Unusual escape behaviour in Goldenbacked woodpeckers Dinopium benghalense (Linn.)

1 Pages·1995·0.66 MB·

by  Manoj V Nair

) ) )
122 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 92 (1995)
UNUSUAL ESCAPE BEHAVIOUR IN GOLDENBACKED WOODPECKER
16.
DINOPIUM BENGHALENSE
(LINN.)
While watching a pair of Goldenbacked but careful scanning revealed her clinging upside
woodpeckers fyinopium benghalense on 20th July down on the lower side of a stout branch which was
(
1993, I had an interesting observation. The pair was at an angle of 70 with the main trunk. The female
foraging on a coconut palm Cocos nucifera at a remained in this seemingly awkward position for
(
m
height of about 6 from the ground, the male bird about 2 minutes without any movement. Later after
m
being approximately 1.5 above the female. the Shikra had flown away, she clambered up on the
A
male Shikra Accipiter badius) appeared, upper surface and joined her mate.
(
uttering his loud ringing calls and alighted on a T his pattern of escape behaviour is not common
tamarind tree nearby. The woodpeckers responded among woodpeckers and hence is noteworthy.
quickly. The male flew to a Jack tree Artocarpus
(
heterophyllus promptly followed by the female. The October 9, 1993 MANOJ V. NAIR
Shikra still continued his loud calls, but could not be
34, Thoppil Nagar,
seen as he was hidden by the foliage.
Kumarapuram,
The male woodpecker apparently unconcerned,
clambered about on the jack tree and continued Trivandrum,
feeding. Meanwhile the female was nowhere in sight, Kerala 695 Oil.
THE GREYTHROATED OR PLAIN SAND MARTIN RIPARIA PALUDICOLA VIEILLOT
17.
A NEW BIRD FOR SOUTHERN INDIA
-
During the course of the Asian Wetland Counts, near Chilka Lake in February 1987 and am familiar
1993, I came across at least five individuals of the with the superficially similar looking Collared Sand
Greythroated or Plain Sand Martin {Riparia Martin (Riparia riparia), having seen it on several
paludicola) in the Kole Wetlands, near Thrissur town, occasions in Madras, Lakshadweep, S. Arcot district
Kerala. The birds were noticed flying over the wet (near Kaliveli Tank) and at Pulicat Lake environs
and freshly ploughed paddy fields along with (Andhra Pradesh)
Common and Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo rustica The 'HANDBOOK' (All and Ripley 1983) records
(
and H. daurica The birds flew very low and quite Maharashtra (Bombay, Nasik, Satara, etc.) and Orissa
).
close repeatedly, permitting a good view. The as the southern most range of this species and
presence of the swallows enabled a good comparison therefore the present sighting further south is
of size and plumage. Photographs were taken and noteworthy.
these enabled positive identification.
Acknowledgements
The birds were distinctly smaller than the
swallows and had a short, less forked (almost
squarish) tail. The overall plumage was dull. The I thank S. Anitha, R. Nandakumar and Sanjeev
upper parts were greyish brown with a conspicuously Kumar who accompanied me on this occasion and R.
paler rump. The chin, throat and the upper breast Kannan for going through this manuscript and
were darker (brown or grey) than the whitish lower offering criticism.
breast and belly. No markings or spots could be seen
SANTHARAM
on the tail feathers. These features helped in June 24, 1993 V.
identifying the birds as Greythroated Sand Martins. 68, First Floor,
Santhome High Road,
I have seen these birds on an earlier occasion Madras 600 028.