"Habitat. Beloochistan, Persia, Afghanistan, Punjab, N.-W. Provinces, Oudh, Bengal, Central India, Rajputana, Kutch, Guzerat, Concan, Deccan, South India and Ceylon. Everywhere in flocks of thousands on all the lakes, rivers, &c., especially in Sind. Mr. Hume (Str. F. i. p. 257) truly describes them "as occurring in countless myriads, seen either massed upon the water, as huge rosy islands, or floating above it like a sunset cloud in all the large lakes of Sind. On taking flight, the exposure of the rosy upper and under wing coverts turns the mass into a gigantic brilliant rosy scarf, waving to and fro in mighty folds as it floats away." They are also common about the Kurrachee harbour, chiefly on the mud flats and in Clifton Bay; usually they are in large parties drawn up in line. When feeding they have their necks and heads bent down in such a position, that the upper mandible rests on the ground ; with it they stir up the limpid ooze in search of animalculae, minute Crustacea, fish, &c., on which they live. Like the Cranes the Flamingoes also have sentinels posted to give warning of danger ; their flesh is not considered good, but the Mohannas or fishermen caste on the Indus consider it palatable, the fishy taste being lost on their palates, owing to their principal diet being fish. The ancients considered it choice food, and the Egyptians, at the present day, are partial to the flesh. From the tongue they are said to extract an oil which they use for flavouring certain viands. They have been found breeding at Fao in Mesopotamia; the nest is as curious as the structure of the bird, being a truncated cone, built entirely of stiff clayey mud, on which the parent bird sits either astride or with its long legs folded under it. Eggs, 2 in number, white, and very chalky." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 670.]

"The Flamingo is found, here and there, throughout India, is very rare in some parts, and is perhaps chiefly found not far from the seacoast. It is very abundant near Madras, in the Pulicat lake; also between Madras and Pondicherry, and south towards Tuticoreen ; it is also met with in the Northern Circars, at the great Chilka lake, south of Cuttack, and occasionally near the mouth of the Hooghly and some of the Soonderbun rivets. In Central India and the Deccan, flocks generally visit some of the larger tanks during the cold weather, and they are also now and then met with in Northern India. Adams states that they are not uncommon on the Punjab rivers and lakes, during the cold weather. The Flamingo appears to be found throughout the south of Europe, Africa, and great part of Asia. It feeds on minute molluscs, small insects and Crustacea, worms, &c., which it scoops up by its inverted bill together with the soft mud from the bottom of lakes, salt water lagoons, &c., subsequently rejecting the inorganic matter with the water through the laminae of its bill ; I have however generally found some mud in the stomachs of those that I have examined. It also eats confervae, and other soft vegetable matter, and, in confinement, will eat bran mixed with water, boiled rice, &c. It is said to form a large conical nest of mud, or mud and grass, and to sit astride on the top of it. A late writer, however, states that it lays its eggs on any slight elevation in swamps, generally on a narrow path between two ditches, and that many nests are placed together in a line. The eggs are two in number, dull white and with a very rough chalky surface. Flamingoes do not, that I am aware of, nidificate in this country. Flamingoes are very wary birds ; during the heat of the day they rest in the water, drawn up in long lines, with sentinels on either side which give warning of danger by a trumpet-like call, something like the cry of the wild goose, a cry which is occasionally repeated during flight. When feeding, they are more easily approached. They are excellent eating. I have seen Flamingoes kept alive at Hyderabad in the Deccan. It has been stated that they sleep on one leg, with the neck bent back, and the head under the wing. Nuttall says that they run swiftly, but I have never seen them, even when in danger, move at any other pace than a stately, moderately rapid walk. They are said to swim well with the port of Swans, but I have never seen them do so." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 2,2. -- S. 776f.]

"The large Egret is distributed throughout India to Ceylon, extending, if Gould's syrmatophorus be rightly identified with this species, from Europe through most of Asia and Africa to Australia. It is of course most abundant in the better watered districts, but is found everywhere, feeding in rivers and tanks, and roosting on trees. It breeds, in company, on trees, often in, or close to some village, making the usual nest of sticks, and laying three or four eggs of a bluish-green colour. This species is said to make its nest in Europe, among reeds, but this is quite opposed to the habits of all the Egrets." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 2,2. -- S. 745.]

"The purple Heron is very abundant in the well-watered districts of India, frequenting marshes, reedy ground, rice fields, and the like, but is rarely or never seen on the bare and open spots frequented by the common Heron. It may often be observed with its head and long neck just protruded above the grass, looking remarkably like the head of a snake, which has suggested its Telugu name of Snake Heron. It rises with a loud harsh cry, which it repeats as it flies along, especially if it has been alarmed. Unlike most of the other Herons, this species breeds among lofty reeds ; I have seen several of its breeding places, but the nests were quite inaccessible, and I have not procured its eggs. It feeds on fish, frogs, &c. It is found throughout India and Ceylon, extending into Burmah and Malayana, and is spread throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 2,2. -- S. 743f.]

"Habitat. Sind and throughout India, Ceylon, and the Burmese countries. Breeds from May to August nesting in trees. Eggs, 4 - 6, pale bluish green, elongated ovals, 1.35 to 1.62 in length by 1.1 to 1.25 in breadth. Abundant in all moist localities, at the edges of ponds, ditches, marshes, and lakes, and especially in rice fields." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 658.]

"This is one of the best known and most abundant of its tribe in India, seen at the side of every river, tank, ditch, or pool of water throughout India. It is so confiding and familiar as to have received the name of Blind Heron in all parts of the country. Its especial food is crabs, for which it watches patiently, either in the water or in the fields, and especially on the small raised bunds or divisions between rice-fields. It will, of course, also eat fish, frogs, and various aquatic insects. It begins to change its plumage about May, and in June and July all individuals have assumed the handsome plumage, which differs so materially from that of the cold weather, as to have been considered by many to constitute a perfectly distinct species ; such indeed was the opinion of Sykes. It breeds on trees, in all parts of the country, sometimes alone, sometimes several on the same tree, making a rough nest of sticks, and laying four or five pale greenish-blue eggs. It is a favorite quarry for the Shikra, (Micronisus badius)." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 2,2. -- S. 751.]

2.9.56. Grus sp. - Kraniche - Crane

152 cm

"Habitat. Throughout the greater part of India. It is rare in Sind. In the Punjab it is found in the Delhi and other district, also in the N.-W. Provinces, Rajputana, Kutch, Concan and Deccan. It has also been found occasionally in Khandesh. Throughout the Central Provinces, also the Madras Presidency, north of the Godavery, Chota Nagpur and Lower Bengal it is common in suitable localities. Breeds over the whole of the N.-W. Provinces, Upper Bengal, British Burmah, Assam, Oudh and Guzerat ; also Central India and Khandeish, during August and September, laying 2 eggs, of a pale green colour, speckled with yellowish brown purple or purplish pink. Many are quite unspotted." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 600.]

"The Sarus is found throughout the greater part of India and Burmah ; is rare South of the Godavery, and also apparently in the Punjab, for Adams states that he did not see it there, but common in Central India, Bengal, and parts of the N. W. Provinces, and still more so in Candeish. It is chiefly found in pairs, occasionally several together. It feeds less exclusively perhaps on grain than the other Cranes met with in India, and is very generally found not far from water. It breeds on some island or spot nearly surrounded by water, laying two eggs only, of a very pale bluish green colour, with a few reddish spots. The eggs are figured by Blyth in Jardine's Illustrations of Ornitholgy, and he states that it has bred in captivity. The nest is sometimes commenced below water, and is raised some inches above the surface. The young have the head and neck dull ferruginous. The old birds, when sitting, or with their young, are very bold, facing an intruder, be it dog or man, lowering their head and spreading out their large wings in a most formidable looking manner. Its fine trumpet-like call, uttered when alarmed or on the wing, can be heard a couple of miles off. A young Sarus is not bad eating, but old birds are worthless for the table. Some epicures assert the liver to be peculiarly fine. In most parts of the country it is so confiding and fearless in its habits as to preclude the sportsman from shooting it ; and in the territories of Holkar it is, if not venerated, esteemed so highly as to be held sacred from the Shikaries, and I have known complaints made against officers for shooting them." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 2,2. -- S. 663.]

135 cm

"Habitat. A winter migrant to India ; occurs in the N.-W. Provinces, Punjab, Sind, parts of the Central Provinces and the Himalayas ; also in Afghanistan, Eastern Turkistan and Siberia. Uncommon in Sind. I have never met with it. Mr. Hume has however seen and recorded it." [Quelle: Murray, James A.: The avifauna of British India and its dependencies. -- London : Trübner, 1888-1890. -- 2 Bde. -- Bd. 2, S. 600f.]

"This fine Crane appears to be a rare winter visitant to several parts of North- Western India. A figure of it is among the drawings of Sir A. Burnes, and it has been observed occasionally by sportsmen in the Punjab, in Rajasthan, and in the interior of the Himalayas. Mountaineer particularly notices 'a large white Crane.' It is an inhabitant of Northern Asia and Japan." [Quelle: Jerdon, T. C. (Thomas Claverhill) <1811-1872>: The birds of India. -- Calcutta, 1862. -- Vol 2,2. -- S. 664.]