field guide birds of ladakh

8/17/2019 Field Guide Birds of Ladakh

1/176

Field GuideBirds of Ladakh

¾-hÐGÅ-ÅÛ-‚-‚ÛºÞ-;Ým-mÛ-Ç+ ¼-¾-zÇÀz- mü

Pankaj Chandan

Mohd. AbbasParikshit Gautam


2/176

2


3/176

FOREWORD

The Field Guide on the Birds of Ladakh is part of a series of bilin-gual (English and Ladakhi) eld guides developed by WWF-In-dia. The publication commemorates WWF-India’s efforts in con-serving Ladakh’s fragile wetlands, in collaboration with the State

Government and partner Organizations. Spread over a decade,the work has helped in raising the prole of High Altitude Wet-lands both at the local as well as national levels. A core compo-nent of the project has been to raise awareness of local youthand involve them in conservation efforts. The publication of FieldGuides is yet another step towards this endeavour.

Given the pristine beauty of the land and its enigmatic inhabit-

ants, Ladakh has been known as the “Mountains of the Gods”.We are indeed fortunate to be able to participate in the conser-vation of this unique landscape.

My appreciation of the efforts put in by the authors and all thoseinvolved in preparing this Field Guide. I hope that it will be ahandy companion for budding conservationists as well as vis-itors to Ladakh.

Ravi Singh

Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India


4/176

4

PREFACE

The Field Guide on Birds of Ladakh has been specially designedfor the local youth of Ladakh. The Guide is a result of the inten-sive studies and surveys in harsh though unique environment ofLadakh, secondary sources of information and then eld testingin different valleys of Ladakh. The eld testing was done prior topublishing the book so that only that language and information isused which is easily understandable by the local youth.

The authors have particularly taken into account the interest ofthe local youth as well as the general reader and thus the spe-cies have been described in such as way so that it can help ineasy identi cation.

This eld guide puts into one place all the important informationabout various key species of birds found in Ladakh. The sameinformation has been translated into local Ladakhi language sothat it helps those local youth who do not know English. It is

hoped that the eld guide would not only be a source of refer-ence for local youth but would also be a guide to birdwatchersvisiting Ladakh from across the world. It is also hoped that thebook will ll the gap for providing information to the local youthin their own language.


5/176

JÀ ÛP-zXôhü

¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ-‚ -‚ºÞ-zÇ em-qºÛ-hq ï-V-z - h¤ÛGÅ-zÅ¾-‚ôÅ-b -¾-h GÅ-ÅÛ-GŸôm-m Ý-; Ým-m Û-w Ûº -‚ôÅ-b ï-»Ûm-ºÛ-z ô-ÅÛ-D ¼-»ÞG-hP-º I ¾-Å-h;GÅ-qºÛ-»ôh-qºÛ-Å-GmÅ-; Ým-¾-ÅôP-Ç e ï-h; º -¾Å-ºD Þ¼-b -ÇÀôz-¢ P-hP-¿ e-d G-¤P-q -‚ôÅ-b ï-¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ»Þ¾-¤P-q ô-¾-ĢÛGÅ-d G-¾-w ¾-b -I z-qºÛ-ºƒÅ-z -ŸÛG-»Ûmü hq ï-V-z ôq¼-¾-zMz-qºÛ-Ç S ôm-¾-¤Û-¤PÅ-¾-ĢÛGÅ-d G-¾-w ¾-b -Ç +h-»ÛG-hP-GmÅ-± ß¾-; Ým-z; ô¾-b ï-GŸôm-m Ý-; m-¾-È-G -‚Å-¾-ÇÀ-¤ô-‚ôÅ-b -»Ûmü

‚ -‚ÛºÞ-; Ým-ÇÀ-¤ô-hP-¤Z¤-q ô- ÁÛÅ-qºÛ-w º -Å-GmÅ-ÅÛ-GŸôm-m -; m-hP-ÅÛ¾-¤Dm-±P-¤ºÛ-ºh ôh-q-; Ým-zÅ¤-qºÛ-mP-P-z ¼-b -ƒÛÅ-q-»Ûmü‚ -‚ÛºÞ-zÇ em-qºÛ-hq ï-VºÛ-mP-¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-»ôh-qºÛ-‚ -‚ÛºÞ-DG-Tm-; Ým-m Û-Ç + ô¼-¾-»ôh-ü Í¼-¼ïÅ-¤- ÁïÅ-¤Dm-; m-¾-wm-f GÅ-qºÛ-w Ûº -¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ-Ç +h-¾-zN å¼-b ï-»ôh-‚Å-GT G-q -¤m-q- V¼-GŸÛ-

‚ô-¤Dm-hP-ÆâP-B ôz-‚ô-¤Dm-; Ým-¾ºP-wm-f GÅ-qºÛ-¼ï-z-»Ûmü ¾ô-IPÅ-¤P-q ôÅ-zdGÅ-hrh-‚ôÅ-hG Å-q-ŸÛG-º im-º i-‚ô-‚Å-hP-h¤ÛGÅ-zÅ¾-Tm-m Û-‚ -‚ÛºÞ-M ãh-hP-¼ÛGÅ-±P-¤-ÆâP-B z-‚ô-‚Å-¾ºP-wm-f ôG-qºÛ-¼ï-z-»Ûmü


6/176

6

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The eld guide is the result of exhaustive work by a large number ofpeople. There are many to whom we owe a great deal for helping toproduce this book.

We would like to thank Sh.Jigmet Takpa, IFS Regional Wildlife War-den Ladakh for his help in bringing out this publication.

Our special thanks to Ms.Nisa Khatoon, Project Of cer, WWF-India,Field Of ce Leh, for her help.

We wish to thank Sh. Abdul Rouf, Sh. Tsering Angchok and Sh. Lob-zang Khatup-Range Of cers, Wildlife division Leh, and other staff

members of Wildlife division Leh, especially Mrs. Tashi Lanzon fortheir help.

We want to thank Ms.Archana Chatterjee, Regional CoordinatorWWF-India and Mr.Kishor Chandra, Admin Of cer, WWF-India fortheir help.

We are deeply grateful to Ms. Yamini Panchaksharam, Project Of-cer, WWF-India for helping us in editing the English version of theguide.

We are grateful to Sh.Konchok Phandey, a renowned Ladakhi Schol-ar, for translating the eld guide into the Ladakhi version. Without hishelp the eld guide in the local language could not have been pos-sible.

We want to acknowledge Dr. Asad R. Rahmani, Director, BNHS, for

critically reviewing the draft. His comments have helped in furtherimproving the eld guide.

Our special thanks to Sh. Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO,WWF-India and Dr. Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF-India, fortheir help and guidance.


7/176

P ôÅ-¾ïmüÅ-GmÅ-Åï¤Å-Tm-m Û-M ãÅ-‚ïh-qºÛ-hq ï-V-z ô-¤Û-¤P-q ô-ŸÛG-G Û-z¯ôm-º I Å-V m-q -‚Å-qºÛ-ºƒÅ-z -ŸÛG-»Ûmü ºh Û-hq ï-V-z ô-ºw ÛP-‚Å-¾-¼ôGÅ-¤² h-¤Dm-¤P-q -ŸÛG-G -z; º -i m-im-hG Å-»ôhü

Å-Gm

Å-ÅÛ

-¼ÛºÛ

-Åï¤Å

-Tm-Æâ

P-B ô

z-Ç

k ï

-DG-G Û

-hq ô

m-q ô

-Ç

+ Ý

-Ÿ

zÅ

-º

W

GÅ

-¤ï

h-IGÅ

-q-hP-V

-G®

P-hP-Å-G Áï¼-V¼-GŸÛºÛ-h ôm-Ç e ôm-q-Ç + Ý-ŸzÅ-^;-‡¼-¼Û- ÁÛ‡-G ºÞ-b¤-hP-^z¾ÛºÞ-^z¾ÛºÞ-»Ûm-^ -»Å-q¼-Ç t ï¾-¤² h-‚Å-¾-¼ôGÅ-¤² h-qÅ-D ôP-; Ým-¾-Ç‰ ÛP-mÅ-f ÞGÅ-X -V -ŸÝ-ºôÅ-»Ûmühq ï-V-ºh ÛºÛ-Ç + ô¼-¾-hG ôÅ-Ç k ô¤-»ôh-q-Ç o-± ôGÅ-¾-¼ôGÅ-¤² h-¤Dm -^-¾ÛºÞ-^-¾ÛºÞ-J -¾Å-D PÅ-ÅÛ-hq ôm-q ô-m ô-¤ô-m Û-Å-D-b àm-m Û-¼ôGÅ-¼¤-¤² h-qÅ-D ôP-¾ºP-f ÞGÅ-X -V -ŸÝ-ºôÅ-»ÛmüÇ + Ý-ŸzÅ-Í z-ºh Ý¾-¼-Èàz-hP-Ç + Ý-ŸzÅ-± ï-¼ÛP-hzP-x ãG-hP-Ç + -ŸzÅ-„Àô-z¸P-¤DÅ-I z-zTÅ-J ºÛ-¼ÛºÛ-Åï¤Å-Tm-ÆâP-B ôz-¾Å-D ÞPÅ-ÅÛ-²Ûm- W-hq ôm-q ô-GÅÞ¤-hP-Í -W -z=- ÁÛÅ-¿Ë-º²ô¤-z®ô-‚Å-qºÛ-¼ÛºÛ-Åï¤Å-Tm-ÆâP-B ôz-¾Å-D ÞPÅ-ÅÛ-¾Å-‚ïh-q-±P-¤Å-¼ôGÅ-¤² h-q-¾-f GÅ-X -V -ŸÝ-ºôÅ-»Ûmü ^z-¾ÛºÞ-^z¾ÛºÞ-»Ûm-^ Û-»Û-¿ Y ôPÅ-DG-G Û-; ô-ºô¼- ̂ Û-m ï-‡¼-Ç + Ý-ŸzÅ-»¼-T-m-T-‡¼-W -hq m-q -Ç + -ŸzÅ-; Û- Áô¼-Tm-h-¼-GZ ÛÅ-¾ºP-f ÞGÅ-X ï-V ï-ŸÝ-ºôÅ-»Ûmü¾Å-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ-¤±m-Ç‰m-Tm-DÅ-hzP-¤Dm-q ô-h; ôm-¤V ôG-wm-zh Å-hq -V-ºh -¾-h GÅ-Ç +h-¾-zN å¼-z¼-¤² h-qÅ-D ôP-¾ºP-f ÞGÅ-X ï-V ï-ŸÝ-ºôÅ-»Ûmü D P-P -¼ôGÅ-¼¤-¤h m-Å-GmÅ-Åï¤Å-Tm-m Û-M ãÅ-‚ïh-qºÛ-hq ï-V-z ô-Å-GmÅ-ÅÛ-Ç +h-»ÛG-mP-¾-»ôP-fz Å-¤ïh-q-»Ûmü

„Ë Û- Íïm-ÍïV- ÍïÅ- ¾-zŸÝGÅ-qºÛ-Ç + Ý-ŸzÅ-^;-‡¼-Í -Åh- Í¼- ¼ïÈ-¤m- ±m-¼ÛG-¾-¤DÅ-q-¤V ôG-mÅ-̧ Ûm-ƒÛÅ-¾-ŸÛzÅ-hr ôh-¤² h-h ï-zÇÀz-Ç e ôm-¤² h-qÅ-hq -V-z -¤P-P-hG-q -hP-zh -¤ô-ÅôP-z-P ôÅ-¾ïm-‚ïh-P ôÅ-»Ûmü^z-¾ÛºÞü ‡z-¾ÛºÞü M-G¼-¼Û-i âP-u Û-Ç + Ý-ŸzÅ-¼- Û-ÅÛP-hP.ü ºV¼-GŸÛ-P Å-Ç e m-q-Ç + -ŸzÅ-^G-‡¼-ÅÛ-W¾- ô-¼-n¤Å-GZ ÛÅ-mÅ-¼ôG-Å-¤² h-qÅ-D ôP-¾-h¤ÛGÅ-zÅ¾-¾Û-f GÅ-X -V -ŸÝ-ºôÅ-»Ûm-m ü


8/176

8

CONTENTS

Introduction 10Birds of Ladakh 131. Great Crested Grebe 162. Red-Crested Pochard 183. Black-necked Crane 204. Bar-headed Goose 225. Ruddy Shelduck 246. Garganey 267. Northern Shoveler 288. Gadwall 30

9. Eurasian Wigeon 3210. Ferruginous Pochard 3411. Common Snipe 3612. Common Redshank 3813. Ruff 4014. Black-winged Stilt 4215. Pied Avocet 4416. Ruddy Turnstone 4617. Green Sandpiper 4818. Marsh Sandpiper 5019. Lesser Sand Plover 5220. Black-tailed Godwit 5421. Red-necked Phalarope 5622. Common Tern 5823. Golden Eagle 60

24. Lammergeier 6225. Himalayan Griffon 6426. Steppe Eagle 6627. Pallas's Fish Eagle 6828. Osprey 70


9/176

29. Upland Buzzard 7230. Common Kestrel 7431. Brown-headed Gull 7632. Grey Heron 7833. Pallas's Gull 80

34. Glossy Ibis 8235. Ibisbill 8436. Common Coot 8637. Common King sher 8838. Oriental Turtle Dove 9039. Blue Rock Pigeon 9240. Snow Pigeon 9441. Eurasian Eagle Owl 9642. Little Owl 9843. Red-billed Chough 10044. Yellow-billed Chough 10245. Tibetan Snowcock 10446. Himalayan Snowcock 10647. Tibetan Sandgrouse 10848. Tibetan Partridge 110

49. Black-billed Magpie 11250. Common Hoopoe 11451. Alpine Swift 11652. Great Rose nch 11853. Horned Lark 12054. Common Redstart 12255. Black Redstart 12456. White-winged Redstart 12657. Citrine Wagtail 12858. Robin Accentor 13059. Desert Wheatear 132References 134Annexure - Checklist of the Birds of Ladakh 136


10/176

10

INTRODUCTION

Ladakh represents the westernmost extension of the vastTibetan Plateau, covering an altitude range from 2700 to 7650m. Two major mountain chains, the mighty Himalayas and the

Karakoram, demarcate its natural borders towards the southand the north respectively, with the Zanskar and Ladakh rang-es running through it cut by the ow of the Indus. It constitutesover 80% of the Trans-Himalayan tract in India and is home to aunique assemblage of ora and fauna. The region is also knownas a cold-desert and is characterized by severe, arid conditions.Temperature may drop to – 40 0C in the long winter months be-tween December and April and may rise to 35 0C in the short

summer season from July – August. The vegetation in the regionis sparse and productivity peaks only in the short summer sea-son. This harsh environment is thus home to only highly adapt-able ora and fauna.

Several species of mammals are found in the region, such asthe Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Tibetan Argali (Ovis am- mon hodgsoni), Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang kiang), Hima-layan Marmot (Marmota himalayana), Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Tibetan Gazelle (Procapra picticaudata), Snow Leopard (Unciauncia), Lynx (Lynx isabellina), Tibetan Wolf (Canis lupus chan- co), Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni), and Wild Yak (Bosgrunniens) . The ora of Ladakh falls under the Alpine and HighAlpine zones and many species recorded from the area are me-dicinal in nature. Some of the widely used medicinal plants are

Podophyllum hexandrum, Aconitum violaceum and Picrorhizakurrooa .

Ladakh, dotted with some of the World ’s most unique and spec-tacular wetlands, also holds the distinction of being the only


11/176

1

known breeding ground of Black-necked Crane ( Grus nigricollis) in India. Most of these wetlands are of glacial origin and re-main frozen from December to March. A unique tent dwellingtribe, the Changpas, move around the wetlands of Ladakh insearch of pasturelands. Several species of birds also use these

wetlands as their breeding grounds, such as Bar-headed Goose(Anser indicus) , Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis), Brown-headed Gull (Larus brunicephalus), Great-crested Grebe (Pod- iceps cristatus), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), LesserSand Plover (Charadrius mongolus).

Ladakh, like any other high-altitude desert in the world, hasa very fragile ecosystem and can be easily degraded by un-

planned and unregulated developmental and tourism activi-ties. Unplanned developmental activities and unregulated tour-ism activities in some areas of Ladakh are a direct threat to theunique biodiversity of Ladakh. An important indirect threat to lo-cal wildlife is created by the disturbance and degradation of nat-ural habitat due to overgrazing of pasturelands by ever-growinglivestock population. This occurs mainly in eastern and west-ern Ladakh, which pushes wildlife, chie y herbivores, out intosub-optimal habitat. The resulting non-availability of natural preyoften further forces predators to go after livestock. The exces-sive grazing near the wetlands is leading to the degradation ofthe vital breeding grounds of the rare and endangered migra-tory birds. At the same time unregulated tourism activities nearthe wetlands are becoming a major threat to the breeding birds.This is causing more damage as the peak period of biological

activity in Ladakh coincides with the peak tourism season.


12/176

12

P ô-v ôh ü¾-h ÐGÅ-m Û-z ôh-h Û-m Ýz-x ôGÅ-ÅÛ-¤f ô-±h-¤Û-‡¼-2700 mÅ-7650®¤-ŸÛG-G-MÅ-b -»ôh-h ï-»Ûm-m ôG Èï-¤×-¾-»-hP-;-¼-; Ý-¼¤-¼Û-M ãh-GZ ÛÅ-¿Ë -hP-‚ P-x GÅ-¾-»ôh-qºÛ-z¼-m-¸PÅ-h; ¼-hP-¾-h ÐGÅ-¿ Y ôPÅ-GZ ÛÅ-»Ûm-m ôG ¾-h ÐGÅ-¿ Y PÅ-mÅ-ÅïRK -G® P-q -M G-G-m ô

G M-G¼

-ÈÛ

-¤×

-¾

-»Û

-w¼

-x ô

GÅ

-ÅÛ

-Å

-GmÅ

-zM-V-zMh-T

- 80%®¤

-Ez-Ç

e

-»Û

m-m

Gh ï-mP-P-̄Û- ÁÛP-¿ Y ôm-q-hP-h Ýh-º I ôºÛ-¼ÛGÅ-h¤ÛGÅ-zÅ¾-»ôh-h -»Ûm-m G ºh -¿ Y PÅ-q ô-IP-»Þ¾-¾Û-Å-Ç +¤-Tm-hP-V¼-V ß-h; ôm-¤ô-»Ûm-m G ±-IP-P -±h-q -hG m-h Å-u -¹ -zT ß-GZ ÛÅ-mÅ-¹ -z-zŸÛ-q-± ßG-q-̧ï-¼Þ-mÅ-G»ôG-G-^ G-¼Û-40 ± G-q-V-‚Å-hP-h‚¼-h ÝÅ-u Û-¹ -zh Ým-q-zMh-q-; Ým-mÅ-̧ Û-¼Þ-mÅ-H m-¾- ̂ G-¼Û-35¼ï-± G-q-Vº -m GºÛ-¿ Y ôPÅ-ÅÛ-mP-P-̄Ó-Ç S ôm-m Û-¼ÛGÅ-; Ým-h‚¼-h ÝÅ-f ÞP-P Þm-®¤-ŸÛG-G -mP-P-f¼-f ¼-B º -m Gºh Û-®ôGÅ-Gm¤-¹ºÛ-mP-P-̄Û- ÁÛP-hP-h Ýh-º I ô-ºh ÝG-f Þz-¤Dm-D-T G-G -w º -»Ûm-m G

ºh Û-¿ Y ôPÅ-¾-y â-G Ýº -ºô-¤-GbP-¤Dm-m Û-h Ýh-º I ô-¼ÛGÅ-¤P-q -»ôh-h -»Ûm-m G hq ¼-m- Gmº -q ô-hP- GZm-hP- AP-hP-ºw ïº -hP- -®ï-hP- hG -z-hP- GTm-hP-G»Û-hP- uP-; -hP- G®ôh-hP- ºƒôP-hP-zTÅ-»Ûm-m ôG ¯Û- ÁÛP-¿ Y m-q-m -Í¾-q m-hP-Í¾-q m-¤f m-q -»P-hP-ƒG-¼Û-¤f ôm-q ôºÛ-¿ Y ôPÅ-¾-B ï-P ôÅ-ÅÛ-¼ÛGÅ-¤P-q -»Ûm-m G h -±P-¤-Çm̈-̄ Ó-»Ûm-m Gh ï-mP-mÅ-Çm̈-¾-z; ô¾-¤Dm-D-T ÛG-hq ï¼-mü q ô- ̂ -w -¾¤-ÈïGÅ-^¼¤-hP-z P-P-hP-q -; -¼ô-Èï-̧ -; Ým-¼ô-º -; Ým-»Ûm-m ôG

¾-h ÐGÅ-m Û-ºW ÛG-d ïm-GP-q ôºÛ-mP-mÅ-GŸm-hP-¤Û-º i-z ºÛ-Å-½Àôm-q-»Ûh-ºy G-q -ŸÛG-»Ûm-m ôG ¤-±h-qºÛ-M-G¼-¼Û-mP-mÅ-‚ -F âP-F âP-¤W ÛP-mG-G -M h-Ç t ¾-Å-GT G-q -»Ûm-m G

Å-Eh-¤P- ÁôÅ-q ô-u Û-¹ -zT ß-GZ ÛÅ-q-mÅ-GÅÞ¤-q-± G-q-GPÅ-V -¾-zd m-b -ºh G-¤Dm-»Ûm-m ôG ¼ï-z ôºÛ-mP-P-ºh ÝG-¤Dm-m Û-‚ P-q-; Ým-̄ Ó-DºÛ-w Ûº -GmÅ-Å-GT G-mÅ-GT G-G-Ç t -»Ûm-ºh ÝG-G-m ôG ‚ -‚ÛºÞ-¤P-q ô-ŸÛG-G ÛÅ-ÅP-ºh Û-Å-Eh-q -M h-Ç t ¾-¾Û-w º -z; ¾-¾-m G hq ¼-m-PP-q-hP-¤± ô-‚ -Z-G¼-hP-‚ P-G-¼P-B ïÅ-hP-h¤¼-¼Þ-zTÅ-»Ûm-m G

ºW ÛG-d ïm-m Û-GŸm-¤f ô-ÅºÛ-Å-Ç +¤-; Ým-®ôGÅ-¾-¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅP-º‚ãP-zºÛ-d m-ºƒï¾-zŸÛG-V ôG-V ôG-»Ûm-m ôG z¿ e-zÅ¤-¤ïh-qºÛ-»¼-MÅ-hP-fzÅ-Gh P-¤ïh-q-hP- Ç + ô¼-G»ïPÅ-q-; Ým-m ÛÅ-‚Å-b ï-ÇÀ-¤ô-hP-¤Z¤-q -Z¤Å-VG-V-ÆÛh-‚Å-»Ûm-m Gz¿ e-zÅ¤-¤ïh-qºÛ-»¼-MÅ-hP-± Û¼-¤ïh-qºÛ-Ç + ô¼-G»ïPÅ-qºÛ-¾Å-; m-m Å-‚Å-b -DG-¼ïº -


13/176

1

ÆôG-VGÅ-Ç o-± ôGÅ-Tm-; Ým-¾-ºW ÛGÅ-q-»ôh-h ï-»Ûm-m G ¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ- Á¼-x GÅ-hP-m z-x GÅ-; Ým-¾-h Ýh-º I ô-¤P-q ô-ºw ï¾-b ï-̄ Ó-D-; Ým-¾-¤P-Ç e ï-º± Å-q-ÅP-¼ÛºÛ-ÅÛ¤Å-Tm-; m-¾-ºh G-Å-h; ôm-¤ô-ÅôP-Ç e ï-»Ûm-m ôG h ï-mP-mºP-̄ -̧ -¤Dm-; Ým-¾-ºh G-Å-h;GÅ-q -ÅôP-Ç e -»Ûm-m GGTm-̧m-; Ým-¾-GÅh-M ã-¤-º f ôz-qÅ-ÅP-h Ýh-º I ô-; Ým-¾-L ¾-b -»Ûm-m G Å-½Àôm-q-; m-¾-h Ýh-º I ô-¤P-Ç e ï-º± ô-‚Å-mÅ-‚ -‚ÛºÞ-; Ým-¾-F â¾-zbP-Ç e -‚ -y G-ºw P-Å-h; m-¤ô-‚ôÅ-b -»Ûm-m Gh ï-;-zÇ om-¤º-Ç + ô¼-G»ïPÅ-q-¤P-q ô-ÇÀïz-‚Å-mÅ-zÇ KG-B ¾-»ôP-Ç e -»Ûm-m G Ç + ¼-G»ïPÅ-q-¤P-q ô-ÇÀïz-ÅqºÛ-h ÝÅ-hP-¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-Åï¤Å-Tm-¤P-q -MÅ-qºÛ-h Å-¤Z¤-q -º²ô¤-q-»Ûm-m GBirds of Ladakh:

Home to some of the most unique avifaunal species, Ladakh ’svast and remote landscape has drawn the attention of many re-searchers over the years. Some of them have had the oppor-

tunity and resources to conduct in-depth studies on site. Birdspecies typical of the Palearctic and the Indo-Malayan zoo-geographic regions (Ladakh lies on the border between thesetwo regions) have been documented. Also, eastern Ladakh lieswithin the home range of characteristic Tibetan bird species. Tilldate, more than 300 avifaunal species have been recorded inLadakh. The unique habitat is an important breeding and feed-ing ground for birds during the short and dry summer months. Italso serves as an important staging ground for birds while theyare crossing the mighty Himalayan range during the spring andwinter migrations.

On the basis of the time of occurrence, four bird groups havebeen identi ed in Ladakh (P ster 2004). They are:

Resident birds – This group comprises of species adapted to

high altitudes. They are known to consume seeds, shoots, fruitsand insects (opportunistic feeders). They breed in summer pri-marily at very high elevations and retreat to the lower valley bot-toms during the harsh winter months.


14/176

14

Summer visiting birds – Arriving in huge numbers from the SouthAsian plains and the Tibetan plateau, these birds use the high-altitude steppes, wetlands, meadows and elds as breedingground during April and May. As winter arrives, they return totheir warmer wintering areas.

Wintering birds – October marks the arrival of the smallest groupof birds from northern breeding grounds. Due to the harsh weath-er conditions, they are mainly found around villages and alongthe valley bottoms (especially near the Indus borders and sun-ny areas). They are known to return to their breeding ground inthe months of April-May.

Migrant birds – This group is considered to be the largest andmost diverse of all four. These birds can be observed for a shortperiod of time in the region during the spring and autumn mi-grations. According to records, the avifaunal species encoun-tered during the two migration periods differ. Also, diversity inthe migratory group is lesser during spring since Ladakh ’s fro-zen lakes and marshes prompt wetland-dependent birds to optfor alternate migratory routes. Further, migratory birds frequentthe central and eastern regions of Ladakh more than the west-ern region.

¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ-‚ -‚ÛºÞü¾-h ÐGÅ-‚ -‚ÛºÞ-; Ým-m Û-¿Ë-»Þ¾-®ôGÅ-»Ûm-m ôG ºÛ-z ôºÛ-Å-M-V m-q -hP-fG-¼ÛP-hP-¤Û-¤P-q ô-¤Û-ÇÀïz-Å-»ôh-¤Dm-q ôÅ-ŸÛz-hr ôh-‚ô-»Ûm-h ÝÅ-¤P-q -ºh G-Zm-b -»Ûm-m GºÛ-¼Þ-¼Û-hP-¾ÞP-q-; Ým-hP-fP-G-; Ým-M-G¼-¼Û-q-¾ï-¼ÛG-‡ÛG-hP-¤-¾-»m-m -z¼-¾-»Ûm-m ôG ¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-x ôGÅ-GZ ÛÅ-; ºÛ-‚ -‚ÛºÞºÛ-¼ÛGÅ-; m-ºh G-Ç e -»Ûm-m G h -;-z-Ç om-¤º-z ôh-h Û-‚ -¼ÛGÅ-; Ým-¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ- Á¼-x ôGÅ-± G-q-»ôh-h -»Ûm-m G h‚¼-h Å-ÅÛ-Z Û-¤-±h-Tm-»ôh-qºÛ-h ÝÅ-¾- M ãh-Ç t ï¾-¤Dm-m Û-‚ -; m-Ç e m-hr h-¾-»ôP-P-m G


15/176

1

ºÛ-z ô-m Û-‚ -±P-¤-ÈÛ-¤×-¾-»-¤f ôm-q ô-; Ým-G ô¤-Ç e ï-»ôP-® -m-±P-¤-º²ô¤-‚Å- ÁÛG-H ¼-b -»Ûm-m G‚ -¼ÛGÅ-¾-zdG-hrh-‚ô-‚Å-mÅ-¾-h ÐGÅ-q ô-‚ -±P-¤-ºw Þ¼-¿ k P-‚ïh-qºÛ-GmÅ-z¸P-q -ŸÛG-H ã¼- hG-Å-± ßG-q-¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-‚ -¼ÛGÅ-300ŸÛG-M ãÅ-ÅôP-Ç e -»Ûm-m G ºz P-‚Å-ÅÛ-h Å-hP-zÇ e àm-b ï- ¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-‚ -¼ÛGÅ-zŸÛ-»Û-Ç k ï-DG-¤f ôP-‚Å-»Ûm-m G

¤f ô-Å-; Ým-¾-ºh ÝG-½‰ ôGÅ-»ôh-qºÛ-‚ -¼ÛGÅ-h ÝÅ-M ãm-¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-ºh G-¤Dm-; m-ºƒâ-mÅ-hP- ¥ã-G Ý-hP- ÁÛP-b ôG-hP- h‚¼-h ÝÅ-¾-ºz Þ-®ÛG-GP-̧ôÅ-b -ºh G-G-m G ºh -IÅ-ÅÛ-‚ -¼ÛGÅ-; Ým-m ÛÅ-h‚¼-¾-¤P-V ï-z-¤f ô-Å-; Ým-¾-M ãh-Ç t ï¾-b -hG m-IP-¤ôºÛ-h Å-¾-h¤º-Å-; m-¾-ºh ÝG-G-m ôG h‚¼-h ÝÅ-¾-»ôP-¤Dm-m Û-‚ -; Ým-m Û-IPÅ-;-hP-Ç o-± GÅ-¤P-q -»Ûm-m Gh ï-; Ým-¤P-V ï-z-»ï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-¿Ë ô-x ôGÅ-ÅÛ-fGP-; Ým-hP-z h-r GÅ-mÅ-u -¹ -zŸÛ-q-¿ S-qºÛ-mP-P-¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-»ôP-P-m ôG ¤P-V ï-z-M ãh-Ç t ï¾-¤Dm-»Ûm-m ôG h -; m-¤f -Åï-Ç tP-fP-hP-Å-Eh-½Àôm-q-hP-Ç tP-z Þ-hP-¾ÞP-q-; Ým-¾-‚ -y âG-ºw ÛP-P-m ôG-ºh ÝG-Å-x GÅ-¾-¾ôG-Ç e -Vº -m GhG Ým-¾-»ôP-¤Dm-m Û-‚ -; Ým-u Û-¹ -zT ß-qºÛ-mP-P-‚ P-x GÅ-ÅÛ-M h-Ç t ¾-Å-; m-mÅ-E -V P-P m-¼ï-mP-P-»ôP-P-m ôG h ï-; Ým-¤P-V ï-z-»Þ¾-¾Û-ºD ô¼-; Ým-hP-h¤º-Å-hP-ÅïRK -G® P-q ºÛ-G»Å-G»ôm-; Ým-¾-D-hP-GPÅ-¤ïh-ÅÛºÛ-Å-GmÅ-; Ým-¾-ºh G-G-m G u -¹ -zŸÛ-q-¿ S-qºÛ-mP-P-¾ôG-Ç e ï-Vº -m ôGGmÅ-Å-Ç t ô-»Ûm-ºh ÝG-¤Dm-¤P- ÁôÅ-hP-Ç o-± ôGÅ-»Ûm-m G h -; m-Ç e m-hr h-¾-¾-h ÐGÅ-mÅ-Vº -m ôG h ï-; Ým-ºÛ-¿ Y ôPÅ-¾-® -q ÛG-¤-m -ºh G-G-¤-m G h -w º -z¿ e-‚Å-¾-h ÝÅ-¤P-q ô-¤-º f ôz-q-»Ûm-m ôG Ç e ôm-¾-Ç t ôÅ-b ï-Vº -¤Dm-; m-Ç o-®ôGÅ-Tm-»ôP-P-m Ghr Ûh-h Û-ÅP-¤P-P-»Ûm-m ôG h ÝÅ-GZ ÛÅ-q ôº -¼ÛGÅ-Åô-Åô-; m-º²ô¤-¤-m G hr h-¾-Ç t ôÅ-b ï-V-»ôP-GbP-zºÛ-h ÝÅ-¾-GPÅ-hP-ºh¤-Å-; m-ºEGÅ-¤-I ¾-¾-»ôP-P-m GÇ o-¤P-q ô-ŸÛG-Å-Eh-½Àôm-q-; Ým-¾-ºh ÝG-‚Å-»Ûm-qÅ-ÅP-Ç t Å-b -V-»ôP-GbP-ÅºÛ-¾¤-Åô-Åô-ŸÛG-mÅ-º I â¾-¾-m ôG GmÅ-Å-Ç t ô-»Ûm-ºh ÝG-¤Dm-m -‚ -; m-¤P-V -z-¾-h GÅ-GŸÝP-ºD ô¼-hP-‚ P-fP-x ôGÅ-¾-»ôP-P-m ôG ¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ-m z-x GÅ-; m-¾-Ç t -¤Dm-m -‚ -¤P-q -

ŸÛG-¤f ôP-P-¤-m ôG ü


16/176

16

GREAT CRESTED GREBE

Common Name : Great Crested GrebeScientific Name : Podiceps cristatus Local Name : Changa–rankest

Description: The lengthof the body is about 49cm. This is largest of allthe grebes. A black lineis present from eyes tobase of bill. Both thesexes are almost alike.This is a tailless aquat-ic bird characterizedby slender white neckand straight pointed bill

which is pinkish in colour. The legs are short in size and feet aregreyish in colour. The eyes are red-orange.

Habitat: The birds can be easily sighted swimming and divingin open lakes. Both male and female perform elaborate court-ship display. The nest is a oating nest towed by grass materi-als with the aquatic plants. The parents are often seen carryingchicks on their back.

General Distribution: Breeds in high altitude areas of Baluchistan,Pakistan and Ladakh. Winter visitor to the North of the Subconti-nent from Pakistan east to North East India and South to Maha-

rashtra and North East Andhra Pradesh.Distribution in Ladakh: During summer season the bird can beeasily sighted at Startsapuk Tso, Tsomoriri and at Tsokar.


17/176

1

G ï-¼ï‡-; ï-¼ÛÅ-‡Û̂-G Û-¼Ûz üu¼-zbP-¤ÛP.ü G ï-¼ï‡-; ï-¼ÛÅ-‡Û̂-G Û-¼Û-zºÛü±m-¼ÛG-G Û-¤P Û.ü ¤ô- ̂ Û-ÅÛ-¾Å- ; Û-¼ÛÅ-‡-‡ÅüÅ-GmÅ-ÅÛ-¤ÛP.ü TP-G-¼P-; ïÅ-‡ü

º I ï¾-z Áh ü ºÛ-z ôºÛ-¼ÛP-±h-¾-Åïm-‡Û-¤Û-‡¼- 49 ºh G-ºÛ-z -G -¼Û-z -±P-¤Å-ÅP-V ï- ÁôÅ-»Ûm-m ôG ¤ÛG-mÅ-D-¤V ßºÛ-̄ -± G-q-¼Û-¤ô-mG-q -ŸÛG-»ôP-ºh G w -¤ô-GZ Å-;-È-¾¤-®ôGÅ-»ôP-ºh ÝG ºÛ-z ô-¤W ÛP-q-h;¼-q -¼Û¾-¼Û¾-hP-h¤¼-Ç¨ G-D-¤V -̄ ïz-¯ïz-iP-q ô-»ôh-¤Dm-m Û-‚ -¤W âG-O ô-¤ïh-¤Dm-V ºÛ-mP-P-ºh G-¤Dm-ŸÛG-»Ûm-m GÅÞG-G Ý-f ÞP-P Þm-hP-@P-q-Ç S ô-B-»ôh-h ï-»Ûm-m ôG ¤ÛG-; m-h¤¼-Ç¨ G-»Ûm-m G

º h ÝG-Åü ºÛ-z ô-¤± ô-; Ým-m Û-mP-P-A ¾-GbP-»Ûm-¤G ô-q ô-b ôG-GbP-»Ûm-»ôh-q-¤f P-P-m G w -¤ô-GZ ÛÅ-;Å-º²ô¤-‚Å-MÅ-q-‚ºô-m ôG-V ßºÛ-mP-P-B ïÅ-¤Dm-m Û-̄ Ó-ºE ôP-y ô-±PÅ-‚ºô-m G-h -z -V ºÛ-D -b G-G-¿ k P-‚Å-»ôP-P-m Gw-¤-GZ ÛÅ-;Å-‚ -y âG-; Ým-Mz-z-ºD Þ¼-b ï-ºD ï¼-¼-m G

u Û¼ -zbP-Ez-D ôP Åü z-¾Þ-T ÛÅ-bm-hP- q-; m-bm-hP-¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ-¤f -Å-; m-¾-M ãh-Ç t ï¾-‚ôº -m ôG ‚ P-x ôGÅ-ÅÛ-J ÀÛP-P Û-q-; ÝÅ-bm- Á¼-x GÅ-mÅ-M-G¼-¼Û-‚ P- Á¼-hP-¿Ë -x ôGÅ-¤ÈØ-¼Å-‡-¼-hP- Ím-h-¼-s-h ïÅ-ÅÛ-‚ P- Á¼-; m-¾-hG m-¾-»ôP-P-m G

¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-Ez-D ôPÅü ºÛ-z ô-Ç e¼-±-w ÞG-¤± ô-hP-¤± -¤ô-¼Û-¼Û-hP-¤± -h; ¼-hP- hq -f Þz-zºÛ-b Û-¼Û- ÁÝ¾-¤± ô-; Ým-¾-¤f ôP-P-m ôG-


18/176

18

RED-CRESTED POCHARD

Common Name : Red-Crested PochardScientific Name : Netta rufinaLocal Name : Marzangmo

Description:This is a diving duckwhich is about 50 cmin length. This is alarge duck with roundhead and long neck.In ight, both sex-

es show conspicuouslarge white band on upper side of wings. In male, the head isgolden –orange with silky crest and tail is grey –brown. Female isbrown with dark brown cape and hindneck while cheeks andthroat are pale. Bill is dark with pink edges and a band near tip.

Habitat: It is found in the open parts of deep water bodies andirrigation reservoirs.

General Distribution: The bird breeds in west part of Central Asiaand moves to north parts of South and South-East Asia in thenon-breeding season.

Distribution in Ladakh: It can be sighted at Shey and Trishul Tsonear Leh and in some wetlands in eastern Ladakh.


19/176

1

¼ï^-; ï¼ÛÅ-‡Û̂- q ô-T^ üu Û¼-zbP-¤ÛPü T ôz-bm-h¤¼-q -Tm-m -q -T¼-±m-¼ÛG-G Û-¤ÛP-ü m ï-b-¼Þ-w Ûm--Å-GmÅ-ÅÛ-¤ÛP- ¤¼-z¸P-¤ôü

º I ï¾-z Áh üºÛ-z ô-¤G ô-q Û-b ôG-GbP-¤Dm-m Û-V ß-‚ -ŸÛG-¼ÛP-P-Åïm-‡Û-¤Û-‡¼-50»ôh-h -»Ûm-m GºÛ-z ô-¤G ô-¼Û¾-¼Û¾-¤W ÛP-q-¼ÛP-q ô-Tm-m Û-V ß-‚ -V ïm-q -ŸÛG-»Ûm-m G ºw ¼-® -m-w ô-¤ô-GZ ÛÅ-;-D ï-b ôG-G Û-G ÁôG-q-; Ým-̂ôG-Tm-GÅ¾-q -¼ï-»ôh-h -»Ûm-m G ‚ -w -; Ým-¾-¤G ô-Åï¼-Ç¨ äG-T ôz-bm-„ÀG-„ÀG-hP-¤W âG-O -Ç¨ G-B-»Ûm-m G ‚ -¤ô-; m-Ç¨ äG-q ô-Ç¨ äG-mG-Tm-¤W ÛP-¿ eG-hP-º I ¤-q-hP- b à-b -; m-B-¾ôG-»Ûm-m GD-¤V ß-mG-q ô-̧ Þ¼-; Ým-h¤¼-Ç¨ äG-Tm-¤G ô-® -q ÛG-G G-G G-»Ûm-m G-GmÅ-Å-

ºÛ-z ô-V ß-Gb ÛP-¼ÛP-q ô-Tm-hP- µ ÛP-; Ým-m Û-mP-P-»ôP-ºh G-u Û¼ -zbP-Ez-D ôP Å-

ºÛ-z ô-Íï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-m Ýz-x ôGÅ-¾-M ã¼-Ç t ï¾-b ï-¿Ë ô-hP- Á¼-¿Ë -Íï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-‚ P-x GÅ-¾-M h-Ç t ¾-¤ïh-qºÛ-h ÝÅ-¾-Vº -¼ÞG-¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-Ez-D ôPÅü ÁïºÛ-ºh¤-Å-hP-ü b Û-¼Û- ÁÝ¾-¤± ô-; Ým-¾-¤f ôP-P-m G ¾-h ÐGÅ-‚ P-fP-P -¤± -h; ¼-hP-Ím-¾ïºÛ-Å-½Àôm-; Ým-¾-¼ï-¼ï-q-¤f ôP-P-m ôG


20/176

20

BLACK-NECKED CRANE

Common Name : Black-necked CraneScientific Name : Grus nigricollis Local Name : Cha Thung Thung Karmo

Description: Black-necked Crane is a tallbird with a height of about 135 cm and awingspan of about 62 – 64 cm. Both the sex-es are almost of the same size but male isslightly bigger than the female. The upperlong neck, head, primary and secondaryight feathers, and tail are completely blackand body plumage is pale grey/whitish. A

conspicuous red crown adorns the head.The bill is greenish and the legs and feet areblack. The juveniles have a brownish headand neck and plumage is slightly paler thanthat of adult.

Habitat: High altitude marshes are the mostcommon wetland types where the birdbreeds. These wetlands with small mounds

provide an excellent habitat to the birds for breeding. The marshesrange from 4000 to 4800 m. above sea level. Rice and potato elds arethe excellent wintering habitat for the species.

General Distribution: The high altitude marshes and lakes of TibetanPlateau (Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu), Sichen (China), and east-ern Ladakh (India) are the known breeding grounds of Black-neckedCrane. The species is a winter visitor in China and Bhutan. In west-ern Arunachal Pradesh in India, it winters regularly in small number atSanti valley.

Distribution in Ladakh: The bird can be sighted in the wetlands in east-ern Ladakh. Typical areas of encounter are Tsokar, Puga, Staklung,Hanle, Chushul and some other wetlands.


21/176

2

‚ -F âP-F âP-h; ¼ -¤ôüu Û¼-zbP-¤ÛP.ü F âP-F âP-¤W ÛP-mG±m-¼ÛG-G Û-¤ÛP.ü G Ý-¼ÞÅ-m Û-G Û-¼Û-; ô-¾ÛÅüÅ-GmÅ-ÅÛ-¤ÛP-ü ‚ -F âP-F âP-h; ¼-¤ôü

º I ï¾-z Áh ü ‚ -F âP-F âP-¤W ÛP-mG-m Û-ĢÞGÅ-q ºÛ-¼ÛP-P-ÅÛm-‡Û-¤Û-‡¼- 135®¤-hP-GÅôG-qºÛ-ŸÛP-P-È-¾¤-Åïm-‡Û-¤Û-‡¼- 62 mÅ- 65 »ôh-qºÛ-‚ -V m-q -ŸÛG-»Ûm-m Gw ô-¤ô-GZ ÛÅ-;-È-¾¤-V ï-V ßP-®ôGÅ-¼ÛG-»Ûm-m ôG »Ûm-mºP-¤ôºÛ-ÅP-w -® -q G-V º -¼ÛG-»Ûm-m ôG ¤W ÛP-q-¼ÛP-q ôºÛ-D ï-b ôG-hP-¤G ô-hP-ºw Þ¼-zºÛ-G ÁôG-q-hP-q -hP-GZ Å-q-; Ým-hP-¤W âG-O ô-; Ým-mG-ÅÛP-hP-ĢÞGÅ-q -h; ¼-B-»Ûm-m G ¤G -¾-T z-bm-h¤¼-q ô-GÅ¾-q ô-̧ ÛG-zMm-b ï-»Ûm-m ôG D-¤T -¿ YP-; -hP-@P-; m-mG-q -»Ûm-m G‚ -y âG-; Ým-m Û-¤G ô-hP-¤W ÛP-q-Ç¨ äG-q ô-hP-G ÁôG-q-; m-‚ -V m-q ºÛ-ÅP-¤h G-¤ïh-»Ûm-m ôGü GmÅ-Åü ‚ -F âP-F âP-; Ým-m ÛÅ-‚ -y âG-ºw ÛP-Å-m Û-¤f -ÅºÛ-Å-½Àôm-q-hP-ºh¤-Å-; m-»Ûm-m ôG ºh Û-®ôGÅ-ÅÛ-¤f ô-Å-½Àôm-qºÛ-Ç KP-; Ým-‚ -y âG-ºw PÅ-‚Å-¾-ºh G-qºÛ-w º-GmÅ-Å-zh ï- ÁôÅ-»Ûm-m ôG ºh¤-Å-; Ým-M-¤± ô-mÅ-¤f -¾ô-¤Û-‡¼- 4000 mÅ- 4800 ®¤-¤-»Ûm-m ôG ‚ -F âP-F âP-; Ým-hG Ým-¾-ºh ÝG-‚Å-¾-ºƒÅ-hP-Í -¾ÞºÛ-ŸÛP-; m-zh - ÁôG-»Ûm-m Gv Û¼ -zbP-Ez-D ôP Åü z ôh-h ÛºÛ-¤f ô-ÅºÛ-ºh¤-Å-hP-¤± -; m-hP-M-mG-G -Z P-G-»Û-hP-ÅÛ-W Û-»P-hP-Gm-ÅÞ-hP- q Û-T Ûm-F âP-¤W ÛP-mG-G -‚ -y G-ºw P-Å-Ç +h-IGÅ-Tm-»Ûm-m ôG ºÛ-; Ým-hG Ým-¾-M-mG-hP-ºƒâG-»Þ¾-; Ým-¾-ÇÀôz-q-»Ûm-m G M-G¼-¼Û-Í -¼Þ-m-T¾-s-h ï Á- Åm-b ô-¿ Y ôPÅ-¾-hG Ým-¾-D-T ÛG-¤f ôP-P-m G

¾-h ÐGÅ-Ez-D ôPÅü ¾-h ÐGÅ-ºÛ-; Ým- Á¼-x ôGÅ-ÅÛ-Å-½Àôm-q-; m-¾-¤f P-P-m G

¤± ô-h; ¼-hP-q Þ-G-hP-Ç eG-¾ÞP-hP-Ím-¾ï-hP-V - ÁÝ¾-hP-GŸm-»P-Å-½Àôm-q-»ôh-Å-; Ým-¾-¤f ôP-P-m ôG-


22/176

22

BAR-HEADED GOOSE

Common Name : Bar-headed GooseScientific Name : Anser indicus Local Name : Nangpa

Description: Both the sexes arealike. This is an asting-grey, whiteand brown goose. The body sizeis between 71-76 cm. The headof adult is white with two blackbars. One bar is across the sinci-put from eye to eye and the otheris shorter below on the nape. Theneck is brown with a white stripeon each side. The legs and bill areyellow-orange and the tip of the billis black.

At rest, wings extend beyond tail.In ight, wing-coverts and bellylook grey with ight –feathers black.

Juvenile is like adult but is paler and without black bars on head.

Habitat: The bird breeds on high altitude freshwater as well as salinelakes. It also breeds in marshes and rivers in high altitude areas. It is anocturnal feeder in grasslands near wetlands and riverbanks. Sometimesit also feeds in the agricultural elds especially of wheat and barley.

General Distribution: The bird breeds in the uplands of Central Asia. InIndia it breeds in high altitude wetlands in Changthang region of Ladakh.The bird mainly moves to low-lying areas of India in non-breeding period.Within the state of Jammu and Kashmir major wintering ocks are foundin Gharana wetland in Jammu and Hokersar wetland in Kashmir region.

Distribution in Ladakh: During summer season the bird can be easi-ly sighted at Tsokar, Tsomoriri, Hanle, Chushul and along Upper IndusBasin.


23/176

2

z¼-Èï- ̂ ^-G Åüu Û¼-zbP-¤ÛP-ü z ¼-Èï- ̂ ï^-G ÝÅ-±m-¼Û ÛG-G Û-¤ÛP-ü Ím-Å¼-ÍÛm-^ Û-;Å-Å-GmÅ-ÅÛ-¤ÛP-ü PP-q-

º I ï¾-z Áh ü w ô-¤ô-GZ ÛÅ-;-®ôGÅ-»ôh-h ï-»Ûm-m ôG º -z -Ç S -¾ôP-hP-h; ¼-q ô-hP-Ç¨ äG-q ôºÛ-PP-q-»Ûm-m ôG Ģ ÞGÅ-q ºÛ-z PÅ-±h-Åïm-‡Û-¤Û-‡¼-71 mÅ- 76®¤-hP-¤G ô-h; ¼-q ôº -¼Û-¤ô-mG-q ô-GZ ÛÅ-»ôP-P-m ôG ¼Û-¤ô-GT G-q -¤ÛG-mÅ-¤ÛG-hP-GT ÛG-q ô-¤W ÛP-¿ eG-G-f ÞP-P-¼ÛG-»Ûm-m ôG ¤W ÛP-q-Ç¨ äG-q -»Ûm-m G-x ôGÅ-GZ ÛÅ-;-¾-¼Û-¤ô-h; ¼-q ô-¼ï-»ôP-P-m ôG- @P-q-hP-D-¤V -; m-Åï¼-Ç¨ G-»Ûm-m G- D-¤V ºÛ-¤G ô-mG-q ô-»ôh-h ï-»Ûm-m ôGÅºÛ-;-ºh ÝG-® -m-G ÁôG-q-; Ým-¤W âG-O ô-± ßG-q-zAPÅ-GbP-P-m G

ºw Þ¼-® -m-G ÁôG-q-z;z-Ç e ï-I ôh-q-Ç S ô-¾ôP-Ç t ä-mG-q ô-zTÅ-»ôh-h -»Ûm-m G PP-y G-; m-PP-q-V ïm-q ô-®ôGÅ-»ôP-P-m ôG »Ûm-mºP-B-¾ôG-¼ÛG-G-¤G ºÛ-;-¼Û-¤ô-mG-q -¤ïh-q-»Ûm-m G GmÅ-Åü ºÛ-PP-q-; Ým-m ÛÅ-¤f ô-ÅºÛ-V ß-G® P-¤-hP-± Ð-Tm-m -¤± -; m-¾-PP-y G-ºw P-P-m GºÛ-z ôÅ-Å-½Àôm-q-hP- I ôG-q ôºÛ-¤f º -¤ºÛ-Ç tP-fP-; Ým-¾-¤±m-¾-̧ m-¤-zb º -m G Ç +zÅ-¼ï-I -hP- mÅ-ÅÛ-ŸÛP-; Ým-¾ºP-̧ m-¤-zb àº -m ôGEz-D ôPÅü ºÛ-PP-q-; Ým-m ÛÅ-Íï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-hz ÞÅ-ÅÛ-Å-¤f m-q -; m-¾-PP-y G-ºw P-P-m GM-G¼-¾-ºÛ-; Ým-m ÛÅ-¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ-‚ P-fP-¿ Y ôPÅ-ÅÛ-¤f -Å-½Àôm-q-; m-¾-M h-Ç t ¾-z-»Ûm-m G M h-Ç t ï¾-¤ïh-qºÛ-h ÝÅ-¾-ºÛ-PP-q-; Ým-M-G¼-¼Û-h¤º-Å-; Ým-¾-Vº -m G W-¤Þ-;- ÁÛ-¤Û¼-¤Pº -Ç k -mP-¾-ºÛ-; Ým-hG Ým-h ÝÅ-¾-W¤-¤ÞºÛ-J Ë-h-mºÛ-Å-½Àôm-hP- D-V ¾-¾Û-Èô-; ¼-Å¼-; m-¾-ºh G-º -m G-

¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-Ez-D ôPÅü ¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-h‚¼-h ÝÅ-ÅÛ-u Û-¹ -zŸÛ-q-mÅ-zT -GT G-q-± G-q-¤± -¤ô-¼Û-¼Û-hP-¤± ô-h; ¼-hP-Ím-¾ï-hP- V ß- ÁÝ¾-hP-ÅïP-G -G® P-q ºÛ-Ç e h-x GÅ-; m-¾-»ôP-P-m G-


24/176

24

RUDDY SHELDUCK

Common Name : Brahminy DuckScientific Name : Tadorna ferrugineaLocal Name : Muru

Description: This is a large rusty-orange duck with pale head andneck. The size of the duck is about64 cm. During breeding seasonmale develops a narrow black col-lar on lower neck whereas femaleis without black collar. During thenon-breeding season the collar is

absent in male.Habitats: The duck breeds aroundhigh altitude brackish water lakesin Ladakh, Sikkim and Nepal. The

bird is a common winter visitor in lakes, marshes and rivers with ex-tensive shingle banks. The nest is made in a carefully selected holein a cliff close to water source. The Ruddy Shelduck is most alert ofall the birds. Whenever present in a group of birds, this is the rstone to raise an alarm. Both the parents contribute equally in raisingthe chicks.

General Distribution: Breeds in Central Asia and then moves to SouthAsia and Northern part of South-East Asia in non-breeding period.The breeding range is from Morocco to Central Siberia and NorthChina. In India the bird breeds around high altitude wetlands in east-ern Ladakh and Sikkim.

Distribution in Ladakh: The bird can be easily sighted around highaltitude wetlands in eastern part of Ladakh and in the upper Indusbasin from Likche to Demchok.


25/176

2

¼ -^ Û- Áï¾-^;u Û¼-zbP-¤ÛP-ü ƒÈ-¤Û-m Û-^;-±m-¼ÛG-G Û-¤ÛP-ü b ï- ̂ ô¼-m-w ï-¼Þ-W-m Û-ºüÅ-GmÅ-ÅÛ-¤ÛP-ü h ¤¼-¼Þ-

º I ï¾-z Áh - ºÛ-z ô-¤G ô-hP-¤W ÛP-qºÛ-¤h G-B-¾ôG-»ôh-¤Dm-m -V -‚ -D¤-Åï¼-V ïm-q ô-ŸÛG-»Ûm-m ôG z ôPÅ-±h-q ô-Åïm-‡Û-¤Û-‡¼-64»Ûm-m G M h-Ç t ¾-¾Û-Gm¤-¹ºÛ-h ÝÅ-¾-w ô-; Ým-m Û-¤W ÛP-q-; Ým-¾-mG-¼ÛÅ-y-¤ô-ŸÛG-hP-‚ -¤ô-; m-¾-h -z -»ôP-P-¤Û-ºh GM ãh-Ç t ï¾-¾Û-Gm¤-¹ -¤-»Ûm-qºÛ-h ÝÅ-¾-w ô-; Ým-m Û-mG-¼ÛÅ-q -¤f P-P-¤Û-º h ÝG-GmÅ-Åü ºÛ-V ß-‚ -; Ým-m ÛÅ-¾-h ÐGÅ-hP-ºƒÅ-¿ Y PÅ-hP- z¾-z -; m-m -¤f -ÅºÛ-z-±-Tm-m Û-¤± ô-V ßP-P Þm-; Ým-m Û-ºD ô¼-¾-M ãh-Ç t ¾-‚ô-¼ÞG ºh -PP-q-; m-hG Ým-¾-I ôG-q ôºÛ-¤f º-¤ºÛ-Å-½Àôm-q-hP-¤± ô-; Ým-¾-»ôP-ºh G-ºƒG-Gmh-; m-¾-V ß-hP-ºz ÛG-GP-»ôh-m-h ï-; Ým-m Û-mP-P-zdm-q -‚ôÅ-b -±PÅ-‚ôÅ-b -»ôP-ºh GºÛ-z ô-‚ -±P-¤-ÅP-uP-‚ôÅ-b ï-ºh ÝG-¤Dm-»Ûm-m G ‚ -¤P-q -º²ô¤-Ç e -»ôh-® -m-ºW GÅ-¤ô-¼ï-¤f ôP-m-±P-¤-ÅP-Ç S ôm-¾-ºÛ-z ôÅ-; Ý-T ô-GbP-ºh G Í -z-Í -¤-GZ Å-;Å-PP-y G-; Ým-B ôP-ºh ÝG

Ez-D ôP ÅüÍï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-hz ÞÅ-¾-M¼-Ç t ï¾-‚ôÅ-b ï-Íï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-¿Ë ô-x ôGÅ-hP- Á¼-¿Ë ºÛ-‚ P-x GÅ-; m-¾-M h-Ç t ï¾-¤ïh-qºÛ-h ÝÅ-¾-V-ºh ÝG M ãh-Ç t ï¾-qºÛ-GmÅ-Å-m -¤ô-¼ô-; -mÅ-ÅÛ-z-¼Û-»ºÛ-hz Å-hP-M-mG-H Û-‚ P-x ôGÅ-; Ým-m ÛÅ-¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ- Á¼-x ôGÅ-ÅÛ-Å-½Àôm-q-; m-hP-ºƒÅ-¿ Y PÅ-; m-¾-M ãm-Ç t ï¾-ºh ÝG¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-Ez-D ôP ÅüºÛ-z ô-¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ- Á¼-x ôGÅ-ÅÛ-¤f ô-Å-; Ým-hP-¾ïGÅ-̄ ï-mÅ-zh -¤V G-± G-qºÛ-ÅïP-G -G®ôP-q ôºÛ-¤f º -¤-; Ým-¾-¤f ôP-ºh ÝG


26/176

26

GARGANEY

Common Name : GarganeyScientific Name : Anas querquedulaLocal Name : Sikkar

Description: The bird isabout 38 cm in length.In ight the bird has con-spicuous white bars oneach side of the specu-lum and belly is white incolour. The bill is dark-grey and legs are greyin colour. The male

has a black crown and a conspicuous white supercillium ex-tends to nape. The head is purple-brown and wing-covertsblue-grey. Female has a distinct black eye stripe and wing-coverts are grey-brown.

Habitat: It is found in almost all types of wetlands including lakes,marshes and rivers.

General Distribution: The bird breeds in southern part of NorthAsia and northern part of Central Asia. They move towards SouthAsia, central and northern part of South-East Asia in non-breed-ing period. In Ladakh the bird arrives in the months of April-Mayand can be easily sighted in almost all the wetlands of Ladakhin the eastern region.

Distribution in Ladakh: In the wetlands of eastern Ladakh, marsh-es in upper Indus basin, Shey marshes and Nubra valley.


27/176

2

G¼ -G-m ïüu Û¼-zbP-¤ÛP-ü G¼-G-m ïü±m-¼ÛG-G Û-¤ÛP-ü Í -mÅ-;¼-; ÝºÛ-I â-¾üÅ-GmÅ-ÅÛ-¤ÛP-ü ± ÛG-h;¼ü

º I ï¾-z Áh ü ºÛ-z ôºÛ-¼ÛP-P-È-¾¤-Åïm-‡Û-¤Û-‡¼-38»ôP-ºh G ºÛ-‚ -z -ºw Þ¼-® -m-x ôGÅ-GZ ÛÅ-;¼-h; ¼-q ôºÛ-¼Û-¤ô-GÅ¾-q -¤f P-ºh G I h-q-h; ¼-q ô-»Ûm-m ôG D-¤V ß-mG-B-hP- @P-q-; Ým-B-z -»ôP-ºh G ‚ -w -¾-T ôh-qm-mG-q ô-ŸÛG-»ôP-ºh ÝG-¼Û-¤ô-h; ¼-q ô-ŸÛG-¤W P-q-± G-q-»ôP-ºh G¤G ô-q ô-h¤¼-Ç S ô-Ç¨ äG-q ô-hP- G ÁôG-q-Ç S ô-¾ôP-z;z- Ç e -»ôP-ºh G ‚ -¤ô-; m-¾-¤ÛG-¼ÛÅ-mG-q ô-GÅ¾-q ô-hP- G ÁôG-q-z;z-¤Dm-; Ým-Ç¨ äG-B-»ôP-ºh G-GmÅ-Å- ºÛ-z ô-Å-½Àôm-q-»ôh-qºÛ-GmÅ-±P-¤-hP-¤± -hP-ºh¤-Å-hP- I G-q -; m-¾-»ôP-ºh ÝG-u Û¼ -zbP-Ez-D ôP Åü ºÛ-z ôÅ-Íï- Á Û-»ºÛ-‚ P-x GÅ-ÅÛ-¿Ë -P Å-hP-Íï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-hz Å-ÅÛ-‚ P-x ôGÅ-; Ým-¾-M ãh-Ç t ï¾-ºh ÝG M ãh-Ç t ï¾-¤ïh-qºÛ-h Å-¾-Íï- ÁÛ-»ºÛ-¿Ë -x GÅ-ÅºÛ-hz Å-hP- Á¼-¿Ë ôºÛ-‚ P-P ôÅ-¾-M ãh-Ç t ï¾-ºh ÝG

¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-u Û-¹ -zŸÛ-q-¿ S-qºÛ-mP-P-»ôP-Ç e ï-¾-h ÐGÅ- Á¼-x GÅ-ÅÛ-Å-½Àôm-q-GP-ÅôP-Å¼-¤f ôP-ºh ÝG-¾-h ÐGÅ-¾-Ez-D ôPÅü ¾-h ÐGÅ-ÅÛ- Á¼-x ôGÅ-ÅÛ-Å-½Àôm-q-hP-Ç e h-x GÅ-ÅÛ-ÅïP-G -G® P-q ôºÛ-ºh¤-Å-; Ým-hP- ÁÛ-»Þ¾-¾Û-ºh¤-Å-hP- m z-¼-; m-¾-»ôP-ºh G


28/176

28

NORTHERN SHOVELER

Common Name : ShovelerScientific Name : Anas clypeataLocal Name : Khamchu Kham

Description: The bird is about 50 cm in length. The bill is black.In male, the head is black with green gloss. Female has brownhead with dark brown markings. Breast is white, upper and un-der tail-coverts are black and tail is white.

Habitat: It occurs in almost all types of shallow freshwater lakes,rivers and marshes.

General Distribution: Breeds in North Asia and moves to SouthAsia and northern South-East Asia in non-breeding period.

Distribution in Ladakh: The bird can be seen around the wet-lands of eastern Ladakh, Trisul-Tso, Shey marshes, Suru valleyand Nubra valley.


29/176

2

m ô¼ -f ï-¼ïm- Áô- ï-¾¼üu Û¼-zbP-¤ÛP-ü Áô- ï-¾¼-±m-¼ÛG-G Û-¤ÛP-ü Í -mÅ-; ï-¾ºÛ-q

field guide birds of ladakh

Documents