Beauties of Kasauli - Himalayan bulbul

Pycnonotus leucogenys

Crested like the famous the popular cartoon character 'Johnny Bravo',this species is widely distributed in the Himalayan foothills and rightly called as Himalayan Bulbul instead of its other name 'White-cheeked Bulbul', that is often confused with the White-eared Bulbul of the West India with almost similar appearance, but which is now a separate species (lumped together earlier).
The word 'Bulbul' is a Persian name for Nightingale, which featured extensively in their poetry, infact the Bulbul was called "Persian Nightingale" in the ancient era (probably because Bulbuls were popular cage songsters in Persia just like the Nightingales in the far west). Shimla Hills and Kasauli in particular is full of these pretty bird.The bird is better known as a singing bird, but its dance over the twigs made the comparison with Johnny Bravo well deserved.
The Himalayan bulbul (Aves Tennantus) is a species of songbird in the Pycnonotidae family. If they are mixed with humans from a young age, they will become friendly to humans. It is found in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent as well as some adjoining areas. It is found in Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Tajikistan. It is the national bird of Bahrain.

Size and appearance

Himalayan bulbul length is about 18 cm, wingspan of 25.5 to 28 cm and the weight of an average of about 30 g. Bird's head, throat, and crest are black and white . The back side, and a lengthy tail are brown, the underside and pale yellow . Both sexes have the same color. The song is a beautiful 4-piece whistle, which resembles an accelerated oriole whistle.

Housing

Himalayan bulbul habitat are at the and forests, and in the rich shrub layer. He also appear gardens and roadsides. Sometimes you can also find him in the gardens and parks where human visitors, who would leave food. This invites flies and other insects that are its main food.

Breeding

This bulbul is preparing a small cup-shaped nest, made of herbs, roots and twigs. the nest is usually built in the bush or low tree branch. The female lays usually three eggs, which are incubated for 12 days. The chicks leave the nest 9–11 days old. Flips are evaluated as two or three during the summer. During the breeding of this bird is very combative towards other birds.

Nutrition

This bulbul eat insects and other small invertebrates, and berries, fruits, seeds, buds and nectar.

Blyth's reed warbler

Birds of Kasauli

This small passerine bird is a species found in scrub or clearings, often near water, but it is not found in marshes. 4-6 eggs are laid in a nest in a bush. It is migratory, wintering in India and Sri Lanka. It is one of the most common winter warblers in those countries. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe.The habitat is different from the reed beds favoured by reed warbler or the rank vegetation of marsh warbler, this species choosing trees or bushes as song
REcently posts. Like most warblers, Blyth's reed warbler is insectivorous, but will take other small food items, including berries.
In the breeding season, the best identification feature is the song, which is slow and repetitive, with much mimicry of other birds, punctuated with scales and typically acrocephaline whistles.
This is a medium-sized warbler, 12.5-14 cm in length. The adult has a plain brown back and pale underparts. It can easily be confused with reed warbler, marsh warbler and some of the Hippolais warblers. It is most like reed warbler but is greyer on the back, the forehead is less flattened and the bill is less strong and pointed. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are yellower below.
Observed 6 day day ago in the Wild Southern Forests of Kasauli, of Distt SOlan in Himachal Prdesh Indian, the Blyth's reed warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in temperate Asia and easternmost Europe. It is migratory, wintering in India and Sri Lanka. It is one of the most common winter warblers in those countries. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe.
This bird is named after the British zoologist Edward Blyth.
As might be out from the call it makes its commonly know as Tik-Tiki.