Painted Stork

Painted Storks (Mycteria leucocephala) are one of the beautiful birds endemic to the Indian sub-continent below the Himalayas and some parts of East Asia. They are non-migratory, travel within their range that spreads from the Indus river on the western side to as far as Malaysia and Cambodia. However, the bulk of the population resides in India and is seen in most wetlands and water bodies in the country. They are locally known as janghil or dhok.

Painted Stork, Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan

These birds get their name from the distinctive pink tertial feathers. The heavy yellow beak is with a down-curved tip makes it resemble an Ibis. However, its flight is typical stork-like with its head extended. They have a black breast-band with white scaly markings that extend into their underwing coverts. The rest of the body is white, and the legs are yellow.

Painted Stork foraging at Basai Wetlands, Haryana

The Painted Storks prefer shallow waters, and they feed on small fish, frogs and at times, even snakes. They forage mainly during the day, walking slowly in water flushing out the fish with their movement. Some birds even forage at night. These birds live in small groups, and nest in colonies with other storks, ibises, spoonbills, cormorants, black-crowned night herons and others.

Painted Stork in flight over Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

For those residing in Delhi, the best places to watch large colonies of painted storks, especially during their breeding season which begins after the rains is the National Zoological Park where a few hundred wild birds appear every season and build nests on the trees beside water bodies in this safe habitat. 

Painted Storks nesting at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

Another location made picturesque by these birds in their hundreds is the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan where huge colonies of Painted Storks build their nests in the trees on islands, safe from humans and most predators.

Painted Storks at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

The Painted Stork typically lays a clutch of two to five eggs, in the nests they build on trees, and incubates them over a month. The birds take care of their eggs and fledglings from crows, kites, eagles and other predators. The parents are also sighted standing over the nests with their wings extended to protect the young birds from the hot sun.

Painted Stork, Juvenile, at Delhi Zoo

Painted Stork, Juvenile, at Delhi Zoo

Painted Stork, Juvenile, at Delhi Zoo

The baby storks are white in color, with grey bills and black skin on their heads. The juveniles are brownish as seen in the photographs in this blog. They mature and reach breeding age in two to three years, by which time the color of their facial skin turns red and the ‘paintings’ appear on their plumage! No wonder these colonies of breeding painted storks become tourist places where birds and photographers appear in droves to admire and click these beautiful large birds!

Painted Storks in raucous breeding activity at Bharatpur

The Painted Storks live for about 20 to 28 years, and stay in more or less the same location for most of their lives. With predators such as leopards, crocodiles, hyenas and humans, and facing an increasingly shrinking habitat, these birds have been categorized as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN. 

Painted Stork in flight over Basai wetlands, near Gurgaon, Haryana

At times, even silly decisions by sanctuary authorities can drive away these birds from nesting sites. A case in point was last year, when a bird-brained decision was made at the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur to build small islands in the water bodies right at the time when the birds started nesting. The human activity as well as the noisy construction of an internal road led to an exodus of Painted Storks from the sanctuary, leaving behind their nests, eggs and nestlings!

Painted Storks roost in colonies at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

Little Grebe

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus rufilocollis) is a common water bird found across ponds, lakes and marshlands across India and other countries in south Asia, Africa and some parts of Europe. It is also known as the Dabchick.

A pair of Little Grebe, at Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi NCR

Little Grebe at Tal Chappar Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan

The Little Grebe is a small bird with a pointed beak and a fluffy rear end. During the breeding season, the male plumage is dark rufus, which gets replaced with a buff color during the winters. Juveniles have a yellow bill, which turns dark later on.

Little Grebe, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi NCR

Little Grebe, Surajpur Bird Sanctuary, Greater Noida

Though these birds are unable to walk well, they are expert swimmers and hunt their prey, mostly fish and aquatic invertebrates underwater. I have watched them dive for a long time, and surface at a different place, which show their endurance underwater.

Little Grebe, at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi NCR

Little Grebe, at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi NCR

They build nests at the edge of the water, hidden in vegetation. The chicks quickly take to water after hatching. Adults are known to carry young chicks on their backs while swimming. The Little Grebes breed during the rainy season in India.

A breeding pair of Little Grebes, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi NCR

Little Grebe, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi NCR

The images shown here are mostly from the Okhla Bird Sanctuary where they are found all round the year, but some are from other locations where I have gone for bird watching. 

Breeding pair of Little Grebes, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Delhi NCR

Common Teal

Common Teal or Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca) is a winter migrant to India, and are found in large flocks in and around small lakes, ponds and other water bodies in the vicinity of woodlands from October until February. Highly migratory, the teals breeds across Europe and North Asia, and winters far south.

Common Teal in flight at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

It is the smallest of the dabbling ducks, and weight less than 350 grams. The drakes are easily recognizable by the dark green tear-shaped patch on their heads. The females and juveniles are much yellowish-brown in colour, while the eclipse males resemble the female with subdued facial markings.

Common Teal amidst a flock of Northern Pintails at Bharatpur

For nesting, they choose hollows in the ground in thick vegetation near water bodies. During this period, their diet changes from seeds, grass and other vegetation to crustaceans, worms, insects, etc. The otherwise nocturnal feeder also becomes active during the day.

Common teal in flight

Though the Common Teal is threatened with shrinking habitat across its breeding and winter habitats, their numbers are still large enough to be classified as “Least Concern” by IUCN. These birds are also susceptible to avian influenza and bird botulism. They are also hunted in some countries.

Common Teal flying over the Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

Strangely, I have very few images of these birds despite visiting a large number of water bodies over the course of two years of intensive birding. The images I have are from Bharatpur, where I have sighted them in flight and intermingled with roosting flocks of other duck species.

Swan Goose

Swan Goose (Anser Sygnoides) is a rare migratory goose from northern Asia, and wintering in China and some countries in the Far East. Having been domesticated, feral and escaped birds are often sighted among other swan and goose species in other countries where they were introduced.

Swan Goose, at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

These birds are long-necked, with greyish-brown upper body and maroon hind neck and cap. The underside is pale buff. Males are typically larger than females, and the juveniles resemble the female. They are usually found near water sources, and form small flocks outside the breeding season.

Around 60,000 to 100,000 birds exist in the wild, and they have been placed in the ‘vulnerable’ category by IUCN, where it was earlier categorized as ‘endangered’. Most of the world’s Swan Geese are found along the lower Yangtze river in China.

I photographed a pair of these birds in Bharatpur in August 2014. The male seems to have been injured near its bill, and the female (featured above) was keeping a close watch on him. I believe these must be feral birds or escapes, than migrants from China.

Northern Pintail

The Northern Pintail (Anas Acuta) is a slender-necked duck with a distinctive silhouette that is found in temperate regions across Asia, Europe and Northern America. Like most other ducks, the Northern Pintails migrate south for the winter. They are found in most parts of India during the migratory season, and are usually the first migrants to arrive in the country.

Northern Pintail, at the Surajpur Bird Sanctuary, Greater Noida

The breeding males of this species have a chocolate-colored head with a white stripe on each side of its neck. These large ducks are quite striking, and the grey, brown and black patterning is unique to the drakes. The females look more subtle, with rather drab plumage.  Juvenile birds usually resemble the female.

Northern Pintail, male, flying over Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

The central feathers on the tail of the male birds are elongated, and are almost a quarter of the bird’s length, thus giving the Northern Pintail its name.  The males have a flute-like whistle, while the females have a rough quack.

Northern Pintails roosting at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

A flock of Northern Pintail in flight over Bharatpur

These ducks inhabit open wetlands and feed on vegetation by dabbling in the shallow water. During breeding, they also eat crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates by filter-feeding on the surface of the water.

Flock of Northern Pintail at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

The Northern Pintail are highly gregarious and form large flocks during the non-breeding season. They nest on the ground by digging a shallow pit and lining it with down. Their nests are usually a bit away from the water and they lay a clutch of 3-12 eggs.

Northern Pintails roost at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

Though the global population is going down, there are sufficient number of ducks in the wild, and are therefore categorized as “Least Concern” by IUCN. I have photographed these birds across most bird sanctuaries that I have visited during the winters.

A flock of Northern Pintail, at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

Northern Shoveller

A winter migrant to India, the Northern Shoveller (Anas Clypeata) is a common bird spotted across open wetlands and other fresh water bodies in most parts of the country. It is widespread across Europe and Asia, and is also resident in North America. These birds are easily identified by their large spatulate bills. The males have an iridescent dark green head with a white and chestnut body during breeding season. At other times, the eclipse male (non-breeding) is similar to the mottled-brown colored female.

Northern Shoveller, male, at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary, Haryana, India

Northern Shovellers feed by dabbling in shallow waters. Their specialized bills allow them to strain water for aquatic invertebrates. Comb-like structures on the edge of the bills act as sieves, and get them a rich carnivorous diet.

Eclipse male, at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Drakes and a female Shoveller swim at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary

These birds nest away from water, on the ground, laying a clutch of about nine eggs. The males defend the nest and female from predators. They are very territorial and fights away other competing males during the breeding season. The males also perform elaborate courtship to attract their mates. However, in non-breeding season, the Northern Shovellers form small flocks and are gregarious in nature.

Northern Shovellers flying over Okhla Bird Sanctuary, near Delhi

A male Northern Shoveller flies alongside a Eurasian Wigeon at Bharatpur

With over 4 million birds globally, the Northern Shoveller is placed in the “Least Concern” category of IUCN. Fortunately, their numbers are growing unlike many other species, and they will continue being our winter guests for a long time. 

A flock of Northern Shovellers in flight over Dhanauri wetlands, Uttar Pradesh

Indian Spot-billed Duck

The Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) is a common resident in lakes and other fresh water bodies across India. The name comes from the yellow tip and red spot on the bill. It has a brownish scaly-patterned body and green speculum, with white tertials that are prominent in flight.  It’s legs and feet are orange in color. It is a medium sized duck and weighs between 750 gm to 1.5 kg.

Indian Spot-billed duck at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary near Delhi

Though these ducks are found with their mate during the breeding season, they flock together in large numbers at other times. Almost every lake would find a few ducks, either roosting or busy swimming around. They take to flight at the slightest alarm with loud quacks and a noisy beating of wings.

Indian Spot-billed duck at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary near Delhi

They are dabbling ducks, and they dive to eat vegetation below the water. Unlike their cousins, the Eastern Spot-billed Duck that migrates to the far east, the Indian Spot-billed Ducks do not migrate but are resident year round in India.

Indian Spot-billed Ducks in flight over Surajpur Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh

Breeding is usually between July to September depending on the rains, and they build nests on the ground near a water source. During this season, it is common to see these ducks in pairs, followed by a string of ducklings.

Indian Spot-billed Ducks at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

Indian Spot-billed Ducks at Keoladeo Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur

Indian Spot-billed Ducks take off at Surajpur Bird Sanctuary

These birds are classified as “Least Concern” in the IUCN Red List. The population is seen decreasing, but not so much to be categorized as vulnerable.

Indian Spot-billed Duck flying over Basai wetlands near Gurgaon

I have photographed these birds at almost all the water bodies and marshes that I visit for birding, so much so that I have stopped clicking them unless it is for aesthetic reasons. These birds are beautiful in water and in flight, and good sunlight brings out brilliant colors in these otherwise ordinary birds. 

Indian Spot-billed Duck, Bharatpur

Amidst marsh vegetation at Bharatpur

Roosting on water at Okhla Bird Sanctuary

Indian Spot-billed duck at Surajpur Bird Sanctury

A brace of Indian Spot-billed ducks at Surajpur Bird Sanctuary