THE NILGIRI BLACKBIRD
Turdus simillimus Jerdon
Description:-
Length 10 inches. Male : Top of the head black ; remainder of upper plumage dark ashy-plumbeous ; wings and tail black washed with ashy; the whole lower plumage dark ashy-brown, the edges of the feathers slightly paler.
Female : The whole upper plumage dark ashy-brown ; the whole lower plumage brownish-grey, streaked on the chin and throat with dark brown.
Iris brown, eye-rims yellow; bill reddish-orange; legs orange-yellow.
Field Identification:-
Abundant in the Nilgiris and Palni Hills. A typical forest Blackbird but paler in colour than the English birds, So that a black cap shows up in the male.
Distribution:-
Mount Aboo : Peninsular India, south of a line from Khandesh through Pachmarhi to Sambalpur: Ceylon. The well-known Nilgiri Blackbird gives its name to a group of five closely-allied sub-species, which differ chiefly in depth of coloration. T, s, mahrattensis, in which the pale collar is most conspicuous, is found at Mount Aboo, perhaps as a summer visitor only, and in the Western Ghats from Khandesh to Malabar, wandering in winter as far south as Travancore. The typical form is found in the Brahma-gherries and Nilgiris, probably extending also to the higher ranges of Western Mysore. T. s. bourdilloni is found in the Palnis and Travancore ranges while T. s. kinnisii is confined to Ceylon. The identity of the form reported in certain areas of the Central Provinces is Still in doubt but a distinct race T. s. spensei is found along the Eastern Ghats. These Blackbirds occur up to the highest points in the various hill ranges and are mainly resident birds.
Habits, etc:-
The Nilgiri Blackbird, to treat more particularly of the best-known form, is one of the commonest birds at Ootacamund and its vicinity, being found chiefly in the Sholas on the tops of the ranges, but also in other types of country. It enters orchards and gardens, and on the whole is a tame familiar species though shy when nesting. It feeds chiefly on the ground, hopping with active movements and turning over dead leaves for insects, worms and fallen fruits, but when disturbed flies up into the trees, flitting from tree to tree with powerful flight. Small berries and fruits are eaten in the trees.
The breeding season is somewhat extended, from March to August, though most nests will be found in April and May. At this period the males sing very beautifully, perching high up in the trees : they may be heard at all hours but especially in the evenings.
In the details of its breeding this bird recalls the familiar English Blackbird. The nest is a massive, well-built cup made of moss, roots, grass, and leaves largely plastered together with mud, while the egg-cavity is neatly lined with grass and roots. It is placed in a fork of a tree or shrub at any height up to about 20 feet from the ground.
The usual clutch consists of two to four eggs but five are sometimes found. The egg is a broad oval, pointed towards the smaller end ; the texture is fine with a slight gloss. The ground-colour varies from bright blue-green to dull olive-green; the markings consist of Spots, speckles, mottlings, and streaks of brownish-red, with secondary spots and clouds of purplish-pink or grey.
The egg measures about 1.17 by 0.86 inches.
Turdus simillimus Jerdon
Description:-
Length 10 inches. Male : Top of the head black ; remainder of upper plumage dark ashy-plumbeous ; wings and tail black washed with ashy; the whole lower plumage dark ashy-brown, the edges of the feathers slightly paler.
Female : The whole upper plumage dark ashy-brown ; the whole lower plumage brownish-grey, streaked on the chin and throat with dark brown.
Iris brown, eye-rims yellow; bill reddish-orange; legs orange-yellow.
Field Identification:-
Abundant in the Nilgiris and Palni Hills. A typical forest Blackbird but paler in colour than the English birds, So that a black cap shows up in the male.
Distribution:-
Mount Aboo : Peninsular India, south of a line from Khandesh through Pachmarhi to Sambalpur: Ceylon. The well-known Nilgiri Blackbird gives its name to a group of five closely-allied sub-species, which differ chiefly in depth of coloration. T, s, mahrattensis, in which the pale collar is most conspicuous, is found at Mount Aboo, perhaps as a summer visitor only, and in the Western Ghats from Khandesh to Malabar, wandering in winter as far south as Travancore. The typical form is found in the Brahma-gherries and Nilgiris, probably extending also to the higher ranges of Western Mysore. T. s. bourdilloni is found in the Palnis and Travancore ranges while T. s. kinnisii is confined to Ceylon. The identity of the form reported in certain areas of the Central Provinces is Still in doubt but a distinct race T. s. spensei is found along the Eastern Ghats. These Blackbirds occur up to the highest points in the various hill ranges and are mainly resident birds.
Habits, etc:-
The Nilgiri Blackbird, to treat more particularly of the best-known form, is one of the commonest birds at Ootacamund and its vicinity, being found chiefly in the Sholas on the tops of the ranges, but also in other types of country. It enters orchards and gardens, and on the whole is a tame familiar species though shy when nesting. It feeds chiefly on the ground, hopping with active movements and turning over dead leaves for insects, worms and fallen fruits, but when disturbed flies up into the trees, flitting from tree to tree with powerful flight. Small berries and fruits are eaten in the trees.
The breeding season is somewhat extended, from March to August, though most nests will be found in April and May. At this period the males sing very beautifully, perching high up in the trees : they may be heard at all hours but especially in the evenings.
In the details of its breeding this bird recalls the familiar English Blackbird. The nest is a massive, well-built cup made of moss, roots, grass, and leaves largely plastered together with mud, while the egg-cavity is neatly lined with grass and roots. It is placed in a fork of a tree or shrub at any height up to about 20 feet from the ground.
The usual clutch consists of two to four eggs but five are sometimes found. The egg is a broad oval, pointed towards the smaller end ; the texture is fine with a slight gloss. The ground-colour varies from bright blue-green to dull olive-green; the markings consist of Spots, speckles, mottlings, and streaks of brownish-red, with secondary spots and clouds of purplish-pink or grey.
The egg measures about 1.17 by 0.86 inches.
