Endemic Birds In India UPSC NOTE

  Endemic Birds In India A recent publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) points out that about 5% of the birds found in the co...

 

Endemic Birds In India

• A recent publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) points out that about 5% of the birds found in the country are endemic and not reported in other parts of the world. 

• The publication, 75 Endemic Birds of India, was recently released on the 108th foundation day of the ZSI.

• India is home to 1,353 bird species, which represents approximately 12.4% of the global bird diversity. Of these, 78 (5%) are endemic to the country. 

• Since endemic species are restrictive in nature, it is important that their habitats are conserved so that they don’t dwindle out. 

• The highest number of endemic species have been recorded in the Western Ghats, with 28 bird species.

• Some of the species recorded in the country’s bio-geographic hotspot are the Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus); Malabar parakeet (Psittacula columboides); Ashambu laughingthrush (Montecincla meridionalis); and the white-bellied sholakili (Sholicola albiventris).

• Three of the 78 species have not been recorded in the past few decades.

• They are the Manipur bush quail (Perdicula manipurensis), the Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa), and the Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus).

Manipur bush quail (Perdicula manipurensis):

• Listed as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

• Last recorded sighting in 1907.

• It was first collected and described by Allan Octavian Hume )founder of the Indian National Congress and "the Father of Indian Ornithology")

Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa):

• Listed as “critically endangered” in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

• Its last recorded sighting in 1876 near Mussoorie.

• It is a medium-sized quail belonging to the pheasant family.

• This species was known from only 2 locations (and 12 specimens) in the western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, north-west India.

Jerdon’s courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus):

• Listed as “critically endangered” in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

• Its last confirmed sighting in 2009.

• It is a nocturnal bird belonging to the pratincole and courser family.

• This courser is a restricted-range endemic found locally in India in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.