Birds Around Me 0058 - Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा)

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

- September 04, 2018

It was an early winter morning in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. I set out with my camera kit, camouflaged in military green, ready for another day of birding. Just then, the milkman on his daily round stopped, curiosity written all over his face. He bombarded me with questions—where was I going so early, what was I doing with such a big camera, whether I worked for a newspaper or television, and how much I got paid for this “job.” Finally, with a chuckle, he concluded that I had far too much free time. Before leaving, he invited me to his farm, promising I could photograph “loads of birds” there, and gave me directions.

Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा) - Cyanecula svecica
Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur

His farm happened to be along my usual route, so I decided I’d stop by on my way back. At the very least, I thought, I could buy the fresh butter he always boasted about. After a two-hour walk, I reluctantly went to his farm. To my surprise, he greeted me with great excitement, introduced me to his family, and proudly asked me to photograph him with his favorite cow. Then, with a flourish, he led me to a swampy drain behind the farm—his idea of “loads of birds.” Over a cup of his special farm-fresh tea, I feigned amazement at the sight of dozens of egrets, pond herons, and mynas.

Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा) - Cyanecula svecica
Jabalpur, December 2025

And then, there it was—the Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा / *Cyanecula svecica*), perched barely ten meters away on a water pipe. I carefully reached for my camera, moving in slow motion so as not to startle it. But the milkman had his own plans. The moment he spotted the bird, he removed his shoes, knelt down, and began a prayer. For several minutes, while I clicked away, he was absorbed in his mantras, and the Bluethroat hopped gracefully from one pipe to another.

Curious, I asked him—half sarcastically—what that was all about. His face lit up with joy as he explained: the Bluethroat, known locally as *Neelkanti* (नीलकण्ठी), is considered an avatar of Lord Shiva. To see it in the morning, he said, is like having the Lord himself arrive at your doorstep to bless you and sweep away all negativity.

I was delighted I had come. India never ceases to amaze me—its people, culture, myths, and beliefs weave stories into even the simplest encounters. Every living being—birds, mammals, reptiles, trees, plants—holds spiritual significance in religion and mythology. And yet, paradoxically, we continue to destroy the very world that sustains these wonders.

Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा) - Cyanecula svecica
Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur

Since that day, I make it a point to visit his farm whenever I’m in Jabalpur. Over time, I’ve turned him into something of a birdwatcher himself. He now excitedly tells me about the birds he spots—sometimes describing them as large as calves. I haven’t seen those yet, but I smile at his enthusiasm.

Hindi name of Bluethroat (Cyanecula svecica): नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा

-- Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe

Unfinished List (अपूर्ण सूची) https://birds.rekabira.in/p/this-is-list-of-birds-i-clicked-since.html

Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा) - Cyanecula svecica
Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur

Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा) - Cyanecula svecica
Taken on November 10, 2017
Location: Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur, India (Latitude: 23.172826, Longitude: 79.881881)

Bluethroat (नीलकण्ठी पिद्दा) - Cyanecula svecica (15 cm), is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in wet birch wood or bushy swamp in Europe and Asia with a foothold in western Alaska. It nests in tussocks or low in dense bushes. It winters in north Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Identification: plain brown above except for the distinctive black tail with red side patches and has a strong white supercilium.

Where: bushes, reeds, and grass near the water

Birds Around Me - Unfinished List (अपूर्ण सूची)

https://birds.rekabira.in/p/this-is-list-of-birds-i-clicked-since.html