List of Common Birds found in Kerala

Scientific Name              English Name
Acridotheres tristis       Common Myna
Actitis hypoleucos          Common Sandpiper
Alcedo atthis                          Small Blue Kingfisher
Amaurornis phoenicurus     White-Breasted Waterhen
Anhinga melanogaster       Darter
Bubulcus ibis                       Cattle Egret
Buceros bicornis     Great Pied-Hornbill
Butorides striatus    Little Green Heron
Chaetura giganteus    Spinetail Swift
Chalcophaps indica    Emerald Dove
Chloropsis aurifrons    Golden-Fronted Leafbird
Ciconia episcopus     White-Necked Stork
Columba livia                Bluerock Pigeon
Copsychus malabaricus     Shama
Copsychus saularis    Magpie-Robin
Coracias benghalensis    Indian Roller
Corvus macrorhynchos    Jungle Crow
Corvus splendens    House Crow
Cuculus micropterus     Indian Cuckoo
Dendrocitta vagabunda    Indian Treepie
Dicrurus paradiseus     Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo
Dinopium benghalense    Lesser Golden-Backed Woodpecker
Eudynamis scolopacea    Koel
Galerida deva     Syke’s Crested Lark
Gallus sonneratii     Grey Jungle Fowl
Glaucidium radiatum    Jungle Owlet
Halcyon smyrnensis    White-breasted Kingfisher
Haliastur Indus     Brahminy Kite
Ketupa zeylonensis     Brown Fish Owl
Larus brunnicephalus    Brownheaded Gull
Lonchura striata     Whitebacked Munia
Milvus migrans    Pariah Kite
Motacilla maderaspatensis    Large Pied Wagtail
Nectarinia lotenia    Lottens Sunbird
Ocyceros birostris     Common Grey Hornbill
Oriolus oriolus    Indian Oriole
Pavo cristatus     Pea Fowl
Perdicula asiatica    Jungle Bush-Quail
Pericrocotus flammeus    Orange Minivet
Petronia xanthocollis     Yellow-Throated Sparow
Ploceus philippinus    Weaver Bird
Prinia inornata     Nilgiri Wrenwarbler
Pycnonotus cafer     Red-vented Bulbul
Streptopelia chinensis    Spotted Dove
Strix ocelata    Wood Owl
Turdoides striatus     Jungle Babbler
Upupa epops    Hoopoe

Malayalam names,common names & scientific names of Birds of Kerala

Aalkkili     ആല്ക്കിളി  Crimson-Fronted Barbet     Megalaima rubricapilla malabarica
Aanaranchi     ആനറാഞ്ചി     Black Drongo     Dicrurus adsimilis macrocercus
Aattakkaran     ആട്ടക്കാരന് Whitebrowed Fantail Flycatcher     Rhipidura aureola compressirostris
Aattakkuruvi     ആറ്റക്കുരുവി      Baya Weaver      Ploceus philippinus travancoreensis
Aattu Manalkozhi     ആറ്റു  മണല്ക്കോഴി  Indian Little Ringed Plover     Charadrius dubius jerdoni
Ambalam Chutti     അമ്പലം  ചുറ്റി      House Swift     Apus affinis
Angaadikkuruvi     അങ്ങാടിക്കുരുവി      House Sparrow     Passer domesticus indicus
Arippraavu     അരിപ്പ്രാവ്      Spotted Dove     Streptopelia chinensis suratensis
Asurakkadan     അസുരക്കാടന്  Malabar Wood Shrike      Tephrodornis virgatus sylvicola
Asurappottan     അസുരപ്പൊട്ടന്  Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike     Hemipus picatus
Asurathan     അസുരത്താന്  Common Wood Shrike      Tephrodornis pondicerianus
Attakkaruppan     അറ്റക്കറുപ്പന്  Blackthroated Munia      Lonchura kelaarti jerdoni
Ayora     അയോറ      Common lora      Aegithina tiphia multicolor
Balikkakka     ബലിക്കാക്ക    Large-billed Crow     Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus
Chaara Manalkozhi     ചാര മണല്ക്കോഴി  Grey Plover     Pluvialis squatarola
Chaarathalachikkaali     ചാര തലച്ചിക്കാളി      Chestnut-tailed Starling      Sturnus malabaricus
Chakky Parunth    ചക്കി  പരുന്ത് Black Kite     Milvus migrans govinda
Chara Marappottan     ചാരമരപ്പൊട്ടന്Great Tit      Parus major mahrattarum
Charakkuttan Kathrikappakshi     ചാരക്കുട്ടന്  കത്രികപ്പക്ഷി      Long-tailed Shrike     Lanius schach caniceps
Charamundi    ചാരമുണ്ടി     Grey Heron     Ardea cinerea rectirostris
Charappoondan     ചാരപ്പൂണ്ടന്  Large Cuckoo-Shrike     Coracina novaehollandiae macei
Chaya Mundi     ചായമുണ്ടി      purple Heron     Ardea purpurea manilensis
Chem Kokkan Ithikkannikkuruvi    ചെങ്കൊക്കന്  ഇത്തിക്കണ്ണിക്കുരുവി     Pale-billed  Flowerpecker       Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Chemban Maramkotthi     ചെമ്പന്  മരംകൊത്തി  Rufous Woodpecker      Micropternus brachyurus jerdonii
Chembu Valan     ചെമ്പുവാലന്  Rusty-tailed Flycatcher     Muscicapa ruficauda
Chembukotti     ചെമ്പുകൊട്ടി      Coppersmith Barbet     Megalaima haemacephala indica
Chemkanny     ചെങ്കണ്ണി     Redwattled Lapwing      Vanellus indicus indicus
Chemkuil     ചെങ്കുയില് Banded Bay Cuckoo      Cacomantis sonneratii
Chempan Mullan Kozhi     ചെമ്പന്  മുള്ളന്കോഴി  Red Spurfowl     Gallopedix spadicea spadicea
Chempan Nath     ചെമ്പന് നത്ത്  Jungle Owlet     Glaucidium radiatum malabaricum
Chempan Padi     ചെമ്പന് പാടി  Jerdon’s Bush-Lark      Mirafra assamica affinis
Chempoth     ചെമ്പോത്ത്       Greater  Coucal     Centropus sinensis parroti
Chenchilappan     ചെഞ്ചിലപ്പന്  Rufous Babbler     Turdoides subrufus hyperythrus
Chenthalayan Velithatha    ചെന്തലയന്  വേലിത്തത്ത     Chestnut-headed Bee-eater     Merops leschenaulti
Cherakkozhi     ചേരക്കോഴി      Darter     Anhinga rufa melanogaster
Cheria Chundankada     ചെറിയ  ചുണ്ടന്  കാട Jack Snipe      Gallinago minima
Cheria Kadal Aala     ചെറിയ കടല്  ആള  Lesser  Crested Tern     Sterna bengalensis
Cheria Kadal Kakka     ചെറിയ കടല് കാക്ക  Blackheaded Gull      Larus ridibundus
Cheria Meenkothi     ചെറിയ മീന്കൊത്തിCommon Kingfisher     Alcedo atthis taprobana
Cheru Manalkozhi     ചെറുമണല്ക്കോഴിKentish Plover      Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus
Cheru Thenkili    ചെറുതേന്കിളിCrimson-backed  Sunbird      Nectarinia minima
Cherumundi?     ചെറുമുണ്ടി ?     Intermediate Egret     Mesophoyx intermedia
Chevian Nath     ചെവിയന്  നത്ത്  Collared Scops Owl     Otus bakkamoena
Chevian Rachukk     ചെവിയന് രാച്ചുക്ക്    Great Eared Nightjar     Eurostopodus macrotis bourdilloni
China Manjakkili    ചൈന  മഞ്ഞക്കിളി     Blacknaped Oriole     Oriolus chinensis diffusus
Chinamundi       ചിന്നമുണ്ടി        Little Egret     Egretta garzetta garzetta
Chinnachilappan     ചിന്നചിലപ്പന്  Tawnybellied Babbler     Dumetia hyperythra albogularis
Chinnakokk     ചിന്നകൊക്ക്      Little Heron     Butorides striatus
Chinnan Maramkotthi     ചിന്നന്  മരംകൊത്തി Speckled Piculet    Picumnus innominatus malayorum
Chitramgan Maramkotthi     ചിത്രാംഗന്  മരംകൊത്തി     Heartspotted Woodpecker      Hemicircus canente
Cholakkuduvan     ചോലക്കുടുവന്   Scimitar Babbler     Pomatorhinus schisticeps travancoreensis
Choolakkakka     ചൂളക്കാക്ക      Malabar Whistling Thrush     Myiophoneus horsfieldii
Choolan Eranda     ചൂളന്  എരണ്ട  Lesser Whistling Duck     Dendrocygna javanica
Chorakkali     ചോരക്കാലി      Common Redshank      Tringa totanus totanus
Chui Rachukk     ചൂയി   രാച്ചുക്ക്       Savanna Nightjar      Caprimulgus affinis monticola
Chukanna Nellikozhi         ചുകന്ന നെല്ലിക്കോഴി            Ruddybreasted Crake     Porzana fusca zeylonica
Chutteenthalkkili     ചുറ്റീന്തല്ക്കിളിPied Bushchat     Saxicola caprata nilgiriensis
Chutti Parunth     ചുട്ടിപ്പരുന്ത്  Crested Serpent Eagle     Spilornis cheela melanotis
Chuttikkazukan     ചുട്ടിക്കഴുകന്  White-rumped  Vulture     Gyps bengalensis
Chuttiyatta     ചുട്ടിയാറ്റ     Scaly breasted Munia      Lonchura punctulata punctulata
Cylon Kutturvan     സിലോണ്  കുട്ടുറുവന്  Ceylon Green Barbet     Megalaima zeylanica zeylanica
Eettapolappan    ഈറ്റപൊളപ്പന് Blyth’s Reed Warbler     Acrocephalus dumetorum
Garudan Chaarakkaali     ഗരുഡന്  ചാരക്കാളി  Blyth’s Myna      Sturnus malabaricus blythii
Gaulikkili     ഗൌളിക്കിളി      Velvetfronted Nuthatch     Sitta frontalis frontalis
Ilampacha Podikkuruvi     ഇളംപച്ച  പൊടിക്കുരുവി      Greenish Warbler     Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus
Inaka Tevan     ഇണക്കാതേവന്  Ashy Wood Swallow     Artamus fuscus
Indian Manjakkili    ഇന്ത്യന്  മഞ്ഞക്കിളിEurasian Golden Oriole      Oriolus oriolus kundoo
Irattathalachi     ഇരട്ടത്തലച്ചി      Redwhiskered Bulbul     Pycnonotus jocosus fuscicaudatus
Kaadu Muzakki     കാടുമുഴക്കി       Greater Racket-tailed Drongo     Dicrurus paradiseus
Kaakka Meenkothi    കാക്ക  മീന്കൊത്തിStorkbilled Kingfisher     Pelargopsis capensis
Kaalan Kozhi     കാലന്കോഴി Mottled Wood Owl     Strix ocellata
Kaalimundi     കാലിമുണ്ടി       Cattle Egret     Bubulcus ibis coromandus
Kaana Kathrikappakshi     കാന  കത്രികപ്പക്ഷി     Pacific Swallow      Hirundo tahitica domicola
Kaattilakkili     കാട്ടിലക്കിളി       Goldfronted Leaf Bird     Chloropsis aurifrons frontalis
Kaattu Chundankada     കാട്ടുചുണ്ടന്കാട Wood Snipe     Gallinago nemoricola
Kaattu Kozhi     കാട്ടുകോഴി     Grey Jungle fowl     Gallus Sonneratii
Kaattu Moonga     കാട്ടുമൂങ്ങ    Spot-bellied Eagle Owl     Bubo nipalensis
Kaattu Myna     കാട്ടുമൈന       Southern Hill Myna     Gracula religiosa indica
Kaattu Valukulukki     കാട്ടുവാലുകുലുക്കി      Forest Wagtail     Motacilla indica
Kaavathi Kakka     കാവതിക്കാക്ക     House crow      Corvus splendens protegatus
Kaavi    കാവി     Indian Pitta     Pitta brachyura brachura
Kaayalaatta?     കായലാറ്റ ?      Streaked Weaver     Ploceus manyar flaviceps
Kaithakkallan     കൈതക്കള്ളന്
Clamorous Reed Warbler     Acrocephalus stentoreus brunnescens
Kakka Maramkotthi     കാക്ക മരംകൊത്തി     White-bellied Woodpecker     Dryocopas javensis hodgsonii
Kakkarajan     കാക്കരാജന്  Whitebellied Drongo      Dicrurus caerulescens
Kakkattampuran     കാക്കത്തമ്പുരാന്Ashy Drongo      Dicrurus leucophaeus longicaudatus
Kal Mannathi     കല്മണ്ണാത്തി  Indian Robin      Saxicoloides fulicata
Kampi Valan Kathrikappakshi     കമ്പിവാലന്  കത്രികപ്പക്ഷി      Wire-tailed Swallow     Hirundo smithii filifera
Kana Chilappan     കാനച്ചിലപ്പന്  Browncheeked Fulvetta     Alcippe poioicephala poioicephala
Kari Aala     കരി  ആള     Whiskered Tern     Chlidonias hybrida indica
Kari Thappi     കരിതപ്പി      Eurasian Marsh Harrier      Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus
Karim Chempan     കരിം  ചെമ്പന് Black-and-Orange Flycatcher     Muscicapa nigrorufa
Karimaran Kaada    കരിമാറന്  കാടRain Quail     Coturnix coromandelica
Karimban Kaadakkok     കരിമ്പന്  കാടക്കൊക്ക്      Green Sandpiper      Tringa ochropus
Karimban Kaattu Bulbul     കരിമ്പന് കാട്ടുബുള്ബുള്   Black Bulbul      Hypsipetes madagascariensis ganeesa
Karimchundan Ithikkannikkuruvi    കരിംചുണ്ടന്   ഇത്തിക്കണ്ണിക്കുരുവി     Plain Flowerpecker     Dicaeum concolor concolor
Karimkili     കരിങ്കിളി     Eurasian Blackbird     Turdus merula nigropileus
Karimkocha     കരിങ്കൊച്ച    Black Bittern     Dupetor flavicollis flavicollis
Karimparunth     കരിമ്പരുന്ത്  Black Eagle     lctinaetus malayensis perniger
Karimthalachikkaali     കരിന്തലച്ചിക്കാളി      Brahminy Starling     Sturnus pagodarum
Karimthoppi     കരിന്തൊപ്പി      Blackheaded Cuckoo-Shrike     Coracina melanoptera sykesi
Karivayaran Vanampadi     കരിവയറന്  വാനമ്പാടിAshy-crowned Sparrow Lark      Eremopterix grisea
Kariyilakkili     കരിയിലക്കിളി      Jungle Babbler     Turdoides striatus malabaricus
Karuppan Thenkili    കറുപ്പന്   തേന്കിളിPurple Sunbird      Nectarinia asiatica asiatica
Karuvarakkuru     കരുവാരക്കുരു      Woolynecked Stork     Ciconia episcopus episcopus
Kathila Kazhukan?       കാതിലക്കഴുകന് ?   Red-headed vulture     Sarcogyps calvus
Kathir Valan Kuruvi     കതിര്വാലന് കുരുവി  Ashy Prinia      Prinia socialis socialis
Kattu Panamkakka     കാട്ടു പങ്കാകാക്ക      Dollar Bird     Eurystomus orientalis laetior
Kattu Rachukk     കാട്ടു രാച്ചുക്ക്     Grey Nightjar       Caprimulgus indicus
Kattu Velithatha    കാട്ടു വേലിത്തത്ത    Bluebearded Bee-eater     Nyctyorms athertoni
Kattunjali     കാട്ടുഞ്ഞാലി      White-bellied Tree Pie      Dendrocitta leucogastra
Kinnaripparunth     കിന്നരിപ്പരുന്ത്   Changeable Hawk-Eagle     Spizaetus cirrhatus cirrhatus
Kinnary Myna    കിന്നരി  മൈന    Southern Jungle Myna     Acridotheres fuscus mahrattensis
Kokkan Thenkili    കൊക്കന് തേന്കിളിLoten’s Sunbird     Nectarinia lotenia hindustanica
Komban Sharapakshi     കൊമ്പന്  ശരപക്ഷി   Crested Tree Swift     Hemiprocne longipennis coronata
Komban Vanampadi    കൊമ്പന്  വാനമ്പാടിMalabar Crested Lark      Galerida malabarica
Kozhi Vezhaambal     കോഴി വേഴാമ്പല്  Malabar Grey Hornbill      Tockus griseus
Krishnapparunth     കൃഷ്ണപ്പരുന്ത്      Brahminy Kite     Haliastur indus Indus
Kulakkokk     കുളക്കൊക്ക്      Indian Pond Heron     Ardeola grayii grayii
Kulakozhi      കുളക്കോഴി       Whitebreasted Waterhen     Amaurornis    phoenicurus
Kurikkannan Kattupullu     കുറിക്കണ്ണന്  കാട്ടുപുള്ള്      Whitethroated Ground Thrush     Zoothera citrina cyanotus
Kutturvan     കുട്ടുറുവന്  White-Cheeked Barbet      Megalaima viridis
Kuyil     കുയില് Asian Koel      Eudynamys scolopacea
Lalitha     ലളിത      Asian Fairy Bluebird      Irena puella puella
Lalitha Kakka     ലളിത  കാക്ക     Bronzed Drongo      Dicrurus aeneus aeneus
Madappravu     മാടപ്പ്രാവ്      Rock Pigeon     Columba livia intermedia
Mala Varamban     മലവരമ്പന്  Nilgiri Pipit      Anthus nilghiriensis
Malamuzakki Vezhaambal    മലമുഴക്കി  വേഴാമ്പല് Great Hornbill     Buceros bicornis homrai
Manikandhan     മണികണ്ഠന്  Black-crested Bulbul      Pycnonotus melanicterus gularis
Manja Thaali     മഞ്ഞത്താലി      Chestnut shouldered Petronia      Petronia xanthocollis xanthocollis
Manja Thenkili    മഞ്ഞ  തേന്കിളി
Purplerumped Sunbird      Nectarinia zeylonica fluviventris
Manjachinnan     മഞ്ഞചിന്നന്  Yellowbrowed Bulbul     Hypsipetes indicus indicus
Manjakkanji Maramkotthi     മഞ്ഞക്കണ്ണി   മരംകൊത്തി      Streak-throated Woodpecker     Picus  myrmecophoneus
Manjakkanni     മഞ്ഞക്കണ്ണി      Yellow-wattled Lapwing     Vanellus malabaricus
Manjakkaruppan     മഞ്ഞക്കറുപ്പന്   Black-hooded Oriole     Oriolus xanthornus xanthornus
Manjappidali Maramkotthi     മഞ്ഞപ്പിടലി  മരംകൊത്തി      Small Yellownaped Woodpecker     Picus chlorolophus chlorigaster
Mannatti     മണ്ണാത്തി       Oriental Magpie-Robin     Copsychus saularis ceylonensis
Mara Pravu     മരപ്രാവ്      Nilgiri Wood Pigeon     Columba elphinstonii
Marattaa Maramkotthi     മറാട്ടാ  മരംകൊത്തി       Yellow-crowned Woodpecker     Dendrocopos mahrattensis mahrattensis
Mayil     മയില്  indian Peafowl     Pavo cristatus Linnaeus
Mazakkocha     മഴക്കൊച്ച    Cinnamon Bittern     Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Meduthappi     മേടുതപ്പി      Pallid Harrier     Circus macrourus
Meen Kooman     മീന്  കൂമന്  Brown Fish Owl      Bubo zeylonensis leschenault
Meen Parunth       മീന്  പരുന്ത്    Greyheaded Fish Eagle     Icthyophaga ichthyaetus  ichthyaetus
Meenkothi Chaathan     മീന്കൊത്തി ചാത്തന്  White-throated Kingfisher      Halcyon smyrnensis fusca
Menikkaada     മേനിക്കാട      Painted Bush Quail     Perdicula erythrohyncha erythrorhyncha
Menipparakkili     മേനിപ്പാറക്കിളി      Bluecapped Rock Thrush     Monticola cinclorhynchus
Menipraavu    മേനിപ്രാവ്     Green Imperial Pigeon     Ducula aenea pusilla
Mulvalan Chundankada     മുള്വാലന്    ചുണ്ടന്കാട  Pintail Snipe      Gallinago stenura
Mundan Maramkotthi     മുണ്ടന്   മരംകൊത്തി  Brown-capped Pigmy Woodpecker      Dendrocopos nanus cinereigula
Mungaam Kozhi    മുങ്ങാങ്കോഴി    Little Grebe     Ruficollis capensis
Muthuppilla     മുത്തുപ്പിള്ള       Brownbreasted Flycatcher     Muscicapa muttui muttui
Naadan Ilakkili     നാടന്  ഇലക്കിളി  Blue-winged Leaf-Bird     Chloropsis cochinchinensis jerdoni
Naadan Thamarakozhi     നാടന്  താമരക്കോഴി Bronze winged Jacana     Metopidius indicus
Naakamohan     നാകമോഹന്  Paradise Flycatcher     Terpsiphone paradisi  paradisi
Naattu Maramkotthi     നാട്ടു  മരംകൊത്തി      Black-rumped Flameback     Dinopiam benghalense tehminae
Naattu RacukkPalunga Palungi    നാട്ടുരാച്ചുക്ക് പളുങ്ങാപളുങ്ങി     Indian Nightjar     Caprimulgus asiaticus
Nattu Bulbul    നാട്ടുബുള്ബുള് Redvented Bulbul      Pycnonotus cafer cafer
Nattu Myna       നാട്ടുമൈന        Common Myna      Acridotheres tristis
Nattu Thatha     നാട്ടുതത്ത      Rose-ringed Parakeet     Psittacula krameri manillensis
Nattu Velithatha     നാട്ടുവേലിത്തത്ത      Green Bee-eater     Merops orientalis
Nattu Vezhaambal    നാട്ടുവേഴാമ്പല്Indian Grey Hornbill      Tockus birostris
Neela Thatha    നീലത്തത്ത      Blue-winged Parakeet     Psittacula columboides
Neelachemban     നീലച്ചെമ്പന്  Blue-throated Flycatcher     Muscicapa rubeculoides
Neelachundan Ithikkannikkuruvi     നീലച്ചുണ്ടന്  ഇത്തിക്കണ്ണിക്കുരുവി      Thickbilled Flowerpecker     Dicaeum agile agile
Neelakkili Paattapidiyan    നീലക്കിളി  പാറ്റപിടിയന് Nilgiri Flycatcher     Muscicapa albicaudata
Neelakkozhi ?    നീലക്കോഴി  ?    Purple Moorhen     porhyrio porphyrio
Neelakkuruvi     നീലക്കുരുവി      TickelI’s Blue Flycatcher      Muscicapa tickelliae tickelliae
Neelamaaran Kaada    നീലമാറന്  കാട Bluebreasted Quail     Coturnix chinensis chinensis
Neelameni Paattapidiyan    നീലമേനി  പാറ്റപിടിയന് Verditer Flycatcher      Muscicapa thalassina thalassina
Neelapparakkili     നീലപ്പാറക്കിളി      Blue Rock Thrush      Monticola solitarius pandoo
Neerkakka     നീര്ക്കാക്ക  Little Cormorant     Phalacrocorax niger
Neerkkaada     നീര്ക്കാട  Common Sandpiper     Tringa hypoleucos hypoleucos
Nelpottan     നെല്പ്പൊട്ടന് Brightheaded Cisticola      Cisticola exilis erythrocephala
Nilathan     നിലത്തന് Indian Blue Robin     Erithacus brunneus
Olenjali     ഓലേഞ്ഞാലി      Rufous Tree Pie      Dendrocitta vagabunda parvula
Omana Pravu     ഓമനപ്രാവ്     Emerald Dove      Chalcophaps indica salimalii
Paameer Manalkozhi     പാമീര്  മണല്ക്കോഴി Lesser Sand Plover     Charadrius mongolus atrifons
Paathakkokkan Aala     പാത്തക്കൊക്കന് ആള  Gullbilled Tern     Gelochelidon nilotica
Pacha Chundan     പച്ച  ചുണ്ടന്  Blue-faced  Malkoha     Rhopodytes viridirostris
Pacha Eranda     പച്ച  എരണ്ട      Cotton Pygmy Goose     Nettapus coromandelianus
Pacha Marappottan     പച്ച  മരപ്പൊട്ടന് Black-lored Tit      Parus xanthogenys travancoreensis
Pachakkali     പച്ചക്കാലി      Nordmann’s Greenshank     Tringa nebularia
Panamkakka    പനംകക്ക     Indian Roller      Coracias benghalensis indica
Panamkoolan     പനങ്കാക്ക     Asian Palm Swift     Cypsiurus parvus batasiensis
Pandan Ponni Maramkotthi      പാണ്ടന്പൊന്നി  മരംകൊത്തി       White-naped Woodpecker      Chrysocolaptes festivus
Pandan Vezhaambal     പാണ്ടന്  വേഴാമ്പല്  Malabar Pied Hornbill      Anthracoceros coronatus
Paravari Kaada      പാറവരിക്കാട     Rock Bush Quail     Perdicula argoondah salimalii
Pathira Kokk    പാതിരാകൊക്ക്     Black crowned Night Heron      Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax
Pathungan     പതുങ്ങന്  Wynad Laughing Thrush      Garrulax delesserti delesserti
Pavizakkali     പവിഴക്കാലി     Blackwinged Stilt     Himantopus himantopus himantopus
Pekkuil     പേക്കുയില് Common Hawk-Cuckoo    Cuculus varius
Perumundi?     പെരുമുണ്ടി ?     Great Egret     Casmerodius albs
Podichilappan     പൊടിച്ചിലപ്പന്  Darkfronted Babbler      Rhopocichla atriceps bourdilloni
Pondavari Kaada     പൊന്തവരിക്കാട     Jungle Bush Quail     Perdicula asiatica vidali
Ponn Manalkozhi     പൊന്  മണല്ക്കോഴി Golden Plover     Pluvialis dominica fulva
Poom Thatha     പൂന്തത്ത     Plum-headed Parakeet     Psittacula cyanocephala
Poottamkeeri     പൂത്താങ്കീരി      Yellowbilled Babbler      Turdoides affinis affinis
Pothapottan     പോതപ്പൊട്ടന്Zitting Cisticola     Cisticola juncidis salimalii
Pulli Kaadakkok     പുള്ളിക്കാടക്കൊക്ക്      Wood Sandpiper     Tringa glareola
Pulli Meenkothi     പുള്ളി  മീന്കൊത്തി  Pied Kingfisher     Ceryle rudis travancoreensis
Pullichilappan     പുള്ളിച്ചിലപ്പന്
Spotted babbler     Pellorneum ruficeps olivaceum
Pullinath     പുള്ളിനത്ത്       Spotted Owlet      Athene brama
Pullunath     പുള്ളുനത്ത്     Brown Hawk Owl     Ninox scutulata hirsuta
Rachaungan    രാച്ചൌങ്ങന്  Jerdon’s Nightjar     Caprimulgus macrurus atripennis
Shama     ഷാമ     Whiterumped Shama     Copsychus malabaricus
Shikra     ഷിക്ര      Shikra     Accipiter badius badius
Thalikkuruvi     താലിക്കുരുവി      Grey-breasted Prinia      Prinia hodgsonii albogularis
Thalipparunth       താലിപ്പരുന്ത്Osprey     Pandion haliaetus haliaetus
Thatha Chinnan     തത്തച്ചിന്നന്  Vernal Hanging Parrot     Loriculus vernalis vernalis
Thavidan Kathrikappakshi     തവിടന്  കത്രികപ്പക്ഷി      Dusky Crag Martin      Hirundo concolor concolor
Thavidan Nellikkozhi       തവിടന്  നെല്ലിക്കോഴി        Slatylegged Crake     Rallina eurizonoides amauroptera
Thavidan Shrike     തവിടന്  ഷ്രൈക്ക് Brown Shrike      Lanius cristatus cristatus
Thavitan Bulbul    തവിടന്  ബുള്ബുള് Whitebrowed Bulbul      Pycnonotus luteolus luteolus
Thavitt Paattapidiyan     തവിട്ടു  പാറ്റപിടിയന്  Asian Brown Flycatcher     Muscicapa latirostris
Thavitt Thalayan Kadal Kakka     തവിട്ടുതലയന്  കടല്ക്കാക്ക  Brownheaded Gull     Larus brunnicephalus
Theechinnan     തീചിന്നന്  Small Minivet      Pericrocotus cinnamomeus malabaricus
Theekkakka     തീക്കാക്ക      Malabar Trogon     Harpactes fasciatus malabaricus
Theekkuruvi     തീക്കുരുവി      Scarlet Minivet      Pericrocotus flammeus flammeus
Theepporikkannan     തീപ്പൊരിക്കണ്ണന് Watercock     Gallicrex cinerea
Thekkan Chiluchilappan     തെക്കന്  ചിലുചിലപ്പന്  Travencore White-breasted Laughing Thrush    G.j.meridionale
Then Kothichi Parunth    തേന്കൊതിച്ചി  പരുന്ത് Oriental Honey Buzzard     Pernis ptilorhynchus raviolis
Thettikkokkan     തെറ്റിക്കൊക്കന്  Whimprel     Numenius phaeopus phaeopus
Thira Mundi     തിരമുണ്ടി      Western Reef Heron,     Egretta gularis schistacea
Thotti Kazhukan?     തോട്ടിക്കഴുകന് ? Egyptian Vulture     Neophron percnopterus ginginianus
Thriyanguli Maramkotthi     ത്രിയംഗുലി  മരംകൊത്തി      Common Flameback     Dinopiam javanense malabaricum
Tunnaran    തുന്നാരന് Common Tailor Bird     Orthotomus sutorius guzurata
Uppooppan     ഉപ്പൂപ്പന്  Common Hoopoe     Upupa epops ceylonensis
Vaal Kokkan     വാള്ക്കൊക്കന്  Eurasian Culew     Numenius arquata orientalis
Vaalan Eranda     വാലന്  എരണ്ട  Northern Pintail     Anas acuta
Vaalan Thamarakozhi     വാലന്  താമരക്കോഴി Pheasant-tailed Jacana     Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Vadakkan Chiluchilappan     വടക്കന്  ചിലുചിലപ്പന്  Greybreasted Laughing Thrush     Garrulax jerdoni fairbanki
Valia Chemkokkan Aala     വലിയ  ചെങ്കൊക്കന്  ആള      Caspian Tern     Hydroprogne caspia
Valia Kadal Aala     വലിയ  കടല്  ആള  Great Crested Tern     Sterna bergii velox
Valia Kadal Kakka     വലിയ  കടല്ക്കാക്ക   Palla’s Gull     Larus ichthyaetus
Valia Mullvalan Sharapakshi     വലിയ  മുള്വാലന് ശരപ്പക്ഷി      Brown-backed Needletail     Chaetura gigantea indica
Valia Ponni Maramkotthi     വലിയ  പൊന്നി  മരംകൊത്തി      Greater Flameback      Chrysocolaptes lucidus chersonesus
Valia Valukulukki     വലിയ  വാലുകുലുക്കി      White-browed Wagtail      Motacilla maderaspatensis
Valia Velithatha     വലിയ  വേലിത്തത്ത      Bluetailed Bee-eater     Merops philippinus
Varayan Kathrikappakshi    വരയന്  കത്രികപ്പക്ഷി     Redrumped Swallow      Hirundo daurica erythropygia
Vari Eranda       വരി  എരണ്ട        Garganey     Anas querquedula
Vayal Kannan     വയല്ക്കണ്ണന്  Eurasian Thick Knee     Burhinus oedicnemus indicus
Vayal Kuruvi     വയല്ക്കുരുവി Plain Prinia      Prinia subflava franklinii
Vayal Varamban     വയല്  വരമ്പന്  Paddyfield Pipit      Anthus novaeseelandiae malayensis
Vayalkkoti Kathrikappakshi     വയല്്ക്കോതി  കത്രികപ്പക്ഷി      Barn Swallow      Hirundo rustica gutturalis
Vazikulukki     വഴികുലുക്കി     Grey Wagtail      Motacilla cinerea cinerea
Vella Valukulukki     വെള്ള  വാലുകുലുക്കി      White Wagtail     Motacilla alba dukhunensis
Vella Vayaran Sharapakshi     വെള്ള  വയറന്  ശരപ്പക്ഷി      Alpine Swift     Micropus melba nubifuga
Vellakkanni Eranda    വെള്ളക്കണ്ണി  എരണ്ട     Ferruginous Pochard     Aythya nyroca
Vellavayaran Kadal Parunth     വെള്ളവയറന്  കടല്പ്പരുന്ത്  Whitebellied Sea Eagle     Haliaeetus leucogaster
Velli Eriyan     വെള്ളി എറിയന്  Black shouldered  Kite     Elanus caeruleus vociferus
Velli Moonga     വെള്ളി  മൂങ്ങ      Barn Owl,     Tyto alba stertens
Vellikkannikkuruvi     വെള്ളിക്കണ്ണിക്കുരുവി      Oriental White-eye     Zosterops palpebrosa nilgiriensis
Ven Neeli Paattapidiyan    വെണ്നീലി  പാറ്റപിടിയന് Black naped Monarch     Hypothymis azurea styani
Virayan Pullu    വിറയന്  പുള്ള് Common Kestrel      Falco tinnunculus  tinnunculus
Visharivalan Chundankada    വിശറിവാലന്  ചുണ്ടന്കാട Great Snipe     Gallinago Gallinago gallinago
Vishuppakshi     വിഷുപ്പക്ഷി      Indian Cuckoo      Cuculus micropterus

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea  Mal: Charamunti
Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea  Mal: Chayamundi
Little Green Heron Ardeola striatus  Mal: Chinna kokku
Pond Heron Ardeola grayii  Mal: Kulamunti
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Mal: Kalimunti
Large Egret Ardea alba Mal: Perumunti,
Indian Reef Heron Egretta gularis Mal: Thiramunti
Large Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Mal: Valiya neerakakka
White/Rosy Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Mal: Kotumpannom
Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Mal: Kinnari neerkaka
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Mal: Kakkataravu
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax  Mal: Toppi kokku
Malay/Tiger Bittern Gorsachius melanolophus Mal: Thavittu kokku
Chestnut Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus  Mal: Sandhya kokku
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis  Mal: Manja kokku
Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis  Mal: Karutha kokku
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala  Mal: Varnakokku,
Openbill Stork Anastomus oscitans   Mal: Cherakokkan
Whitenecked Stork Ciconia episcopus  Mal: Karimkokku,
White Stork Ciconia ciconia  Mal: Vanbakam
Black Stork Ciconia nigra  Mal: Karimbakam
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus  Mal: Vayalnaiicken
White Ibis Threskiornis aethiopica   Mal: Kashanti kokku
Indian Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa  Mal: Chemthalayan ibis
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus  Mal: Chemban ibis
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia   Mal: Karandikokku
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus  Mal: Valiya poonara
Barheaded Goose Anser indicus  Mal: Kurith-thalayan
Lesser Whistling Teal Dendrocygna javanica  Mal: Yeranda
Pintail Anas acuta  Mal: Vaalan eranda
Common Teal Anas crecca  Mal: Yeranda
Gadwall Anas strepera   Mal: Gadwal eranda
Grey Teal Anas gibberifrons   Mal: Pulli-chundan tharaavu
Ruddy Shelduck/Brahminy Duck Tadorna ferruginea  Mal: Thankath-thaaraavu
Shoveller Anas clypeata   Mal: Thara
Nakta, Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos  Mal: Muzhayan thaaraavu
Blackwinged Kite Elanus caeruleus  Mal: Velli-eriyan
Blyth’s Baza/Legge’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni  Mal: Prapparundu
Blackcrested Baza Aviceda leuphotes  Mal: Prapparundu
Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorynchus  Mal: Katta parantha
Red Kite Milvus milvus  Mal: Chakki parundu
Black Kite, Pariah Kite, BlackearedKiteMilvus migrans Mal: Chakki parundu,
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus  Mal: Garudan, KrishnaParundu
Shikra Accipiter badius Mal: Prappidian, Shikra
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Mal: Karimparundu
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus Mal: Karuth-tha kazhukan
Indian Whitebacked Vulture Gyps bengalensis Mal: Kazhukan
Egyptian/Indian Scavenger Vulture Neophron percnopterus Mal: Thotti Kazkhukan
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus  Mal: Karitappi,
Crested Serpent EagleSpilornis cheela  Mal: Chuttiparundu

List of Migratory Birds(Winter Visitors) found in Kerala

Zoological Name        Common Name                  Malayalam/Local Name

Anas crecca crecca      Common Teal                                Yeranda
Anas Querquedula         Blue winged Teal                           Vari yeranda
Aythya nyroca                White-eyed pochard                    Yeranda
Accipiter nisus                      Asiatic sparrow-Hawk           Praapidiyan
Buteo buteo                        Buzzard                                            Parundu
Circus macrourus               Pale Harrier                               Medutappi
Circus pygargus                 Montegu’s Harrier                    Medutappi
C. melanoleucos                Pied Harrier                                 Medutappi
C. aeruginosus                 Marsh Harrier                               Karitappi
Pandion halietus                 Osprey                                              Taalipparandu
Falco peregrinus                Peregrine falcon                           Kaayal pullu
Falco tinnunculus              European kestrel                           Cherupullu
Haematopus osralegus    Oyster catcher                              Kakka patta
Pluvialis dominica                Eastern golden plover              Manal-kozhi
Charadrius leschenaultii    Large sand plover                          ”
C. dubius                                  Little ringed plover                   Motherakozhy
C. alexandrinus                    Kentish plover                            Manal kozhi
C. mongolus                             Lesser sand plover                           ”
Numenius phaeopus              Whimbrel                                     Tetti-kokku
Tringa stagnatilis                    Marsh sand piper                  Chatuppan
T. nebularia                               Green shank                                   Pachakkali
T. ochropus                             Greensand piper                             Kada kokku
T. hypoleucos                         Common sand piper                           Neerkata
Gellinago nemoricola             Wood snipe                                Chumtankata
Scolopax rusticola                  Wood cock                                  Prakata
Calidris minuta                      Little stint                                  Kuruvikokku
Hydroprogne caspia              Caspian tern                             Kadakkakka
Sterna bergii                              Large crested tern                           ”
Calandrella cinerea                 Short toed lark                               Koottakkuruvi
Phylloscopus magnirostris    Largebilled leaf warbler                Podikkuruvi
Erithacus brunneus                     Indian bluchat                                 Neelattan
Motacilla flava                               Grey headed yellow wagtail     Chaarthalayan/vaalukki
Motacilla cinerca                        Grey wagtail                                     Vazhikulukki
Carpodacus erythrinus             Common Indian rosefinch            Rosakkuruvi

• Kingdom:     Animalia
• Phylum:     Chordata
• Class:     Aves
• Infraclass:     Neognathae
• Order:     Sphenisciformes
• Sharpe, 1891
• Family:     Spheniscidae

Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Highly adapted for life in the water, penguins have countershaded dark and white plumage, and their wings have become flippers. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid, and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater. They spend about half of their lives on land and half in the oceans.
Although all penguin species are native to the southern hemisphere, they are not found only in cold climates, such as Antarctica. In fact, only a few species of penguin live so far south. Several species are found in the temperate zone, and one species, the Galápagos Penguin, lives near the equator.
The largest living species is the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri): adults average about 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) tall and weigh 35 kg (75 lb) or more. The smallest penguin species is the Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor), also known as the Fairy Penguin, which stands around 40 cm tall (16 in) and weighs 1 kg (2.2 lb). Among extant penguins, larger penguins inhabit colder regions, while smaller penguins are generally found in temperate or even tropical climates. Some prehistoric species attained enormous sizes, becoming as tall or as heavy as an adult human. These were not restricted to Antarctic regions; on the contrary, subantarctic regions harboured high diversity, and at least one giant penguin occurred in a region not quite 2,000 km south of the equator 35 mya, in a climate decidedly warmer than today.
The etymology of the word “penguin” is highly disputed. The English word is not apparently of French, nor of Bretonor Spanish origin (both attributed to the French word pingouin “auk”), but first appears in English or Dutch.
Some dictionaries suggest a derivation from Welsh pen “head” and gwyn “white”, including the Oxford English Dictionary,the American Heritage Dictionary,the Century Dictionary and Merriam-Webster,on the basis that the name was originally applied to the great auk, which had white spots in front of its eyes (although its head was black).
An alternative etymology, found in a few English dictionaries, links the word to Latin pinguis “fat”, from its perceived appearance. This etymology would be improbable if “penguin” were found to have been originally applied to the great auk, as some sources suggest.
A third theory states that the word is an alteration of “pen-wing”, with reference to the rudimentary wings of great auks. This has been criticised for the unexplained nature of the alteration of the word.

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When mothers lose a chick, they sometimes attempt to “steal” another mother’s chick, usually unsuccessfully as other females in the vicinity assist the defending mother in keeping her chick.In some species, such as Emperor Penguins, young penguins assemble in large groups called crèches.

• Kingdom:Animalia
• Phylum:Chordata
• Class:Aves
• Order:Passeriformes
• Family:Oriolidae
• Genus:Oriolus
• Species:O. larvatus

The Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) is an African passerine. It has a very striking appearance with a bright yellow body, contrasting black head and flesh-coloured beak.It breeds in much of sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia in the north to South Africa in the south.It inhabits dry tropical forests, especially acacia and broad-leaved woodlands, and dense shrubland areas, where it is more often heard than seen despite the brightness of its plumage.The voice is a liquid-sounding warble, accompanied by imitations and whistles.It forages in the canopy, feeding on small fruit as well as large insects. The young are fed mostly with caterpillars.

This bird has a very liquid sounding call which is a common sound in the area. They are a striking yellow colour with a black head. Like the other orioles, it has bright yellow plumage with the difference being the distinctive black head, which makes it a conspicuous bird.

Although it has bright colours, it may still be difficult to spot, because its preferred habitat is among the foliage of high trees and thick bush. It is likely to be heard before being seen as its liquid whistles interspersed with lowish, drawn-out screeching sounds, are loud and draw attention.

The black-headed oriole has a slightly swooping, fast-and-direct flight pattern, which takes it on forages for the fruit and insects that it feeds on. Its long, strong bill is good at devouring most insects, with caterpillars, locusts and beetles all being fair game.

Diet

They will feed mainly on fruits, insects, berries and nectar and are said to have a very quick digestion period of around 5 minutes. They will nest in trees, placed in a fork at the end of a branch. The chicks get fed on caterpillars. There is no record of the incubation period for this bird.

Breeding

Nests are a loose bag-like affair made and disguised with cobweb, lichen and small twigs and sited at the ends of thin branches high up in the tree canopy.

Birds (class Aves) are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic (warm-blooded), egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from the 5 cm (2 in) Bee Hummingbird to the 2.75 m (9 ft) Ostrich. The fossil record indicates birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs during the Jurassic period, around 150–200 million years ago (Ma), and the earliest known bird is the Late Jurassic Archaeopteryx, around 150–145 Ma. Most paleontologists regard birds as the only clade of dinosaurs to have survived the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event approximately 65.5 Ma.

Modern birds are characterized by feathers, a beak with no teeth, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a lightweight but strong skeleton. All living species of birds have wings – the now extinct flightless Moa of New Zealand was the only exception. Wings are evolved forelimbs, and most bird species can fly, with some exceptions, including ratites, penguins, and a number of diverse endemic island species. Birds also have unique digestive and respiratory systems that are highly adapted for flight. Some birds, especially corvids and parrots, are among the most intelligent animal species; a number of bird species have been observed manufacturing and using tools, and many social species exhibit cultural transmission of knowledge across generations.

Many species undertake long distance annual migrations, and many more perform shorter irregular movements. Birds are social; they communicate using visual signals and through calls and songs, and participate in social behaviours, including cooperative breeding and hunting, flocking, and mobbing of predators. The vast majority of bird species are socially monogamous, usually for one breeding season at a time, sometimes for years, but rarely for life. Other species have polygamous (“many females”) or, rarely, polyandrous (“many males”) breeding systems . Eggs are usually laid in a nest and incubated by the parents. Most birds have an extended period of parental care after hatching.

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Many species are of economic importance, mostly as sources of food acquired through hunting or farming. Some species, particularly songbirds and parrots, are popular as pets. Other uses include the harvesting of guano (droppings) for use as a fertilizer. Birds figure prominently in all aspects of human culture from religion to poetry to popular music. About 120–130 species have become extinct as a result of human activity since the 17th century, and hundreds more before then. Currently about 1,200 species of birds are threatened with extinction by human activities, though efforts are underway to protect them.
The first classification of birds was developed by Francis Willughby and John Ray in their 1676 volume Ornithologiae.Carolus Linnaeus modified that work in 1758 to devise the taxonomic classification system currently in use.Birds are categorised as the biological class Aves in Linnaean taxonomy. Phylogenetic taxonomy places Aves in the dinosaur clade Theropoda.Aves and a sister group, the clade Crocodilia, contain the only living representatives of the reptile clade Archosauria. Phylogenetically, Aves is commonly defined as all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of modern birds and Archaeopteryx lithographica.

Archaeopteryx, from the Tithonian stage of the Late Jurassic (some 50–145 Ma), is the earliest known bird under this definition. Others, including Jacques Gauthier and adherents of the Phylocode system, have defined Aves to include only the modern bird groups, the crown group. This has been done by excluding most groups known only from fossils, and assigning them, instead, to the Avialae,in part to avoid the uncertainties about the placement of Archaeopteryx in relation to animals traditionally thought of as theropod dinosaurs.

All modern birds lie within the subclass Neornithes, which has two subdivisions: the Palaeognathae, containing birds that are flightless (like ostriches) or weak fliers, and the wildly diverse Neognathae, containing all other birds.

Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Class:     Aves
Order:     Passeriformes
Family:     Corvidae

The Indian Treepie is extremely agile while searching for food, clinging and clambering through the branches. Its acrobatic dances on the coconut palm leaf (ola) has given it the name olenjali  in Malayalam.
The treepies comprise four closely related genera (Dendrocitta, Crypsirina, Temnurus and as of recently also Platysmurus) of long-tailed passerine birds in the family Corvidae. They are highly arboreal and rarely come to the ground to feed.The head, neck and breast of Indian Treepie are a deep slate-grey colour, sometimes slightly brownish. The underparts and lower back are a warm tawny-brown to orange-brown in colour with white wing coverts and black primaries. The tail is a light bluish-grey with a thick black band on the tip.

Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Class:     Aves
Order:     Passeriformes
Family:     Corvidae
Genus:     Corvus

The true crows are large passerine birds that form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-sized jackdaws (Eurasian and Daurian) to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents (except South America) and several offshore and oceanic islands (including Hawaii). In the United States and Canada, the word “crow” is used to refer to the American Crow. The crow is a year round species.

The crow genus makes up a third of the species in the Corvidae family. Other corvids include rooks and jays. Crows appear to have evolved in Asia from the corvid stock, which had evolved in Australia. A group of crows is called a flock or a murder.
The fossil record of crows is rather dense in Europe, but the relationships among most prehistoric species is not clear. Jackdaw-, crow- and raven-sized forms seem to have existed since long ago and crows were regularly hunted by humans up to the Iron Age, documenting the evolution of the modern taxa. American crows are not as well-documented.

Recent research has found some crow species capable not only of tool use, but of tool construction as well.Crows are now considered to be among the world’s most intelligent animals.The Jackdaw and (along with its fellow corvid, the European Magpie) has been found to have a neostriatum approximately the same relative size as is found in chimpanzees and humans, and significantly larger than is found in the gibbon.
Crows appear to have evolved in central Asia and radiated out into North America, Africa, Europe, and Australia.

The latest evidence regarding the crow’s evolution indicates descent from the Australasian family Corvidae. However, the branch that would produce the modern groups such as jays, magpies and large predominantly black Corvus had left Australasia and were concentrated in Asia by the time the Corvus evolved. Corvus has since re-entered Australia (relatively recently) and produced five species with one recognized sub-species.
In Hinduism, it is believed that people who died will take food and offerings through a variety of crows called “Bali kākka”. Every year people whose parents or relatives died will offer food to crows as well as cows on the Śrāddha day. A battle between crows and owls is said to have inspired the final bloody night of the Mahabharatha war.

• Kingdom:     Animalia
• Phylum:     Chordata
• Class:     Aves
• Order:     Cuculiformes
• Family:     Cuculidae
• Genus:     Centropus

Species:     C. sinensis

The Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant (Centropus sinensis) is a large non-parasitic member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes. A widespread resident in Asia, from India, east to south China and Indonesia, it is divided into several subspecies, some being treated as full species. They are large, crow-like with a long tail and coppery brown wings and found in wide range of habitats from jungle to cultivation and urban gardens. They are weak fliers, and are often seen clambering about in vegetation or walking on the ground as they forage for insects, eggs and nestlings of other birds. They have a familiar deep resonant call which is associated with omens in many parts of its range.
This is a large species of cuckoo at 48 cm. The head is black, upper mantle and underside are black glossed with purple. The back and wings are chestnut brown. There are no pale shaft streaks on the coverts. The eyes are ruby red. Juveniles are duller black with spots on the crown and there are whitish bars on the underside and tail. There are several geographic races and some of these populations are sometimes treated as full species. Earlier treatments included the Brown Coucal (C. (s.) andamanensis) under this name. Rasmussen & Anderton (2005) suggest that the race parroti may be a full species – the Southern Coucal which is fround in peninsular India (northern boundary unclear). The race intermedius of the Assam and Bangladesh region is smaller than the nominate race found in the sub-Himalayan zone. Songs of the races are said to vary considerably. Race parroti of southern India has a black head and the underparts glossed blue and has the forehead, face and throat more brownish.The sexes are similar in plumage but females are slightly larger.
The Greater Coucal is a large bird which takes a wide range of insects, caterpillars and small vertebrates (including Saw-scaled vipers.They are also known to eat bird eggs, nestlings, fruits and seeds. In Tamil Nadu they were found to feed predominantly on snails Helix vittata. They are also known to feed on the toxic fruits of Thevetia peruviana (Yellow Oleander).In Oil palm cultivation, they have been noted as an avian pest due to their habit of eating the fleshy mesocarps of the ripe fruits.

They sunbathe in the mornings singly or in pairs on the top of vegetation with their wings spread out. The territory of a nesting pair has been found in southern India to be 0.9 to 7.2 ha (mean 3.8 ha).They are most active in the warm hours of the morning and in the late afternoon.

Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Class:     Aves
Order:     Galliformes
Family:     Phasianidae
Genus:     Pavo
Species:     P. cristatus

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The Indian Peafowl or Blue Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a large and brightly coloured bird of the pheasant family native to South Asia, but introduced and semi-feral in many other parts of the world.It is the national bird of India. The male, peacock, is predominantly blue with a fan-like crest of spatula-tipped wire-like feathers and is best known for the long train made up of elongated upper-tail covert feathers which bear colourful eyespots. These stiff and elongated feathers are raised into a fan and quivered in a display during courtship. The female lacks the train, has a greenish lower neck and has a duller brown plumage. They are found mainly on the ground in open forest or cultivation where they forage for berries, grains but will also prey on snakes, lizards, and small rodents. Their loud calls make them easy to detect, and in forest areas, often indicate the presence of a predator such as a tiger. They forage on the ground, moving in small groups and will usually try to escape on foot through undergrowth and avoid flying. They will fly up into tall trees to roost, however.
The male, known as a peacock, is a large bird with a length from bill to tail of 100 to 115 cm (40 to 46 inches) and to the end of a fully grown train as much as 195 to 225 cm (78 to 90 inches) and weigh 4–6 kg (8.8-13.2 lbs). The females, or peahens, are smaller at around 95 cm (38 inches) in length and weigh 2.75–4 kg (6-8.8 lbs). Their size, colour and shape of crest make them unmistakable within their native distribution range. The male is metallic blue on the crown, the feathers of the head being short and curled. The fan-shaped crest on the head is made of feathers with bare black shafts and tipped with blush-green webbing. A white stripe above the eye and a crescent shaped white patch below the eye are formed by bare white skin. The sides of the head have iridescent greenish blue feathers. The back has scaly bronze-green feathers with black and copper markings. The scapular and the wings are buff and barred in black, the primaries are chestnut and the secondaries are black. The tail is dark brown and the “train” is made up by elongated upper tail coverts (more than 200 feathers, the actual tail has only 20 feathers) and nearly all of these feathers end with an elaborate eye-spot. A few of the outer feathers lack the spot and end in a crescent shaped black tip. The underside is dark glossy green shading into blackish under the tail. The thighs are buff coloured. The male has a spur on the leg above the hind toe.
The adult peahen has a rufous-brown head with a crest as in the male but the tips chestnut edged with green. The upper body is brownish with paler mottling. The primaries, secondaries and tail are dark brown. The lower neck is metallic green and the breast feathers are dark brown glossed with green. The rest of the underparts are whitish.Downy young are pale buff with a dark brown mark on the nape connecting with the eyes.Young males looks like the females but the wings are chestnut coloured.
There are several colour mutations of Indian Peafowl. These very rarely occur in the wild, but selective breeding has made them common in captivity. The Black-shouldered or Japanned mutation was initially considered as a subspecies P. c. nigripennis(or even a species, and was a topic of some interest during Darwin’s time. It is however only a case of genetic variation within the population. In this mutation, the adult male is melanistic with black wings.Young birds with the nigripennis mutation are creamy white with fulvous tipped wings. The gene produces melanism in the male and in the peahen it produces a dilution of colour with creamy white and brown markings. Other variations include the pied and white forms all of which are the result of allelic variation at specific loci.

Peafowl are best known for the male’s extravagant display feathers which, despite actually growing from their back, are thought of as a tail. The “train” is in reality made up of the enormously elongated upper tail coverts. The tail itself is brown and short as in the peahen. The colours result from the micro-structure of the feathers and the resulting optical phenomena.The long train feathers (and tarsal spurs) of the male develop only after the second year of life. Fully developed trains are found in birds older than four years. In northern India, these begin to develop each February and are moulted at the end of August.The moult of the flight feathers may be spread out across the year.
Peafowl forage on the ground in small groups, known as musters, that usually have a cock and 3 to 5 hens. After the breeding season, the flocks tend to be made up only of females and young. They are found in the open early in the mornings and tend to stay in cover during the heat of the day. They are fond of dust-bathing and at dusk, groups walk in single file to a favourite waterhole to drink. When disturbed, they usually escape by running and rarely take to flight.

Peacocks are polygamous, and the breeding season is spread out but appears to be dependent on the rains. Several males may congregate at a lek site and these males are often closely related.Males at lek appear to maintain small territories next to each other and they allow females to visit them and make no attempt to guard harems. Females do not appear to favour specific males.The males display in courtship by raising the upper-tail coverts into an arched fan. The wings are held half open and drooped and it periodically vibrates the long feathers producing a ruffling sound. The cock faces the hen initially and struts and prances around and sometimes turns around to display the tail.Males may also freeze over food to invite a female in a form of courtship feeding.Males may display even in the absence of females. When a male is displaying, females do not appear to show any interest and usually continue their foraging.The peak season in southern India is April to May, January to March in Sri Lanka and June in northern India. The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground lined with leaves, sticks and other debris. Nests are sometimes placed on buildings and in earlier times have been recorded using the disused nest platforms of the Indian White-rumped Vultures. The clutch consists of 4-8 fawn to buff white eggs which are incubated only by the female. The eggs take about 28 days to hatch. The chicks are nidifugous and follow the mother around after hatching.Downy young may sometimes climb on their mothers back and the female may carry them in flight to a safe tree branch.An unusual instance of a male incubating a clutch of eggs has been reported.

Peafowl are omnivorous and eat seeds, insects , fruits, small mammals and reptiles. They feed on small snakes but keep their distance from larger ones.In the Gir forest of Gujarat, a large percentage of their food is made up of the fallen berries of Zizyphus. Around cultivated areas, peafowl feed on a wide range of crops such as groundnut, tomato, paddy, chilly and even bananas.Around human habitations, they feed on a variety of food scraps and even human excreta.

They are less than 15cm long. Male House Sparrows can be identified by the grey crown on their heads, and black throat ‘bib’, whereas females and young are mostly plain brown.
Sparrows live for four to seven years, with up to five breeding seasons.
The breeding season runs through Spring and Summer, and up to three broods of 4–6 eggs may be laid in this time.
Habits: The same nest will tend to be used every year, resulting in a build up of nest debris, and insects associated with their nests.
It is a pest to the food industry in particular because of the risk of contamination from their droppings and the damage done to packaged goods.