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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.
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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.
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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. |
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