matourea azurea)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1454255-Matourea-azurea

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - LESSER ADJUTANT (Leptoptilos javanicus)

The lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus ) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. Like other members of its genus, it has a bare neck and head. It is however more closely associated with wetland habitats where it is solitary and is less likely to scavenge than the related greater adjutant. It is a widespread species found from India through Southeast Asia to Java.

A large stork with an upright stance, a bare head and neck without a pendant pouch, it has a length of 87–93 cm (34–37 in) (outstretched from bill-to-tail measurement), weighs from 4 to 5.71 kg (8.8 to 12.6 lb) and stands about 110–120 cm (43–47 in) tall. The only confusable species is the greater adjutant, but this species is generally smaller and has a straight upper bill edge (culmen), measuring 25.8–30.8 cm (10.2–12.1 in) in length, with a paler base and appears slightly trimmer and less hunch-backed. 

The skullcap is paler and the upper plumage is uniformly dark, appearing almost all black. The nearly naked head and neck have a few scattered hair-like feathers. The upper shank or tibia is grey rather than pink, the tarsus measures 22.5–26.8 cm (8.9–10.6 in). The belly and undertail are white. Juveniles are a duller version of the adult but have more feathers on the nape. During the breeding season, the face is reddish and the neck is orange. The larger median wing coverts are tipped with copper spots and the inner secondary coverts and tertials have narrow white edging. The wing chord measures 57.5–66 cm (22.6–26.0 in) in length. Like others in the genus, they retract their necks in flight. In flight, the folded neck can appear like the pouch of the greater adjutant. Males and females appear similar in plumage but males tend to be larger and heavier billed. 

The lesser adjutant is often found in large rivers and lakes within well-wooded regions, freshwater wetlands in agricultural areas, and coastal wetlands, including mudflats and mangroves.

This widespread species is found from India through Southeast Asia to Java. It is mainly distributed in the eastern states of India, such as Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar, and is extremely rare in southern India. In Sri Lanka, it is found in lowland areas largely within protected areas, as well as in forested wetlands and crop fields.

The lesser adjutant is a solitary bird, except during the breeding season when it forms loose colonies. It stalks around wetlands, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, reptiles, large invertebrates, rodents, small mammals, and occasionally carrion. It locates prey visually, sometimes perching on high vantage points to scan for food. The bird is largely silent but may clatter its bill, hiss, and moan at the nest. Courtship involves a "Balancing Posture" with bill-clattering, and during the "Arching display," adults extend their neck and may emit a hoarse wail.

5-3-2020 KANHA NAT PARK, INDIA - EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops)

The Eurasian hoopoe, with its scientific name Upupa epops, is a bird of unmistakable appearance. It boasts a warm cinnamon plumage, contrasted by striking black and white wings, and a prominent black-tipped, fan-like crest which it can raise and lower. Its tail features a broad white band across a black background. The hoopoe's long, narrow bill curves downwards, adept for probing the soil, and is black with a fawn base.

When identifying the Eurasian hoopoe, look for its unique silhouette, characterized by its long, tapering bill and erectile crest. In flight, its broad and rounded wings display a bold black and white pattern, and its undulating flight is reminiscent of a large butterfly. The hoopoe's size ranges from 25 to 32 cm in length, with a wingspan of 44 to 48 cm, and it weighs between 46 and 89 grams.

The hoopoe is adaptable, favoring habitats with bare or lightly vegetated ground for foraging and vertical surfaces with cavities for nesting. These can include heathlands, wooded steppes, savannas, grasslands, and forest glades.

This species is native to Europe, Asia, and the northern half of Africa. It is migratory in the northern parts of its range, with European and north Asian birds wintering in the tropics. African populations tend to be sedentary throughout the year.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia)

The common iora (Aegithina tiphia) is a small passerine bird found across the tropical Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with populations showing plumage variations, some of which are designated as subspecies. A species found in scrub and forest, it is easily detected from its loud whistles and the bright colours. During the breeding season, males display by fluffing up their feathers and spiral in the air appearing like a green, black, yellow, and white ball.

Ioras have a pointed and notched beak with a culmen that is straight. The common iora is sexually dimorphic, males in the breeding season have a black cap and back adding to a black wing and tail at all seasons. Females have greenish wings and an olive tail. The undersides of both are yellow and the two white bars on the wings of the male are particularly prominent in their breeding plumage. The males in breeding plumage have a very variable distribution of the black on the upperparts and can be confused with Marshall's iora, however, the latter always has white tips to the tail. The nominate subspecies is found along the Himalayas and males of this population are very similar to females or have only a small amount of black on the crown. In northwestern India, septentrionalis is brighter yellow than others and in the northern plains of India humei males in breeding plumage have a black cap and olive on the upper mantle. In southwestern India and Sri Lanka multicolor has the breeding males with a jet black cap and mantle. The forms in the rest of southern India are intermediate between multicolor and humei with more grey-green on the rump (formerly considered as deignani but now used for the Burmese population).

Ioras forage in trees in small groups, gleaning among the branches for insects. They sometimes join mixed species feeding flocks. The call is a mixture of churrs, chattering and whistles, and the song is a trilled wheeeee-tee. They may sometimes imitate the calls of other birds such as drongos.

During the breeding season, mainly after the monsoons, the male performs an acrobatic courtship display, darting up into the air fluffing up all his feathers, especially those on the pale green rump, then spiralling down to the original perch. Once he lands, he spreads his tail and droops his wings. Two to four greenish white eggs are laid in a small and compact cup-shaped nest made out of grass and bound with cobwebs and placed in the fork of a tree. Both male and female incubate and eggs hatch after about 14 days. Nests predators include snakes, lizards, crow-pheasant and crows. Nests may also be brood-parasitized by the banded bay cuckoo.

Ioras moult twice in a year and the plumage variation makes them somewhat complicated for plumage based separation of the populations.

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - BROWN CAPPED WOODPECKER (Yungipicus nanus)

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - MALABAR BARBET (Psilopogon malabaricus)

The Malabar barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) is an Asian barbet native to the Western Ghats in India. It was formerly treated as a race of the crimson-fronted barbet (Psilopogon rubricapillus). It overlaps in some places with the range of the coppersmith barbet (Psilopogon haemacephala) and has a similar but more rapid call.

This species can be told apart from the coppersmith barbet by the crimson face and throat. The call notes are more rapidly delivered than in the other species.

This species is found in the Western Ghats from around Goa south to southern Kerala in moist evergreen forest mainly below 1200 m elevation. They are also found in coffee estates. They often visit fruiting Ficus species, joining flocks of green pigeon and mynas.

These birds are usually seen in pairs during the breeding season but are gregarious in the non-breeding season. In flight, their straight and rapid flight can resemble that of lorikeets. The breeding season is mainly February–March prior to the rains. The nest hole is excavated on the underside of thin branches. It takes about 18 days to excavate the nest. These nest holes are often destroyed by larger barbets that may attempt to enlarge the hole. 

A nest is made each year. Multiple holes may be made and any extra hole may be used for roosting. Two eggs are laid in a clutch. They are incubated for 14 to 15 days. Eggs may be preyed upon by palm squirrels (Funambulus sp.) and they are usually chased away by the adult birds. Unhatched eggs are removed by the parents. For the first week the chicks are fed insects after which they are fed fruits. The chicks fledge in about 35 days.

The species feeds mainly on fruits but sometimes takes grubs, termites (flycatching at emerging swarms of alates), ants and small caterpillars. In Kerala, the fruiting trees were limited mainly to Ficus species, especially Ficus retusa, Ficus gibbosa and Ficus tsiela. When feeding on small fruits, they tend to perch and peck rather than to swallow the fruit whole. In the non-breeding season, they join mixed-species foraging flocks.

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - WHITE CHEEKED BARBET (Psilopogon viridis)

The white-cheeked barbet or small green barbet (Psilopogon viridis) is a species of Asian barbet found in southern India. It is very similar to the more widespread brown-headed barbet (or large green barbet, Psilopogon zeylanicus), but this species has a distinctive supercilium and a broad white cheek stripe below the eye and is found in the forest areas of the Western Ghats, parts of the Eastern Ghats and adjoining hills. The brown-headed barbet has an orange eye-ring but the calls are very similar and the two species occur together in some of the drier forests to the east of the Western Ghats. Like all other Asian barbets, they are mainly frugivorous (although they may sometimes eat insects), and use their bills to excavate nest cavities in trees.

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - YELLOW BROWED BULBUL (Iole indica)

The yellow-browed bulbul (Acritillas indica), or golden-browed bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found in the forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. The yellow-browed bulbul is mainly yellow on the underside and olive above with a distinct yellow brow. They are easily located by their loud calls but tend to skulk within foliage below the forest canopy. While its taxonomic classification has changed over time, it is currently the sole species within the monotypic genus Acritillas which is closely related to Hemixos.

The yellow-browed bulbul has been considered as the wet-zone counterpart of the dry-zone white-browed bulbul. It is found mainly below the forest canopy of the hill forests and plantations in the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. They also occur in parts of the Eastern Ghats including the Kolli hills, Nallamalas and parts of Tirupathi and Mamandur regions in Andhra Pradesh.

Behaviour and ecology

Yellow-browed bulbuls are found in pairs or small groups and call loudly. They feed mainly on berries and insects. The breeding season is during the dry spell before the monsoons, mainly January to May. The nest is a cup built in a low fork covered with moss and cobwebs on the outside, giving the appearance of a large white-eye nest, and lined with fine root fibres. The typical clutch size in India is three eggs and in Sri Lanka two. A study of 153 nests in Silent Valley National Park of India found 92% of nests had two eggs. Peak breeding in the Silent Valley National Park of Kerala was found in January and February. About a week is taken for building the nest and the eggs are incubated for about 13 days. The eggs are pale pink or white with reddish brown speckling. The eggs hatch synchronously and the nestlings fledge after about 13 days. Nestlings are fed with caterpillars, soft insects and berries.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - HEART SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Hemicircus canente)

The heart-spotted woodpecker (Hemicircus canente) is a species of bird in the woodpecker family. It has a contrasting black and white plumage, a distinctively stubby body and a large wedge-shaped head making it easy to identify while its frequent calling make it easy to detect as it forage for invertebrates under the bark of the slender outer branches of trees. They move about in pairs or small groups and are often found in mixed-species foraging flocks. They have a wide distribution across Asia with populations in the forests of southwestern and central India which are slightly separated from their ranges in the Himalayas and Southeast Asia.

A small, uniquely shaped, black and buff woodpecker with a large crest making the head look large for the short body and tail. Both males and females are predominantly black with heart-shaped black spots on white shoulders with broad white scapular patches and barring of flight feathers. The female has the forehead and crown buffy white while on males it is black with small white dots. The throat is whitish and the underparts are dark olive grey. A tuft of feathers on the back are specialized and are lipid rich which causes the feathers to stick together in preserved specimens. These special feathers or "fat quills" sometimes make the rump feathers appear buff and may be a form of "cosmetic colouration" and the secretion is said to have a pleasant smell but the functional significance is unknown.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. They are found in the Himalayan forests of India, and extend into Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Within India, they are also found in the Western Ghats and the forests of central India. A subspecies cordatus based on the description by Thomas C. Jerdon from a specimen from the Western Ghats is not considered distinct and the populations differ slightly in plumage colour and vary clinally in size (the northern birds being larger than those closer to the equator).

5-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - MALABAR FLAMEBACK WOODPECKER (FEMALE) (Chrysocolaptes socialis)

Key Facts About the Malabar Flameback:

Appearance: Both sexes are crested. Males have a bright red crest, while females have a black crest spotted with white. Their backs are golden-olive, the rump is crimson-red, and the underparts are white with a scalloped, brownish pattern.

Distinctive Features: It has a much larger bill compared to other flamebacks. It is often distinguished by its mottled black-and-white nape.

Habitat & Behavior: Restricted to the Western Ghats (Karnataka, Kerala), it inhabits evergreen and moist deciduous forests. It acts as a solitary bird or a loose participant in mixed-species foraging flocks.

Diet: They use their large, strong bills to probe and excavate dead wood, feeding primarily on wood-boring insect larvae.

Voice: Known for a loud, high-pitched trill.

Taxonomy: Previously considered a subspecies of the Greater Flameback (C. guttacristatus), it was separated based on distinct plumage and vocalizations. 

Differences from Similar Species:

Greater Flameback: The Malabar Flameback has a darker back, more red on the rump, and does not overlap in range with the Greater Flameback.

Common Flameback: The Malabar is larger and has a much thicker bill, compared to the smaller-billed Common Flameback.

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - CHOCOLATE PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia hedonia ssp. ida)

7-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - SRI LANKA FROGMOUTH (Batrachostomus moniliger)

The Sri Lanka frogmouth, Sri Lankan frogmouth or Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger) is a small frogmouth found in the Western Ghats of south India and Sri Lanka. Related to the nightjars, it is nocturnal and is found in forest habitats. The plumage coloration resembles that of dried leaves and the bird roosts quietly on branches, making it difficult to see. Each has a favourite roost that it uses regularly unless disturbed. It has a distinctive call that is usually heard at dawn and dusk. The sexes differ slightly in plumage.

This species is found in the Western Ghats of southwest India and Sri Lanka. Its habitat is tropical forest, usually with dense undergrowth. It can sometimes be found in more disturbed habitats, including plantations. Its presence may be overlooked due to its nocturnal behaviour and camouflage.

This bird reaches 23 centimetres (9.1 in) in length. Like all frogmouths, this species has a wide and hooked bill with slit-like nostrils and the large head with eyes facing forward to provide a wide field of binocular vision. Compared to others of its genus it has small wings, which are distinguished by the wing coverts ending in black spots tipped with white. The male is gray-brown with fine barring and a spotted crown. Some males are browner and look more similar to females. The female is more rufous or chestnut brown. Indian female birds have very fine black speckles on the crown but Sri Lankan females may lack or may have reduced markings. The bird also has short, stiff bristles in front of and surrounding the eyes. The Western Ghats population, ssp. roonwali (named after Mithan Lal Roonwal), looks very slightly different. The male has a brownish-grey wing mirror and yellowish spots on the undersides, compared to grey or white in the nominate Sri Lankan form. The female has a bright reddish-brown wing mirror and the wings are unspotted below.

This frogmouth is rarely seen during the day except at roost sites or when flushed. It regularly uses the same roost spot for months. When alarmed at its perch, it slowly moves its head, pointing its bill upward, and it can easily be mistaken for a jagged, broken branch. It relies on this crypsis and will often sit still a long time before making an escape. It may open its mouth wide in a threat display. Like its congeners, it feeds on insects, catching them in flight or gleaning them from the ground or tree branches. It is sometimes mobbed at its day roost by small songbirds. It is vocal at dusk, the call of the female being a loud, screechy "shkeerauuw" which drops in volume and ends is a series of hiccups. Another call is a series of rapid "skwar-skwar-skwar" which is produced by both male and female.

The breeding season in southern India is January to April, and in Sri Lanka February to March. The nest is a small pad made of moss lined with down and covered on the outside with lichens and bark. The bird incubates a single white egg, covering the nest and holding the tail flush with the tree, taking on the outline of a lichen-covered snag. The male often broods during the day, while both parents share the duty during the night. After the chick fledges, the male destroys the nest. The parents often use the same branch for multiple nestings. The juvenile may stay with the parents for a couple of months, huddling between them at the roost.

8-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus)

The bronzed drongo (Dicrurus aeneus) is a small Indomalayan bird belonging to the drongo group. They are resident in the forests of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They capture insects flying in the shade of the forest canopy by making aerial sallies from their perches. They are very similar to the other drongos of the region but are somewhat smaller and compact with differences in the fork depth and the patterns of gloss on their feathers.

This drongo is somewhat smaller than the black drongo and has more metallic gloss with a spangled appearance on the head, neck and breast. The lores are velvety and the ear coverts are duller. The tail is slender and well forked with the outer tail feathers flaring outward slightly. Immatures have their axillaries tipped in white. The young bird is duller and brownish with less spangling.

The nominate race is found in India and extending until the northern part of the Malay Peninsula. Specimens from southern India are however very similar in morphometrics to those from malayensis of Burma and the size variation may be clinal. The subspecies from China kwangsiensis is treated as synonymous with aeneus. Subspecies malayensis is found from Selangor south into, Sumatra and Borneo. Taiwan is home to braunianus in the mountains of the interior.

9-3-2020 PERIYAR RIVER LODGE, INDIA - RED WHISKERED BULBUL (Pycnonotus jocosus)

The red-whiskered bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus), or crested bulbul, is a passerine bird native to Asia. It is a member of the bulbul family. It is a resident frugivore found mainly in tropical Asia. It has been introduced in many tropical areas of the world where populations have established themselves. It has a loud three or four note call, feeds on fruits and small insects and perches conspicuously on trees. It is common in hill forests and urban gardens.

The red-whiskered bulbul is about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length. It has brown upper-parts and whitish underparts with buff flanks and a dark spur running onto the breast at shoulder level. It has a tall pointed black crest, red face patch and thin black moustachial line. The tail is long and brown with white terminal feather tips, but the vent area is red. Juveniles lack the red patch behind the eye, and the vent area is rufous-orange.[citation needed]

An albino red-whiskered bulbul has also been recorded.

22-3-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GEOMETER MOTH (Genus Dyscia)

Dyscia is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae (subfamily Ennominae), first described by Jacob Hübner in 1825. These moths are generally medium-sized, with a wingspan typically ranging from 28 to 42 mm. 

Here are key facts regarding the genus Dyscia:

Appearance and Characteristics

Coloration: Individuals range from pale grey or sandy beige to brownish-grey, often with numerous black spots or scales.

Wing Shape: A key identifier is the slightly concave outer margin of the forewings.

Physical Features: They lack a proboscis (tongue).

Distinct Species: While most are grey/beige, Dyscia nobiliaria is noted for its reddish coloration. 

Environment: They inhabit open moorland, heathland, peat bogs, limestone ground, macchia shrubland, and olive groves.

Activity: They are nocturnal, with both sexes often attracted to light.

Flight Period: Depending on the species and region, they can be found flying from January to December, with peak activity often in spring and summer (e.g., May to July for D. conspersaria). 

Diet and Life Cycle

Larval Foodplants: The larvae are oligophagous (feeding on a limited range of plants), primarily feeding on Fabaceae (Genista), Asteraceae (Artemisia, Achillea), Lamiaceae (Salvia), and Ericaceae (Calluna, Erica).

Overwintering: Species may overwinter as larvae, pupae, or adults. 

Taxonomy and Species

Species Count: There are approximately 19 recognized species within the genus.

21-3-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)

The great tit (Parus major) is a small passerine bird, easily recognized by its black head and neck, striking white cheeks, olive upperparts, and vibrant yellow underparts. This bird is the most widespread species in the genus Parus, found across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of North Africa.

Males are characterized by their bright plumage, with a black bib that extends down the belly, bordered by a lemon-yellow breast. Females and juveniles are similar but have duller coloration. The black line down the belly is also narrower and sometimes broken in these birds.

Great tits favor a variety of woodland habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, and even urban parks and gardens. They are also found in riverine woodlands and, in some regions, boreal taiga.

9-3-2020 PERIYAR RIVER LODGE, INDIA - RANGOON CREEPER (Combretum indicum)

9-3-2020 THATTEKAD, INDIA - DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis)

The Oriental dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) is a bird of the roller family, so named because of the distinctive pale blue or white, coin-shaped spots on its wings. It can be found from Australia to Korea, Japan and India.

The oriental dollarbird is found from Australia to Japan and India. It breeds in northern and eastern Australia between the months of September and April and winters in New Guinea and nearby islands. The birds prefer open wooded areas with hollow-bearing trees to build nests in.

The oriental dollarbird is most commonly seen singly with a distinctive upright silhouette on a bare branch high in a tree, from which it hawks for insects, returning to the same perch after a few seconds.

The oriental dollarbird has a length of up to 30 cm. It is dark brown but this is heavily washed with a bluish-green sheen on the back and wing coverts. Its belly and undertail coverts are light coloured, and it has glossy bright blue colouring on its throat and undertail. Its flight feathers are a darker blue. Its bill is short and wide and in mature animals is coloured orange-red with a black tip. It has very light blue patches on the outer parts of its wings which are highly visible in flight and for which it is named. The females are slightly duller than the males but overall the two are very similar. Immature birds are much duller than the adults and do not have the blue colouring on their throats. They also have brown bills and feet instead of the red of the adults.