Shikra a.k.a Little Banded Goshawk

Scientific Name - Accipiter badius
Status - Resident

Weather - Partially Cloudy

Habitat - Trees

Place - Thakurtal, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh, India).

Shikra is the 2nd most common bird of prey in Jabalpur, after Black Kite. It hunts mainly small birds, garden lizards and small rats. During its young age, the variation of plumages are astonishing. This is one of the plumages of young age, also not a common one.

In Old Days, Indian hunters used Shikra for hunting small animals and birds.

Sarus Crane - World's Tallest Flying Bird

Scientific Name - Grus antigone
Status - Local Migrant, Uncommon

Weather - Sunny

Habitat - Flooded Paddies (Wetlands)

Place - Bhedaghat Road, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh, India).

This photograph was taken during the time of courtship. Male was indulged in spectacular display of "dancing" movements that involves a series of jumping, bowing and circling around Female.

Cinnamon Bitern

Scientific Name - Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Month & Year Spotted - October 2013

Weather - Heavy clouds and Rain showers.

Habitat - Tall reed beds bordering lakes and marshes.

Place - Bhedaghat Road, Jabalpur.

Status - Resident migratory, Very Rare.

Bonelli's Eagle

Scientific Name - Aquila fasciata
Month & Year Spotted - December 2013

Weather - Sunny winter day

Habitat - Well-wooded hills

Place - Lower Gaur Forest, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh, India).

Status - Resident, Rare

Black-headed Ibis

Scientific Name - Threskiornis melanocephalus
Month & Year Spotted - All through the year.

Weather - All season

Habitat - Fresh water wetlands

Place - Countryside, Jabalpur.

Status - Resident, uncommon.

Citrine Wagtail

Scientific Name - Motacilla citreola (1st Winter Plumage)
Month & Year Spotted - November 2013

Weather - Sunny

Habitat - Fresh water wetlands

Place - Bhedaghat road, Jabalpur.

Status - Strongly Migratory, uncommon.

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Scientific Name - Dendrocopos nanus
Month & Year Spotted - September 2013

Weather - Cloudy and humid.

Habitat - Tropical and subtropical forest and well wooded areas.

Place - Dumna Nature Reserve, Jabalpur.

Status - Resident, widespread.