Indian Grassbird
Graminicola bengalensis
Secretive long-tailed babbler. Black-and-white streaking on neck is distinctive if seen well. Otherwise, note white underparts and streaking on back and crown. A lowland waterside vegetation specialist; favors reedbeds and wet grasslands. Quite difficult to see; most easily detected by voice. Song is a descending note followed by a burst of warbles; gives a variety of calls, including a harsh nasal mew.
Identification
The Indian grassbird (Graminicola bengalensis) is a passerine bird in the family Pellorneidae. It was formerly placed in the Old World warbler family, Sylviidae, and the Old World babbler family, Timaliidae. The species is also known as the rufous-rumped grassbird.
Taxonomy
Genus: Graminicola; Family: Pellorneidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Graminicola bengalensis
- Authority
- Jerdon, 1863
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Pellorneidae
- Genus
- Graminicola
Range and habitat
It occurs in tall emergent vegetation in or bordering freshwater swamps or along banks of rivers in the lowlands of Bangladesh, northern India, Bhutan and the Chitwan National Park of Nepal. It is threatened by habitat loss.<p>The Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal represents the western limit of its distribution.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
Thalassarche carteri
Massive seabird, but relatively small and slender for an albatross. Breeds on islands in the Southern Indian ocean from Marion and Prince Edward to Amsterdam and St. Paul. Ranges mainly at subtropical latitudes in the Indian Ocean, from South Africa to Australia, rarely to New Zealand. On adult, note soft gray cheek, typically much less extensive than hood of Atlantic Yellow-nosed. Young birds mostly white-headed with limited gray around eye; some difficult or impossible to separate from Atlantic Yellow-nosed. Bill is long, thin, and black, with yellow-orange stripe along the top ridge (culmen) on adults. Also look for thicker black leading edge on underwing to help separate from White-capped Albatross at a distance. Also compare with Gray-headed and Black-browed Albatross; note underwing pattern, bill pattern, head color.
Yellow Flycatcher
Erythrocercus holochlorus
A small and colorful flycatcher with olive-yellow upperparts and yellow underparts. Found in lowland forest, mostly in the canopy. Often joins mixed-species flocks. Somewhat similar to yellow-warblers, but much smaller and found in different habitats. Similar to Livingstone’s Flycatcher, but there is very little overlap in range, and can easily be separated by the olive-green rather than rufous tail. Vocalizes frequently, giving high-pitched, chittering calls and a quick whistled song.
Rufous-naped Bellbird
Aleadryas rufinucha
A medium-sized, plump bird of mid-montane forest understory. Distinctively patterned with an olive body, yellow throat, black moustache, white chest and gray face with rufous at the back of the head. Note the pale, beady eye. Some areas have a white forehead. Unique adult coloration with no similar species. Juvenile is olive above and rufous below. Voice, various piping notes, including a flat note repeated quickly like Piping Bellbird, or an upslurred one. Also rasping notes.
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