Flying beauties of Himachal Pradesh

The Male common stonechat(about 15 cm) is a black headed bird with white rump, orange-brown breast and black neck. There are conspicuous white patches on sides of the neck and on the wings.    Female has dark streaks on the upperparts which are rufous brown in colour. It has also got a white wing patch and the throat is whitish in colour. Common stonechat can be seen in dry fields with bushes, in scrub areas, grasslands and cultivations between altitudes of about 700m-3000m.

It is a small bird about 18cm in size with a White crown, black wings and rusty under parts. The tail is rusty with black tip. The bird is usually found on rocks in mountain streams and rivers. In summers it can be seen between altitudes of 1500m to 5000m. Whereas in winters it descends down to foothills and plains.

It is a small(about 12cm in size) active bird with grayish head, neck and breast.With greenish upperparts and bright yellow under parts both the sexes look similar. Abundant in forests and open wooded areas it breeds at an altitude of about 1200-2500m and can be seen in lower areas as well during winters. In Himalayas it is generally a short distance altitudinal migrant. The bird is very restless and can be seen turning and twisting in the air after insects and flies.

Ultramarine flycatcher is a beautiful bird(about 11cm in size) with male having deep blue upper parts. The sides of the head and neck are also deep blue with white eyebrow. A prominent white patch runs from centre of throat, through breast to belly. Female has grayish upperparts with blackish coloured edge of the tail. Sides of the neck and the breast are grayish white in colour. Occurring at an altitudinal range of about 1500-3200m, the bird keeps largely to low trees and bushes in open forests, bushy areas, grooves and gardens.

Spotted dove(about 30cm) is a long tailed slim bird with white s potted, pinkish and grey upperparts. The head and underparts are pinkish with a greyish shade on the face and lower portion of the belly. Both the sexes are similar and the black and white patchy (chess board type) band on the hind neck is the unique distinguishing feature of the bird. The legs are reddish in colour. It is quite common in open well wooded forests,cultivations and near habitations as well. Often seen alone or in pairs the spotted dove has got a very swift and strong flight like other doves.

About 10 cm in size the male has a metallic purple, coloured body. The female has got light yellowish underparts and the upper parts are dark greyish in colour. In non-breeding plumage the male is similar to the female but the wings are comparatively dark and a broad black stripe runs down middle of the breast. The bird is quite common in open forests and gardens and can be seen upto an altitude of about 1600 mtrs in Himalayas. It is fond of the flower nectar but is also dependent on insects.Its slender curved bill is adapted for probing flower tubes and sucking the nectar. This way the bird helps a great deal in cross-polination.

About 26cms in size the Eurasian Golden Oriole is a bright golden yellow bird with black colour in the wings and the tail. There is a conspicuous black streak through the eye.It nests upto an altitude of about 1800 mtrs during April-July but has been noticed at higher altitudes as well.  Having a very sweet fluit like call the bird is common in  open but well wooded areas. It can be seen on  trees around villages and cultivations The female is comparatively dull and greener with striated/lined underparts.The nest built by the bird is very well woven cup shaped nest hidden by the leaves of the broadleaved trees.

There is hardly a more familiar sight in the Indian countryside than a glossy black bird sitting confidently on an electric wire, a fence post or the branch of a tree. Its long, deeply forked tail is unmistakable. It watches the ground below with remarkable alertness and, the moment an insect appears, swoops down with astonishing speed before returning to its perch. This is the  Black Drongo ( Dicrurus macrocercus ) , a small bird with a surprisingly bold personality. Commonly seen across Himachal Pradesh, particularly in open countryside, agricultural fields and villages, the Black Drongo is one of those birds that people often see but rarely stop to appreciate. Its glossy black plumage may appear rather ordinary at first, but its intelligence, agility and fearless behaviour make it one of the most interesting birds of the Indian landscape. It is often called the  King Crow , a name that reflects its extraordinary courage in confronting birds much larger than itself. Quick Fa...

With a wing span of about 50-60mm it is the most common butterfly in the hills.It migrates to lower areas during winters.the cabbage is its favorite plant which probably gives its name. 

With a wingspan of about  70mm it is very common butterfly which flies between 800-4000 meters in the Himalayas. 

T he  White-throated Kingfisher also known as the White-breasted Kingfisher   is quite large in size(about 26cm) and is widely distributed.The bird has a bright blue back, wings and tail. Its head, shoulders, flanks and lower belly are chestnut coloured while the throat and breast are white. The large bill and legs are bright red.  The female is similar to the male but the colours of juveniles are relatively dull.           The bird can  also be found away from water   in  open country,  cultivation and gardens  upto  an altitude of about 2200 meters.  It is known as Kil-Kila in Hindi.

This beautiful butterfly rich in colours with a wingspan of about 60mm  flies up to 2000m  on hills but it is more comfortable in plains.The upper wings with tawny orange colour have prominent eye spots on both wings. The Eyespot on the Hindwings is very large wheras the Forewings have two smaller Eyespots.  The hind wing looks like a dry leaf in its Dry Season form(DSF).  The dry leaf like appearance of the UnderWings  gives a very good camouflaging effect.                                                                                

There are some birds that demand attention with loud calls or dramatic displays. The Verditer Flycatcher ( Eumyias thalassinus ) does neither. It simply appears—like a flash of brilliant turquoise against the deep green of the Himalayan forest—and for a few moments everything else seems to fade into the background. The first thing that strikes an observer is its extraordinary colour. Perched quietly on a bare branch, the bird seems almost unreal, as if someone had carefully painted it with the brightest shades of blue. When sunlight filters through the trees, its plumage glows with a richness that photographs can only partly capture. In the forests of Himachal Pradesh, encountering a Verditer Flycatcher is always a memorable experience. It is one of those birds that encourages you to pause, watch patiently and appreciate the quiet beauty of the mountains. Quick Facts Common Name: Verditer Flycatcher Scientific Name: Eumyias thalassinus Family: Muscicapidae Length: About 16–...