Journal
of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 January 2022 | 14(1):
20444–20460
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN
0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7437.14.1.20444-20460
#7437 | Received 15 May 2021 |
Final received 11 January 2022 | Finally accepted 15 January 2022
Raptors observed (1983–2016) in
National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary: semi-arid biogeographic region suggestions
for parametric studies on ecological continuity in Khathiar-Gir
Ecoregion, India
L.A.K. Singh 1, R.K.
Sharma 2 & Udayan Rao Pawar 3
1 Puspaswini, 1830 Mahatab
Road, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002, India.
2 National Chambal Sanctuary,
Morena, Madhya Pradesh 476001, India.
3 Pawar Kothi, Dusshera
Maidan, near G.R. Medical College, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474009, India.
1 laksinghindia@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2
rksharma_ncs@yahoo.com, 3 udayanraopawar17@gmail.com
Editor: H. Byju, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Date of publication: 26 January 2022 (online
& print)
Citation: Singh,
L.A.K., R.K. Sharma & U.R. Pawar (2022). Raptors
observed (1983–2016) in National Chambal Gharial
Sanctuary: semi-arid biogeographic region suggestions for parametric studies on
ecological continuity in Khathiar-Gir Ecoregion,
India. Journal of Threatened Taxa
14(1): 20444–20460. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7437.14.1.20444-20460
Copyright: ©
Singh et al. 2022. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: None.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Hindi abstract: See end
of this article.
Author details: L.A.K. Singh—Former
Asst. Director / Officer-in-Charge, erstwhile Central Crocodile Breeding and
Management Training Institute, Hyderabad, Government of India; started the
Field Camp of Crocodile Research Centre, Wildlife Institute of India at Deori, National Chambal Sanctuary in 1983. Superannuated
from service Senior Research Officer (Wildlife) with Forest and Environment
Department- Odisha in December 2010. R.K. Sharma—Former Research Range
Officer, National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS); with LAKS authored the first reports
on bird and dolphin in NCS; superannuated from service in Madhya Pradesh Forest
Department in September 2016. UR. Pawar—a freelance photographer from Gwalior; won the
Wildlife Photographer of the Year award 2013 by the Natural History Museum and
BBC Worldwide.
Author contributions: RKS contributed the primary checklist and the
photographs with URP. LAKS developed the analytical text with illustrations.
Acknowledgements: LAKS and RKS are thankful to the forest departments
of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, particularly to the officers
and staff of the National Chambal Sanctuary where they received full support
and cooperation for over 34 years. Many local people have interacted with them
during the observations and have provided local shelters where needed on the
banks of the Chambal. URP is grateful for his participation in the survey.
Abstract:
The birds of prey or raptors in the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) assume
importance as they are among the top predators of the region, predating on
small crocodilians, turtles, and birds. Our checklist of 30 species of raptors
is developed from observations made during winter surveys conducted between
1983 and 2016. The study area covered the course of river Chambal including its
confluence with river Kuno that leads from Palpur-Kuno Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The raptors which
use the steep and inaccessible mud cliffs of the Chambal landscape include Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata,
Laggar Falcon Falco jugger,
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, White-rumped
Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Spotted Owlet Athene
brama, and the Indian Eagle-Owl or Rock Eagle Owl
Bubo bengalensis. Most of the other raptors
noted in NCS appear to visit from and around the adjoining wildlife areas of
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. According to two methods of classification the
study comes in the semi-arid biogeographic zone or Khathiar-Gir
dry deciduous forest ecoregion. The list of raptors from NCS-Kuno has been compared with previous reports and the list
available for Sariska Tiger Reserve and Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. The present work
is the outcome of a long-term ecological monitoring that primarily focused on
the Gharial Gavialis gangeticus
and its ecological associates in water and the riverine shores. The birds of
prey demanded time and attention for looking above and away from the water
surface or the shorelines. Yet, our meticulous records maintained over 34 years
have generated a basal profile that is expected to inspire focused studies on
parameters that sustain ecological association of raptors of NCS adjoining
forest habitats and wildlife sanctuaries in the ecoregion.
Keywords: Chambal,
crocodile predator, ecological continuity, Khathiar-Gir
Ecoregion, National Chambal Sanctuary, Palpur-Kuno
Sanctuary, Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Raptor
checklist, Sariska Tiger Reserve, semi-arid
biogeographic region.
INTRODUCTION
Background to the study
The UNDP/FAO/Government of India Project for
Conservation of Crocodiles which was initiated in 1974–75 (Bustard 1999)
concluded in 1982 (de Vos 1984) with several significant contributions to a
scenario in Indian wildlife conservation (Singh 1999). The next year, at the
behest of the Government of India, LAKS from the erstwhile Central Crocodile
Breeding and Management Training Institute (CCBMTI), Hyderabad, established and
pursued teamed-up research goals in National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS), with
headquarters at Deori Village Gharial Rearing Centre
in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh. Since then, annual monitoring of Gharials
and incidental collection of ecological and biological data of prominent
wetland fauna has been carried out with simple protocols, for highlighting the
results of wildlife management in NCS.
Much of the research work from NCS in this context is
focused on Gharial, Mugger crocodile, Gangetic Dolphins, turtles, and
non-raptor birds (Singh & Rao 1984, 1985; Singh 1985; Singh & Sharma
1985, 2015, 2018; Rao & Singh 1987a,b,c; Sharma & Singh 1986, 2014,
2015, 2018; Sharma et al. 1995). Until superannuation in 2016, fieldwork
continued with RKS, a key member of the NCS team. The records on the birds of
prey during the river surveys were occasional as they demanded attention for
looking above and away from the water surface or the shorelines. However,
because of meticulous records maintained over a long time, attention was
reverted to raptors which are among the biological predators of crocodiles and
large birds.
The raptors or birds of prey, while predating upon
fish and bird fledglings, also predate through creche of crocodilian hatchlings
and small juveniles of Gharial and Mugger. Although cursory remarks on
predation aspects have been made in our previous publications, a separate
treatment for raptors was not attempted. Sharma & Singh (1986) who covered
field studies during 1983–1985, observed 10 species of raptors, namely, Western
Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Black Kite Milvus
migrans, Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris,
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, White-rumped
Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus, Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus,
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, Western Barn Owl Tyto alba, and Spotted Owlet Athene brama.
Raptors among crocodile predators
Elsewhere, Vyas (2019) provided a list of predators
which affect nests or young ones of different crocodilian species. In this
list, the species of birds that are known to predate on crocodilians are the Crow,
Black or Pariah Kite, egrets, Purple Heron, Black-necked Stork, Painted Stork, Sarus Crane, and the White-bellied Sea Eagle. The presence
of all species except the White-bellied Sea Eagle, is recorded for NCS (Sharma
& Singh 1986). Gopi & Pandav (2006) and Palei et al. (2019) have reported or photographed the
White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster preying on Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus.
The role of raptors in decimating populations of Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris
by 1975 (Singh 1979) in Similipal Tiger Reserve,
Odisha cannot be ruled out, but Singh (1993) gave a list of 25 raptors seen
here.
The raptors are among the world’s most graceful and
spectacular birds for their characteristic display of wings in flight, their
body colour, and the size and shape of the tail. The
high visual acuity of eagles in bright daylight and the highly sensitive vision
of owls with adaptations to dim-light vision has fascinated mankind (Potier et al. 2020). Being predators at the top, the birds
of prey live in low numbers. The threats to tropical raptors include habitat
destruction, environmental contamination, and persecution or shooting (Bildstein et al. 1998; Prakash et al. 2003; Green et al.
2004; Meteyer et al. 2004; Shultz et al. 2004;
Swan et al. 2006a,b; Hernández & Margalida 2009; Zabala et al. 2020).
Out of 292 species of tropical raptors, 76% (222) are
completely in the tropics; and most of the forest dwelling tropical raptors are
secretive and difficult to study (Bildstein et al.
1998). The Chambal region supports a significant number of raptors and this is
evident from numerous casual sightings and anecdotal references, as well as
incidental observations. Based on our notes from the riverine landscape, and
the taxonomic status given in the IOC World Bird List (Gill et al. 2021), the
diurnal birds of prey that include hawks, eagles, and vultures are in the order
Accipitriformes, and falcons in the order Falconiformes. Owls, which are nocturnal birds of prey are
in order Strigiformes. A few of these species breed
in the Chambal landscape. The steep and inaccessible mud cliffs appear to be
preferred sites of Bonelli’s Eagle, Laggar Falcon, Egyptian Vulture, White-rumped
Vulture, Spotted Owlet, and Indian Eagle Owl.
In this note, we present a list of raptors that were
incidentally sighted during our annual river surveys in the National Chambal
Sanctuary and the Kuno confluence leading to Palpur-Kuno Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. Since the presence
of some raptors does not get the support of breeding evidence along the
Chambal, the raptor lists from Ranthambhore and Sariska have been compared for possible insight into their
presence resulting from local flights and extended home range. We expect our
study may stimulate more conclusive knowledge on these aspects from systematic
raptor-specific studies in the future in the Chambal landscape within the
semi-arid biogeographic zone (Rodgers & Panwar 1988) and the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forest ecoregion (WWF 2021).
Study Area
Chambal in northwest India is a clear and fast-flowing
river that originates from the Vindhya Range in central India. A stretch of
about 572 km of the river Chambal, bordering the states of Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, constitutes the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS)
(Figure 1). The NCS is protected for conservation and management of the
endangered Gharial Gavialis gangeticus since 1979.
The biodiversity components of the river under NCS
holds a number of indicator fauna which include the crocodilians, chelonians,
and avian species. Besides, there are the Gangetic Dolphins and otters. Within
the sanctuary limits, the river banks have ravines with sparse ground cover.
The natural vegetation comprises of thorn forests, forming most of the boundary
for Madhya Pradesh. The nearest forested habitat is in the Kuno-Palpur
Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh (Figure 2). However, close to NCS, there
are a few forest-based well-known wildlife sanctuaries (WS) in Rajasthan. These
include the Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
The habitat from Pali to Chakarnagar in Chambal (Figure 2) comprises the most
significant area for the conservation of Gharial. Keeping in mind the
conservation significance of the critically endangered gharial and its habitat,
the population trends and probable threats are among the parameters that have
been assessed regularly with defined gaps. Every year, Madhya Pradesh Forest
Department takes a systematic initiative to carry out a comprehensive survey to
find out the status and distribution of Gharial and its ecological associates
in NCS. Sometimes, survey cruises by boat and foot are also extended into the
tributaries like, Parbati, Kali Sindh, Banas, and Kuno.
The Kuno-Chambal confluence
is downstream of Nadigaon village which is a nesting
site of Gharial and Mugger (Singh 1985; Sharma & Singh 2015). Upstream of Nadigaon, the Baroli sandbank,
and Baroli island are considered among the best
nesting sites of gharial and offer scope to observe all the sequences of
breeding behaviour by adults and creche formation by
hatchlings. The hatchlings congregate around the confluence of the Kuno river, because of the availability of smaller fishes,
and for retreat into the tributary during the flood. About 30 km upstream of
the Kuno-confluence, the Palpur-Kuno
WS was established in 1981 in the state of Madhya Pradesh with an initial area
of about 344.68 km2. It is a dry deciduous forest forming a part of
the Vindhyan hill range.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The NCS was marked into twelve stretches of smaller
study zones (Figure 2 based on Singh 1985) and the area was surveyed by
travelling on a motor boat as well as by walking on foot. The surveyors were
equipped with 1:50,000 toposheets from Survey of India, A4-size bits of field
map sheets, binoculars, and a camera. The team along with the support staff
normally moved between 0900 h and 1700 h. during the winter. When moving by
motorboat, the transect speeds ranged within 15 km per hour, depending on the
demands of the situation and navigability of the stream. Birds were sighted
with the help of binoculars (Olympus 10 × 50 mm), occasionally aided with a
spotting scope. Field notes were made directly on the field map sheets or
notebooks. The bird species were identified using standard field guides, such
as Ali (1979, 2002), Naoroji (2011), and Grimmett et al. (2011). Observed species of raptors were
recorded along with sighting time and nearest village name and other ancillary
information on datasheets. A list of all the raptor species observed in the
Chambal and Kuno region is given in Table 1. The
recent names and synonyms are according to the International Ornithological
Congress- IOC World Bird List (Gill et al. 2021).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1. The Checklist of raptor birds in NCS-Kuno
a) The list of raptors based on
our observations comprises a total of 30 species (Table 1 and Supplement Table
A). It includes six species of vultures, one osprey, two kites, one shikra, one harrier, three buzzards, five eagles, one
kestrel, one hobby, two falcons, and seven owlet/owls. The family-wise list
incorporates Falconidae four species, Accipitridae 18 species, Tytonidae
one species, Strigidae six species, and Pandionidae one species.
b) In our list, a total of nine
species falls under the IUCN threatened categories of Critically Endangered
(CR) (3), Endangered (EN) (2), Vulnerable (VU) (1), and Near Threatened (NT)
(3) of which six are residents and three are winter visitors. Other 21 species,
which includes six winter-visiting species, are with status of Least Concern
(LC) (Table 1 and Supplement Table B).
c) Nine of the 30 species listed
are winter visitors. These are Cinereous Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Western
Osprey (seen through early summer till May), Western Marsh Harrier, Common
Buzzard, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Common Kestrel, and Eurasian Hobby
(Table 1 and Supplement Table B). A detailed study on their migration pattern
to the wetlands of river Chambal may indicate if NCS deserves to be considered
as a Ramsar site.
d) Our preliminary observations
indicate that the raptors received protection that is available as incidental
to Gharial conservation in NCS.
e) In Wildlife (Protection) Act,
India the Schedule-IV status is given to Cinereous Vulture, Egyptian Vulture
and Red-headed Vulture. This, however, does not match the grave status given to
these species under the IUCN as NT, EN, and CR, respectively (Table B). We
agree that the Egyptian Vulture or Pharaoh’s
Chicken appear to be in relatively good numbers but because of their
size they might be more prone to killing. The suggestions made here on the
possible lift or upgradation of Scheduled status of these three raptors merits
the attention of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
(MOEFCC) and requires further consultation with established ornithologists of
India.
2. Species-wise total sightings
a) The total number of birds
counted during the survey period 2003–2016 was 2070, with a range of 85–188,
and an average of 148 birds per year (Table 2). The moving average of the
number of birds per year appears to indicate that NCS continues to be a good
habitat for raptor sighting (Figure 3).
b) In the entire list (Table 1)
there are seven species whose total count in 14 annual surveys has been less
than five. These are, one bird per one survey for Cinereous Vulture (4
sightings), Griffon Vulture (4 sightings), Common Buzzard (4 sightings),
White-eyed Buzzard (2 sightings), Crested Honey Buzzard (4 sightings), Pallas’s
Fish Eagle (1 sighting), and Dusky Eagle Owl (4 sightings).
c) Pallas Fish Eagle was last seen
in 1986 (Supplement Table A) and has not been recorded since then. There has
been an increase in the number of sightings of Western Osprey over the years.
Although the Western Osprey is considered to be a winter visitor, it is seen in
Chambal in fair numbers until late summer.
d) Indian White-rumped Vultures were found in fair numbers in Chambal
Sanctuary and large flocks could be seen until 1990, when a maximum of 304
vultures were recorded (Supplement Table A). Following this, there has been a
steady decline. Only a total of four vultures were recorded in 2016
3. Survey-year-wise species sightings (Table 2)
a) Ten species of raptors appear
to have NCS in their preferred home range. Seven species were observed for 11
or more of the total 14 continuous annual surveys. These are the Egyptian
Vulture (14 years), White-rumped Vulture (all 14
years), Red-headed Vulture (13 years), Western Osprey (all 14 years), Shikra (14 years), Western Marsh Harrier (13 years), and Laggar Falcon (13 years). There were two species that were
seen in 10 out of 14 surveys. These species are the Bonelli’s
Eagle and Common Kestrel (Table 1).
b) During our survey years, 2003
to 2016, the number of species observed per year varied between 10 and 22
species (Table 2, Figure 4). In 1990, only three species of raptors were noted
namely, the White-rumped Vulture with 304 counts,
Indian Vulture four birds counted and 28 bird counts of Western Osprey
(Supplement Table A).
c) Very low sightings or no
sighting of a species during any survey indicates the basic territorial
characteristics of raptors, the possibility of their long home range, their
seasonal and migratory habits, and our winter-season linear survey along the
572 km long Chambal River. Moreover, the survey objectives were targeted at the
species seen in the water or on the river banks.
d) The index describing year-wise
raptor counts and raptor species is an average of 9.9. This demonstrates a
fairly favourable relationship between the habitat of
NCS and the appearance of raptors within its landscape. In the beginning, i.e.,
in 2003 it was 10.5 and in 2016 it was 11.5 with fluctuations between values
5.7 and 15.3 (Table 2; Figure 5).
e) It is expected that the index
values may enable to construe conclusion on conservation impacts from NCS with
details of ecological parameters influencing the survival and behaviour of raptors through decades since the 1980s.
4. NCS-Kuno raptor names by
other authors
a) Lists of NCS raptors that were
possible to access for comparison are in Mitra
(1979), the management plan by Sale (1982), a Technical Report by Sharma &
Singh 1986, the management plan by Murthy (2004), the consolidated list in Nair
& Krishna (2013) and the proposed tri-state management plan by Choudhury et
al. 2014. The list by Mitra (1979) was an original
survey before our work commenced.
b) Mitra
(1979) reported the presence of six raptor species. These were the Laggar Falcon, Pale Harrier, White-eyed Buzzard, Short-toed
Eagle, Common Kestrel, and Crested Hawk Eagle (Changeable Hawk Eagle). Out of
these, our observations till 2016 confirm the continued sighting of four
species. These are the Laggar Falcon, Kestrel,
White-eyed Buzzard, and the Changeable Hawk Eagle.
c) In the consolidated list of the
vertebrate fauna of the Chambal basin, Nair & Krishna (2013) furnished a
list of 308 bird species under 64 families. This list includes 45 species of
raptors. These belong to Falconidae six species, Accipitridae 29 species, Tytonidae
one species, and Strigidae nine species.
d) Given the gharial-oriented
primary objectives, the season, and nature of our annual river surveys, we
agree that our observations will not tally with other lists available for
comparison.
NCS-Kuno raptor list compared
with Ranthambhore and Sariska
(Table 3)
a) Bildstein
et al. (1998) mentioned 63 diurnal raptor species in India. Naoroji
(2011) mentioned the occurrence of a total of 44 raptor species in the
semi-arid biogeographic zone, of which 26 are migrants and 18 are residents.
b) Since Chambal banks offer only
the cliffs for limited perch or nest, we have attempted to compare our observed
list with sanctuaries of Rajasthan that may be within the active home range of
the raptors.
c) Eleven raptor species observed in
NCS are also reported from Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve
(RTR) (Anonymous 2021) and Sariska Tiger
Reserve (STR) (Sultana 2013). These are the Black-shouldered
Kite, Western Barn Owl, Common Kestrel, Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Vulture,
Crested Honey Buzzard, Red-headed Vulture, Shikra,
Spotted Owlet, Brown Fish Owl, and Indian Scops Owl.
d) Six species are not reported
either from RTR or STR. These are the Cinereous Vulture, Common Buzzard,
Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Eurasian Hobby, and Indian Eagle
Owl. Future studies will confirm if these are migrants from other parts of the
semi-arid biogeographic zone or the adjoining geographic regions.
e) Out of the 30 raptor species
presented in this work from NCS-Kuno, we didn’t find
reports of 11 species in RTR and two species in STR. The species not reported
from STR are the Black Kite and Dusky Eagle Owl. The species not reported from
RTR are the Bonelli’s Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier,
Egyptian Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Laggar Falcon, Western Osprey, Red-necked Falcon, Tawny
Eagle, White-eyed Buzzard, Griffon Vulture, and Mottled Wood Owl.
f) Raptors are known to have long
home ranges, and they may be flying to NCS-Kuno for
food. Besides, Chambal forms confluences with other perennial tributaries like
Kali-Sindh, Parbati, and Banas upstream, and the confluence of five rivers
around Pachhnada in the downstream. Future studies
may further reveal the relationship between the home range of different raptor
species and the riverine habitat.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The National Chambal Sanctuary, which constitutes a
part of river Chambal, is included under wetland types 11 (rivers, streams –
slow-flowing, lower perennial) & 12 (rivers, streams – fast-flowing, upper
perennial) (Scott 1989). As a protected area of national stature, river Chambal
is provided with incidental conservation benefits for avian diversity. The
river plays a crucial role in supporting local stork populations as well as
giving alternate refuge for local migrants during the years with extreme
ecological conditions (Sharma & Singh 2018). Similarly, continuous
monitoring of wetland habitats in and outside Chambal may highlight the kind of
ecological attraction Chambal holds for the skimmer populations of other
wetlands in the region (Singh & Sharma 2018).
1. Consideration for the tri-state Chambal Ramsar site
Based on field surveys we have reported in the past on
the status and population trends of large shorebirds and Raptor species of NCS
(Sharma & Singh 1986; Sharma et al. 1995, 2013). The wetland and the
adjoining area of the National Chambal Sanctuary form the habitat for many
resident and migratory bird species, of which some are globally threatened. Our
study on raptors identifies nine of the thirty raptors under the migratory category,
attracted to the wetland landscape of NCS. A detailed study on the migration
pattern of raptors and large shorebirds to River Chambal may further highlight
the need for improved attention to river Chambal as a tri-state Ramsar site of India. Madhya Pradesh has already initiated
the proposal some years back and deserves coordination at the national level.
2. Review of Scheduled status for three species of
raptors
As predators, the raptors form one of the top links in
the ecological chain and are, therefore, indicators of the health of the
environment (Naoroji 2011). Among the most effective
predators, the birds of prey keep a constant check on the population of
amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds, and even on themselves. Found in
diverse habitats, they are among the first that are affected by chemical
pollution, adverse exploitation, and an overall decline of the habitat. The
results from the present study on raptors propose that the MoEFCC
consider reviewing the status given under the Wildlife (Protection) Act to
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus, Egyptian Vulture Neophron
percnopterus, and Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus.
3. A comprehensive study on raptors of Arid
Biogeographic Region / Khathiar-Gir Eco Region
Studies on tiger by Reddy et al. (2012) have already
suggested on-ground gene-pool continuity over RTR and Sawai
Madhopur National Park (MNP), which are in Rajasthan
on the northern side of NCS and the Kuno-Palpur
Wildlife Sanctuary (KPWS) of Madhya Pradesh on the southern side of NCS. Only a
future study on raptors would further confirm the nature of ecological
connectivity of habitats on either side of the National Chambal Sanctuary
through the air.
We expect some of the raptors in NCS are visitors from
the adjoining habitats of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, within the dry
deciduous forest ecoregion. Tharmalingam et al.
(2011) reported the presence of 19 raptor species in Kuno-Palpur
of Madhya Pradesh, and the list doesn’t show the presence of 16 raptors
observed in our present list (Table 3). However, out of these 16 species, six
are reported from Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR)
and nine from Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR). The
observations suggest some continuity in the distribution of raptors in the
north and south of river Chambal.
The list of raptor birds given in the present study
forms a base for time-related comparison of species-availability and for an
impact assessment. It is urged, that detailed studies may be promoted on
raptors seen in National Chambal Sanctuary and their possible home ranges
extending through other perennial tributaries and forest habitats like those of
Kuno and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh, and Ranthambhore and Sariska in
Rajasthan.
Table 1. Species of raptors observed in National
Chambal Sanctuary over 14 surveys during 2003–2016 of Gharial monitoring. Where
synonyms exist, the first mentioned name is according to the nomenclature in
IOC World Bird List (v11.1) (Gill et al. 2021). Key to IUCN status:
CR—Critically Endangered | EN—Endangered | VU—Vulnerable | NT—Near Threatened |
LC—Least Concern. ‘Winter’ in migratory status refers to months November to
February.
|
|
English name |
Scientific name |
Location |
Total raptor counts (max 14 surveys |
Total years when seen (max 14) |
IUCN Red List status |
Migratory status
|
|
1 |
Cinereous Vulture |
Aegypius monachus |
Chambal, Kuno |
4 |
3 |
NT |
Winter visitor |
|
2 |
Egyptian Vulture |
Neophron percnopterus |
Chambal, Kuno |
999 |
14 |
EN |
Resident |
|
3 |
White-rumped
Vulture (Indian White-backed Vulture) |
Gyps bengalensis |
Kuno, Chambal |
80 |
14 |
CR |
Resident |
|
4 |
Indian Vulture (Longbilled
Vulture) |
Gyps indicus |
Chambal, Kuno |
12 |
6 |
CR |
Resident |
|
5 |
Red-headed Vulture |
Sarcogyps calvus |
Chambal, Kuno |
30 |
13 |
CR |
Resident |
|
6 |
Griffon Vulture (Eurasian Griffon) |
Gyps fulvus |
Kuno |
4 |
4 |
LC |
Winter visitor |
|
7 |
Western Osprey (Osprey) |
Pandion haliaetus |
Chambal |
562 |
14 |
LC |
Winter visitor, seen till May |
|
8 |
Black-shouldered Kite |
Elanus axillaris |
Chambal, Kuno |
39 |
9 |
LC |
Resident |
|
9 |
Black Kite (Common Pariah Kite) |
Milvus migrans
|
Chambal, Kuno |
62 |
8 |
LC |
Resident |
|
10 |
Shikra |
Accipiter badius |
Chambal |
74 |
14 |
LC |
Resident |
|
11 |
Western Marsh Harrier (Eurasian Marsh
Harrier) |
Circus aeruginosus |
Chambal |
38 |
13 |
LC |
Winter visitor |
|
12 |
Common Buzzard |
Buteo buteo |
Chambal |
4 |
3 |
LC |
Winter visitor |
|
13 |
White-eyed Buzzard |
Butastur teesa |
Chambal, Kuno |
2 |
2 |
LC |
Resident |
|
14 |
Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental Honey
Buzzard) |
Pernis ptilorhynchus |
Chambal, Kuno |
4 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
15 |
Bonelli's Eagle |
Aquila fasciata |
Chambal, Kuno |
29 |
10 |
LC |
Resident |
|
16 |
Pallas’s Fish Eagle |
Haliaeetus leucoryphus |
Chambal |
0 |
0 |
EN |
Winter visitor |
|
17 |
Tawny Eagle |
Aquila rapax |
Chambal |
11 |
5 |
VU |
Winter visitor |
|
18 |
Crested Serpent Eagle |
Spilornis cheela |
Chambal |
5 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
19 |
Changeable Hawk Eagle |
Nisaetus cirrhatus (Spizaetus cirrhatus) |
Kuno |
5 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
20 |
Common Kestrel |
Falco tinnunculus |
Chambal |
29 |
10 |
LC |
Winter visitor |
|
21 |
Eurasian Hobby |
Falco subbuteo |
Kuno |
6 |
6 |
LC |
Winter visitor |
|
22 |
Laggar Falcon |
Falco jugger |
Chambal |
27 |
13 |
NT |
Resident |
|
23 |
Red-necked Falcon |
Falco chicquera |
Chambal |
9 |
7 |
NT |
Resident |
|
24 |
Spotted Owlet |
Athene brama |
Chambal |
4 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
25 |
Western Barn Owl (Barn Owl) |
Tyto alba |
Chambal, Kuno |
5 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
26 |
Dusky Eagle Owl |
Bubo coromandus |
Chambal |
4 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
27 |
Brown Fish Owl |
Ketupa zeylonensis |
Kuno |
5 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
28 |
Indian Scops
Owl |
Otus bakkamoena |
Kuno |
7 |
5 |
LC |
Resident |
|
29 |
Mottled Wood Owl |
Strix ocellata |
Kuno |
5 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
|
30 |
Indian Eagle-Owl (Rock Eagle Owl) |
Bubo bengalensis |
Kuno |
5 |
4 |
LC |
Resident |
Table 2. Year-wise survey with record of total numbers
of species, raptor birds, and the trend of their index ratio.
|
Year |
Species no. |
Raptor count |
Bird count / Species count index |
|
2003 |
11 |
116 |
10.5 |
|
2004 |
17 |
188 |
11.1 |
|
2005 |
17 |
160 |
9.4 |
|
2006 |
17 |
171 |
10.1 |
|
2007 |
10 |
153 |
15.3 |
|
2008 |
18 |
166 |
9.2 |
|
2009 |
10 |
111 |
11.1 |
|
2010 |
15 |
85 |
5.7 |
|
2011 |
14 |
170 |
12.1 |
|
2012 |
13 |
90 |
6.9 |
|
2013 |
14 |
148 |
10.6 |
|
2014 |
16 |
163 |
10.2 |
|
2015 |
22 |
176 |
8.0 |
|
2016 |
15 |
173 |
11.5 |
|
Total |
209 |
2070 |
- |
|
Average |
14.9 |
147.9 |
9.9 |
Table-3. Comparison of raptors observed in National
Chambal Sanctuary with reports from Ranthambhore
Tiger Reserve (RTR) and Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR). Tharmalingam et al 2011 refers to report from Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary. P—Presence mentioned | N—Not
mentioned. Ten of these species at serial numbers 2,3,5,7,8,9,16,17,24 and 25
were observed in 1983–85 and reported earlier in Sharma & Singh 1986
(Supplement Table A).
|
|
Common name |
Scientific name |
Anonymous 2021 (RTR) |
Sultana 2013 (STR) |
Kuno – Palpur (Thermalingam et al 2011) |
|
1 |
Cinereous Vulture |
Aegypius monachus |
N |
N |
N |
|
2 |
Egyptian Vulture |
Neophron percnopterus |
N |
P |
P |
|
3 |
White-rumped Vulture |
Gyps bengalensis |
N |
P |
P |
|
4 |
Indian Vulture |
Gyps indicus |
P |
P |
P |
|
5 |
Red-headed Vulture |
Sarcogyps calvus |
P |
P |
P |
|
6 |
Griffon Vulture |
Gyps fulvus |
N |
P |
N |
|
7 |
Western Osprey
|
Pandion haliaetus |
N |
P |
P |
|
8 |
Black-shouldered Kite |
Elanus axillaris |
P |
P |
N |
|
9 |
Black Kite |
Milvus migrans |
P |
N |
N |
|
10 |
Shikra |
Accipiter badius |
P |
P |
P |
|
11 |
Western Marsh Harrier |
Circus aeruginosus |
N |
P |
P |
|
12 |
Common Buzzard |
Buteo buteo |
N |
N |
N |
|
13 |
White-eyed Buzzard |
Butastur teesa |
N |
P |
P |
|
14 |
Crested Honey Buzzard |
Pernis ptilorhynchus
|
P |
P |
N |
|
15 |
Bonelli's Eagle |
Aquila fasciata |
N |
P |
P |
|
16 |
Pallas’s Fish Eagle |
Haliaeetus leucoryphus |
N |
N |
N |
|
17 |
Tawny Eagle |
Aquila rapax |
N |
P |
N |
|
18 |
Crested Serpent Eagle |
Spilornis cheela |
P |
P |
P |
|
19 |
Changeable Hawk Eagle |
Nisaetus cirrhatus |
N |
N |
P |
|
20 |
Common Kestrel |
Falco tinnunculus |
P |
P |
P |
|
21 |
Eurasian Hobby |
Falco subbuteo |
N |
N |
N |
|
22 |
Laggar Falcon |
Falco jugger |
N |
P |
N |
|
23 |
Red-necked Falcon |
Falco chicquera |
N |
P |
N |
|
24 |
Spotted Owlet |
Athene brama |
P |
P |
P |
|
25 |
Western Barn Owl |
Tyto alba |
P |
P |
N |
|
26 |
Dusky Eagle Owl |
Bubo coromandus |
P |
N |
N |
|
27 |
Brown Fish Owl |
Ketupa zeylonensis |
P |
P |
P |
|
28 |
Indian Scops
Owl |
Otus bakkamoena |
P |
P |
N |
|
29 |
Mottled Wood Owl |
Strix ocellata |
N |
P |
N |
|
30 |
Indian Eagle-Owl |
Bubo bengalensis |
N |
N |
N |
For figures
& images - - click here
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Supplement Table A. Year-wise presence and count
record of different raptor species in National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS). Data
for 1983-85 contained information for a checklist and published with other
details in Sharma and Singh 1986. Surveys during 1987-1989 and 1991-2002 were
limited to certain stretches of NCS and for raptors are treated as ‘No data’.
N–No data or Not observed, O–Observed. CR—Critically Endangered | VU—Vulnerable
| EN—Endangered | NT—Near Threatened | LC—Least Concern.
|
Sno |
Common name |
Scientific name |
1983-85 |
1986 |
1987-1989 |
1990 |
1991-2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
TOTAL raptor number |
Seen in how many years |
SUM for raptor groups (row) |
Remarks |
|
1 |
Cinereous Vulture |
Aegypius monachus |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
4 |
3 |
|
NT, rare, winter visitor |
|
2 |
Egyptian Vulture |
Neophron percnopterus |
O |
11 |
N |
N |
N |
62 |
116 |
102 |
98 |
72 |
60 |
41 |
22 |
88 |
36 |
61 |
94 |
67 |
80 |
999 |
14 |
|
EN, common |
|
3 |
White rumped Vulture |
Gyps bengalensis |
O |
32 |
N |
304 |
N |
8 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
4 |
80 |
14 |
|
CR, rare, resident |
|
4 |
Indian Vulture |
Gyps indicus |
N |
N |
N |
4 |
N |
3 |
N |
2 |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
1 |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
12 |
6 |
|
CR, rare, resident |
|
5 |
Red headed Vulture |
Sarcogyps calvus |
O |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
N |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
30 |
13 |
|
CR, rare, resident |
|
6 |
Griffon Vulture |
Gyps fulvus |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
4 |
4 |
|
LC, rare, winter visitor |
|
|
|
|
Listed 3 |
3 |
N |
2 |
N |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
|
|
54 |
|
|
7 |
Western Osprey |
Pandion haliaetus |
O |
4 |
N |
28 |
N |
27 |
35 |
21 |
30 |
50 |
51 |
40 |
29 |
59 |
25 |
57 |
32 |
52 |
54 |
562 |
14 |
|
LC, winter visitor, upto
summer |
|
8 |
Black-shouldered Kite |
Elanus axillaris |
O |
3 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
3 |
2 |
N |
N |
5 |
6 |
4 |
N |
N |
3 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
39 |
9 |
|
LC, common, resident |
|
9 |
Black Kite |
Milvus migrans |
O |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
8 |
11 |
N |
12 |
N |
10 |
N |
9 |
N |
6 |
N |
2 |
4 |
N |
62 |
8 |
|
LC, common, resident |
|
10 |
Shikra |
Accipiter badius |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
74 |
14 |
|
LC, common, resident |
|
11 |
Western Marsh Harrier |
Circus aeruginosus |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
38 |
13 |
|
LC, occasional, winter visior
|
|
12 |
Common Buzzard |
Buteo buteo |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
4 |
3 |
|
LC, rare, winter visitor |
|
13 |
White eyed Buzzard |
Butastur teesa |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
2 |
|
LC, rare, resident |
|
14 |
Crested Honey Buzzard |
Pernis ptilorhynchus |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
1 |
4 |
4 |
|
LC, occasional, resident |
|
15 |
Bonelli's Eagle |
Aquila fasciata |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
29 |
10 |
|
LC, occasional, resident |
|
|
|
|
Listed 3 |
3 |
N |
1 |
N |
4 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
77 |
|
|
16 |
Pallas’s Fish Eagle |
Haliaeetus leucoryphus |
O |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
0 |
0 |
|
EN, rare, winter visitor |
|
17 |
Tawny Eagle |
Aquila rapax |
O |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
4 |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
1 |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
11 |
5 |
|
VU, rare, winter visitor |
|
18 |
Crested Serpent Eagle |
Spilornis cheela |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
1 |
N |
5 |
4 |
|
LC, occasional, resident |
|
19 |
Changeable Hawk Eagle |
Spizaetus cirrahatus |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
1 |
N |
5 |
4 |
|
LC, occasional, resident |
|
|
|
|
Listed 2 |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
1 |
2 |
N |
1 |
1 |
1 |
N |
1 |
2 |
N |
2 |
1 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
20 |
Common Kestrel |
Falco tinnunculus |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
3 |
N |
4 |
N |
N |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
29 |
10 |
|
LC, Ccommon, winter
visitor |
|
21 |
Eurasian Hobby |
Falco subbuteo |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
1 |
N |
1 |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
6 |
6 |
|
LC, rare, winter visitor |
|
22 |
Laggar Falcon |
Falco jugger |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
27 |
13 |
|
NT, rare,resident |
|
23 |
Red-necked Falcon |
Falco chicquera |
O |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
2 |
N |
2 |
N |
1 |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
1 |
9 |
7 |
|
NT, rare, resident |
|
|
|
|
Listed 1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
24 |
Spotted Owlet |
Athene brama |
O |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
1 |
N |
4 |
4 |
|
LC, rare, resident |
|
25 |
Western Barn Owl |
Tyto alba |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
1 |
5 |
4 |
|
LC, rare, resident |
|
26 |
Dusky Eagle Owl |
Bubo coromandus |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
4 |
4 |
|
LC, rare, resident |
|
27 |
Brown Fish Owl |
Ketupa zeylonensis |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
1 |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
5 |
4 |
|
LC, rare, resident |
|
28 |
Indian Scops Owl |
Otus bakkamoena |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
1 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
|
LC, occasional, resident |
|
29 |
Mottled Wood Owl |
Strix ocellata |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
5 |
4 |
|
LC, occasional, resident |
|
30 |
Indian Eagle Owl |
Bubo bengalensis |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
N |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
N |
1 |
N |
5 |
4 |
|
LC, occasional, resident |
|
|
|
|
Listed 1 |
2 |
N |
N |
N |
1 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
N |
N |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
TOTAL raptor species seen during concerned survey |
Listed 10 |
10 |
No data |
3 |
No data |
11 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
10 |
18 |
10 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
14 |
16 |
22 |
15 |
2070 |
209 |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL no of raptor birds counted in the year |
Noted presence, good localities, and total number
(Sharma and Singh 1986) |
66 |
No data |
339 |
No data |
116 |
188 |
160 |
171 |
153 |
166 |
111 |
85 |
170 |
90 |
148 |
163 |
176 |
173 |
2070 |
209 |
209 |
|
|
|
|
Index: Ratio Bird / Spp
numbers |
|
6.6 |
|
113.0 |
|
10.5 |
11.1 |
9.4 |
10.1 |
15.3 |
9.2 |
11.1 |
5.7 |
12.1 |
6.9 |
10.6 |
10.2 |
8.0 |
11.5 |
Average Index 2003-2016= |
9.9 |
|
|
|
Supplement Table B. Raptors of National Chambal
Sanctuary and their international and national status of protection with
recommendation. CR—Critically Endangered | VU—Vulnerable | EN—Endangered |
NT—Near Threatened | LC—Least Concern.
|
Species Sl. No. |
English name |
Scientific name |
IUCN Status |
Status in Wildlife Act, 1972 |
Cites Appendix |
Migratory status |
|
1 |
Cinereous Vulture |
Aegypius monachus |
NT |
Schedule-IV Cannot hunt without permission |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
2 |
Egyptian Vulture |
Neophron percnopterus |
EN |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
3 |
White-rumped Vulture
(Synonym: Indian White-backed Vulture) |
Gyps bengalensis |
CR |
Schedule-I |
II |
Resident |
|
4 |
Indian Vulture (Synonym: Long-billed Vulture) |
Gyps indicus |
CR |
Schedule-I |
II |
Resident |
|
5 |
Red-headed Vulture |
Sarcogyps calvus |
CR |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
6 |
Griffon Vulture (Synonym: Eurasian Griffon) |
Gyps fulvus |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
7 |
Western Osprey (Synonym: Osprey) |
Pandion haliaetus |
LC |
Schedule-I Fully protected |
II |
Winter visitor, seen till May |
|
8 |
Black-shouldered Kite |
Elanus axillaris (Syn: E. caeruleus) |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
9 |
Black Kite (Syn: Common Pariah Kite) |
Milvus migrans |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
10 |
Shikra |
Accipiter badius |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
11 |
Western Marsh Harrier (Synonym: Eurasian Marsh
Harrier) |
Circus aeruginosus |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
12 |
Common Buzzard |
Buteo buteo |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
13 |
White-eyed Buzzard |
Butastur teesa |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
14 |
Crested Honey Buzzard (Synonym: Oriental Honey Buzzard) |
Pernis ptilorhynchus
|
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
15 |
Bonelli's Eagle |
Aquila fasciata (Syn: Hieraaetus
fasciatus) |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
16 |
Pallas’s Fish Eagle |
Haliaeetus leucoryphus |
EN |
No mention |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
17 |
Tawny Eagle |
Aquila rapax |
VU |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
18 |
Crested Serpent Eagle |
Spilornis cheela |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
19 |
Changeable Hawk Eagle |
Nisaetus cirrhatus,
Syn. Spizaetus cirrhatus |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
20 |
Common Kestrel |
Falco tinnunculus |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
21 |
Eurasian Hobby |
Falco subbuteo |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Winter visitor |
|
22 |
Laggar Falcon |
Falco jugger |
NT |
Schedule-I |
I (One) |
Resident |
|
23 |
Red-necked Falcon |
Falco chicquera |
NT |
Schedule-I |
II |
Resident |
|
24 |
Spotted Owlet |
Athene brama |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
25 |
Western Barn Owl (Synonym: Barn Owl) |
Tyto alba |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
26 |
Dusky Eagle Owl |
Bubo coromandus |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
27 |
Brown Fish Owl |
Ketupa zeylonensis (Synonym: Bubo zeylonensis) |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
28 |
Indian Scops Owl |
Otus bakkamoena |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
29 |
Mottled Wood Owl |
Strix ocellata |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |
|
30 |
Indian Eagle-Owl (Synonym: Rock Eagle Owl) |
Bubo bengalensis |
LC |
Schedule-IV |
II |
Resident |