Indian Birds – Types, Name and Images

Indian Birds: India is a textile form of art of landscapes that nourished the birdlife. Birds are the most beautiful and diversified creature in all the seven continents which belongs to well-defined vertebrate groups.

They belong to the Kingdom- Animalia, Phylum- Chordata, and Class- Aves which evolved from the reptiles and their connecting link is Archaeopteryx. They are characterised by various features like feathers, various beak shapes, oviparous (which lay eggs)- hard-shelled eggs, four-chambered hearts, warm-blooded in nature, and contain hollow bones or light feathers which help them to fly easily.

Types Of Indian Birds

They are of two types:

1. Flight birds – which have a locking mechanism in their wings and
2. Flightless birds – They do not contain this mechanism.

Classification of Indian birds

Classification of the birds depends on the area, according to scientists avian diversity is vast and each one of them created a checklist all over the world in a chronological manner. So many species of birds are common in various places in India but some are uncommon and are found only in a unique place.

Indian birds name along with their scientific names, habitat, diet, and conservation status

Here’s the completed table with Indian bird names and relevant details:

Some birds are described on the basis of their size, shape, color etc.:

These are some bird pictures that are taken from the camera in the Himalayan region at the time of March or April. So these pictures show the diverse nature of their shape and size in their body, color patterns or beak shape and size, etc. Like the Yellow-vented Bulbul, we have a similar diversification in their species as Red-vented Bulbul which have the red vent; Dove has various varieties like the Oriental turtle Dove, spotted dove, etc., and great diversity contains magpies, treepie, etc.

Interesting Facts About Birds of India

1. Indian Roller: Known for its vibrant blue and purple feathers, the Indian Roller is often seen performing stunning aerial acrobatics during mating displays. It’s also the state bird of multiple Indian states, including Karnataka and Odisha.

2. Painted Stork: This bird is distinguished by its colorful pink tertial feathers and yellow beak. They nest in large colonies, often with other species, and are commonly found near water bodies across India.

3. Greater Flamingo: Found in large numbers in Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Greater Flamingo gets its iconic pink color from the carotenoids in their diet of algae and crustaceans.

4. Sarus Crane: Standing at about 5 feet, the Sarus Crane is the world’s tallest flying bird. These elegant birds are known for their lifelong pair bonding and synchronized dancing rituals.

5. Indian Pitta: With its rainbow-like plumage of nine colors, the Indian Pitta is often referred to as the “Navarangi” in Hindi. It’s migratory and can be found in forested areas across the subcontinent.

Bird Conservation Efforts in India

India is home to over 1,300 bird species, but the growing threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human activities have made conservation crucial. Organizations like the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) are actively involved in preserving bird habitats, raising awareness, and advocating for legislation. Projects such as “Save the Indian Vulture” and “The Great Indian Bustard Recovery Program” are focused on protecting endangered species.

Bird-Watching in India: Popular Destinations

India is home to numerous bird sanctuaries that attract bird-watchers from across the world. Here are a few notable ones:

These destinations offer rich birding experiences, with many sanctuaries serving as vital stopovers for migratory birds from around the globe. Visitors can enjoy bird-watching in these peaceful natural reserves, especially during the migratory season (November to February).

Impact of Climate Change on Bird Migration

The changing climate has significantly impacted bird migration patterns in India. Traditionally, migratory birds such as the Siberian Cranes and Amur Falcons arrive during specific seasons, but erratic weather patterns have altered their arrival times. Some species have delayed migrations, while others have changed their routes or skipped migration altogether. This disrupts the balance of local ecosystems and raises concerns over long-term impacts on biodiversity.

Bird extinction is the major cause of degradation in the number of species through human interference. The main reason is habitat destruction, chemical contaminants through the developing projects or industries, etc. so we should do less pollution to save the flora and fauna. When some of the species reach the brink of extinction, some important measures have been taken to decrease the number.

What is Ornithology?

The study of birds is known as Ornithology which is done by Ornithologists as they are diversified in their body shape and size, color illustration, habitat, distribution on the local, regional, or continental scale, etc. Birds also have been studied or identified on the basis of their feeding habits, breeding, mating, courtship dance, or behavior.

The diversity of flora vegetation and fauna depends on latitude, longitude, and Climatic factors. For the wealth of bird’s abundance, they seek migration. Bird migration is the movement from one place to another according to seasonal or climatic influence. Where the temperature is too low there will be low bird diversity and where there is a moderate temperature, diversity will be high. Most of the bird species adapted or migrated the low land areas or lower altitudes for habitation because of the suitable temperature or the environment for example Blue-throated barbet, Great barbet, etc. were seen at the time of April but not in March at the same place. But some birds are native to their place and are found in the same place. Some are only found in the rainy season like the variety of Rose finches.

Methods to count the birds

There are various methods to count the birds like Random visualization or point counts and area searches and can be identified by their beak shape or size, colour distribution, body-streaked patterns, tail shape or size and their feeding habits, song, calls, Habitat whether they live domesticated, open areas or on the edges, etc. like the variety of tit birds have the short beaks; Drongo and magpie bird’s varieties have the long tail and feather features, etc.

Very valuable and important methods are applied for the bird’s identification. Some common birds can be identified or described very easily but this is not applied on all varieties.

When an unidentified bird is seen, draw a sketch or write their characteristics in the notebook, and click the picture in the camera. For the bird’s identification, we must take a field guide in which various varieties are given, match the characteristics and if two or three birds are of the same characteristics then see their distribution and also consult from the internet or the field guide. A field assistant can also be hired for the identification. Another method is to write their characteristics on Google and find a similar image of that species of bird and at last, see their geographical distribution and colour patterns of the body. Some field guides are preferred like Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (Ranjit Manakadan, J.C. Daniel & Nikhil Bhopale, 1886).

Indian birds species with voice descriptions, and interesting facts

Hope this content helps you to find detailed information on Indian birds. Do let us know in case of you have any questions or suggestions for this topic. Feel free to put your comments below.

Also Read: World’s Most Beautiful Birds