Part 1 — C. CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO COLOUR
Reading edition
I. Black.
II. Blue.
III. Brown.
IV. Coffee or fawn colour.
V. Green.
VI. Grey.
VII. Pink.
VIII. Red.
IX. White.
X. Yellow.
XI. Birds of many colours.
Colour affords the easiest means of identifying the great majority of birds, but in many cases the colours displayed, although conspicuous and easily recognised, are not of a nature to admit of strict classification. Take, for example, the blues—various species display almost every known shade from slaty grey to turquoise, from purple to ultramarine and indigo. To attempt to distinguish in the lists between the many shades of blue would [32] have led to inevitable confusion. I have, therefore, divided my blues into bright blue, dark blue, and slaty blue. My method is probably inartistic, but it will, I hope, facilitate the task of identification.
Again, it is no easy matter to draw the line between greyish and brownish birds, hence I have included some species under both heads. The reader should bear in mind that, while nothing is easier than to identify some birds by their colour, in the case of others colour is at the best a rough guide—one, but only one, of the clues which have to be followed up before the identity of the species can be established. In the case of Raptorial birds colour is of very little assistance, since the great majority of them are of the same colour, moreover, individuals vary greatly in colouration at different stages of their existence.
I. BLACK
1. Birds with a quantity of black in their plumage
(a) All Black
1. The Indian Corby (1).
2. The Raven (2).
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3. The King Crow (25).
4. The Large Racket-tailed Drongo (27).
5. (Cock) Sunbirds (106 and 107). (These are really dark purple, but sometimes look black from a distance.)
6. (Cock) Koel (bill green, eyes red) (130).
7. (Young) Scavenger Vultures (144 and 145).
8. Coot (176). (White bill and shield on forehead.)
9. The Indian Shag (210).
(b) Mainly Black
1. The Indian House Crow (3). This and (4) have grey necks, darker in (4).
2. The Burmese House Crow (4).
3. The Malabar Whistling Thrush (11). (Patches of cobalt-blue.)
4. The Grackles (46 and 47). (Yellow wattles and white bar in wing.)
5. The Indian Starling (49). (With small yellow or whitish spots.)
6. The Common Indian Swift (124). (Smoky brown, with white bar across rump.)
7. The Palm Swift (125). (Brownish black.)
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8. The Crow-Pheasant (131). (Wings chestnut brown.)
9. The Black Vulture (141). (Red head, white breast and patch on each thigh.)
10. The White-backed Vulture (143). (Very dark grey, with white back.)
11. (Cock) Black Partridge (172). (With narrow white bars and broad chestnut collar.)
12. White-breasted Water-hen (174). (Very dark grey, with white face, throat, and chest, and red under tail.)
13. The Large and Little Cormorants (209 and 211). (White throat.)
14. Black Ibis (213). (Top of head red, white patch on wing.)
2. Black-headed birds
1. The Indian Tree-Pie (5).
2. (Cock) Iora (13).
3. The Red-vented Bulbuls (15-19). (Small crest.)
4. The Red-whiskered Bulbuls (20 and 21). (Large pointed crest.)
5. The Minivets (39 and 40).
6. The Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike (42).
7. The Black-headed Oriole (45).
8. The Rose-coloured Starling (48).
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9. The Black-headed Myna (51).
10. The Common Myna (52). (With yellow patch of skin behind eye.)
11. The Paradise Flycatcher (57).
12. The Indian Redstart (cock in spring) (65).
13. The Magpie Robin (cock) (68).
14. The Shama (69).
15. The Black-headed Munia (74).
16. The Chestnut-bellied Munia (75).
17. The Black-headed Bunting (in spring) (84).
18. The Purple-rumped Sunbird (108). (The head and breast are not black in this species, but look black from a distance.)
19. The Crow-Pheasant (131).
20. (Male) Pied Harrier (156).
21. The Bronze-winged Jaçana (181).
22. The Red-wattled Lapwing (183). (Red wattle and sides of neck white.)
23. The Yellow-wattled Lapwing (184). (Yellow wattle, back of neck white.)
24. The Terns (especially in summer) (200-205).
25. The White Ibis (212).
26. The White-necked Stork (217). (Neck white.)
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27. The Black-necked Stork (218).
28. The Night Heron (225).
29. The Indian Spur-winged Plover (184a).
3. Black collaret or gorget or band across the breast
1. The Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul (20).
2. The Southern Red-whiskered Bulbul (21). (Collaret interrupted.)
3. The White Wagtail (patch on breast) (91).
4. The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (105). (Black cross on throat.)
5. The Common Indian Bee-eater (116).
6. Some of the Bustards. (Not dealt with in this book.)
7. The Pheasant-tailed Jaçana (182).
8. The Little Ringed Plover (186).
9. The Painted Stork (220).
4. Black streak through the eye (i.e. from beak to back of head)
1. The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (23).
2. The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (24).
3. The Shrikes (34-37).
4. The Indian Oriole (44). (Rather a patch than a streak.)
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5. The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (105).
6. The Indian Pitta (109).
7. The Bee-eaters (116 and 117).
5. Black and another colour
(a) Black and blue
1. The Malabar Whistling Thrush (11).
2. The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (24). (Whitish throat, lower parts greyish.)
3. The Indian Blue Rock Pigeon (165). (Slaty blue, with black wing bars and red legs.)
(b) Black and brown (chestnut)
1. The Indian Tree-Pie (5). (Silver-grey on wings, grey bars on tail, which is long.)
2. The Common Myna (52). (White in wings and tail, yellow legs, and patch of skin behind eye.)
3. (Hen and young) Indian Paradise Flycatcher (57).
4. (Cock) Brown-backed Indian Robin (66). (Red patch under tail.)
5. The Chestnut-bellied Munia (75).
6. The Crow-Pheasant (131). (A black bird with brown wings).
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(c) Black and coffee or fawn colour
The Rose-coloured Starling (48).
(d) Black and grey
1. The Indian House Crow (3).
2. The Burmese House Crow (4).
3. The Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike (42). (Lower abdomen white and white tip to tail.)
4. The Large Cuckoo-Shrike (43).
5. The Bank Myna (53). (Red patch of skin on side of head and buff wing bar.)
6. The Open-bill (221). (When not in breeding plumage.)
(e) Black and pink
The Rose-coloured Starling (cock) (48).
(f) Black and red
1. The Indian Scarlet Minivet (cock) (41).
2. The Short-billed Minivet (cock) (42).
3. The Indian Redstart (cock in spring) (65). (Red is dull; outer tail feathers brown.)
4. The Black-backed Indian Robin (cock) (67). (A black bird with red patch under tail.)
5. The Common Swallow (88). (Upper plumage has bluish tinge; some white in tail.)
6. The Red-rumped Swallow (90). (Upper plumage has bluish tinge.)
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7. The Black Vulture (141). (White breast and patch on thigh.)
8. The Black Ibis (213). (Small white patch on wing.)
(g) Black and white
1. The White-bellied Drongo (26).
2. The Grackles (46 and 47). (Black birds with white wing bar, yellow wattles, bills, and legs.)
3. The Pied Myna (54). (Orange bill and patch behind eye.)
4. (Cock) Paradise Flycatcher (57). (White bird with long tail and black head and crest.)
5. The Fantail Flycatchers (58-60).
6. (Cock) Pied Bush Chats (61 and 62).
7. The Magpie Robin (68).
8. The Large Pied Wagtail (92).
9. The Indian Pied Kingfisher (118). (Spotted black and white like a Hamburgh fowl.)
10. The Common Indian Swift (124). (Very dark brown, with white bar across back.)
11. The Pied-crested Cuckoo (129).
12. The Indian White-backed Vulture (143). (Very dark grey, with white back.)
13. (Cock) Pied Harrier (155).
14. The Coot (176).
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15. (Cock) Black-winged Stilt (187). (Long-legged white bird with black back and wings.)
16. The Avocet (188). (White wading bird with black markings.)
17. The Indian Skimmer (206). (Dark brown and white.)
18. The Cormorants (209 and 211). (Black birds with white throat.)
19. The White Ibis (212). (White bird with black head.)
20. The White Stork (216). (White bird with black in wings; red bill and legs.)
21. The White-necked Stork (217). (Black bird with white neck and lower parts.)
22. The Black-necked Stork (218).
23. The Painted Stork (220).
24. The Open-bill (221).
(h) Black and yellow
1. (Cock) Iora (in summer) (13). (Two white bars in wing.)
2. (Hen) Scarlet and Short-billed Minivets (39 and 40).
3. The Orioles (44 and 45).
4. The Grackles (46 and 47). (Black birds with yellow bill, wattles, and legs, and white wing bar.)
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6. Black and two other colours
(a) Black, blue, and white
The Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch (24). (The white is greyish.)
(b) Black, brown, and white
1. The Black-tailed Godwit (191).
2. The Barred-headed Goose (228). (Plumage greyish brown; bill and legs yellow.)
3. The Indian Spur-winged Plover (184a).
(c) Black, chestnut, and white
1. (Cock) Indian Bush Chat (63).
2. The Shama (69).
3. The Black-headed Munia (74).
4. The Chestnut-bellied Munia (75).
5. (Cock) Black Partridge (172).
6. The Bronze-winged Jaçana (181).
(d) Black, fawn-colour, and white
The Indian Hoopoe (123).
(e) Black, grey, and white
1. The Indian Grey Shrike (34).
2. The Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike (42).
3. The White Wagtail (91).
4. The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (105).
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5. The Gulls* (196-199)
6. The Terns* (200-205)
7. The Night Heron (225).
8. The Barred-headed Goose (228). (Greyish brown; bill and legs yellow.)
* Wings very pale grey
(f) Black, pink, and white
The Common Flamingo (226).
II. BLUE
Birds with blue in their plumage
(a) Bright blue
1. The Common Green Bulbul (14). (Bright green bird with blue moustache.)
2. The Indian Pitta (109).
3. The Indian Roller or “Blue Jay” (115). (Wings and tail composed of light and dark blue bars.)
4. The Common Indian Bee-eater (116). (A green bird with turquoise throat, black streak through eye, and two long bristle-like feathers in tail.)
5. The Blue-tailed Bee-eater (117).
6. The Common Kingfisher (119).
7. The White-breasted Kingfisher (120).
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8. The Green Parrots (132-134). (Green birds with blue in their long tails.)
9. The Common Peafowl (170).
10. The Purple Coot (175). (A large purple-blue bird with red bill, legs, and frontal shield.)
(b) Dark blue
1. The Malabar Whistling Thrush (11). (A black bird with cobalt patches.)
2. The Nuthatches (23 and 24). (Little short-tailed birds which go about in small flocks and pick insects off the bark of trees.)
3. The Swallows (88-90). (Upper parts glossy, dark blue.)
4. The Indian Roller or “Blue Jay” (115). (Wings and tail composed of light and dark blue bars.)
(c) Slaty or greyish blue
The Indian Blue Rock Pigeon (165).
(d) Blue and black birds
(Vide Black and blue birds.)
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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(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.)
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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.)
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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).
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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).
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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.
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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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).
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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).
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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.)
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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.)
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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.)
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5. Two white bars in wing, birds with
1. The Iora (13).
2. (Hen) Rose-Finch (80).
6. White cheeks, birds with
1. The White-eared Bulbul (19).
2. The Red-whiskered Bulbuls (20 and 21). (Also a small patch of crimson feathers on cheeks.)
3. The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (23).
4. The Pied Myna (54).
5. The Indian Bush Chat (63). (The patch in this species is on the sides of the neck, not on the cheeks.)
6. (Cock) Sparrow (82).
7. The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark (105).
8. The Golden-backed Woodpecker (111). (The white on the cheeks is intersected by a number of thin black lines.)
9. The Black Partridge (172).
10. The Common Crane (177). (In this species the white runs down each side of the long neck.)
11. The Red-wattled Lapwing (183). (Here a white band runs from eye down the neck.)
12. The Yellow-wattled Lapwing (184). (Here a white band runs from eye to eye round the back of the head.)
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7. Ring of white feathers round eye
1. The Indian White-eye (12).
2. The Brown Flycatcher (55). (Ring not very conspicuous.)
3. The Grey-necked Bunting (83). (Ring not very conspicuous.)
8. White and black
(Vide Black and white.)
9. White, black, and blue
(Vide Black, blue, and white.)
10. White, black, and brown
(Vide Black, brown, and white.)
11. White, black, and chestnut
(Vide Black, chestnut, and white.)
12. White, grey, and black
(Vide Black, grey, and white.)
13. White, pink, black
(Vide Black, pink, and white.)
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X. YELLOW
1. Birds with bright yellow in the plumage
1. The Indian White-eye (12).
2. The Iora (13).
3. The Common Green Bulbul (14). (Patch of yellow on forehead.)
4. The White-eared Bulbul (19). (Yellow patch under the tail.)
5. The White-browed Bulbul (22). (Pale yellow patch under tail.)
6. (Hen) Minivets (39, 40, and 41).
7. The Orioles (44 and 45).
8. The Grackles or Hill Mynas (46 and 47). (Black birds with yellow beak, legs, and wattles.)
9. The Common Myna (52). (Yellow beak, legs, and patch of skin behind eye.)
10. The Pied Myna (54). (Orange patch of skin behind eye.)
11. The Grey-headed Flycatcher (56).
12. (Cock) Bayas (at breeding season) (70-73).
13. The Green Munia (78).
14. The Yellow-throated Sparrow (81).
15. The Black- and Red-headed Buntings (84 and 85).
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16. The Grey and Grey-headed Wagtails (93 and 94).
17. (Cock) Purple-rumped Sunbird (108).
18. The Indian Pitta (109).
19. The Yellow-fronted Woodpecker (110). (Spotted black and white bird with yellow forehead.)
20. The Golden-backed Woodpecker (111). (Back golden yellow.)
21. The Pheasant-tailed Jaçana (182). (Back of neck golden yellow in breeding plumage.)
22. The Yellow-wattled Lapwing (184).
23. The Cattle Egret (in breeding plumage) (223). (Yellow plumes grow from back of head.)
2. Birds with bright yellow or orange legs
1. The Yellow-eyed Babbler (10).
2. The Grackles (46 and 47).
3. The Mynas (51-53).
4. The Common Hawk-Cuckoo (128). (Not very bright.)
5. The majority of Birds of Prey. (The yellow varies from dull to bright.)
6. The Green Pigeons (163 and 164).
7. The Black Partridge (172). (Reddish orange.)
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8. The Stone Curlew (180).
9. The Red- and Yellow-wattled Lapwings (183-184).
10. The Herring-Gulls (198 and 199).
11. The Little Tern (205). (Orange in summer, brownish in winter.)
12. The Barred-headed Goose (228).
13. The Shoveller (230).
3. Birds with dull-coloured upper plumage and bright yellow under parts
1. The Indian White-eye (12).
2. The Iora (13).
3. The Grey-headed Flycatcher (56).
4. The Green Munia (78).
5. The Black- and Red-headed Buntings (84 and 85).
6. The Grey and Grey-headed Wagtails (93 and 94).
4. Yellow patch of feathers under the tail, birds with
1. The White-eared Bulbul (19).
2. The White-browed Bulbul (22).
5. Yellow patch of feathers on the throat, bird with
The Yellow-throated Sparrow (81).
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6. Yellow patch of skin on side of head or yellow wattles, birds with
1. The Grackles (46 and 47).
2. The Common and Pied Mynas (52 and 54).
3. The Yellow-wattled Lapwing (184).
7. Yellowish red
The Brahminy Duck (229). (This bird is mainly of a ruddy yellow hue.)
8. Yellow and black
(Vide Black and yellow.)
XI. BIRDS OF MANY COLOURS
9. Birds in the plumage of which at least four bright colours appear
1. (Cock) Purple-rumped Sunbird (108).
2. The Indian Pitta (109).
3. The Coppersmith (114).
4. The Common Kingfisher (119).
5. The Green Pigeons (163).
6. The Peafowl (170).
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