Flying beauties of Himachal Pradesh

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.