Birds of the Indian Subcontinent: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives (Paperback)

Some parts of the book

Osprey Pandion haliaetus
55-58 cm
Widespread in winter. ID Long wings, typically angled at carpals, and short tail. Has whitish head with black stripe through eye, white underbody and underwing-coverts, and black carpal patches. HH Captures fish in a powerful shallow dive with feet first. Major rivers, lakes, large reservoirs. coastal lagoons and estuaries.
White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
66-71 cm
Resident. Mainly coasts and offshore islands. ID Soars and glides with wings pressed forward and in pronounced V. Distinctive shape, with slim head, bulging secondaries, and short wedge-shaped tail. Adult has white head and underparts, grey upperparts, white underwing-coverts contrasting with black remiges, and mainly white tail. Juvenile has pale head, dark breast band, whitish tail with dark subterminal band and pale wedge on inner primaries. Immatures show mixture of juvenile and adult features. Voice Loud, far-carrying and goose-like honking, ank... ank... ank, and faster and more duck-like ka, ka-kaaa. HH Frequently soars, circling at great heights. Often seen on a prominent perch, usually near water. Chiefly coasts and offshore islands.
White-tailed Eagle Hallacetus albicilla
70-90 cm Widespread winter visitor. ID Huge, with broad parallel-edged wings, short wedge-shaped tail. protruding head and neck, and heavy bill. Soars and glides with wings level. Adult has yellow bill. pale head, and white tail. Juvenile is mainly blackish-brown with whitish centres to tail feathers. pale patch on axillaries, and variable pale band across underwing-coverts; bill becomes yellow with age. Voice Rather vocal; normal call is a quick series of metallic yapping notes. HH Spends most of the time perched on stump or ground near water. Inhabits coasts, large lakes and rivers.
Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus
76-84 cm
Resident. N subcontinent. ID Soars and glides with wings flat. Long, broad wings and protruding (rather small) head and neck. Adult has pale head and neck, dark brown upperwing and underwing, and mainly white tail with broad black terminal band. Juvenile less bulky, looks slimmer-winged, longer-tailed and smaller-billed than juvenile White-tailed; has dark mask, pale band across underwing-coverts, pale patch on underside of inner primaries, all-dark tail (lacking pale inner webs of White-tailed), and pale crescent on uppertail-coverts. Older immatures have more uniform underwing and whitish tail with mottled dark band. Voice Commonest call is a hoarse bark, kvo kvok kvok. HH Rather sluggish, perching for long periods close to water. Mainly larger rivers and lakes, also tidal creeks and mangroves. Globally threatened.