Saturday 29 November 2014

Actitis hypoleucos (Common Sandpiper) - Sikkim Bird

Actitis hypoleucos (Common Sandpiper)

Venue: Sirwani, Singtam,  South Sikkim

Date: February 16 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan





Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Subclass:        Neornithes
Infraclass:      Neognathae
Superorder:   Neoaves
Order:            Charadriiformes
Superorder:   Neoaves
Family:           Scolopacidae
Genus:            Actitis
Species:           A. hypoleucos
Binomial name: Actitis hypoleucos (Linnaeus, 1758)

Other Names:  Common Sandpiper

Special feature:  This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper, make up the genus Actitis.

In the Nukumanu language of the Nukumanu Islands (Papua New Guinea), this species is usually called tiritavoi. Another Nukumanu name for it, matakakoni, exists, but this is considered somewhat taboo and not used when children and women are around. The reason for this is that matakakoni means "bird that walks a little, then copulates", in reference to the pumping tail and thrusting head movements the Actitis species characteristically perform during foraging. (Source: Wikipedia)


Spilornis cheela (Crested Serpent Eagle) - Sikkim Bird

Spilornis cheela (Crested Serpent Eagle)

Venue: Sirwani, Singtam,  South Sikkim

Date: February 16 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan




Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Order:            Accipitriformes
Family:           Accipitridae
Genus:            Spilornis
Species:           S. cheela
Binomial name: Spilornis cheela Latham, 1790

Other Names:  Crested serpent eagle

Special feature:  They often feed on snakes, giving them their name.

The specific name cheela is derived from the Hindi name for kites. (Source: Wikipedia)

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Streptopelia orientalis (Oriental Turtle-Dove) - Sikkim Bird

Streptopelia orientalis (Oriental Turtle-Dove)

Venue: Chisopani, Singtam  East Sikkim

Date: February 16 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan



Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia
Phylum:          Chordata
Class:             Aves
Order:            Columbiformes
Family:           Columbidae
Genus:            Streptopelia
Species:           S. orientalis
Binomial name: Streptopelia orientalis (Latham, 1790)

Monday 24 November 2014

Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell) - Sikkim Butterfly

Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,
Date:November 24, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan
Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,
Date:December 14, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan


Scientific classification

Kingdom:             Animalia
Phylum:               Arthropoda
Class:                    Insecta
Order:                  Lepidoptera
Family:                 Nymphalidae
Genus:                  Aglais
Species:                 A. caschmirensis
Binomial name:    Aglais caschmirensis (Kollar, 1848)

Other Names: Indian Tortoiseshell

Special feature:  There are 3 species found in Himalaya.

Aglais caschmirensis are found across the foothills of the Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet.