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Showing posts from September, 2018

Birds Around Me 0100 - Pheasant-tailed Jacana (पिहो, जलमंजोर,जलमयूर, जलअप्सरा) - Hydrophasianus chirurgus

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Pheasant-tailed Jacana (पिहो, जलमंजोर,जलमयूर, जलअप्सरा) - Hydrophasianus chirurgus October 2023 Padariya, Jabalpur, MP, India Pheasant-tailed Jacana (पिहो, जलमंजोर, जलमयूर, जलअप्सरा) - Hydrophasianus chirurgus (31 cm without tail-streamers), is unmistakable and identifiable by contrasting colours, their huge feet, and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lake. Only jacana known to have a different breeding plumage. Identification: Unmistakable; Breeding adults are mainly black other than white wings, head, and foreneck. The hind neck is golden and striking white eyestripe. Bird Facts:   Called peacock of waters - जलमयूर; in some folk-tails referred to as angel of water that brings rain. Where: Jheels, marshes, and ponds with floating vegetation.  Birds Around Me - Unfinished List ( अपूर्ण    सूची )  Pheasant-tailed Jacana (पिहो, जलमंजोर,जलमयूर, जलअप्सरा) - Hydrophasianus chirurgus October 2023 Padariya, Jabalpur, MP, India Pheasant-tailed

Birds Around Me 0095 - Bronze-winged Jacana (कटोई, पीपी) - Metopidius indicus

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Bronze-winged Jacana (कटोई, पीपी) - Metopidius indicus Taken on April 9, 2016 Location: Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur, India (Latitude: 23.172826, Longitude: 79.881881)  Bronze-winged Jacana (कटोई, पीपी) - Metopidius indicus (30 cm), is a medium-sized, distinctive wading bird. in flight, the upper wings are all dark, with a thicker bill, rusty-buff throat, upper breast, and bronzed upper parts. Its huge feet and claws enable it to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes, which are its preferred habitat. It is found in south and east Asia within the tropical zone. Identification: Distinctive ; rusty-buff throat and upper breast, bronzed upper parts, and chestnut-red stub tail. Immature birds are mainly whitish, rufous, and brown.    Bird Facts: Bronze-winged jacanas have a territorial, sex-role reversed system. They are polyandrous, and the females are larger and more brightly colored than their male counterparts. The females compete with each other for harems of males to i

Birds Around Me 0172 - Greater Painted Snipe (भेंडलावा) - Rostratula benghalensis

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Greater Painted Snipe (भेंडलावा) - Rostratula benghalensis Taken on June 26, 2018 Location: Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur, India (Latitude: 23.172826, Longitude: 79.881881)  Greater Painted Snipe (भेंडलावा) - Rostratula benghalensis Taken on June 26, 2018 Location: Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur, India (Latitude: 23.172826, Longitude: 79.881881)  Greater Painted Snipe (भेंडलावा) - Rostratula benghalensis (25 cm), is a medium-sized, plump wading bird. Long reddish-brown bill, slightly decurved at the tip, and distinct white or pinkish eye patch. Rounded, buff-spotted wings and a short tail. White of breast extends up around top of the folded wing. Females are more brightly colored than the male. Identification: Unmistakable; long reddish-brown bill, slightly decurved at tip, distinct white or pinkish eye patch.   Bird Facts: they are unusually quiet and often referred to in folk tales as a spy with colorful eyes and make-up. First  time I saw this bird was in 2010, when I went to Kh

Birds Around Me 0058 - Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा) - Cyanecula svecica

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There is an interesting story about how I saw Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा / Cyanecula svecica) and clicked them in Jabalpur, MP, India.  It was an early winter morning and I was about to venture out with my kit camouflaged in military green. The milkman who was on the daily run out of curiosity and astonishment inquired about where I am going this early, what I am doing with my big camera, how much I am paid for this work, do I work for newspaper or television and all sort of questions. In the end, he concluded I have got too much free time and have nothing better to do. He ended up inviting me to his farm saying I can click loads of birds all day. He gave me directions to his farm which was few hundred meters from where I was and drove off.  The farm was on my regular daily trajectory, so thought on my way back I will go there, at least will be able to buy fresh butter that he always boasts about. After a good 2 hour walk, I reluctantly went to his farm. He was excited, introduced me