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east and upper plumage in this bird are black; the under parts and the
coverts are white, and there are also prominent white patches on the wings
and above the eyes. For a nest, the bird usually selects the bank of a river
or rock near an area of water, and the nest is a shallow cup of cobweb and
plant fibers. The species is distributed throughout the State and is recorded
from Salsette, Panvel, Kolaba, Poona, and Khandala.
Family Dicaeidae: This family comprises over fifty small birds found
from India into the South-East through to New Guinea. Some fourteen
species are found in India, of which 3 are recorded in Maharashtra.
The Tickell's Flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos) is an active,
although diminutive, olive-brown bird, even smaller than a sunbird. It has
a short tail and a slightly curved bill. It keeps to the trees, feeding on
nectar and various berries, notably Loranthus. The nest is an oval pouch of
vegetable fiber. It is a resident in the country, common in many areas in
the Deccan and recorded from Poona, Bombay, Salsette, Thana, Ratnagiri
and elsewhere in Maharashtra.
Family Nectariniidae: This family comprises over a hundred small
birds found in Africa, Asia and Australia. There are 27 species in India, of
which five are found in Maharashtra. The males in this family are known
for their intense, metallic colouring, while the females are duller, greenish
or brown. The narrow extensible tongue formsa tube which is divided into
two at the tipandis, obviously,usedfor collecting nectar.
The Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica) is over 4 inches long with a
brilliant purple colouring and an outstandingly long curved bill. The
females and young birds are greenish brown and yellow. A most useful
agent in the process of cross-pollination, the sunbird feeds on nectar and
insects. It is a common resident in Maharashtra, its long untidy nests being
suspended on fences, vines, etc. A disconcertingly similar species is the
Purplerumped Sunbird (Nectarinia zeylonica) with the upper parts and
breast crimson, green and purple, the lower parts yellow, and rump purple.
This is also a resident.
FAUNA 586