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)

Hair-crested drongos: a difference in pigmentation

I came across these two drongo at Sirwani, near Singtam; felt strange about the difference of the beaks. It could be that the yellow pigmentation could be due to immaturity. There is also a difference in the size of the beak.

Phaenicophaeus tristis (Green-billed Malkoha) - Sikkim Bird

Phaenicophaeus tristis (Green-billed Malkoha)

Place : Sirwani, South Sikkim
Date: April 13,  2010
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:              Aves

Order:            Cuculiformes

Family:           Cuculidae

Genus:            Phaenicophaeus

Species:           P. tristis

Binomial name: Phaenicophaeus tristis (Lesson, 1830)

Other Names:  Green-billed malkoha

Special feature:  The birds are waxy bluish black with a long graduated tail with white tips to the tail feathers. The bill is prominent and curved. (Source: Wikipedia)

Monticola solitarius (Blue Rock Thrush) - Sikkim Bird

Monticola solitarius (Blue Rock Thrush - female)

Place : Sirwani, East Sikkim
Date: February 16,  2010
Pic: Krishna Dahal

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Monticola
Species:	M. solitarius

Binomial name: Monticola solitaries (Linnaeus, 1758)

Other Names: 

Special feature:  The blue rock thrush is Malta's national bird and is shown on the Lm 1 coin that was part of the previous currency of the country.(Wikipedia)