Mangar banni: bird checklist
By Abhijit Menon-Sen <ams@toroid.org>
Mangar is one of many small villages nestled in the Aravali foothills near Delhi. In a region that is under increasing pressure from real estate development, Mangar is especially interesting because it adjoins a banni (sacred grove) that represents the largest remaining contiguous unspoiled Aravali habitat. The residents of Mangar and some neighbouring villages understand the value of this grove, and are exploring ways to secure lasting protection for the area.
The banni is important for many reasons, including its cultural significance, being a valuable groundwater resource, and being home to many species of trees, animals, and birds. I am studying the bird life of the banni and the area around it as part of an effort to establish its biodiversity value.
The banni comprises various distinct kinds of habitat, each with its own characteristic bird life. This is a work-in-progress checklist based on two visits to the area in September 2001, and will be refined as more data are collected. Considering the extent and richness of the habitat, there is no doubt that subsequent visits in winter and other seasons will add to this list significantly.
Checklist
Update 2015-10-30: This checklist is no longer actively maintained.
First, the species seen inside the banni itself.
- Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
- Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus
- Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
- Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
- Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense
- Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica
- Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus
- Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
- Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
- Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
- Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
- Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
- Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
- Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
- Hoopoe Upupa epops
- House Crow Corvus splendens
- Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo
- Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris
- Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
- Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus
- Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata
- Large-billed Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris
- Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi
- Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
- Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
- Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
- Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
- Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
- Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
- Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus
- Red Collared-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
- Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
- Rock Pigeon Columba livia
- Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
- Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
- Shikra Accipiter badius
- White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
- Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
- Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii
- House Sparrow Passer domesticus
- Rufous-fronted Prinia Prinia buchanani
- White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa
- White-throated Munia Euodice malabarica
- Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis coromandus
- Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii
Species recorded in the area around the banni (not including any that are in the list above):
- Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
- Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus
- Black Kite Milvus migrans
- Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hieroccycx varius
- Crested Bunting Melophus lathami
- Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
- Crested Lark Galerida cristata
- Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
- European Roller Coracias garrulus
- Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis
- Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus
- Plain Martin Riparia chinensis
- Indian Bushlark Mirafra erythroptera
- Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
- Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
- Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
- Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
- Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus
- Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
- White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
- Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense
- Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
Additional species recorded in July 2010 by Monalisa Sen:
- Eurasian Thick-knee Burhinus oedicnemus
- Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
- Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
- Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum
- Brown Rock Chat Cercomela fusca
- Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
Notable sightings
The only previous record of Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris in the Delhi region was from the Ridge forest on September 8 2001 (Clive Harris, pers. comm.). There were at least four of these birds in a Ficus tree in the lower reaches of the banni on September 8 2011. These birds (and others, such as Western-crowned P. occipitalis) are doubtless overlooked on passage from the Himalayas to their wintering grounds in South India. Given the range of undisturbed habitats in the banni, it is quite likely a critical resource for such passage migrants.