Birds


Lesser Pied Kingfisher | Crimsonbreasted Barbet | Common Hoopoe
River Tern | Indian Robin | Oriental Magpie-Robin | Indian Roller
Cattle Egret | Redvented Bulbul | House Sparrow | Grey Tit
Common Myna




Photograph by T.N.A. Perumal, F.R.P.S., M.F.I.A.P.

Lesser Pied Kingfisher

» SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ceryle rudis
» KANNADA NAME: Bili Minchulli
» HINDI NAME: Koryala, Kilkila, Karona

Commonly found near tanks and lakes, with a buoyant flying pattern and a spectacular hover-and-dive fishing technique.

Colour and description: Slightly larger than a myna, smaller than a pigeon. A speckled and barred black-and-white bird, with white streaks above the eyes and a black band below the neck. Long, stout, sharp black bill. Short tail. Male is bigger than female.

Call: A cheerful, sharp ‘chirruk’ while in flight.

Food: Fish, tadpoles, frogs and aquatic insects.

Nesting season: October to May. Male and female share parental duties.

Nest: Makes tunnels in mud banks overlooking a stream.

Eggs: Five or six, glossy, white roundish ovals.