Birds Around Me

Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) बड़ा किल्किला, बादामी कौड़िल्ला Jabalpur, M.P., India April 2025 The Stork-billed Kingfisher ( Pelargopsis capensis ), known as बड़ा किल्किला or बादामी कौड़िल्ला in Hindi, is a large and striking kingfisher found across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Unlike smaller kingfishers, this species prefers wooded areas near rivers, lakes, and coastal regions rather than diving into open water. Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) बड़ा किल्किला, बादामी कौड़िल्ला Jabalpur, M.P., India April 2025 Key Features: Size: One of the largest kingfishers, measuring 35 cm (14 in) in length. Appearance: Olive-brown head with a buff-colored neck and underparts. Bright blue wings and tail, making it stand out in flight. Massive red bill, resembling a stork’s beak—hence the name! Behavior: Often perches quietly, scanning for prey. Hunts fish, frogs, crabs, and even small rodents or birds. Territorial, sometimes chasing away larger birds like eagl...

One of my favorite birds, the  White-throated Kingfisher ( किलकिला ,  श्वेतकण्ठ   कौड़िल्ला ) / Halcyon Smyrnensis - is the bird that I look forward to photographing every time I go to my home in Jabalpur, India. They are so distinctive and beautiful, and once hunted in abundance for their feathers. Their song all day long makes it tempting to go out, and the reason they are called "KilKila" in Hindi, which means non-stop blabbering. If you want to make anyone fall in love with bird watching, especially in urban areas of India, it is the go-to bird.  White-throated Kingfisher (किलकिला, श्वेतकण्ठ कौड़िल्ला) / Halcyon Smyrnensis Jabalpur, India, April 2022 Bird Facts: The White-throated Kingfisher is also called the Tree Kingfisher. It can often be found well away from water bodies, especially in urban areas,  where it feeds on a wide range of prey that includes small reptiles, amphibians, crabs, small rodents, and even birds. It is the only kingfisher known ...

The Pied Kingfisher ( Ceryle rudis / कौरियला) is a striking bird, widely distributed across Africa and Asia. With its bold black-and-white plumage, spiky crest, and remarkable ability to hover mid-air before plunging into water for fish, it’s a marvel of nature and unmistakably charismatic. Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) कौरियला  Jabalpur, India April 2025 My encounter with this bird was completely unexpected—and unforgettable. I had no idea what I had captured through my lens until hours later, after a deep dive into bird guides and online searches. That moment of discovery was as thrilling as the sighting itself. It was the first and only time I’ve seen a Pied Kingfisher, and though the photo may not be technically perfect, it holds a special place in my heart. It’s a memory wrapped in surprise, curiosity, and joy. I do hope to cross paths with this beauty again—this time with better light, steadier hands, and a sharper frame. Hindi Names of  Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)...