This 21 cm bird is of the thrush family and is common in well-wooded areas of India. Most populations are resident. The species shows a preference for shady damp areas, and like many Zoothera thrushes, can be quite secretive. I was lucky to get this shot, my first, when my uncle pointed it out to me. Not too clear a shot as it was in a shaded area. It has an entirely orange head and underparts, uniformly grey upperparts and wings, and white median and undertail coverts. It has a slate-coloured bill and the legs and feet have brown fronts and pink or yellowish rears.
Tags: panasonic lumix dmcfz8 fz8 bird fauna orange-headed thrush orange-headed thrush zoothera citrina cyanotus geokichla citrina geokichla citrina cyanota
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My cleanest shot yet of this rather reclusive and shy bird. Was lucky to spot it in the backyard among the dead leaves and twigs looking for grubs. It is common in well-wooded areas of the Indian Subcontinent. The species shows a preference for shady damp areas, and like many Zoothera thrushes, can be quite secretive. I have spotted this bird in the backyard only a few times before but am sure it is a regular visitor. The subspecies found in peninnsular India south to Kerala has strange markings as seen here. They have a white throat and face sides, with two black stripes running downwards from below the eyes. It has a swift, silent flight, but when disturbed will often sit motionless until the threat has passed. An effectiive stategy considering how hard it is to detect. The Orange-headed Thrush is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects, earthworms and fruit. It nests in trees but does not form flocks.
Tags: canon eos 550d rebel t2i kiss x4 300mm tele Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM bird fauna backyard orange-headed thrush orange-headed thrush zoothera cinerea cyanotus geokichla citrina geokichla citrina cyanota male Geokichla cinerea
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Clicked at the Botanical Gardens in Ooty, the beautiful and popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills. This bird is a common resident of the hills in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, south west India. This taxon is given full species status by some authorities and is called the Indian Blackbird. In the photo seen here the bird is the sub-species named Black-capped Blackbird. This is a male as distinguished by its black plumage and yellow eye-ring and bill. If you look closely you can see that its head is darker than the body. It also has a rich melodious song. Both sexes are territorial on the breeding grounds, with distinctive threat displays, but are more gregarious during migration and in wintering areas.
Tags: canon eos 550d rebel t2i kiss x4 Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM bird fauna indian blackbird indian blackbird turdus simillimus male 300mm turdus simillimus nigropileus black-capped blackbird
An Indian Blackbird, clicked at the Botanical Gardens in Ooty. The subspecies 'T. s. nigropileus' as seen here, also called the Black-capped Blackbird, is resident up to about 1,820 metres (5,970 feet) in the Western Ghats of western India and the northern and central parts of the Western Ghats.
Tags: canon eos 550d rebel t2i kiss x4 300mm tele Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM kenko pro 300 C-AF 1.4x teleplus DGX bird fauna indian blackbird indian blackbird turdus simillimus male turdus simillimus nigropileus black-capped blackbird
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Not often seen but always heard at this time of year. This bird is a renowned vocalist having a melodious, almost human-like, whistling call. Not surprisingly it is also called the "whistling schoolboy". In this time of the year we are often woken up early in the mornings before day-break by this birds sweet whistling which is a joy to listen to. You can listen to its whistling call by clicking here.
The bird has a blue-black plumage with the blue more prominent on the wings and forehead where there is a arrow-like blue marking. It is a solitary bird with a peculiar gait. Often seen in culverts and garbage dumps looking for grubs. Eats insects, snails, frogs and crustaceans. Clicked through the plate-glass window of the dining room.
Tags: panasonic lumix dmcfz8 fz8 fauna bird backyard malabar whistling thrush malabar whistling thrush myophonus horsfieldii