Indian Birds: A Key to the Common Birds of the Plains of India, by Douglas Dewar

III. BROWN

The number of birds of which the predominating hue is brownish is very considerable, and as these usually have nothing striking about their appearance, they are among the most difficult birds to identify. Birds which appear to be a uniform earthy brown will be found on closer inspection almost invariably to be brighter in hue below than above. This is largely counteracted by the fact that the lower parts are in the shade. Most birds which look a uniform earthy brown are in reality a cream colour below, and are described as such in systematic works on ornithology. But as this book is intended for the field naturalist, I shall describe them as they appear to the ordinary observer.

1. Birds whose general hue is earthy brown

(a) Those smaller than the sparrow

1. The Indian Tailor Bird (28). (This flits about among the leaves. The note is a loud to-wee, to-wee, to-wee. When the bird calls a small black band may be seen at each side of the neck. In the breeding season the two middle tail feathers of the cock grow over an inch longer than the others and project beyond them like bristles. A very familiar wren-like bird. The brown has a greenish tint.)
2. Sykes’s Tree-warbler (29). (Not unlike a solidly built wren, with a tail of average length, and not short like that of the wren.)
3. The Streaked Wren-warbler (30). (This is distinguished from other warblers by the fact that its upper plumage is streaked with dark brown.)
4. The Ashy Wren-warbler (31). (Makes a curious snapping noise as it flits about the bushes.)
5. The Indian Wren-warblers (32 and 33). (Slender and loosely-knit, and make no snapping noise.)
6. The Brown Flycatcher (55). (Characterised by its short tail and the fact that it constantly makes little sallies into the air after insects.)
7. (Hen) Indian Bush Chat (63). (Reddish brown. Cock quite differently coloured.)
8. The White-throated Munia (76). (Very thick bill, white throat and rump, and a note like the twitter of the sparrow; usually seen in small flocks.)
9. The Indian Sand-martin (86). (Swallow-like flight; nests in sandbanks.)
10. The Dusky Crag-martin (87). (Swallow-like flight; builds mud nest.)
11. (Hen) Sunbirds (106-108). (Pale yellow under parts, longish curved bill, sometimes hovers in the air on rapidly vibrating wings. Cocks gaily coloured.)

(b) The size of, or a little larger than, the sparrow

1. The Common Babbler (6). (A brown bird with a number of dark streaks. As it runs along it carries its tail along the ground, hence its name, “The Rat Bird.”)
2. The White-browed Bulbul (22). (Pale yellow patch under the tail, white eyebrow. It has a very cheery call.)
3. The Common Woodshrike (38). (Broad white eyebrow, outer tail feathers white; a pretty mellow note—tanti tuia.)
4. (Hen) Pied Bush Chat (61 and 62). (Reddish brown, with black tail; cock more strikingly coloured.)
5. The Brown Rock Chat (64). (Robin-like in habits; continually bobs its head.)
6. (Hen) Indian Robins (67 and 68). (Brick-red patch under tail. Tail often carried erect.)
7. Weaver Birds (70-73). (Stout bill. Cock becomes showy in breeding season.)
8. (Hen) Rose Finch (80). (Two white bars in wing.)
9. Yellow-throated sparrow (81). (Yellow patch on throat.)
10. (Hen) Common Sparrow (82).
11. The Grey-necked Bunting (83). (Thickish bill, some dark streaks in plumage and white in tail.)
12. (Hen) Black-headed Bunting (84). (Dull yellow under parts and bright yellow patch under the tail.)
13. The Pipits (95 and 96). (Longish legs; dark streaks in plumage. Feed on ground, but take refuge in trees when disturbed.)
14. The Larks (97 and 98). (Feed on ground; never perch in trees; some soar in the air and sing.)
15. The Bush Larks (99 and 100). (Distinguished from the true larks in perching in bushes when they sometimes take short flights into the air. Distinguished from the pipits in having no white in the tail.)
16. The Crested Larks (101-103). (Feed on ground; sing in air; never perch in bushes. Crested heads; no white in tail.)
17. The Common Wryneck (112). (Woodpecker-like habits. It twists its head from side to side continually. Its plumage is much streaked, speckled, and spotted.)
18. The Spotted Owlet (135). (Plumage much spotted and barred with white. Eyes in front of head. Comes out at sunset and sets up a loud chuckling chatter. Legs feathered to the toes.)
19. The Scops Owl (138). (Differs from the Spotted Owlet in having “horns” or ear-tufts. Note a single hoot, which is repeated regularly at intervals of about ten seconds.)
20. The Jungle Owlet (139). (Distinguished from the Spotted Owlet by its call and by the fact that it is far less often seen.)
21. The Kentish Plover (185). (White collar. Found in flocks on the sea coasts.)
22. The Little Ringed Plover (186). (Like the Kentish Plover, but distinguished from it by having a black band across the white throat.)
23. The Little Stint. (Wading birds, which occur in large flocks on shallow water.)

(c) About the size of a myna

1. The Jungle Babbler (7). (An untidy-looking bird, which goes about in small flocks of half a dozen, feeding on the ground; very noisy; flight feeble.)
2. The White-headed Babbler (8). (As above, but the crown of the head is greyish white. Found only in S. India.)
3. The Rufous-tailed Babbler (9). (Habits like those of the two species just cited; tail has a reddish tinge.)
4. The Common Indian Nightjar (126). (Plumage much mottled; crepuscular in its habits; it flits about at dusk hawking insects.)
5. Horsfield’s Nightjar (127). (A large edition of above.)
6. The Common Hawk Cuckoo (128). (Plumage much barred, like that of a bird of prey. Its loud crescendo call, a reiterated “brain-fever,” has made it familiar to all.)
7. The Shikra and the Sparrow-hawk (158 and 159). (Ashy grey birds with dark cross-bars to the feathers.)
8. The Common Quail (171). (A good deal smaller than a myna; legs short; plumage much barred with black. Lives exclusively on the ground.)
9. The Sandpipers (192-194). (Long-legged birds with white under parts and short tails, which occur in marshes or at the water’s edge.)

(d) Large birds. Bigger than a crow

1. The Common Grey Hornbill (121). (A large brownish-grey bird with long tail and big beak.)
2. The Malabar Grey Hornbill (122). (Like the above, but found chiefly on the west coast.)
3. The larger Owls (136 and 137). (Much barred and spotted. Night birds, with the eyes forwardly directed.)
4. The great majority of Birds of Prey (140-162). (Plumage usually much barred.)
5. The Grey Partridge (174). (Plumage much barred. Does not perch in trees; runs very fast; characteristic call.)
6. The Stone Curlew (180). (Black streaks in plumage, some white in wings and tail; legs and bill yellow.)
7. The Curlew (189). (A wading bird. Long curved bill.)
8. The Whimbrel (190). (A small edition of the Curlew.)
9. The Pond Heron (124). (Found at the water’s edge. Flight transforms it into a milk-white bird.)
10. The Night Heron (225). (Head black. Its cry “wāāk” is heard at sunset.)
11. The Grey-lag Goose (227). (Bill and legs dirty pink.)
12. The Sirkeer Cuckoo (131a). (Bill red. About the size of the House-crow.)

2. Birds with chocolate or rich brown in plumage

1. The Indian Treepie (5). (Long tail, silver grey on wings.)
2. The Yellow-eyed Babbler (10). (Cinnamon-brown bird with white breast.)
3. The Brown Shrike (37).
4. The Brahminy Myna (51). (Buff and grey bird with a black head.)
5. The Common Myna (52). (Yellow patch of skin at side of head.)
6. The Indian Bush Chat (63).
7. (Hen) Indian Redstart (65).
8. (Hen) Indian Robins (66 and 67). (Cock also in one species.)
9. The Munias (74, 75, and 77). (Not 76.)
10. The Red-headed Bunting (85).
11. The White-breasted Kingfisher (120).
12. The Crow-Pheasant (131). (Black bird with reddish-brown wings.)
13. The Barn Owl (136).
14. The Short-eared Owl (137).
15. The Brahminy Kite (151). (Reddish-brown bird with white head.)
16. The Kestrel (162). (Wings reddish brown.)
17. (Cock) Red Turtle Dove (168). (Wings reddish brown.)
18. The Black Partridge (172).
19. The Bronze-winged Jaçana (181). (Runs about on water weeds.)
20. The Red and Yellow-wattled Lapwings (183 and 184). (Back and wings bronzy brown.)
21. The Glossy Ibis (214).
22. The Shoveller (230).
23. The Indian Little Grebe (231).

3. Brown and black birds.

(Vide Black and brown birds.)

IV. COFFEE OR FAWN COLOUR

1. A fawn-coloured bird with black and white wings and tail

The Indian Hoopoe (123).

2. Black and coffee colour

(Young) Rose-coloured Starling (40).

V. GREEN

Birds in the plumage of which bright green predominates

1. The Indian White-eye (12). (Greenish yellow above, bright yellow below.)
2. (Hen) Iora (13). (Lower parts yellow; two white wing bars.)
3. The Common Green Bulbul* (14).
4. The Green Munia (78). (Yellow under parts; red beak.)
5. The Indian Pitta (109). (Back and shoulders only are green.)
6. The Green Barbet* (113). (Brown patch of skin behind the eye.)
7. The Coppersmith (114). (Olive green.)
8. The Bee-eaters* (116 and 117). (Two middle tail feathers prolonged as bristles.)
9. The Paroquets* (132-134). (Long tails.)
10. The Green Pigeons (163 and 164).
11. The Bronze-winged Jaçana (181). (Wings only greenish bronze. Runs about on floating plants.)
12. (Cock) Shoveller Duck (230). (Head, neck, and wing patch (speculum) only glossy green.)
13. The Little Green Heron. [Added to p. 224 by this list.]

* These are practically green all over.

VI. GREY

1. Prevailing hue grey

N.B.—Many birds are so coloured that it is not easy to know whether to class them as grey or as brown birds.

1. The Indian Grey Shrike (34). (Broad black band through eye.)
2. The Small Minivet (41). (Upper parts slaty-grey.)
3. The Cuckoo-Shrikes (42 and 43).
4. The Grey-headed Myna (50).
5. The Bank Myna (53). (Grey and black bird with red patch of skin on side of head.)
6. (Hen) Magpie Robin (68). (Grey and white bird.)
7. The Grey and Grey-headed Wagtails (93 and 94). (Upper parts bluish grey, lower yellow.)
8. The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (105). (Upper parts ashy grey.)
9. The Grey Hornbills (121 and 122). (Large greyish-brown birds with the tail long.)
10. The Pale, Montagu’s and the Hen Harriers (153-155).
11. The Shikra (158). (Narrow rust-coloured bars on lower parts.)
12. The Sparrow-hawk (159). (Rust-coloured bars on abdomen.)
13. The Indian Blue Rock Pigeon (165). (Bluish-grey with two black bars in wing.)
14. The Doves (166-169).
15. The Grey Partridge (173). (Plumage greyish-brown and much barred.)
16. The Cranes (177-179). (Large French-grey birds with long shanks.)
17. The Grey Pelican (208). (Pale grey; enormous bill.)
18. The Adjutant (219).
19. The Common Heron (222).
20. The Barred-headed Goose.

2. The head only grey

1. The White-headed Babbler (8). (Crown of head is often greyish rather than white.)
2. The Bay- and Rufous-backed Shrikes (35 and 36). (Broad black band through eye.)
3. The Grey-headed Flycatcher (56).
4. (Cock) Indian Redstart (65). (Head and neck grey in early winter.)
5. (Cock) Black-headed Bunting (84). (In early winter. Under parts yellow.)

3. Grey and black

(Vide Black and grey.)

4. Grey, black, and white

(Vide Black, grey, and white.)

5. Grey and red bird

The Kestrel (162). (Head, neck, and tail grey; back and wings brick red.)

6. Grey and white

1. (Hen) Magpie Robin (68).
2. The Gulls (196-199). (White birds with very pale grey wings.)
3. The Terns (200-205). (White birds with very pale grey wings.)
4. The Common Heron (222). (Under parts white.)

VII. PINK

1. The Rose-coloured Starling (48). (Black and deep rose-coloured pink.)
2. The Common Flamingo (226). (Legs long and deep pink; wings white, black, and cerise.)

VIII. RED

1. Birds with red in plumage, or having red wattles or red skin on head

(a) Bright red

1. The Red-vented Bulbuls (15-18).
2. The Red-whiskered Bulbuls (20 and 21).
3. The Minivets* (39-41).
4. The Bank Myna (53).
5. The Indian Redstart* (65).
6. The Indian Robins (66 and 67).
7. The Amadavat* (79).
8. (Cock) Common Rose-Finch (80).
9. The Purple-rumped Sunbird (108). (Back dull crimson.)
10. The Pitta (109).
11. (Cock) Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker (110).
12. Golden-backed Woodpecker (111).
13. The Crimson-breasted Barbet (114).
14. The Green Parrots (131-133).
15. The Black Vulture (141).
16. The Purple Coot (175). (Red shield on forehead.)
17. The Common Crane (177). (Red patch across back of head.)
18. The Sarus (178). (Red—not very bright—head and neck.)
19. The Red-wattled Lapwing (183).
20. The Black Curlew (213). (Back of head red.)
21. The Flamingo (226). (White and cerise.)

* These birds are conspicuously red.

(b) Dull red (chestnut, bay, or maroon)

1. The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (23).
2. The Bay- and Rufous-backed Shrikes (35 and 36).
3. The Shama (69).
4. The Chestnut-bellied Munia (75).
5. The Red-headed Bunting (85).
6. The Swallows (88-90).
7. The Rufous-tailed Finch-Lark (104).
8. The Common Kingfisher (119).
9. The Crow-Pheasant (131).
10. The Brahminy Kite (151).
11. The Red-headed Merlin (161).
12. The Kestrel (162).
13. (Cock) Red Turtle Dove (169).
14. The White-breasted Water-hen (174).
15. The Bronze-winged Jaçana (181).
16. The Ruddy Sheldrake (229). (The red is very yellowish.)
17. The Shoveller (230).
18. The Indian Little Grebe (231).

2. Red crest

The Woodpeckers (110 and 111).

3. Red-legged birds

1. The Coppersmith (114).
2. The Common Kingfisher (119).
3. The White-breasted Kingfisher (120).
4. The Indian Blue Rock Pigeon (165).
5. The Doves (166-168).
6. The Partridges (172 and 173). (Dull brownish red.)
7. The Purple Coot (175).
8. The Sarus (178).
9. The Black-winged Stilt (187).
10. The Laughing Gull (196).
11. The Brown-headed Gull (197).
12. The Whiskered Tern (200).
13. The Indian River Tern (203).
14. The Black-bellied Tern (204). (Orange red.)
15. The Indian Skimmer (206).
16. The Black Ibis (213).
17. The Storks (216-218).
18. The Common Flamingo (226). (Deep pink.)
19. The Grey-lag Goose. (Dirty pinkish red.)
20. The Shoveller (230). (Yellowish red.)

4. Red patch of feathers under the tail, birds with

1. The Red-vented Bulbuls (15-18).
2. The Red-whiskered Bulbuls (20 and 21).
3. The Indian Robins (66 and 67).
4. The Indian Pitta (109).
5. The White-breasted Water-hen (174).

5. Red patch of feathers on shoulder, birds with

1. The Alexandrine Paroquet (131).
2. The Blossom-headed Paroquet (133).

6. Red patch of skin on side of head, birds with

1. The Bank Myna (53).
2. The Red-wattled Lapwing (183).

7. Red and black

(Vide Black and red.)

IX. WHITE

1. Birds of which the plumage is pure white

1. The Spoonbill (215).
2. The Egrets (223).

2. Birds in the plumage of which white largely predominates

1. (Cock) Paradise Flycatcher (57). (Black head and crest.)
2. The Black-winged Stilt (187). (Back and wings black in cock, brown in hen.)
3. The Avocet (188). (Several black markings.)
4. The Gulls (196-199).
5. The Terns (200-205).
6. The Dalmatian Pelican (207). (Some black in wings.)
7. The White Ibis (212). (Black head and neck; long curved bill.)
8. The White Stork (216). (Black in wings; red legs.)
9. The Black-necked Stork (218). (Black in wings; head, neck, and shoulders black; legs red.)
10. The Painted Stork (220). (Black wings and bar across breast; legs brown.)
11. The Open-bill (221). (Dirty white, with black on wings, shoulders, and tail.)
12. The Common Flamingo (226). (Some cerise in the plumage.)

3. Dull-coloured bird whose wings appear all white when flying

The Pond Heron (224).

4. White bar in wing, birds with

1. The Grey, Bay- and Rufous-backed Shrikes (34-36).
2. The Grackles (46 and 47).
3. The Common Myna (52).
4. The Pied Bush Chats (61 and 62).
5. (Cock) Indian Robins (66 and 67).
6. The Magpie Robin (68).
7. The Large Pied Wagtail (92).
8. The Indian Pitta (109).
9. The White-breasted Kingfisher (120).
10. The Pied-crested Cuckoo (129).
11. The Red- and Yellow-wattled Lapwings (183 and 184).
12. The Common Sandpiper (192). (Very narrow white bar.)