Birds Around Me

Plain Tiger Butterfly बाघ तितली, तमतो (Danaus chrysippus) is butterfly next door throughout India. It is one of the most recognised butterflies in the gardens, parks and bushes all over.  Bright orange colours with black and white spots mainly on the wings edges make is easily recognisable. It is also called Milkweed Butterfly beacuse of choice of food for it's lavae - Millkweed (आक , दूध-वाला पौधा, दूधिया खरपतवार). The choice of their diet, primarily Milkweed ( cardenolides) , they store and develop toxins. Making both larvae and butterfly undesirable prey. Hence it makes them one of the commonest butterflies in India. Hindi names of Plain Tiger Butterfly (Danaus chrysippus) बाघ तितली, तमतो  -- Ashutosh Jhureley @BirdsAroundMe  Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) Jabalpur, India July 2022  Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) Jabalpur, India July 2022  Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) Jabalpur, India July 2022 Tags: Plain Tiger Butterfly, बा...

The Comma Butterfly (Polygonia c-album) have the angular notches on the edges of the forewings, indeed these are characteristic of the genus Polygonia (anglewing butterflies). Comma butterflies can be identified by their prominent orange and dark brownish/blackish wings.  The  camaouflage is extraordiry, patterns on the wings mimick fallen leaves and larvae looks like bird dropping.  Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) RSPB Rye Meads Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) RSPB Rye Meads

The saying 'bald as a Coot' comes from the white patch  Common Coot दसरी, आरि, ठेकरी, मरुल (Fulica atra), has  just above the bill.  Common Coot दसरी, आरि, ठेकरी, मरुल(Fulica atra),  are  seen across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North Africa.  Belongs to the shy and elusive family of birds - rail & crake but isn't shy or elusive. They are very aggressive and territorial, especially during the breeding season. Although white hear-gear appears to be the weapon, it's their long legs and claws that charge their opponents either coots or other water birds. They form large flocks to avoid predators during the breeding season. The coots are omnivores and are very opportunists with the diet. Thye will take a variety of small live prey, eggs of other water birds, algae, grass, vegetation, seeds, and even fruits. Every time I go on birding, it's a different experience, and always learn or find something new. Yesterday, a fellow birder explained the concept o...

The Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula), also known as the Common Ringed Plover, is a charming little shorebird that thrives along sandy beaches, estuaries, and inland wetlands. Measuring about 18–20 cm in length, it is compact yet robust, with short legs and a rounded body. Its plumage is beautifully patterned: soft brown upperparts blend seamlessly with sandy habitats, while the white underparts are sharply contrasted by a bold black band across the forehead and eyes. Most distinctive of all is the black “ring” encircling its neck, which gives the species its name.   Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)  Iceland, July 2025 This bird is a master of camouflage. When threatened, it crouches low against the ground, blending into pebbles and sand. Its call is a clear, whistled “too‑ee,” often heard as it flies low over shorelines. The Ringed Plover feeds mainly on insects, crustaceans, and worms, probing the mud or sand with quick, darting movements.   Ringed Pl...

Common babbler छोटा सातभाई, चिलचिल, डुमरी, सोर, गेंगा, छोटा गेंगा, ग्राम-हहोलिका  (Turdoides caudata) about as big as bulbul with a relative longer tail. It is slimmer than Jungle Babbler , but like it invariable seen in flocks or "sisterhoods" of half a dozen or son on the ground and among the bushes. Its earth brown up;per plumage is streaked darker, and the long graduated loosely attached tail is finely cross-rayed. The sisterhoods spend their time scuttling along the ground like rats, running fast with short mincing steps under hedges and through thorny scrub and thickets, rummaging for insects and caterpillars.  Common babbler छोटा सातभाई, चिलचिल, डुमरी, सोर, गेंगा, छोटा गेंगा, ग्राम-हहोलिका  (Turdoides caudata) Sanjivini Nagar, Jabalpur When agitated, as on sighting a snake or cat, the birds utter a musical whistling which-which-which-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri as they nervously twitch their wings and tail and hop from bush to bush peering down at the intruder, the entire si...

Jungle Babbler (गयंगा, पेंगिया मैना, सातभाई, जंगली-खैर, घोंगढी, अर्याण्या हहोलिका ) / Turdoides striata are not so angry bird as it is being portrayed. They are very sociable birds. Earthy brown, frowzled, and untidy-looking bird with a longish tail. It is very similar to  Large Grey Babbler (गैगई, घुघोई) - Argya malcolmi  but has pale lores, a yellow bill, and a shorter tail without pale outer feathers. They are always seen in flocks of 5-10 birds,  as Mark Thornbill noted, "they have also a singular habit of always associating in groups of an uneven number, either five or seven. The native has pretty legend accounting for this habit.". Hence they got the name सातभाई (Seven Sisters) in Hindi.  Jungle Babbler (गयंगा, पेंगिया मैना, सातभाई, जंगली-खैर, घोंगढी, अर्याण्या हहोलिका ) / Turdoides striata inhabit outlying jungle as well-wooded gardens, compounds, and groves of trees in and around the town and villages. The flocks "sisterhoods" spend their time hopping on the...