The Living Islands, Resident Birds, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Part VIII #NatureattheBest

Nature at the Best is the envelope of Nature. Here you get exclusive access to the endemic species of various regions of India, never filmed before in such detail, as well as informative films and documentaries of various other species. Our viewers don't see Nature but live it! Subscribe to our channel and join us on the journey to sustainably explore the natural world. 1. Cattle Egret Small, compact white heron with relatively short yellow bill. More frequently seen in dry habitats than other egrets; rarely gets its feet wet. In breeding season, look for pale salmon color on head and breast (more extensive in Asia and Australasia) and brighter bill. Leg color varies from reddish or yellow during the breeding season to black during the nonbreeding season. Juveniles have dark bill. Always note relatively short, thick neck and short legs compared with other egrets. Widespread and fairly common across the globe. Often gathers in flocks, frequently following cattle or tractors in fields. 2. Violet Cuckoo Small, sluggish cuckoo, more often heard than seen; listen for the male’s explosive descending trills and a loud but unremarkable “chom-wit!”, often given in flight. Adult male glossy purple with white-barred belly. Female greenish-brown above with curvier, paler barring extending up to the face; juvenile similar but with stronger rufous tones to the wings and orangish crown. Female and juvenile similar to female Asian Emerald Cuckoo or Little Bronze Cuckoo; look for combination of orange bill and patchy iridescent green instead of the Emerald’s unbroken sheen or Little Bronze’s dark bill and duller sheen. 3. Vernal Hanging-Parrot Tiny, short-tailed green parrot. Note bright red bill and red rump. Male has a bright powder-blue throat patch. Often perches high in the forest canopy and proves difficult to see; listen for its odd, high-pitched “zi-zi-zi” given while in flight. Inhabits wooded habitats from primary forest to agricultural edge; some populations undertake regional migrations. 4. White-bellied Sea-Eagle Enormous gray and white raptor that soars with wings held in strong V-shape. In flight note black and white underwing pattern, short tail. Juvenile is much browner and can be confused with Wedge-tailed Eagle, but note mostly pale and fairly short tail. Predominantly found along coastlines, as well as estuaries and inland waterways. 5. Scaly-breasted Munia Attractive small songbird of grasslands, gardens, fields, and agricultural areas. Native to India and Southeast Asia, with introduced populations scattered elsewhere around the world. Typical adults dark chestnut-brown above, white below, with fine dark scaly pattern on belly; some populations duller brown. Juveniles plain brown all over with slightly paler underparts. Typically found in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of munia. 6. Red Collared-Dove Medium-sized dove of open spaces with trees and bushes. Male is red with a bluish-gray head and female is brown overall. Both sexes have a dark collar. Female may be confused with other collared-doves, but is smaller with a shorter tail. Often forages in pairs, but may congregate in large flocks, particularly in agricultural fields where seeds have been spilled. Song is a hoarse and muffled-sounding series of three or four hoots. 7. Great Egret Large, lanky, long-necked white heron. Size and black legs help separate from other egrets. Widespread and fairly common across the globe. Bill color varies across range: always yellow in the Americas, black in breeding season elsewhere. Occurs in any shallow wetland, including ponds, marshes, and tidal mudflats. Slowly stalks prey in shallow water. 8. Cotton Teal Tiny duck. Male has a bright white head and neck with a dark crown and eyes. Female is plainer, with a strong dark eye-line that does not continue back to the nape. In flight, females have thin white edges on the trailing edge of the wings, while males have big white slashes on the wings. Usually seen swimming in freshwater wetlands, including small ponds and farm dams, especially those with extensive floating vegetation. 9. Small Minivet The smallest of the minivets. Males have slaty gray crown, cheeks, and back. Throat and wings black, tail black with pale yellow edges. Breast orange, gradually fading into yellowish-white underparts. Black wings show a patch of orange. Female is duller than male, with light gray upperparts, cheeks and crown; dark gray wings; white throat; and light yellow underparts. 10. Pied Imperial-Pigeon Robust, gregarious, and black-trimmed large white pigeon. Inhabits coastal forests on small offshore islands, only making occasional forays to mainland areas to forage and to roost. Often perches high on the bare branches of trees or on power/telephone lines; often found in flocks of ten or more. Song is very low in pitch and includes “woo-oo-woooo,” with the last syllable drawn out; loud at first and then trailing off.