Photographed on location by
Keith Rawling
Keith Rawling
Small birds are probbly the hardset to photograph as they are fast moving and tend to hide amongst the foliage. Most of the photos were taken in the Udaipur area..... a very good starting point for bird photography or bird watching.
November to February is when the area gets most visitors
All photos ©Keith Rawling 2010-2016
Updated 13/12/16
Small Birds
SUNBIRDS
The iridescent male Purple Sunbird. The main species of Sunbird in Rajasthan.
Purple Sunbird - eclipse
Purple Sunbird - female
BUNTINGS
Black Headed Bunting
Striolated Bunting
Crested Bunting
BEE EATERS
Green Bee Eater
Blue cheeked Bee Eater
The Green Bee-eater in it's different colourways. L- R - oriantalis, ferrugiceps and beludschicus. Making the most amazing shapes as they pick insects out of the air.
MINIVET
Small Minivet male - cinnamomeus
Small Minivet female - cinnamomeus
LARKS AND PIPITS
Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark
Rufus-tailed Lark
Crested Lark
Tree Pipit
Paddyfield Pipit
SWALLOWS AND SWIFTS
Wire Tailed Swallow
Red Rumped Swallow
Cliff Swallow or Streak-throated Swallow gathering mud for nest building.
SMALL BIRDS - HEDGEROW
Humes Leaf Warbler
Chiffchaff
Asian White eye
Common Tailor Bird
Plain Prinia
Ashy Prinia
Ashy Prinia
Jungle Prinia
Rufous- fronted Prinia
Plain Prinia
Indian Silver Bill
Baya weaver
Chestnut Shouldered Petronia
Common Iora
Thick Billed Flower Pecker
Scaly-Brested Munia
Lesser Whitethroat
Great Tit
Common Rosefinch
Blue Cheeked Bee Eater
FLYCATCHERS
Asian Paradise Flycatcher
Red Brested Flycatcher female
Female Taiga Flycatcher
Taiga Flycatcher
Lesser Whitethroat
Ultramarine Flycatcher
Indian Bushlark
Rufous- fronted Prinia
Ashy Prinia
Ultramarine Flycatcher (imm)
Bluethroat - female
Tawney Pipit
Crested Lark
Red Rumped Swallow
Jungle Prinia
Small Minivet female - pallidus
PRINIA
I use the 'Birds of the Indian Subcontinent' Oxford University Press as my reference. Easily the best book on the subject that I've seen. Consequently these species are named to align with this publication. I also consult 'Birds of India' - OM International Press. Both obtainable at the Strand Bookshop Mumbai.
Udaipur is a great centre for birdwatching and bird photography. Around the lakes present good opportunities to spot something different and get close enough to get excellent photos. For the rarer species obviously it's better to get out in the countryside. A car or rickshaw make a very good hide. A lot of these photos were taken with Samshu. A good and trusted friend who knows the best places to get good photos.
Techie Info: For Bird photography in India I travel light, two cameras, and two lenses - attached. I don't like changing lenses in case dust gets in. Currently I take Nikon D7100 and 7200, a 18-- 200mm lens and the new 80 - 400mm lens. Set to shutter priority (1000th) to capture movement and to limit camera shake. The light is fantastic so 100-200 ISO is OK most of the time.
These mages have been cropped and reduced for the especially for this web page. Full sized files suitable for publication, print or web are available. For further information contact me at:- keith.rawling@btconnect.com.
See also:
Ultramarine Flycatcher
Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher
Verditer Flycatcher - A once only sighting
Hume's Whitethroat
Indian Yellow Tit
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Tailor Bird - Black neck feathers are revealed while singing
Crested Bunting female
White Capped Bunting
Chiffchaff
Red Rumped Swallow
Little Swift
Little Swift
Wire Tailed Swallow
