Welcome Reader !
Today I decided to make a note of birds present in
Siliguri.It is strange that we live in a world where there are many creatures beside us but we never pay attention to them. It’s high time to start being
aware of their existence.
Following are the names of the birds which we often
come to see in Siliguri.
1.House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
 |
| Sparrow |
House sparrow is a frequent sight in almost every
house of Siliguri.However, this little creature is a disciplinarian. They can
be seen mostly in the morning or before sunset time. They like to keep great
distance from humans. They are particular about the food. They won’t eat
anything other than rice or small crumbs of bread. When it comes to food sharing
among the birds then house sparrow is pushed aside by other birds (especially
pigeons).They eat the leftovers of the larger birds.
2.House/Colombo Crow (Corvus splendens)
 |
| Crow |
Crows in Siliguri are very passive and hardworking .
I have witnessed a crow warning other crows to return to their nest even when it
was fully drenched in the rain. I have also seen a crow struggling with a bark
of coconut tree for fifteen minutes so that it can be used for the nest. Crows
in Siliguri are not as ferocious as their counterparts in metropolitans. They get
easily scared by human intervention.
3.Rock Pigeon (Columbia livia)
 |
| House Pigeon |
As obvious Rock Pigeons (normal pigeons) are found
in Siliguri by default. I need to admit that they are the most observant bird I
have ever come around. Even a slight change of the direction of human eye ball
is noted by them.
4.Asian Pied Starling/ Go Shalik (Gracupica contra )
Out of all the birds in Siliguri, Asian Pied
Starling has the most intelligent look.I like them immensely because they try
to study the body language of humans. These birds are available in large
numbers in Siliguri.
5.Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
 |
| Myna |
Common Myna doesn’t give a heck about anybody in the
world.It has to look after a family and her/his partner should be always beside
her/him.Common Mynas are common residents of Siliguri.It is easy to find
them.They are most active during the evening.Four mynas have serious arguments
among each other on a roof beside my window every evening.
6.Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
 |
| Eagle |
Common Eagle is the most intriguing bird for
me.There is a telecom tower beside my place and I find an eagle family perched
on the topmost floor of the tower.Eagles are obsessed with heights.I find them
amazing creatures.They have difficult time in the city because food of their
appetite is hard to find in Siliguri.They have peculiar smell which could last
for some seconds if they fly over your head.The peak screeching time for eagles
is midday.
7. Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)
 |
| Oriental Magpie Robin |
This bird is so cute that sometime I feel like
getting hold of it so that I can pamper it. It has graceful features with round
black eyes. A strip of white in its belly which compliments with the black
color of the body. It keeps its wings upright whenever it produces sound or
lands on a surface. The song sung is nothing but music to the ears. I have
observed that there is more excitement in the bird when dark clouds overcast
the sky. Though it is not seen as often as a crow or pigeon yet one can get a
sight of the bird if one is observant.
8. Jungle Babbler/Chatare (Turdoides striata)
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| Jungle Babbler |
My first impression of Jungle Babbler was that of
ferocity. Jungle Babbler could have existed in Siliguri before I witnessed it
but I got the first look of this sandy nude yellow beaked bird about two years
back. The loud noise produced by the bird forced me to look for it. At first
sight, I presumed it to be an eagle. However, on closer look I found that it
was a smaller version of it. Jungle Babblers are very swift in movement and generally
move in flock.
9. Spotted Dove/ Ghughu (Streptopelia chinensis)
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| Spotted Dove |
Spotted Dove seems to be a new member in the family
of urban birds of Siliguri.I discovered a rise in the number of these birds in Siliguri.I
could be mistaken in my observance .They have delicate slender neck but the
shrill sound from a such a fragile body can surprise anybody.
10. Parrots or Rose Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula Krameri
)
 |
| Parrot |
Normal parrots are also common birds of
Siliguri.However, they camouflage themselves with the leaves and built nest at
a great height on a tree.Crows are the deadliest enemies of these parrots. It
hard to get a sight of parrots because they never show up.One can look for them
in jungles or dense gardens of Siliguri.
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