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BUCEROS 


ENVIS  Newsletter:  Avian  Ecology  & Inland  Wetlands 

VoL  10,  No,  1 (2005) 
QL 

698,95 

Annotated  avifauna  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris, 

Western  Ghats,  Tamil  Nadu,  India 


Ashfaq  Ahmed  Zarri  and  Asad  R.  Rahmaei 


ENVIS 


ENVIS  (Environmental  Information  System)  is  a network  of  subject  specific  nodes  located 
in  various  institutions  throughout  the  country.  The  Focal  Point  of  the  present  25  ENVIS 
centres  in  India  is  at  the  Ministry  of  Environment  and  Forests,  New  Delhi,  which  further 
serves  as  the  Regional  Service  Centre  (RCS)  for  INFOTERRA,  the  global  information 
network  of  the  United  Nations  Environment  Programme  (UNEP)  to  cater  to  environment 
information  needs  in  the  South  Asian  sub-region.  The  primary  objective  of  all  ENVIS 
centres  is  to  collect,  collate,  store  and  disseminate  environment  related  information  to 
various  user  groups,  including  researchers,  policy  planners  and  decision  makers. 

The  ENVIS  Centre  at  the  Bombay  Natural  Flistory  Society  was  set  up  in  June  1996  to 
serve  as  a source  of  information  on  Avian  Ecology  and  Inland  Wetlands. 


ENVIS  TEAM  AT  THE  BNHS 

Centre-in-Charge 

Mr.  J.C.  Daniel 

Project  Coordinator 

: Dr.  Asad  R.  Rahmani 

Scientist-in-Charge 

: Mr.  Girish  Jathar 

Information  Officer 

: Mr.  Sujit  Narwade 

Editorial  Adviser 

: Dr.  Gayatri  Ugra 

Citation:Zarri,  A.A.  &A.  R.  Rahmani  (2005). 

Annotated  avifauna  of  the  Upper  Niigiris,  Western  Ghats,  Tamil  Nuda,  India. 

Suceros  10  (1):  1-46. 

CoverNilgiri  Wood-Pigeon  Columba  elphinstonIHroro  Gould,  John,  1850  - 1883 
The  Birds  of  Asia.  London:  Published  by  The  author. 

Cover  design  and  page  layout:  Mr.  Gopi  Naidu,  BNHS. 

© 2005:  All  rights  reserved.  This  publication  shall  not  be  reproduced  either  in  full  or 

in  part  in  any  form,  either  in  print  or  electronic  or  any  other  medium,  without  the  prior  written 

permission  of  the  Bombay  Natural  History  Society. 


Bombay  Natural  History  Society,  Hornbill  House,  S B.  Singh  Road,  Mumbai  400  023,  Maharashtra,  India. 
Tel.:  (91-22)  2282  1811,  Fax:  (91-22)  2283  7615 
E-mail:  envisbnhs@vsnl.net  Website:  vww.envisbnhs.org 


BUCEROS 

ENVIS  Newsletter:  Avian  Ecology  & Inland  Wetlands 

Vol.  10,  No.l  (2005) 

Annotated  avifauna  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris, 
Western  Ghats,  India 

A§hfaq  Ahmed  Zarri  and  Asad  R.  Rahmani 


2005 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


CONTENTS 

Foreword i 

Acknowledgement i 

Summary iii 

Introduction 1-2 

Study  Area 

The  Nilgiri  Hills 2-5 

Mukurti  National  Park 6 

Vegetation  Types 6-7 

Methods  7-8 

Avifaunal  Composition  9-37 

References 38-42 

APPENDIX 43 

INDEX 44-46 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 


This  update  on  the  birds  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris  is  based  on  the  research  carried  out  under  the 
Ecology  of  Shola  and  Alpine  Grasslands  Project  from  2001  to  2004.  We  gratefully  acknowledge 
the  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  (USFWS)  for  financial  support  and  the  Ministry  of  Environment 
and  Forests  (MoEF),  Government  of  India  for  sponsorship.  We  are  particularly  thankful  to  Mr. 
David  Ferguson,  SFS  Coordinator  and  Prof.  Mark  Behan,  technical  advisor  of  the  project  for  their 
support  and  encouragement.  We  also  wish  to  thanks  our  colleagues  at  the  BNHS  for  their 
cooperation  and  discussions.  Ms.  Priya  Ghosh  at  the  U.S.  Embassy,  New  Delhi  helped  the  project 
on  various  occasions. 

Tamil  Nadu  Forest  Department  was  very  kind  in  giving  us  research  permission.  Wildlife 
Warden  of  Mukurti  National  Park  and  District  Forest  Officer  of  the  Nilgiris  North  and  South 
Forest  Division  and  their  staff  are  sincerely  acknowledged  for  their  help  during  our  field  work.  We 
acknowledge  the  support  of  the  Nilgiri  Wildlife  and  Environment  Association  (NWLEA).  Mrs. 
Geetha  Srinivasan,  Messers  Sounderrajan,  Vasu,  Gannapathy,  Mohanraj,  Francis,  Peter,  Ravi  and 
their  families  made  us  feel  at  home  in  the  Nilgiris.  Messers  Anil  Dharmapalan,  Radhakrishnan  and 
Vinod  at  the  Thiashola  Tea  Estate  are  thanked  for  their  hospitality  during  our  visits  to  Thiashola 
for  field  work. 

We  are  indebted  to  Ms.  Vibhuti  Dedhia  for  making  editorial  comments  on  the  first  draft.  Dr. 
Gayatri  Ugra's  editorial  comments  greatly  improved  this  reports,  we  are  grateful  to  them  for  their 
time  and  patience.  Thanks  to  Mr.  Gopi  Naidu  for  layout  and  formatting  of  this  document.  Dr.  S. 
Balachandran  is  thanked  for  help  during  bird  banding  in  the  Nilgiris.  We  warmly  acknowledge 
K.J.  Peeyus  Kutty,  Geetha  Nayak,  S.  Thejaswi  for  discussions,  comments  and  literature  support. 
Special  thanks  to  our  field  assistant  Velumani  and  drivers  Noor  Mohamed  and  Veluswami  for  their 
team  spirit,  discipline  and  working  far  beyond  the  call  of  duty. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


SUMMARY 

Although  excellent  bird  collections  have  been  amassed  from  the  Nilgiris  in  South  India,  and 
several  bird  surveys  have  been  conducted  since  the  late  nineteenth  century,  they  were  either 
focused  on  the  lower  elevations,  or  were  species  specific.  Bird  surveys  and  community  investigations 
in  the  higher  elevations  of  the  Nilgiris  are  few,  with  results  generally  unpublished  or  described  in 
travelogues.  A review  of  most  of  the  accessible  literature  on  the  avifauna  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris 
suggested  a gap  in  the  knowledge  on  the  status  of  different  birds.  Apparently  many  of  the  Indian 
birds  underwent  status  change  due  to  direct  or  indirect  impacts  of  the  increasing  human  population. 
The  Nilgiris  being  no  exception  bore  the  brunt  of  developmental  activities,  and  is  one  of  most 
exploited  hill  stations.  Several  threats  including  habitat  loss,  fragmentation,  and  excessive  use  of 
inorganic  fertilizers  and  pesticides  necessitated  the  documentation  of  the  current  composition  and 
status  of  birds  for  future  monitoring  and  conservation  action. 

Realising  this,  the  Bombay  Natural  History  Society  commissioned  a research  project,  with 
generous  funding  from  the  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service,  to  research  a range  of  issues  such  as 
the  ecology  of  grasslands,  bird  community  ecology,  autecology  of  some  threatened  bird  species 
and  impacts  of  invasive  species  on  the  grassland  ecosystem.  One  of  the  objectives  of  the  project 
was  to  document  the  composition  and  status  of  common  and  rare  birds.  During  the  course  of  this 
four  years  project,  observations  on  common  as  well  as  rare  birds  were  recorded  during  field  work 
for  any  of  the  other  research  objectives,  extensive  bird  surveys,  line  transects  monitoring,  daily 
travelling,  treks  and  bird  watching  trips.  This  report  is  the  compilation  of  bird  records  maintained 
in  our  field  diaries  between  2001  and  2004. 

In  the  course  of  this  study,  several  rare  and  uncommon  birds  were  recorded  and  their  status 
evaluated.  We  present  here  an  annotated  checklist  of  192  bird  species  for  the  upper  Nilgiris 
Plateau  (above  1,700  msl),  of  which  145  were  recorded  by  us  between  December  2000  and 
February  2004  and  47  were  recorded  by  other  authors.  The  species  list  also  includes  1 0 threatened 
birds,  five  recorded  during  this  study  and  five  recorded  by  other  authors  in  the  past.  Seven  Near 
Threatened  species  were  recorded,  including  four  during  this  study  and  three  by  other  authors.  A 
few  species  historically  known  to  be  very  common  have  either  declined  or  disappeared,  while 
some  that  were  uncommon  at  one  time  have  become  very  common  or  even  acquired  pest  status. 
Comparison  of  the  current  bird  status  with  existing  literature  indicates  a drastic  decline  in  the 
populations  of  wintering  snipes,  Eurasian  Woodcock  Scolopax  rusticola,  and  some  raptors,  and 
disappearance  of  four  vulture  species.  Threatened  species  and  Western  Ghats  endemic  birds 
such  as  the  Nilgiri  Laughingthrush  Garrulax  cachinnans.  White-bellied  Shortwing  Brachypteryx 
major  and  the  winter  visitor  Kashmir  Flycatcher  Ficedula  subrubra,  were  identified  to  be  at  risk 
on  account  of  habitat  loss  and  anthropogenic  pressures. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


Annotated  avifauna  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  Western  Ghats,  India 


INTRODUCTION 

Background 

This  issue  of  Buceros  is  based  on  the  research 
carried  out  under  the  Ecology  of  Shola  and  Alpine 
Grasslands  Project  from  2001  to  2004.  This  project 
was  the  last  phase  of  a series  of  ecological 
investigations  carried  out  by  the  Bombay  Natural 
History  Society  (BNHS)  on  different  grassland 
ecosystems  of  India.  The  first  phase  of  the  project 
funded  by  the  U.S.  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  started 
in  1 990  and  included  studies  on  six  different  grassland 
sites.  The  intensively  studied  grasslands  include  the 
wet  grasslands  ofTerai,  the  dry  grasslands  of  Banni 
in  Kutch,  semi-arid  grasslands  in  Solapur  and 
Rollapadu,  and  tropical  grasslands  in  Velavadar  and 
Dahod  in  Gujarat.  The  project  was  the  first  of  its 
kind  in  India  and  highlighted  the  need  for  habitat 
management  for  several  flagship  species  of  these 
grasslands  including  the  Great  Indian  Bustard 
{Ardeotis  nigriceps).  Lesser  Florican  (Sypheotides 
indica),  Swamp  Francolin  (Francolinus  gularis)  and 
the  Wolf  (Cams  lupus). 

The  project  contributed  infonnation  ranging  from 
biodiversity  inventories  to  intensive  ecological 
processes  such  as  bird  community  ecology  and 
autecology  of  threatened  mammal  and  bird  species 
dependent  on  grasslands.  The  project  advocated  the 
need  for  protecting  these  neglected  grassland 
ecosystems  and  outlined  practical  management 
priorities  for  their  long-term  conservation.  This  was 
achieved  by  publishing  the  research  findings  in 
journals,  and  articles  and  reports  in  national  and 
international  magazines  and  newsletters. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  first  phase  of  the  study, 
BNHS  realized  the  need  to  carry  out  similar 
investigations  on  the  alpine  grasslands  of  the  Sikkim 
Himalaya  and  Shola  grasslands  of  the  Western 
Ghats.  One  of  the  objectives  of  the  Shola  grasslands 


component  of  this  project  was  to  document  the  status 
and  composition  of  the  avifauna  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris 
Plateau.  This  document  is  one  of  the  various 
publications  that  aim  to  disseminate  the  findings  of 
our  project. 

Ornithological  explorations  in  the 
Upper  Nilgiris 

Since  the  nineteenth  century,  many  bird 
collections  and  surveys  listed  the  birds  of  the  Nilgiri 
hills.  Most  of  these  surveys  were  either  focused  on 
lower  elevations  or  were  not  intensive,  and  their 
records  generally  remained  unpublished  or  were 
described  in  travelogues  on  exploratory  visits.  Bird 
community  investigations  in  the  higher  elevations  of 
the  Nilgiris  were  scarce.  Davison  (1883)  provided 
perhaps  the  earliest  and  the  most  comprehensive 
account  of  the  birds  of  the  Nilgiris,  mainly  based  on 
his  personal  observations  and  bird  collections.  Cardew 
(1885)  provided  observations  on  some  species 
unrecorded  or  left  doubtful  by  Davison  ( 1 883).  Baker 
and  Inglis  ( 1 930)  provided  natural  history  observations 
on  several  Nilgiri  birds.  Betts  (1931)  recorded  the 
behaviour  and  status  of  bulbuls  of  the  Nilgiris  and 
other  birds.  Ali  ( 1 977)  highlighted  the  affinities  of  the 
Nilgiri  and  Himalayan  fauna,  including  the 
laughingthrushes. 

Ornithological  exploration  in  the  recent  decades 
focused  either  on  a single  species  or  bird  group.  For 
example,  Khan  (1979)  worked  on  the  ecology  of  the 
Black-and-Orange  Flycatcher  (Ficedula  nigrorufa). 
Islam  (1985)  investigated  the  ecology  and  behaviour 
of  the  Nilgiri  Laughingthrush  {Garrulax 
cachinnans).  Gokula  (1998)  studied  the  bird 
communities  of  the  thorn  and  dry  deciduous  forests 
of  Mudumalai  Wildlife  Sanctuary  in  the  lower 
elevations  of  the  Nilgiris.  Thirumurthi  and  Bal^i 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


(1999)  surveyed  raptors  in  Nilgiris  while  Vijayan  et 
al.  (2000)  conducted  a preliminary  status  survey  of 
theNilgiri  Laughingthrush.  Zarri  etal.  (2005)  conducted 
the  first  intensive  ecological  investigation  on  the  avifauna 
of  the  Nilgiris  and  reported  the  patterns  of  bird 
community,  guild  structure  and  their  habitat  utilization. 
Autecology  works  on  Nilgiri  Pipit  {Anthus  nilghiriemis) 
is  underway  since  2002  (Uma  Maheshwari  pers. 
comm.)  and  the  ecological  study  of  the  Nilgiri 
Laughingthrush  has  been  completed  by  Zarri  (in  prep.). 

Game  hunting  in  the  Nilgiris 

In  1 879,  theNilgiri  Game  and  Fish  Preservation 
Act,  the  first  game  law  in  India,  was  passed.  The 
Act  provided  for  closed  seasons,  protection  of  females 
and  immature  animals  on  government  lands  only,  and 
vested  in  the  Collector  of  the  district,  considerable 
powers  regarding  the  conditions  under  which  a licence 
to  shoot  might  be  issued. 

A shooting  licence  had  a fee  of  to  50  rupees 
and  entitled  the  holder  to  shoot  several  heads  of 
Sambar  Cervus  imicolor.  Spotted  Deer  Axis  axis, 
Nilgiri  Tahr  Hemitragus  hylocrius,  Gaur  Bos 
frontalis  and  Four-horned  antelope  Tetracerus 
quadricornis.  Small  game  included  wintering  snipes 
(Gallinago  nemoricola,  G.  stenura,  G.  gallinago, 
Lymnocryptes  minimus)  Eurasian  Woodcock,  Nilgiri 
Wood-pigeon  Columba  elphinstonii.  Grey 
Junglefowl  Gallus  sonneratii.  Red  Spurfowl 
Galloperdix  spadicea,  Painted  Spurfowl 
Galloperdix  lunulata,  Indian  Peafowl  Pavo 
cristatus.  Painted  Sandgrouse  Pterocles  indicus, 
Grey  Francolin  Francolinus  pondicerianus  and 
several  other  quail  varieties  (Phythian-Adams  1 927). 

The  Nilgiri  Game  Association  (presently  the 
Nilgiri  Wildlife  and  Environment  Association)  offered 
rewards  for  the  slaying  of  several  of  the  more 
destructive  of  the  falcon  family  and  also  of  the  Greater 
Coucal  (Centropus  sinensis),  and  a fair  number 
of  these  were  killed  annually.  In  1926  the  Nilgiri" 
Game  Association  decided  to  reintroduce  rewards 


for  the  destruction  of  vermin,  being  eight  rupees 
for  each  Hawk,  Greater  Coucal,  Harrier  and  Eagle- 
owl  (Phythian-Adams  1927).  Raptors  thought 
destructive  included  Peregrine  Falcon  Falco 
peregrinus,  Pale  Harrier  Circus  macrourus,  Marsh 
Harrier  C.  aeruginosus  and  Common  Buzzard 
Buteo  buteo. 

The  British  game  hunters  of  that  time  employed 
local  tribals  to  beat  the  cover  to  flush  out  Woodcock, 
Junglefowl  and  other  small  game.  Baker  (1922a), 
describing  his  sporting  days  in  the  Nilgiris,  gave  the 
following  count  for  his  bag  during  the  season  1920- 
21 : Woodcock  Scolopax  rusticola  (37),  Junglefowl 
Gallus  sonneratii  (38),  Snipes  (145),  Spurfowl 
Galloperdix  spadicea  (50),  Pigeon  (species  not 
mentioned)  (39),  Hare  Lepus  nigricollis  (13).  All 
this  amounted  to  271  heads  from  33  outings  or  an 
average  of  around  eight  to  nine  per  trip.  Detailed 
account  of  such  records  is  provided  in  Baker  ( 1 923). 

There  were  several  attempts  to  introduce  game 
birds  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau,  but  sooner  or  later 
most  of  them  met  with  failure.  Species  that  were 
introduced  include  32  Chukor  in  1892  and  90  in  1916, 
6 Guineafowl  in  1893,  12  Pheasants  (English  name 
not  mentioned)  in  1 892, 1 0 Peafowl  in  1 90 1 , 74  Red 
Junglefowl  between  1 903  and  1 907, 5 Ceylon  Junglefowl 
in  1906,  8 See  See  Partridge  in  1911  and  1 1 in  1916. 

STUDY  AREA:  THE  NILGIRI  HILLS 

From  the  biogeographical  point  of  view,  the 
Nilgiri  hills  are  one  of  the  most  fascinating  features 
of  the  Indian  subcontinent.  Altitude,  climate  and 
rainfall  combine  to  make  them  particularly  rich  habitat 
for  plants  and  animals.  The  main  features  of  the 
Nilgiris  are  described  below. 

Upper  Nilgiris  plateau 

The  Nilgiris  can  be  divided  into  two  natural 
regions:  a)  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau,  extending  56  km 
from  east  to  west,  20  km  from  north  to  south,  deeply 


2 


Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


Fig.l:  Location  of  the  Nilgiris  in  India 

^ v — , The  Nilgiris  is  located  at  the  north- 

t western  end  of  the  Tamil  Nadu,  and  is 


76''15‘  76^30'  76°45'  77  O' 


Note  the  small  area  of  Mukurti  National  Park  at  the  southwest  of  the 
Nilgiris,  is  the  last  protected  grassland  habitat  in  the  Nilgiris 


3 


Buceros  Vol.  10.  No.  1 (2005) 


indented,  with  an  average  elevation  of  1980  m;  b) 
southeast  Wynaad  c.  900  m above  msl,  covered  with 
bamboo  forests,  and  paddy  flats  (Hockings  1989). 
The  area  covered  during  the  current  study  is  part  of 
the  Nilgiri  Hills  from  1 ,700  m to  the  Dodabetta  (2636 
m)  and  will  be  called  Upper  Nilgiris  Plateau  (Figure 
1 ).  The  entire  plateau  has  a range  of  undulating  hills 
running  in  different  directions.  The  eastern  half  of 
the  plateau  corresponds  roughly  to  the  Coonoortaluka, 
whereas  the  western  half,  together  with  Sigur  plateau, 
constitutes  the  Udhagamandalam  taluka. 

The  Kundha  range  rises  steeply  from  the  Silent 
Valley  and  the  Nilambur  Valley  of  Kerala,  and  the 
Ouchterlony  Valley  of  the  Nilgiri-Wynaad.  This  forms 
an  unbroken  wall,  except  for  the  Sispara  Pass,  and 
has  several  high  peaks,  such  as  Pichal  Betta  2,561 
m,  Mukurti  Peak  2,556  m and  Nilgiri  Peak  2,477  m. 
An  inner  range  of  hills  runs  parallel  to  the  Kundha 
range,  starting  south  of  Devar  Betta  2,5 1 5 m,  near 
Avalanche  and  including  the  high  peaks  of  Naraidu 
Betta  and  Kolari  Betta  2,630  m.  The  inner  set  of 
peaks  not  only  protects  the  Ootacamund  basin  from 
the  rigors  of  the  west  wind,  but  also  produces  a 
marked  difference  in  the  climate  of  the  territories 
east  and  west  of  Avalanche.  The  Upper  Nilgiris  also 
form  the  main  watersheds  for  Bhavani  and  Moyar 
rivers,  two  important  tributaries  to  the  Cauvery  River. 
Eight  Important  Bird  Areas  (IB  As),  namely  Mukurti 
National  Park,  Avalanche  Reserve  Forest,  Taishola, 
Longwood  Shola,  Coonoor,  Bison  Swamp  and 
Governor  Shola  have  been  identified  recently  from 
the  Upper  Nilgiris  (Islam  and  Rahmani  2004). 

Location  and  topography 

The  Nilgiris  is  located  between  1 1°  10'  and  10° 
30'  N latitude  and  between  76°  25'  and  77°  00'  E at 
the  junction  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  Ghats,  the 
two  mountain  ranges  that  run  parallel  to  the  coastline 
of  peninsular  India.  The  word  Nilgiris  (Sanskrit  M/a 
blue,  and  Giri  hills),  was  presumably  suggested  by 
those  living  on  the  neighbouring  plains,  for  the  blue 


haze  that  envelopes  the  range,  as  is  common  with 
most  large  distant  hills. 

The  Nilgiris  district  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu 
has  an  area  of  2,525  sq.  km.  Bounded  on  the  west  by 
Kerala,  on  the  north  by  Karnataka  and  on  the 
southeast  by  Coimbatore  district;  the  Nilgiris  occupies 
the  highest  and  western  most  part  of  Tamil  Nadu 
(Figure  2).  It  falls  under  Biogeographic  Zone  5 as 
per  biogeographic  classification  of  Rodgers  and 
Panwar  ( 1 988).  The  approximate  distance  to  Malabar 
Coast  (Arabian  Sea)  is  1 00  km  (Hockings  1 989).  The 
district  headquarters  is  Udhagamandalam 
(=Ootacamund),  popularly  known  as  Ooty,  located 
about  550  km  from  the  state  capital  Chennai,  and  85 
km  from  Coimbatore. 

The  Nilgiris  is  slightly  tilted  towards  the  east, 
like  the  entire  Deccan  Plateau  and  almost  40%  rises 
above  1,800  m in  the  Central  Nilgiris  Plateau.  The 
highest  peak  in  the  Nilgiris,  “Dodabetta”  or  Big 
Mountain  is  2,636  m above  msl  and  is  also  the  second 
highest  peak  in  peninsular  India  after  Anaimudi  (2,695 
m).  The  Nilgiris  plateau  rises  sharply  from  the 
surrounding  country  and  is  divided  by  a range  of  peaks 
running  in  a general  north-south  direction.  The 
western  end  of  the  plateau  is  sheer  rock,  while  the 
interior  of  the  plateau  consists  mainly  of  undulating 
grassy  hills,  divided  by  narrow  valleys,  each  containing 
a stream  or  swamp  surrounded  by  shola  forest. 

Climate 

The  Nilgiris  lie  in  the  tropical  zone,  but  have  a 
sub-tropical  to  temperate  climate.  Legris  (1969)  and 
Lengerue  ( 1 977)  gave  a great  deal  of  information  on 
the  weather  and  climate  of  the  Nilgiris.  From  the 
meteorological  point  of  view,  considering  upper-air 
dynamics,  surface  winds  and  weather  patterns 
including  rainfall,  four  seasons  or  periods  can  be 
distinguished  in  South  India,  including  the  Nilgiris. 
(a)  The  northeast  monsoon  period  (December- 

March),  mainly  a rainless  period  for  the  Nilgiris 

Plateau 


4 


Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


(b)  The  first  inter  monsoon  period  (Apri  1-May) 

(c)  The  southwest  monsoon  period  (June-September) 
a windy,  overcast  and  extremely  wet  period. 

(d)  The  second  inter-monsoon  period  (October- 
November),  about  1 5-20  rainy  days  registered 
in  the  study  area  during  this  period. 

Temperature  and  Rainfall 

The  area  receives  both  the  southwest  and 
northeast  monsoons  during  which  the  western  Upper 
Nilgiris,  around  Mukurti  National  Park,  and  its 
environs  receives  up  to  5,600  mm  rainfall  annually. 
The  Nilgiris  receive  an  average  annual  rainfall  of  2, 000 
mm  while  locally  in  the  Mukurti  National  Park  ridge 
top,  it  is  around  5,000  mm.  There  is  considerable  local 
variation  in  the  average  annual  rainfall,  with  three 
peaks  in  May,  July  and  October,  corresponding  to 
well  defined  pre-monsoon,  southwest  monsoon  and 
post-monsoon  periods.  There  are  3-4  dry  months 
from  December-March  (Blasco  1970). 

The  mean  temperature  during  the  coldest 
months  is  less  than  15  °C,  while  frost  prevails  from 
November-December  till  mid-March.  Average 
diurnal  temperature  during  northeast  monsoon  ranges 
between  12-17  °C,  with  the  lowest  being  in 
December  and  January.  Seasonal  rainfall  (mm)  and 
number  of  rainy  days  for  the  Upper  Nilgiris  are 
presented  in  (Table  1 ) 

Fig.  2;  Ombrothermic  diagram  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris 
for  40  years  (1961-2000) 

# - • Mtftteinp 
— * — Ms3x!e«aj> 


Siiiin  e:  Central  Soil  and  Water  Conservation  Research  and  Training  Institute. 
Udhagamandalam 


Table  1 Seasonal  rainfall  (mm)  and  number  of  rainy  days  for 
the  Upper  Nilgiris,  Western  Ghats 


Season 

Rainfall  (mm) 

Rainy  days 

1961-2000 

2001-2003 

1983-2000 

2001-2003 

Rain 

806.4 

512.95 

59.3 

59 

(Jun-Oct) 

Winter 

180.9 

56.60 

12.2 

5 

(Nov-Jan) 

Summer 

(Feb-May) 

210.2 

322.50 

16.5 

17 

Total 

1197.5 

892.05 

88 

81 

Source:  Central  Soil  and  Water  Conservation  Research  and 
Training  Institute,  Udhagamandalam 

Wind  and  Frost 

High  wind  velocity  is  generally  a feature  of  high 
elevations  and  Nilgiris  is  no  exception.  Due  to  the 
influence  of  topographical  features,  the  wind  velocity 
in  sheltered  areas  such  as  Coonoor  (6.4  km/hr)  is 
much  lower  than  exposed  areas  (Dodabetta  1 8.4  km/ 
hr).  A high  average  wind  velocity  and  high  frequency 
of  peak  values  are  associated  with  southwest 
monsoon.  The  pattern  is  seen  in  the  stunted  montane 
shola  vegetation  on  exposed  slopes  and  also  the 
stunted  growth  of  isolated  Rhododendron  trees, 
where  only  the  branches  on  the  extreme  leeward  side 
have  leaves,  and  trees  are  markedly  bent  in  the 
direction  opposite  to  that  of  wind. 

Occurrence  of  frost  in  the  tropical  areas  is 
characteristic  of  montane  regions.  Frost  in  Nilgiris 
generally  lasts  from  December  to  mid-March.  It  is 
usually  confined  to  small  pockets  in  narrow  valleys, 
though  continuous  tracts  of  grass-covered  valleys  and 
gentle  slopes  also  accumulate  frost.  Frost  is  also 
believed  to  be  one  of  the  factors  controlling  Shola- 
grassland  formation.  And  only  species  with  temperate 
origin  regenerate  on  exposed  frost  prone  areas 
(Meher-Homji  1965). 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


Soil  and  Water  bodies 

According  to  Champion  and  Seth  (1968)  the 
underlying  rock  in  the  Nilgiris  is  ciystalline  throughout, 
mostly  gneisses.  In  general,  the  entire  undisturbed 
plateau  soil  can  be  classified  under  ‘humic  ferralitic 
mountain  soil’  on  account  of  uniformity  of  topsoil,  as 
well  as  soil  profile  characteristics  (Gaussen  etal  1962). 

Of  the  numerous  stream  and  rivulets  in  the  study 
area,  most  drain  into  the  two  principal  rivers  of  the 
Nilgiris:  the  Bhavani  and  the  Moyar.  The  Bhavani 
originates  from  the  southern  upper  plateau,  and  flows 
eastward  through  a deep  valley  on  the  southern  border 
of  the  district.  However,  Moyar  flows  eastwards, 
through  a deep  valley  on  the  northern  border  of  the 
district.  Both  of  these  eventually  join  the  Cauvery 
River.  With  the  construction  of  a series  of  dams, 
including  Pykara  and  Upper  Bhavani  Dams,  there 
are  numerous  reservoirs  that  hold  water  most  of  the 
year. 

Human  impact  a historical  perspective 

The  oldest  inhabitants  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris  are 
the  'Toda"  tribals,  who  were  buffalo  herders  and 
burned  grasslands  each  year  in  earlier  times.  Little  is 
known  about  when  and  from  where  Todas  arrived. 
Ancestors  of  another  community  'Badaga'  were 
farmers  and  probably  lived  on  the  upper  plateau  for 
centuries  before  the  fall  of  the  Vijayanagar  Empire 
in  1565  AD  (Noble  2004).  It  is  not  known  when 
'Kota  ’ farmers  settled  on  the  plateau. 

The  first  of  the  European  expeditions  to  the 
Upper  Nilgiris  started  in  1602  or  early  part  of  1603 
(Price  2002)  by  a priest  named  Fininicio.  Nearly  two 
centuries  later,  Dr.  Buchanan  on  24  October  1800 
reached  Devanaikenkota,  a fort  situated  a few  miles 
to  the  east  of  the  Hills,  on  the  northern  bank  of 
Bhavani  River.  Twelve  years  later  in  1812,  Keys,  a 
surveyor,  accompanied  by  MacMahon,  an  apprentice, 
was  sent  up  to  the  hills  by  Garrow,  the  Collector  of 
Coimbatore.  Most  of  these  early  surveyors  faced 
difficulties  and  could  barely  reach  the  UpperNilgiris. 


Finally  in  1818,  Whishand  Kindersley,  Assistants  to 
the  Collector  of  Coimbatore,  made  their  way  to  the 
hills. 

Sullivan,  in  a communication  dated  July  3T' 
1819,  wrote  “The  inclemency  and  reputed  insalubrity 
of  the  climate  of  this  country  (Nilgiris),  above  all  its 
almost  inaccessible  situation,  has  prevented  any 
attempt  being  made  to  explore  it  until  1818,  when  the 
attempt  was  successfully  executed  by  the  Assistant 
Collectors,  Messrs  Whish  and  Kindersley”  (Price 
2002). 

TheNilgiri  hills  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
East  India  Company  in  1799,  by  the  treaty  of 
Serangapatnam.  The  first  phase  of  European 
settlement  may  have  taken  place  during  1 820  to  1 830 
(Kala  1977),  Towards,  the  beginning  of  the  19*'' 
Century,  the  British  started  settling  in  the  Nilgiris,  and 
in  1863  they  introduced  tea  and  coffee,  which 
subsequently  attracted  scores  of  labourers.  The 
planters  converted  several  thousand  hectares  of 
pristine  shola  patches  and  grasslands  into  tea 
plantations,  and  the  remaining  fragments  were 
degraded  by  cutting  and  lopping  to  meet  the  growing 
fuel  wood  and  timber  demand.  Unimaginative 
settlement  policy  on  the  part  of  the  government 
resulted  in  leasing  out  of  vast  tracts  of  these  grasslands 
for  settlements  and  conversion  into  cultivation  to  cater 
to  human  needs. 

With  the  impetus  provided  by  the  National 
Forest  Policy  of  1 952,  attempts  were  made  to  convert 
the  pristine  grasslands  of  the  Nilgiris  Upper  Plateau 
into  plantations  of  exotic  species.  Introduction  of 
Eucalyptus  and  Acacia  spp.  to  supply  firewood, 
puipwood,  rayon  and  tannins  to  the  viscose  industry 
has  done  serious  damage  to  the  ecology  of  this  region. 
About  1 0 species  of  Eucalyptus,  five  of  Acacia, 
Pinus  and  some  other  non-natives  were  planted  in 
all  available  terrains.  Several  evergreen  forest  patches 
were  clear  felled  for  these  commercial  plantations. 
Jha  et  al.  (2000)  estimated  the  loss  of  dense  forest  in 
the  Nilgiris  from  1 973-1 995  to  be  around  294  sq.  km 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


(from  783  down  to  489  sq.  km)  (37.5%).  They  also 
reported  an  increase  in  the  open  forest  from  798  to  92 1 
sq.  km  (15.4%X  degraded  forest  increase  284  to  447 
sq.  km  (57%),  and  waterbodies  1 1 to  84  sq.  km  (66%). 

Till  the  first  half  of  the  twentieth  century,  the 
Nilgiris  remained  thinly  populated.  By  1 950s,  influx 
of  immigrant  labourers  for  several  development 
projects  took  place.  The  establishment  of  several  new 
settlements  of  labourers  including  immigrant 
Sri  Lankan  repatriates  mounted  pressure  on  the 
natural  resources  of  the  region.  Ecologically  the 
Nilgiris  faced  another  setback  from  the  development 
of  hydroelectric  power  projects.  Under  the  stress  of 
anthropogenic  pressures  and  rapid  changes,  several 
alien  invasives  got  established  in  the  Nilgiris,  becoming 
a threat  to  the  native  ecosystem,  mainly  the  scarce 
grasslands.  Cytisus  scoparius,  Ulex  europaeus 
and  Lantana  camara  are  the  major  invaders 
which  have  caused  serious  damage  to  native 
vegetation. 

MUKURTI  NATIONAL  PARK 

Mukurti  National  Park  (Figure  1)  is  the  only 
protected  area  falling  under  our  intensive  study  area. 
^ lies  from  1 1 ° 1 O'  to  1 1°  22’  N and  76°  26’  to  76°  34' 
E.  It  forms  a key  protected  area  for  conservation  of 
high  altitude  grassland  flora  and  fauna.  MNP 
encompasses  an  area  of  78.46  sq.  km.  The  entire 
terrain  is  undulating  grassland  with  patches  of 
montane  evergreen  forest  (shola)  confined  to  the 
folds  of  hills  and  depressions.  The  average  altitude  is 
around  2,400  m above  msl.  There  are  several  peaks, 
the  highest  being  Kolari  Betta  2,630  m,  while  Mukurti 
Peak  2,556  m and  Nilgiri  Peak  2,477  m also  deserve 
mention.  Mukurti  was  declared  a wildlife  sanctuary 
in  1980  under  the  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act  of  1972 
and  a national  park  in  1 990,  mainly  for  the  protection 
of  the  endangered  Nilgiri  Tahr  Hemitragus 
hylocrius.  It  is  part  of  the  Nilgiri  Biosphere  Reserve, 
the  first  one  to  be  notified  in  1986  among  the  18 
biosphere  reserves  of  India.  Being  home  to  several 


endangered  and  endemic  species,  it  is  one  of  the 
important  protected  areas  in  the  Western  Ghats. 
There  are  several  streams,  most  of  which  are 
tributaries  of  the  Bhavani  River. 

VEGETATION  TYPES  OF  THE 
UPPER  NILGIRIS 

The  floristic  properties  of  the  Nilgiris  have 
attracted  several  scientists  since  the  second  half  of 
the  19"'  Century.  All  these  studies  have  been  revised 
and  compiled  by  Gamble  (1935)  and  Fyson  (1915- 
20).  The  Nilgiris  is  thought  to  be  a centre  of  speciation 
and  has  several  endemic  species.  The  western  end 
of  Sispara  leading  to  the  Silent  Valley  National  Park 
is  considered  a place  of  high  biological  diversity. 
Sharma  et  al.  (1977)  recorded  2760  species  of 
vascular  plants  from  the  Nilgiris,  of  which  261 1 are 
angiosperms  belonging  to  942  genera  and  163  families. 
Blasco  ( 1 970)  recorded  82  endemics  exclusive  to  the 
Nilgiris  at  high  elevations.  There  are  around  120 
orchids,  including  9 endemics  from  the  UpperNilgiris. 
Apart  from  the  vast  diversity  of  natural  vegetation, 
400  or  more  species  have  been  introduced  into  this 
area  mainly  for  economic  interests  (Hockings  1 989). 
The  vegetation  of  the  study  area  (Upper  Nilgiris)  can 
be  classified  into  three  broad  categories: 

a)  Southern  Montane  Wet  Temperate  Forest 

Nilgiri  vegetation  consists  mainly  of  undulating 
grasslands  interspersed  with  numerous  isolated  forests 
with  sharply  defined  borders,  popularly  known  as 
‘s/?o/a’.  The  shola  type  is  classified  as  sub-group  1 1 
A (Type  Cl)  Southern  Montane  Wet  Temperate 
Forests  by  Champion  and  Seth  (1 968).  These  forests 
usually  occur  at  the  head  of  streams  in  the  folds  of 
converging  slopes  above  1700  m. 

Shola  forests  are  regarded  as  a climatic 
complex  by  most  workers.  Alternatively,  they  are 
thought  to  be  relics  of  a glacial  epoch,  when  the 
temperature  in  the  Subcontinent  was  appreciably 
lower  than  it  is  now  (Flora  1949;  Meher-Homji  1965, 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


1972).  Fire  during  the  drier  months  and  frost  during 
the  winter  are  also  suggested  as  limiting  factors  for 
the  spread  of  shola.  The  species  in  shola  are  all 
evergreen,  and  include  elements  of  both  tropical  and 
temperate  origin.  Myrtaceae,  Lauraceae, 
Ternstroemiaceae,  Elaeocarpaceae,  Rutaceae, 
Rubiaceae,  Symplocaceae,  Acanthaceae,  Piperaceae, 
Loranthaceae,  Ericaceae  and  Eleagnaceae  are  some 
of  the  families  found  in  these  forests.  Occurrence  of 
a number  of  genera  of  distinctly  Himalayan  types  such 
as  Rhododendron,  Hypericum,  Rubus,  Lonicera, 
Gaultheria,  Artimisia,  and  Pittosporum  is  very 
interesting  in  this  region.  Turpinia,  Symplocose, 
Eugenia  and  Rhododendron  are  found  in  nearly  all 
the  shola  patches. 

b)  Montane  Grasslands  of  the  Plateau 

Grasslands  are  found  at  high  altitudes  in  the 
Western  Ghats  in  South  India.  Champion  and  Seth 
( 1 968)  classified  these  grasslands  as  sub-group  1 1 A 
(Type  C1/DS2)  Southern  Montane  Wet  Grassland. 
The  shola  grasslands  are  primarily  short  and  uniform, 
mainly  found  in  a few  areas  in  the  Annamalai  - Palni 
- Elamalai  hills  complex  to  the  south  and  the  Nilgiri 
hills  to  the  north  of  Palghat  Gap.  Mukurti  National 
Park,  Eravikulam,  Rajamalai  and  Grass  Hills  of 
Annamalai  are  some  important  areas  harbouring  these 
grasslands.  The  ecological  status  of  the  shola  grasslands 
formation  has  been  a subject  of  controversy  over  the 
years  and  many  contributions  have  been  made,  the 
Nilgiris  in  particular  getting  more  attention.  These 
grasslands  were  considered  by  many  as  a sub-climax 
(Raghavan  1 957,  Gupta  1 960)  and  as  edaphic  or  climatic 
climaxes  by  Champion  and  Seth  ( 1 968). 

Grasses  have  long  been  recognized  as  a 
significant  part  of  the  vegetation  in  the  Nilgiris  above 
1 ,200  m,  and  over  1 0%  of  the  total  grass  species  are 
endemic  (Noble  2004).  Palynological  evidence 
provided  by  Vishnu-Mittre  and  Gupta  (1972) 
tentatively  suggests  the  presence  of  grasslands  over 
a long  period  in  the  past.  Temperate  grasses  such  as 


Poa  and  Agrostis  can  be  seen  at  elevations  above 
2000  m.  These  grasslands  are  comprised  ofTripogon, 
Andropogon,  Chrysopogon,  Ischaemum, 
Eragrostris  and  Panicum  species.  These  grasslands 
also  contain  several  species  of  orchids  and  balsams, 
besides  being  home  to  grassland  dependent  species 
such  as  the  Nilgiri  Tahr  and  the  Nilgiri  Pipit. 

In  the  20“’  Century,  these  grasslands  were 
considered  as  ‘gaps’  or  ‘blanks’  and  were  converted 
into  monoculture  plantations  and  cultivation, 
threatening  their  specialist  flora  and  fauna  such  as 
the  Nilgiri  Tahr.  Presently,  grasslands  in  the 
Nilgiris  are  mainly  confined  to  the  Mukurti  National 
Park,  and  a few  patches  are  seen  in  other  parts 
of  Upper  Plateau  i.e.  Upper  Bhavani,  Wenlock 
Downs,  Lakkedi  and  Bison  Swamp  area.  Grassland 
patches  can  be  seen  at  several  other  places  near 
villages,  towns  and  around  Wattle  and  Blue  Gum 
plantations. 

c)  Exotic  plantations 

Plantation  in  the  Nilgiris  started  in  the  19“’ 
Century  by  clear  felling  of  natural  forests  and  burning 
of  grasslands.  Plantations  constitute  mainly  Black 
Wattle,  Blue  Gum,  Mexican  Pine,  Alder,  Cinchona, 
Coffee,  and  Tea.  About  five  species  of  Acacia,  ten 
of  Eucalyptus  and  four  of  pines  were  introduced  for 
feeding  the  timber  and  pulp  wood  industry  in  the 
plains.  By  1987,  Eucalyptus  alone  covered  about 
12,000  ha  (Meher-Homji  1989).  Mexican  Pine  has 
typically  been  planted  in  frost  pockets  where  Wattle 
and  Blue  Gum  had  failed.  Wattle,  one  of  the  most 
successful  and  extensively  planted  species,  also 
regenerates  through  seed,  forming  impenetrable 
thickets  of  thin  poles,  blocking  the  passage  of  larger 
mammals.  Today,  plantations  form  the  dominant  cover 
across  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Nilgiris. 

METHODS 

The  paper  is  based  on  the  notes  from  our  field 
diaries  maintained  during  fieldwork  for  bird 


Buceros  Vol.  10.  No.  1 (2005) 


community  investigations  as  well  as  observations 
made  during  extensive  surveys  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris 
(>  1,700  m above  msl)  during  December  2000  to 
February  2004.  Elevations  in  feet  for  the  localities 
described  in  the  historical  records  were  converted  to 
meters  for  uniformity  in  presentation.  Nomenclature 
for  the  localities  followed  the  Survey  of  India  1 : 50,000 
toposheets  and  coordinates  were  recorded  using  a 
GARMIN  12XL  GPS.  Survey  sites  and  their 
geographical  locations  are  listed  in  Appendix- 1 . 

Mukurti  National  Park  (MNP  hereafter),  and 
Avalanche,  Lakkedi,  Devar  Betta,  Upper  Bhavani  and 
TaisholaofNilgiris  South  Division  formed  the  intensive 
study  area.  Other  areas  surveyed  during  this  study 
include  Governor’s  Shola,  Cairn  Hill  Forest,  Snowdon, 
Porthimund,  Dodabetta,  Taishola,  Kora  Kundha, 
Coonoor,  Bikkatti,  Bembatti,  Longwood  Shola  at 
Kotagiri,  Kodanadu  and  Emerald  Valley  (Figure  1 and 
Appendix  1 ). 

Species  recorded  by  us  more  than  ten  times  are 
described  as  common  here,  the  ones  seen  between 
3-10  times  as  uncommon  and  those  seen  only  once 
or  twice  as  rare  forthe  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau.  Species 
accounts  are  supplemented  with  information  on  their 
numbers  ringed  at  Avalanche  during  January- 
February  2003.  Sequence  and  nomenclature  follow 
Manakadan  and  Pittie  (2000).  Conservation  status 
of  the  threatened  birds  follow  BirdLife  International 
(2001).  Status  of  the  species  noted  during  this  study 
is  recorded  as  present  status,  while  brief  notes  are 
provided  for  the  species  recorded  by  other  authors. 

AVIFAUNAL  COMPOSITION  OF  THE 
UPPER  NILGIRIS 

The  Upper  Nilgiris  supports  an  interesting  bird 
community,  with  nine  Western  Ghats  endemic  and 
several  threatened  species.  In  general,  the  bird 
composition  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris  appears  to  be 
depauperate  compared  to  the  lower  elevations.  For 
instance,  Gokula  (1998)  recorded  265  species  in  the 
Mudumalai  Wildlife  Sanctuary  in  the  lower  elevations 


of  the  Nilgiri  hills,  while  we  could  record  only  192 
species  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris.  This  includes  breeding 
residents,  winter  visitors,  local  summer  migrants, 
vagrant  and  passage  migrants. 

Of  the  sixteen  Western  Ghats  endemic  species, 
nine  were  recorded  during  this  study,  namely  the 
Nilgiri  Wood  Pigeon  Columba  elphinstonii,  Nilgiri 
Pipit,  Grey-headed  Bulbul  Pycnonotus 
priocephalus,  Black-and-Orange  Flycatcher,  Small 
Sunbird  Nectarinia  minima,  Nilgiri  Flycatcher 
Eumyias  albicaudata,  Nilgiri  Laughingthrush 
Garrulax cachinnans,  White-bellied  Blue  Flycatcher 
Cyornis  pallipes  and  White-bellied  Shortwing 
Brachypteryx  major. 

The  threatened  species  (BirdLife  International 
2001)  recorded  by  us  from  the  study  area  include: 
Nilgiri  Laughingthrush  (Endangered)  and  Kashmir 
Flycatcher,  Lesser  Kestrel  Falco  naumanni.  White- 
bellied  Shortwing,  and  Nilgiri  Wood  Pigeon 
(Vulnerable).  The  Near  Threatened  species  recorded 
during  this  study  include  Nilgiri  Pipit,  Black-and- 
Orange  Flycatcher  and  Nilgiri  Flycatcher. 

The  threatened  species  recorded  from  the 
Upper  Nilgiris  Plateau  by  other  authors  and  not  seen 
during  this  study  include  the  White-backed  Vulture 
Gyps  bengalensis  and  the  Long-billed  Vulture  Gyps 
indicus  (Critically  Endangered),  the  Lesser  Florican 
Sypheotides  indica  (Endangered),  the  Imperial  Eagle 
Aquila  heliaca  and  the  Wood  Snipe  Gallinago 
nemoricola  (Vulnerable).  The  Near  Threatened 
species  recorded  by  other  authors  include  the  Red- 
headed Vulture  Sarcogyps  calvus,  the  Pallid  Harrier 
Circus  macrourus,  Black-necked  Stork 
Ephippiorhynchus  asiaticus  and  the  Ferruginous 
Pochard  Aythya  nyroca. 

Compared  to  the  records  of  Davison  (1 883),  it 
appears  that  some  species  such  as  the  Brahminy  Kite 
Haliastur  indus,  House  Crow  Corvus  splendens, 
Besra  Accipiter  virgatus,  Crested  Serpent  Eagle 
Spilornis  cheela,  Emerald  Dove  Chalcophaps 
indica,  Alpine  Swift  Tachymarptis  melba,  and 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


White-throated  Kingfisher  Halcyon  smyrnensis  are 
more  common  presently  than  during  the  nineteenth 
century.  The  species  that  have  recorded  a noticeable 
decline  in  the  upper  Nilgiris  include  the  Pallid  Harrier 
Circus  macrourus,  White-rumped  Vulture  and  Long- 
billed Vulture,  Red-headed  Vulture,  Egyptian  Vulture 
Neophron  percnopteriis,  Eurasian  Woodcock 
Scolopax  rusticola,  Wood  Snipe  Gallinago 
nemoricola.  Pintail  Snipe  Gallinago  stenura,  Pied 
Cuckoo  Clamator  jacobinus,  Large  Hawk  Cuckoo 
Hierococcyx  sparverioides  and  Common  Hawk 
Cuckoo  Hierococcyx  varius. 

Species  seen  only  once  during  this  study  include 
the  Black-capped  Kingfisher  Halcyon  pileata, 
Pompadour  Green  Pigeon  Treron  pompadora. 
Lesser  Kestrel,  Osprey  Pandion  haliaetiis,  Plum- 
headed Parakeet  Psittacula  cyanocephala.  Grey- 
headed Bulbul,  Scarlet  Minivet  Pericrocotus 
flammeus,  Yellow-browed  Bulbul  lole  indica,  Red- 
rumped  Swallow  Hirundo  daurica,  Rosy  Starling 
Stiirnus  roseus,  Scarlet  Minivet  Pericrocotus 
flammeus,  Ashy  Woodswallow  Artamus  fuscus, 
Malayan  Night-heron  Gorsachius  melanolophus, 
Black-crowned  Night  Heron  Nycticorax  nycti corax, 
Pintail  Snipe  Gallinago  stenura  and  Indian  Peafowl 
Pavo  cristatus.  See  notes  in  Appendix  1 for  details 
of  locations. 

Rare  and  significant  records  are  discussed  in 
detail  and  confirmed  historical  records  are  included 
to  provide  an  insight  on  the  species  that  have  either 
declined  or  disappeared  from  the  Upper  Nilgiris. 

SPECIES  ACCOUNT 

LITTLE  GREBE 
Tachybaptus  ruficollis 

One  female  with  three  chicks  was  seen  along 
the  banks  of  Manjoor  Reservoir  on  16  May  2003. 
Common  resident,  few  birds  generally  seen  at  Ooty 
Lake  but  never  seen  in  the  other  reservoirs  such  as 
Avalanche,  Emerald  and  Upper  Bhavani  during 


dozens  of  visits.  Other  records  from  Ooty  Lake 
include  Kumar  ( 1 996)  on  1 0 August  1 996,  and  Nair 
(1995)  who  reported  30  odd  birds  in  mid-September 
1994. 

GREAT  CORMORANT 
Phalacrocorax  carbo 

Common  resident,  usually  seen  in  small  numbers 
around  most  of  the  water  reservoirs.  Up  to  25  birds 
observed  frequently  during  monsoon  at  Avalanche 
reservoir,  with  twelve  nests  recorded  at  the  crown 
of  a Eucalyptus  plantation  during  July  2002.  The 
nesting  birds  often  observed  mobbing  and  chasing 
away  Jungle  Crows  Corvus  macrorhynchos  from 
close  to  its  nest  before  sunset.  Between  February  to 
April  2002,  when  the  reservoir  was  dry,  no  bird  was 
seen  at  Avalanche. 

Nair  ( 1 996)  observed  42  nests  and  130  birds  in 
breeding  plumage  on  partially  submerged  trees  in  the 
reservoir  at  Glenmorgan  ( 1 ,970  m)  and  twenty  birds 
breeding  in  Kamarajasagar  Reservoir  near 
Ootacamund  town  at  2 1 00  m.  Kumar  ( 1 996)  reported 
a solitary  bird  in  breeding  plumage  on  9 December 
from  Ooty  Lake.  All  these  records  are  significant  in 
the  absence  of  any  other  report  of  breeding  of  this 
species  from  anywhere  in  the  peninsular  Indian  hills. 
They  are  normally  found  in  the  lowland  rivers,  jheels, 
reservoirs,  tidal  lagoons  and  are  also  known  to  ascend 
up  to  considerable  elevations  in  the  lakes  of  Nepal, 
Ladakh  and  Kashmir  (AH  and  Ripley  1987,  Grimmett 
etal.  1998). 

DARTER 

Anhinga  melanogaster 

We  did  not  come  across  this  species  in  the 
Nilgiris.  Davison  (1883)  obtained  it  from  Pykara 
River,  about  15  km  from  Ootacamund.  In  recent 
decades  there  has  been  no  other  record  of  Darter 
from  anywhere  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris.  Hence 
Davison’s  record  should  perhaps  be  considered  as 
vagrant. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


LITTLE  EGRET 
Egretta  garzetta 

Rare  in  Upper  Nilgiris,  one  bird  observed  on 
the  shore  of  Avalanche  reservoir  on  1 1 January  2004, 
one  bird  (probably  the  earlier  one)  again  sighted  in 
the  same  reservoir  on  another  location  on  1 6 January 
2004.  Thejaswi,  S.  (pers.  comm.)  sighted  one  bird  at 
T.  R.  Bazar  near  Naduvattam  on  15  January  2004. 

CATTLE  EGRET 
Bubulcus  ibis 

Common  resident,  some  birds  could  always  be 
seen  around  marshy  grazing  areas  near  habitations. 
Never  seen  in  the  MNP  and  surrounding  reserve  forests. 

INDIAN  POND  HERON 
Ardeola  grayii 

Common  resident  and  widespread,  mostly 
solitary  but  occasionally  up  to  four  birds  sighted  near 
reservoirs  or  perched  on  trees  along  streams  and  also 
in  dry  habitats  near  plantations.  Appears  to  be 
extremely  wary  of  humans,  unlike  at  the  lower 
elevations.  Unlike  in  the  past,  the  Nilgiris  today  do 
not  have  the  shallow  water  habitats  required  by  these 
birds.  Davison  (1883)  reported  it  as  a winter  visitor 
to  the  Nilgiris,  disappearing  on  the  approach  of  its 
breeding  season.  However,  we  recorded  it  in  the 
Upper  Nilgiris  throughout  the  year. 

BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT-HERON 
Nycticorax  nycticorax 

It  seems  to  be  rare  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris.  A 
single  bird  sighted  on  8 March  2002  at  Bangitappal, 
perched  on  a short  tree  near  the  stream  bisecting  the 
valley.  It  is  likely  to  occur  at  Pykara  and  Glenmorgan 
reservoirs. 

MALAYAN  NIGHT-HERON 
Gorsachius  melanolophus 

Only  one  sub-adult  observed  on  a roadside 
wattle  tree  near  Parson’s  Valley  c.  2,200  m on  21 


May  2003.  Perhaps  a vagrant  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris. 
The  bird  displayed  the  prominent  crest  and 
vermiculations  on  the  wings;  the  white  spots  on  the 
crest  and  the  nape  were  also  distinctly  seen.  Ali  and 
Ripley  ( 1 987)  recorded  it  as  discontinuously  distributed 
species  of  evergreen  biotope  generally  up  to  800  m 
elevation. 

EUROPEAN  WHITE  STORK 
Ciconia  ciconia 

Not  seen  in  the  Nilgiris  during  our  three  year 
study.  Davison  ( 1 883)  noted,  “Mr.  G.  A.  R.  Dawson, 
of  Coonoor,  obtained  two  specimens  of  this  bird  on 
the  Nilgiris,  one  of  which  is,  1 believe,  still  in  his 
possession.  He  also  sighted  a flock  of  1 8 birds  feeding 
on  the  open  grassland  near  Sandy  Nullah  between 
Ootacamund  and  Pykara”.  Davison  himself  had  never 
seen  it  in  the  Nilgiris. 

COMMON  TEAL 
Anas  crecca 

Davison  ( 1 883)  reported  having  seen  it  on  many 
occasions  in  small  parties  on  the  lake  at  Ootacamund, 
but  they  did  not  remain  for  long  after  their  arrival, 
being  either  killed  or  frightened  away.  No  other  record 
known  to  us. 

ORIENTAL  HONEY-BUZZARD 
Pernis  ptilorhynchus 

Common  winter  visitor,  several  observed  singly 
or  in  pairs,  soaring  over  the  grassy  downs  or  forested 
hills  of  MNP  and  surroundings.  Davison  ( 1 883)  noted 
“1  have  never  noticed  it  on  the  Nilgiri  plateau  or  on 
the  more  elevated  portion  of  the  slopes”.  Primrose 
(1904)  collected  two  specimens  from  Nilgiris. 
Thirumurthi  and  Balaji  (1999)  recorded  five  birds 
during  their  survey  of  the  raptors.  N.  Netli  Kuttan  a 
Toda  tribal  found  a bird  removing  stones  fixed  at 
the  opening  of  a shola  tree  cavity  containing  a 
honeycomb.  The  Todas  block  the  entrance  of 
the  tree  cavity  containing  a comb  (an  indigenous 


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method  of  harvesting  honey  from  tree  cavities). 
Having  successfully  removed  the  stones,  the  bird 
was  feeding  on  the  honey  and  the  bees  {Apis 
dor  sat  a). 

BLACK-SHOULDERED  KITE 
Elanus  caeruleus 

Common  in  the  Nilgiris,  more  often  seen  in  the 
altered  habitats  near  cultivation  and  tea  estates  than 
in  grasslands.  Davison  (1883)  mentioned  it  as  rare 
on  the  Nilgiris.  Pittie(1987)  included  it  as  an  altitudinal 
record  at  1 ,860  m.  However,  it  is  not  unusual  to  record 
it  near  Dodabetta  (2634  m). 

BLACK  KITE 
Milvus  migrans 

The  sub-species  Milvus  migrans  govinda  is 
a very  common  resident  raptor  near  human 
habitations  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  and  is  joined  by  M 
m.  lineatus  during  winter,  when  both  could  be  seen 
soaring  over  the  municipal  garbage  dumps  on  the 
outskirts  of  Ooty.  Davison  (1883)  recorded,  “very 
few  indeed  breed  on  the  Nilgiris  and  few  seen  during 
the  southwest  monsoon,  but  is  common  between 
December  till  June”.  They  migrate  Ifom  heavy-rainfall 
areas  to  drier  areas,  before  the  commencement  of 
monsoon,  but  precise  data  is  lacking  (Ali  and  Ripley 
1987). 

BRAHMINY  KITE 
Haliastur  indus 

Common  resident,  often  seen  soaring  at  Ooty 
Lake  or  circling  over  the  water  reservoirs  near 
Lawrence,  Avalanche  and  Emerald,  human  habitation 
and  cultivated  areas.  Davison  (1883)  recorded  it  as 
not  numerous  on  the  Nilgiris,  with  a few  pairs  seen 
about  the  swampy  shores  of  the  Ooty  Lake.  He  also 
observed  that  if  its  nest  or  eggs  are  touched,  the  birds 
will  as  a rule,  forsake  the  nest,  breaking  any  eggs 
that  there  are  in  it.  Primrose  (1904)  described  it  as 
far  from  common  in  the  Nilgiri  hills.  Thirumurthi  and 


Balaji  (1999)  record  107  birds  at  different  locations 
during  their  survey  in  the  Nilgiris  and  reported  it  as 
the  most  common  raptor  after  Milvus  migrans. 
Presumably,  they  have  become  commoner  with 
the  opening  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris  for  human 
habitation. 

EGYPTIAN  VULTURE 
Neophron  percnopterus 

We  did  not  see  even  a single  individual  between 
December  2000  and  February  2004.  Davison  ( 1 883) 
recorded  it  as  abundant  on  the  Nilgiris,  especially  at 
Ooty  and  Badaga  villages  in  its  vicinity,  on 
slopes,  and  breeding  on  numerous  cliffs  and  slopes. 
Primrose  (1904)  also  observed  it  as  very  common 
around  the  Badaga  and  other  villages  of  the 
Nilgiris,  and  a large  colony  round  the  filthy 
‘Kota’  village  (Kotagiri)  where  they  breed. 
Thirumurthi  and  Balaji  (1999)  record  it  at  Coonoor 
(1,800  m). 

INDIAN  WHITE-BACKED  VULTURE 
Gyps  bengalensis 

Not  even  a single  bird  seen  by  us  during  this  study. 
However,  Davison  (1883)  recorded  it  as  abundant  in 
the  Nilgiris.  Primrose  (1904)  recorded  that,  “this  is  I 
think  the  most  common  vulture,  though  these  birds  prefer 
to  patronize  the  plains,  rather  than  hills,  and  are  nowhere 
plentiful  at  the  higher  elevations.”  It  has  declined 
massively  all  over  South  Asia  (Prakash  1 999,  BirdLife 
International  200 1 ),  possibly  due  to  food  poisoning  in 
Pakistan  (Oaks  et  al.  2004)  and  also  in  India  (Shultz 
et  al  2004). 

LONG-BILLED  VULTURE 
Gyps  indicus 

We  did  not  see  a single  bird  between  December 
2000  and  February  2004.  Like  the  previous  species  it 
has  also  declined  massively  all  over  South  Asia 
(Prakash  1 999,  BirdLife  International  2001),  possibly 
due  to  food  poisoning  (Oaks  et  al  2004;  Shultz  et  al 


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2004).  Davison  (1883)  recorded  its  occurrence  in  the 
Nilgiris  and  its  slopes  as  uncommon,  while  Primrose 
(1904)  was  not  certain  about  its  presence,  as  he  did 
not  observe  any. 

RED-HEADED  VULTURE 
Sarcogyps  calvus 

Once  common  on  the  Nilgiris,  it  is  now  perhaps 
locally  extinct.  It  was  a part  of  the  local  Toda  tribal 
folklore.  Davison  (1 883)  writes,  “This  species  is  not 
abundant  on  the  Nilgiris,  for  perhaps  as  many  as  forty 
or  fifty  other  vultures  may  be  congregated  near  a 
body,  only  two  or  three  seldom  indeed  as  many  as 
half  a dozen  of  them,  will  be  found  with  the  mob,  all 
other  times  they  are  met  with  singly  or  in  pairs”. 
Primrose  ( 1 904)  reported  it  as  common  and  observed 
a nest  near  Craigmore  Toll  Gate,  Ooty.  In  view  of 
these  earlier  observations,  it  appears  to  have  severely 
declined  during  the  twentieth  century.  Thirumurthi  and 
Balaji  (1999)  claim  to  have  recorded  it  at  Ooty  and 
Kotagiri.  However,  we  did  not  see  even  a single  bird 
during  this  entire  study,  and  local  birdwatchers  deny 
seeing  this  species  in  the  last  two  to  three  decades. 

SHORT-TOED  SNAKE  EAGLE 
Circaetus  gallicus 

Uncommon  winter  visitor,  one  sighted  at  Taishola 
on  22  June  2002,  perched  on  a tall  tree,  perhaps 
surveying  its  surroundings  for  prey.  Another  bird 
sighted  soaring  and  circling  high  over  the  same  forest 
on  4 July  2002.  Ali  and  Ripley  (1987)  recorded  its 
habitat  as  open  cultivated  plains,  stony  deciduous 
scrub  and  foothills  country  and  semi-desert  quite 
unlike  the  area  where  it  was  recorded  in  the  Upper 
Nilgiris. 

CRESTED  SERPENT  EAGLE 
Spilornis  cheela 

Common  resident,  seen  circling  and  soaring 
over  the  grasslands  around  Upper  Bhavani  and  MNP. 
Davison  (1883)  collected  a single  bird  at  the  foot  of 


Coonoor  Ghat  on  1 February  1881  and  also  reported 
it  as  absent  over  the  higher  plateau  of  the  Nilgiris. 
Stairmand  ( 1 972)  reported  it  to  be  common  over  the 
forested  areas  in  the  Nilgiris. 

EURASIAN  (WESTERN)  MARSH-HARRIER 
Circus  aeruginosus 

None  recorded  during  this  study;  however, 
Davison  ( 1 883)  recorded  it  as  common  on  the  Nilgiris 
and  its  slopes.  He  recorded,  “usually  seen  about 
marshy  ground,  but  not  infrequently  it  may  be  seen 
hunting  over  the  grassy  sides  of  a hill  or  dry  cultivated 
ground”.  He  recorded  it  as  bold  and  fearless,  and 
saw  it  on  many  occasions  strike  at  wounded  snipe 
and  quail. 

PALLID  HARRIER 
Circus  macrourus 

Not  seen  by  us  during  our  study.  Davison  ( 1 883) 
remarks  “abundant,  frequents  by  preference  the 
cultivated  lands  about  Badaga  villages,  grassy  hills 
and  swamps,  cold  weather  visitant  to  the  Nilgiris, 
coming  in  about  the  end  of  October,  and  I have  seen 
it  as  late  as  the  last  week  of  April”.  Thirumurthi  and 
Balaji  (1999)  claim  to  have  seen  six  birds  at 
Dodabetta. 

PIED  HARRIER 
Circus  melanoleucos 

Not  seen  by  us  but  Davison  (1883)  recorded 
its  occurrence  as  sparingly  on  the  Nilgiris  and  their 
slopes. 

CRESTED  GOSHAWK 
Accipiter  trivirgatus 

We  did  not  see  even  a single  individual  between 
December  2000  and  February  2004.  Also,  there  were 
no  eai  lier  records  of  this  species  from  the  Upper 
Nilgiris.  However,  Thirumurthi  and  Balaji  ( 1 999)  claim 
to  have  seen  seven  birds  at  Avalanche,  Mukurti, 
Mamaram  and  Pykara. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10.  No.  1 (2005) 


SHIKRA 
Accipiter  badius 

Resident,  uncommon  in  the  Nilgiris,  except  in 
the  undisturbed  regions  towards  MNP,  sighted  near 
cultivated  areas  near  Ooty  and  other  habitations. 
Davison  (1883)  recorded  it  as  uncommon  on  the 
plateau  and  more  common  on  the  slopes  of  the  hills. 
Primrose  (1904)  recorded  it  as  “very  common”  in 
the  Nilgiris.  Ali  and  Ripley  (1987)  recorded  the  vertical 
distribution  limit  of  Shikra  to  be  approximately 
1,400  m.  Kumar  (1992)  described  a record  from 
Sholur  valley  (around  10  km  north  ofOoty)  as  unusual. 
Thus  its  occurrence  in  the  Nilgiris  (up  to  2,600  m)  is 
a record  of  vertical  distribution  in  peninsular  India. 

BESRA  SPARROWHAWK 
Accipiter  virgatus 

Resident,  common  over  the  study  area,  frequent 
at  Avalanche  (2,200  m)  and  similar  elevation  in  the 
Upper  Nilgiris  plateau.  Davison  (1 883)  described  it 
as  rare  (no  nest  found)  in  the  Nilgiris,  and  recorded 
it  as  a silent,  forest  loving  bird  rarely  coming  out  into 
the  open.  However,  contrary  to  Davison’s 
observation,  we  found  the  bird  making  squealing 
calls  tschew  tschew  tschew ...irom  December  till 
March  or  April.  Davison  (1883)  further  notes, 
“It  is  a permanent  resident,  but  never  found  a nest” 

EURASIAN  SPARROWHAWK 
Accipiter  nisus 

We  did  not  record  any  during  this  study.  Davison 
(1883)  remarks,  “Occur  sparingly  on  the  hills,  a 
female  shot  at  Ooty  on  7 February  1881  is 
undistinguishable  from  many  European  specimens, 
showing  no  approach  to  melaschistos  ".  Thirumurthi 
and  Balaji  ( 1 999)  report  1 6 birds  from  Kotagiri  and  Kil 
Kotagiri  during  their  survey  of  raptors  in  the  Nilgiris. 

WHITE-EYED  BUZZARD 
Biitastur  teesa 

Uncommon  winter  visitor  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris, 


seen  occasionally  in  open  scrub  and  grasslands  with 
scattered  Rhododendron. 

COMMON  BUZZARD 
Buteo  buteo 

Common  winter  visitor  at  all  elevations  in  the 
Nilgiris.  Usually  sighted  solitarily,  rarely  in  pairs. 
Occasionally  seen  perched  on  dead  trees  in  open 
grasslands.  Soars  silently  but  occasionally  heard 
making  mewing  calls. 

LONG-LEGGED  BUZZARD 
Buteo  rufinus 

Common  winter  visitor,  sighted  at  different 
locations  in  the  study  area  generally  near  grasslands. 

BLACK  EAGLE 
Ictinaetus  malayensis 

Common  resident,  widely  distributed  and 
recorded  at  different  locations  over  the  landscape  in 
small  groups  of  two  to  four.  For  example,  four  birds 
seen  soaring  at  Naduvattam  (1,800  m)  on  13  June 
2001,  one  sighted  on  a shola  tree  at  Avalanche  on 
1 6 March  2002.  Davison  ( 1 883)  and  Primrose  ( 1 904) 
reported  it  as  common  on  the  Nilgiris  and  its  slopes. 
Primrose  (1904)  recorded  breeding  at  the  Gunjara 
precipices,  near  Kil  Kotagiri,  in  company  with  many 
other  hawks  (species  not  mentioned).  Burgess  ( 1 937) 
saw  it  either  singly  or  in  pairs  all  over  these  hills 
especially  “where  the  plateau  falls  away  to  the  low 
country.”  Unnikrishnan  and  Rajasekhar  (1993) 
reported  the  bird  from  Taishola. 

EASTERN  IMPERIAL  EAGLE 
Aquila  heliaca 

We  did  not  record  any  Imperial  Eagle  during 
December  2000  to  February  2004.  However,  60  years 
ago,  Burgess  (1937)  recorded  it  as  an  occasional 
visitor,  having  seen  a bird  at  the  top  of  the  Sigur  Ghat. 
He  further  said  that  “the  bird  was  feeding  on  what 
looked  like  a hare.  1 approached  the  bird  to  fifteen 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


yards,  when  it  flew  away  from  me,  but  it  went  only  a 
short  distance  and  then  came  at  me  with  talons 
extended,  and  it  was  all  I could  do  to  keep  it  away 
with  a walking  stick.  Next  day  two  birds  were  seen 
at  the  same  spot,  circling  with  a dozen  or  more 
vultures  (species  not  mentioned).  Soon  they  separated 
from  the  vultures  and  flew  above  us  at  no  great 
height.  Since  then  I have  seen  the  bird  three  or  four 
times”. 

BONELLl’S  EAGLE 
Hieraaetus  fasciatus 

Uncommon  resident,  three  birds  seen  at  Taishola 
on  12  September  2003,  first  a single  adult  was 
sighted,  which  was  joined  later  by  two  others.  All 
three  kept  soaring  over  the  Taishola  Tea  Estate  area 
for  quite  some  time.  According  to  Davison  (1883), 
they  were  not  very  rare  on  the  Nilgiris  and  its  slopes, 
and  commit  havoc  among  domestic  pigeons.  Burgess 
(1937)  records,  “they  are  common  on  the  Nilgiris, 
though  they  are  never  seen  more  than  two  at  a time, 
but  not  also  a single,  hunt  in  pairs  and  put  in  some 
wonderful  teamwork”.  He  also  records  “It  can  be 
seen  in  Nilgiris  at  all  seasons  and  probably  it 
must  nest  on  the  rocky  crags  of  Mukurti  or  Nilgiri 
Peak”. 

BOOTED  EAGLE 
Hieraaetus  pennatus 

We  did  not  record  any  between  December  2000 
and  February  2004,  but  Primrose  (1904)  reported  it 
as  common  in  the  Nilgiris. 

RUFOUS-BELLIED  EAGLE 
Hieraaetus  kienerii 

Rare  resident,  a single  adult  bird  sighted  flying 
overhead  near  our  base  camp  at  Avalanche.  The  bird 
(probably  the  same  individual)  was  seen  soaring  in 
the  same  locality  on  three  consecutive  days  (28  to 
30  August  2003).  Thirumurthi  and  Balaji  ( 1 999)  claim 
to  have  sighted  four  birds  in  Mukurti.  We  did  not  see 


any  bird  in  Mukurti  National  Park,  although  it  was 
our  main  study  area. 

CHANGEABLE  HAWK  EAGLE 
Spizaetus  cirrhatus 

We  did  not  record  any  during  our  three  years 
study.  Davison  (1883)  was  certain  about  its 
occurrence  over  the  Nilgiris  and  Stairmand  (1972) 
recorded  one  bird  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris. 

MOUNTAIN  HAWK  EAGLE 
Spizaetus  nipalensis 

We  did  not  record  it  during  this  study,  however, 
Davison  (1883)  recorded  “1  know  of  but  one 
specimen  of  this  species  obtained  on  the  Nilgiris,  and 
that  was  given  to  me  in  June  1 872  for  Mr.  Hume  by 
Mr.  F.  L.  Chapman  of  Ootacamund”.  They  are 
distinguished  at  once  from  other  Indian  Hawk-Eagles 
by  the  feathering  of  the  tarsi  running  down  beyond 
the  first  joint  of  the  mid  toe. 

OSPREY  Pandion  haliaetus 

Rare  winter  visitor,  one  recorded  near  Upper 
Bhavani  dam  on  1 9 December  2003.  No  other  record 
known  from  the  Upper  Nilgiris. 

LESSER  KESTREL 
Falco  uaumanni 

Rare  passage  migrant,  classified  as  Vulnerable 
because  of  population  decline  in  most  of 
its  distribution  range  (BirdLife  International  2001). 
A single  female  was  seen  perched  on  a wattle 
tree  on  the  roadside  near  Upper  Bhavani  on  16 
November  2001 . Stayed  on  the  perch  for  sufficient 
time  for  us  to  clearly  see  its  whitish  claws  and  less 
distinct  moustachial  stripes.  Davison  (1883) 
commenting  on  Jerdon’s  having  found  a Lesser 
Kestrel  breeding  on  cliffs  on  the  Nilgiris  said 
“he  probably  mistook  it  for  the  resident  race  of 
the  Common  Kestrel,  which  does  breed  on  the 
cliffs”. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


COMMON  KESTREL 
Falco  tinnunculus 

Very  common  resident,  usually  seen  perched 
on  elevated  positions  such  as  transmission  lines, 
poles  or  isolated  tall  trees  scattered  in  the  grasslands 
from  where  it  dives  or  pounces  at  the  prey  on 
the  ground  and  returns  to  the  same  or  other  perch. 
Davison  (1883)  obtained  specimens  of  both  the 
migratory  and  resident  races  and  observed  a 
bird  pouncing  down  and  carrying  off  a Painted 
Bush  Quail  Perdicula  erythrorhyncha.  Primrose 
(1904)  collected  a nest  with  four  eggs  in  March 
1903. 

PEREGRINE  FALCON 
Falco  peregrinus 

We  have  no  record  of  this  species  from 
anywhere  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  during  this  study. 
However,  Davison  (1883)  sighted  a pair  near 
Ooty  and  one  pair  between  Naduvattam  and 
Gudalur  on  26  March  (year  not  recorded).  One 
bird  recorded  in  Mukurti  by  Thirumurthi  and  Balaji 
(1999). 

PAINTED  BUSH  QUAIL 
Perdicula  erythrorhyncha 

Common  resident,  seen  round  the  year  at 
several  locations,  in  small  parties  of  two  to  ten 
birds,  along  roads  near  tea  plantations,  such  as  at 
Red  Hill  Tea  Estate,  Ittalar,  Taishola  and  Bikkatti. 
Three  adult  birds  observed  with  five  chicks  along  a 
tea  plantation  near  Taishola  on  25  April  2002. 
According  to  Davison  (1883)  it  occurs  in  larger  or 
smaller  coveys,  and  with  dogs  afford  some  pretty 
shooting. 

RED  SPURFOWL 
Galloperdix  spadicea 

Common  resident,  has  a retreating  nature  and 
is  seen  s,hola,  mainly  in  Mukurti  National  Park  and 
adjoining  forests. 


GREY  JUNGLEFOWL 
Gallus  sonneratii 

Common  resident,  occurs  in  all  habitats,  both 
natural  forest  and  plantations.  In  grasslands  it 
generally  remains  close  to  the  cover.  Several  birds 
could  be  seen  along  roads  while  driving  through 
forests.  Males  generally  observed  accompanying  the 
brood  unlike  reported  in  the  literature.  For  instance  a 
male  seen  with  female  and  four  chicks  along  road  in 
Taishola  on  25  April  2002  and  another  male  sighted 
with  three  adult  females  and  five  chicks  near  a Rubus 
thicket  besides  a shola  near  Mullimunth  village.  We 
found  a nest  with  five  eggs  unusually  placed  in  a 
small  depression  along  the  earthen  road  bank  near 
Lawrence  on  26  April  2003.  Of  the  five,  only  two 
eggs  hatched  successfully  and  the  female  deserted 
the  rest.  Two  cocks  observed  fighting  on  5 February 
2003.  Many  females  sighted  with  fledglings  from  April 
to  June,  at  various  locations. 

INDIAN  PEAFOWL 
Pavo  cristatus 

Rare  resident  with  some  seasonal  altitudinal 
movement.  One  adult  male  was  sighted  on  10  May 
2001  at  the  edge  of  Avalanche  shola  c.  2,200  m. 
Another  male  sighted  near  Avalanche  Shola 
(undated)  in  2002  (Solomon  Frederick,  pers.  comm.). 
Its  occurrence  at  c.  2200  is  thus  an  altitudinal  record 
for  this  region. 

WHITE-BREASTED  WATERHEN 
Amaurornis  phoenicurus 

Common  resident  seen  mainly  around  Ooty  Lake, 
rare  in  other  localities.  A single  bird  seen  near  Lawrence 
Tea  Estate  on  22  June  2002.  The  bird  crossed  the  road 
to  reach  a waterhole  created  by  a leak  from  a water 
pipe.  It  is  rare,  perhaps  because  of  the  scarce  wetland 
habitat.  Davison  (1883)  killed  one  in  the  Botanical 
Gardens  at  Ooty.  Kumar  ( 1 996)  recorded  many  from 
Ooty  Lake  on  9 August.  Nair  (1995)  reported  seeing 
around  1 5 birds  feeding  actively  in  Ooty  Lake. 


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COMMON  MOORHEN 
Gallinula  chloropus 

Common  resident  at  Ooty  Lake,  and  breeds 
among  the  sedges  growing  on  the  margins.  Not  seen 
along  the  other  reservoirs  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris.  At 
Ooty  Lake,  Kumar  (1996)  observed  it  in  breeding 
plumage  on  9 August,  and  Nair  ( 1 995)  sighted  about 
35  birds  during  September. 

LESSER  FLORICAN 
Sypheotides  indica 

No  recent  known  record  of  this  species  from 
the  Nilgiris.  Davison  (1883)  quoted  Hume  “a  specimen 
was  killed  on  the  slopes  to  the  Nilgiris  some  years 
ago  between  Naduvattam  and  Pykara,  going  down 
to  the  Wynaad”.  The  above  record  should  thus  be 
considered  as  of  historical  importance. 

RED-WATTLED  LAPWING 
Vanellus  indicus 

Common  resident,  often  one  or  two  birds  seen 
near  all  the  big  and  small  reservoirs  as  well  as  open 
grazing  lands. 

EURASIAN  WOODCOCK 
Scolopax  rusticola 

Once  common  winter  visitor  and  a favourite 
game  bird  in  the  Nilgiris,  its  population  has  declined 
and  it  is  uncommon  today.  A single  bird  observed  on 
28  December  2002  in  a small  moist  and  shaded  grass 
patch  beside  a wattle  stand  at  Avalanche. 
Subsequently  we  sighted  (probably)  the  same  bird 
on  the  same  site  on  30  & 3 1 December  2002  and  22 
& 23  January  2003.  A bird  sighted  near  Kolari  Betta 
near  a waterhole  along  the  road  on  23  January  2003, 
two  birds  sighted  in  January  2003,  and  one  bird  each  in 
December  2003  and  January  2004  at  different  locations. 

Davison  (1883)  notes,  “Woodcock  is  not 
uncommon  from  about  October  to  the  end  of  the 
February  in  the  Nilgiris  and  their  shooting  is  an 
amusement”.  Home  and  Logan  (1923)  reported  a 


woodcock  shot  on  28  April  in  Krurnand  near  Mukurti 
Peak  as  an  exceptionally  late  date  for  the  woodcock 
in  the  Nilgiris.  Inglis  ( 1 923)  quotes  Baker  (who  wrote 
to  him  in  1 92 1 ),  “now  a single  gun  is  lucky,  as  I have 
been,  if  he  gets  30  to  40  cocks  in  a season  and  6 in  a 
day.  In  1920-21,1  got  35  and  in  1921-22, 1 got  29  and 
in  both  seasons  my  best  bag  was  six  in  a day  out  of 
seven  seen”.  Further  notes  on  woodcock  shooting  in 
Nilgiris  can  be  seen  in  Fletcher  (1911),  Home  and 
Logan  (1923)  and  Lambton  (1911). 

The  woodcock  is  believed  to  be  the  only  non- 
stop long  distance  flier  in  India,  from  the  Himalaya  to 
the  Nilgiri  hills  (a  distance  of  2,500  km)  (Sengupta 
1990a).  Sengupta  (1990b)  proposed  its  migratory 
route  from  Himalaya  to  the  Nilgiris  via  Bangladesh, 
West  Bengal  (where  several  specimens  were  netted 
in  Sait  Lake,  Calcutta  between  1963  and  1969)  and 
Eastern  Ghats,  with  or  without  a stopover. 

WOOD  SNIPE 
Gallinago  nemoricola 

This  winter  visitor  was  not  recorded  during  this 
study.  It  has  been  described  as  a rare  visitor  to  the 
Nilgiris  (Jerdon  1 839-1 840).  Davison  ( 1 883)  noted 
“it  was  never  common  and  seems  to  be  getting  still 
rarer,  year  by  year”.  The  fact  that  13  birds  were 
shot  in  the  Nilgiris  between  1 922  and  1 935,  however, 
suggested  that  no  decline  had  taken  place  and  that  a 
small  wintering  population  survived  (Whistler  and 
Kinnear  1 936).  Also  from  his  game  records  between 
1923  and  1948  Phythian-Adams  (1948)  listed  only  8 
birds  of  this  species  shot  in  Nilgiris  unlike  Pintail  and 
Fantail  snipes  that  figured  in  thousands.  Hence,  we 
assume  that  this  is  the  rarest  of  all  snipes  wintering 
in  the  UpperNilgiris.  It  is  listed  Vulnerable  by  BirdLife 
International  (2001). 

PINTAIL  SNIPE 
Gallinago  stenura 

Rare  winter  visitor,  only  one  bird  sighted  at 
Avalanche,  near  the  Guest  House  on  20  February 


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2004.  It  was  once  common  and  a favourite  game 
bird  in  the  Nilgiris.  Davison  ( 1 883)  observed  it  coming 
earlier  and  returning  later  than  the  Jack  and  Wood 
snipes.  He  notes  having  seen  it  as  early  as  the  last 
week  of  August  and  leaving  as  late  as  the  last  week 
of  May.  Details  of  numbers  shot  are  cited  in  Phythian- 
Adams  ( 1 948)  and  Whistler  and  Kinnear  ( 1 936). 

COMMON  SNIPE 
Gallinago  gallinago 

None  recorded  during  this  study.  Davison  (1883) 
reported  its  occurrence  throughout  the  Nilgiris  but 
described  it  as  rare.  Details  of  the  numbers  shot  are 
cited  in  Phythian-Adams  (1948)  and  Whistler  and 
Kinnear (1936) 

JACK  SNIPE 
Lymnocryptes  minimus 

None  recorded  during  this  study.  Davison  ( 1 883) 
reported  it  as  occasional  visitor  to  the  Nilgiris.  Details 
of  numbers  shot  are  cited  in  Whistler  and  Kinnear 
1936  and  Phythian-Adams  (1948). 

GREEN  SANDPIPER 
Tringa  ochropus 

Common  winter  visitor,  seen  along  Ooty  Lake. 
Ten  birds  sighted  on  two  different  dates  in  December 
2003,  near  the  rail  track,  where  Ooty  sewage  enters 
the  lake.  Davison  (1883)  recorded  it  as  only  very  rare 
visitor,  having  seen  one  specimen  shot  at  Ooty  Lake. 

WOOD  SANDPIPER 
Tringa  glareola 

We  never  came  across  this  sandpiper  during 
our  study.  Davison  (1883)  observed  that  it  remains 
very  late,  having  found  it  in  the  Botanical  Garden  at 
Ootacamund  as  late  as  July. 

COMMON  SANDPIPER 
Actitis  hypoleucos 

Common  winter  visitor,  generally  solitary  birds 


seen  at  Avalanche,  Upper  Bhavani,  Pykara  and  other 
reservoirs  and  lakes.  However,  up  to  ten  seen  feeding 
in  one  site,  where  Ooty  sewage  enters  Ooty  Lake.  It 
is  reported  from  the  Upper  Nilgiris  as  early  as  4 
August  (Betts  1930),  at  Ooty  Lake  on  9 August 
(Kumar  1996),  and  Avalanche  on  28  August  2002 
during  this  study.  Around  20  birds  seen  at  Ooty  Lake 
by  Nair  ( 1 995)  is  perhaps  the  largest  number  recorded 
together  anywhere  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau. 

BLUE  ROCK  PIGEON 
Columba  livia 

Common  resident,  seen  near  almost  all  human 
habitations.  We  presume  that  it  has  extended  its  range 
over  most  parts  of  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  with  the 
expansion  of  the  human  settlement  across  the  plateau. 

NILGIRI  WOOD-PIGEON 
Columba  elphinstonii 

Common  resident,  shy  and  restricted  to  shola 
habitat.  It  is  classified  as  Vulnerable  owing  to  its  small, 
declining  population,  as  a result  of  widespread  destruction 
of  its  habitat  (BirdLife  International  2001 ).  More  often 
heard  than  seen,  it  remains  in  the  thick  canopy  shola 
calling  “//o  Hu  Hu  Hu”.  Up  to  four  birds  seen  in  a 1 
km  intact  shola  transect.  Often  they  feed  on  insects 
and  fallen  fruits  on  the  road  passing  through  shola,  and 
quickly  take  cover  on  the  approach  of  a vehicle. 

LITTLE  BROWN  DOVE 
Streptopelia  senegalensis 

None  recorded  during  this  study.  Davison  ( 1 883) 
reported  that  they  occur  sparingly  on  the  tableland 
(upper  plateau)  of  the  Nilgiris  and  a few  can  always 
be  obtained  around  the  Badaga  cultivation. 

SPOTTED  DOVE 
Streptopelia  chinensis 

Common  resident,  well  spread  in  the  Nilgiris 
(Jameson  1969),  more  often  near  habitations. 
Uncommon  in  the  Mukurti  National  Park. 


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EURASIAN  COLLARED-DOVE 
Streptopelia  decaocto 

Davison  (1883)  notes,  “I  shot  one  at  a village 
(not  named)  about  seven  miles  from  Ootacamund 
and  on  the  plateau  of  the  Nilgiris,  but  it  is  the  only 
one  I ever  heard  of  being  killed  at  this  elevation”. 
None  recorded  during  our  study. 

EMERALD  DOVE 

Chalcophaps  indica 

Common,  subject  to  local  movement,  generally 
solitary  as  seen  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  from  February 
till  the  onset  of  southwest  monsoon.  Many  recorded 
singly  in  different  localities  on  different  dates. 
However,  Davison  (1883)  could  not  find  it  as  high  as 
Ootacamund  (2000  m). 

POMPADOUR  GREEN  PIGEON 
Treron  pompadora 

Vagrant  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris;  a single  bird 
observed  perched  atop  a Cypress  hedge  in  front  of  the 
Avalanche  Forest  Guest  House  on  1 4 September  2002. 
The  bird  kept  to  the  same  perch  for  about  1 0 minutes. 
It  has  been  described  as  “common”  below  Coonoor 
(1800  m)  by  Jameson  (1969),  thus  its  record  at 
Avalanche  c.  2,200  m is  significant. 

PLUM-HEADED  PARAKEET 
Psittacula  cyanocephala 

Perhaps  vagrant  to  western  upper  plateau;  a single 
bird  observed  perched  atop  a dead  wattle  tree  for  about 
an  hour  at  Avalanche  on  6 August  2002.  Common 
around  lower  elevations  about  Coonoor  (Jameson  1 969). 
No  other  record  known  from  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau. 

BLUE-WINGED  PARAKEET 
Psittacula  columboides 

Uncommon  resident,  two  birds  observed  on  5 
October  2003  near  Solur  ( 1 ,800  m),  and  a flock  of  1 1 
birds  in  flight  near  Taishola  (2 1 00  m)  on  23  November 
2003.  Quite  common  on  the  Nilgiri  slopes  and  plains. 


Davison  (1883)  shot  it  on  more  than  one  occasion 
near  Ooty.  Previously  described  as  distributed  at  500- 
1,500  m (Ali  and  Ripley  1987).  Thus  our  record  at 
2 1 00  m is  quite  significant. 

PIED  CRESTED  CUCKOO 
Clamator  jacobinus 

We  could  not  find  any  during  this  study.  Davison 
(1883)  reported  it  as  common  on  the  Nilgiris,  also 
reported  its  habitat  as  thickly  wooded  country,  and 
cultivated  land  interspersed  with  scrub  and  bushes. 
He  also  reported  it  as  most  numerous  near 
Ootacamund,  Coonoor,  Kotagiri  and  other  villages. 

LARGE  HAWK-CUCKOO 
Hierococcyx  sparverioides 

Not  recorded  during  this  study.  Davison  ( 1 883) 
recorded  it  as  numerous  on  the  Nilgiris  in  shola  and 
occasional  in  well-wooded  gardens. 

BRAINFEVER  CUCKOO 
Hierococcyx  varius 

Not  seen  during  this  study.  Described  as  plentiful 
on  the  plateau  and  the  slopes  of  the  Nilgiris  by 
Davison  (1883).  Davison  also  recorded  that  there  is 
hardly  a garden  or  grove  that  does  not  contain  one  or 
more  birds.  He  observed  a young  of  this  species  being 
fed  by  the  Nilgiri  Laughingthrush  {Garrulax 
cachinnans). 

ASIAN  KOEL 
Eudynamys  scolopacea 

Not  recorded  during  this  study.  Davison  (1 883) 
once  shot  a bird  in  the  Gardens  at  Ootacamund,  but 
its  occurrence  at  that  elevation  is  quite  unusual,  unlike 
on  the  slopes  of  Nilgiris. 

GREATER  COUCAL 
Centropus  sinensis 

Common  resident,  sparsely  distributed  but  is  less 
numerous  on  the  Nilgiris  plateau  than  the  slopes. 


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Usually  single,  but  occasionally  seen  in  pairs  near 
partially  disturbed  habitat  near  habitations.  Parochial 
and  generally  stays  close  to  cover. 

COMMON  CUCKOO 
Cuculus  canorus 

Rare,  perhaps  vagrant.  One  adult  female 
photographed  near  our  base  camp  at  Avalanche  on  30 
September  2002  and  another  male  near  Upper  Bhavani 
on  the  same  day.  The  bird  foraged  in  a clearing  besides 
the  stream,  pounced  frequently  at  insects  and  returned 
to  the  same  perch  every  time,  and  spent  considerable 
time  on  the  ground  during  foraging. 

COLLARED  SCOPS-OWL 
Otus  bakkamoena 

We  did  not  come  across  this  species.  Primrose 
(1904)  recorded  it  in  the  Nilgiris,  though  he  never 
collected  any  skin. 

FOREST  EAGLE-OWL 
Bubo  nipalensis 

We  did  not  come  across  this  species  during  this 
study.  Davison  (1883)  recorded  it  as  permanent 
resident  but  occurring  sparingly  on  the  Nilgiris,  seen 
singly,  but  occasionally  in  pairs  also.  He  also  recorded 
that  the  native  shikaris  (hunters)  say  it  regularly  kills 
hares,  young  jackal  (Canis  aureus)  and  young  Indian 
Muntjac  {Muntiacus  muntjak)  (Davison  1883). 

BROWN  FISH-OWL 
Ketupa  zeyloneasis 

Common  resident,  often  heard  from  evening  till 
late  night,  near  our  base  camp  at  Avalanche  and 
similar  well-wooded  areas.  Seen  in  different  localities, 
usually  dashes  out  from  its  perch  in  front  of  a vehicle. 
Often  seen  perched  atop  tall  Pinus  or  Eucalyptus 
trees  along  power  transmission  lines,  making 
characteristic  reverberating  boom-boom  calls.  Feeds 
on  crabs,  which  abound  in  all  swamps  and  marshes. 
It  is  usually  seen  in  pairs  (Davison  1883).  Based  on 


his  skin  collection.  Primrose  (1904)  describes  it  as 
very  common  in  the  Nilgiris.  Ali  and  Ripley  (1987) 
reported  its  distribution  up  to  c.  1 ,400  m in  peninsular 
India;  however,  we  have  seen  it  commonly  at  2,200 
m and  even  higher  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris. 

MOTTLED  WOOD-OWL 
Strix  ocellata 

Rare  resident,  little  information  available  on  its 
seasonal  or  vertical  movements  (if  any).  One  bird 
sighted  perched  at  about  5 m on  a wattle  tree  near 
the  Trout  Hatchery  at  Avalanche  on  5 August  2002. 
No  other  record  from  anywhere  in  the  UpperNilgiris 
plateau. 

BROWN  WOOD  OWL 
Strix  leptogrammica 

Common  resident,  sighted  in  June  2001 
followed  by  other  records  of  a single  bird  on  1 5 March 
and  on  20  November  2002  at  Avalanche.  The  bird 
generally  perches  on  tall  Pinus  trees  near  street 
lamps.  Once  seen  near  Lakkedi  during  daytime  in 
December  2001.  Several  others  recorded  from 
different  locations  in  the  UpperNilgiris.  It  seems  from 
Baker  and  Inglis  ( 1 930)  that  it  was  more  common  in 
these  hills  than  at  present. 

JUNGLE  OWLET 
Glaucidium  radiatum 

Not  seen  during  this  study.  Primrose  (1904) 
sighted  it  in  a shola  near  the  Terrace  Tea  Estate 
as  high  as  1940  m,  but  found  it  as  uncommon 
overall. 

BARN  OWL 
Tyto  alba 

Rare  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  never  seen  during 
this  study.  A dead  bird  was  sent  to  us  by  S. 
Sounderrajan  who  narrated  “This  bird  was  killed  by 
three  Bonnet  Macaques  (Macaca  radiata)  while  it 
perched  on  a tree  near  the  Canteen  of  the  Hindustan 


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Photo  Films  campus  near  the  Ooty-Gudalur  road. 
Ravi,  T.  sighted  one  of  the  macaque  squeezing  the 
neck  of  the  owl.  When  Ravi  chased  the  macaque,  it 
dropped  the  bird  and  fled.  The  bird  had  died  before  it 
was  dropped.  The  specimen  was  sent  to  BNHS 
collection.” 

SHORT-EARED  OWL 
Asio  flammeus 

Rare  winter  visitor  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  a single 
bird  sighted  at  Bangitappal  on  3 March  2001 . Again 
sighted  at  Bangitappal  Valley  in  June  2002  perched 
on  a short  Rhododendron  tree  at  1800  hrs.  Flew 
swiftly  and  perched  over  an  exposed  rock  in  the 
grassland  beside  a shola  patch. 

INDIAN  JUNGLE  NIGHTJAR 
Caprimulgus  indicus 

Common  resident,  seen  all  over  the  Upper 
Nilgiris.  Often  heard  near  Avalanche  reservoir 
in  the  evenings.  Commonly  seen  while  driving 
through  well- wooded  roads  in  the  evening.  Calls 
could  be  heard  near  Avalanche  reservoir  in  the 
evening. 

COMMON  INDIAN  NIGHTJAR 
Caprimulgus  asiaticus 

Common  in  the  study  area.  Seen  on  several 
occasions  along  the  wattle  bordered  road  in  several 
localities  in  the  evenings. 

INDIAN  EDIBLE-NEST  SWIFTLET 
Collocalia  unicolor 

Common  resident,  seen  more  often  near  Ooty. 
Confirmed  records  are  from  the  Tiger  Caves  near 
Ooty-Coonoor  road.  Betham  (1902)  recorded,  “I 
believe  there  are  several  colonies  of  this  little  Swiftlet 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ooty”.  He  collected  two  nests 
from  a cave,  and  sighted  eight  nests,  of  which  7 
contained  2 eggs  each.  Walkey  (1 978)  reported  many 
half-saucer  shaped  nests  containing  about  three  white 


eggs,  fixed  securely  to  the  walls  and  roofs  of  a cave 
with  thick  gum  of  solidified  saliva. 

WHITE-RUMPED  NEEDLETAIL-SWIFT 
Zoonavena  sylvatica 

Common  resident,  seen  throughout  the  study 
area,  more  over  the  grassy  downs,  flocks  of  up  to  30 
birds  seen  occasionally,  in  the  southwestern  Nilgiris 
such  as  at  Bangitappal  and  Western  Catchment  11 
and  111.  Often  flocks  with  the  House  Swallow 
Hirundo  tahitica. 

ALPINE  SWIFT 
Tachymarptis  melba 

Resident  and  common  around  the  western  slopes  of 
MNP.  Usually  remains  in  small  flocks  of  up  to  10, 
being  most  common  over  the  grasslands  around 
Western  Catchments  II  and  III.  Davison  ( 1 883)  found 
it  as  uncommon  on  the  Nilgiris. 

MALABAR  TROGON 
Harpactes  fasciatus 

Rare  and  perhaps  moves  attitudinaliy,  a single 
pair  seen  at  Taishola  on  25  April  2002  at  10  hrs. 
Detected  first  by  call,  male  and  female  were  seen 
perched  about  40  m apart.  Presumably,  it  ventures 
into  the  shola  habitat  around  south  and  southwestern 
Nilgiris  from  the  slopes  adjoining  Palghat,  Silent  Valley 
National  Park  and  the  Nilambur  Forest  Division, 
perhaps  during  the  peak  summer  when  it  is  generally 
dry  in  plains  (Zarri  and  Rahmani,  in  press), 

SMALL  BLUE  KINGFISHER 
Alcedo  atthis 

Rare  in  the  study  area,  perhaps  with  some  local 
movements;  one  adult  bird  sighted  perched  on  the 
dead  stump  of  a submerged  tree  in  the  Avalanche 
reservoir  on  11  January  2003.  Another  sighted  at 
Avalanche  on  20  May  2003  near  the  stream.  Kumar 
(1996)  sighted  a bird  around  Pykara  Lake  on  10 
August  1996. 


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STORK-BILLED  KINGFISHER 
Halcyon  capensis 

Common  resident,  subject  to  vertical 
movements.  Usually  solitary,  its  raucous  chattering 
laugh  heard  near  streams.  First  recorded  on  20 
January  2003  along  the  stream  at  Avalanche  at  c. 
2,200  m,  and  subsequently  the  bird  was 
sighted  near  the  same  stream  several  times  in  winter. 
One  bird  heard  in  Longwood  Shola  on  25  April  2003. 
Never  recorded  in  MNP.  Jameson  (1978)  described 
it  at  Coonoor  ( 1 ,935  m)  as  an  altitudinal  record. 

WHITE-BREASTED  KINGFISHER 
Halcyon  smyrnensis 

Common  resident  in  the  study  area,  generally 
a solitary  bird  seen  perched  on  transmission  wires  or 
on  stands  of  wattle  near  the  streams  or  cultivated 
lands.  One  bird  ringed  on  21  January  2003.  Davison 
(1883)  described  the  bird  as  a straggler  to  the  upper 
plateau,  and  common  at  Coonoor,  Naduvattam  and 
Pykara.  He  had  shot  it  near  Ooty  two  or  three  times. 

BLACK-CAPPED  KINGFISHER 
Halcyon  pileata 

A vagrant  bird  sighted  on  8 March  2002  at 
Avalanche  near  the  reservoir.  Known  as  distributed 
up  to  1000  m (Ali  and  Ripley  1987),  its  record  at 
Avalanche  c.  2150  m is  quite  significant.  We  know 
of  no  other  record  of  this  species  from  anywhere  in 
the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau. 

SMALL  BEE-EATER 
Merops  orientalis 

Rare  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau  unlike  lower 
elevations.  One  bird  was  seen  in  flight  on  29  June  2002 
from  very  close  in  Mullimunth  village  ( 1 1°  30'  095”  N 
76°.  61'  181'’  E)  between  Lawrence  and  Avalanche. 

CHESTNUT-HEADED  BEE-EATER 
Merops  leschenaulti 

Resident,  uncommon,  perhaps  subject  to  vertical 


movements,  two  birds  observed  perched  on  a 
telephone  wire  at  Kundha  Bridge  village  (1900  m) 
on  1 6 May  2003.  Common  on  the  Nilgiri  slopes  below 
1,600  m and  plains  near  Mudumalai  Wildlife 
Sanctuary.  According  to  Davison  (1883)  they  do 
not  ascend  the  plateau  but  are  common  on  the 
slopes. 

INDIAN  ROLLER 
Coracias  benghalensis 

Rare  resident  in  the  study  area,  one  bird  sighted 
perched  on  a transmission  wire  over  an  agriculture 
field  at  Lawrence  at  c.  2100  m,  on  16  March  2002. 
Another  bird  seen  flying  over  a tea  plantation  near 
Ellakandi  village  (2 1 00  m)  along  Emerald  to  Ooty  road 
on  1 6 February  2004.  According  to  Davison  ( 1 883)  it 
does  not  ascend  the  hills  and  is  not  common  even  on 
the  base  of  hills.  This  is  apparently  not  true  anymore. 

COMMON  HOOPOE 
Upupa  epops 

Common  resident  and  perhaps  subject  to  local 
movements.  It  is  seen  from  the  first  week  of 
November  till  May.  Seen  more  at  Kundha,  Taishola, 
Bikkatti,  Ooty,  Coonoor,  Kotagiri  and  other  localities 
near  cultivated  areas  or  tea  plantations.  None 
sighted  in  the  western  Upper  Nilgiris  mainly  in  the 
MNP  and  the  surroundings.  Sighted  twice  at 
Avalanche;  once  foraging  in  a transmission  line 
opening  beside  a wattle  plantation  on  1 8 November 
2002  and  another  foraging  in  front  of  our  base  camp 
at  Avalanche  on  3 April  2003  from  where  it  was 
chased  away  by  a pair  of  Jungle  y[yx\2L,Acridotheres 
tristis. 

Stairmand  ( 1 972)  described  it  as  “uncommon” 
in  Ooty.  However,  Davison  (1883)  claims  to  have 
shot  great  numbers  on  the  Nilgiris.  Jameson  (1969) 
described  the  plumage  and  call  characteristics  in  the 
Nilgiris,  and  Pittie  (1987)  reported  sighting  of  a 
single  bird  at  Wellington  ( 1 ,832  m)  as  an  altitudinal 
record. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


WHITE-CHEEKED  BARBET 
Megalaima  viridis 

Common  resident,  restricted  to  shola  habitat 
throughout  the  study  area.  More  often  heard  than 
seen.  Observed  duetting  with  Scimitar  Babbler 
Pomatorhinus  horsfieldii.  In  the  Nilgiris,  great 
damage  is  done  by  it  in  orchards,  especially  to  apples 
and  pears  (Davison  1883). 

CRIMSON-THROATED  BARBET 
Megalaima  rubricapilla 

Rare  resident,  one  bird  observed  at  Kodanadu 
1 800  m on  25  April  2003.  Overall  rare  in  the  rest  of 
the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau,  mainly  around  the  western 
Upper  Nilgiris.  Quite  common  on  the  slopes  at  lower 
elevations. 

RUFOUS  WOODPECKER 
Celeus  brachyurus 

Not  recorded  by  us  during  this  study,  but 
common  around  the  Nilgiri  plains  such  as  the 
Mudumalai  Wildlife  Sanctuary.  Davison  (1883) 
obtained  one  specimen  of  this  species  a few  miles 
from  Ootacamund.  Perhaps  Davison’s  record  should 
be  treated  as  vagrant. 

GREAT  BLACK  WOODPECKER 

Dryocopus  javensis 

Rare  in  the  study  area,  only  a single  bird 
recorded  in  a Eucalyptus  plantation  interspersed 
with  shola  trees  at  Snowdon  (near  Wood  House  c. 
2,200  m),  near  Ootacamund  on  1 April  2002. 
However,  it  is  common  around  the  Nilgiri  plains.  It 
is  typically  a bird  of  heavy  evergreen  forests  of  the 
Western  Ghats,  where  it  is  fairly  common  up  to  1,290 
m (Betts  1934).  Santharam  (2003)  recorded  its 
preference  for  moist  deciduous  forests,  near 
evergreen/semi-evergreen  forests  or  riverine  forest 
patches.  Shy  and  wary,  it  keeps  to  the  interior  of  the 
forests  and  occasionally  ventures  into  cultivation  on 
the  jungle  edge. 


LITTLE  SCALY-BELLIED  GREEN 

WOODPECKER 

Picus  xanthopygaeus 

Common  resident,  recorded  a few  times,  mainly 
near  Ooty.  A male  sighted  in  Taishola  Tea  Estate  on 
25  April  2002,  one  female  on  15  March  2003  and 
one  female  on  22  April  2003  foraging  among  Silver 
Oak  Grevillia  robusta  trees  planted  between  the 
tea  shrubs  for  checking  soil  erosion.  Seen  a few  more 
times  near  plantations  along  the  road  from  Lawrence 
to  Taishola  but  never  in  the  MNP.  Presumably,  it 
does  not  go  higher  than  2,200  m and  generally 
remains  closer  to  the  eastern  and  southeastern  slopes 
of  the  Nilgiris.  Betts  (1934)  reported  that,  “few 
pairs  are  resident  in  the  shola  around  Ooty,  and  I 
have  seen  two  on  the  border  of  copses  on  the 
downs  of  the  Nilgiri  Plateau”.  The  bird  seems  to 
feed  mainly  on  ground  dwelling  ants  like  its 
English  congener  Picus  viridis  and  is  conse- 
quently partial  to  park  land  and  open  country  (Betts 
1934). 

LESSER  GOLDEN-BACKED  WOODPECKER 
Dinopium  benghalense 

Common  resident  throughout  the  Nilgiris  at  all 
elevations.  Four  to  five  birds,  usually  seen  foraging 
among  the  trees  near  orchidarium  and  shola  edge  at 
Avalanche.  These  birds  follow  the  same  route 
between  their  roosting  and  foraging  sites  in  a follow 
my  leader  way,  making  loud  “drr. . .rr..rr.rr..rr.”  calls. 
Loose  flocks  of  up  to  six  birds  are  commonly  seen  in 
partially  disturbed  as  well  as  undisturbed  shola 
patches. 

GREATER  GOLDEN-BACKED 
WOODPECKER  Chrysocolaptes  lucidus 

Common  resident  in  the  forests  near  Ooty, 
Coonoor,  Wellington,  Kundha,  Kotagiri  and  other 
villages.  Rare  around  the  western  Upper 
Nilgiris  around  Mukurti  National  Park  and 
surroundings. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


INDIAN  PITTA 
Pitta  hrachyura 

An  uncommon  winter  visitor  in  the  Upper 
Nilgiris.  Davison  (1883)  shot  the  bird  near 
Ootacamund  and  on  the  slopes.  Stairmand  (1971a) 
sighted  many  (number  not  mentioned)  at  Ooty 
Botanical  Garden.  A single  bird  sighted  at  Avalanche 
perched  at  a low  branch  of  a shady  bush  beside  a 
stagnant  pool  of  water  on  25  November  2003.  This 
bird  was  observed  on  several  other  visits  near  the 
same  site  between  December  2003  and  January 
2004. 

MALABAR  CRESTED  LARK 
Galerida  malabarica 

Rare  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  one  bird  was 
sighted  feeding  along  the  road  coming  from 
Kotagiri  to  Ooty  at  1900m.  No  other  record 
from  anywhere  else  in  the  study  area  during  this 
study. 

DUSKY  CRAG-MARTIN 
Hirundo  concolor 

Common  resident,  generally  seen  near  cliffs 
at  Mukurti  Peak,  Nilgiri  Peak,  Kolari  Betta,  Pechakal 
Bettu  and  Pichal  Bettu  {Bettu  means  peak).  Not 
uncommon  in  the  Nilgiris  during  the  winter  (Davison 
1883).  Forms  mixed  flocks  with  Alpine  Swift  and 
House  Swallow  Hirundo  tahitica.  Previously 
recorded  up  to  1,800  m in  south  India  (Ali  and 
Ripley  1987,  Kazmierczak  2000),  but  in  the  Nilgiris 
we  recorded  it  up  to  the  2,550  m. 

COMMON  SWALLOW 
Hirundo  rustica 

Common  winter  visitor,  more  near  Kotagiri, 
Coonoor  and  Ooty  town.  Davison  (1 883)  recorded  it 
as  common  in  the  Nilgiris.  Betts  (1930)  records  its 
arrival  in  the  Nilgiris  as  early  as  October.  Pittie  ( 1 987) 
includes  it  as  an  altitudinal  record  at  1,832  m near 
Coonoor. 


HOUSE  SWALLOW 
Hirundo  tahitica 

Common  resident,  widespread,  seen  practically 
throughout  the  Upper  Nilgiris.  Several  nests  recorded 
at  different  locations  in  March  and  April.  Two  nests 
seen  in  April  2002  in  our  garage  were  reoccupied  in 
2003  with  little  modification. 

RED-RUMPED  SWALLOW 
Hirundo  daurica 

Rare  passage  migrant  to  the  study  area,  a flock 
of  nearly  1 00  individuals  seen  on  2 November  2003,  in 
the  Bangitappal  Valley.  The  flock  remained  circling  over 
the  guesthouse  for  more  than  an  hour,  making  a nasal 
''queenk”  every  now  and  then.  Due  to  lack  of  any 
other  record,  the  observation  should  be  treated  as  a 
passage  record. 

FOREST  WAGTAIL 
Dendronanthus  indicus 

Uncommon  winter  visitor,  sighted  in  moderately 
disturbed  open  plantation  patches.  Occurs  all  over  the 
Nilgiris,  but  is  rare  (Davison  1 883).  Two  birds  sighted 
on  11  March  2001,  followed  by  a single  bird  on  2 
February  2002.  While  it  is  common  during  winter  at 
lower  elevations,  it  is  uncommon  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris. 
Thought  to  be  a return  passage  migrant  in  the  Nilgiris 
based  on  first  two  sightings  initially,  but  sightings  of  two 
birds  at  two  different  locations  on  2 December  2002  at 
Avalanche  clearly  suggests  that  it  is  an  uncommon 
winter  visitor  and  not  a passage  migrant.  We  ringed 
one  bird  on  27  January  2003  at  Avalanche. 

LARGE-PIED  WAGTAIL 
Motacilla  maderaspatensis 

Common  resident,  more  frequent  in  areas  at 
lower  elevations.  Frequents  marshy  and  open 
grazing  areas  during  post  monsoon.  Usually  sighted 
solitarily  or  in  pairs  throughout  the  study  area 
around  reservoirs,  except  in  the  MNP  and  its 
immediate  surroundings.  Common  at  Ooty  Lake,  close 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


to  the  spot  where  town’s  sewage  nullah  joins  the 
Lake. 

YELLOW  WAGTAIL 
Motacilla  flava 

Rare  winter  visitor,  a single  bird  sighted  on 
17  March  2001,  perched  on  a wattle  tree  along  a 
transmission  line  at  Avalanche.  Another  solitary 
bird  sighted  on  17  April  2001  near  Kolari  Betta, 
followed  by  a sighting  on  17  April  2001  near  the 
stream  that  bisects  the  Bangitappal  valley. 

GREY  WAGTAIL 
Motacilla  cinerea 

Common  winter  visitor,  generally  seen  singly  all 
over  the  study  area,  between  August  and  April,  near 
marshes,  along  the  roads,  open  grazing  lands  and  human 
habitations.  Its  population  is  thought  to  have  declined  in 
the  study  area  for  unknown  reasons.  Murray  (1944) 
sighted  it  at  Lovedale  near  Ooty  on  2 September.  Betts 
(1930)  reported  its  arrival  in  the  Nilgiris  on  23  August. 
We  ringed  a bird  on  21  January  2003  at  Avalanche. 

RICHARD’S  PIPIT 
Anthus  richardi 

Uncommon  winter  visitor,  a solitary  bird  sighted 
at  Lakkedi  on  7 March  2001 , perched  on  a short  dead 
wattle  tree;  clearly  displayed  pale  lores,  and  well 
streaked  upper  parts  and  breast.  Another  bird  sighted 
feeding  in  the  same  locality  the  same  day,  followed  by 
one  seen  in  Bangitappal  valley  on  1 1 April  200 1 . 

PADDYFIELD  PIPIT 
Anthus  rufulus 

Common  resident,  often  seen  singly  or  in  pairs, 
frequents  fallow  land,  with  scarce  scrub  and  grazed 
areas. 

BROWN  ROCK  PIPIT 
Anthus  similis 

Uncommon  resident,  usually  three  to  four  birds 


seen  foraging  near  open  grazed  areas  and  cultivation. 
Apparently  rare  in  the  MNP. 

ORIENTAL  TREE  PIPIT 
Anthus  hodgsoni 

Common  winter  visitor,  flocks  of  up  to  20 
individuals  observed  in  the  wattle  and  pinus  plantations 
all  over  the  Upper  Nilgiris.  It  generally  remains  on 
the  ground  and  on  approach  takes  off  abruptly  to  the 
horizontal  boughs,  the  wing  beat  making  loud  ‘■'burr 
burr"  sounds.  They  perch  in  full  view  and  cock  the 
tail  slowly  up  and  down,  making  low  whistles.  One 
adult  bird  netted  at  Avalanche  on  24  January  2003 
and  photographed  (wings  85,  bill  1 3,  Tarsus  21 .5,  Tail 
66  and  Weighed  24.5  gm).  This  was  followed  by 
sightings  of  six  birds  on  3 1 January  2003  and  10  birds 
on  1 February  2003.  Stairmand  (1971b)  reported 
having  seen  it  in  small  parties  in  the  Ootacamund 
Botanical  Garden  on  16  January  1971. 

NILGIRI  PIPIT 
Anthus  nilghiriensis 

Common  resident,  restricted  to  the 
undisturbed  grasslands  at  higher  elevations  such  as 
Bangitappal,  Western  Catchment,  Lakkedi  and  others. 
It  has  been  classified  as  Near  Threatened  owing  to 
the  gradual  conversion  of  its  grassland  habitat  into 
plantations  (BirdLife  International  2001).  Found  in 
good  numbers  at  Avalanche  and  Mukurti  National 
Park  and  sparingly  in  others  (Islam  and  Rahmani 
2004).  When  disturbed,  it  takes  to  the  isolated 
Rhododendron  or  neighbouring  shola  trees,  making 
"'chik  chik"  calls.  Nests  usually  well  sheltered  in  the 
grassy  slopes,  with  a clutch  of  up  to  two  eggs,  which 
are  deep  grey  and  splotched.  Betham  (1902) 
described  a nest  with  ferns  arranged  at  the  entrance, 
which  kept  the  nest  shaded  from  sunlight.  Uma 
Maheswari  (pers.  comm.  2003)  observed  nesting 
preference  for  larger  tussock-forming  grasses  in  the 
valleys.  However,  we  recorded  three  nests  in  short 
tussocks,  with  little  cover,  over  the  ridges. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


BLACK-HEADED  CUCKOOSHRIKE 
Coracina  melanoptera 

We  did  not  come  across  this  species  during  our 
study.  Davison  ( 1 883)  shot  one  bird  in  the  Government 
Gardens  at  Ooty.  Jameson  (1971)  reported  it  from 
Coonoor  (1,800  m).  There  is  no  other  record  known 
to  us. 

SCARLET  MINI  VET 
Pericrocotus  flammeus 

None  recorded  during  this  study.  Common  at 
lower  elevations  and  slopes  of  Nilgiris,  but  only  one 
vagrant  male  observed  perched  near  the  crown  of  a 
shola  tree  on  29  March  2003  near  Avalanche  Guest 
House  (2100  m). 

PIED  FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE 
Hemipus  picatus 

Common  resident,  seen  both  in  shola  and  wattle 
plantations.  Often  observed  frequenting  isolated  trees 
in  the  wattle  plantation  openings.  Usually  solitary,  but 
small  parties  of  three  to  four  birds  could  also  be  seen 
in  mixed  hunting  parties  with  White-eye  Zosterops 
palpebrosus,  Nilgiri  Flycatcher  (Eumyias 
albicaudata,  Grey-headed  Flycatcher  (Culicicapa 
ceylonensis)  and  others. 

GREY-HEADED  BULBUL 
Pycnonotus  priocephalus 

Rare  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  one  bird  sighted  at 
Taishola  on  25  April  2002.  Davison  ( 1 883)  found  one 
specimen  around  one  mile  from  Coonoor.  Jameson 
(1976a)  also  recorded  it  at  Coonoor.  Apparently 
common  at  lower  elevations  and  the  slopes  of  Nilgiris, 
our  record  from  western  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau  should 
be  thus  treated  as  vagrant. 

RED-WHISKERED  BULBUL 
Pycnonotus  jocosiis 

Common  resident,  most  conspicuous  and  noisy 
bulbul  in  the  Nilgiris  at  all  elevations.  It  nests  from 


February  to  June  and  again  in  September  after  the 
southwest  monsoon.  Tame  and  confiding  to  a degree, 
in  gardens  and  cultivated  country,  but  equally  common 
in  open  scrubby  jungle,  though  it  avoids  heavy  forest 
and  the  bare,  treeless,  grass  downs  of  the  plateau.  Betts 
(1931)  mentions  its  ‘flycatching’  duringthe evening.  Four 
nests  recorded  near  plantations  and  human  habitations 
during  April  2003.  A pair  was  observed  with  two 
fledglings  on  2 April  2003  in  a wattle  stand.  Eleven  birds 
ringed  at  Avalanche  in  January  2003. 

RED-VENTED  BULBUL 
Pycnonotus  cafer 

Common  resident  except  in  the  southwestern 
plateau  near  MNP  and  adjoining  forests.  Rarely 
gregarious,  keeps  to  the  disturbed,  inhabited  and  open 
scrub  with  thickets  of  Lantana  and  others  shrubs. 
Unlike  P.  jocosus,  it  is  not  widely  distributed  or 
common  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  except  around  the 
eastern  and  northern  slopes.  Betts  (1931)  described 
Davison’s  collection  of  a bird  at  Ooty  (2250  m)  as  a 
straggler.  He  added  that  they  are  never  seen  along 
the  western  slope  above  1 ,290  m. 

YELLOW-BROWED  BULBUL 
lole  indica 

Rare  and  perhaps  subject  to  vertical  movements, 
sighted  only  once  at  Taishola  (2 1 00  m)  on  25  April  2002. 
Reported  from  places  such  as  Kodanadu,  Kotagiri  and 
Naduvattam  at  lower  elevations.  This  bird  does  not  occur 
on  the  plateau  of  the  Nilgiris,  but  is  common  below  c. 
2000  m (Davison  1 883).  Jameson  ( 1 976a)  records  it  at 
Coonoor.  It  was  thought  to  be  restricted  to  evergreen 
forests,  but  in  recent  times,  it  has  extended  into 
deciduous  forests  due  to  loss  of  its  evergreen  forest 
habitat  throughout  the  Western  Ghats. 

BLACK  BULBUL 
Hypsipetes  leucocephalus 

Common  resident,  seen  throughout  the  Upper 
Nilgiris  both  in  shola  as  well  as  plantations.  Arboreal, 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


keeps  to  treetops,  and  seldom  descends  to 
undergrowth.  Shola  edges  form  its  favourite  haunt, 
where  big  flocks  of  up  to- 30  individuals  were  seen. 
Certain  shola  trees  such  as  Michelia  nilgirica, 
Microtropis  ramiflora,  Pithecellobium 
subcoriaceum,  Pittosporum  tetraspermum, 
Symplocos  pendula,  Syzgium  arnottianum,  Eurya 
nitida,  Ternstroemia  japonica,  and  Turpina 
cochinchinensis  attract  it  in  large  numbers  during 
fruiting.  These  bulbuls  are  very  fond  of  visiting  the 
flowers  of  Coral  Tree  Erythrina  sp.  (Betts  1931). 

They  form  large  flocks  during  the  non-breeding 
season  and  though  not  migratory,  leave  the  western 
plateau  during  the  southwest  monsoon  (June  to 
August).  Purely  a hill  bird,  rarely  seen  below  1,450 
m except  as  a scarce  wanderer  in  the  cold  weather 
(Betts  1931).  Two  birds  ringed  on  24  January  2003 
at  Avalanche. 

COMMON  lORA 
Aegithina  tiphia 

Common  at  Kotagiri  and  Kodanadu,  one  bird 
seen  on  25  April  2003  at  the  edge  of  Longwood  Shola 
and  another  heard  on  26  April  2003  at  Kodanadu 
Reserve  Forest.  Never  seen  in  Mukurti  National  Park 
and  its  immediate  surroundings  during  this  study. 

BROWN  SHRIKE 
Lanius  cristatus 

Common  winter  visitor  between  November  to  early 
March;  one  bird  observed  on  3 February  2002  on  a 
fruiting  Withania  somnifera  tree,  near  Orchidarium 
at  Avalanche  (2,200  m).  This  bird  was  heard  as  well 
as  sighted  on  several  occasions  in  the  same  locality, 
but  never  seen  in  or  near  MNP.  One  bird  ringed  on 
21  January  2003  at  Avalanche.  Jameson  (1967) 
recorded  it  as  late  as  mid  April,  but  we  have  observed 
it  even  up  to  mid  May  at  Avalanche,  where  it  keeps 
to  the  edge  vegetation  and  openings.  Affects  forest 
edges  and  clearings,  secondary  scrub  jungle  and 
grass-covered  hillsides  with  scattered  bushes  and  small 


trees  in  the  dry  deciduous  and  semi-evergreen  biotope 
(Aliand  Ripley  1987). 

RUFOUS-BACKED  SHRIKE 
Lanius  schach 

Common  resident  all  over  the  Upper  Nilgiris, 
affects  less  forested,  open  and  cultivated  areas  (often 
near  tea  and  other  plantations)  and  is  less  numerous 
around  the  lower  elevations  and  plains.  Breeding 
recorded  between  February  to  June  (Betham  1902), 
nests  in  low  thorny  bushes  in  open  and  accessible 
areas.  Devadhas  ( 1 964)  recorded  it  mimicking  Grey 
Junglefowl. 

BLUE-HEADED  ROCK-THRUSH 
Monticola  cinclorhynchus 

Uncommon  winter  visitor,  a single  male  sighted 
in  a wattle  plantation  at  Avalanche  Reserve  Forest 
on  3 1 December  2002.  Another  bird  sighted  foraging 
in  wattle  on  15  March  2003,  followed  by  a sighting 
on  30  March  2003.  Stairmand  (1971b)  sighted  a 
female  on  16  January  at  Ooty  Botanical  Garden 
followed  by  a male  on  1 7 January  1971.  Betts  (1930) 
recorded  its  arrival  in  the  Nilgiris  in  the  last  week  of 
November,  while  Khan  (1977)  reported  its 
occurrence  in  the  Nilgiris  from  the  first  week  of 
November  to  April  end. 

MALABAR  WHISTLING-THRUSH 
Myiophonus  horsfieldii 

Rare  resident  and  probably  subject  to  altitudinal 
movements,  ventures  into  the  upper  Nilgiri  plateau 
from  neighbouring  slopes.  One  individual  heard  near 
a small  stream  at  Taishola  on  25  April  2002.  Another 
bird  sighted  near  a waterfall  near  Taishola  Tea  Estate 
(2,000  m).  According  to  Davison  (1883)  they  do  not 
occur  on  the  plateau  of  the  Nilgiris,  while  Jameson 
( 1 969)  noted  never  having  heard  or  seen  it  at  Coonoor 
and  thought  that  it  was  perhaps  too  high  for  them. 
Nair  (1995)  recorded  it  near  Governor  Shola  (2000 
m)  about  7 km  from  Ooty  town. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10.  No.  1 (2005) 


PIED  THRUSH 
Zoothera  wardii 

Not  recorded  during  this  study.  Winter  visitor, 
mainly  at  the  lower  elevations.  Khan  ( 1 980a)  found 
that  they  spend  a long  period  in  the  Nilgiris,  are  highly 
territorial  and  always  seen  in  pairs. 

ORANGE-HEADED  THRUSH 
Zoothera  citrina 

Uncommon,  perhaps  subject  to  altitudinal 
movements,  recorded  in  Upper  Nilgiris  only  during 
winter.  One  bird  Z c.  cyanotus  seen  in  a Pinus  patch 
at  Avalanche  on  22  January  2003.  Very  shy,  it  flew 
high  up  over  a tall  tree  and  soon  disappeared.  This 
was  followed  by  sighting  of  a single  bird  at  Avalanche 
on  29  January  2003,  and  another  one  on  3 1 January 
2003,  again  at  Avalanche. 

SCALY  THRUSH 
Zoothera  dauma 

Common  resident,  usually  solitary  but 
sometimes  seen  in  pairs.  Usually  dashes  out  in  front 
of  vehicles  passing  through  the  shola  or  plantation. 
A shy  and  retiring  bird,  rarely  gives  a satisfactory 
view,  except  when  flushed  from  shola  undergrowth. 
It  is  found  only  on  the  higher  ranges  of  the  Nilgiris 
(Davison  1883).  Betham  (1902)  described  a nest 
located  up  at  20  m from  the  ground,  in  a shola  with 
little  undergrowth.  The  nest  is  a beautiful,  compact 
structure  composed  of  moss  and  lined  with  blackish 
rootlets.  Two  birds  were  ringed  at  Avalanche,  one 
each  on  21  and  27  January  2003. 

EURASIAN  BLACKBIRD 
Turdus  merula 

Common  breeding  resident  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris, 
less  abundant  at  lower  elevations.  Generally  inhabits 
shola  as  well  as  plantations  with  shaded  moist 
undergrowth.  Ripley  (1950)  collected  both  T.  m. 
nigropileus  and  T m.  simillimus  from  the  Nilgiris, 


the  former  distributed  in  the  lower  parts  from  north 
of  Ooty,  and  the  latter  in  the  higher  slopes  to  the  south 
of  the  town.  He  restricted  the  locality  of  nigropileus 
to  ‘Kalahatti  (northern  Nilgiris  plateau)’  and  of 
simillimus  to  Avalanche  (higher  southern  Nilgiris 
plateau). 

Seven  nests  with  an  average  clutch  of  three 
recorded  at  different  locations  during  this  study. 
Prefers  open  country,  especially  small  trees  along  the 
banks  of  nullahs  for  nesting.  One  of  the  seven  nests 
was  found  in  the  fork  of  a roadside  tree  at  7 m from 
the  ground  on  22  May  2003  at  Taishola.  A pair  seen 
feeding  their  two  fledglings  in  aPinus  plantation  near 
Devar  Betta,  on  4 July  2002.  Twelve  simillimus 
ringed  between  14  January  2003  and  14  February 
2003  at  Avalanche. 

WHITE-BELLIED  SHORTWING 
Brachypteryx  major 

Common  resident,  classified  as  Vulnerable  due 
to  its  small,  severely  fragmented  declining  range, 
owing  to  destruction  and  degradation  of  its  evergreen 
and  semi-evergreen  forest  habitat  (BirdLife 
International  2001).  B.  m.  major  recorded  in  the 
Nilgiri  hills  and  other  localities  north  of  the  Palghat 
Gap,  affects  dense  wooded  undergrowth,  and  keeps 
singly  or  in  pairs.  Up  to  8 birds  (usually  single)  could 
be  seen  in  a 200-300  m vehicular  drive  immediately 
after  sunset  at  Avalanche. 

Strongly  territorial,  has  several  calls  with  slight 
variation  in  number  of  notes/pattems,  loud  chattering 
and  faint  whistles  often  heard  in  the  evening.  We 
ringed  thirteen  birds  between  1 4 January  2003  and 
14  February  2003  at  Avalanche.  Some  of  the  colour 
ringed  birds  were  often  seen  very  close  to  the  netting 
sites  till  January  2004,  indicating  its  parochial  habits. 
Breeds  between  April  and  August  through  southwest 
monsoon  and  has  a clutch  of  two.  Betham  (1902) 
recorded  three  nests  in  May,  two  containing  two 
chicks  and  a third  two  eggs.  Of  the  eight  nests  (cup 
shaped)  recorded  by  us  at  Avalanche,  seven  were 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


placed  in  the  road  banks  and  only  one  in  shola. 
Senthilmurugan  et  al.  (2005)  recorded  nest  reuse  in 
the  Shortwing  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau. 

INDIAN  BLUE  ROBIN 
Luscinia  brunnea 

Common  winter  visitor  between  the  first  week 
of  October  and  the  second  week  of  May.  Usually 
seen  foraging  around  shaded  nullahs  and 
undergrowth  of  shola  and  plantations,  tea  plantations 
and  partially  disturbed  forests.  Betts  (1930)  reported 
its  arrival  in  the  Nilgiris  on  23  October.  Eight 
birds  ringed  between  14  January  and  14  February 
2003  at  Avalanche.  A dead  bird  found  on  the  road  in 
a wattle  plantation  on  23  December  2002,  had 
a tick  (approx.  3 mm)  on  the  lateral  side  of  the 
neck. 

Apparently  their  sex  ratio  is  highly  biased 
towards  males  in  the  winter  grounds  in  the  Nilgiris. 
Khan  (1980b)  estimated  one  female  to  every  25 
males  seen  in  the  Nilgiris,  netted  seven  birds  (all 
males)  at  Coonoor  and  reports  sighting  over  a hundred 
males  against  two  females  in  the  Nilgiris  and  70  males 
against  one  female  at  Kottoor,  60  km  from  Trivandrum 
in  southern  Kerala.  Of  the  15  birds  ringed  during  this 
study  at  Avalanche,  14  were  males.  However,  it  is  not 
clear  if  it  is  a case  of  biased  sex  ratio,  or  of  males  and 
females  wintering  at  different  locations  or  altitudes  (as 
in  Red-breasted  Flycatcher  Ficedula  parva). 

ORIENTAL  MAGPIE-ROBIN 
Copsychus  saularis 

Common  resident,  sighted  along  roads,  forest 
edges,  openings,  degraded  forest,  tea  gardens  and 
cultivation.  Usually  seen  singly,  but  occasionally  in 
pairs  almost  all  over  the  Upper  Nilgiris. 

PIED  BUSHCHAT 
Saxicola  caprata 

Common  breeding  resident,  affects  a variety 
of  habitats  generally  near  open  country  and  in  the 


neighbourhood  of  houses.  Strongly  territorial,  usually 
seen  in  pairs,  and  breeds  from  March  to  July.  Five 
nests  recorded  in  2001  and  several  during  2002  and 
2003  in  different  localities.  Nest  is  usually  well 
sheltered  and  placed  in  earthen  banks  close  to  the 
ground,  lined  with  feathers,  roots,  down  or  other  soft 
material.  Has  usually  a clutch  of  four  greenish- 
white  eggs,  speckled  with  brown.  On  16  May  2003, 
a pair  was  seen  feeding  insects  to  its  two  fledglings 
perched  on  a Lantana  thicket  along  the  road  at 
Taishola. 

NILGIRI  LAUGHINGTHRUSH 
Garrulax  cachinnans 

Common  resident,  it  is  the  only  bird  primarily 
endemic  to  the  Nilgiri  hills,  usually  seen  above 
1,600  m.  It  is  also  the  only  Western  Ghats  bird 
classified  as  Endangered  owing  to  its  small  range, 
and  loss  of  habitat,  primarily  through  conversion  to 
plantation,  agriculture  and  settlement  (BirdLife 
International  2001).  It  is  found  in  all  the  eight 
IBAs  of  Upper  Nilgiris  (Islam  and  Rahmani  2004). 
It  has  a distinct  preference  for  shola  edges  and  feeds 
on  a variety  of  insects,  fruits,  and  flowers.  Betham 
(1902)  described  the  bird  as  “a  merry  joker 
always  on  the  laugh”.  "'Pee  ko  ko  ko''  calls  and 
the  ko  ko  ko  ko”  calls  of  the  Nilgiri 
Laughingthrush  are  quite  unmistakable  and 
are  among  the  most  characteristic  sounds  of  the 
Nilgiris  (Wynter-Blyth  1949).  Islam  (1994) 
has  described  the  breeding  habits  of  this 
Laughingthrush. 

Nests  recorded  between  February  and  July 
with  an  average  clutch  of  two  bluish,  spotted  eggs. 
The  Nilgiri  Laughingthrush  is  fond  of  thick  jungle, 
but  nests  in  more  or  less  open  forests  near  the 
edges,  in  short  trees  with  thick  foliage.  Fifty  eight 
nests  were  recorded  in  an  ecological  study  by  the 
first  author.  Sixteen  birds  were  ringed  between  14 
January  and  14  February  2003  at  Avalanche  during 
this  study. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


SPOTTED  BABBLER 
Pellorneum  ruficeps 

Rare  resident,  absent  around  much  of  the  upper 
Plateau,  two  birds  seen  foraging  on  the  forest  floor 
in  Kodanadu  ( 1 ,800  m)  on  25  April  2003.  Apparently 
they  are  common  around  the  northern  slopes  and 
lower  areas  of  the  Nilgiris.  Previously  known  up  to 
C.1350  m throughout  its  distribution  range  (Ali  and 
Ripley  1987).  Stairmand  (1946)  reported  it  as  seen 
around  Glenburn,  which  is  relatively  lower  and  has 
warmer  climate  than  upper  Nilgiris.  Pittie  (1989) 
reported  it  from  Wellington  (1,850  m). 

INDIAN  SCIMITAR-BABBLER 
Pomatorhinus  horsfieldii 

Common  resident,  seen  in  plantations  and  5/20/a, 
usually  singly  or  in  small  parties  of  two  to  four  birds 
and  occasionally  in  mixed  hunting  parties  with  the 
Nilgiri  Laughingthrush  or  the  Brown-cheeked 
Fulvetta.  Nest  recorded  with  two  eggs  in  a grass 
tussock  {Chrysopogon  zeylanicus)  on  26  April  2002 
at  Avalanche,  and  another  nest  recorded  containing 
three  eggs,  placed  in  a grass  tussock,  at  a roadside 
on  4 April  2003  at  Avalanche.  Invariably  follow  the 
same  route  every  day  to  its  foraging  grounds  and  is 
heard  duetting  with  the  White-cheeked  Barbet.  Baker 
(1922b)  reported  a partial  albino  individual  in  the 
Nilgiris. 

TAWNY-BELLIED  BABBLER 
Dumetia  hyperythra  albogularis 

Davison  (1883)  shot  it  at  Naduvattam  at  1 800 
m.  We  are  not  aware  of  any  other  record  from  the 
Upper  Nilgiris.  We  did  not  come  across  this  species 
during  this  study. 

LARGE  GREY  BABBLER 
Turdoides  malcolmi 

Not  seen  in  the  study  area.  Davison  (1883) 
notes  “in  1 869  or  1 870  (not  certain),  a flock  of  about 
twenty  individuals  suddenly  made  an  appearance  at 


Ootacamund,  taking  their  abode  in  the  Government 
Public  Garden,  from  whence  they  strolled  among 
the  well  wooded  gardens  in  the  vicinity  for  about  a 
radius  of  a mile  and  a half’.  Davison  left 
Ootacamund  in  1872,  and  till  then  they  seemed 
to  be  just  the  same  number;  when  he  returned  10 
years  afterwards  the  flock  was  still  there  and 
frequented  the  same  place,  but  had  been  reduced  to 
five  individuals,  of  which  he  shot  one.  They  never 
seemed  to  have  bred  and  gradually  diminished  in 
number. 

JUNGLE  BABBLER 
Turdoides  striatus 

Common  breeding  resident,  avoids  thick  jungle 
and  remains  near  scrubby  uncultivated  patches  or 
tea  plantations  in  flocks  of  up  to  10,  near  or  away 
from  human  habitation.  Never  seen  at  Avalanche, 
Upper  Bhavani  and  MNP  but  seen  with  chicks  at 
Taishola  in  May  2003. 

QUAKER  TIT-BABBLER 
Alcippe  poioicephala 

Common  breeding  resident,  often  sighted  in 
small  parties  of  up  to  ten  birds  along  the  shola  edge, 
with  a preference  for  fruiting  Rubus  thickets.  It 
ascends  the  hills  to  around  1 900  m and  is  exceedingly 
common  (Davison  1 883).  We  found  it  common  even 
close  to  the  Dodabetta  peak  (2600  m).  Forms  mixed 
hunting  flocks  with  Pied  Flycatcher  Shrike,  Velvet- 
fronted  Nuthatch,  White-eye  and  other  forest  birds. 
One  bird  sighted  seated  in  a newly  constructed  nest 
containing  no  egg  on  3 April  2003  at  Avalanche.  Nine 
birds  ringed  between  14  January  and  14  February 
2003  at  Avalanche. 

FRANKLIN’S  PRINIA 
Prinia  hodgsonii 

Unlike  P.  socialis  and  P.  inornata  it  is  recorded 
as  vagrant  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris;  only  two  birds  sighted 
near  Kolari  Betta  on  9 June  2002. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


ASHY  PRINIA 
Prinia  socialis 

Common  resident,  affects  scrub,  cultivation  and 
degraded  forests  near  roads  or  close  to  habitations. 
Seen  up  to  Dodabetta  Peak  (2667  m),  common 
around  Red  Hill  Tea  Estate  around  openings  with 
scattered  young  wattle  trees  but  never  seen  in  MNP. 
Usually  single,  making  loud  characteristic  calls,  but 
loose  parties  of  up  to  four  are  also  seen. 

PLAIN  PRINIA 
Prinia  inornata 

Common  resident,  one  or  two  birds  generally 
seen  in  every  visit  in  degraded  vegetation,  weed 
thickets,  grasslands  dotted  with  shrub  or  stunted  trees 
and  fallow  lands  close  to  or  away  from  human 
habitations. 

BLYTH’S  REED-WARBLER 
Acrocephalus  dumetorum 

Common  winter  visitor  recorded  throughout  the 
study  area,  from  October  to  April.  Affects  weed 
infested  areas,  shrubs,  thickets  bordering  shola  and 
plantations,  gardens,  urban  compounds  and  tea 
estates.  A low  "‘chuck’’’  uttered  intermittently  helps 
to  detect  it,  otherwise  it  seldom  affords  a glimpse  of 
itself.  Khan  (1977)  reports  it  as  common  between 
the  first  week  of  October  and  end  of  May.  Five  birds 
ringed  between  14  January  and  14  February  2003  at 
Avalanche.  One  bird  ringed  on  20  January  2003, 
returned  in  November  2003  exactly  to  the  same  spot 
(Orchidarium  at  Avalanche),  where  it  was  netted  and 
could  be  seen  nearly  the  whole  day.  Thus  it  shows 
high  site  fidelity  to  its  wintering  quarters  in  theNilgiris. 

COMMON  TAILORBIRD 
Orthotomus  sutorius 

Never  seen  by  us  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau 
from  December  2000  to  January  2004.  This  bird  does 
not  ascend  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau,  but  occurs 
from  about  the  level  of  Coonoor  downward  (Davison 


1883),  known  up  to  1,800  m (Kazmierczak  2000). 
Pittie  ( 1 989)  recorded  it  in  June  near  Coonoor.  Dewar 
(1904)  sighted  several  in  breeding  plumage  at 
Coonoor  (1,800  m). 

TICKELL’S  WARBLER 
Phylloscopus  affmis 

Common  winter  visitor,  seen  from  September 
till  mid  May,  throughout  the  Upper  Nilgiris.  Affects 
both  shola  as  well  as  plantations  with  a preference 
for  short  and  marginal  forest  vegetation.  Seen  in  loose 
parties  of  up  to  1 5 birds,  forming  mixed  hunting  parties 
with  other  wintering  warblers  and  resident  species 
such  as  Great  Tit,  White-eye  and  Quaker  Tit-Babbler. 
Three  birds  were  ringed,  one  each  on  27, 28  January 
and  1 3 February  2003  at  Avalanche  during  this  study. 

GREENISH  LEAF- WARBLER 
Phylloscopus  trochiloides 

Common  winter  visitor,  seen  throughout  the 
Nilgiris  at  all  elevations,  between  October  and  April. 
Less  seen  than  heard,  affects  partially  disturbed,  open 
habitats  and  shola  edges.  Recorded  up  to  Dodabetta 
(2634  m)  in  the  Nilgiris.  Arrives  as  early  as  18 
September  (specimen  by  Davison,  1883)  and  stays 
as  late  as  April.  Jameson  (1969)  recorded  it  up  to  5 
April.  Three  birds  ringed  at  Avalanche,  two  on  24 
January  and  one  on  30  January  2003. 

LARGE-BILLED  LEAF-WARBLER 
Phylloscopus  magnirostris 

Common  winter  visitor  but  not  as  common  as 
P.  afftnis  and  P.  trochiloides,  affects  shola  openings 
as  well  as  plantations.  Six  birds  ringed  between  14 
January  and  14  February  2003  at  Avalanche. 

TYTLER’S  LEAF-WARBLER 
Phylloscopus  tytleri 

We  did  not  come  across  this  bird  during 
our  study.  However,  Davison  (1883)  obtained 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


two  specimens,  including  one  (male)  at  Ooty  on 
10  March  1881,  and  another  at  Ooty  on  22  January 
1882. 

ORPHEAN  WARBLER 
Sylvia  hortensis 

Common  about  Coonoor,  never  seen  above  1 800m. 

ASIAN  BROWN  FLYCATCHER 
Muscicapa  dauurica 

Rare  winter  visitor  to  the  study  area,  once 
sighted  perched  on  a wattle  tree  in  front  of  our  base 
camp  at  Avalanche  on  2 October  2002.  The  bird  kept 
sallying  for  nearly  an  hour  between  1 230  hrs  to  1 330 
hrs  in  the  same  area.  Reported  common  at  lower 
elevations,  where  it  is  usually  seen  between  the  first 
week  of  November  and  the  last  week  of  April  (Khan 
1977). 

RUSTY»TAILED  FLYCATCHER 
Muscicapa  ruficauda 

Not  seen  during  this  study.  However,  Davison 
(1883)  recorded  it  as  sparingly  distributed  on  the 
Nilgiris  plateau  and  slopes  during  winter. 

BROWN-BREASTED  FLYCATCHER 
Muscicapa  muttui 

Rare  winter  visitor  to  the  study  area.  One  bird 
sighted  near  a wattle  patch  near  Avalanche  reservoir 
on  5 October  2002.  Another  one  perched  on  a low 
bush  at  the  edge  of  an  unmetalled  road  on  23 
November  2002  in  Bangitappal  valley. 

KASHMIR  FLYCATCHER 
Ficedula  subrubra 

Winter  visitor,  sparsely  distributed  in  the  Upper 
Nilgiris  and  classified  as  Vulnerable  owing  to  its  small, 
declining  population  and  breeding  range,  which  is  also 
severely  fragmented,  due  to  destruction  of  temperate 
and  mixed  deciduous  forest  habitat  (BirdLife 
Internationa!  2001).  Three  birds  sighted  between  9 


and  27  March  2001  at  Avalanche  and  16  birds 
recorded  during  intensive  survey  between  8 October 
2001  and  4 April  2002. 

Keeps  in  pairs  during  winter,  but  individuals 
feed  separately  during  the  day.  Prefers  wattle 
openings  along  transmission  lines  and  roosts  in  pairs 
on  the  same  wattle  tree  throughout  the  winter.  Pairs 
maintain  winter  territories,  where  they  are  seen 
together  throughout  winter.  Apparently  it  shows 
site  fidelity,  as  three  pairs  were  recorded  coming  to 
the  exact  same  small  plantation  patches  (winter 
territory)  during  2001  to  2003  winter  (see  Zarri  and 
Rahmani  2004  for  details).  A male  ringed  on  24 
January  and  a female  on  30  January  2003  at 
Avalanche. 

BLACK-AND-ORANGE  FLYCATCHER 
Ficedula  nigrorufa 

Common  resident  typical  of  the  shola,  classified 
as  Near  Threatened  because  of  habitat  loss  (BirdLife 
International  200 1 ).  Generally  seen  busy  sallying.  The 
bird  is  anything  but  silent,  and  its  peculiar  call 
"chiK.chir.  rrr’  is  often  heard  near  shola 
undergrowth  as  well  as  plantations.  Repeatedly  visits 
small  water  pools,  rivulet  or  a dripping  rock  for  bathing 
and  drinking.  Khan  (1979)  studied  its  ecology  in  the 
Nilgiris.  We  ringed  14  birds  between  14  January  and 
14  February  2003  at  Avalanche. 

Ten  nests  with  an  average  clutch  of  two 
were  recorded  in  shola  at  different  locations  in 
the  study  area  between  February  and  May  2002 
and  2003.  Nesting  recorded  from  April  to  July,  the 
nest  is  globular,  untidy,  lined  with  the  blades  of  a 
sedge  Carex  baccans,  with  an  entrance  more  or 
less  at  the  top.  Nests  are  generally  placed  on  a dead 
stump  about  one  meter  from  the  ground  with  little 
cover.  Betham  (1902)  described  the  nest  as  quite 
unorthodox,  made  from  a lot  of  old  leaves  used  as  a 
foundation  on  which  the  nest  proper  is  built.  Pittie 
( 1 989)  sighted  a fledgling  in  mid-June  at  Sim’s  Park 
near  Coonoor. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


VERDITER  FLYCATCHER 
Eumyias  thalassina 

Uncommon  winter  visitor  to  the  study  area, 
unlike  the  lower  elevation  and  the  Nilgiri  slopes,  where 
it  is  very  common.  Two  birds  sighted  on  26  January 
2001,  three  on  28  January  2001  on  a Rhododendron 
tree  and  again  one  bird  on  18  September  2001  at 
Avalanche.  None  recorded  during  2002  and  2003. 
Davison  (1 883)  noted  “Jerdon  gives  it  Nilgiris,  but  1 
myself  have  never  met  with  it  in  southern  India;  it 
must  be,  1 think,  of  extremely  rare  occurrence”. 

NILGIRI  FLYCATCHER 
Eumyias  albicaudata 

Common  resident,  affects  shola  and 
plantations,  and  is  classified  as  Near  Threatened 
(BirdLife  International  2001).  Highly  territorial  and 
vocal  during  the  nesting  season  (March  through 
June).  Sixteen  cup-shaped  nests,  generally  placed  in 
earthen  road  banks,  walls  and  holes  in  trees,  with 
clutches  of  two  or  three  pinkish-white  eggs,  were 
recorded  during  this  study  at  different  locations. 
One  male  ringed  on  21  January  2003  at  Avalanche. 
Dewar  ( 1 904)  recorded  it  feeding  on  fruits  on  several 
occasions. 

WHITE-BELLIED  BLUE-FLYCATCHER 
Cyornis  pallipes 

Rare  resident  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau, 
except  around  Kotagiri,  Kodanadu  and  eastern  slopes. 
Never  seen  around  the  western  Upper  Plateau.  We 
sighted  a pair  foraging  at  Kodanadu  Reserve  Forest 
(1900  m)  on  26  April  2003. 

TICKELL’S  BLUE-FLYCATCHER 
Cyornis  tickelliae 

Not  seen  during  this  study.  Seldom  ascends  to 
the  Upper  Nilgiris  plateau  but  is  very  common  around 
slopes  and  plains  of  the  Nilgiris.  Davison  (1883)  obtained 
one  specimen  (male)  near  Ooty  on  10  Feb.  1881. 


Jameson  (1976)  reported  sighting  this  flycatcher  at 
Coonoor.  Kumar  ( 1 996)  sighted  two  males  at  two  diffe- 
rent locations  in  Ooty.  We  suspect  they  have  seasonal 
altitudinal  movements  but  need  to  confirm  in  future. 

GREY-HEADED  FLYCATCHER 
Culicicapa  ceylonensis 

Common  resident,  more  closely  associated  with 
shola  than  with  plantations.  They  are  common  about 
the  woods  around  Coonoor  (Dewar  1 904).  Often  form 
mixed  hunting  parties  with  Brown-cheeked  Fulvetta, 
Velvet-fronted  Nuthatch  and  Tickell’s  Leaf  Warbler. 
Five  birds  ringed  between  14  January  and  14  February 
2003  at  Avalanche  during  this  study.  Several  nests 
recorded  placed  between  one  to  two  meters  from 
ground  level,  mainly  in  road  banks  or  tree  trunks.  Two 
active  nests  recorded  within  one  meter  from  the  Nilgiri 
Flycatcher  and  Black-and-Orange  Flycatcher  nests. 
Betham  (1902)  described  an  unusual  nest  located  on 
a tree  trunk  at  10  m from  the  ground.  Inglis  (1949) 
reported  a nest  unusually  fastened  to  the  trunk  of  a 
large  rubber  tree  Ficus  elastica  at  6.5  m. 

ASIAN  PARADISE-FLYCATCHER 
Terpsiphone  paradisi 

Common  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  affects  less 
wooded,  open  and  marginal  forests.  Subject  to 
altitudinal  movements,  ascends  to  the  Upper  Nilgiris 
during  October  to  March.  Never  seen  during  the 
monsoon.  An  adult  male  sighted  pouncing  on 
butterflies  on  ground  at  Avalanche  on  7 January  2003. 
Solitary  birds  could  often  be  seen  in  wattle  or  Pinus 
plantations.  Jameson  ( 1 969)  reported  it  as  uncommon 
at  Coonoor. 

WHITE-THROATED  FANTAIL-FLYCATCHER 
Rhipidura  albicollis 

Resident  and  common  on  the  Nilgiris,  affects 
shrub  thickets  and  degraded  plantations,  near  Ooty, 
Kotagiri,  Coonoor,  Bembatti,  Bikkatti  and  similar 
areas.  The  birds  observed  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  have 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


black  breast  with  whitish  spots  unlike  the  grey  breast 
described  in  AH  and  Ripley  (1987)  and  Grimmett  et 
a/.  (1998). 

WHITE-BROWED  FANTAIL-FLYCATCHER 
Rhipidura  aureola 

Common  resident,  more  abundant  at  lower 
elevation  and  slopes,  absent  in  western  Upper  Nilgiris 
in  uninhabited  places  such  as  MNP  and  surroundings. 
Dewar  (1904)  reported  it  as  fairly  common  about 
Coonoor. 

GREAT  TIT  Par  us  major 

Common  resident  throughout  the  UpperNilgiris, 
frequents  a variety  of  habitats  forming  mixed  hunting 
parties  with  Oriental  White-eye,  Tickell’s  Leaf 
Warbler  and  Brown-faced  Fulvetta.  Fairly  adapted 
to  the  presence  of  man,  several  nests  were  recorded 
in  different  localities  between  March  and  June. 

BLACK-LORED  YELLOW  TIT 
Parus  xanthogenys 

Uncommon  around  the  western  UpperNilgiris, 
and  perhaps  subject  to  vertical  movements.  At 
Taishola  one  bird  sighted  foraging  at  2100  m on  22 
June  2002,  followed  by  four  birds  sighted  on  15 
September  2002  and  three  on  16  May  2003.  Five 
birds  sighted  foraging  atop  a tall  tree  on  5 September 
2002,  at  Avalanche.  The  birds  chased  one  another, 
calling  noisily,  and  soon  disappeared  in  the  thick  cover. 
Jameson  (1969)  sighted  it  in  the  Nilgiris  during  July. 
Stairmand  (1972)  described  it  as  common  near 
Glenburn,  which  is  at  much  lower  elevation  and 
warmer  than  the  study  area. 

VELVET-FRONTED  NUTHATCH 
Sitta  frontalis 

Common  resident,  abundant  in  shola  patches 
all  over  the  UpperNilgiris.  Generally  recognized  by 
its  noisy  metallic  calls.  Probes  and  gleans  its  prey 
from  moss  laden  trees.  Very  restless,  remains  in  small 


parties  occasionally  with  Brown-cheeked  Fulvetta, 
Great  Tit  and  other  species. 

THICK-BILLED  FLOWERPECKER 
Dicaeum  agile 

Common  resident  and  the  only  flowerpecker 
recorded  during  this  study.  Utters  a loud,  noisy  call 
during  flight,  and  feeds  on  nectar  and  berries  in  shola 
close  to  the  tree  crown,  rarely  seen  in  plantations. 
Occasionally  forms  mixed  hunting  parties  with  Small 
Sunbird  and  other  insectivorus  species.  Found  up  to 
the  highest  peak  in  the  Nilgiris. 

SMALL  SUNBIRD 
Nectarinia  minima 

Common  resident,  subject  to  altitudinal 
movement,  apparently  very  common  during 
southwest  monsoon  (April  to  mid  November). 
Abundant  and  generally  seen  in  small  mixed  hunting 
parties  with  other  forest  species. 

PURPLE  SUNBIRD 
Nectarinia  asiatica 

Rare  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris,  never  recorded  in 
MNP  and  the  immediate  surroundings.  Two  sightings 
include  a bird  seen  c.  6 km  from  Emerald  towards 
Ooty  in  February  2002  and  another  bird  near  Kundha 
Bridge  on  February  2004.  Davison  (1883)  records 
its  occurrence  on  the  Nilgiris  and  slopes,  while 
Jameson  (1969)  recorded  one  bird  in  May  at 
Coonoor.  It  seems  to  be  a local  migrant  to  the  Upper 
Nilgiris  during  the  winter. 

ORIENTAL  WHITE-EYE 
Zosterops  palpebrosus 

Common  resident  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris  but 
diminishes  around  the  slopes.  Often  forms  small 
mixed  hunting  parties,  seldom  quiet,  gives  away  its 
presence  by  frequently  uttered  ''chee  chee”.  Nests 
between  March  and  May,  its  nest  is  usually  a small 
cup  comprising  soft  moss,  lichens  and  spider  webs. 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005)- 


generally  in  shola  undergrowth.  Flocks  of  up  to  20 
birds  are  seen  during  the  non-breeding  season.  Twelve 
nests  with  an  average  clutch  of  two  recorded  during 
2002  and  2003  and  thirteen  birds  ringed  between  20 
January  2003  and  14  February  2003  at  Avalanche. 
Hatchwell  (1904)  mistook  Z.  palpebrosus  for  Z 
ceylonensis,  noting  “I  sighted  several  birds  and  shot 
one  Ceylon  White-eye  Zosterops  ceylonensis  at 
Coonoor  in  the  Nilgiris” 

COMMON  ROSEFINCH 
Carpodacus  erythrinus 

Common  winter  visitor  between  November  and 
April,  affects  open  areas  solitarily  or  in  small  flocks 
of  10-12.  Perhaps  has  a sex  ratio  biased  toward 
males,  generally  one  or  two  males  seen  in  a flock  of 
7-8  females  in  plantations,  shola  and  cultivation. 
Three  birds  ringed;  two  on  28  January  2003  and  one 
on  30  January  2003  at  Avalanche. 

RED  MUNIA 
Amandava  amandava 

Uncommon  resident,  seen  on  a few  occasions 
near  Kundha  Bridge  at  c.  2000  m.  Sightings  include 
four  birds  in  flight  at  Kundha  Bridge  2,000  m near 
Lantana  thickets  on  27  November  2003,  one  male 
and  a female  on  12  September  2003,  followed  by 
two  birds  on  25  September.  Davison  ( 1 883)  described 
it  as  common  on  the  Nilgiris  and  the  slopes  near  the 
cultivation,  while  Stairmand  (1972)  sighted  a few 
parties  between  1,935-2,420  m in  the  Nilgiris  near 
Ootacamund.  It  could  be  present  in  Ootacamund,  and 
perhaps  Coonoor  and  Kotagiri  too,  though  we  did  not 
see  them  in  these  localities. 

SPOTTED  MUNIA 
Lonchura  punctulata 

Common  breeding  resident,  subject  to  local 
movements,  becomes  more  common  during  monsoon 
and  nests  between  June  and  November,  when  the 
majority  of  other  resident  birds  have  completed 


nesting.  Two  nests  sighted  in  July  2002,  first  placed 
in  an  ornamental  Rose  Rosa  sp.  bush  in  front  of 
Avalanche  Guest  House  at  2.5  m and  another  in  a 
gorse  Ulex  europaeus  bush.  It  disappears  from  the 
UpperNilgiris  after  the  nesting  is  over.  Ganguli  ( 1 964) 
sighted  three  bfeeding  pairs  in  June.  Kumar  (1996) 
recorded  a bird  carrying  nest  material  on  1 0 August. 
Pittie  (1989)  sighted  the  birds  carrying  nesting 
material  at  Ooty  Botanical  Garden  in  June  1 989.  Nair 
(1995)  sighted  a pair  builcfmg  its  nest  in  a shrub  in 
September. 

HOUSE  SPARROW 
Passer  domesticus 

Common  resident,  still  plentiful  near  human 
habitations,  but  localj  have  reported  decline  in  many 
areas.  Its  decline  has  been  witnessed  widely,  and  the 
Nilgiris  are  no  exception.  Two  birds  ringed  on  25 
January  2003. 

COMMON  MYNA 
Acridotheres  tristis 

Not  seen  in  the  western  Upper  Nilgiris.  Does 
not  ascend  the  hills  in  the  Nilgiris  (Davison  1883). 
Common  about  Coonoor  (Dewar  1904).  Davidar 
(1991)  described  the  bird  fishing  in  Sigur  Nullah  (lower 
elevation),  a jungle  stream  that  courses  through  the 
Sigur  Reserve  Forest. 

ROSY  STARLING 
Sturnus  roseus 

Rare  winter  visitor  to  the  UpperNilgiris,  a single 
sub-adult  sighted  perched  on  a low  wattle  branch  at 
Avalanche  near  bridge  on  two  consecutive  days  in 
January  2003.  Common  around  lower  elevation  and 
theNilgiri  plains. 

JUNGLE  MYNA 
Acridotheres  fuscus 

Common  resident,  seen  all  over  the  Upper 
Nilgiris,  usually  in  small  flocks.  Nests  usually  in  gaps 


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Buceros  Voi.  10.  No.  1 (2005) 


between  roof  tiles,  under  the  tin  ceiling  in  houses,  a 
hole  in  a tree,  under  a bridge,  in  fact  almost 
everywhere.  Once  four  birds  were  seen  in  a fierce 
pair-wise  fight  (for  unknown  reasons)  on  the  lawn  of 
our  field  station  at  Avalanche.  Both  pairs  were  beak 
in  beak  and  talons  in  talons,  as  several  dozen  other 
mynas  and  other  birds  watched  them  in  curiosity  from 
the  fence  posts,  till  a domestic  cat  dashed  in  and  ran 
away  with  one  bird.  It  becomes  uncommon  during 
peak  southwest  monsoon,  when  it  perhaps  moves 
eastward  to  avoid  the  harsh  cold  and  strong  winds. 
Two  birds  ringed  on  7 February  2003  at  Avalanche. 

EURASIAN  GOLDEN  ORIOLE 
Oriolus  oriolus 

Uncommon  winter  visitor  in  the  Upper  Nilgiris, 
its  slopes  and  plains.  Four  records  during  our  three 
years  study:  one  male  in  a tea  plantation  near  Bikkatti 
village  at  2000  m (9  January  2002);  another  male 
bird  at  Bangitappal  at  2200  m (12  December  2002); 
one  bird  in  flight  at  Bangitappal  (23  December  2002); 
one  male  in  a wattle  plantation  in  Avalanche  at  2 1 00 
m (5  February  2003).  Jameson  (1967)  recorded  that 
they  barely  reach  Coonoor  ( 1 ,800  m),  thus  our  records 
are  quite  significant. 

BLACK-HEADED  ORIOLE 
Oriolus  xanthornus 

None  recorded  during  the  present  study. 
Davison  (1883)  described  it  as  O.  melanocephalus, 
and  said,  “This  oriole  ascends  the  hills  somewhat 
higher  and  I have  on  more  than  one  occasion  seen 
and  shot  it  near  Ooty”. 

ASHY  DRONGO 
Dicrurus  leucophaeus 

Common  winter  visitor  and  widespread  in  the 
Upper  Nilgiris.  Records  from  Avalanche  include:  two 
individuals  sighted  on  separate  dates  in  March  2002, 
two  in  December  2002,  one  in  February  2003  and 
two  in  December  2003.  One  bird  observed  mimicking 


Black  Bulbul  at  Ooty  Botanical  Garden  on  12 
December  2003.  There  are  more  records  from  other 
sites  in  the  western  Upper  Nilgiris.  Davison  (1883) 
recorded  “I  have  not  infrequently  procured  it  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Nilgiris”.  However,  Stairmand 
(1971b)  reported  it  as  well  spread  and  common  in 
Ooty  Botanical  Garden. 

BRONZED  DRONGO 
Dicrurus  aeneus 

We  did  not  come  across  this  species  anywhere 
in  our  study  area.  Davison  (1883)  writes  that  it 
ascends  to  the  hills  to  a much  greater  height  and  he 
frequently  saw  and  shot  it  in  the  vicinity  of  Ooty. 

GREATER  RACKET-TAILED  DRONGO 
Dicrurus  paradiseus 

None  recorded  during  this  study.  The  only  single 
record  of  from  Upper  Nilgiris  was  by  Davison  ( 1 883), 
who  shot  a specimen  on  the  Kotagiri  road  near  Ooty. 
No  other  record  known  to  us. 

ASHY  WOODSWALLOW 
Artamus  fuscus 

Rare  resident,  with  only  a single  record  in  four 
years  of  study.  We  saw  a bird  on  13  January  2002 
on  a short  tree  near  Kotogiri  (1,900  m).  Stonor(1946) 
also  recorded  a pair,  perched  on  a dead  Eucalyptus 
tree  at  Kotagiri  2,032  m and  presumed  that  they  may 
have  been  breeding,  since  they  were  very  pugnacious 
and  chased  away  all  the  crows  and  kites  that  came 
near.  Stonor  (1946)  as  well  as  our  records  from 
Kotagiri  are  significant,  as  it  has  not  been  recorded 
above  1,600  m. 

HOUSE  CROW  Corvus  splendens 

Fairly  common  resident,  indefatigable 
commensal  of  man,  uncommon  to  the  west  of 
Avalanche  except  near  habitations.  Almost  a pest 
around  Kotagiri  Longwood  Shola.  Davison  (1883) 
reported  “it  does  not  ascend  the  hills,  and  even  in 


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Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


some  pans  of  the  low  countiy  at  the  foot  of  the  hills 
it  does  not  occur,  or  is  rare,  for  instance  from  Gudalur 
to  Nellacotta,  though  on  reaching  Nellacotta  it 
suddenly  appeared,  and  it  swarms  the  low  country 
wherever  there  are  human  habitations.”  This 
indicated  tremendous  population  growth  in  House 
Cross  with  the  opening  up  of  these  hills. 

JUNGLE  CROW  Corvus  macrorhynchos 

Very  common  resident  throughout  the  study  area, 
two  nests  recorded  on  22  April  2002  atop  a 1 5 m Piinis 
tree  at  Avalanche  and  another  in  a wattle  stand  at 
Emerald.  Flocks  of  up  to  50  birds  could  be  observed 


near  roosts.  Observed  mobbing  a Bmhminy  Kite  during 
nesting,  a flock  of  four  chased  away  a Common 
Buzzard  on  16  April  2002.  Also  observed  probing 
dung  of  feral  buffalo  to  dig  out  insects  sometimes 
seen  in  laige  flocks  of  up  to  50  birds  during  the  winter. 

Other  records 

S.  Sounderrajan  (pers.  comm.  2003)  stated 
having  photographed  a Black-necked  Stork 
Ephippiorhynduis  asiaticiis  near  Cairnhill  in  1990. 
Fen'uginous  Pochard  Ayihya  nyroca  at  Ooty  Lake  m 
1 995  and  Black-winged  Stilt  Himantopiis  himantopusai 
at  Ooty  lake  in  1995. 


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— Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


APPENDIX  1 

Gazetteer  of  localities  mentioned  in  the  text 


Locality 

Coordinates 

Altitude  (m) 

Avalanche 

11°.29’884N76°.59’163E 

2,100 

Bangitappal 

ll°.25’880N76°.5r765E 

2,200 

Bembatti 

11°.33’358N76°.65’445  E 

2,000 

Bikkatti 

I1°.26’948N76°.62’239E 

2,050 

Bison  Swamp 

ll°.2r360N76°.53’020E 

2,300 

Caim  Hill 

11°.38’717N76°.67’808E 

2,100 

Coonoor 

11°.33’715N76°.79’918E 

1,800 

Devar  Betta 

11°.25’912N76°.57’343  E 

2,300 

Dodabetta 

11°.40’156N76°.73’738E 

2,634 

Emerald 

11°.3!’483N76°.62’595  E 

1,950 

Governor  Shola 

11°.39’221  N76°.64’279E 

2,100 

Kolari  Betta 

11°.28’354N76°.56’518E 

2,550 

Ittalar 

11°.34’102N76°.63’707E 

2,130 

Kotagiri 

11°.43’287N76°.87’476E 

1,850 

Kodanadu 

ll°.5r222N76°.40’221  E 

1,700 

Kundha 

Not  available 

1,900 

Lakkedi 

1I°.26’789N76°.55’497E 

2,150 

Mukurti  Peak 

ll°.37’005N76°.5r893  E 

2,500 

Naduvattam 

11°.48’641  N76°.54’308E 

1,750 

Nadukani 

11°.22’579N76°.46’710E 

2,150 

Parson’s  Valley 

Not  available 

2,100 

Sispara 

11°.20’059N76°.44’018E 

2,000 

Snowdon 

11°.43’115N76°.72’084E 

2,200 

Taishola  Tea  Estate 

ir.2r223N76°.6r246E 

2,000 

Udhagamandalam  (Ooty) 

11°.40*344N76°.69’734  E 

2,000 

Upper  Bhavani 

11°.22’256N76°.53’086E 

2,200 

Western  Catchment  II 

11°.31’833N76°.54’483  E 

2,200 

Western  Catchment  III 

11°.33’407N76°.55’381  E 

2,300 

Localities  nomenclature  follows  Survey  of  India  Toposheets,  except  for  Ooty  (replacing 
Udhagamandalam  and  Ootacamund). 


43 


Buceros  Vol.  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


INDEX 


A 

Accipiter  badius  14 
Accipiternisus  14 
Accipiter  trivirgatus  13 
Accipiter  virgatus  14 
Acridotheres fuscus  35 
Acridotheres  tristis  35 
Acrocephalus  dumetorum  3 1 
Actitis  hypoleucos  18 
Aegithina  tiphia  27 
Alcedo  atthis  2\ 

Alcippe  poioicephala  30 
Alpine  Swift  21 
Amandava  amar]dava25 
Amaurornis  phoenicurus  16 
Anas  crecca  1 1 
Anhmga  melanogaster  10 
Anthus  hodgsoni  25 
Anthus  nilghiriensis  25 
Anthus  richardi  25 
Anthus  rufulus  25 
Anthus  similis  25 
Aquila  heliaca  14 
Ardeola  grayii  1 1 
Artamus  fuscus  36 
Ashy  Drongo  36 
Ashy  Prinia  31 
Ashy  Woodswallow  36 
Asian  Brown  Flycatcher  32 
Asian  Koel  19 

Asian  Paradise-Flycatcher  33 
Asia  JIammeus  2 1 
Aythya  nyroca  37 

B 

Bam  Owl  20 
Besra  Sparrowhawk  1 4 
Black  Bulbul  26 
Black  Eagle  14 
Black  Kite  12 

B!ack-and-Orange  Flycatcher  32 
Black-Capped  Kingfisher  22 
Black-crowned  Night-Heron  1 1 
Black-headed  Cuckooshrike  26 
Black-headed  Oriole  36 
Black-lored  Yellow  Tit  34 
Black-necked  Stork  37 
Black-Shouldered  Kite  12 
Black-winged  Stilt  37 


Blue  Rock  Pigeon  18 
Blue-headed  Rock-Thrush  27 
Blue- Winged  Parakeet  19 
Blyth’s  Reed- Warbler  3 1 
Bonelli’s  Eagle  15 
Booted  Eagle  1 5 
Brachypteryx  major  28 
Brahminy  Kite  12 
Brainfever  Cuckoo  1 9 
Bronzed  Drongo  36 
Brown  Fish-Owl  20 
Brown  Shrike  27 
Brown  Wood  Owl  20 
Brown-breasted  Flycatcher  32 
Brwon  Rock  Pipit  25 
Bubo  nipalensis  20 
Bubutcus  ibis  1 1 
Butastur  teesa  1 4 
Buteo  buteo  1 4 
Buteo  rufinus  1 4 

c 

Caprimulgus  asiaticus  2 1 
Caprimulgus  indicus  2 1 
Carpodacus  erythrinus35 
Cattle  Egret  1 1 
Celeus  brachyurus  23 
Centropus  sinensis  1 9 
Chalcophaps  indica  1 9 
Changeable  Hawk  Eagle  1 5 
Chestnut-Headed  Bee-eater  22 
Chrysocolaptes  lucidus  23 
Ciconia  ciconia  1 1 
Circaetus  gallicus  1 3 
Circus  aeruginosus  1 3 
Circus  macrourus  1 3 
Circus  melanoleucos  1 3 
Clamator  jacobinus  1 9 
Collared  Scops-Owl  20 
Collocalia  unicolor  2 1 
Columba  elphinstonii  1 8 
Columba  livia  1 8 
Common  Buzzard  14 
Common  Cuckoo  20 
Common  Hoopoe  22 
Common  Indian  Nightjar  2 1 
Common  lora  27 
Common  Kestrel  1 6 
Common  Moorhen  17 


Common  Myna  35 
Common  Rosefinch  35 
Common  Sandpiper  1 8 
Common  Snipe  18 
Common  Swallow  24 
Common  Tailorbird  3 1 
Common  Teal  1 1 
Copsychus  saularis  29 
Coracias  benghalensis  22 
Coracina  melanoptera  26 
Corvus  macrorhynchos  37 
Corvus  splendens  36 
Crested  Goshawk  1 3 
Crested  Serpent  Eagle  1 3 
Crimson-throated  Barbet  23 
Cuculus  canorus  20 
Culicicapa  ceylonensis33 
Cyornis  pallipes  33 
Cyornis  tickelliae  33 

D 

Darter  10 
Dendronanthus 
indicus  24 
Dicaeum  agile  34 
Dicrurus  aeneus  36 
Dicrurus  leucophaeus  36 
Dicrurus  paradiseus  36 
Dinopium  benghalense  23 
Dryocopus  javensis  23 
Dumetia  hyperythra  30 
Dusky  Crag-Martin  24 

E 

Eastern  Imperial  Eagle  1 4 
Egretta  garzetta  1 1 
Egyptian  Vulture  12 
Elanus  caeruleus  12 
Emerald  Dove  1 9 
Ephippiorhynchus 
asiaticus  37 

Eudynamys  scolopacea  1 9 
Eumyias  albicaudata  33 
Eumyias  thalassina  33 
Eurasian  Blackbird  28 
Eurasian  Collared-Dove  19 
Eurasian  Golden  Oriole  36 
Eurasian  Sparrowhawk  14 
Eurasian  Woodcock  1 7 


44 


Buceros  Vol.  10.  No.  1 (2005) 


European  White  Stork  1 1 

F 

Falco  naumanni  1 5 
Falco  peregnnm  16 
Falco  timunculus  16 
Ferruginous  Pochard  37 
Ficedula  nigrorufa  32 
Ficedula  subrubra  32 
Forest  Eagle-Owl  20 
Forest  Wagtail  24 
Franklin’s  Prinia30 

G 

Galerida  malabarica  24 
Gallinago  gallinago  1 8 
Gallinago  nemoricola  1 7 
Gallinago  stenura  1 7 
Gallinula  chloropus  1 7 
Galloperdix  spadicea  16 
Gallus  sonneratii  16 
Garrulax  cachinnam  29 
Glaucidium  radiatum  20 
Gorsachius  melanolophus  1 1 
Great  Black  Woodpecker  23 
Great  Cormorant  10 
Great  Tit  34 
Greater  Coucal  19 

Greater  Golden-backed  Woodpecker  23 

Greater  Racket-tailed  Drongo  36 

Green  Sandpiper  1 8 

Greenish  Leaf- Warbler  3 1 

Grey  Junglefowl  16 

Grey  Wagtail  25 

Grey-headed  Bulbul  26 

Grey-headed  Flycatcher  33 

Gyps  bengalensis  1 2 

Gyps  indicus  1 2 

H 

Halcyon  capensis  22 
Halcyon  pileata  22 
Halcyon  smyrnensis  22 
Haliastur  indus  1 2 
Harpactes  fasciatus  2 1 
Hemipus  picatus  26 
Hieraaetus  fasciatus  1 5 
Hieraaetus  kienerii  1 5 
Hieraaetus  pennatus  15 
Hierococcyx  sparverioides  1 9 
Hierococcyx  varius  1 9 
Himantopus  himantopus  37 


Hirundo  concolor  24 
Hirundo  daurica  24 
Hirundo  rustica  24 
Hirundo  tahitica  24 
House  Crow  36 
House  Sparrow  35 
House  Swallow  24 
Hypsipetes  leucocephalus  26 

I 

Ictinaetus  malayensis  1 4 
Indian  Blue  Robin  29 
Indian  Edible-nest  Swiftlet  21 
Indian  Jungle  Nightjar  2 1 
Indian  Peafowl  16 
Indian  Pitta  24 
Indian  Pond  Heron  1 1 
Indian  Roller  22 
Indian  Scimitar-Babbler  30 
Indian  White-backed  Vulture  12 
lole  indica  26 

J 


Lymnociyples  minimus  1 8 

M 

Malabar  Crested  Lark  24 
Malabar  Trogon  21 
Malabar  Whistling-Thrush  27 
Malayan  Night-Heron  1 1 
Megalaima  rubricapilla  23 
Megalanna  viridis  23 
Merops  leschenaulti  22 
Merops  orientalis  22 
Milvus  migrans  1 2 
Monticola  cinclorhynchus  21 
Motacilla  cinerea  25 
Motacilla  flava  25 
Motacilla  maderaspatensis  24 
Mottled  Wood-Owl  20 
Mountain  Hawk  Eagle  15 
Muscicapa  dauurica  32 
Miiscicapa  mulltii  32 
Muscicapa  ruficauda  32 
Myiophonus  horsfieldii  27 

N 


Jungle  Crow  37 
Jungle  Babbler  30 
Jungle  Myna  35 
Jungle  Owlet  20 


Lanius  crislatus  27 
Lanius  schach  27 
Large  Grey  Babbler  30 
Large  Hawk-Cuckoo  1 9 
Large-Billed  Leaf- Warbler  3 1 
Large-pied  Wagtail  24 
Lesser  Florican  17 

Lesser  Golden-backed  Woodpecker  23 

Lesser  Kestrel  15 

Little  Brown  Dove  18 

Little  Egret  1 1 

Little  Grebe  10 

Little  Scaly-bellied  Green  Woodpecker  23 
Lonchura  punctulata  35 
Long-billed  Vulture  12 
Long-legged  Buzzard  14 
Luscinia  brunnea  29 


Nectarinia  asiatica  34 
Neclarinia  minima  34 
Neophron  percnopterus  1 2 
Nilgiri  Flycatcher  33 
Nilgiri  Laughingthrush  29 
Nilgiri  Pipit  25 
Nilgiri  Wood-Pigeon  18 
Nycticorax  nycticorax  1 1 

o 

Orange-headed  Thrush  28 
Oriental  Honey-buzzard  1 1 
Oriental  Magpie-Robin  29 
Oriental  Tree  Pipit  25 
Oriental  White-Eye  34 
Oriolus  oriolus  36 
Oriolus  xanlhornus  36 
Orphean  Warbler  32 
Orlhotomus  sutorius  3 1 
Osprey  1 5 
Otus  hakkamoena  20 


Paddyfield  Pipit  25 
Painted  Bush  Quail  16 
Pallid  Harrier  13 
Pandion  haliaetus  1 5 
Parus  major  34 


K 

Kashmir  Flycatcher  32 
Ketupa  zeylonensis  20 


45 


Buceros  VoL  10,  No.  1 (2005) 


Parus  xanthogenys  34 
Passer  domesticus  35 
Pavo  cr  is  talus  16 
Peltorneum  ruficeps  30 
Perdicula  erythrorhyncha  1 6 
Peregrine  Falcon  16 
Pericrocotus  flammeus  26 
Pernis  ptilorhynchus  1 1 
Phalacrocorax  car  bo  1 0 
Phylloscopus  affinis  3 1 
Phylloscopus  magnirostris  3 1 
Phylloscopus  trochiloides  3 1 
Phylloscopus  ty  fieri  3 1 
Picus  xanthopygaeus  23 
Pied  Bushchat  29 
Pied  Crested  Cuckoo  19 
Pied  Flycatcher-Shrike  26 
Pied  Harrier  13 
Pied  Thrush  28 
Pintail  Snipe  17 
Pitta  brachyuralA 
Plain  Prinia  31 
Plum-Headed  Parakeet  19 
Pomatorhinus  horsfieldii  30 
Pompadour  Green  Pigeon  19 
Prinia  hodgsonii  30 
Prinia  inornata  3 1 
Prinia  socialis  3 1 
Psittacula  columboides  1 9 
Psittacula  cyanocephala  19 
Purple  Sunbird  34 
Pycnonotus  cafer  26 
Pycnonotus jocosus  26 
Pycnonotus  priocephalus  26 

Q 

Quaker  Tit-Babbler  30 

R 

Red  Munia  35 
Red  Spurfovvl  1 6 
Red-headed  Vulture  1 3 
Red-rumped  Swallow  24 
Red-vented  Bulbul  26 


Red-wattled  Lapwing  1 7 
Red-whiskered  Bulbul  26 
Rhipidura  albicollis  33 
Rhipidura  aureola  34 
Richard’s  Pipit  25 
Rosy  Starling  35 
Rufous  Woodpecker  23 
Rufous-backed  Shrike  27 
Rufous-bellied  Eagle  15 
Rusty-tailed  Flycatcher  32 

s 

Sarcogyps  calvus  1 3 
Saxicola  caprata  29 
Scaly  Thrush  28 
Scarlet  Minivet  26 
Scolopax  rusticola  1 7 
Shikra  14 

Short-Eared  Owl  21 
Short-toed  Snake  Eagle  13 
Sitta  frontalis  34 
Small  Bee-eater  22 
Small  Blue  Kingfisher  2 1 
Small  Sunbird  34 
Spilornis  cheela\3 
Sptaetus  cirrhatus  1 5 
Spizaetus  nipalensis  1 5 
Spotted  Babbler  30 
Spotted  Dove  18 
Spotted  Munia  35 
Stork-Billed  Kingfisher  22 
Streplopelia  chinensis  1 8 
Streptopelia  decaocto  1 9 
Streplopelia  senegalensis  1 8 
Strix  leptogrammica  20 
Strix  ocellata  20 
Sturnus  roseus  35 
Sylvia  hortensis  32 
Sypheotides  indica  1 7 

T 

Tachybaptus  ruficollis  1 0 
Tachymarptis  melba  2 1 
Tawny-bellied  Babbler  30 


Terpsiphone  paradisi  33 
Thick-billed  Flowerpecker  34 
Tickell’s  Blue-Flycatcher  33 
TickelFs  Warbler  31 
Treron  pompadora  1 9 
Tringa  glareola  18 
Tringa  ochropus  1 8 
Turdoides  malcolmi  30 
Turdoides  striatus  30 
Turdus  merula  28 
Ty  tier's  Leaf- Warbler  3 1 
Tyto  alba  20 

u 

Upupa epops  22 

V 

Vanelliis  indicus  1 7 
Velvet-fronted  Nuthatch  34 
Verditer  Flycatcher  33 

w 

Western  Marsh-Harrier  1 3 
White-bellied  Blue-Flycatcher  33 
White-bellied  Shortwing  28 
White-Breasted  Kingfisher  22 
White-breasted  Waterhen  16 
White-browed  Fantail-Flycatcher  34 
White-cheeked  Barbet  23 
White-eyed  Buzzard  14 
White-Rumped  Needletail-Swift  2 1 
White-throated  Fantail-Flycatcher  33 
Wood  Sandpiper  18 
Wood  Snipe  1 7 

Y 

Yellow  Wagtail  25 
Yellow-browed  Bulbul  26 

z 

Zoonavena  sylvatica  2 1 
Zoo  the  ra  citrina  28 
Zoothera  dauma  28 
Zoo  t her  a wardii  28 
Zosterops  palpebrosus  34 


46 


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BOMBAY  NATURAL  HISTORY  SOCIETY 

Founded  in  1883  forthe  study  of  natural  history,  the  Bombay  Natural  History  Society  (BNHS)  is 
now  one  of  the  premier  research  and  conservation  organisations  in  the  country.  The  Society  publishes 
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