If you're a bird lover, then few places on this planet are more ideal for you than India, since it's home to an impressive variety of rare and unique species of birds. In India's Western Ghats, you'll find quite a range of natural wildlife parks, which are bursting with plenty of endemic Indian colorful birds, such as the Whistling Thrush, Forest Owlet, Indian Peafowl, Serpent Eagle, and even the endangered Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon. Read on to learn all about our top 5 Indian birds:
1. The Himalayan Quail
This medium-sized quail can only be found in northwestern India and in the western Himalayas. This little beauty is endemic to India, and is considered to be one of the rarest birds in the world. If you're patient enough, you might catch a glimpse of one on a steep hillside or in the damp grasslands. They're usually found in small groups of only five or six, and don't tend to stray too far from their starting point, as they tend to be quite territorial creatures.
2. The Malabar Parakeet
Also known as the Blue-Winged Parakeet, the Malabar Parakeet is endemic to India's Western Ghats. It's renowned for having beautifully-colored feathers, and males exhibit a bluish-green shade on the front of their faces, have a red beak, and have a double collar which goes from black to luminous bluish-green. The females, on the other hand, have a gray face, with a black beak and single black collar.
3. The Kerala Laughingthrush
The Kerala Laughingthrush, frequntly called the Nilgiri Laughingthrush, can only be found in southern India's hilly regions, and are generally found either in pairs or in smallish groups. This species is famous for its grayish-brown crown, gray cheeks, and rusty-brown throat with occasional white patches and fine brown streaks. This magnificent bird's olive-brown tail and wings are truly a sight to behold in the crisp Indian sunlight.
4. The Malabar Trogon
The glorious Malabar Trogon is a member of the trogon family, which is exclusive to the hills of southern India and the forests of the Western Ghats. These birds have a diet which consists exclusively of fruit and insects, and as a result tend to only nest in rotting stumps or trees. This species has been repeatedly called the most beautiful bird of the Indian Subcontinent. The males are very brightly-colored, as can be seen in the photo above. The females look quite a bit different, as the shades of black and red are completely replaced with olive-brown tones.
5. The Nilgiri Flycatcher
The Nilgiri Flycatcher is endemic to the southern and central Western Ghats, and can usually be located in the higher parts of the Palni and Nilgiri hill ranges. It's more or less the size of a common sparrow, and the males have dark steely indigo plumage, with hints of violet-blue on their foreheads. The females, however, are considerably duller with dark gray undersides and dark brown feathers up on top.
