A soft but penetrating chakwa or á-onk (Stuart Baker)
The Brahminy Duck [229]
II. BIRDS WHOSE NESTS ARE LIKELY TO BE FOUND IN ANY GARDEN IN THE PLAINS
1. The Indian House Crow ([3]). (In tall trees.) (Also the Corby ([1]) in Madras.) 2. The Common Babbler ([6]). (In a bush; eggs blue.) (Not in Madras.) 3. One or other of the species of “Seven Sisters” ([7]-[9]). (In a bush; eggs blue.) 4. One or other of the Red-vented Bulbuls ([15]-[18]). (In a bush or plant growing in the verandah; eggs pale pink, blotched with reddish brown.) 5. One or other of the Red-whiskered Bulbuls ([20] and [21]). (Locally. Nest as in 4.) 6. The White-browed Bulbul ([22]). (In Madras only. Nest in bush, eggs as in 4.) 7. The King Crow ([25]). (Tiny cup in fork of tree.) 8. The Indian Tailor Bird ([28]). (In bush or plant growing in verandah. Two or three leaves stitched together.) 9. The Orioles ([44] and [45]). (In trees, very frequently quite close to that of a King Crow.) 10. The Brahminy Myna ([51]). (In hole in building.) 11. The Common Myna ([52]). (In hole in building or tree.) 12. The Pied Myna ([54]). (In low tree.) (Not in Punjab or S. India.) 13. The Indian Paradise Flycatcher ([57]). (In one of lower branches of tree.) 14. One or other of the Fantailed Flycatchers ([58]-[60]). (In a low tree or bush.) 15. The Brown Rock Chat ([64]). (Inside a building on a ledge.) (Not in S. India.) 16. The Indian Robins ([66] and [67]). (Very often on a window-sill.) 17. The Magpie Robin ([68]). (In hole in a wall or tree; eggs green with reddish blotches.) 18. The Yellow-throated Sparrow ([81]). (In hole in tree.) 19. The Common Sparrow ([82]). (Anywhere on the verandah or inside the bungalow.) 20. The Indian Pied Wagtail ([92]). (In hole in building.) 21. The Purple Sunbird ([107]). (Nest suspended from a bush or a rafter in the verandah.) 22. The Purple-rumped Sunbird ([108]). (Nest as in case of [21].) 23. The Golden-backed Woodpecker ([111]). (In hole in tree, which the bird hollows out.) 24. The Barbets ([113] and [114]). (In hole in tree, which the birds hollow out.) 25. The Indian Roller ([115]). (In hole in tree or building.) 26. The Indian Hoopoe ([123]). (In hole in tree or building.) 27. The Indian Swift ([124]). (In verandah or a deserted building.) 28. The Crow-Pheasant ([131]). (In a dense thicket.) 29. The Green Parrots ([132]-[134]). (In holes in trees; sometimes buildings.) 30. The Spotted Owlet ([135]). (In hole in tree or building.) 31. The Common Pariah Kite ([152]). (High up in tall trees.) 32. The Shikra ([158]). (In trees.) 33. The Doves ([166]-[169]). (In trees, and in the case of the Little Brown Dove often in the verandah.) 34. The Paddy Bird ([224]). (High up in tree.)
III. BIRDS THAT ARE FOND OF SITTING ON EXPOSED PERCHES, SUCH AS TELEGRAPH WIRES
1. The Crows ([1]-[4]). 2. The Drongos ([25] and [26]). 3. The Shrikes ([34]-[37]). 4. The Bush Chats ([61]-[63]). 5. The Common Sparrow ([82]). 6. The Swallows ([88]-[90]). 7. The Indian Roller ([115]). 8. The Bee-eaters ([116] and [117]). 9. The Kingfishers ([118]-[120]). 10. The White-eyed Buzzard ([147]). 11. The Doves ([166]-[168]).
IV. BIRDS WHICH ARE ALMOST INVARIABLY FOUND IN FLOCKS, EXCEPT WHEN NESTING
1. The Babblers ([7]-[9]). (Small flocks of seven or eight.) 2. The Indian White-eye ([12]). 3. The Nuthatches ([23] and [24]). 4. The Minivets ([39]-[41]). (Small flocks.) 5. The Cuckoo-Shrikes ([42] and [43]). (Small flocks.) 6. The Rose-coloured Starling ([48]). (Very large flocks.) 7. The Indian Starling ([49]). 8. The Grey-headed Myna ([50]). (Small flocks.) (The other species of Myna frequently, but by no means invariably, congregate in flocks.) 9. The Weaver Birds ([70]-[73]). (Small flocks.) 10. The Munias ([74]-[79]). (Especially the Red Munia.) 11. The Common Rose-Finch ([80]). 12. The Buntings ([83]-[85]). (Feed on the ripening grain.) 13. The Hornbills ([121] and [122]). (Small flocks.) 14. The Swifts ([124] and [125]). 15. The Green Parrots ([132]-[134]). 16. The Spotted Owlet ([135]). (Very small flocks; probably family parties.) 17. The Vultures ([141]-[143]). (Only when feeding on a carcase.) 18. The Common Peafowl ([170]). (Small parties.) 19. The Common and Demoiselle Cranes ([177] and [179]). (The Saras Crane never goes in flocks.) 20. The Plovers ([185] and [186]). 21. The Little Stint ([195]). 22. The Indian Skimmer ([206]). 23. The Spoonbill ([215]). 24. The Cattle Egret ([223]). 25. The Night Heron ([225]). 26. The Common Flamingo ([226]). 27. The Geese ([227] and [228]). 28. The Shoveller ([230]). 29. Many of the Gulls and Terns go about in flocks.