Green Bee-Eater (Merops orientalis)

Green Bee Eaters

Merops orientalis commonly known as Green Bee-eater is a perching bird. The bird has an emerald green color body with a light reddish-brown crown. It has crimson color eyes and a black strip or mask that runs through its eyes below that line, the throat is bright sky colored. A black line running across the neck is called 'Gorget' is lacking in juveniles. An average bee-eater weighs about 15-25gms and total length (Tip to tail) is about 26-28cms. This bird has a special extension of the tail that can be seen in the photograph, this extension helps bee-eater to change direction very quick in order to catch the insect. As the name suggests it feeds mainly on bees but also eats grasshoppers and other small insects. They form nests as cavity in a colony of 10-20 bee-eaters they breed and lay eggs from March to June. Parental cares is given to the hatchlings.

Location: Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Burari, New Delhi, Delhi - 110084

Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)

Purple Sunbird

Cinnyris asiaticus commonly known as Purple sunbird is a small sunbird species with a slender and curved bill. The body is metallic bluish-black in color and has a crimson banding on wings in breeding plumage. The purple sunbird is predominately a nectar-feeding bird, but it also feeds on small invertebrates. This species is also capable of hovering and suspending in the air like a hummingbird but for short periods of time to feed on nectar while in flight, this bird can also hang upside down. They have special Hanging Egg (Oval) shaped nests with a hole to enter. They breed from April to June and lay about 2 to 3 eggs. These birds are commonly found in shrublands, tropical areas and grasslands.
Location: Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Outer Circle, Burari, Delhi

Red-Naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa)

Red-Naped Ibis

Pseudibis papillosa Commonly known as Red-naped Ibis is a member of family Threskiornithidae. This bird is commonly found near farms, fields and water bodies and usually ignored by farmers. It has a long, slender, down-curved bill and reddish-brown breast and throat, the upper body is black colored. Legs are red in color, and has the same color patch on head. Red-naped Ibis generally feeds on the adults and larvae of various insects, as well as molluscs and crustaceans, but small vertebrates, such as fish, frogs, lizards and small snakes. This ibis breed from March to June and parental care is given to the hatchlings.
Location: Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Outer Zone, Burari, Delhi

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus is commonly known as Red-wattled Lapwing belonging to family Charadriidae, the name was given because of characteristic wattles present in front of both eyes extending to beak. They have a very characteristic "Did-He-Do-It" Call.  This bird as Brownish-gray upper upperparts,  black head,tail and white breast and neck parts. The bird has bright yellow legs and a Red bill with black tip. An average lapwing weighs around 220gms. The diet of the red-wattled lapwing is mainly beetles, ants, butterfly, larvae, bugs, grasshoppers, worms, molluscs and crustaceans It typically forages at dawn, dusk and during moonlit nights. It breeds from March to August and lay about 3 to 4 eggs. Parental care is given to hatch-lings.

Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)

Red-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer  Commonly known as red-vented bulbul is a perching bird Pycnonotidae. It has a black head and brown body with a scale pattern, the black hood often extends to the breast. The Bulbul has a weight of around 163gms, there is no sexual dimorphism means male and female are alike. Red-vented bulbul is omnivorous and feeds on petals, leafs and some small insects and lizards, they breed from June to September and lay pinkish eggs in their nests which open cup type present in 3-3.5mtr high bushes and in tree trunk holes. They are commonly found in Shrublands, flooded grasslands, Tropical grasslands etc. This one was captured in the vicinity of Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Burari side, Delhi.