Birds Around Me

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is the only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean. Measuring 28–34 cm in length with a wingspan of 50–60 cm, it is instantly recognizable by its stocky build, black back, white belly, and most famously, its large triangular bill that glows orange and red during the breeding season. This colorful beak, combined with bright orange legs, has earned puffins nicknames such as “sea parrot” and “clown of the ocean.”   Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) Iceland, July 2025 Puffins breed in colonies across Iceland, Norway, the British Isles, Greenland, and eastern Canada, nesting in burrows or rocky crevices. They are expert divers, using their wings to “fly” underwater while hunting fish such as sand eels. Outside the breeding season, puffins spend months at sea, riding the waves of the North Atlantic.   Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) Iceland, July 2025 Culturally, puffins hold a special place in human imagination. In Iceland, wh...

The Puff-throated Babbler, known in Hindi as झाड़ी फुतकी, is a charming little bird of India’s forests and scrublands. Its secretive nature and distinctive puffed throat display make it a fascinating member of the babbler family.   Puff-throated Babbler (Pellorneum ruficeps) झाड़ी फुतकी Jabalpur, April 2025 This small bird measures about 16–18 cm in length. It has warm brown upperparts, a chestnut crown, and a buff eyebrow stripe that gives it a gentle expression. The underparts are whitish with bold streaks, and the throat is pure white—often puffed out when calling, which gives the species its English name. Its plumage blends perfectly with leaf litter and undergrowth, making it hard to spot.   Puff-throated Babbler (Pellorneum ruficeps) झाड़ी फुतकी Jabalpur, April 2025 The Puff-throated Babbler is widely distributed across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia. In India, it is found in scrub, moist forests, bamboo thickets, and hilly regions, especi...

The Red-breasted Flycatcher, locally known as लाल-गला पिद्दी or लाल-गला फुद्की, is a charming little bird that visits India during the winter months. Belonging to the Old World flycatcher family, this species is admired for its delicate beauty and lively behavior.   Breeding males are unmistakable, with a bright reddish-orange throat and upper breast, contrasting against a greyish crown and white underparts. Females and juveniles, however, are more subdued in color, showing brownish-grey plumage with creamy-white underparts and lacking the red throat patch. This seasonal variation makes identification an exciting challenge for birders.   Female Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) लाल-गला पिद्दी, लाल-गला फुद्की Jabalpur, December 2024 The Red-breasted Flycatcher breeds in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, migrating southwards to South Asia, including India, for the winter. In India, it is commonly seen in wooded valleys, gardens, and roadside trees, especially in ...

The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a medium‑sized wading bird belonging to the curlew family, Scolopacidae. It is often mistaken for its close relative, the Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), known in Hindi as गोर, गौंग, बड़ा गुलिंदा, or कुकरि जलरंक. While both species share a similar long, down‑curved bill and mottled brown plumage, the Eurasian Curlew is noticeably larger, with a longer beak and bulkier frame.   Wimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) छोटा गोंघर, गुलिंदा Iceland, July 2025 The Whimbrel, however, has distinctive features that set it apart. If observed closely, its head is darker, marked by two bold, pale streaks running lengthwise—a reliable field mark that helps birdwatchers distinguish it from the curlew. Its bill, though shorter on average, can sometimes appear long enough to cause confusion.   Wimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) छोटा गोंघर, गुलिंदा Iceland, July 2025 In the United Kingdom, the Eurasian Curlew is far more common, being a resident species that bree...