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Indian Shag  & Little Cormorant 

   The Indian shag (Phalacrocorax fucicollis) is slightly smaller than the preceding species and is intermediate in size between the large Cormorant and the little cormorant. Its plumage is black like that of the large cormorant, but in its breeding plumage, there are white feather tufts behind the ears and white spots on the head and neck. It is found all over India and Sri Lanka, frequenting large rivers, lakes and jheels. It breeds in colonies, nesting in trees, from July to December.

   The little cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) is the smallest of our Indian species of cormorants being about the size of a large jungle crow but duck-like in appearance. The bill is sharply hooked at the tip. It occurs throughout India, Burma and Sri Lanka and is usually found singly or in flocks on tanks, lakes, jheels and brackish water lagoons, estuaries and swamps. They are expert divers and swimmers and breed in colonies, nesting in trees, often in company with other water birds.

  


      

 

Indian Shag  & Little Cormorant 


Spoon Bill

 

 

Spoon Bill

     The spoon bill is rather small, greyish white, with black patches on the wings and readily distinguished by its curiously shaped black bill. It is found throughout India, Burma and Sri Lanka and usually occurs in small parties or flocks on the banks of streams, ponds and lakes. Its peculiarly shaped bill is well adapted for crushing and opening the thick shells of the large apple snail (Pila globosa) and extracting their soft parts. It breeds in large colonies mostly from November to March in South India.

 

 

 

White Ibis

   The white ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) is closely related to spoon bill and is very similar to its habits. It is a large bird with white plumage and with a long stout downwordly curved beak. It is found throughout India, Sri Lanka and Burma inhabiting large rivers, lakes and marshes. It feeds on small fishes, frogs, worms, insects and crustaceans. It is a silent bird but produces a few low grunting sounds while breeding. It breeds in colonies during the winter months in South India.

 

White Ibis

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