Indian robin

The Indian robin is a species of passarine bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is widespread in the Indian subcontinent and ranges across Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The males of the northern subspecies have brown backs whose extent gradually reduces southwards, with the males of the southern subspecies having all-black backs. They are commonly found in open scrub areas and often seen running along the ground or perching on low thorny shrubs and rocks. The long tail is usually held up and the chestnut undertail coverts and dark body make them easily distinguishable from pied bushchats and Oriental magpie-robins.

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Distribution

Region

Indian Subcontinent

Typical Environment

Occurs widely across Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, especially in dry open scrub, rocky outcrops, ravines, and edges of cultivation. Frequently uses human-dominated settings such as village gardens, road embankments, and ruins. Prefers areas with scattered low shrubs and perches for song and display. Avoids dense forests but occupies semi-arid and agricultural mosaics, often near watercourses or stony ground.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size15–17 cm

Wing Span22–26 cm

Male Weight0.018 kg

Female Weight0.017 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The Indian robin is a small ground-loving chat often seen with its long tail cocked, flashing rich chestnut undertail coverts. Males are dark and glossy while females are brownish, making the species easy to pick out in open scrub and rocky country. It readily adapts to human-altered landscapes and nests in crevices of walls, banks, and stone piles. Despite the name, it is not closely related to the European robin.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

active and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground

Social Behavior

Typically found singly or in pairs, holding territories year-round. Nests in cavities and crevices in walls, banks, rocks, or piles of stones, often close to human habitation. Both parents participate in feeding nestlings.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Male delivers a varied series of rich whistles, chatters, and trills from exposed perches. Calls include sharp ticks and chirrs, often given during tail-fanning displays.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Indian roller

The Indian roller is a bird of the family Coraciidae. It is 30–34 cm (12–13 in) long with a wingspan of 65–74 cm (26–29 in) and weighs 166–176 g (5.9–6.2 oz). The face and throat are pinkish, the head and back are brown, with blue on the rump and contrasting light and dark blue on the wings and tail. The bright blue markings on the wing are prominent in flight. The sexes are similar in appearance. Two subspecies are recognised.

Indian scimitar babbler

The Indian scimitar babbler is an Old World babbler. It is found in peninsular India in a range of forest habitats. They are most often detected by their distinctive calls, which include an antiphonal duet by a pair of birds. They are often hard to see as they forage through dense vegetation. The long, curved yellow, scimitar-shaped bills give them their name. It has been treated in the past as a subspecies of the white-browed scimitar babbler which is found along the Himalayas but now separated into two species, the peninsular Indian species and the Sri Lanka scimitar babbler.

Indian silverbill

The Indian silverbill or white-throated munia is a small passerine bird found in the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining regions that was formerly considered to include the closely related African silverbill. This estrildid finch is a common resident breeding bird in the drier regions of the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. It has also been introduced into many other parts of the world and has become established in some areas. They forage in small flocks in grassland and scrub habitats.

Indian skimmer

The Indian skimmer or Indian scissors-bill is one of the three species that belong to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae. They are somewhat tern-like but like other skimmers, have a short upper mandible and the longer lower mandible that is ploughed along the surface of water as the bird flies over the water to pick aquatic prey. It is found in southern Asia, where it is patchily distributed and declining in numbers. They are mainly found in rivers or estuaries. They are very brightly marked in black, white and orange, making them difficult to miss.

Indian spot-billed duck

The Indian spot-billed duck is a species of large dabbling duck that is a non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population. When in water it can be recognized from a long distance by the white tertials that form a stripe on the side, and in flight it is distinguished by the green speculum with a broad white band at the base. This species and the eastern spot-billed duck were formerly considered conspecific, together called the spot-billed duck.