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The Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus) is a strikingly coloured
bird. The male has a black head, neck and wings, while the rest of the
plumage is scarlet. The female is grey above and orange below. The birds
are found in evergreen forests as far north as Khandesh. The Rosy Minivet
(Pericrocotus roseus) the Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus), the
short-billed Minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris) are fairly common, while
the Whitebellied Minivet (Pericrocotus erythropygius), a smaller bird, is
somewhat rare.
The Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus) has only recently been
added to the Indian list, having been found at Karnala in the Kolaba
District of Maharashtra. It is a bird which occurs in South-East Asia from
Burma to Japan.
Family Irenidae: This small family comprises six species of brightly
coloured birds, inhabiting well-wooded areas, dense forests and gardens.
They are arboreal and live on fruits, insects, and nectar. The nest is a
loosely constructed hammock placed in trees. Both sexes take part in
domestic duties.
The Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) is a richly coloured yellow and
black bird, somewhat smaller than a bulbul, with a very melodious call. It
is a fairly common species. Marshall’s Iora (A. nigrolutea) is rather
uncommon but has been recorded as a breeding bird in Khandesh. The
Gold-fronted Chloropsis (Chloropsis aurifrons) is found throughout the
State and is a good mimic. Jerdon’s Chloropsis (Chloropsis
cochinchinensis) looks similar to the former species except for the fact
that it has no gold on the crown. The Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella) is a
resident of evergreen dense forests and has been seen around Savantwadi
(South Ratnagiri).
Family Pycnonotidae: Of the 19 speciesofBulbuls found in India, six
have been recorded from Maharashtra. The commonest are the
Redwhiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) and the Redvented Bulbul
(Pycnonotus cafer). They are found in gardens, villages, open scrub
country and deciduous jungles, but avoid dense forests. The White-
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