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prominent white and black stripe through and over eyes. It has only three
toes and its general appearance reminds one of a Lapwing in the field.
This bird is fairly common in Maharashtra. Except for the fact that it has
only one white stripe down the neck instead of two, it looks very similar to
the Jerdon’s or Doublebanded Courser (Cursorius bitorquatus), which has
become extinct in India.
The Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) is a swallow-like plover,
olive-brown above, pale rufous and white below. A black line runs from
behind the eyes across the breast forming a narrow gorget. It has a white
rump and long pointed wings. The bill and the tail are short. It flies in the
manner of a swallow and runs like a plover on land. It inhabits thin scrub
grassland and cultivated fields. It breeds in Sind in West Pakistan and has
been recorded as a straggler in Ratnagiri District. One was also shot at
Bhayander in the Thana District.
Family Stercorariidae: Skuas and Jaegers. Four species are recorded
in India. These oceanic birds obtain most of their food by chasing gulls
and making them disgorge their catch which is then caught in the air. A
specimen of the Antartic Skua (Catharacta skua lönnbergi) was picked up
on the Malvan Coast of Ratnagiri District.
Family Laridae: Gulls and Terns. This family consists of many
species of Gulls and Terns and of the 36 species found in India 19 occur in
Maharashtra. One of the commonest is the Blackheaded Gull (Larus
ridibundus) which is seen along our sea-coast and in the harbors in mixed
flocks with other Gulls picking up wastes thrown into the water from
ships. A black patch above the ear covers makes it easy to identify the
bird. A similar looking, though somewhat smaller, bird is the
Brownheaded Gull (Larus brunnicephalus) which is found in the same
kind of habitat as the Blackheaded Gull. The Great Blackheaded Gull
(Larus ichthyaetus) is larger than the foregoing species.
The Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) is rather an odd-looking
waterbird. It is black and white and brown in colour and can be recognised
by its scissors-shaped orange-red bill. The knife-like lower mandible
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