BIRDS

COMMON BABBLER
A common Babbler perching on a wire.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/400s
Focal length: 60-360mm
Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

SPOTTED OWLET
A spotted owlet with fierce yellow eyes. Notice the beautiful setting: the contrast of the owl's yellow eyes with the green of the surrounding leaves. These owls are mainly nocturnal, and when disturbed during daytime, they stare at the intruders.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/25s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

INDIAN POND HERON
This is an Indian Pond Heron with its breeding plumage.


IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/640s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Village pond, Uttar Pradesh

BLACK RUMPED FLAMEBACK
A Black Rumped Flameback eating small insects roosting among rocks of the caves in the Panna Park.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/5
Shutter Speed: 1/50s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh

BROWN ROCK CHAT
A Brown rock chat perching on a house's boundary wall with an insect in its beak.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/125s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

COCKATIEL
This is one of the world's favourite pet bird. In the wild, it is endemic to (found exclusively only in) Australia. The state of its crest expresses its mood; it is vertical for example when the bird is excited.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/40s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: 'Jaldhara' recreation park, Jaipur, Rajasthan (in captivity as a pet)

COMMON MYNA
Very commonly seen and heard, even in the urban regions. In warm summers, this bird in the photograph had just taken a rejuvenating bath in a puddle of fresh rain water.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/160s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK
A male Eurasian Sparrowhawk bird in a very interesting pose. It had started raining actually, and the bird was grooming its feathers with its beak.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/50s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

EURASIAN THICK KNEE
A very beautiful and well camouflaged bird is the Thick knee. It was almost invisible from a distance, blending in with the orange and red of the flame of the forest leaves.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/160s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

GREAT COUCAL/ CROW PHEASANT
A Crow Pheasant enjoying a mid day meal. This unfortunate lizard was trying to hide in the thick bush, but this bird of prey gulped it in its mouth after tearing its body with its sharp beak. The size of this bird was really impressive.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/400s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

GREEN BEE EATER
A commonly seen bird where trees are abundant, this bee eater is richly coloured. The plumage is green with tinges of blue on the chin and throat. It feeds on bees, wasps and ants and removes their stings and kills them by repeatedly hitting them against a branch.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/50s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

HOOPOE
Easily identified by its distinctive crown of feathers the Hoopoe is a colourful bird seen commonly in green areas. The males are highly territorial and call frequently, declaring the ownership of their territory.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/400s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

THE SUPERSTAR BIRD : INDIAN PEAFOWL MALE
This is the superstar in the kingdom of birds--the very famous Indian Peafowl. Males have an extremely beautiful iridescent blue green plumage which is primarily used to attract females. They are believed by many to be polygamous.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/15s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Sariska tiger reserve, Rajasthan

INDIAN PEAHEN
A female Indian Peafowl (Peahen) roosting on a tree. The Peafowls typically nest on the ground but roost on the trees.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/60s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Sariska tiger reserve, Rajasthan

INDIAN PITTA
This is an Indian Pitta roosting on a tree branch. Notice the beautiful blue plumage of the bird. This bird is hard to miss if you are vigilant.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/100s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location:Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

INDIAN ROLLER
Another beautiful bird, the Indian Roller.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/320s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

LAUGHING DOVE

A Laughing dove, a very common bird even in densely populated urban areas. In India, it is also called Little Brown Dove. This detailed portrait of the bird shows the black spots on the throat and pinkish head.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/400s
Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

PURPLE SUNBIRD
Compare this bird with the one shown just below this photograph. Yes, they are the same species! The one shown here is a male of intermedius in eclipse plumage. Such striking changes in the plumage are common in birds.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/60s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

PURPLE SUNBIRD
An adult male purple Sunbird. They appear to be all black except under some particular lighting in which the iridescent purple comes alive.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/80s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

THE SUPERSTAR STORK
This huge bird in the centre is a Marabou stork, which can have a height of about 150cm, and a wingspan of at least 3.5m. So, that makes it a superstar land bird with one of the largest wingspans. They can be recognized by their bare head and neck, white underparts and a huge bill. In the background is a herd of deer grazing.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/320s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

RED WATTLED LAPWING
This is a beautiful and very commonly seen and heard bird. The red coloured fleshy wattle in front of the eyes justifies its name. It calls like "Did-he-do-it" and hence it is known at some places by this very name.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/400s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

RED WHISKERED BULBUL
This is a red whiskered Bulbul. Notice the typical crest, red vent and red whiskers.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/400s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Satpura biosphere reserve, Madhya Pradesh

ROSE RINGED PARAKEET
A beautiful and another very common bird. They are a non-migrating species and can be easily identified by their call.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/160s
Focal length: 60-360mm
Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)
Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

RUDDY SHELDUCK/ BRAHMINY DUCK
Usually found in pairs, they have a pale head and orangish-brown plumage. Both the sexes are similar and can be distinguished properly only during summer breeding season, when the male develops a black ring at the bottom of it's neck.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/320s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Village pond, Uttar Pradesh

RUFOUS TREEPIE
Easily identifiable by its long tail and loud musical and melodious call is the Rufous treepie. Both the sexes are alike (sexual dimorphism absent).

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/125s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh

RED VENTED BULBUL
A very common bird, even in densely human inhabited areas. Interestingly, it is named as one of the world's most invasive alien species, i.e., they quickly spread and reproduce in an area where they are not commonly found.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3
Shutter Speed: 1/80s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

COMMON MYNA
Very commonly seen and heard, even in the urban regions. In warm summers, this bird in the photograph had just taken a rejuvenating bath in a puddle of fresh rain water.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/60s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

SWALLOWED!
A Crow Pheasant after it swallowed a lizard. The Lizard's tail still hanged from its mouth, making this photograph an interesting capture.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/320s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK
A male Eurasian Sparrowhawk bird.

IMAGE DATA
Aperture: f/4.3

Shutter Speed: 1/50s

Focal length: 60-360mm

Camera: Canon Power Shot SX 100 IS (hand held)

Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan