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Title: Himalayan and Kashmiri birds, being a key to the birds commonly seen in summer in the Himalayas & Kashmir
Date of first publication: 1923
Author: Douglas Dewar, 1875-1957
Date first posted: May 28, 2014
Date last updated: May 28, 2014
Faded Page eBook #20140542
This eBook was produced by: Marcia Brooks, Stephen Hutcheson & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net
BEING A KEY TO THE BIRDS
COMMONLY SEEN IN SUMMER
IN THE HIMALAYAS & KASHMIR
BY DOUGLAS DEWAR
A COMPANION TO THE
BIRD VOLUMES OF THE
FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA
LONDON
JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD LIMITED
First Published 1923
Made and Printed in Great Britain at
The Mayflower Press, Plymouth. William Brendon & Son, Ltd.
The object of this book is to enable people interested in birds to identify those they meet with while walking in the hill stations of the Himalayas and Kashmir and those they see in the Kashmir valley.
The birds dealt with are the ones commonly seen IN SUMMER at such places. As nine out of ten species of hill birds move to lower levels in winter, the bird population of a hill station in winter differs from that in summer.
Had the scope of this book included birds seen in winter at the various hill stations, and those found in summer only at lower elevations than 5000 feet above the sea-level or higher altitudes than 7500, its bulk would have been considerably increased. It would have attained even greater dimensions had I noticed the rare birds that are sometimes seen in hill stations in summer.
Paradoxical though it may sound, the value of this book lies largely in its omissions!
If this key had included all the birds of Kashmir and the Himalayas, it would have bewildered the user by its complexity, and so failed in its object. As it stands, it should enable anyone who consults it to identify readily twenty-nine-thirtieths of the birds he sees in summer at elevations between 5000 and 7500 feet.
Except in so far as they may serve as aids to identification, nothing has been said about the habits of birds in this book, which is merely an artificial key.
A treatise on the life-histories and habits of the birds of Kashmir and the Himalayas has yet to be written. Much information, however, about the habits of these birds is contained in Hume’s Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, Jerdon’s Birds of India, the bird volumes of the Fauna of British India and my own little book entitled Birds of the Indian Hills.
This key has been compiled on the principle followed in Indian Birds. Even as the latter has been the means of teaching scores of people the names of the birds commonly seen in the plains of India, so will this, I venture to hope, enable anyone who wishes to do so, to learn in a very short time the names of all the birds seen commonly in summer in Kashmir and at the various Himalayan hill stations.
The student should make a note regarding any strange bird seen, giving the colours in its plumage and any anatomical peculiarity, such as a crest, a long tail or bill. On returning to the house, Part I of the book should be consulted. The bird in question should find place in two or more of the classes of birds in that Part, and so may be set down as being probably one of two or three species. A reference to the descriptions in Part II should complete the identification.
To take an easy example. The observer sees [12] a striking bird. He notes that its body is about the size of that of the myna, that it has a long tail and that there are blue, black, brown and white in the plumage, and the bill is bright red. He consults in Part I of the book, “Birds having the tail long in proportion to the body.” He finds there are fifteen of these birds. He then refers to the class “Birds of which the plumage is black, blue, brown and white,” and finds that there are only three of these, of which only two have the tail long. He is thus satisfied that the unknown bird is a blue magpie. The fact that the bill is red leads him to infer that it is the red-billed blue magpie. A reference to the description of this species in Part II confirms the diagnosis.
I may add that the descriptions have designedly been made as brief as possible. Too much detail might easily hinder identification, as in that case the descriptions would often include inconspicuous features which the observer had failed to notice.
A full description of every bird found in India is given in the Fauna of British India, to which this book is really a companion and a guide for the novice.
| Year of Ibis | Name of Author | Name of Locality |
|---|---|---|
| 1861. | L. H. Irby | Oudh and Kumaun. |
| 1868. | R. C. Tytler | Birds observed on a march from Simla to Mussoorie. |
| 1868. | A. von Pelzeln | Birds collected by Dr. Stoliczka in Thibet and the Himalayas. |
| 1869. | W. E. Brooks | Birds observed near Nynee Tal and Almora. |
| 1869. | G. E. Bulger | Birds obtained in Sikkim, Eastern Himalayas. |
| 1884. | C. H. T. Marshall | Birds of Chamba in the N.W. Himalayas. |
| 1888. | W. W. Cordeaux | Birds of Cashmere and the Dras District. |
| 1898. | J. Davidson | A short trip to Kashmir. |
| Year of Publication | Name of Author | Name of Locality |
|---|---|---|
| 1868. | F. Stoliczka | Ornithological Observations in the Sutlej Valley, N.W. Himalayas. |
| 1874. | W. E. Brooks | Notes on the Ornithology of Cashmir. |
| 1876. 1878. | H. H. Godwin-Austen | Lists of Birds from the Hill Ranges of the N.E. Frontier of India |
| 1900. | H. J. Walton | Notes on Birds collected in Kumaun. |
| No. of Vol. | Name of Compiler | Locality |
|---|---|---|
| X. | R. H. Rattray | Notes on nests taken from March to June at Kohat and Mussoorie, N.W.P. |
| XII. | N. F. T. Wilson | Nesting in Kashmir. |
| XVI. | R. H. Rattray | Birds nesting in the Murree Hills and Gallies. |
| XVII. & XVIII. | G. E. Ward | Birds of the Province of Kashmir and Jamu and adjacent districts. |
| XVIII. | H. A. F. Magrath | Notes on the Birds of Thandiani. |
| XIX. | H. A. F. Magrath | Bird Notes from Murree and the Gallies. |
| XXI. | H. A. F. Magrath | Bird Notes by the Way in Kashmir. |
| XXIV. | H. Whistler | Some Birds observed at Dalhousie Hill Station in 1915. |
| XXVI. | A. E. Jones | A List of Birds found in the Simla Hills. |
| XXVI. | H. Whistler | Some Birds observed at Fagoo, near Simla. |
| XXVII. | R.W.G. Hingston | A List of the Birds of Dharmsala. |
| XXVII. | H. Whistler | Further Notes on Birds about Simla. |
| XXVIII. | A.E. Osmaston | Note on the Nidification and Habits of Some Birds in British Garhwal. |
N.B.—The numbers in brackets are those given to the birds in the descriptive list. The capital letters against the bird indicate where it occurs: K=Kashmir. W=Western Himalayas. E=Eastern Himalayas.
Colour affords the easiest means of identifying the great majority of birds, but in many cases the colours displayed are not of a nature to admit of strict classification. There are a great many shades of all the primary colours, and to attempt to distinguish in the lists the various shades of each colour would be confusing to the reader; in most cases therefore I have not attempted to do so. Many birds have colouring which some people would call [28] brown and others grey. In doubtful cases I have included such colouring in both the grey and the brown lists.
In the case of many birds, such as owls and birds of prey, the various species have generally similar colouring.
(Birds which are all black are not included.)
(See Brown and Black Birds.)
(See Brown, Black and White Birds.)
The number of birds of which the predominating hue is one or more of the many shades of brown is large, and, as most of these have nothing very striking in their plumage, their identification is by no means easy.
Birds which appear to be a uniform earthy-brown are usually of lighter hue below than above. This difference is not noticed when the bird is in its natural surroundings because [46] the lower parts are in the shade and so appear darker than they really are. As it is often of advantage to a bird to be inconspicuous, natural selection has doubtless been responsible in many cases for the fact that the lower plumage is of paler hue than the upper.
As this book is intended for the field observer I shall describe these brown birds as they appear to the observer in the field and so describe simply as an earthy-brown bird one which is earth-coloured above and creamy below.
(See Black and grey birds.)
(See Black, grey, and white birds.)
* These birds are conspicuously red.
(See Black and red birds.)
* Golden-yellow in wing.
Call
Name of Bird
No. of Bird in Part II
A short, sharp “Jack”
The Jackdaw 3
A sibilant ti-ti-chee or pretty-pretty
The Indian Grey Tit 11
(All the tits have similar calls.)
A plaintive poor-wee-wee, the second wee very high-pitched
The Red-headed Laughing-Thrush 20
Call like the ringing of a little bell
The Red-headed Babbler 28
Loud, pleasant whistle
The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush 29
High-pitched, loud, penetrating metallic titeree, titeree, tweeyo
The Black-headed Sibia 30
Loud, pleasant, cheeping call
The Indian White-eye 31
Tee-tee-tee-tee-tee. (In breeding season cock sings well.)
The Red-billed Liothrix 33
Pleasant, tinkling, twittering
A cheery whistle, heard often at dawn, which has been described as “chēyk, chĕchi, chĕyk, chēȳk, chĕchi, chēȳ, chēȳh”
The Black Drongo 43
Like the above, but less harsh
The Indian Ashy Drongo 44
A shrill pee-pee
The Himalayan Tree-creeper 45
A loud call of four or five high-pitched notes. Very common in spring in the Western Himalayas
Hodgson’s Grey-headed Flycatcher-warbler 52
Like noise of sawing
The Brown Hill-warbler 54
Soft, mellow pee-ho
The Indian Oriole 59
Keeky, keeky, keeky . . . churr, ichurr, kok, kok, kok
The Common Myna 61
A pleasant trill of about a dozen notes
The Verditer Flycatcher 67
A loud, pleasant call of three notes: Think-of-me
The Grey-headed Flycatcher 70
Sweet little warble
The Common Pied Bush Chat 74
A sweet and powerful song
The Magpie-Robin 84
A fine, blackbird-like song
The Grey-winged Ouzel 85
Ditto
Tickell’s Ouzel 86
A sweet, soft song
The Blue-headed Rock-Thrush 87
Kui-Kree
The Black-and-Yellow Grosbeak 89
Sweet song in air
The Skylark 110
Loud, plaintive pee-you, pee-you
The Great Himalayan Barbet 123
Katak-katak-katak
The Golden-throated Barbet 124
A soft ūk-ūk-ūk
The Hoopoe 129
A “shivering” scream
The Common Indian Swift 130
Cuckoo-cuckoo
The Cuckoo 132
Coo-coo-coo
The Himalayan Cuckoo 133
Pot-you-chick-chick-chick
The Small Cuckoo 134
Melodious wherefore-wherefore
The Indian Cuckoo 135
A crescendo “brain-fever, brain-fever, BRAIN-FEVER”
The Large Hawk-Cuckoo 136
A high-pitched, wild, metallic call
The Pied Crested Cuckoo 137
Sweet song in air
The Skylark 110
1. A crescendo “ku-il, ku-il, KU-IL”
2. Ku-y-o
3. Kekaree, kekaree, karee, karee
The Indian Koel 138
Loud screams uttered during flight
A soft, low whistle repeated at intervals of thirty seconds
The Collared Pigmy Owlet 145
Rather a mournful, querulous chee-he-he-he-he-he-he
The Common Pariah Kite 154
Kokla-kokla
The Kokla Green Pigeon 157
A soft, subdued cuk-cuk-coo-coo-coo
The Little Brown Dove 160
Ku-ku . . . ku
The Indian Ring Dove 161
Juk-juk-tee-tee-tur. Very high-pitched and rapidly uttered
The Black Partridge 166
A loud, shrill “Did-he-do-it? Pity-to-do-it!”
The Red-wattled Lapwing 170
Harsh Jay-like cries
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
The European Roller 125
Chattering cries
Shrill Screams
The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush 29
Do.
Do.
F. stands for the Fauna of British India, and the number which follows indicates the number of the bird in the Fauna. Thus (F. 63) against a bird indicates that it is the species bearing the number 63 in the bird volumes of the Fauna of British India (First Edition).
J. stands for Jerdon’s Birds of India, and the number that follows indicates the number of the bird in Jerdon’s work.
The above two works contain descriptions far more detailed than those given in this little book; the reader may wish in some cases to refer to these volumes to check his identification of a bird.
- I means the bird described is 6 inches in length, or the size of a sparrow.
- [92]
- -I means that the bird is smaller than a sparrow.
- +I means that the bird is slightly larger than a sparrow.
- II means that the bird is 8½ inches in length, or the size of a bulbul.
- -II means that the bird is slightly smaller than a bulbul.
- +II means that the bird is slightly larger than a bulbul.
- III means that the bird is 10 inches long, or the size of a myna.
- +III and -III, that it is slightly larger or smaller.
- IV means that the bird is 17½ inches long, or the size of a house-crow.
- +IV and -IV mean that it is a little larger or smaller.
- V means that the bird is 23 inches in length, or the size of a kite.
- +V and -V mean that it is a little smaller or larger.
N.B.—Ornithologists usually measure birds from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail; hence a small bird with a long tail [93] will measure as much as a larger one with a short tail.
While I shall adopt the usual measurement, I shall, in the case of a bird having a long tail, measure only part of the tail, i.e. treat the bird as though it had an average tail, and add the words, “bird has long tail.”
- E. means Eastern Himalayas, i.e. Nepal and eastwards.
- W. means Western Himalayas, i.e. West of Nepal.
- K. means Kashmir.
To illustrate: the entry
“Corvus macrorhynchus: The Jungle Crow or Corby. F. 4, J. 660, +IV. E. W. K.” means that the number of the species in the Fauna of British India is 4, and in Jerdon’s Birds of India 660. That the species is rather larger than the house-crow and that it is found in the Eastern, the Western Himalayas, and Kashmir.
1. Corvus macrorhynchus: The Jungle Crow or Indian Corby. F. 4, J. 660, +IV. E. W. K.
Glossy black all over.
The common crow of all the hill stations, except Almora and Srinagar, where it is largely replaced by Corvus splendens (the House Crow).
2. Corvus splendens: The Indian House Crow. F. 7, J. 663, IV. E. W. K.
A glossy black bird with the neck, upper back and breast grey. Thus it is not unlike a jackdaw (q.v.) in appearance.
It is the commonest crow of Almora and Srinagar. It is occasionally seen at Simla. I have not observed it at any other hill station.
3. Corvus monedula: The Jackdaw. F. 9, J. 665, +III. K.
A glossy black bird with grey nape and neck. This is rather like the house-crow in appearance, but may be easily distinguished by
This bird does not occur in the Himalayas, but is a permanent resident in Kashmir. It is abundant at Srinagar.
4. Urocissa occipitalis: The Red-billed Blue Magpie. F. 12, J. 671, +III, with a tail nearly 19 inches long. W.
Head, neck and breast black. Conspicuous white patch on nape and neck. Rest of upper plumage is purplish-blue. Tail blue tipped with white; the middle pair of tail feathers has a black band next to the white tip. Wings brown, blue and white. Lower parts whitish. Bill and legs bright red.
This fine bird is common at Naini Tal, but does not occur at Murree, Dharmsala, or Darjeeling. I have seen it at Mussoorie and at Annandale (Simla).
5. Urocissa flavirostris: The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie. F. 13, J. 672, +III, with a tail nearly 18 inches long. E. W. K.
Very like the last species in colouring, but readily distinguished by the yellow bill and the much smaller nuchal patch of white feathers. The blue of the upper parts is greyer than in the red-billed species.
This bird is less often seen than the red-billed species in the western hill stations, as it seems to keep to higher elevations in summer. About Simla it begins to get abundant at 8000 feet; but at Darjeeling it occurs from 6000 feet upwards. Occurs in Kashmir in hills and valley.
6. Dendrocitta himalayensis. The Himalayan Tree-pie. F. 18, J. 676, -III, with tail 9 inches long. E. W.
Forehead black; crown of head, nape and back of neck dark ashy-grey. Sides of head, chin, throat and upper breast brownish-black. Belly grey; a patch of chestnut under the tail. Back and shoulders reddish-brown. Wings black, with a white bar. Tail black and grey.
This may be described as a small and dingy edition of the tree-pie of the plains.
This species is less common at most hill stations than the blue magpie.
7. Garrulus lanceolatus: The Black-throated Jay. F. 24, J. 670, +III. W. K.
The crested head is black; the remainder of upper plumage is fawn-coloured. The feathers of the chin and throat are black with white [97] shafts. Tail jay-blue with narrow black cross-bars; the tip is white, but there is a broad black subterminal bar. The wings are coloured blue, fawn, black, white and grey.
Not common at Dharmsala; fairly so at Murree and Simla, and abundant at Naini Tal and Mussoorie, where it seeks its food in gardens and among outhouses. Sometimes it goes about in flocks. The flight is somewhat heavy, like that of a crow, but the flaps of the wings are more rapid. Its call is harsh.
8. Garrulus bispecularis: The Himalayan Jay. F. 26, J. 669, +III. E. W. K.
A fawn-coloured bird with a conspicuous black moustache. Tail black. Wings jay-blue, fawn, grey, black and white.
Often goes about in flocks. A shier bird than the black-throated jay. Harsh voice.
Rare at Dharmsala and Darjeeling. Common at Naini Tal; common at Simla in winter.
These members of the crow family are large arboreal birds, which feed largely on seeds of pine and cedar trees. They emit harsh, jay-like notes.
9. Nucifraga hemispila: The Himalayan Nutcracker. F. 27, J. 666, -IV. W.
Plumage brown, heavily spotted and streaked with white. Wings black with white bars.
Rare at Dharmsala; not very common at Simla and Naini Tal. It is rarely seen in gardens, being a forest bird.
10. Nucifraga multipunctata: The Larger Spotted Nutcracker. F. 28, J. 667, -IV. W. K.
Head and hind neck chocolate-brown; rest of body plumage dark chocolate-brown with many large white spots; these spots occupy more space than the brown on the lower plumage. Wings black, spotted with white. Tail black, tipped with white.
During flight the body appears mainly white and the wings black. The cry is harsh, like that of the magpie.
This fine bird is not often seen below 8000 feet in summer. It is fairly common in the fir forests of Gulmarg.
Small birds which usually go about in flocks. Although unlike crows in appearance and size, they show their affinity to the corvidae by the [99] way they have of holding their quarry under their claws.
11. Parus atriceps. The Indian Grey Tit. F. 31, J. 645, -I. E. W. K.
Head, neck and breast black, except cheeks, which are white. Back grey, tinged with blue near the tail. Wings and tail black, white and grey. A broad black band runs down the middle of the white abdomen.
Common at Dharmsala, Almora, and in the Kashmir valley. In most hill stations it is not seen, as about 6000 feet elevation is ordinarily the highest limit of its range.
Less gregarious than most tits.
12. Parus monticola. The Green-backed Tit. F. 34, J. 644, -I. E. W. K.
Head, neck and breast black, with the cheeks white. A black band runs down the middle of the deep-yellow abdomen. Back and shoulders greenish-yellow. Wings and tail black, slaty-blue and white.
The commonest tit of all the hill stations from Murree to Darjeeling. It occurs at Gulmarg, but is not very abundant there.
13. Ægithaliscus erythrocephalus. The Red-headed Tit. F. 35, J. 634, -I. E. W.
A midget, only 4 inches long.
Top of head and nape chestnut. Chin, eyebrow and moustache white. Sides of head and round patch on the throat black. Upper plumage blue-grey with brown in the wings and brown and white in the tail. Lower plumage is rust-coloured. This species lacks the black abdominal band which is so conspicuous in most tits.
Very common at every hill station (except Almora) from Dharmsala to Darjeeling. Usually seen in flocks.
14. Machlolophus xanthogenys: The Yellow-cheeked Tit. F. 42, J. 647, -I. W.
Has rather a long pointed crest. Head and neck black, except the eyebrow, a patch on the nape, the cheeks and the tip of the crest, which are bright yellow. Back, wings and tail are olive-green, brown, black and white. Lower parts yellow, except for a broad black band running down the middle of the breast and abdomen.
Occurs from Murree to Naini Tal. Not so common as the red-headed and green-backed tits.
15. Lophophanes melanolophus: The Crested Black Tit. F. 44, J. 638, -I. W. K.
A tiny bird. Head, crest and breast black, [101] except for a patch on the nape, the sides of the head and a band down the side of the neck, which are white. Rest of the plumage is iron-grey, suffused with chestnut on the sides of the body and under the tail. A row of white spots and a little chestnut on the wings.
Common at Gulmarg and fairly so at Murree, Dharmsala, Simla, and Naini Tal.
16. Lophophanes dichrous: The Brown Crested Tit. F. 49, J. 637, -I. W. K.
A small bird. Brownish-grey above, yellowish below. Cream-coloured band on each side of neck. It might well pass for a young crested black tit.
Usually keeps to rather higher elevations than the hill stations. I have, however, seen it on several occasions at Naini Tal.
Babblers are noisy birds which usually go about in small flocks seeking for their insect quarry among the foliage and fallen leaves. The “Seven Sisters” of the plains belong to this family.
17. Garrulax leucocephalus: The Himalayan White-crested Laughing Thrush. F. 69, J. 407, +III. E. W.
Crest, head, throat, breast, and neck snowy-white, except for a broad black streak running through the eye and an ashy band on the nape. Remainder of plumage brown.
Goes about in flocks of about twenty uttering loud and discordant cries.
Not found west of Garhwal. In the Eastern Himalayas it is not often seen higher than 6000 feet.
18. Garrulax albigularis: The White-throated Laughing-Thrush. F. 76, J. 411, +III. E. W.
Upper plumage olive-brown, lower rust-coloured. Cheeks, chin and throat white. Feathers round eye black. Some of the tail feathers have white tips.
Goes about in noisy flocks in the woods. It has a number of cries; one is plaintive, a second a trill, a third a squeak.
Abundant at Mussoorie, fairly common at Naini Tal and Simla, rare at Darjeeling. Not found at Dharmsala or Murree.
19. Ianthocincla rufigularis: The Rufous-chinned Laughing-Thrush. F. 80, J. 421, -III. E. W. K.
Forehead and crown black. Sides of head black and white, with a red patch on each [103] cheek. Grey ring round eye. Rest of upper plumage olive-brown. Narrow white bar near edge of wing. Chin and upper throat red; lower throat white. Rest of lower parts ashy-brown. Gregarious. Mussoorie is the only hill station at which I have found it common. It occurs in the vicinity of Darjeeling and in the dense woods of the lower hills of Kashmir.
20. Trochalopterum erythrocephalum: The Red-headed Laughing-Thrush. F. 82, J. 415, +III. W. Top of head chestnut. Lower part of cheeks, chin and upper throat dark chocolate—almost black. Rest of plumage olive-brown, with some bright golden-yellow in the wing.
This gregarious bird has a curious plaintive call, which sounds like poor-wee-wee. The second wee is very high-pitched.
In summer this bird is not often seen below 7000 feet. I have noticed it on Lariakanta at Naini Tal. It occurs in the higher woods near Simla and Dharmsala. A great skulker.
21. Trochalopterum nigrimentum: The Western Yellow-winged Laughing-Thrush. F. 85, J. 416, III. E.
Feathers of forehead reddish with black shafts; those of rest of head grey with black [104] shafts. Nape bright chestnut. Back and shoulders reddish, spotted with black. Rump olive-green. Tail grey, suffused with golden-yellow. There is much golden-yellow in the wings. Sides of head are black and grey. Chin and throat black with reddish mottlings.
This is one of the commonest babblers at Darjeeling. It often feeds on the paths, diving into the nearest thicket at the approach of man.
22. Trochalopterum variegatum: The Eastern Variegated Laughing-Thrush. F. 90, J. 418, +III. W.
An olive-brown bird with much golden-yellow in the wings. It may be distinguished from the two species described above by the facts that: (1) It has no red on the head. The crown and nape are greyish-brown. (2) Tail feathers are tipped with white. Sides of head black and white. Chin and upper throat black.
In summer it is not found below 7000 feet. It nests at Simla and is abundant at Dharmsala. A noisy, gregarious species.
23. Trochalopterum lineatum. The Himalayan Streaked Laughing-Thrush. F. 99, J. 425, II. W. K.
Forehead, crown, nape and shoulders ashy brown, streaked with black. Lower back reddish-brown, with white streaks. Cheeks, chin, throat and breast chestnut. Wings and tail reddish-brown. The tail has a black band across it near the tip. The tip of the tail is grey. A greyish-white ring round the eye.
This is the common babbler of the western hill stations, where it takes the place of the “seven sisters” of the plains. They often visit gardens. They sometimes nest in gardens. Occasionally two or three of them will hold squeaking competitions. Their movements are jerky, like those of the “seven sisters.”
24. Grammatoptila striata: The Striated Laughing-Thrush. F. 101, J. 382, +III. E. W.
The plumage of this fine bird is mainly umber-brown, each feather having a bold, white, median streak. The tail is chestnut and there is some chestnut in the wing.
Not often seen below 7000 feet in the Western Himalayas, but at Darjeeling it occurs from 6000 feet upwards. As Jerdon remarks, it is more often heard than seen. One of its calls resembles the clucking of a hen that has just laid an egg.
25. Pomatorhinus erythrogenys: The Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler. F. 129, J. 405, +III. E. W.
Bill 1½ inches long, slender and curved like a scimitar. Upper plumage olive-brown. Forehead and sides of head rust-coloured. Chin, throat, and lower parts streaked white and grey. Rusty patch under the tail.
Goes about in pairs. Call a loud whistle.
Fairly common at Naini Tal, Simla, and Darjeeling, but not, I believe, at other hill stations.
26. Alcippe nepalensis: The Nepal Babbler. F. 163, J. 388, -I. E.
A tiny grey-brown bird with a conspicuous ring of white feathers round the eye. Its sober colouring led Jerdon to call it the Quaker Thrush. It occurs in small parties in dense jungle. The call is a low twitter.
27. Stachyrhis nigriceps: The Black-throated Babbler. F. 169, J. 391, -I. E.
Head black, streaked with white. Cheeks white. Rest of upper plumage olive-brown, washed with red on wings and tail. Lower plumage bright-reddish yellow.
A tiny bird which goes about in small parties in the upper foliage.
28. Stachyrhidopsis ruficeps: The Red-headed Babbler. F. 174, J. 393, -I. E.
Head chestnut. Rest of upper plumage olive-green. Lower plumage white, tinted with red.
Its note is said to be “clear and musical, like the ringing of a little bell.”
Common at Darjeeling in parties in tall trees.
29. Myiophoneus temmincki: The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush. F. 187, J. 343, +III. E. W. K.
From a little distance it looks like a cock blackbird; the yellow bill adding to the similitude.
There is, however, a good deal of cobalt blue in the black plumage, only noticeable in the sunlight.
One of the commonest birds of the streams of the Himalayas and Kashmir. It likes to perch on boulders in mountain streams, by the side of which it nests. It feeds on insects, which it catches on boulders. It has a loud and pleasant whistling call. When disturbed it flies off, uttering a shrill cry. In this respect it resembles other birds which frequent mountain streams.
30. Lioptila capistrata: The Black-headed Sibia. F. 204, J. 429, II. E. W.
A bulbul-like bird with a short crest. Head and crest black. A reddish collar. Rest of upper plumage greyish-brown, the wings and tail having some chestnut in them. A white bar in the wing. Lower plumage rust-coloured. The tail is rather long, the middle feathers being the longest and the outer ones the shortest.
It usually keeps to the upper parts of trees. Sometimes it attaches itself to a wandering party of tits. Its call is so loud, high-pitched, and penetrating, that it cannot fail to attract notice. The call resembles one of the louder cries of the streaked laughing-thrush. Hutton syllabises the call: titteree, titteree, tweeyo.
Common at Simla, Naini Tal, Mussoorie, and Darjeeling.
31. Zosterops palpebrosa: The Indian White-eye. F. 226, J. 631, -I. E. W. K.
Known also as the girdle-eye and spectacle-bird, because of a conspicuous ring of white feathers round the eye. A tiny bird, that goes about in little flocks among the foliage. Upper plumage golden-yellow. Wings and tail greenish-brown. Chin and throat bright yellow, rest of lower plumage grey.
It utters a loud cheeping note—at breeding season, in spring, it sings a sweet little lay.
Common at Murree, Dharmsala, Simla, Naini Tal, Almora, also in the woods of the lesser ranges of the Kashmir hills; but in the Eastern Himalayas does not ascend as high as the hill stations.
32. Ixulus flavicollis: The Yellow-naped Ixulus. F. 232, J. 623, -I. E. W.
Forehead and crest rich brown. Nape and sides of head grey-brown. Black moustache. White ring round eye. Chestnut collar round hind neck, broad in the middle. Back olive-brown. Wings and tail brown suffused with olive. Chin and throat white. Rest of lower plumage pale yellow.
Goes about in twittering flocks seeking for insects among the foliage.
Not common in the Western Himalayas but abundant at Darjeeling.
33. Liothrix lutea: The Red-billed Liothrix. F. 235, J. 614, I. E. W.
The Pekin Robin of bird-fanciers. Upper plumage olive-green. Forehead and crown tinged with yellow. Yellow ring round eye. Bill coral red. Chin and upper throat bright yellow, lower throat rich orange. Rest of [110] lower plumage yellow. Many of the wing feathers are edged with yellow and, in the cock, with crimson also. A very lively sprightly bird. The ordinary call is tee-tee-tee-tee-tee. In the spring the cock sings beautifully. Gregarious.
One of the commonest birds of Darjeeling, but in the Western Himalayas it does not usually ascend as high as the hill stations. It has been seen near Kausauli and is common at Bhim Tal below Naini Tal.
34. Minla igneitincta: The Red-tailed Minla. F. 258, J. 618, -I. E.
Head black with broad white eyebrows, which almost meet at the back of the head. Back yellowish-green suffused with dull red. Wings and tail black and crimson. Throat white, rest of lower plumage yellow. The hen is duller and her underparts are white.
This species is often seen at Darjeeling along with parties of tits.
35. Cephalopyrus flammiceps: The Fire-cap. F. 260, J. 633, -I. W.
A midget 4 inches long.
Cock: Upper parts olive-green. Throat and breast golden-yellow; rest of lower parts dull yellow; a cap of flaming red. Chin suffused [111] with bright red. Wings and tail brown edged with yellow.
Hen: Has no red on head or chin and the yellow parts of her plumage are duller and tinged with green.
36. Psaroglossa spiloptera: The Spotted-wing. F. 261, J. 691, -II. W.
The classification of this bird has puzzled ornithologists. Jerdon classes it with the starlings; but the hen is not coloured like the cock as is the case with the starlings.
Cock: The ground colour of the head and back is grey, each feather being edged with black on the head and shoulders and brown on the back, so that the bird has markings like the scales of a fish. Rump reddish-brown. Chin and throat deep chestnut maroon. Rest of lower parts reddish brown. The wings are black glossed with green or blue and spotted white, like the plumage of a starling.
Hen: Upper plumage brown with grey spots; lower parts brown with cream edges to the feathers. Wings dark brown with some grey in them.
Not found west of Dharmsala. Not found as high as Simla in summer, but occurs at [112] Naini Tal. A flock of half a dozen or more birds having a starling-like appearance, which twitter like starlings and keep to the topmost branches of trees, from which they make sallies into the air, may be set down as a company of spotted-wings.
Bulbuls are larger than sparrows. The sexes are alike. The typical ones have the head crested and a patch of red or yellow under the tail. They frequent gardens and have cheerful, tinkling calls.
37. Hypsipetes psaroides: The Himalayan Black Bulbul F. 269, J. 444, II, with tail 4½ inches long. E. W. K.
Head and untidy loose crest black; cheeks grey; bill and legs coral red. Upper plumage dark grey; wings and tail dark brown, edged with grey. Lower parts grey, pale on the abdomen. Seen from a distance this bird looks black, hence its popular name. A party of dull black-looking birds, with red bills and legs, which keeps to the tops of trees and chatters harshly may be set down with certainty as black bulbuls.
These birds are common at the various [113] western hill stations; but at Darjeeling are rarely seen at elevations above 5000 feet.
Found in the dense jungles of the lower hills and in the valley of Kashmir.
38. Alcurus striatus: The Striated Green Bulbul. F. 277, J. 449, II. E.
Crested head and upper plumage olive-green, streaked with yellow. Wings and tail brown with olive green and yellow markings. Cheeks brown with creamy streaks. Chin bright yellow. Throat yellow spotted with black. Sides of neck and breast black, streaked with yellow. Yellow patch under tail. Rest of lower plumage yellow in middle and olive-brown streaked with yellow at sides.
Goes about in parties which keep to tree-tops and utter frequently pleasing notes.
Common at Darjeeling.
39. Molpastes bengalensis: The Bengal Red-vented Bulbul. F. 282, J. 461, II. E.
This is the bulbul which is so common in the plains. The short crest, head, neck and breast are black. The body plumage is brown, each feather having a narrow cream margin which gives the bird a scaly appearance. Wings and tail brown, the tail being narrowly tipped with white. There is a small patch [114] of white just above the tail. A conspicuous crimson patch under the tail.
Common at Darjeeling.
40. Molpastes intermedius: The Punjab Red-vented Bulbul. F. 283, J. 283, II. W.
This is the western form of the last-named species. It is merely a race and not a separate species. It is very like the Bengal race in appearance, the chief difference being that the cheeks are chocolate-brown instead of black.
It is a common bird at Almora, but, as it rarely ascends the hills higher than 5500 feet, it is only seen at the lowest parts of most hill stations.
41. Molpastes leucogenys: The White-cheeked Bulbul. F. 284, J. 458, II. E. W. K.
In shape and colouring this is not unlike the two species described above. It differs, however, in the crest being longer and ending in a forwardly directed point. It has white cheeks and the patch of feathers under the tail is bright sulphur-yellow instead of crimson.
It is very common at Almora and in the Kashmir valley. At Srinagar it hawks insects over the backwaters and canals just as flycatchers do.
As 7000 feet is about as high as it is found, [115] it is not common at most hill stations, but may occasionally be seen at Dharmsala, Simla and other western stations. In the Eastern Himalayas it does not seem to ascend higher than 5000 feet.
Small, short-tailed climbing birds which often go about in small flocks searching trunks and branches of trees for insects.
42. Sitta himalayensis: The White-tailed Nuthatch. F. 315, J. 284, -I. E. W.
Upper parts slaty-blue. Forehead and a broad line running down the sides of the head and neck black. There is some white in the tail. Under parts chestnut.
The hen is duller than the cock.
The common nuthatch of Naini Tal and Darjeeling. Rare at Simla and Dharmsala. Does not occur west of Kangra.
Drongos are active, long-tailed birds which have many of the habits of flycatchers. Their plumage is largely black and both sexes are arrayed alike.
43. Dicrurus ater: The Black Drongo, or [116] King Crow. F. 327, J. 278, II, with a tail 6 inches long. W. E.
A glossy jet-black bird with a forked tail.
It is fond of sitting on telegraph wires and on the backs of cattle.
It is very common everywhere in the plains of India. It is common at Almora and on the Kashmir Road. It is fairly abundant at Dharmsala and Mussoorie and has been seen at Naini Tal. In the vicinity of Simla it has not been observed at elevations of over 5000 feet, and in the Eastern Himalayas it does not ascend as high as this.
44. Dicrurus longicaudatus: The Indian Ashy Drongo. F. 328, J. 280, II, with a tail 6½ inches long. E. W. K.
Upper plumage metallic dark indigo, lower plumage dark grey. Very like the King Crow in habits and appearance; but its cry is less harsh.
This is the commonest drongo of most hill stations, but at Dharmsala its place is taken by the King Crow, this species living at altitudes of 9000 feet in summer at that locality.
It is common in the Kashmir valley and at Murree, Simla, Mussoorie and Darjeeling.
Creepers are small brown birds with rather long bills. They feed on insects, which they catch in the same way as nuthatches do, but their hunting grounds are not confined to trees; they seek their quarry on rocks and walls.
45. Certhia himalayana: The Himalayan Tree-creeper. F. 341, J. 243, I. W. K.
Upper plumage dark brown, heavily streaked with yellowish-brown. Short, broad, pale eyebrow. Rump, wings and tail reddish-brown, streaked with yellowish-brown on the wings and with black cross-bars on the tail. Chin and throat white.
Usually go about in pairs. Run about with great address on vertical surfaces, using the stiff tail feathers as supports after the manner of woodpeckers. The call is a shrill pee-pee.
Common at Gulmarg and the West Himalayan hill stations.
46. Certhia discolor: The Sikkim Tree-creeper. F. 344, J. 245, I. E.
Like the last species in appearance and habits, but the chin and throat are earthy-brown [118] instead of white and there are no black cross-bars on the tail.
An eastern race of the Himalayan tree-creeper. Common at Darjeeling.
Wrens are mottled-brown, short-tailed midgets which creep about in brushwood.
47. Anorthura neglecta: The Kashmir Wren. F. 352, (Not recorded by Jerdon.) -I. K. W.
Less than 4 inches long. Plumage reddish-brown; the lower back, wings and short tail being closely cross-barred with black.
Common at Gulmarg and Dharmsala. At Simla and other stations it lives at high elevations in summer.
48. Pnœpyga squamata: The Scaly-breasted Wren. F. 356, J. 329, -I. E. W.
Upper plumage rich brown, dotted with buff. Lower plumage in cock white, dotted and scaled with black; in hen ruddy, dotted and scaled with black.
The tail of this tiny bird is so short as to be almost invisible.
In the western hill stations it is seen only in winter. At Darjeeling it occurs in summer.
A very large family of “tiny brownie birds,” of which nearly one hundred members occur in India. As these birds are all small and have very little distinctive colouring, they are the most difficult birds to identify.
49. Acrocephalus stentoreus: The Indian Great Reed-warbler. F. 363, J. 515, -II. K.
A giant among warblers. An olive-brown bird with a cream-coloured eyebrow. Chin and throat nearly white, the throat sometimes has brown streaks; rest of lower plumage creamy.
This bird lives among reeds in which it moves about with much address.
Fairly common on the margins of the Kashmir lakes.
50. Sylvia affinis: The Indian Lesser White-throated Warbler. F. 402, J. 583, I. K.
Upper plumage earthy-brown, tinged with grey on head and nape. Lower plumage pale grey. Tail feathers tipped with white.
Occurs in the Kashmir valley in open country near streams.
51. Phylloscopus humii: Hume’s Willow-warbler. [120] F. 418 (not described by Jerdon), -I. W. K.
A midget 4 inches long. Upper plumage light olive-green, with a faint grey patch on head and a creamy eyebrow. A yellowish bar in the wing. Sides of head and lower plumage faint buff colour.
This bird is said to leave Simla in the middle of May, but it is found at Dharmsala and in the Kashmir valley throughout the summer.
52. Cryptolopha xanthoschista: Hodgson’s Grey-headed Flycatcher-warbler. F. 434, J. 573, -I. W.
A small bird, just over 4 inches long. Head and neck grey; a broad band of pale grey runs from the bill over the head to the nape; this band is more distinct in some individuals than in others. Eyebrow white. Rest of upper plumage olive-green. Lower plumage bright yellow. Wings brown, the feathers having yellowish-green margins. Tail brown.
The commonest warbler at all the West Himalayan hill stations, including Naini Tal and Almora. Its loud call of four or five high-pitched, not very musical notes, emanates from every tree in spring. It nests in gardens.
53. Cryptolopha jerdoni: Brooks’s Grey-headed Flycatcher-warbler. F. 435, J. 572, -I. E.
This is the eastern form of Hodgson’s species. It differs from this in that the head, except for the median grey band, is dark grey, almost black, and the rest of the upper plumage is greyish-brown instead of olive-green.
This species occurs at Darjeeling.
54. Suya crinigera: The Brown Hill-warbler. F. 458, J. 547, -II. E. W. K.
There is nothing distinctive about the colouring of this bird. The upper plumage is dark brown, each feather having an olive-green margin. Cheeks dark brown. Lower parts pale ruddy yellow, with faint brown markings on the breast.
It seeks its food on the ground, but sometimes perches on the summit of long grass or other point of vantage and utters a rasping call, like the noise made by a saw.
Fairly common at Simla, but rare in the Eastern Himalayas. It is said to be fairly common on the lower ranges of Kashmir. I have not had the opportunity of testing this statement.
Shrikes form a well-marked family of birds. When perched, they sit upright with the tail pointing downwards. Their habit is to sit exposed on a perch and from there pounce on some insect on the ground. Many species have a broad black band running backwards from the beak through the eye.
Shrikes are common birds in the plains, but do not ascend the Himalayas to any great altitude, they are therefore rarely seen at any hill station. One species, however, is very abundant in the Kashmir valley.
55. Lanius erythronotus: The Rufous-backed Shrike. F. 476, J. 257, -III. E. W. K.
Head, neck and upper back pale grey, with a broad black band running across the forehead and through the eyes. Shoulders and lower back rusty red. Chin, throat and upper breast white. Wings and tail black, some of the feathers having reddish edges. White wing-bar.
Very common in the Kashmir valley. Dozens may be seen on the journey from Baramula to Srinagar. They perch in the poplars. It breeds as high as 6000 feet near Simla. Jones says it is a dupe of the cuckoo. In most parts [123] of the Himalayas this species does not ascend above 5000 feet. It occurs at Almora.
56. Lanius tephronotus: The Grey-backed Shrike. F. 477, J. 258, II. E. W. K.
Very like the rufous-backed shrike in appearance. It differs from it in that (1) the grey of the head extends more than half-way down the back, and the shoulders are grey; (2) the red of the lower back is chestnut rather than rusty; (3) it has no white wing-bar.
This species is common in the Kashmir valley but not in the hill stations, at any rate in summer.
Little birds that go about in flocks and keep to the tops of trees. The cocks are usually bright red and black and the hens vivid yellow and black.
57. Pericrocotus brevirostris: The Short-billed Minivet. F. 495, J. 273, -I, but with a tail 4 inches long. E. W.
Cock: Head and shoulders glossy black. Back and lower parts crimson. Wings black with a crimson band running along (not across) each. Middle tail feathers black, the others crimson.
Hen: Crown of head, neck and shoulders greyish-green. Forehead, remainder of upper plumage, and lower plumage bright yellow. Wings brown with yellow band. Tail black and yellow.
Common at Dharmsala and Darjeeling. Fairly common at other hill stations.
Cuckoo-Shrikes have the habits of minivets: but they lack their bright colouring.
58. Campophaga melanoschista: The Dark Grey Cuckoo-Shrike. F. 505, J. 269, II. E. W.
A dark grey bird having wings and tail black. The latter tipped with white.
In the Western Himalayas this species is not often seen above 5000 feet; but it goes higher in the eastern part of the range and occurs at Darjeeling.
Orioles are birds of brilliant plumage, nearly as large as mynas. They have melodious calls.
59. Oriolus kundoo: The Indian Oriole, or Mango Bird. F. 518, J. 470, -III. W. K.
Cock: Plumage mainly bright yellow. Some black on the sides of the head and in the wings [125] and tail. During flight this bird looks golden-yellow. Bill pink. Eyes red.
Hen: The yellow of the plumage is duller and the back is tinged with green.
Keeps to leafy trees. Call a soft, rich, mellow peeho.
Common at Almora and in the Kashmir valley. As it does not commonly ascend above 5000 feet, it is not likely to be seen at other hill stations.
60. Sturnus humii: The Himalayan Starling. F. 529, J. 682, II. K.
Very like the English starling in appearance. A glossy black bird, with yellow specks and spots. The sheen on the plumage looks purple, green or red according to the incidence of sunlight on the plumage. Abundant in the Kashmir valley, equally at home in grass land or among the willows in which the bird nests.
61. Acridotheres tristis: The Common Myna. F. 549, J. 684, III. K. W.
Head, neck and upper breast black; rest of body plumage rich brown; wings black, showing conspicuous white bar during flight. [126] Tail feathers black, all except the middle pair tipped with white: thus the white is visible only during flight.
Bill and legs bright yellow; bright yellow patch of skin behind the eye.
This is the common myna of the plains. It is also the common myna of the Kashmir valley, Simla, Dharmsala and Almora. At the other hill stations it is largely, if not entirely, replaced by the Jungle Myna. Brooks observed it at Naini Tal in 1869; I do not remember seeing it there.
62. Sturnia malabarica: The Grey-headed Myna. F. 538, J. 688, II. W.
Forehead pale grey, almost white in some specimens. Remainder of upper plumage dark grey, tinged with reddish-yellow on the lower back; the feathers of the head and neck have white shafts, giving this part of the plumage a streaked appearance. Wings black and grey. Chin almost white; rest of lower parts reddish-grey, the red being deepest towards the tail. Many of the feathers have white shafts.
This bird keeps to the tops of trees. Common at Almora; but I have not seen it at other hill stations.
63. Æthiopsar fuscus: The Jungle Myna. F. 552, J. 686, III. E. W.
Very like the common myna and is doubtless often mistaken for it.
It may, however, be readily distinguished by the fact that there is no yellow patch of bare skin behind the eye. The entire head is black. There is a little tuft of black feathers on the forehead which the common myna has not. The base of the bill is blue-black.
Common at Mussoorie, rare at Simla. At Dharmsala and, I think, Darjeeling it does not ascend the mountains so high as the hill stations. Brooks observed it at Ramgarh, between Naini Tal and Almora.
Flycatchers are well-represented in the Himalayas. They feed exclusively on insects which they catch on the wing. Their habit is to make sallies into the air from a perch in order to capture their quarry. All flycatchers have this habit, but some birds which are not flycatchers behave in this way, e.g. bee-eaters, drongos.
64. Hemichelidon sibirica: The Sooty flycatcher. F. 558, J. 296, -I. E. W. K.
Upper plumage brown, with dark spots on the head. Ring of white feathers round eye. Tail brown. Lower plumage smoky-brown with greyish patches. Small white patch on throat, indistinct in some specimens.
Common at Darjeeling and Dharmsala, but rare at intermediate hill stations. It occurs abundantly on the pine-covered hills of Kashmir.
65. Hemichelidon ferruginea: The Ferruginous Flycatcher. F. 559, J. 299, -I. E.
A brown bird in which the greater part of the plumage is tinted with red. The red on the rump almost entirely obscures the brown, so that this part of the bird appears chestnut. A ring of cream-coloured feathers round the eye.
Common at Darjeeling. It usually makes its flights after insect quarry from a low branch or the stump of a tree.
66. Cyornis superciliaris: The White-browed Blue Flycatcher. F. 568, J. 310, -I. E. W.
Cock: Upper plumage dull Prussian blue, with some brown in the wings. A conspicuous white eyebrow. Tail black, edged with blue; all feathers, except middle pair, tipped with [129] white. Lower plumage white save for a broad dark blue collaret interrupted in the middle.
Hen: Olive-brown above, tinged with dark blue on the lower back. Lower parts pale buff, which fades to white near the tail.
Very common at Simla, where it sometimes nests in houses. Abundant at most hill stations except Darjeeling.
67. Stoparola melanops: The Verditer Flycatcher. F. 579, J. 301, I. E. W.
This beautiful bird is the commonest flycatcher at all the Himalayan hill stations.
The cock is arrayed in Cambridge blue—blue of that peculiar shade known as verditer blue. There is a black band running through the eye.
The hen’s plumage is duller than that of the cock. Young birds are greyish-blue and their lower plumage is spotted with cream.
This flycatcher likes to sit on a telegraph wire or a high branch, from which the cock emits a pleasant trill or warble of about a dozen notes.
This species nests in gardens and verandahs.
68. Alseonax latirostris: The Brown Flycatcher. F. 588, J. 297, 298, -I. W. K.
The bird may pass for a hen sparrow unless [130] closely scrutinised. The upper plumage is earthy-brown, with darker markings on the head. The lower parts are white tinged with grey on the breast. There is a ring of white feathers round the eye.
This bird is nowhere common. It is rare at Simla and Dharmsala. Fairly common at Naini Tal and Almora.
It may be difficult to distinguish this bird from the Sooty Flycatcher (64). It is a little larger than No. 64 and the edges of the flight feathers have paler edges, the bill is a little longer. This is a commoner bird than No. 64.
69. Alseonax ruficaudatus: The Rufous-tailed Flycatcher. F. 589, J. 307, -I. W. K.
Dull olive-brown above. Tail chestnut. Lower plumage pale earthy-brown.
This inconspicuous bird is nowhere common. I have not noticed it at Simla, Mussoorie, or Naini Tal: but it has been recorded from Kumaun. I have seen it at Gulmarg. At Dharmsala it is found up to 6000 feet.
70. Culicicapa ceylonensis: The Grey-headed Flycatcher. F. 592, J. 295, +I. E. W. K.
Head, neck and breast grey. Wings and tail brown. Back dull yellow. Lower plumage [131] bright yellow. The yellow in the plumage is not very noticeable except when the bird is on the wing.
It is often found near streams.
It has a loud, pleasant call of three notes, which may be syllabised: Think-of-me.
It is common at Naini Tal, Simla and Dharmsala: but not at Darjeeling.
71. Niltava sundara: The Rufous-bellied Niltava. F. 594, J. 314, +I. E. W. K.
Jerdon calls this bird the rufous-bellied, fairy blue chat, and the cock indeed is the kind of bird one would expect to meet in fairyland.
Cock: Front and sides of head, chin and throat rich velvety-black. Crown, nape, lower back, a spot on each cheek and one on each wing brilliant, glistening cobalt blue. Rest of lower plumage chestnut-red. Tail black and bright blue.
Hen: Upper plumage olive-brown, with a white patch on fore-neck and a brilliant blue patch on each side of the neck. Tail and feathers above it chestnut-red. Lower plumage pale olive-brown.
Very common at Darjeeling, less common in the western hill stations and the Kashmir valley.
72. Niltava grandis: The Large Niltava. F. 593, J. 316, -II. E.
Like the last species, but larger, and there is no red on the under plumage, the red being replaced by dull blue. No white patch on fore-neck of hen.
This bird is common near Darjeeling, but does not come up as high as the station.
73. Terpsiphone paradisi: The Indian Paradise Flycatcher. F. 598, J. 288, II, but the cock has a very long tail. W. K.
Perhaps the most beautiful and most striking bird in the world. It is sometimes called the Ribbon Bird.
Hen and Young Cock: like a bulbul in size and shape. The crested head is metallic blue-black. Back, wings and tail chestnut. Lower parts white.
Second-year Cock: As above, but the two middle tail feathers are much longer than the others, being 16 inches long.
Old Cock: Chestnut parts of plumage white, with some black in the wing.
It is impossible to mistake this bird as it flits about among trees displaying its long, thin chestnut or white ribbon-like tail feathers which flutter in the air like satin streamers.
Very common at Almora and in the Kashmir valley. Common also below the other western hill stations, e.g. at the Brewery below Naini Tal.
Chats are robin-like birds, that feed entirely on insects; these they often catch on the wing after the manner of flycatchers. They frequent open country.
74. Pratincola caprata: The Common Pied Bush Chat. F. 608, J. 481, -I. W. K.
Cock: Plumage black, except for white wing-bar and large patch on lower back.
Hen: Plumage grey, streaked with brown and, on the lower back, tinged with red.
The cock has a sweet little song.
This species is not seen at most hill stations, as it does not seem to ascend the Himalayas above 6000 feet. It is common in the Kashmir valley and at Almora.
75. Pratincola maura: The Indian Bush Chat. F. 610, J. 483, -I. W. K.
Cock: Upper plumage dark brown, almost black. Large white patch on each side of neck; these patches sometimes unite to form a collar. Lower back white. Breast orange: rest of lower plumage russet.
Hen: Upper plumage brown, without any white. Lower plumage pale-reddish yellow.
Breeds in spring in Kashmir and at Almora, Simla and Naini Tal. At Dharmsala it occurs up to 6000 feet.
76. Oreicola ferrea: The Dark Grey Bush Chat. F. 615, J. 486, I. E. W. K.
Cock: Upper plumage black with a white eyebrow and some white in the wings and tail. Lower plumage white washed with grey on breast and thighs.
Hen: Upper plumage reddish-grey with faint dark spots; the red is pronounced on the rump and tail. Lower plumage as in cock.
This species habitually makes sallies into the air after its insect quarry and doubtless is often mistaken for a flycatcher.
Very common at Naini Tal, Simla and Dharmsala, and fairly so at other hill stations, except Almora. Occurs in Kashmir valley.
Forktails are glorified wagtails. The startling black-and-white plumage renders their identification easy. They live by mountain streams, and utter a loud scream during flight.
77. Henicurus maculatus: The Western [135] Spotted Forktail. F. 630, J. 584, II, with a tail of 6 inches. W. K.
A very beautiful bird.
Head and neck jet black, save for a white patch extending from the centre of the crown to the bill. Shoulders black, copiously spotted with white. Wings, black and white. Tail black, each feather tipped with white. As the tail feathers are graduated, the middle pair being the shortest and the outer pair the longest, the tail, when closed, appears to be barred with broad V-shaped black, and narrow white, bars. Legs pale pink. Lower back and rump white.
Inhabits mountain streams, feeding on tiny insects which it picks off the boulders. Nest often within a yard of the water’s edge.
Occurs on every hill stream in Kashmir and the Western Himalayas, at places where the water rushes down the hillside.
78. Henicurus guttatus: The Eastern Spotted Forktail. F. 631, J. 584, II, with tail 5¼ inches long. E.
This is the East Himalayan race of the last species. Jerdon (rightly in my opinion), does not distinguish between the two.
This is a trifle smaller than the western [136] form. It has fewer white marks on the shoulder and these are smaller and round instead of being oval.
Habits identical with those of the last species. Common on every mountain torrent in the Eastern Himalayas.
79. Microcichla scouleri: The Little Forktail. F. 637, J. 587, -I. E. W. K.
This is just a short-tailed miniature of the Western Spotted Forktail. Its plumage, markings and habits are the same.
It is less common than the larger species, but is a common bird. In Kashmir and the Western Himalayas it is more abundant at higher elevations than the spotted species, being most common in summer between 6000 and 8000 feet, but in the Eastern Himalayas it is most often seen between 2000 and 5000 feet.
Redstarts are robin-like birds, having red tails which they constantly flirt. Most of them frequent mountain streams.
80. Chimmarrhornis leucocephalus: The White-capped Redstart. F. 638, J. 506, +I. E. W. K.
A feathered exquisite.
A snow-white cap; remainder of head, whole neck, breast, wings and upper back rich velvety black. Tail, rump and abdomen bright chestnut red, so that, as the bird leaps from a boulder in mid-stream into the air, it looks as though it were on fire.
Common in Kashmir and the Western Himalayas at all elevations above 6000 feet; in summer up to the glaciers. In the Eastern Himalayas, it does not occur as a rule at elevations lower than 7000 feet.
A frequenter of mountain streams.
81. Ruticilla frontalis: The Blue-fronted Redstart. F. 639, J. 503, I. E. W. K.
Cock: Head and shoulders blue, brightest on forehead. Rump, breast and abdomen chestnut, as is the tail except the middle pair of feathers which are black. Wings brown with reddish margins.
Hen: A brown bird with a ring of pale feathers round the eye. Tail as in cock. Lower plumage suffused with orange. This redstart is usually found away from water. In the summer it usually keeps to elevations higher than those of the hill stations, but it is occasionally [138] seen at Naini Tal and Dharmsala in rhododendron forests.
82. Rhyacornis fuliginosus: The Plumbeous Redstart. F. 646, J. 505, -I. E. W. K.
Very robin-like in appearance—Jerdon calls it the water-robin. It picks its food off the boulders of mountain torrents and streams.
Cock: Plumage dull dark blue with tail and abdomen rusty-red.
Hen: Upper plumage dull bluish-brown. Wings brown. Lower back and base of tail white. Lower plumage greyish-brown, mottled with white.
Common on all streams in Kashmir and the Himalayas, from 6000 to 13,000 feet elevation, except in the Eastern Himalayas where its usual range is from 1500 to 5000 feet.
83. Ianthia rufilata: The Red-flanked Bush Robin. F. 654, J. 508, I. E. W. K.
Cock: Forehead, eyebrow and rump ultramarine blue, a patch of this colour on the wings. Cheeks black. Rest of upper plumage and sides of breast deep purple-blue. Tail black and blue. Lower plumage white except the blue sides of the breast and a large showy [139] patch of bright chestnut on each side of the body.
Hen: Olive-brown suffused with blue on the rump and tail, a white bib and a bright chestnut patch on the sides of the body.
A forest-haunting bird having a noisy call. It is fairly common at Gulmarg and Dharmsala in summer, but at other hill stations it seems to occur only in winter.
84. Copsychus saularis: The Magpie-Robin. F. 663, J. 475, -II. W.
Cock: All plumage glossy black, except the following which are white: Abdomen, outer tail feathers, and wing-bar.
Hen: Grey-brown where cock is black; white as in cock.
This species frequently elevates the tail.
This is essentially a bird of the plains, but in summer some individuals ascend the Himalayas.
It occurs in summer at Almora, Dharmsala and Simla, where it visits gardens. I have seen the nest at Almora. 6500 feet appears to be the limit of its upward range and 6000 feet of the nesting range in the Western Himalayas. In the Eastern Himalayas it is rarely, if ever, seen at altitudes over 3000 feet.
85. Merula boulboul: The Grey-winged Ouzel. F. 676, J. 361, +III. E. W.
The Kastura of Indians. Perhaps the finest songster of the Himalayas. From Murree to Darjeeling, between 6000 and 9000 feet the hills ring with the blackbird-like song of this species.
Cock: Black with silvery-grey on the wings.
Hen: Olive-brown. The bill is coral-red in both sexes.
86. Merula unicolor: Tickell’s Ouzel. F. 678, J. 356, +II. K.
Cock: An ashy-grey bird.
Hen: Upper plumage olive-brown. Wings and tail dark brown. Chin, throat and abdomen white. Breast ashy-brown with dark spots. Bill yellow.
The common thrush of the Kashmir valley. Its blackbird-like song is to be heard in spring in every garden and grove. Nests in poplar trees.
87. Petrophila cinclorhyncha: The Blue-headed Rock-Thrush. F. 691, J. 353, -II. E. W. K.
Cock: A handsome and striking bird. Head, [141] chin, throat and wing-patch bright cobalt-blue. Sides of neck, shoulders, upper back and a broad band through the eye black. Rump and lower parts chestnut. Wings black and blue with a white bar.
Hen: Olive-brown above, cream below, with dark bars on rump and breast.
Cock has a sweet, soft song, rather like that of the white-eye. When alarmed he utters a curious harsh cry. As its name implies this bird frequents rocky ground, but likes to have trees near at hand to which it can repair when alarmed.
Common at all hill stations, including Almora. Occurs, but is not common, in Kashmir.
Dippers are small, short-tailed, dark-plumaged birds that inhabit mountain streams, into the waters of which they dive for their food.
88. Cinclus asiaticus: The Brown Dipper. F. 709, J. 347, II, tail 2 inches long. E. W. K.
Plumage chocolate-brown, darkest on wings and tail, more or less flecked with white.
Dippers occur on most mountain streams, but they are not so common as forktails. In [142] the Western Himalayas and Kashmir dippers spend the summer at elevations between 6000 feet and the snow-line. In the Eastern Himalayas they are more commonly found between 1000 and 5000 feet.
Finches, of which the sparrow and canary are familiar examples, are thick-billed birds that feed largely on grain. The stout bill is an organ adapted to husking seeds. The family is well represented in the Himalayas.
89. Pycnorhamphus icteroides: The Black-and-Yellow Grosbeak. F. 741, J. 725, -III. W. K.
Cock: Coloured very like a black-headed Oriole.
Head, throat, wings, shoulders and a patch above the tail black. Rest of plumage rich yellow tinged with orange on the hindneck. Bill very stout.
Hen: Wings black and grey. Rest of plumage ashy-grey, tinged faintly with yellowish-red on the back and abdomen.
This species goes about in couples or small flocks and feeds largely on the ground. Call sounds like kiu-kree.
Fairly common at Murree and Dalhousie, but less so at the other western hill stations and in Kashmir.
90. Hæmatospiza sipahi: The Scarlet Finch. F. 751, J. 735, -II. E.
Cock: Plumage brilliant scarlet with some black in wings and tail.
Hen: Upper plumage brown with greenish-yellow crescent-shaped markings. Rump bright yellow. Lower plumage dull pale yellow with dark crescent-shaped markings. Bill stout.
Darjeeling is the only hill station at which this fine finch occurs.
91. Propasser grandis: The Red-mantled Rose Finch. F. 757, J. 741, +I. W. K.
Cock: Most of the plumage brown tinged with rosy red. Eyebrow, sides of head, chin and throat shining rosy pink. Rest of lower plumage rosy-red.
Hen: Grey-brown, darkest in the upper plumage and everywhere streaked with dark brown. Wings and tail brown.
I have not noticed this bird at any of the Himalayan hill stations, as it seems to live at higher elevations, but it is fairly common at Gulmarg.
92. Carduelis caniceps: The Himalayan Goldfinch. F. 767, J. 749, -I. W. K.
Very like the European Goldfinch.
Forehead, chin and part of face in front of eye crimson, rather dull in the hen. Wings gold and black. Rest of upper plumage grey, merging into white on the lower back. Tail black and white.
Fairly common in Kashmir, less so in the Western Himalayas. Does not occur east of Kumaun.
93. Callcanthis burtoni: The Red-browed Finch. F. 768, J. 748, +I. W. K.
Both cock and hen are striking birds.
Crown and nape black in cock, dark brown in hen. Cock has forehead and large patch of feathers round the eye crimson. In the hen these parts of the plumage are buff. Wings and tail blue-black with a good deal of white, which is very conspicuous during flight. When the wings are closed the white takes the form of square spots, so that the birds have then somewhat the appearance of miniature jays.
These birds go about in pairs, sometimes in company with tits.
As they live at high elevations in summer, [145] they are not likely to be seen at any Himalayan station, but they are common at Gulmarg.
94. Hypacanthis spinoides: The Himalayan Greenfinch. F. 772, J. 750, -I. E. W. K.
A little bird that keeps largely to the tops of trees and utters a rather mournful pee-pee-pee-pee.
Head and upper back dull green, with a yellow eyebrow and a patch of this hue (which sometimes becomes a collar) on each side of the neck. Wings and tail brown and yellow. Lower plumage bright yellow.
The hen is a dull edition of the cock.
This bird in summer lives at higher altitudes than most hill stations; but may be observed occasionally at Simla, Gulmarg and Naini Tal in summer.
95. Passer domesticus: The House Sparrow. F. 776, J. 706, I. W. K.
Cock: Top of head and lower back ashy-grey. Throat black. Cheeks and sides of head pure white. Streak over the eye and upper back chestnut. Wings and tail brown, the former with a narrow white bar. Lower plumage sullied white.
Hen: a dull brown bird with sullied white [146] under-parts. Cream-coloured eyebrow and narrow white wing-bar.
Abundant at Kasauli, Almora, Simla, Dharmsala and Srinagar. Brooks in 1868, found it common at Naini Tal. I saw it nesting there in the Club verandah twenty years later; but it seems to be becoming scarcer there, rather than more abundant.
96. Passer montanus: The Tree-Sparrow. F. 779, J. 710, -I. E.
Sexes alike. Head chestnut with sides of face white and a black patch below and behind eye. Chin and throat black. Shoulders and upper back are pale chestnut, which fades into yellowish-brown on the rump. Tail brown. Wings brown, chestnut, black and white. Lower parts pale ashy-grey.
The only sparrow found at Darjeeling. I have not noticed it at any other hill station.
97. Passer cinnamomeus: The Cinnamon Tree-Sparrow. F. 780, J. 708, -I. W. K.
Cock: Upper plumage bright cinnamon, with pale yellow cheeks and a small black patch round the eye. Wings black and white with reddish streaks. Tail brown. Chin and throat black, with bright yellow patch on either side. Rest of lower plumage grey tinged with yellow.
Hen: Upper plumage reddish-brown, with dark streaks. Eyebrow yellow above, dark brown below. Tail brown. Wings brown, black and white. Sides of head and neck and lower plumage grey tinged with yellow.
This sparrow is common in Kashmir, both in the valley and on the hills, and at the West Himalayan hill stations, including Naini Tal, but not Almora.
The English yellow-hammer is a familiar member of the bunting family. Buntings are finch-like birds somewhat larger than the sparrow. They are characterised by having a conical bill which terminates in a sharp point.
98. Emberiza stewarti: The White-capped Bunting. F. 793, J. 718, +I. W. K.
Cock: Light-grey cap. Upper plumage chestnut. Wings and tail dark brown, with a good deal of white in the tail. Chin and throat black with white patch in middle.
Hen: A brown bird streaked with darker brown, washed with chestnut on shoulders and rump. Some white in the tail.
Fairly common in Kashmir on lower slopes [148] of hills. In the Himalayan stations this species is not often seen as in the summer it lives rather above their level.
99. Emberiza stracheyi: The Eastern Meadow Bunting. F. 794, J. 714, +I. W. K.
This is the common bunting of Kashmir and the western hill stations.
Easily recognised by two longitudinal black bands (with a grey one between them) running from the bill over the head to the neck, and two black moustachial stripes.
Upper plumage reddish-brown streaked with black. Throat and breast grey with brown spots. Rest of lower plumage chestnut brown. Tail black, with a good deal of white in the outer feathers, visible only during flight.
This bird feeds on the ground and is common in gardens and on open ground. Abundant at Gulmarg, Murree, Dharmsala, and Simla.
100. Hirundo rustica: The Swallow. F. 813, J. 82, I, with tail 4½ inches long. E. W. K.
This is the common swallow of England.
Forehead, chin and throat chestnut; rest of upper plumage steel-blue. Wings and tail [149] black, glossed with green. Some white in the tail. Lower plumage reddish-cream with a broad black band across the breast. This bird does not usually ascend as high as the hill stations, but is common in the Kashmir valley.
101. Hirundo smithii: The Wire-tailed Swallow. F. 818, J. 84, -I, with two outer feathers, the ends of which look like wires, 7 inches long. W. K.
Forehead, crown, and nape chestnut. Lower plumage white. Rest of colouring like that of the swallow. The outer tail feathers are long with wire-like ends.
This species, like the last, rarely comes as high as the Himalayan hill stations, but is occasionally seen in the Kashmir valley.
102. Hirundo erythropygia: Sykes’s Striated Swallow. F. 823, J. 85, +I, with tail 3 inches long. E. W.
Upper parts steel-blue, except the collar and rump which are chestnut-red. Lower plumage very pale red, narrowly streaked with brown. Wings and tail brown, glossed with blue. A little white in the tail.
The common swallow of all the Himalayan hill stations.
Wagtails are slightly built, elegant, rather long-tailed birds, which frequent the water’s edge and run about over stones seeking their insect quarry. The tail constantly wags up and down.
Wagtails usually frequent streams in which the water does not flow very rapidly, hence are not often seen at hill stations; but three species are common in Kashmir.
103. Motacilla hodgsoni: Hodgson’s Pied Wagtail. F. 830, J. 590, II. K.
Face white; rest of upper plumage, throat and breast black. Rest of lower plumage white. Wings dark brown and white. Tail black and white.
Common on the Kashmir lakes. It runs about on the leaves of the lotus and its flight is undulating.
104. Motacilla melanope: The Grey Wagtail. F. 832, J. 592, +I, with tail 3½ inches long. K.
Head, neck and shoulders bluish-grey with cream-coloured eyebrow. Rest of upper plumage greenish-yellow and black. Chin and throat black, rest of lower plumage bright yellow.
This species frequents the stream that runs through the golf links at Gulmarg.
105. Motacilla citreoloides: Hodgson’s Yellow-headed Wagtail. F. 838, J. 594, +I, with tail over 3 inches long. K.
Head, neck and lower plumage rich deep yellow. Rest of upper plumage velvety black. Wings dark brown and white. Tail black and white.
Common on the Kashmir lakes. It runs about on the floating leaves of the lotus. Occurs also in gardens on lawns.
Pipits are dull-plumaged birds, somewhat like wagtails in shape; they feed on the ground, but not at the water’s edge as wagtails do.
Several species should be placed among the common birds of Kashmir and the Himalayas, but it is not easy to describe such dull birds so as to enable the reader readily to distinguish them from one another.
106. Anthus maculatus: The Indian Tree-pipit. F. 841, J. 596, I. W.
Upper plumage sandy brown suffused with [152] green, with indistinct dark streaks and inconspicuous creamy eyebrow. Tail brown and white. Lower plumage pale cream with conspicuous dark streaks on the throat.
107. Anthus similis: The Brown Rock-Pipit. F. 841, J. 604, II. W.
Upper plumage grey-brown with dark streaks. No white in tail. Eyebrow sandy yellow. Breast sandy yellow with a few ill-defined dark streaks.
108. Anthus rufulus: The Indian Pipit. F. 847, J. 600, +I. E. W. K.
Very like Indian Tree-Pipit, but upper plumage is not suffused with green, and lower plumage is darker.
This species does not often come as high as Indian hill stations, especially in the west; but it occurs in the Kashmir valley.
109. Oreocorys sylvanus: The Upland Pipit. F. 853, J. 606, +I. E. W.
Upper plumage very dark brown with reddish-buff edges to the feathers. Indistinct pale eyebrow. Tail as in Indian Tree-Pipit. Chin and throat white, rest of lower plumage buff with black streaks.
Skylarks are in appearance dull-brown birds; in shape they resemble pipits; but, unlike pipits, they rarely perch anywhere save on the ground and they sing while soaring in the air.
110. Alauda arvensis: The Skylark. F. 860, J. 766, +I. W. K.
Upper parts dark brown with pale streaks. An indistinct pale eyebrow. Lower parts pale sandy with dark brown and black streaks. Wings and tail brown; some white in the two outer tail feathers.
This is the skylark of England.
I have not noticed it at any Himalayan station, but it is common in the Kashmir valley, where it sings in the air just as it does in England.
Sunbirds are the Asiatic counterparts of the South American Humming-birds. They are small birds, of which the plumage of the cocks is iridescent. The bill is long, slender, and curved and the tongue tubular. The birds live largely on the nectar of flowers, which they often sip while hovering on vibrating wings. [154] They also eat insects. The hen is a bird of dull plumage.
111. Æthopyga ignicauda: The Fire-tailed, Yellow-backed Sunbird. F. 887, J. 228, -I. E.
Cock: Upper plumage crimson, with metallic-blue crown and yellow rump. Lower plumage yellow, with purple on throat and some crimson on breast. Middle pair of tail feathers elongated.
Hen: A dull yellow-green bird with brown wings and tail and some yellow on lower parts. Middle tail feathers not lengthened.
It is only likely to be seen at Darjeeling in April, while it is migrating towards its breeding grounds at high elevations. In April the cocks have not got their full plumage. They are then like the hen, but with bright patches of colour.
112. Æthopyga nepalensis: The Nepal Yellow-backed Sunbird. F. 892, J. 229, -I. E.
Cock: Head, neck and throat metallic-green, with black on sides of head and deep red on sides of neck. Upper back deep red or maroon. Rest of back yellow, brightest on rump. Tail, of which middle pair of feathers is longer than the others, metallic-green and black; all feathers except the two middle [155] pairs have pale tips. Lower plumage yellow, washed and streaked with crimson.
Hen: Olive-green. Middle tail feathers not lengthened. The common sunbird of Darjeeling. Found in gardens.
The Western form of this species, Æthopyga scheriæ (The Himalayan Yellow-backed Sunbird), does not ascend the mountains as high as the hill stations, but I have seen it at the Brewery below Naini Tal.
It may be distinguished from the Eastern form by the fact that the chin and throat are crimson.
Flowerpeckers are minute birds which keep to the topmost branches of trees.
113. Dicæum ignipectus: The Fire-breasted Flowerpecker. F. 915, J. 241, -I. E. W.
One of the smallest birds in India. As it does not ascend the hills above 6000 feet, Almora is the only hill station at which it is likely to be seen.
Cock: Upper parts black glossed with green. Lower parts buff, with large patch of crimson on breast and a smaller black one.
Hen: Olive-brown above, buff below.
Woodpeckers are birds that feed on insects which they pick off the trunks of trees. They have strong claws by means of which they are able to cling to the bark. The feathers of the tail are stiff and serve to support the woodpecker when it is climbing. The sharp chisel-like bill enables the bird to dig out insects that lurk in the crevices of the bark, and also to excavate holes in the trunk in which the eggs are laid. When a woodpecker moves about a tree-trunk, the head always points upwards. Its movements on tree-trunks are jerky, like those of a mechanical toy. The flight from tree-trunk to tree-trunk is undulating. When on the wing a woodpecker often emits a loud scream.
114. Gecinus squamatus: The West Himalayan Scaly-bellied Green Woodpecker. F. 946, J. 170, -IV. W. K.
Cock: Upper plumage dull green, tinged with yellow on the lower back. Crown and nape crimson. A black band round the face and one from below the eye to the bill. Wings and tail brownish-black, spotted and banded with white and cream.
Hen: Like cock, but head and nape black instead of crimson. Common at Simla, Mussoorie, and Naini Tal. Not very common at Dalhousie, Dharmsala, and Murree, and in Kashmir.
115. Gecinus occipitalis: The Black-naped Green Woodpecker. F. 950, J. 172, +III. W. K.
Like the last species, but in the cock the nape is black instead of crimson.
Common at Simla and Dharmsala.
116. Gecinuculus grantia: The Northern Pale-headed Woodpecker. F. 958, J. 177, +II. E.
Cock: Forehead, cheeks and chin light brown. Crown red. Nape yellow. Rest of upper plumage dull red. Wings brown spotted with cream. Tail brown, cream, and red.
Hen: Like cock, but whole head is dull yellow.
Darjeeling is the only hill station at which the woodpecker occurs.
117. Hypopicus hyperythrus: The Rufous-bellied Pied Woodpecker. F. 960, J. 161, II. E. W.
Upper plumage spotted black and white. Lower plumage dull red. A patch of crimson [158] under the tail. Crown red in cock, black spotted with white in hen.
Although this woodpecker ranges all along the Himalayas, Murree is the only station at which I have seen it.
118. Dendrocopus himalayensis: The Western Himalayan Pied Woodpecker. F. 961, J. 154, +II. W. K.
Cock: Crown crimson. Upper plumage black. Face and neck white, separated by a black band. There is also a black band behind the ear. Lower parts grey.
Hen: As cock, but her crown and nape are black like the back. Common at Dalhousie, Murree, and Gulmarg, less so at the other western hill stations, where the Brown-fronted Pied Woodpecker is the commonest species.
119. Dendrocopus cathpharius: The Lesser Pied Woodpecker. F. 965, J. 156, +I. E.
A small eastern form of the last species. It is distinguished by both the cock and hen having crimson on the sides of the neck. The grey lower plumage is streaked longitudinally with brown.
120. Dendrocopus auriceps: The Brown-fronted Pied Woodpecker. F. 969, J. 159, II. W. K.
This is the commonest woodpecker of all the West Himalayan hill stations, except perhaps Dalhousie, where the Western Himalayan pied species is commoner. It is distinguished from the other pied woodpeckers by the umber-brown forehead and crown. The cock’s crest is golden in front and crimson behind; the crest of the hen is pale yellow.
121. Pyrrhopicus pyrrhotis: The Red-eared Bay Woodpecker. F. 978, J. 176, +III. E.
Head brown. Cock only has crimson patch behind each ear; patches sometimes unite behind to form a half collar. Rest of upper plumage barred black and dull red. Lower parts olive-brown washed with red.
Fairly common at Darjeeling.
122. Iynx torquilla: The Common Wryneck. F. 1003, J. 188, +I. K.
An inconspicuous grey-brown bird with dark bars and streaks all over the body, giving the plumage a mottled appearance.
This bird runs up and down the trunks of trees after the manner of woodpeckers. It has a peculiar habit of twisting its head, hence the name Wryneck.
Fairly common in Kashmir.
Barbets are stout-billed, fruit-eating, tree-haunting birds. They have monotonous calls of two or three notes, which they utter frequently. They lay their eggs in holes which they excavate in trees.
123. Megalæma marshallorum: The Great Himalayan Barbet. F. 1006, J. 191, +III. E. W.
A fine bird. Head and neck violet-blue. Upper back olive-brown, streaked longitudinally with pale green. Lower back and tail bright green. Wings green, with splashes of blue, brown and yellow. Upper breast brown. Red patch under tail. Rest of lower parts yellow, with median blue band. The massive bill is yellow.
This bird sometimes goes about in small flocks. Its call, which is a loud, plaintive Pee-you, pee-you, resounds on the hill-sides and in the valleys.
Common at Murree, Dharmsala, Mussoorie and Naini Tal; less so at Dalhousie, Simla and Darjeeling.
124. Cyanops franklini. The Golden-throated Barbet. F. 1017, J. 196, II. E.
A grass-green bird washed with blue. The head is gaudily coloured. Top of head, chin and upper throat golden-yellow. Forehead crimson, a black streak on each side of head.
Its cry is Katak-katak-katak.
Common at Darjeeling.
Heavy-billed, bright-plumaged birds, which take up a position on a perch and descend to the ground to secure their insect quarry. They sometimes eat small snakes. Their cries are harsh.
125. Coracias garrula: The European Roller. F. 1024, J. 125, +III. K.
This is a near relative of the roller, or “blue jay” of the plains.
Its plumage is mainly light and dark blue; the two shades of blue being arranged in broad bands on the wings and tail. A gorgeous bird.
Fairly common in the Kashmir valley.
Bee-eaters are elegant emerald-green birds. The middle pair of tail feathers project as bristles beyond the others.
Bee-eaters catch their insect quarry in the [162] air after the manner of flycatchers. The expanded wings are triangular in shape. Bee-eaters nest in holes in sandbanks.
126. Merops apiaster: The European Bee-eater. F. 1029, J. 121, II, with a tail 6 inches long. K.
Forehead white, rest of head, neck, shoulders and upper back chestnut, darkest on the head. Wings chestnut, green and black. Tail bronze-green, the long middle pair of feathers are black at the ends. Chin and throat yellow. Rest of lower parts bluish-green. Black band through eye. Black gorget. Bill black. Wing lining buff.
This fine bird is often to be seen hawking insects over the lakes in the Kashmir valley.
Kingfishers live on fish for which they dive: the bill is long and the tail short. They nest in holes which they excavate in river-banks.
127. Ceryle lugubris: The Himalayan Pied Kingfisher. F. 1034, J. 137, -IV. E. W. K.
Plumage white, boldly barred, spotted and streaked with black. Bill black.
This fine bird is found on the Kashmir lakes and the larger hill streams up to 6000 feet. [163] It quarters the water in search of fish. Every now and then it hovers on rapidly vibrating wings. If it espies a fish in the water below, its pinions cease quivering and it drops like a stone into the water. Sometimes it checks its fall and flies to another spot where it repeats the operation. It is impossible to mistake this bird. Its colouring and habits are unique.
128. Alcedo ispida: The Common Kingfisher. F. 1035, J. 134, II, but tail very short. E. W. K.
Head and nape blue with faint black cross-bars. Back bright, glistening pale blue. Tail dark blue. Wings greenish-blue. Sides of head show streaks of red, blue, black and white. Chin cream-coloured. Rest of lower parts rust-coloured. Bill black. Legs coral-red. Neck and tail short.
This bird squats on a bank, or a branch overhanging water, watching for fish. As it sits its head bobs up and down. When it espies a fish it dives into the water. Its call is a shrill scream.
This bird occurs on all the larger hill streams up to about 5500 feet. It is very common on the Kashmir lakes, and is fond of perching on the heads of lotus flowers and on house-boats.
Hoopoes are birds that feed on the ground, into which they probe with their long, slender, slightly-curved bills. The crest is conspicuous. When folded it looks like a backward continuation of the bill. When a hoopoe is disturbed, and invariably when the bird alights, the crest is expanded like a fan.
129. Upupa epops: The European Hoopoe. F. 1066, J. 254, III. E. W. K.
Body plumage sand-coloured or pale fawn. Crest reddish-fawn with black tips to feathers. There is also some white in the crest. Wings and tail white with very bold black bars. Legs short. On the wing this bird looks like a huge black-and-white butterfly. A bird that cannot be mistaken for any other.
It is fairly common in the Kashmir valley and at Almora. Simla is the only other hill station at which I have noticed it.
Swifts are birds which never descend to the ground or perch in trees. Their claws are so arranged that they cannot support themselves on a perch. When they require rest, [165] they betake themselves to their nests, which are saucer-shaped structures made of straw, feathers, etc., cemented together and to the wall of a building by the birds’ saliva. Their wings are very long and slender. As a swift dashes through the air at great speed it is shaped like an anchor with very large flukes.
130. Cypselus affinis: The Common Indian Swift. F. 1073, J. 100, -I. W. K.
A very dark brown, almost black, bird with a white bar across the lower back.
This is the common swift of the West Himalayan hill stations, and of Kashmir. It nests under the eaves of houses. It utters what Jerdon describes as a “shivering scream,” which is sometimes heard at night. Most dak bungalows in the W. Himalayas have nests of this swift. A colony nests in the Landour bazaar at Mussoorie.
A larger bird, sometimes seen in Kashmir and the Himalayas, with no white bar across back and a white abdomen, is Cypselus melba, the Alpine Swift.
131. Chætura nudipes: The White-necked Spinetail. F. 1077, J. 97, II. E. W.
Upper parts blackish-brown, glossed with green. Middle of back and chin white. [166] Breast and abdomen brown. Tail short, square, and spiny.
The only hill station at which this bird is common is Darjeeling.
Cuckoos are remarkable birds. Most of them are parasitic on other birds. They fly swiftly. They have loud, distinctive calls.
132. Cuculus canorus: The Cuckoo. F. 1104, J. 199, -III, with rather long tail. E. W. K.
Upper plumage, chin, throat and upper breast grey. Rest of lower plumage white, with numerous narrow dark brown cross-bars. Tail tipped with white. Eyes and legs yellow.
This is the common cuckoo of England. Its call, from which it derives its name, is familiar to every Englishman. From April to June the call is heard at every hill station and throughout the Kashmir valley. A bird more often heard than seen.
133. Cuculus saturatus: The Himalayan Cuckoo. F. 1105, J. 200, -III, with the tail rather long. E. W.
Like the last species in appearance, but the grey of the upper plumage is much darker [167] and the lower parts have the background pale buff and the dark cross-bars more regular.
The call sounds like the uk-uk-uk of the hoopoe, and is doubtless often mistaken for it. As a matter of fact the call has five syllables and may be rendered cuck-coo-coo-coo-coo. The first two syllables are like the cuckoo of the common cuckoo, but are uttered so softly as to be inaudible at greater distances than a few yards. At a distance the call sounds like coo-coo-coo.
This cuckoo is very common at Naini Tal; fairly so at Mussoorie, Dharmsala, Dalhousie and Darjeeling. I do not remember hearing it at Simla or Murree.
134. Cuculus poliocephalus: The Small Cuckoo. F. 1106, J. 201, +II. E. W.
A small edition of the cuckoo, with the lower parts tinged with buff and broader black bars on the breast.
The call of this bird has been rendered Pot-you-chick-chick-chick. It is harsh and uttered both by day and by night.
Darjeeling is the only hill station at which this cuckoo is common.
135. Cuculus micropterus: The Indian Cuckoo. F. 1107, J. 203, -III, with rather a long tail. E. W.
Head grey. Back brown. Tail barred black and white, thin throat and upper breast ashy-grey. Rest of lower parts cream-coloured with black crossbars, about half as broad as the pale interspaces.
Call very distinctive. It may be rendered by the words wherefor, wherefor musically intoned. In imitation of its call the bird is often called the Kyphul pakka, or broken-pekoe bird.
Common at Darjeeling, Naini Tal and Mussoorie, but further west it does not ascend the Himalayas as far as the hill stations; the bird is, however, sometimes heard at Dalhousie.
136. Hierococcyx sparverioides: The Large Hawk-Cuckoo. F. 1108, J. 207, III, with rather a long tail. E. W.
Head grey. Back brown. Tail brown with broad dark cross bands and tipped with white. Lower plumage pale rusty with brown crossbars.
This is a large race of the Hawk-Cuckoo, or brain-fever bird of the plains. I am not able to distinguish between the calls of the two species. It is a loud crescendo scream, which may be rendered, “brain-fever, brain-fever, BRAIN-FEVER.”
Very common at Mussoorie and Darjeeling: less so at Naini Tal and Dharmsala. I do not remember hearing the bird at Simla or Murree.
137. Coccystes jacobinus: The Pied Crested Cuckoo. F. 1118, J. 212, +II, with tail 6 inches long. W. K.
A handsome bird.
Upper plumage glossy black. Broad white wing-bar. Tail tipped with white. Lower plumage white. A conspicuous black crest.
The call is difficult to describe, but easy to recognise. Jerdon well describes it as “high-pitched, wild and metallic.”
This bird rarely comes as high as the hill stations. Jones states that it has been seen at 8000 feet near Simla and that it is common up to 5500 feet. It is fairly abundant in the Kashmir valley.
138. Eudynamis honorata: The Indian Koel. F. 1120, J. 214, III, with tail 8 inches long. W. K.
Cock: A glossy black bird with a green bill and brilliant crimson eye. As he flies he looks like a slenderly-built crow with an unusually long tail.
Hen: A brown bird heavily spotted and [170] barred with white all over. Bill and eye as in cock.
A very noisy bird, especially at dawn. It has three distinct calls. The commonest is a melodious crescendo, “Ku-il, Ku-il, KU-IL,” whence its name. The second may be syllabised Ku-y-o. The third is a series of loud Kekarees.
Common in the Kashmir valley and at Almora. I have never seen or heard the bird at any other hill station.
Paroquets are long-tailed parrots, of which the plumage is mainly grass-green. They associate in flocks, and feed on grain and fruit. They are noisy and destructive to crops.
139. Palæornis nepalensis: The Large Indian Paroquet. F. 1135, J. 147, +III, with a tail over a foot long. E. W.
A beautiful grass-green bird with some blue in the tail and a red patch on each shoulder. The cock has a pink collar round the back of his neck, which is connected with the beak on each side by a black band.
I have not seen this bird at any hill station, but it is tolerably common in Kuman, Nepal [171] and Garhwal, and there seems no reason why it should not appear sometimes in the hill stations. It is a common bird in the plains of Northern and Central India, particularly in the Punjab.
140. Palæornis cyanocephalus: The Western Blossom-headed Paroquet. F. 1139, J. 149, II, with tail 8 inches long. W. K.
Cock: General colour bright grass-green, with some blue on the tail. Red patch on wing. Head red with a bloom like that on a plum.
Hen: Head dull grey-blue. Rest of plumage as in cock. The only hill station at which this bird is likely to be seen is Dharmsala. It occurs in the Kashmir valley.
141. Palæornis schisticeps: The Slaty-headed Paroquet. F. 1141, J. 150, II, with tail 9 inches long. E. W. K.
Distinguished from the last species by the head being slate-coloured in both sexes, and the cock alone having a red patch on the wing.
The common green parrot of the West Himalayan hill stations. Abundant at Murree, Dharmsala, Simla, Mussoorie and Naini Tal. Not common at Darjeeling. Occurs on Kashmir hills, but not in the valley.
Owls are nocturnal birds of prey. Their structure is well-adapted to their nocturnal, predacious habits: they have soft, silky plumage, large forwardly-directed eyes, big ears (often surrounded by aigrettes or tufts of feathers), and feathered legs. The colouring of all is very similar—mottled brown. They have distinctive calls, which, however, are not easy to assign to the birds that emit them because these are so nocturnal in their habits. Owing to the uniform colouring that runs through the family, it is difficult so to describe owls as to make it easy for the casual observer to identify each species he sees.
142. Syrnium nivicola: The Himalayan Wood-Owl. F. 1158, J. 66, -IV. E. W.
No aigrettes or ear tufts. Tail rather long for an owl. Plumage brown with creamy spots and thin wavy lines. Lower plumage cream-coloured with dark longitudinal streaks and crossbars.
I have not identified its call. Mr. A. E. Jones writes, “This owl has a variety of notes besides the usual ‘Who-hoo.’ One is a peculiar squawk which can easily be imitated by placing [173] a blade of grass between the two thumbs of one’s hands and blowing sharply on the edge of the grass. Another is similar to the note of the domestic pigeon when he is showing off before the female.”
This owl usually keeps to higher levels than those of the hill stations; but is fairly common at Simla.
143. Scops spilocephalus: The Spotted Himalayan Scops Owl. F. 1175, J. (not described), -II. E. W.
Large aigrettes. Mottled brown above. Lower plumage white, speckled and spotted with brown.
I have not noticed this owl at any hill station, but Jones states that it is fairly plentiful up to 8000 feet in the Simla rhododendron forests, where it breeds in April. He describes the call as a double whistle—who-who.
144. Glaucidium cuculoides: The Large Barred Owlet. F. 1183, J. 79, +II. E. W.
No aigrettes. Upper plumage brown with white, cream or reddish crossbars. These crossbars serve to distinguish this from most of the other owls, which have the upper plumage mottled rather than barred.
A noisy bird. Blanford describes its call as [174] “a peculiar cackle, like a laugh”; Hume speaks of it as “a clucking, vibrating call.”
This owl is often out in daylight. Kingston has noticed that it is often mobbed by bulbuls at Dharmsala, where it is the commonest owl.
Fairly common at Simla; not common at other hill stations.
145. Glaucidium brodiei: The Collared Pigmy Owlet. F. 1186, J. 80, +I. E. W.
Very like the last species, but is much smaller and distinguishable by having a buff collar.
More diurnal than most owls. I once saw one moving about at noon at Mussoorie.
There is some difference of opinion regarding the call of this bird. I believe it is the soft, low, single whistle repeated at intervals of about 30 seconds, which is often heard at Mussoorie, where the bird is sometimes known as the half-minute bird. Jones and Hutton, however, state that the call consists of four clear whistled notes—hoot-oot-oot-oot, or whoo-whoo-whoo-whoo. Jerdon again speaks of its “low monotonous call or whistle of two notes.”
This bird occurs at most hill stations.
Vultures are large, dull-plumaged birds which feed chiefly on carrion. Most of them have the head and neck devoid of feathers, and hooked bills adapted to tearing flesh. Their habit is to sail high in the air on outstretched wings, watching for some dead animal to devour.
146. Otogyps calvus: The Black or Pondicherry Vulture. F. 1191, J. 2, +V, nearly twice the size of the kite. E. W.
Plumage black, with white thighs. White breast. Wattles and bare head and neck red.
Fairly common at most hill stations.
147. Gyps himalayensis: The Himalayan Griffon. F. 1193, J. 3, +V, more than twice the size of the kite. W.
A dingy, grey-brown bird, washed with buff on rump. No white in wings.
The commonest vulture of the Western Himalayan stations.
148. Pseudogyps bengalensis: The Indian White-backed Vulture. F. 1196, J. 5, +V, nearly a yard long. E. W.
A brownish-black bird with the lower back white. This white, which is visible when the [176] bird is sitting, renders the identification of the bird easy. There is some white in the wings, visible only during flight. On the wing the white appears as a very broad band running from the body nearly to the tips of the wing, so that the wings look white with broad black edges.
This bird occurs at most Himalayan stations.
149. Neophron percnopterus: The Large White Scavenger Vulture. F. 1198, J. 6, +V, about the size of a kite. W. K.
Plumage sullied white, except tips of wings which are shabby black. Bare skin of head yellow. Neck sparsely covered with sullied pale yellow feathers, which do not lie flat. Legs yellow. Bill grey.
As this vulture waddles along it is a revolting-looking bird. When sailing through the air on outstretched wings, this vulture looks well, and the wings are then seen to be white margined with black. The end of the wing is rounded and not cut up into fingers like that of the wing of the white-backed vulture.
This bird is fairly common in the Kashmir valley and at most Western Himalayan stations.
150. Gypaëtus barbatus: The Lammergeyer [177] or Bearded Vulture. F. 1199, J. 7, +V, 4 feet long. W. K.
This bird is often mistaken for the Golden Eagle by people at hill stations.
Head and nape white. Rest of upper plumage grey. Lower plumage pale brown. A black band from the eye to the bill ending in the “beard,” which is a tuft of black bristles growing from the lower mandible. Tail long and rounded at end; that of the scavenger vulture being diamond-shaped.
This great bird is fairly common in the Kashmir valley, Simla, Dharmsala and Mussoorie.
This large family is composed of birds which bear so strong a family likeness that it is almost impossible to describe them in such a way as to enable the reader to identify them at sight. As with owls, birds of prey are easily recognised as such, but to name any particular bird soaring overhead often baffles expert ornithologists. To try to make out birds of prey by their colouring is a hopeless task. Eha remarks, “every bird of prey has its own character, some trick of flight, something in its figure [178] and proportions which serves to distinguish it decisively.” There is much truth in this; but it is not easy to state what this is. Mr. C. H. Donald, in Vols. XXV, XXVI, and XXXVII of the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, has given excellent descriptions of the mannerisms of the birds of prey. In what follows I have drawn freely on Mr. Donald, who probably knows more about birds of prey in India than anyone else, having made a special study of the subject.
151. Spizaëtus nepalensis: Hodgson’s Hawk-Eagle. F. 1213, J. 37, +V. E. W. K.
A small crest. General hue pale brown, mottled with white. Three black bands separated by two white ones run down the throat. Under surface of tail pale grey. Upper surface of tail has broad black cross-bars.
The call of this bird is a shrill musical whistle.
Donald writes: “Unmistakable in flight. Wings very short and round, held very far back and the tail projecting far beyond the line of the wings. . . . Soars well and is often seen to give several short sharp flaps after a bout of circling on steady pinions. Usually found over heavy pine or oak forests.”
Widely distributed, but not very common anywhere.
152. Spilornis cheela: The Crested Serpent-Eagle. F. 1217, J. 39, +V. E. W.
Black crest. Dark chocolate-brown plumage, with white or cream bars on wings and tail. Lower plumage spotted with large white spots.
Donald writes: “When soaring the wings are held well back, but are broad in proportion to his size, hence the tail does not project very far beyond the tertiaries (end wing feathers). This is a noisy bird and gives vent to a shrill succession of whistles when on the wing. Found on the lower hills amongst pine and oak.”
This bird does not usually ascend much above 6000 feet but is occasionally seen at the various hill stations.
153. Haliaëtus leucoryphus: Pallas’s Fishing-Eagle. F. 1223, J. 42, +V, nearly half as big again as the Kite. E. W. K.
Head, chin and throat white. A white band across the tail about 3 inches from the tip. Rest of plumage brown. The white band across the tail is conspicuous, and Jerdon styles this bird the “Ring-tailed Sea-Eagle.”
Tail does not project much beyond wings during flight. Extremely noisy.
This bird frequents rivers and marshes and is common in Kashmir on the lakes and the Jhelum.
154. Milvus govinda: The Common Pariah Kite. F. 1229, J. 56, V. E. W. K.
A dark-brown bird with rather a long forked tail, which serves to differentiate it from other birds of prey.
Donald writes, “Flight is easy and light, but irregular and frequently changing direction as though the bird is uncertain which line it should take. The wings are held in the same plane as the body and are frequently slightly bent as though the bird were meditating a stoop.”
Very abundant at Almora, Simla, Dharmsala and in the Kashmir valley, where it nests in chenar and walnut trees.
It utters when sailing high in the air a mournful-sounding Chee-he-he-he-he-he-he.
155. Falco subbuteo: The Hobby. F. 1260, J. 13, +III. E. W.
Head black with pale eyebrow and forehead. Rest of upper plumage dark slaty-grey. Under surface tinged with red on the abdomen and [181] thighs. Some brown streaks on the lower plumage.
Donald writes: “This beautiful little falcon is by no means rare in the Himalayas and its wonderful evolutions in the air cannot help attracting attention. Its long pointed wings make it appear bigger than it really is. . . . If watched for a few seconds it will be seen constantly to change direction and turn and twist in the air in a most amazing way in pursuit of insects on which it mostly preys. The Hobby does not usually make its appearance till late in the afternoon and may be seen circling, stooping, rising vertically, and playing extra-ordinary tricks in the air, some time after all diurnal birds have gone to rest.”
This bird is nowhere very common.
156. Tinnunculus alaudarius: The Kestrel. F. 1265, J. 17, +III. E. W. K.
This is the English “Windhover.”
Head, neck and tail grey. Back and wings brick-red. Lower parts cream-coloured spotted with brown. The red wings, grey body and manner in which it hovers in mid-air on rapidly-vibrating wings render the identification of this pretty little bird an easy matter. The tail is graduated, the middle feathers [182] being the longest. The tip of the tail is white, with a dark broad band above the white.
Next to the Kite the Kestrel is the commonest bird of prey at the various hill stations.
Green pigeons are strictly arboreal in their habits, and their plumage assimilates so well with the foliage that it is difficult to see them.
157. Sphenocercus sphenurus: The Kokla Green Pigeon. F. 1283, J. 778, +III. E. W. K.
Head and lower plumage yellowish-green. Upper back grey. Middle back maroon (in cock only). Rest of plumage olive green. Some black and yellow in wing. Under surface of wings and tail grey. Upper breast is tinted with pink.
The call of this pigeon is very curious. I do not find it very agreeable; but Indians cage it for the sake of its “song.” The name Kokla is onomatopoetic, but does not in my opinion represent the call. “The notes,” writes Blyth, “bear some resemblance to the human voice in singing and are highly musical in tone, being considerably prolonged and modulated, but always terminating abruptly, and [183] every time the stave is repeated exactly as before, so that it soon becomes wearisome to an European ear.”
This bird occurs in Kashmir and is common at all hill stations.
All the domestic varieties of pigeon are descended from Blue Rock-pigeons. These birds are gregarious and usually nest on rocks or buildings, hence the name.
158. Columba intermedia: The Indian Blue Rock-Pigeon. F. 1292, J. 788, +III. E. W. K.
This is the common pigeon of the plains. It is not nearly so abundant in Kashmir or the Himalayas as it is in the plains of India. Except at Dharmsala it does not usually occur at elevations over 5000 feet.
A slaty-blue bird with a metallic green or purple gloss on the neck. Two black bars across the wing. The tail is tipped with black. Legs reddish-pink.
Doves are small pigeons, the plumage of which is of the sandy hue known as dove-colour.
159. Turtur ferrago: The Indian Turtle-Dove. F. 1305, J. 792, III. W. K.
This has the usual dove-coloured plumage, with a miniature black-and-grey chess-board on each side of the neck.
This is the commonest dove of the West Himalayan hill-stations.
160. Turtur cambayensis: The Little Brown Dove. F. 1309, J. 794, -III. W.
Plumage sand-coloured, greyish on wings and tail. Head, neck and breast suffused with dull pale red. A miniature red-and-black chess-board on each side of neck. Legs crimson-lake.
The call of this bird is a subdued cuk-cuk-coo-coo-coo.
This is the common dove of the plains. The only hill station at which I have seen it is Almora.
It, together with the spotted-dove (Turtur suratensis) and the Indian Ring-Dove (Turtur risorius), is common on the cart road between Rawalpindi and Kohala up to elevations of 5000 feet.
161. Turtur risorius: The Indian Ring-Dove. F. 1310, J. 796, +III. W. K.
A pale French-grey bird, with a half collar round the back of the neck. This collar is [185] black, narrowly bordered with white above and below. The call of this bird is ku-ku-ku. There is a considerable hiatus between the second and the third ku.
This is the common dove of Srinagar. At Simla it occurs up to 6000 feet, as does the Spotted Dove (Turtur suratensis). This last, which occurs at Dharmsala up to 5000 feet, may be recognised by the black-and-white chess-board on each side of the neck, and by the brown back having reddish spots on it. This and the other doves have a little white in the tail.
Pheasants are well represented in the Himalayas. The monal, horned pheasants, cheer, pukras and kalij are all found in those mountains, and the monal and the pukras in Kashmir.
The monal, horned pheasants and pukras usually occur in summer at higher elevations than the hill stations. The cheer is nowhere common. The common pheasant of the various hill stations is one or other of the kalij species.
162. Gennæus albicristatus: The White-crested Kalij Pheasant. F. 1336, J. 810, +V. W.
In shape more like a fowl than a pheasant.
Cock: Long white hairy crest. Upper plumage black glossed with blue, with white bars on lower back. Wings and fowl-like tail dark brown glossed with green.
Hen: Crest and upper plumage reddish-brown with fine black wavy crossbars. Middle tail feathers black, with cream wavy crossbars; the other tail feathers are black with a blue gloss.
Both sexes have a patch of bare red skin on sides of face. This bird is fond of feeding on the road and I have shot it from a motor-car while going along the road to Chakrata.
163. Gennæus melanonotus: The Black-backed Kalij Pheasant. F. 1338, J. 811, V. E.
The common Kalij of Darjeeling.
Like the last species, but the cock has a black crest, glossed with purple-blue, and there are no white bars on the lower back and rump.
Catreus wallichi: The Cheer. This bird has a long tail like that of the English Pheasant. Both sexes have a long crest and a red patch of bare skin round the eye. Plumage black with [187] white and reddish-yellow crossbars. Found in Western Himalayas.
Pucrasia macrolopha: The Koklas or Pukras Pheasant.
Cock has three crests, the middle one fawn-coloured and the side ones black glossed with green. A long-tailed pheasant. Found in summer at high elevations in Kashmir and Western Himalayas.
Lophophorus refulgens: The Monal.
Cock: Brilliant metallic-purple, with green peacock-like crest. Short tail cinnamon.
Hen: Brown.
This bird occurs at high elevations in Kashmir and West Himalayas.
Tragopan satyra: The Crimson Horned Pheasant. (E. Himalayas.)
Cock: Black head (and breast in western race). Rest of plumage mainly crimson with white or grey spots. Tail long.
Hen: Plumage mainly brown.
Tragopan melanocephalus: The Western Horned Pheasant (W. Himalayas).
Cock: Black head and breast. Rest of plumage mainly crimson with white or grey spots. Tail long.
Hen: Plumage mainly brown.
Quail are partridges in miniature.
164. Coturnix communis: The Common Grey Quail. F. 1355, J. 829, +II. E. W.
A little short-tailed, short-legged bird. Upper plumage brown spotted with dark brown and buff. Lower plumage reddish-buff with dark streaks and spots.
Only passes through the Himalayas on migration in April and October. Many are shot while the spring crops are being harvested at the various hill stations.
165. Caccabis chucar: The Chukor. F. 1370, J. 820, -IV. W. K.
Has red legs like the French partridge which it resembles in appearance. General colour of plumage pale reddish-brown. A black band runs across the forehead to the eyes and from there down the sides of the head across the throat to form a gorget. Some conspicuous black bars on the flanks.
Common about the West Himalayan hill stations and on the Kashmir hills.
166. Francolinus vulgaris: The Black Partridge. F. 1372, J. 818, +III. W. K.
Cock: A handsome black bird with white spots on the flanks and narrow white bars on the back. Crown and wings buff and dark brown. White patch on each side of head. Chestnut collar round neck.
Hen: Plumage buff and dark brown.
Call so high-pitched that some people cannot bear it. It may be syllabised juk-juk-tee-tee-tur.
This partridge does not ascend the Himalayas above 5000 in most parts, but it is fairly common at Simla and Mussoorie and on the Kashmir hills.
Water-Rails are land birds which have taken to living in marshes, and so have acquired some of the features of ducks.
167. Gallinula chloropus: The Moorhen. F. 1402, J. 905, +III. K.
This is the Moorhen of England.
Head and breast dark slaty-grey. Back and shoulders olive-brown. Rump brown. Wings blackish-brown, with a little white in them. Tail black. Some white bars on flanks and [190] a white patch under the tail. A red shield on forehead.
Common on the Kashmir lakes.
168. Fulica atra: The Coot. F. 1405, J. 903, IV. E. W. K.
As this bird lives on lakes and, except in Kashmir, does not ascend the hills above 4000 feet, it is not seen at any hill station, but occurs on some of the lakes of the Kashmir valley. It used to occur on the Dal Lake, but I do not think it does now.
A black duck-like bird, with a white shield on the forehead. It swims like a duck; but when flushed from off the water, it runs along the surface, flapping its wings vigorously, before it succeeds in rising above the water. When flying it may be likened to a bottle of Bass on wings!
Jaçanas are birds that live on lakes in which lotus and other water-plants grow profusely. These birds have very long toes, which enable them to run about on the broad flat floating leaves of the water-plants.
169. Hydrophasianus chirurgus: The Pheasant-tailed [191] Jaçana. F. 1429, J. 901. +III, with tail 10 inches long in summer. K.
Head, throat and wings white. Back of neck golden yellow. Long, thin, black pheasant-like tail. This bird swims like a duck and runs about with great address on floating water-plants. It utters a cat-like mew. On account of its pheasant-like appearance, this bird is sometimes called the water pheasant. It is a very beautiful bird. It is impossible to mistake it. It is very abundant on the Dal and the other lakes of the Kashmir valley.
Plovers are short-tailed, long-legged birds that appear to be adapted to wading but which keep to dry land. They have peculiar plaintive calls and many of them perform wonderful antics in the air.
170. Sarcogrammus indicus: The Red-wattled Lapwing. F. 1431, J. 855, +IV. E. W. K.
This is the familiar “Did-you-do-it” of the plains.
Head, neck and upper breast black. A broad white band running from the eye down the whole length of the neck. Back and wings, bronze-brown, black and white; the white [192] taking the form of a conspicuous band during flight. Lower parts white. Tail white with black band across it near the tip. Bill red, with a crimson wattle. Legs bright yellow.
This bird ascends the Himalayas up to 5000 feet and occurs in the Kashmir valley.
Terns are allied to gulls. They are long-winged, slenderly-built birds, that have much white and grey in the plumage. They feed largely on fish and spend much time in flying over water in search of their quarry.
171. Hydrochelidon hybrida: The Whiskered Tern. F. 1496, J. 984, +II. K.
Bill red. Cap black. Upper plumage silvery-grey. Breast grey. Abdomen black.
This bird occurs abundantly on the lakes in the Kashmir valley. It makes a floating nest of water-weeds in the early summer.
It sometimes hunts for insects over fields.
Cormorants are large black swimming birds, which feed on fish. They catch their quarry by diving. When not fishing they sometimes [193] squat on a post projecting out of the water and spread out their wings to dry them.
172. Phalacrocorax carbo: The Large Cormorant. F. 1526, J. 1005, +V. K.
Plumage all black save for a white band from eye to eye across the throat.
Found on the lakes of the Kashmir valley and on the Jhelum.
173. Phalacrocorax fuscicollis: The Indian Shag. F. 1527, J. 1006, +V. K.
Distinguished from the last species by having no white band across the throat and by its smaller size.
Found on the lakes of the Kashmir valley and on the Jhelum.
Herons are wading birds with long stiletto-like bills. It is their habit to stand motionless in shallow water. When they espy a fish or a frog, the neck shoots out like a telescope and the bill is plunged into the water to secure the victim. On the wing herons are easily distinguished from other long-shanked birds by the fact that, although they, in common with other wading birds, carry the legs stiffly stretched out behind them, the head is drawn [194] in, so that the neck projects like the crop of a pouter pigeon.
174. Ardea cinerea: The Common Heron. F. 1555, J. 923, +V, over a yard long. K.
This is the common heron of England.
Upper parts ashy-grey. Some white on the head. Black plumes hang down from the nape. Lower parts white.
Common on the margins of the lakes of the Kashmir valley.
175. Nycticorax griseus: The Night Heron. F. 1568, J. 937, V. K.
Head, nape, back and shoulders black. Forehead, cheeks and lower parts white. Rest of plumage grey. Some feathers of the nape are white and are lengthened to form plumes. Eyes bright red.
This bird fishes chiefly by night. About sunset it leaves its roost in some tall tree and slowly flaps its way to its fishing ground, uttering a loud wāk.
Common round the lakes in the Kashmir valley.
A company of these birds roosts, along with cormorants, in some tall trees near the Nasim Bagh on the Dal Lake.
176. Ardetta minuta: The Little Bittern. F. 1570, J. 935, -IV. K.
Upper parts buff glossed with green. Breast buff. Some buff in the wings. Legs greenish-yellow. This little bird, which the Kashmiris call Goi, is very common on the Kashmir lakes. During the daytime it lies up hidden in the reeds. After sunset the little bitterns emerge and take up fishing stations in the shallow water of the lakes and waterways. Dozens of these little herons may be seen by anyone out in a shikara on the Dal Lake just before nightfall.
Two species of duck breed on the lakes in the vale of Kashmir; but, owing to their eggs being collected for the Srinagar market, they are now rarely seen on the Dal Lake. They occur on the other lakes.
177. Anas boscas: The Mallard or Wild Duck. F. 1592, J. 958, V. K.
The Wild Duck of England.
Male: September to May. Head glistening emerald-green, with white collar round neck. Breast chestnut. Shoulders finely barred white and brown. Middle back brown. Lower back and middle tail feathers black glossed [196] with purple or green. Middle tail feathers curl upwards. Wings brown with metallic-purple bar. Below tail velvety black.
Male (June to August) and Female: Brown with buff crescent-shaped markings. Purple wing-bar.
Legs orange-yellow in both sexes.
178. Nyroca ferruginea: The White-eyed Pochard. F. 1606, J. 969, -IV. K.
Head, neck and breast dull chestnut. Rest of upper plumage blackish-brown. Tail dark brown. Wings dark brown and white. Abdomen chiefly white. Hen like cock, but duller.
Grebes are small duck-like water birds of which the tail is very short. They rarely come to land, they dive for their food.
179. Podiceps albipennis: The Indian Little Grebe, or Dabchick. F. 1617, J. 975, +II. K.
Body rich dark brown. Chestnut on sides of neck. Looks like a tiny tailless duck. Dives every few seconds. Very common on the Kashmir lakes.
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[The end of Himalayan and Kashmiri birds by Douglas Dewar]