Kingfisher enjoys crab for lunch

Step 1: Capture a crab

Step 2: Gulp!

Step 3: Take a moment to congratulate yourself

Step 4: Digest

All these pictures were taken by my grandfather, A. Vaman Pai. He was kind enough to let me post them on my blog.

White rumped munia

Common name: White-rumped munia; white-rumped mannikin.

Scientific name: Lonchura striata

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Aves
                                             Order: Passeriformes
                                             Family: Estrildidae
                                             Genus: Lonchura
                                             Species: L. striata

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Open woodlands, grasslands and scrub forests. It can also adapt to agricultural areas.
 
Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/24614
 
Distribution: The white-rumped munia seems to have originated in India and then spread towards Africa and Pacific Ocean habitats.

Source: hbw

Moth

Grey caterpillar

The frills come up when disturbed.

Loten's sunbird

Male preening himself

In a tree

Keeping a lookout

An awkward moment.

Common name: Loten's sunbird; long-billed sun-bird; maroon-breasted sunbird.

Scientific name: Cinnyris lotenius

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Aves
                                             Order: Passeriformes
                                             Family: Nectariniidae
                                             Genus: Cinnyris
                                             Species: C. lotenius

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Commonly found in forests and cultivated areas.
 
Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/311201
 
Distribution: Found only in peninsular India and Sri Lanka.

Source: hbw

Note: Difference between male and female birds is shown below.

Source: jlrexplore

Asian Koel

Male

Common name: Asian Koel

Scientific name: Eudynamys scolopaceus

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Aves
                                             Order: Cuculiformes
                                             Family: Cuculidae
                                             Genus: Eudynamys
                                             Species: E. scolopaceus

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Found in light woodlands and cultivated areas.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/319736
 
Distribution: This bird is found mostly in tropical southern Asia.

Source: wikimedia, (area in black)

Note: Females look different as shown below:

Source: wikimedia

Katydid

Indian pond heron

Common name: Indian pond heron; paddybird

Scientific name: Ardeola grayii

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Aves
                                             Order: Pelecaniformes
                                             Family: Ardeidae
                                             Genus: Ardeola
                                             Species: A. grayii

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: The feeding habitat is marshy wetlands.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/116748

Distribution: Widely distributed across India.

Eudocima homaena

Scientific name:  Eudocima homaena

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Arthropoda
                                             Class: Insecta
                                             Order: Lepidoptera
                                             Family: Noctuidae
                                             Genus: Eudocima
                                             Species: E.homaena

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Found in areas with thick vegetation. Has been found to be a pest w.r.t. orange plants.

Conservation status: Least Concern
 
Distribution: This moth is found in the Indian subregion, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Nicobar, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, the Philippines, and on Christmas Island.


Note: Many thanks to Nagabhushan Jyothi, a member of India Biodiversity Portal, who identified the species. 

Squirrels

Hulodes caranea

Scientific name: Hulodes caranea

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Arthropoda
                                             Class: Insecta
                                             Order: Lepidoptera
                                             Super-family: Noctuoidea
                                             Family: Erebidae
                                             Tribe: Hulodini
                                             Genus: Hulodes
                                             Species: H. caranea

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Thick vegetation, forested areas.

Conservation status: Least Concern
 
Distribution: It is found from India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Java, Hong Kong to Queensland and New Guinea, it is also found on the Marianas and Carolines.

Note: Thanks to Nuwan Chathuranga from Indian Biodiversity Portal for identifying the moth.

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Male bird

In a tree

Common name: Tickell's blue flycatcher

Scientific name: Cyornis tickelliae

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Aves
                                             Order: Passeriformes
                                             Family: Muscicapidae
                                             Genus: Cyornis
                                             Species: tickelliae

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Dry forest, scrub, bamboo and gardens.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/311227

Distribution: Found in India, Nepal and Myanmar.

Source: hbw.com

 Note: Difference between the male and female birds shown below.

Source: tsuru-bird.net

Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Got to be a nominee : 'Best hairdo of the year'

Common name: Indian paradise flycatcher; Asian paradise flycatcher

Scientific name:  Terpsiphone paradisi

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Aves
                                             Order: Passeriformes
                                             Family: Monarchidae
                                             Genus: Terpsiphone
                                             Species: T.paradisi

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: They inhabit thick forests and well-wooded habitats.

Conservation status: Least Concern
 
Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/342232

Distribution: Resident populations in south India and Sri Lanka. These birds are migratory and spend the cold season in tropical Asia.

Source: hbw.com

Note: Pictures sourced from wikipedia.

Male dressed festively for the mating season

Male

Female

Red Vented Bulbul

What d'yu think you're doing?

I spy...

Common name: Red-vented bulbul

Scientific name: Pycnonotus cafer

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Aves
                                             Order: Passeriformes
                                             Family: Pycnonotidae
                                             Genus: Pycnonotus
                                             Species: Cafer

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Dry scrub, open forest, plains, cultivated areas.

Conservation status: Least Concern
 
 Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/319790

Distribution: Widely distributed in India, this bird is a common sight. It has been introduced in other countries and areas (Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand).

Source: hbw.com

Note: Difference between male and female shown below.

Source: indiannaturewatch

Oriental Mole Cricket

Common name: Oriental mole cricket

Scientific name: Gryllotalpa orientalis

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Arthropoda
                                             Class: Insecta
                                             Order: Orthoptera
                                             Sub-order: Ensifera
                                             Family: Gryllotalpidae
                                             Genus: Gryllotalpa
                                             Species: G.orientalis

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: These crickets burrow in damp soil creating a network of passages. An oriental mole cricket's natural habitat includes rich soils as well as arable land and gardens.

Conservation status: Least Concern
 
Sound recording: africana sp.

Distribution: The oriental mole cricket is found in Russia, China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, and Hawaii.

Source: wikipedia