My Science School

The collared falconet, or Microhierax caerulescens, is a small-sized bird of prey in the Falconidae family. It is found in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. ‘Microhierax’ means ‘tiny hawk’ in Greek. This bird is a very small falcon with short wings, a medium-length tail and half-feathered legs. Males have a black crown and white forehead with a black streak drawn out from the eye like the tail of a comet. This gives the bird a broad white collar at the neck. Its tail is black with four white bands and it is a deep chestnut colour below the neck. Females look like the male except that they have more white in their wings.

This species is very shy and does not rest long in one place, but keeps moving from branch to branch. Its call is a melodious ‘kli-kli-kli’.

This bird is non-migratory, usually living all year through in the same region. It likes open deciduous forests, clearings and the edges of evergreen forests, preferably near a water source. It feeds on butterflies, dragonflies, lantern flies, grasshoppers, beetles, cicadas and occasionally small birds and lizards. It watches for prey from prominent lookout perches and darts out when it sees an insect or lizard, capturing them mid-air, on a tree, or on the ground.

The collared falconet reuses old woodpecker or barbet nests by lining them with leaves. The female lays around 4 to 5 white eggs with reddish spots and incubation duties are carried out by both parents.

These birds have a large range and population numbers are considered stable. They are categorized as least vulnerable and come under ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List.

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Jerdon’s Baza (Aviceda jerdoni), also called the Brown Lizard Hawk, is a moderate-sized raptor which belongs to the family Accipitridae. It is found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Southern China, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. In India, it is found in the foothills of Terai, evergreen forests and in tea estates. It is named after the surgeon-naturalist Thomas C Jerdon who lived in India from 1836 to 1870.

It is generally brown in colour with yellow eyes and whitish underparts. Its tail is brown and has three dark bands, of which the last is the broadest and darkest. It is easily distinguishable by its white-tipped black crest that sets it apart from other hawks. It feeds on large insects, lizards and small rodents. It is a sedentary bird and likes to remain in its chosen habitat all through the year.

It is generally a shy bird, active primarily during twilight. Its call is a long-drawn ‘to-wheeeh’ or ‘kit-kit-kit’. It rarely soars high above the forest and prefers to hunt and travel under the forest canopy. It may be spotted in pairs or family parties of 3 to 5. It usually ambushes its prey from a concealed perch and unlike other raptors; this hawk carries its prey in its beak and not in its talons. The female usually lays 1 to 2 unmarked white eggs and the incubation period lasts between 32 and 35 days. Both the male and female take part in incubation and in feeding the chicks.

This hawk has a wide range and is considered least vulnerable. It is listed under ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List.

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The black baza, or Aviceda leuphotes, is a small-sized raptor found in the forests of Northeast India and Southeast Asia. Many populations of this bird are migratory, such as the species found in the Indian region. In southern India it has been reported mainly in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. It is also known to breed in northeastern India and Burma. Stray sightings of this bird have also been reported in or near urban areas such as the Guindy National Park in Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore.

The black baza is a highly distinctive looking bird with an overall black colouring and a white chest. It has a slender black crest, which is held vertically or at an angle while perched but is usually hidden during flight. It has rusty-coloured stripes on its belly, short, stout legs and strong talons. It prefers foothill and lowland forests.

It is a social bird, often soaring in large flocks and roosting communally. While in flight, it may be spotted by the checkerboard pattern of its upper wings, visible from below. It perches on branches of tall trees rising above the forest canopy looking for prey. It feeds on insects which it catches mid-air, or off a leaf, with its feet. It also attempts to capture small birds such as wagt9ails by making quick sallies into flocks. It is also known to feed on the fruits of the oil palm.

Its call is a squeaky, echoing whistle or a ‘chu-weep’. Both male and female birds take part in nest building, incubation and feeding the chicks. The incubation period is about 26 to 27 days. This species is listed under ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List.

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The besra (Accipiter virgatus), also called besra sparrowhawk, is a medium-sized raptor which belongs to the family Accipitridae. It inhabits dense forests throughout southern Asia from the Indian subcontinent eastwards across Southeast Asia into East Asia. It is grayish brown with a gray head and neck, pale underparts, and a distinctive dark vertical throat stripe. It has yellow to orange-red eyes and yellow feet. The female is larger, more powerful and darker than the male. Both males and females have 3 to 4 equi-sized dark bands on the uppertail. Its call is a loud ‘ki wee’.

This raptor preys on lizards, dragonflies, small birds and mammals. During the winter, the besra will emerge from its forest cover to more open woodland including cultivated lands. It ambushes its prey by darting from an unseen perch and grabs it mid-air, on a tree or off the ground. It is found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, central and south China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

It builds its nest from twigs and leaves in a well-concealed tree. Both the male and female birds take part in its construction. The female lays around 2 to 5 eggs. Its incubation time is 23 to 39 days. It is listed under ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List.

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The Himalayan buzzard, or Buteo refectus, is a medium to large raptor found in the Himalayan regions of Asia. It mostly inhabits the forests and scrublands of hilly, mountainous regions in India, Nepal and southern parts of China.

The Himalayan buzzard is often mistaken for the upland buzzard species. It is a ‘typical’ buzzard with brown plumage interspersed with white blotchy patterning on its chest and yellow legs and feet. The Himalayan buzzard has darker legs than the eastern buzzards and is known for its sharp, high pitched calls.

The Himalayan buzzard is of two types; a darker brown coloured species and a paler type where the plumage is lighter. The darker birds are brick-red brown all over, while the paler-coloured birds have brown upper parts and white, brown-spotted lower parts.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Himalayan buzzard species under the Least Concern status in its Red List.

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The white-eyed buzzard, or Butastur teesa, is a medium-sized raptor found in western and north-western India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It inhabits dry open land, open forests and cultivated land. As the name suggests, this bird has a distinct white iris which makes its eyes look white. It also has a white patch on its throat with a black stripe running down it. The head and body are brown and legs are a pale yellow. Its beak is black and beautifully curved. The female is slightly larger than the male.

It preys on small birds, mammals, amphibians, insects, crabs and reptiles. It is a vociferous bird with a mewing call or a falling whistle that is often heard when several birds soar together. Both the male and female take part in nest building. The nest is usually a loose construction of twigs set in a leafless tree. The female may lay up to 3 unmarked, white eggs and is responsible for incubation, which usually takes around 19 days. Both parents take turns in feeding and protecting the young ones.

Although habitat loss and fluctuations in prey populations are universal threats, the white-eyed buzzard does not show much decline in numbers. This may be due to its wide distribution across a range of habitats. It is listed under ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List.

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The Oriental honey-buzzard, or Pernis ptilorhynchus, is a medium-sized raptor that belongs to the family Accipitridae. It inhabits woodlands of many climatic types preferring lowland, broadleaf and mixed forests. It is found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Indonesia.

This raptor has a longish neck, a small head and a long tail. It is brown above and paler below, with males having a blue-gray head and females having a brown head. Unlike other birds of prey, this bird has a very unraptor-like face. Its eyes are not as striking as an eagle’s as it does not have the frowning appearance of a predator. It lacks the superciliary ridge above the eye which gives typical raptors their fierce expression, making this bird’s face look more like a pigeon’s!

This bird is a specialist feeder that lives mainly on the larvae, pupae and adults of various species of wasps and bees. It also feeds on other insects, reptiles and amphibians, small mammals, bird nestlings and bird eggs, as well as some fruits and berries. They are also known to eat bits of honeycomb and honey, hence the name - honey buzzard. Its call is a clear ‘peee-luu’.

The female is generally larger and darker than the male. This species builds its nest from twigs, leaves and bits of cotton in the forks of trees. The female lays around 2 eggs and incubation is carried out by both parents. The incubation period is around 42 to 45 days.

This bird has a very large range of habitat and although its population is declining, it is not considered vulnerable. Main threats are other predators, degradation of habitats and loss of tree cover. It is listed under ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List.

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The Brahminy kite, or Haliastur Indus, is a medium-sized bird of prey that belongs to the group Accipitridae. It is known as the red-backed sea eagle in Australia. These birds are easily recognizable by their distinctive colouring. Adults have reddish-brown plumage contrasting with a snow-white head, whitish beak and pale yellow legs. Silver-gray lines streak the white of its head and chest. Younger birds are browner with shorter wings. This bird is found in India, South East Asia and Australia in wetlands, coastal regions, mangroves and estuaries.

These birds are very playful and like to drop leaves in the air and try to catch them! They utter a lamb-like ‘keeyew’ call to communicate with other birds. They soar high during the day looking for prey and prefer to scavenge for dead fish and crabs. They will also hunt bats, hares and insects when necessary. They are very social compared to eagles and are known to roost or gather in huge numbers even reaching up to 600!

They are monogamous and form life-lasting bonds. They prefer to make their nests in mangroves, out of small sticks and leaves and reuse the same nest year after year. The female lays 2 dull-white or bluish-white eggs. Both the male and female are active parents with the male taking on feeding duties while the female carries out incubation, which lasts around 26 to 27 days. Brahminy chicks remain with their parents for around 4 months.

They are listed as a species of ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List, but their population is declining due to habitat loss and persecution.

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The black kite, or Milvus migrans, is a medium-sized raptor from the family Accipitridae. It has a predominantly brown plumage with a paler coloured head and neck. It has a part black and part yellow bill, dark brown eyes, pale yellow leas and long black talons. These kites are sometimes called fork-tailed kites because their tail feathers are split, forming a v-shape. The outer edge of their wings appears to be ‘fingered’ because of individual feathers which look like fingers. Females are slightly larger than males. This species is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The birds living in temperate areas tend to be migratory, while the birds living in tropical areas are permanent residents.

Although these birds have a large range of habitats, they prefer open areas with access to water bodies like rivers and lakes. They eat fish, reptiles, amphibians, rats, bats and sometimes carry off chicks from other nests as food! They are opportunistic hunters and will scavenge for food in rubbish heaps and urban sprawls. They are good communicators and have a shrill, whistling cry - ‘kleeee-errr’ which is followed by a rapid whinnying call – ‘keee-keee-keee’.

Black kites usually build their nests in trees or ledges in cliffs. They use paper, feathers, sticks and even plastic to line the nests and make them soft. The female lays 2 to 3 off-white eggs freckled with brown spots. The incubation period averages 32 days and chicks are cared for by both parents.

Two subspecies of black kites are found in the Indian subcontinent- the black-eared kite and the small Indian kite. The black eared kite is found in the Himalayas and northern parts of India and the small Indian kite is seen in eastern Pakistan, east through tropical India, Sri Lanka and the Malay Peninsula. The black kite is supposed to be the most abundant species in the family Accipitridae. This is because it covers a large region and has a large population in these areas. It is listed under ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red list.

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The black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus), also known as the black-shouldered kite, is a small-sized raptor which belongs to the family Accipitridae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, tropical Asia and Europe. It is one of the most beautiful raptors in the world with a white head and body and gray wings with black streaks. It has red eyes outlined in black which are forward facing like an owl’s.

Although found mainly on the plains they have been seen at higher altitudes in Sikkim, the Nilgiris and Nagaland. They are said to be winter visitors in some parts of the Western Ghats. They are essentially non-migratory, but may move in response to weather and food availability.

The black-winged kite is an agile and competent hunter that eats reptiles, insects, bats, smaller birds and rodents. It has a number of ways to catch prey. It may perch on a branch waiting till it spots a suitable candidate, which it then swoops down and captures. It is also adept at hovering mid-air till an opportune moment when it descends and grabs its prey. It is also known to take advantage of grass fires and hunt small wildlife escaping the flames.

These kites build somewhat flimsy nests in the fork of a tree or a palm. The female lays 3 to 5 eggs which she incubates over a period of 30-35 days. After the nestlings hatch, they take around 30 to 40 days to leave the nest and fly away. Unlike other raptors black-winged kites will raise several groups of young ones almost back to back. This multiple breeding during the year is probably one of the reasons why this species is actually seeing an increase in population rather than a decline.

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The bearded vulture, or Gypaetus barbatus, also known as the lammergeier and ossifrage, is a large bird that weighs up to 5.7 kg with a wing span that can reach 2.8 m. Unlike other vultures, the bearded vulture does not have a bald head. Adults are mostly dark-gray with a cream-coloured forehead and a black band across the eyes. Bristles under its chin form a black beard which gives this species its name. Its tail feathers and wings are gray.

What makes this bird unique is that it is the only known vertebrate whose diet consists of 70 to 90 per cent bone! Its stomach has a high acid concentration, with a pH of about 1. This enables it to digest hard bones by a process of churning the stomach content. It waits for a carcass to be picked clean by other animals and then returns to eat the bones that are left behind. It has a unique way of eating large bones. It carries it to a great height and drops it on rocks below to break it. It is even known to use its bill to hammer bones on rocks till they break, hence the name ossifrage which means ‘bone breaker’. It builds a nest from a massive pile of sticks in a cave or a ledge on a cliff.

It is found in southern Europe, the Caucasus, Africa, and India. It has been listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List, owing to its rapid population decline in recent years due to human encroachment and persecution.

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Perhaps the largest and heaviest bird found in the Himalayas, the Himalayan vulture, or Gyps himalayensis, belongs to the family Accipitridae.

It has a bald white head, wide wings and short tail feathers. Its neck ruff is white and it has a yellow bill. It is the second largest Old World vulture after the cinereous vulture. Adults can weigh up to 12 kg and have a wingspan of 270 to 300 cm.

Also called the Himalayan Griffon, these vultures are found in the higher regions of the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau. They prefer rocky regions and mountain peaks and are found at altitudes between 1,200 and 5,500 metres in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, western China, Mongolia and India. Rarely seen near human settlements, they mainly feed on the carcasses of large mammals like domestic yak. They live in small colonies and dominate feeding areas, preventing other vultures (except the larger cinereous vulture) from sharing a carcass. They are noted for feeding on human corpses left as a part of ‘sky burial’ practised in Buddhism.

Himalayan Griffons build nests from sticks on inaccessible cliffs and ledges. Several pairs of vultures may share the same cliff face. The female lays a single white egg, marked by red splotches. The incubation period of this bird is 54-58 days.

They are vulnerable to Diclofenac, a drug whose residues in domestic animal carcasses have led to rapid declines in populations of many vulture species across Asia. The Himalayan griffon is listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List.

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The cinereous vulture, or Aegypius monachus, is a large bird weighing 7 kg to 12.5 kg with a wingspan of 250 to 300 cm. Known as the monk vulture, the black vulture and the Eurasian black vulture, the cinereous vulture is found in parts of Europe such as Spain, Portugal, France and Greece. It is also found in Afghanistan, northern India, Mongolia and Korea.

This vulture prefers hilly, mountainous regions and unlike other vultures, is a largely solitary bird. It can fly at a very high altitude as its blood has a special component that helps it to process oxygen more efficiently at heights. It is a dark-brown bird except for the head, neck and legs which are bluish gray. Adults have brown eyes and a massive blue-gray bill. The typical sounds it makes are grunts, croaks and hisses during feeding time.

It feeds on carcasses of medium-sized and large mammals and occasionally takes live prey. It builds nests with sticks and twigs and usually lays only one egg. Both parents take part in caring for the chick.

This vulture’s global population is estimated to number 21,000 to 30,000 individual birds. Shooting, poisoning, use of veterinary Diclofenac, decrease in food availability and habitat loss are the main threats in the conservation of this species. The IUCN has listed it as ‘Near Threatened’.

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The red-headed vulture, or Sarcogyps calvus, also known as the Asian king vulture, Indian black vulture and the Pondicherry vulture, is mainly found on the Indian sub-continent.

As the name suggests the red-headed vulture has a red head. It also has a red neck, wattle, thighs and legs. It has a black beak and its wings and back are covered in black and white feathers. Once abundant in large parts of India and south central and south eastern Asia, it is found today mainly in northern India in open country and in cultivated areas. It is also found in deciduous forests and foothills and river valleys up to an altitude of 3000 m from sea level.

This vulture is, unlike the rest, a solitary feeder. You must have heard of the term, ‘a wake of feeding vultures’. The collective noun ‘wake’ is applied to vultures because they usually congregate in groups to feed. However the red-headed vulture prefers its solitude and feeds alone or in pairs.

It builds large, flat nests on tall trees. Both males and females build the nest together using sticks and twigs and lining it with grass, fur or wool. The female will lay a single, white egg and incubation, which lasts for 2 months, is carried out by both parents.

Like most vultures, the red-headed vulture doesn’t make a lot of noise. It prefers to perch or soar in silence as it observes the world around it or forages for food. However, it will croak and hiss when in battle with another vulture for the first bite of a carcass.

The red-headed vulture population has declined drastically since the late 1990s. It is listed as ‘Critically endangered’ in the IUCN Red List.

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The Egyptian vulture or Neophron percnopterus is a remarkable bird. Apart from being one of the most beautiful vultures in the world, it is also highly resourceful. It has a brilliant white back, chest and head and a bright yellow face and beak. Its eyes are dark and serious-looking. Its black-tipped wings and striking yellow face make it one of the most distinctive birds in the world.

The Egyptian vulture, also called the pharaoh’s chicken and the white scavenger vulture, is found not only in Egypt but in areas ranging from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa all the way up to India.

This species is much smaller than the average vulture and prefers open, arid areas and rocky crags. They are also seen in and near human settlements. These birds are not fussy about food. They are scavengers that will eat just about anything - carrion, and vegetable waste! They are one of the few bird species that use tools - they use stones to break open eggs to feed on, and twigs to roll wool for nest-building.

Egyptian vultures roost communally on large trees, buildings or on cliffs. Roost sites are usually close to a suitable foraging area. There is little physical difference between males and females. The female typically lays 2 brick-coloured eggs and incubation lasts for 42 days. Incubation duties are shared by both parents. Although largely silent, Egyptian vultures make high-pitched mewing or hissing notes at the nest and screeching noises when feeding at a carcass. Young birds sometimes emit a hissing croak mid-flight. They may hiss or growl when threatened or angry.

In India, the decline of the Egyptian vulture has been rapid with a 90 per cent decrease in 10 years. This bird falls in the ‘Endangered’ category in the IUCN Red list.

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