THE COMMON BIRDS OF BANGALORE

Corvus splendens Corvus macrorhynchos

House Crow Jungle Crow
Both these Crow species are widespread and common.
They are easily distinguished from each other by their
colouration.

Milvus migrans Haliastur indus

Black Kite (Pariah Kite) Brahminy Kite
The Black Kite is a widespread and common scavenger. The
Brahminy Kite is usually seen close to water. Immature
Brahminy Kites can look like Black Kites but lack a forked tail
and have a lighter coloured beak.

Acridotheres tristis Acridotheres fuscus

Common Myna Jungle Myna
The Mynas are commonly seen in open areas most often on
the ground, as they search for insects. The Jungle Myna is
recognized by a tuft of feathers at the forehead and lacks the
Common Myna’s yellow patch behind the eye.

Passer domesticus
House Sparrow
This finch is closely associated with humans and is usually
seen nesting in buildings. This bird is on the decline in
Bangalore and is commoner on the outskirts. The female is
duller coloured and without the black throat patch.

Eudynamys scolopacea
Asian Koel
This cuckoo is noisy during its breeding season which
largely coincides with that of the House Crow in whose nest
it lays its egg. The female is speckled, while the male is
black with ruby-red eyes. They are fruit eaters and are
regularly seen at Singapore Cherry trees.

Psittacula krameri
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Another common city-dweller, this Parakeet is usually seen
in flocks. Flocks can be seen flying in into the city in the
evenings to roost. They visit fields and fruit-gardens in and
around the city.

Columba livia
Blue Rock-Pigeon
A very widespread bird, originally a resident of cliffs, that has
taken to life on tall buildings all over the world. Many colour
variants may be noticed.

Illustrations are not to scale and colours may be exaggerated.

 THE COMMON BIRDS OF BANGALORE
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Megalaima viridis Megalaima haemacephala

White-cheeked Barbet Coppersmith Barbet
(Small Green Barbet) (Crimsonbreasted Barbet)
The Barbets are stout-billed fruit-eating birds that chisel out
tree trunks to construct their nest holes. The Small Green
Barbet has a familiar ‘kotroo-kotroo’ call and is more
widespread than the smaller Crimsonbreasted Barbet. The
Small Green Barbet is often seen at Singapore Cherry trees.
The Coppersmith Barbet is named after its repeated single
note ‘tonk’ call that sounds like metal being beaten. It is often
seen calling from atop an exposed tree branch.

Merops orientalis
Green Bee-eater
Usually seen perched on electric wires or fences in small
groups. This bird can be seen sallying out and capturing
insects on the wing and returning to hit the insect on the
perch before swallowing them.
Upupa epops
Common Hoopoe
A brightly patterned bird of open areas usually seen walking
on the ground. It nests in pre-existing tree or building
hollows. It is named after its low ‘hoo-poo-poo’ call. This bird
is possibly on the decline in Bangalore but still seen in the
outskirts.

Streptopelia chinensis
Spotted Dove
A slim relative of the pigeon with a longish tail and a ‘kuturr-
koo-koo-koo’ call. This bird can often be seen on wires,
buildings and on the ground. They often nest in gardens,
building a thin platform of twigs inside a low bush or creeper.

Alcedo atthis Halcyon smyrnensis

Common Kingfisher White-throated Kingfisher
(Small Blue Kingfisher) (Whitebreasted Kingfisher)
The White-throated Kingfisher is myna sized and is often
seen away from water often perched on electric wires in
open areas. The Small Blue Kingfisher is just a little larger
than a sparrow and is seen near water. It is often spotted as
it rapidly flies close to the water surface. This tiny Kingfisher
can be found at the Sankey, Lalbagh and Hebbal lakes.

Ceryle rudis
Lesser Pied Kingfisher
A Myna-sized kingfisher usually spotted hovering over water
hunting for its prey and dropping into the water to catch. Can
be observed at the Lalbagh, Hebbal and Sankey tanks.

Dicrurus macrocercus (Dicrurus adsimilis)

Black Drongo
A distinctive all black bird with a forked tail. This
insectivorous bird is seen in open areas and often
accompanies grazing livestock. Commonly seen in the
outskirts of Bangalore.

Illustrations are not to scale and colours may be exaggerated.

 THE COMMON BIRDS OF BANGALORE
3

Coracias benghalensis
Indian Roller
A fairly common crow-sized bird often seen perched on
electric wires and posts in open areas. In flight it reveals
several shades of blue and ultramarine. Commonly seen off
the roads in the outskirts of Bangalore.
Elanus caeruleus
Black-shouldered Kite (Blackwinged Kite)
A crow-sized bird of prey that is seen in open areas. Hovers
low over the ground with shallow wing beats as it looks for
prey. Seen in the outskirts of Bangalore.

Porphyrio porphyrio
Purple Waterhen(Purple Moorhen)
A waterside bird that lives on aquatic vegetation. Seen in
groups often on the shores of water-hyacinth covered lakes.
The lake inside the Lalbagh botanical gardens is a good
place to observe them.
Fulica atra
Common Coot
A black duck-like waterbird that is seen in open waters. The
Lalbagh and Hebbal lakes are good places to observe them.

Tachybaptus ruficollis (Podiceps ruficollis)

Little Grebe (Dabchick)
This small bird is seen in open waters and has the
characteristic habit of diving underwater and surfacing some
distance away. Can be observed at the Lalbagh Lake.

Vanellus indicus Vanellus malarbaricus

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)
Yellow-wattled Lapwing
Lapwings are ground birds usually seen in open stony
ground and grasslands. The Red-wattled Lapwing is larger,
often seen close to water and has a distinctive ‘did-he-do-it’
alarm call. The Yellow-wattled Lapwing has a ‘tee-yew’ call.

Accipiter badius
Shikra
This pigeon-sized bird is the commonest hawk. It has short
rounded wings and flies with fast wing beats alternated with
short glides. It preys on lizards, squirrels and small birds.

Neophron percnopterus
Egyptian Vulture
Larger than a Kite and with a wedge-shaped tail showing in
flight as it glides in a thermal. This black and white bird is the
commonest vulture in the Bangalore area.
Athene brama
Spotted Owlet
The commonest night bird of Bangalore. The chuckling-
cackling call of this species can be heard at dusk and dawn.
They roost by day in the hollows of trees and sometimes
seen catching termites under streetlights.
Illustrations are not to scale and colours may be exaggerated.
 THE COMMON BIRDS OF BANGALORE
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Phalacrocorax niger
Little Cormorant
A large waterbird often seen swimming in the water or drying
its outspread wings on the shore. This bird can be seen in
the deeper water bodies such as the Hebbal and Lalbagh
lakes.

Egretta garzetta
Little Egret
A tall white waterbird usually seen standing still by the shore
as it looks for its aquatic prey. The black legs with yellow
feet are characteristic. During the breeding season the
plumes at the back of the head are distinctive.
Ardea cinerea
Grey Heron
A tall waterbird seen at deeper and larger water-bodies. Can
be seen at the Lalbagh and Hebbal lakes.

Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret
Another white bird that is usually seen in flocks. It can be
seen following cattle. It can be seen in open areas and
grasslands and often close to water.
Ardeola grayii
Indian Pond-Heron
A medium sized waterbird that can be found even at small
ponds. This dull looking bird can be easily missed as it
stealthily stalks frogs, fish and insects. Its bright white wings
becomes very conspicuous when it is put to flight.

Apus affinis
House Swift
A small bird that spends most of its time flying, gliding and
whirling in small flocks high in the air. One flock can be seen
on M.G. Road nesting under the eaves of the Cauvery Arts
Emporium. The tail is square ended and the white rump is
distinctive.
Hirundo daurica
Red-rumped Swallow
Another bird that is found in the air most of the time and only
rarely seen perched on a wire. This small, agile flier can be
identified by its forked tail as it flies low over open areas to
catch flying insects.

Motacilla maderaspatensis
Large Pied Wagtail
A distinctive black and white bird that is seen sitting atop
water tanks, rooftops and near drains. They often nest on
top of buildings. Wags its tail up and down as it walks or runs
about catching insects.
Saxicola caprata
Pied Bushchat
A sparrow-sized bird often seen sitting on top of a bush in
dry open grassland and rocky areas. The female is all
brown. This bird nests in hollows in rocks and walls.
Illustrations are not to scale and colours may be exaggerated.
 THE COMMON BIRDS OF BANGALORE
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Saxicoloides fulicata Copsychus saularis

Indian Robin Oriental Magpie-Robin
Similar in size and appearance but the reddish vent is
distinctive in the Indian Robin. The Indian Robin is usually
seen in dry, rocky and open country while the Magpie-Robin
is seen in well-wooded garden and forest.

Sturnus pagodarum
Brahminy Starling (Brahminy Myna)
Smaller than a Common Myna, this bird is seen in flocks in
open areas often close to water. The loose cap of black
feathers is distinctive.

Pycnonotus jocosus Pycnonotus cafer

Red-whiskered Bulbul Red-vented Bulbul
Bulbuls are birds of scrub and garden land. Both have red
vents but the Red-whiskered is larger with a more
pronounced crest and whitish underside. Commoner in the
scrub areas in the outskirts but can also be seen in the heart
of the city. The Red-whiskered is common in the Nandi hills
and Bannerghatta areas.
Centropus sinensis
Greater Coucal
This non-parasitic cuckoo family is larger than a crow and is
often seen walking on the ground. It has a hollow ’coop-
coop’ call. They are found in areas with good undergrowth
and vegetation. They prey on lizards, fledglings and eggs.

Turdoides affinis
Pale-capped Babbler (Whiteheaded Babbler)
A dove-sized bird of gardens and open areas with the habit
of flying about in groups of 6 to 10. They make shrill calls as
they hop about on the ground and move through foliage.
With their short rounded wings they are weak fliers.

Parus major
Great Tit
Slightly smaller than a sparrow, this bird is seen in gardens
and scrub lands. It nests in tree-hollows and sometimes in
telephone poles and electric switch boxes. Can often bee
seen hanging upside down as it searches for insects in
foliage.

Prinia socialis Orthotomus sutorius

Ashy Prinia Common Tailorbird
(Ashy Wren-Warbler)
Common garden birds smaller than a sparrow but with long
tails that are usually held upright. Both of them nest among
garden plants by binding leaves with cobwebs. In residential
areas, the Ashy Prinia is the commoner species.

Illustrations are not to scale and colours may be exaggerated.

 THE COMMON BIRDS OF BANGALORE
6

Zosterops palpebrosus (Zosterops palpebrosa)

Oriental White-eye
Smaller than a sparrow, this bird is seen in small groups in
well-wooded localities. Has a quiet, low-pitched ‘cheer’
contact call that is distinctive. The white ring around the eye
gives it its name. They feed on insects as well as nectar.

Dicaeum erythrorynchos
Tickell's Flowerpecker
This is the smallest bird in the Bangalore area. It is plain light
olive brown with a pinkish bill. It is most commonly seen at
fruit trees. The Singapore Cherry Tree is a favourite of this
species.

Nectarinia zeylonica Nectarinia asiatica

Purple-rumped Sunbird Purple Sunbird
These tiny nectar feeding birds are seen in parks and
gardens with flowering trees and shrubs. The females of
both species are dull olive green above and yellowish on the
underside. The colours of the males of both species are
clear only in good light and at close range.

The illustrations and descriptions are just rough tips for

identifying these common species of birds in Bangalore. The
species listed here occur throughout the year and are known
to breed in Bangalore. In spite of their being common, very
little is known about their lives, habits and distributions and a
lot remains to be learnt.

The Birdwatchers’ Field Club of Bangalore is an informal

group of birdwatchers. Interested persons can join the group
outings held on the second Sunday of every month. The
group meets at the Lalbagh Glass House at 7.30 AM.

You can also join an email discussion group by sending a

blank email to
bngbirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

This document was created in November 2001

by L. Shyamal < muscicapa @ yahoo.com >

Illustrations are not to scale and colours may be exaggerated.