Wire Tailed Swallow (तार वाली पाकोळी)

 

Scientific name: Hirundo smithii

A very attractive bird, especially male has very long wires at his tail. The wires are very long feathers of his tail and that gives a name “Wire Tailed Swallow”. As compare to male, female have short wire tail. Upper parts are bright blue and at the tail colour is darker blue-brown. Also, have small white spots on the tail. The head is of chestnut coloured and there is blue mask throughout the eyes. Underparts are bright white.
Length of the bird with wire tail is around 20 cm.

The nest is very neat made up with mud collected in the swallows' beaks. Shape of the nest is like half-bowl aligned to vertical surfaces like cliff ledges or man made structures like bridges, buildings near water.
These birds normally feed on insects like flies etc. Female lays 2-3 eggs.
Can be spotted near water. All seasons.

Spotted at : Kavadi Pat (near Hadpser, Pune), Sinhagad Road cannel bridge, near Wadgaon, Pune. 

Small Blue Kingfisher (खंड्या)

Scientific name: Alcedo atthis

Size of this kingfisher is small around 16cm. Have very stunning blue back and head. Long and sharp black bill, under parts of the body is of chestnut colour. Throat and around neck some attractive white shapes. Have small red feet, normally short tail.

Mainly feeds on fish. Its treat to the eyes, while kingfisher dives to catch fish. Normally can spot along side of the river where he can easily find his prey. Have very interesting voice “Chi Chi Chi”.
The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.

Spotted at - Jambhulwadi Lake, Kavdipat Hadpser Pune. When to spot: All seasons. Winter and rainy seasons are best to spot.

Black Headed Oriole ( Marathi- हळद्या, पिलक )

Scientific name - Oriolus larvatus

Oriole is very attractive bird. Have bright yellow colour, reddish bill, eyes and black head, wings. Average size of the bird is around 25cm. The nest is cup shaped and formed very neatly. Breeding season is Apr-July. Female lays 2-3 eggs at a time.
Insects, small fruits, honey from flower are main feedings.
 
Spoted - Mahableshwar - Poladpur ghat.
 

 

Painted Stork (चित्रबलाक) रंगीत करकोचा

Scientific name - Mycteria leucocephala

Painted Stork has a yellow heavy bill. Shape of the bill is down-curved tip. The bare head is of read or orange in colour. Body colour is beautiful strokes of white, black and pink and that is giving them their name "Painted Stork"

By dipping a long bill into water they prey of small fish, small insects, frogs in the water

Spoted - Pashan Lake, Pune. Along river or lake.

When - Winter (Oct - Feb). Time around Sunrise or Sunset.

Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark (डोंबारी)

Scientific name - Eremopterix grisea
This bird looks a like house sparrow, but, bigger in size is around 12 cm. The male bird (Black Bellied Finch Lark) is attractive, have brown-black breast and belly. Wings and flanks are pale grey and so is thick short bill. Female Ashy Crowned Sparrow Larks have pale grey lower and upper parts.
We normally can spot these birds at ground level. In dry grass, some time it is not very easy to spot. It nests on the ground level.

• Spoted - Jain Mandir - Katraj - Pune. Bopdev Ghat - Kondhwa-Saswad Road
  
• Time to spot- All seasons. Winter and rainy seasons are the best to spot.
  
• Breeding season in India - March-August. Lays 2-3 eggs.

White-Breasted Kingfisher (खंड्या)

Scientific name - Halcyon smyrnensis

The kingfishers are gifted with very attractive and bright colors. This type of kingfisher's throat, breast and below bill are white. Have large bill and lags are bright red. Very accretive bright blue back and tail. The remaining body head, shoulder, lower belly and flanks are of chestnut color. Normal size of adult bird is bit less than 30cm (1 foot).

Kingfishers have a powerful bill and can fly very rapidly, always ready and very alert for prey. Fish, earthworms, insects, frogs and snakes are kingfisher’s main hunts. Some time Kingfisher also hunts for chicks of small birds like sparrows and munias.
Spoted locations in Pune- Pashan lake, Kavdipat (Hadpser), Sinhagad road along cannel side. Almost around all the village around Pune.

Where - We can spot this bird near water like lake, cannel, and river etc.
When - All seasons. Winter and rainy seasons are best to spot.