Those rhythmic authoritarian walk, and the scarlet burning eyes are strictly villainous… While pursues stealthily under the thick bushes, the entire avian life keeps a watchful eye…. He would provide hours of interesting moments to your industrious binoculars to watch his activities interspersed with several hide and seek games. And, if it is a warm morning after an overnight rain, your camera can expect awesome images of him basking in the first rays of rising sun. Bearing a lot of myths and believes in all of the South Indian states, Crow pheasant, is believed to be a graceful bird to be seen. A magical grass of its nest which is having extra- ordinary healing powers and can be detected by its ability to float against the water current when the nest is placed in a stream. If you cage its chicks, the parent birds will come with a root which is not described by the science world yet, from its nest, which is capable of melting iron bars so as to free the chick; another story says. It is amazing how the Greater coucal, a sobriquet of this bird, as a weak flier and slow mover, survive with swiftly flying insects as the major diet. That might be the reason why he appetites on slugs, hairy moth caterpillars, and toxic leaf eating butterfly caterpillars, which other birds waive. If you hear a deep humming call which repeats 10 to 15 times continuously, during a walk through any of the South Indian village, you can assure that there will be a pair nesting around…The transformation it adorns during this nuptial period describes the quest of the origin of wedding garments, as it is explains the beautiful shades of black, brown and blue….
South Indian Naturalist Tours is very happy to share this element of nature with you so as to aware you about the unnoticed fascinations of South India and the dormant rejoice within them. We will be thankful to you to share it with people in your familiarity and to neglect it if you find them unwanted, as well.
You may get at least 20 species of such rural birds while you travel with us. Please visit ‘Our Packages’ to know about those tours…
Photo, Research & Narration – S.I.N.T