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