Birds of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary

Doves & Pigeons

1. Blue Rock Pigeon

Size : Pigeon +

Call : A deep gootr-goo, gootr-goo

A slaty-grey bird with metallic sheen of purple, magenta and green on neck and upper breast. Prominent two bars on the wings and a band across the end of the tail. Seen in open country with cliffs and gorges and near human habitation.

Food : Cereals, pulses, groundnut, etc.

2. Eurasian Collared Dove or Ring Dove

Size : Pigeon -

Call : A deep, trisyllabic kuk-koo-kook

A pale vinous grey and brown pigeon with a prominent narrow black half-collar or ring on the hind neck. Sexes alike. Seen in pairs or loose flocks in open scrub areas, especially towards the periphery of forest.

Food : Cereals, bamboo and grass seeds.

3. Little Brown Dove or Laughing Dove

Size : Myna + –

Call : Soft  coo –rooroo-crooo-roo

Smaller than spotted dove. White dots on black throat area over a smaller extent.  Side coverts are grey. Seen in small flocks or pairs.

Food : Seeds & grains on ground

4. Spotted Dove

Size : Pigeon –

Call : krookruk-krukroo….. kroo .. kroo

White spots on black nape. Usually seen in pairs.

Food : Seeds & grains on ground, occasionally insects.

5. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

Size : Pigeon

Call : usually silent

Larger than doves.  A tree canopy-dwelling pigeon, usually seen in flocks at fruiting trees especially fig trees; coming down to ground occasionally, to drink water or pick earth at salt-licks.

Food : Fruits

Parakeets & Lorikeet:-

6. Blossom (Plum) headed Parakeet

Size : Rose ringed Parakeet –

Call : shrill tooi or tooi-tooi, knee

Male has a bluish red head with maroon red shoulder- patch, female has grayish head with yellow collar round the neck. Seen in pairs or small parties, coming to ground to feed on seeds in undergrowth.

Food : Fruits mainly for seeds

7. Rose ringed Parakeet

Size : Myna +

Call : A loud, screaming  keeak, keeak, keeak…..

Male has thin rose pink coloured ring around the neck, absent in female. Seen in noisy flocks flying in between trees or in the evenings high above the trees.

Food : Fruits mainly for seeds, gather in orchards for feasting.

Orioles :-

8. Black headed Oriole

Size : Myna

Call : Loud, harsh, rather nasal, and melodious fluty whistle

Black head, with coral-red beak. Found usually in pairs, often in loose association with other birds (like flycatcher, nuthatch, white-eye, babbler, warbler, drongo, etc) as mixed hunting parties, each species playing a different part in the hunt, all ben

Food : Insects, nectar, fruits & berries

9. Golden Oriole

Size : Myna
Call : Harsh  cheeh,, fluty wee-lo-wee
Brilliant golden yellow bird with black wings. Seen in pairs, sometimes chasing each other. Winter visitor (Sept – Jan).
Food : Insects, nectar, fruits & berries

Barbets :-

10. Coppersmith or Crimson-breasted Barbet

Size : Half the size of Small Green Barbet
Call : loud tuk, tuk, cuk,cuk  repeated every second, like coppersmith hammering metal.
Has yellow throat, crimson forehead & breast. Seen in higher canopy. Found in singles or in big parties.
Food : Fruits, berries & insects


11. Small Green or White cheeked Barbets

Size : Indian Myna
Call : kor-r-r-kutroo, kutroo, kutroo, kor-r
Has stout bill, white cheek and scaly brown breast. Seen in pairs or small parties clinging to trunks and branches of trees climbing up like a woodpecker. Seen in lower canopy.
Food : Fruits, berries & insects.

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