Blue-fronted redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis - female) - Sikkim Bird

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:             Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:           Muscicapidae

Genus:            Phoenicurus

Species:           P. frontalis

Binomial name: Phoenicurus frontalis Vigors, 1832

Other Names:  The female is brownish-grey, with paler under parts. Its range includes the northern regions of the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. (Wikipedia)

Yellow-bellied fantail (Chelidorhynx hypoxantha) - Sikkim Bird

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:              Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:           Stenostiridae

Genus:            Chelidorhynx Hodgson, 1844

Species:           C. hypoxantha

Binomial name: Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Blyth, 1843

Other Names:  yellow-bellied fairy-fantail

Special feature:  It is yellow below and has a black eye-stripe, white wing-bar and broad black tail tipped white.

It used to be placed in the family of the fantails (Rhipiduridae), but DNA analysis has shown it to be a close relative of the fairy flycatcher and it has therefore been transferred to the Stenostiridae (IOC World Bird List), in the re-validated monotypic genus Chelidorhynx. (Wikipedia)

Garrulax ocellatus (Spotted laughingthrush) - Sikkim Bird

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:             Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:           Leiothrichidae

Genus:            Garrulax (disputed)

Species:          G. ocellatus

Binomial name: Garrulax ocellatus (Vigors, 1831)

Other Names: 

Special feature:  The spotted laughingthrush (Garrulax ocellatus) is a bird species in the Leiothrichidae family. In the proposed rearrangement of the laughingthrushes, it is sometimes placed in the genus Ianthocincla, as I. ocellata. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. (Wikipedia)

Enicurus scouleri (little forktail) - Sikkim Bird

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:             Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:           Muscicapidae

Genus:            Enicurus

Species:           E. scouleri

Binomial name: Enicurus scouleri Vigors, 1832

Other Names:  little forktail

Special feature:  

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

The Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) is an amazing bird of prey many people love to see! This bird is not very big, but it is very strong. Its wings can stretch out about 120 to 140 centimetres wide. One cool thing about this eagle is its special crest of feathers on its head that can stand up or lay flat, making it look like a little king of the sky!

The eagle has dark brown feathers with lighter spots on its wings and a pretty white band on its tail. This helps it blend in with the trees to hide from its prey. Its sharp yellow eyes help it see well, so it can find snakes and small animals to eat.

The Crested Serpent Eagle can be found in places like South and Southeast Asia. Its specific name, cheela, comes from the Hindi word for kites, which are another type of bird. This eagle likes to sit on tall trees and look around for food. 

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)

Anthus hodgsoni (olive-backed pipit) - Sikkim Bird

Anthus hodgsoni (olive-backed pipit)

Venue: Chisopani, Singtam,  East Sikkim

Date: November 20, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Chordata

Class:             Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:           Motacillidae

Genus:            Anthus

Species:           A. hodgsoni

Binomial name: Anthus hodgsoni (Richmond, 1907)

Other Names:  Olive-backed pipit, Indian pipit or Hodgson's pipit,

Special feature:  The scientific name of this bird commemorates the British ornithologist Brian Houghton Hodgson. (Source: Wikipedia)