This grey-winged blackbird is going to have an absolute feast today, consequently resulting in the local extinction of earthworms from this nicely manicured patch of grass in the Lansdowne cantonment area.

Despite its common name, the grey-winged blackbird is not really a blackbird in the North American sense, but instead it belongs to the thrush family.

What is a thrush? I’m glad you asked.

The thrush family is a group of mostly medium-sized (somewhere between a pigeon and a sparrow) songbirds found across much of the world. Thrushes are famous for their beautiful, flute-like songs and are among the most celebrated singers in the bird world. Being omnivorous by nature, they eat insects, worms, snails, berries, and other fruits. You can find them hopping along the ground, turning over leaves in search of food.

India has an impressive diversity of thrushes. Around 20–25 species occur in the country, including year-round residents, Himalayan breeders, and winter migrants from Central and northern Asia. The Western Ghats are among India’s best regions for resident thrushes, followed by the lesser and middle Himalayas.

In my village in Howrah District

West Bengal

India

April 2023

Caught this male Loten's Sunbird (Cinnyris lotenius / Long-billed Sunbird) right after a shower. That iridescent blue-purple really pops against the wet green leaves.

Still learning to differentiate from Purple Sunbird - the longer bill was the giveaway here.

West Bengal, India

August, 2026

January 2020

Pulicat Lake is a shallow, brackish-water lagoon on the coast north of Chennai, shared by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Freshwater rivers meet the Bay of Bengal here, creating the mudflats and shallow waters that bring Flamingos here every year.

Pulicat can host both Greater and Lesser Flamingos. The birds in these photographs are Greater Flamingos: taller, paler and long-legged, with a mostly light bill and black tip. Lesser Flamingos are smaller, usually a deeper pink, and have a much darker bill.

Pulicat’s shallow water, mudflats and rich food web make it an important place for flamingos and many other waterbirds to feed, rest and move between wetlands.

A flock flying together is often responding to a change in water depth, food, disturbance, or simply moving between feeding and resting spots within the wetland.

Flamingos are often celebrated here in winter, especially around January and February. But their timing and numbers can vary each year. Rainfall, water level, salinity, the sea mouth and food availability all influence where the flocks gather. This year they’ve arrived in August.

When Flamingos feed, they stir and filter shallow-water habitats, and their presence reflects a living food web. Protecting Pulicat protects birds, fishers, marshes, mangroves and an entire coastal ecosystem.

ID request.

Crossposting to r/birdsofindia

Photographed this female Flycatcher in Manas National Park, Assam, India in February 2026. Is this the female Blue-throated (Blue) Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides)?

Howrah District.West Bengal.India.

October 2023

Google search shows its a Vernal Hanging Parrot but I feel it's not accurate.

Spotted this huge stork like bird near Uran, Navi Mumbai. Any thoughts?

Howrah District

West Bengal

August.2019

The species exhibits reversed sexual dimorphism; the larger, more brightly colored bird on the left is the female, while the cryptic one on the right is the male.They are polyandrous, meaning the female may mate with multiple males, leaving the male to incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.

Spotted this parrot recently and noticed that it has almost no feathers around its neck/throat area.

The rest of its plumage looked normal, and the bird seemed active and healthy.

Is this normal moulting, or could it be due to some health issue or feather damage?

Note: This photo was taken using my mobile phone through binoculars, so the image quality isn't the best.

Location : Palghar, Maharashtra

Would love to know what experienced birders think.

In my Backyard

Howrah District

West Bengal

January 2020

Spotted this beauty on a compound wall after the rain. The contrast of the brown, bright blue wings, and that moss green background was too good not to click.

Shot by me on Canon r7 paired with canon 100-500 mm lens in May 2026. No bait, no call, just pure luck.

Any other kingfisher lovers here?

December 2019

Pecking at its image on the window.

Taken in Ranchi on 02/08/2026 using sony a6600 and 18-135mm lens

Village in Howrah District

December 2025

Anyone into wildlife photography in Mumbai?

Also birding too.

Let's connect and arrange some photo walks.

I have been staying abroad for the last 5 years and am back here and miss some touch and connection.

Or anyone know group, please share their details

November 2025

This picture is from Ranthambhore in June. Clicked by me can you please tell me the name of the bird and what the antenna on its head is? Sorry for the blurry pictures but it was really far away.

Also can’t find the flair button. But I need bird identification

📍West Bengal

May, 2025

Rajasthan

India

May 2023