| March 18, 2019
GRASSLAND BIRDS
ORNITHOLOGY PROJECT
PAGE 1
INTRODUCTION
Grassland habitats are occupied by a small number of
uniquely adapted bird species. Most species select a particular suite of
habitat features. Mountain plovers (Charadirus monatnus) and Horned
Larks (Erem gvophila alpestris), for example, require short, sparse
vegetation, whereas Henslow’s Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) and
sedge wrens (Cistothorus platensis) require taller, more dense
vegetation. Some grassland species are more abundant on recently
burned or grazed grasslands, whereas others are more abundant on
undisturbed or idle grasslands. Also, habitat preferences can vary
throughout the range of a species. Because of these differences in habitat
preferences, and because of regional differences in soils and floristics,
the response of a particular species to a specific grassland management
prescription may be variable.
PAGE 2
TRICOLORED MUNIA
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Kingdom : Animalia
➢ Phylum : Chordata
➢ Class : Aves
➢ Order : Passeriformes
➢ Family : Estrildidae
➢ Genus : Lonchura
➢ Species : malacca
DISTRIBUTION:
Native to Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka,
and Southern china. The species was
also introduced to Trinidad, Jamaica,
Puerto Rico and Venezuela
HABITAT:
The tricolored munia is a small gregarious
bird which feeds mainly on grains and
other seeds. It inhabits wet grassland habi-
tats. It may also be found in tropical lowland moist forest habitats
FOOD AND FORAGING:
The scaly- breasted munia feeds mainly on seeds but also eats small
berries such as those of Lantana. Other munias, they may also feed on
algae, a rich protein source, prior to the breeding season.
PAGE 3
STATUS AND CONSERVATION:
Lonchura punctulata is an abundant species and classified as “least
concern” by the international union for conservation of nature (IUCN).
The species occupies an extremely large range, and its population, while
still unquantified, is large and stable.
PAGE 4
FRANCOLIN
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Galliformes
➢ Family : Phasianidae
➢ Subfamily : Perdicinae
HABITAT:
Francolin are birds of open habitats that
frequent grassland, shrubby, uplands,
open thorn forests and forest edges.
DISTRIBUTION:
The gray Francolin naturally occurs from
Iran to Bangladesh. The distribution is
south of the foothills of the Himalayans
westwards to the Indus valley land eastwards to Bengal. It is also found
in north-western Sri Lanka. Introduced populations are found in the
Andaman and chagos Islands. They have been introduced to Nevada in
the United State of America and Hawaii along with several other
species of francolin.
FOOD AND FORAGING:
Omnivores: feed on assortment of plants and animals especially seeds
and insects. Food includes seeds, grains as well as insects, particularly
termites and beetles (especially Tenebrionidae and Carabidae). They
may occasionally take larger prey such as snakes.
PAGE 5
The grey francolin is normally found foraging on bare or low grass
covered ground in scrub and open country and is rarely found above
an altitude of 500 m above sea level in India and in Pakistan.
CONSERVATION:
Least concern (population stable). They are hunted in much of their
range using low nets and easily caught using calling decoy birds
PAGE 6
PRINIA
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Passeriformes
➢ Family : Cisticolidae
➢ Genus : Prinia
HABITAT:
These are birds mainly of open habitats
such as long grasses or scrub, in which
they are not easily seen. They are mainly
resident, migration being limited to local
cold weather movements. Non- breeding
birds may form small flocks.
DISTRIBUTION:
This passerine bird is found in dry open grasslands, open woodland,
scrub and in home gardens in many cities. The northern limits of this
species are along the Himalayan foot hills extending into the upper
Indus river system. The species is absent from the dry desert of the
west of India and extends east into Burma. The Sri Lankan population
is found mainly in the lowlands but going up into the hills to about
1600 m.
FOOD:
They are mostly insectivorous.
PAGE 7
BABBLER
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Passeriformes
➢ Family : Leiothrichidae
➢ Genus : Argya
➢ Species : caudata
HABITAT:
The jungle babbler is a common resident
breeding bird in most part of the Indian
subcontinent and is often seen in gardens
within large cities as well as in forested areas.
DISTRIBUTION:
In the past, the orange- billed babbler, Turdoides
rufescens of Sri Lanka was considered to be a
subspecies of jungle babbler, but has now been
elevated to a species.
FOOD:
They feed mainly on insects, but also eats grains, nectar and berries
PAGE 8
WARBLER
SCIENTIFIC CALSSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Passeriformes
➢ Family : Sylviidae
➢ Genus : Sylvia
HABITAT:
This passerine bird is a species found in
large reed beds often, with some bushes.
3-6 eggs are laid in a basket nest in reeds.
Papyrus (Cyperus) stands, reeds (Phragm-
ites) around lakes, ponds and along rivers.
DISTRIBUTION:
Most population are sedentary, but the
breeding birds in Pakistan, Afghanistan
and north India are migratory, wintering in peninsular India and Sri
Lanka.
FOOD AND FORAGING:
Most warblers are insectivorous, (dragon flies, mayflies, stoneflies) but
will take other small prey items.
STATUS AND CONSERVATION:
PAGE 9
Not globally threatened. Common to abundant in much of range:
uncommon in Myanmar, uncommon in Philippines. Density 10-20
singing birds in Nile Delta.
PAGE 10
SPOTTED DOVE
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Columbiformes
➢ Family : Columbidae
➢ Genus : Spilopelia
➢ Species : chinensis
HABITAT:
Their habitats are open woodland and
agricultural areas, and they have also
adopted well to urban areas and are
common in streets, gardens and parks.
They generally don’t venture into deep
forest.
DISTRIBUTION:
Native to Asia. The species has become
established in many areas outside its native
range. These areas include Hawaii, Southern California, Mauritius,
Australia and New Zealand.
FOOD AND FORAGING:
Spotted Doves feed on grains, grass seeds and bits of other vegetation.
They may also enter chicken coops and other animal houses to feed on
commercial animal feeds. They are usually seen foraging on ground,
typically feeding alone, in pairs or small groups.
PAGE 11
STATUS AND CONSERVATION:
Spilopeila chinensis is classified as least concern by the IUCN
PAGE 12
COLLARED DOVE
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Columbiformes
➢ Family : Columbidae
➢ Genus : Streptopelia
➢ Species : decaocto
HABITAT:
Suburbs, farmland, wood edges, open
country. Apparently very adaptable.
In original Asian range, found in semi-
open dry country with scattered trees
and grooves
DISTRIBUTION:
Native to Europe and Asia. Introduced
to North America.
FOOD AND FORAGING:
Eat mostly seeds, some berries and insects. Also eats bread crumbs and
other foods provided by humans. Forages mostly while walking on the
ground. When not breeding, usually forages in flocks. Sometimes
flutters among branches of trees or shrubs to take berries.
PAGE 13
STATUS AND CONSERVATION:
Because of its vast global range and increasing population trend, it has
been listed as “Least concern” on the IUCN Red List since 2014.
PAGE 14
SPARROW
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Passeriformes
➢ Family : Passeridae
➢ Genus : passer
HABITAT:
Habitat includes grasslands, deserts
and scrubland. Eurasian tree sparrow
inhabit open woodland. Cinnamon
ibon has the most unusual habitat,
inhabiting the canopy of cloud forest
in Philippines.
DISTRIBUTION:
Indigenous to Europe, Africa and Asia. House sparrows found
throughout North America, Australia, parts of Southern and Eastern
Africa and South America.
FOOD AND FORAGING:
Diet consist mainly of small seeds. They can be attracted to corn, oats,
wheat and other types of grains or weed seeds. They also feed on small
insects usually found in fields.
STATUS AND CONSERVATION:
They are listed as “Least concern” on the IUCN Red List.
PAGE 15
RED WATTLED LAPWING
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Charadriiformes
➢ Family : Charadriidae
➢ Genus : Vanellus
➢ Species : indicus
HABITAT:
Red wattled lapwing are being seen at
almost any wetland habitat in its range.
DISTRIBUTION:
Breeds from west Asia eastwards across
South Asia. May migrate altitudinally in
spring and autumn and spreads out widely
in the monsoon.
FOOD AND FORAGING:
Diet includes a range of insects, snails and other invertebrates mostly
picked from the ground. May feed on some grains. They feed mostly at
day but may also feed at night.
STATUS AND CONSERVATION:
This species is declined in its western range but is abundant in much
of South Asia.
PAGE 16
BLACK DRONGO
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
➢ Order : Passeriformes
➢ Family : Dicruridae
➢ Genus : Dicrurus
➢ Species : macrocercus
HABITAT:
The black drongo can be seen in savanna,
fields and urban habitats.
DISTRIBUTION:
They are found as summer visitors to North eastern Afghanistan and
Northern Pakistan but are residents from Indus valley until Bangladesh
and onto India. Predation by and competition from black drongos have
been suggested as factors in the decline of endemic birds species such
as the Rota bribled white-eye Gaum flycatcher.
FOOD AND FORAGING:
Feed mainly on insects such as grasshoppers, termites, wasps, bees,
ants, moths, beetles and dragonfly. They sometimes fly close to free
branches attempting to disturb any insects that may be present. There
some cases of black drongo preying on small reptiles or may be even
bats. They are only rarely known to take arthropods such as scorpions
and centipedes. They feed on milkweed butterflies that are often
avoided by other predators.
PAGE 17
CONCLUSION
Grassland birds prefer a wide range of grass heights and
densities, with some species preferring short sparse vegetation, and
others preferring taller, more dense vegetation. Due to differences in
species habitat preferences and regional differences in soils and
floristics, the responses of individual grassland species to specific
grassland management practices can be variable and often are regionally
dependent. As a result, management of grassland areas is best directed
towards the creation of a mosaic of grassland habitat types. This habitat
mosaic is probably best maintained through some type of rotational
management system in which selections of large grassland areas receive
management on a regular schedule. Such a rotational system would
provide a variety of habitat types in every year, would ensure the
availability of suitable habitat for birds at either end of the grassland
management spectrum, and als0 would provide habitat for birds whose
preferences lie between these extremes.
GROUP MEMBERS:
o Prathyusha S
o Pooja Radhakrishnan
o Aswathy B
o Renjisha Venugopal T
o Renjith V S
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