Wednesday, February 17, 2010

An alien bird in our backyard!


I saw this bird in our backyard last week sitting like this on our compound wall. I saw it continuously for nearly 6-7 days. I have never seen this type of bird earlier. I have seen a gray bird with black polka dots sometimes, but couldn't photograph it. It was looking like, nearly a crow but with slightly flat belly. I don't see it now.



I tried to take a close-up photo and zoomed, but it looks blurred!



This photo also looks blurred but we can see its beak clearly. The beak looks like an eagle's, but it doesn't look like an eagle otherwise. RED eye!



It was eating the curd rice I had kept on the washing stone for the crows. I saw it eating on two days. Normally the crows never leave even one grain of rice. Did they fly away after seeing this bird? I have noticed that if any new bird came in their area, all the crows shouted together and 'shoo'd them off. Whenever I saw this bird, it was alone!

Solilo had recognised the Red-vented Bulbul bird when I did a post about them. I did not know the name of the bird till then. The Bulbuls have nested in the same place, for the third time now! I had left the nest for some months on the small tree itself. Then removed it. They built it again for the second time and hatched two birds. The nest was small at that time. Some two weeks back I saw the nest slightly bigger with extra twigs and 3 eggs are inside! Again the two amma-appa birds are roaming here!

Now, can anyone recognise the alien bird in the above photos?

34 comments :

kanagu said...

Wow... Wonderful to see a new bird there... But dont know its name :(
Its great to hear that there are 3 more kiddo's to come :) :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! That is an unusual bird! And from your description, crows seem to steer clear of this bird. Very fascinating. I wish I knew what the bird is - no clue, though.

Swaram said...

U r a mother to all these beings no Sandhya ..and thatz the reason u hv all of them cmg home :)
Lemme try to find out abt this bird .. the beak is the best clue I think :)
Waiting for the pics of the lil ones :)

Chatterbox said...

Wow! a regular visitor soon to have little ones too :D

I too haven't sen anything like this before. From the first shot my best guess was a Cuckoo, but Am not sure after seeing more of the pics.

Have fun :)

Cheers!!

Renu said...

wow..i love to see your pictures..and this is what i love about India..if we have anything edible and we dont want to eat it, we can feed the birds even, I hate it abroad, where one keeps puting so many things i trash.

Sandhya said...

Kanagu: When the Bulbuls nested for the second time, three eggs were there, only two birds came. Should wait and see how many birds will survive this time!


wordsndreamz: Let us wait and see if anyone recognizes it, Smitha.


Swaram: Ice maleyalli thumbaa chali aaguththaa ide ree...!

I am still trying to make an album of the kittens...too many pictures!


Chatterbox: Welcome here, CB! Though it looks threatening in the close-up shot, it is a normal sized bird.


Renu: My birds are very particular about what they eat! They don't finish off the curd rice fast, if the curd is sour or a bit watery!

Anonymous said...

Sandhya, it does look like an alien bird because of its red eyes! I have never seen one like this.

I think the birds who frequent your garden tell other birds that you are kind to them- so others like this one come, too!

Sandhya said...

Manju: Haha...maybe! Today 14 crows were waiting to eat curd rice! I have seen one crow and one squirrel eat together without fearing about each other!

If I am late to feed them, one or two crows sit on the motor room, which is near the backyard door and just peep in, turning their necks sideways or sit on the chain link near the kitchen window and try to get my attention/remind me that it is time for their breakfast!

Both my husband and I will get bored in life if we don't have these types of distractions, since the children have grown up now!

Pixie said...

Very unusual.

Haven't seen anything quite like it before....

BK Chowla, said...

There must be some reasons as to why the bird comes to you.May be you are just being too human, too good,to them.

Deepa said...

So nice that you're a bird enthusiast. I have no idea what bird this is. In fact I know very little about birds. Maybe this bird preys on crows and thats why they stay away? Perhaps if you know any nature club or ornithology society in your city you could send them these pictures?

radha said...

This is the Asian Koel ( male). The female one is prettier.

Sandhya said...

Radha: Thank you, for the information. Checked it now! It is Asian Koel!

http://www.birdforum.net/opus/images/thumb/5/55/Asian_Koel.jpg/550px-Asian_Koel.jpg


Pixie: Radha has recognized it, Asian Koel!


BK Chowla: Thank you, Chowlaji! The place we reside has got some trees left even now, though don't know for how long. They have no other go but have to live on our food, I think.


Deepa: Radha says it is Asian Koel!

R. Ramesh said...

wow it looks like a crow-owl crossbreed..hehe..s, how did u manage to take the pix yar? whenever i try to click birds they vanish..btw, thanks for yr kind words..cheers

Deepa said...

Yaayyy! Asian Koel it is! But Sandhya, I still suggest you get involved in some nature club since you're a nature lover. If there are younger people in that place, they will benefit from your knowledge and passion for the subject - hope you won't mind me taking the liberty to make such a suggestion?

And by the way, thanks for the lovely comment you left about my Goa post. I'm smiling all the way!! :)))

radha said...

Sandhya - back again. If you have the time do read this http://recordingnature.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/asian-koel/ ( also mine - and like you these days I am into nature and it gives me great pleasure to identify birds, flowers and trees - and this particular blog is just to keep a record of what I see around me )

vimmuuu said...

Some naughty crow and some naughty eagle got together one day and thus an alien bird was born !! :D :D

SG said...

Cute pictures. I do not know the name of this bird. If you come to know, pls tell us.

Sandhya said...

Ramesh: I took the photos from my backyard doorstep!

Radha, here, says it is Asian Koel and it is...check the link in the comment section.


Deepa: Thank you, let me try and look for it.


Radha: Thank you, let me check!


Vimmuuu: And the red eye?!


SG: It is Asian Koel.

Kavita Saharia said...

Asian koel....a beautiful one,i had no idea it was one,thanks to Radha.Sandhya i am sure that the birds discuss about you a lot amongst themselves..hee.Who would so lovingly and affectionately feed them regularly.Thanks for bringing us such a sweet story .Happy weekend.

Anonymous said...

I came back here to find out if you go to know the name of the bird :) And there it is :) Blogworld is wonderful, we can get any info here :)


Have the bulbul eggs hatched yet? I am waiting for the next set of pictures :)

Shail said...

The red eyes of this bird resemble that of the bird we called 'uppan' in Malayalam.

Hey Sandhya, you are tagged. Do check my post:

http://shailsnest.com/wp/life/some-thoughts-on-domestic-violence/

Anonymous said...

I dont know the name... but that same bird also frequents our house in bharuch.. maybe my mom can identiry it !! I have seen it for sure !

R. Ramesh said...

dropped in to say hi

Unknown said...

It is indeed lovely to discover a new visitor at home. Of late an Asian Koel has been visiting my place especially in the early mornings and evenings. I love its call. My hubs thought it was a crow until he took a closer look. Have had many types of birds visiting my place too, from woodpeckers, red-whiskered bulbuls, common bulbuls, finches and some other common types. It is simply so delightful :)

Sandhya said...

Kavita: Yes, thanks to Radha, we know the name of the bird! Thank you, Kavita...this is like a diversion to me now!


wordsndreamz: Yes, we can know about so many things here!

This time 3 birds are there. Took a photo today. Will add it in the bird post later and inform you, Smitha!


Shail: So, now I know the malayalam name for the bird, thank you!

Will come and read there now!


hitchwriter: The name is Asian Koel, Radha identified it, it is in her comment!


Ramesh: Hi!


Shalini: Welcome here! I see woodpeckers and some other new birds, sometimes here too! It is nice to watch them!

Nice to know that you too enjoy watching birds, Shalini!

Shail said...

'Uppan' looks different Sandhya, though the eyes are the same. It has brown wings and a longer tail. It is supposed to be an auspicious bird. :)
You can see on ehere:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/2897065087_77a43e3c8f.jpg?v=0

Sandhya said...

Shail: Yes, this is different, Shail! Most of my neighbours didn't know the name - Tamil name.

Indian Home Maker said...

So it is an Asian Koel, I googled it and saw many more similar birds - so looks like Asian Koel it is :) I also love to know the names, and a little more about all the birds I see around...

By the way Sandhya, do you know, Koel is known for leaving it's eggs in crows' nest, to be hatched and nurtured by crow parents? And crows are known to be very good, protective parents. it is possible that this one was also raised by crows and they treat it like their own...?? Is it still around?

Sandhya said...

IHM: Yes, IHM, it is still the practice, my son said. Other types of koels too do this...poor crows. They seem to be like us, Indians, accepting everyone as our own!

The polka dotted bird I mentioned in the post is the female Asian Koel, it seems - Radha says here in her comment.

Anonymous said...

hey sandhya, that's an interesting bird. Just look at this link:
http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Corcorax-melanorhamphos

Doesnt it look like this bird? *wondering*

Sandhya said...

Evanescentthoughts: Ashwini, the bird is Asian Koel, Radha says here, in her comment. It is, I checked the link too!

Shail said...

This is our very own kuyil (Asian Koel, male. :) I wil post more photos another day. I also video taped the kuhoo kuhoo. Did you know only the males make that sound? The female just goes khi khi khi. :)

Sandhya said...

SHAIL: Yes, the voice of the male koel is lovely. The female's is harsh!

I would love to see/hear the video, Shail!
The female bird is beautiful, though. I have got it in my camera. Will upload it shortly. I must start learning to photograph in the SLR soon! Olympus is not good for close-ups!

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