Birds of Andamanand where to see them

How to identify it

• Adult: white head, neck and underparts with a grey back and wings.
• From below, white wing linings against black flight feathers.
• Short, wedge-shaped tail, white with a grey base.
• Soars with its wings raised in a shallow V.
• Young birds are mottled brown with a paler head. They take several years to turn white.

Call

Loud honking calls, often given by a pair together.

Where and when to see it

Coasts, creeks, mangroves and wetlands near the sea, all through the islands. Sightings include Chidiyatapu, Baratang, Little Andaman, Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It eats mostly fish but also takes reptiles, birds, small mammals and carrion. It hunts by flying low over the water or by dropping from a perch. Pairs build a big stick nest in a tall tree near water.

Easy to confuse with

• Osprey: The Osprey has a different wing shape and pale flight feathers. The adult sea-eagle shows black flight feathers against white wing linings.

How to identify it

• Large, heavily built eagle. A bushy, white-tipped crest makes the head look big.
• Bare yellow skin between the eye and the bill; yellow eyes and legs.
• Brown underparts with neat white spots.
• Adult in flight: broad rounded wings with a white band, and a black tail with one broad white band.
• Young birds are mostly whitish below with dark streaks and a dark mask.

Call

A loud scream of one to three notes, often given in flight. It is usually written as "kluee-wip-wip".

Where and when to see it

Coastal forest on the bigger islands, in small numbers. Birders have seen it on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Neil (Shaheed Dweep), Baratang and Little Andaman.

Food and habits

It eats mainly snakes and lizards, and also frogs. It sits upright on a perch inside the trees and watches the ground below, then soars and calls over the canopy.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Serpent-Eagle: Smaller and darker, plain dark brown with only small white speckles.

How to identify it

• Fairly small eagle, plain dark chocolate brown all over.
• Bright yellow bare skin between the eye and the bill.
• Small white spots on the underparts and the wings.
• In flight, narrow black-and-white bands on the wings and thick black bands on the tail.
• Young birds look like adults but have a pale cream head.

Call

A series of four or five short whistles that sound like chirps.

Where and when to see it

Wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forest on the larger islands, sometimes down to the coast. Look for it at Mount Harriet, Chidiyatapu and Baratang. There are also records from Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It sits on a perch under the canopy and waits for prey: rats, lizards and snakes. It also takes crabs and prawns from the ground. Very little is known about how it breeds.

Easy to confuse with

• Crested Serpent-Eagle: Larger and heavier, with a bushy crest and paler, spotted underparts. It keeps more to coastal forest.

How to identify it

• Medium-sized, slim eagle with broad, rounded wings. The head looks small in flight.
• Pale form: dark brown above, white below with heavy dark streaks.
• Strongly barred flight feathers and tail.
• Andaman birds are said to have only a short crest.
• Young birds are paler, with cleaner white underparts.

Call

A shrill, rising series of whistled notes, heard mostly in the breeding season.

Where and when to see it

Forest, forest edge and plantations, always in small numbers. Records come from Chidiyatapu, Baratang, Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It hunts from a hidden perch and takes birds, mammals and reptiles. It usually lays a single egg.

Easy to confuse with

• Crested Serpent-Eagle: Young serpent-eagles look chunkier, with a bigger head and a shorter tail with fewer bars.

How to identify it

• Small hawk with narrow, pointed wings that show only four "fingers" at the tip.
• Adult: plain grey above, whitish below with a peach-orange wash, and a bright orange-yellow patch above the bill.
• From below in flight: pale, almost plain wing linings and solid black wing tips.
• Adult males have dark red eyes; females have yellow eyes and are browner above.
• Young birds are dark brown above, streaked and barred below.

Where and when to see it

Forest edge and wooded open country, from October to April, usually one to three birds together. A few have been recorded on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

In winter it eats many cicadas and other large insects, and also lizards. It travels in flocks along island chains on migration and often lets people come close when it is perched.

Easy to confuse with

• Besra: The Besra shows five "fingers" in flight and does not have plain pale wing linings with black tips.

How to identify it

• Small owl with a round head, no ear tufts and yellow eyes.
• Brown face and back.
• Pale underparts with bold rusty-brown streaks from the neck to the belly.
• Usually a white patch under the tail; barred tail.

Call

A deep, throaty "kroooo", repeated every few seconds. You will usually hear it long before you see it.

Where and when to see it

Lowland forest, plantations and clearings near villages. Go at dusk and listen. Birders have found it at Chidiyatapu, Baratang, Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It comes out at night and is fairly shy. It eats mainly insects and has been seen catching moths and beetles in flight. Almost nothing is known about how it breeds.

Easy to confuse with

• Hume's Boobook: Plain dark chocolate brown with no bold rusty streaks, and a fluty two-note "whoo-up" call.

How to identify it

• Medium-sized owl with a round head and no ear tufts.
• Plain dark chocolate brown, with bright yellow eyes.
• A small white spot between the eyes.
• The lower belly is often paler, sometimes with a little barring.

Call

A fluty, two-note whistle, "whoo-up".

Where and when to see it

Forest, forest edges, groves and plantations; it also hunts over paddy fields. Sightings come from Wandoor, Baratang, Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It sleeps by day in thick canopy, alone or in pairs, and hunts insects in flight at night.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Boobook: Pale underparts with bold rusty streaks, and a deep "kroooo" call.

How to identify it

• Dark, medium-sized nightjar with fairly long wings and tail.
• The crown and back look paler grey than the rest of the bird.
• White throat patch, sometimes hidden.
• In flight, a white patch near the wing tip.

Call

A loud, hard "chowk-chowk-chowk", usually four or five notes in a level series.

Where and when to see it

Open woodland, forest clearings, plantations and mangroves. Records include the Wandoor mangroves, Baratang and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It sits still on the ground or a low branch by day and comes out at dusk to hunt insects. A pair flushed in the Wandoor mangroves flew off slowly and landed again under thorny bushes.

How to identify it

• Very large swift with a heavy, cigar-shaped body and long, broad wings.
• Short square tail; the spine-like feather tips can be seen even in fast flight.
• Dark brown body with a white horseshoe running from the flanks round under the tail.
• Andaman birds have a white spot in front of the eye.
• A paler brown patch on the back, often hard to see.

Where and when to see it

High over forest and open country. Chidiyatapu, Baratang, Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) all have records.

Food and habits

It feeds on flying insects caught high in the air, often with other needletails. Its flight is very fast and strong.

Easy to confuse with

• Plume-toed Swiftlet: Much smaller (about 10 cm), with fluttering flight and a whitish, speckled belly. No white horseshoe.

How to identify it

• Tiny swiftlet with a square tail.
• Glossy blue-black above; the sheen shows best when it flies low.
• Whitish belly with dark speckles, sharply cut off from the dark throat and chest.
• Dark rump.

Call

Mostly silent. It gives sharp, grating twitters at the nest.

Where and when to see it

Everywhere: over forest, fields, villages and water, including Chidiyatapu, Baratang, Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It flies low in flocks with fast, jerky flight, catching small insects from near the ground up to just above the treetops. It nests in colonies in caves and on buildings and is used to people.

Easy to confuse with

• Brown-backed Needletail: More than twice the size, with a white horseshoe under the tail and very fast, direct flight.

How to identify it

• Large, long-tailed bird that spends a lot of time on the ground.
• Pale grey-buff to tawny-brown head, neck and underparts.
• Rich chestnut back and wings.
• Long tail, paler at the base and darker towards the tip.
• Black bill and legs.

Call

A series of deep, booming "hoop" notes.

Where and when to see it

Forest edge, gardens, groves, paddy fields and mangroves. Seen at Chidiyatapu, Baratang, Little Andaman, Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It creeps through shrubs and low cover, moving rather clumsily on the ground, and hunts grasshoppers, other insects and small animals, including small birds. It builds its own large, ball-shaped nest.

How to identify it

• Turquoise or blue-green cap, back, wings and tail.
• A broad white collar right round the neck.
• Clean white underparts.
• Black stripe through the eye.
• Big black bill with a pale base to the lower half.

Call

Very loud and sudden: repeated harsh "kyow" or "kee-kee-kee" notes.

Where and when to see it

Coasts, mangroves, farmland and gardens. On Havelock, birders have recorded it at Radhanagar Beach, Govind Nagar Beach, Kalapathar and the jetty. Elsewhere, try Chidiyatapu, Corbyn's Cove and the Garacharma and Chouldari wetlands.

Food and habits

On the coast it lives mostly on small crabs. It also eats shrimps, insects, frogs, lizards and small fish. It nests in a hole in a tree, a tree termite nest or an earth bank. In 2009 a pair in the Andamans was seen displaying and then digging a tunnel in a mud bank.

Easy to confuse with

• White-throated Kingfisher: Bigger, with a red bill and a chestnut-brown head and belly.

How to identify it

• Large kingfisher with a heavy, deep-red bill and red legs.
• Chestnut-brown head, shoulders and belly.
• Bright white throat and centre of the chest.
• Bright blue back, wings and tail.
• Large white patches show on the open wings in flight.

Call

A loud, harsh "kee-kee-kyee-kyee", often given in flight.

Where and when to see it

Ponds, canals, marshes, fields and gardens. Havelock spots include Radhanagar Beach, Kalapathar, Govind Nagar Beach and the jetty. It is also common at Sippighat, Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet.

Food and habits

It sits in the open and drops onto prey on the ground. It takes large insects such as grasshoppers, and also lizards, snakes, rodents, frogs, crabs and fish. It nests in a tunnel it digs in an earth bank.

Easy to confuse with

• Stork-billed Kingfisher: Much bigger, with a pale buff-brown head and buff underparts, and no white bib.
• Collared Kingfisher: Smaller, with a black bill, white underparts and a white collar.

How to identify it

• Very large kingfisher with a huge, bright red bill.
• Light brown or olive-brown head.
• Buff-orange collar and underparts.
• Green back, blue wings and tail.
• Red legs.

Call

Noisy. A low, far-carrying "peer-por-por" every few seconds, and a cackling "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke".

Where and when to see it

Wooded creeks, wetlands and mangroves. On Havelock it turns up near Radhanagar Beach, Kalapathar and Govind Nagar Beach. It is also seen at the Stewartgunj, Ograbraj, Chouldari and Garacharma wetlands and at Chidiyatapu.

Food and habits

It sits quietly while hunting and eats fish, crabs, frogs, rodents and young birds. It nests in a hole in a bank, a rotten tree or a tree termite nest.

Easy to confuse with

• White-throated Kingfisher: Smaller, with a chestnut head and belly and a white bib.

How to identify it

• Rusty-orange head and underparts.
• Back, wings and tail washed purple or violet.
• A pale sky-blue patch on the lower back, best seen in flight.
• Large rose-red bill and red legs.

Call

A loud, falling trill. Listen for it in the mangroves.

Where and when to see it

Mangroves, tidal forest and shaded forest streams. On Havelock it has been seen at Kalapathar, along the Radhanagar Beach walk and in mangroves near the jetty. Also try Shoal Bay, Chidiyatapu and the Dhani Nallah mangrove walkway in Middle Andaman.

Food and habits

It keeps to deep shade, alone or in pairs. It eats fish, crabs and other crustaceans, large insects and frogs.

Easy to confuse with

• Stork-billed Kingfisher: Much bigger, with a green back, blue wings and a buff, not rusty, head.

How to identify it

• Small kingfisher with dark cobalt-blue upperparts.
• Blue ear patch behind the eye.
• Rufous spot in front of the eye and a white patch on the side of the neck.
• Deep rufous underparts.
• Male: black bill, reddish at the base. Female: an almost all-red bill.
• Young birds have rufous ear patches, like the Common Kingfisher.

Where and when to see it

Pools and streams in dense, shaded forest, and sometimes mangroves. Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) records come from Kalapathar and around Radhanagar. Also seen at Chidiyatapu, Sippighat and the Chouldari wetland.

Food and habits

It perches on low branches over shaded water and dives in for small fish, crustaceans and insect larvae. It nests in a tunnel dug into a stream bank.

Easy to confuse with

• Common Kingfisher: Common in winter. Orange ear patch at all ages, and paler, greener-blue upperparts.

How to identify it

• Rich chestnut crown and back of the neck.
• Yellow chin and throat, a black stripe through the eye and a thin dark band below the throat.
• Green body with a pale blue rump.
• Thin, black, slightly curved bill.
• Square tail with no long central feathers.

Where and when to see it

Forest edges, clearings, plantations and coastal scrub. Havelock records come from Radhanagar Beach, Govind Nagar and Kalapathar. It is also common at Chidiyatapu and Burmanallah.

Food and habits

It catches bees, wasps, hornets and other flying insects in the air. It digs its nest tunnels in sandy banks.

How to identify it

• Small wader, grey-brown above and on the sides of the chest.
• White underparts, with a white wedge pushing up between the wing and the chest.
• White ring round the eye.
• Short bill; yellowish legs.
• Bobs the back half of its body up and down as it walks.

Call

A high "pee-pee-pee" in flight.

Where and when to see it

Beaches, creeks, jetties, rocky shores and pond edges. Try Radhanagar Beach, Govind Nagar Beach, Kalapathar and the jetty on Havelock, or Sippighat, Garacharma and Chouldari near Port Blair.

Food and habits

It is usually alone, walking along the water's edge and picking up insects and small crustaceans.

How to identify it

• Comes in a dark form (slate grey all over) and a white form; in-between birds also occur.
• Dark birds often have a small white chin.
• Thick, dull yellow to brownish bill.
• Short, thick yellow-green legs that give it a squat, hunched look.

Call

Mostly silent. A low "ork" when feeding and harsh croaks between birds.

Where and when to see it

Rocky shores, reefs and jetties. On Havelock it turns up at the jetty, Govind Nagar Beach, Radhanagar Beach and Kalapathar. Also at Chatham jetty and Corbyn's Cove in Port Blair, Chidiyatapu and Little Andaman.

Food and habits

It stalks slowly over rocks and reef flats uncovered by the tide and stabs at small fish, including mudskippers, and small crabs. It feeds by day or by night, depending on the tide.

Easy to confuse with

• Little Egret: Compared with a white reef heron, it is slimmer, with a thin black bill and long black legs.
• Medium Egret: Long-necked and long-legged, with a yellow bill; it feeds in wetlands and paddy, not on reefs.

How to identify it

• All-white egret, smaller than the Great Egret.
• Fairly short, thick yellow bill, often with a dark tip outside the breeding season.
• The line of the mouth ends below the eye. In the Great Egret it runs well behind the eye.
• Rounded head; the neck has only a slight kink.
• Breeding birds grow long lacy plumes and the bill turns black.

Call

Usually quiet. A harsh "kraa" in flight.

Where and when to see it

Wetlands, paddy fields and ponds, and sometimes mangroves and mudflats. On Havelock it has been seen in the fields around Kalapathar village and near the jetty. Also at Sippighat, Garacharma, Stewartgunj, Ograbraj and Chouldari.

Food and habits

It eats small fish, eels, frogs, snakes and insects. It nests in colonies, often with other herons and egrets.

Easy to confuse with

• Great Egret: Bigger, with a longer neck that has a sharp kink, and a mouth line that runs behind the eye.
• Little Egret: Slimmer, with a thin black bill and yellow feet.
• Eastern Cattle-Egret: Much smaller and stockier, with a shorter bill and a short neck.

How to identify it

• Medium-large tern with a long, thin orange bill.
• Black cap; in winter the forehead turns white.
• Grey back and wings, white underparts.
• Black legs.

Call

A noisy, grating "kerrrick".

Where and when to see it

Coasts, bays and the open sea. Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) records come from the jetty and offshore. Also at Rangat Bay, Kalipur Beach near Diglipur, Hut Bay in Little Andaman and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor.

Food and habits

It flies over the sea and dives straight down into the water for fish and prawns. It does not breed in the Andamans as far as is known.

Easy to confuse with

• Great Crested Tern: Larger and darker grey above, with a thicker yellow or greenish-yellow bill.

How to identify it

• Small brown duck with a dark, scaly-looking body.
• Dark head with a white ring round the eye and white on the throat. The amount of white varies a lot from bird to bird.
• Blue-grey bill.
• A white panel on the upper wing in flight, and white under the wing.
• Males and females look alike.

Where and when to see it

Freshwater and brackish wetlands, paddy fields, creeks, mangroves and lagoons. Sippighat and Ograbraj are the best sites; also try Stewartgunj, Garacharma, Chouldari and Wandoor, and Baratang and Mayabunder further north. Havelock has only a handful of records, so do not count on it there.

Food and habits

It dabbles in shallow water and mud for seeds and insects, and rests in flocks on open water, mudflats and rocks at low tide. Its breeding is poorly known. One nest with 9 eggs was found on an islet near Redskin Island, Wandoor, in May 1999.

How to identify it

• Large, heavy pigeon with a pearl-grey head, neck and underparts.
• Deep green wings, back and tail, with a bronze or bluish sheen.
• Dark chestnut-maroon feathers under the tail.
• Males and females look alike.

Call

Very vocal. A deep, throaty "rrruh-RUOOHH", sometimes longer or with a change in pitch.

Where and when to see it

Lowland forest of all kinds, forest gardens and mangroves. Very common at Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet. On Havelock it has been recorded near Radhanagar Beach and Kalapathar, and it is also seen on Neil (Shaheed Dweep) and Little Andaman.

Food and habits

It stays high in fruiting trees, alone, in pairs or in small groups, and is noisy. As a large fruit-eater it probably spreads the seeds of many forest trees.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Wood-Pigeon: Dark grey above, not green, with a pale grey patch under the tail and red skin round the eye.
• Pied Imperial-Pigeon: White or cream with black wing and tail tips. No green.

How to identify it

• Large pigeon with dark slate-grey wings and back.
• Pale grey, almost whitish, head and underparts.
• A silvery neck with fine dark bars.
• Reddish bare skin round the eye and a pale bill.
• Pale grey under the tail, not chestnut.

Where and when to see it

Dense evergreen forest. Most records come from Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet. Havelock has fewer, from near Radhanagar Beach and Kalapathar.

Food and habits

It feeds in pairs or small groups on large berries and figs near the top of the forest. At Wandoor it was seen eating ripe figs in a mixed flock with Andaman Green-Pigeons, hill mynas and Asian Fairy-bluebirds.

Easy to confuse with

• Green Imperial-Pigeon: Green wings and back and a chestnut patch under the tail.

How to identify it

• Large white to creamy-white pigeon.
• Black flight feathers and a black tail tip, so it looks black-trimmed in flight.
• Dark eye; blue-grey bill with a dark tip.
• Males and females look alike.

Call

A very low "woo-oo-woooo", the last note drawn out and fading.

Where and when to see it

Coastal forest, mangroves and small offshore islands. Try Chatham jetty and Ross Island in Port Blair, and Hut Bay on Little Andaman. On Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) it is only an occasional visitor.

Food and habits

It lives in flocks, often ten or more, and perches high on bare branches or wires. It eats fruit.

Easy to confuse with

• Green Imperial-Pigeon: Same size and shape, but grey with green wings and back.

How to identify it

• Large, dull green pigeon with a whitish forehead and a grey crown.
• Thick, pale bill.
• Dark olive-green wings with clear yellow lines. Males have a small dark maroon patch on the upper back; females are all green there.
• Dull yellow under the tail, with green patches.

Call

A low, nasal whistle.

Where and when to see it

Evergreen forest and forest edge. Chidiyatapu has by far the most records, followed by Mount Harriet, Little Andaman and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), where birds have been seen near Radhanagar Beach and Kalapathar.

Food and habits

It feeds in flocks, sometimes large, high in fruiting trees, especially figs. It often joins mixed flocks of fruit-eating birds.

Easy to confuse with

• Green Imperial-Pigeon: Much bigger and grey on the head and body, with no yellow wing lines and no maroon.

How to identify it

• Stocky, small dove with bright emerald-green wings and back.
• Coral-red bill; pinkish-purple head and underparts.
• Male: silvery-grey cap, white forehead and a white mark at the bend of the wing.
• Female: no silver cap, and browner.

Call

A slow run of soft, hiccuping coos: "ti-woo, ti-woo, ti-woo".

Where and when to see it

Forest of all kinds, forest edge, plantations and mangroves. Havelock sightings come from near Radhanagar Beach, Kalapathar and the Elephant Beach trail. Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet have many records too.

Food and habits

It walks on the forest floor under cover, picking up seeds and fallen fruit.

Easy to confuse with

• Nicobar Pigeon: Much bigger and darker, with long neck plumes, a dark bill and a white tail.

How to identify it

• Large ground pigeon, dark green mixed with grey, blue and bronze depending on the light.
• Long hanging plumes on the neck.
• Short, snow-white tail, best seen when it flies up.
• Dark grey head and a dark bill with a small knob at the base.
• Young birds have a black tail and little gloss.

Where and when to see it

Small offshore islands and the lowland forest of nearby bigger islands. Little Andaman (Harminder Bay, Hut Bay) and Narcondam are the places to try. Do not expect it on Havelock.

Food and habits

It walks on the forest floor eating fallen fruit and seeds, and is shy. It moves between islets and bigger islands to feed. It nests in trees and shrubs on very small wooded islands and lays a single egg.

Easy to confuse with

• Asian Emerald Dove: Much smaller, with a coral-red bill, a pinkish head and no neck plumes.

How to identify it

• Bright green parakeet with a grey-blue head and a salmon-pink chest.
• Broad black "moustache" from the bill down the cheek.
• Male: bright red upper bill. Female: all-black bill.
• Long, pointed blue-green tail.

Call

High, grating shrieks, usually given in fast flight overhead.

Where and when to see it

Forest edge, mangroves, coconut plantations, farmland and villages. Very common on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), including around Radhanagar, Kalapathar and Govind Nagar. Also at Chidiyatapu, Sippighat and Little Andaman.

Food and habits

It moves in noisy flocks of 6 to 10, sometimes many more, eating fruit, berries, flowers, nectar, seeds and grain. In the evening, flocks gather at big shared roosts.

Easy to confuse with

• Long-tailed Parakeet: Red cheeks instead of a grey-blue head, and a much longer, thinner tail.
• Alexandrine Parakeet: Bigger, all green with a red patch on the shoulder and no pink chest.

How to identify it

• Medium-sized green parakeet with red cheeks.
• Black stripe above the eye and another below the cheek.
• Male: brighter, with a red bill. Female: duller, with a black bill.
• Very long, thin central tail feathers, though these are not always there.

Call

Loud, harsh screams, usually as it shoots past overhead.

Where and when to see it

Lowland and coastal forest, mangroves, plantations and gardens. Common on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and at Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet and Sippighat.

Food and habits

It is very social and noisy, feeding on fruit, seeds and flowers. It feeds in gardens but nests in groups in tree holes, mostly in undisturbed forest, so it still needs forest to breed.

Easy to confuse with

• Red-breasted Parakeet: Grey-blue head, black moustache and a salmon-pink chest.
• Alexandrine Parakeet: Bigger and heavier, with a red patch on the shoulder and no red cheeks.

How to identify it

• Tiny, short-tailed, bright green parrot.
• Bright red bill and red rump.
• Male: a powder-blue patch on the throat. Female: little or no blue.
• Young birds have a duller rump and no throat patch.

Call

A thin, high "zi-zi-zi" in flight, and squeaky, shrill notes.

Where and when to see it

Wooded country, forest edge and gardens. Common on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and at Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet, Sippighat and Wandoor.

Food and habits

It eats berries, fruit, figs and nectar, and visits banana flowers for nectar. It nests in a hole in a rotting branch or trunk.

Easy to confuse with

• Red-breasted Parakeet: Parakeets are more than twice as long, with long pointed tails.

How to identify it

• Adult male: glossy purple-violet head, back and chest, with a white belly barred dark.
• Orange bill (duller in females); adult males also have a red ring round the eye.
• Female: greenish-brown above with pale barring up to the face.
• Young birds look like females but are more rufous on the wings.

Call

The male gives explosive, falling trills and a loud "chom-wit!", often in flight.

Where and when to see it

Moist lowland forest, forest edge, mangroves, gardens and plantations. Chidiyatapu has the most records; it is also recorded at Mount Harriet, Little Andaman and on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It creeps slowly along branches in the canopy and eats mainly insects, including hairy caterpillars.

Easy to confuse with

• Asian Emerald Cuckoo: A rare winter visitor. Its females have an even green sheen and no orange bill.

How to identify it

• Large rail, bigger than a moorhen, with long legs and toes.
• Breeding male: black body, a red-and-yellow bill and a raised red shield on the forehead.
• Female and young: large and brown, speckled above, with a tan face and no shield.

Call

Breeding males give deep gulping sounds, like water glugging out of a bottle. Both sexes give clucks and a sharp "keek" in alarm.

Where and when to see it

Wet paddy fields and marshes. Sippighat has by far the most records. It turns up on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) only occasionally.

Food and habits

It probes mud and shallow water for insects, small fish and seeds. It is secretive but sometimes walks out into the open, and is noisiest at dawn and dusk.

Easy to confuse with

• Eurasian Moorhen: Smaller, with no raised horn. The brown, speckled female Watercock looks like no moorhen.

How to identify it

• Tall, pointed black crest.
• Small red patch behind the eye and a thin black line on white cheeks.
• White underparts with a dark spur onto the side of the chest.
• Brown back; long brown tail with white tips.
• Red under the tail. Young birds have no red cheek patch.
• Andaman birds are said to be warmer brown, with a heavier bill and a shorter crest than mainland birds.

Call

Rich, warbled phrases. Calls include high pips, a long buzzy note and a sharp "pik-pik-a-wew".

Where and when to see it

Gardens, villages, farmland and forest edge almost everywhere. On Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) it is common around Radhanagar and Kalapathar. Also common in Port Blair, Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet and Sippighat.

Food and habits

It sits in the open on treetops and wires, especially in the morning, when it calls a lot. It eats mostly fruit (lantana berries are a favourite), and also nectar, flower buds and insects. It builds a cup nest in a bush or small tree.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Bulbul: Olive-yellow with a dark face and throat, no crest and no red anywhere.

How to identify it

• Plain, rounded bulbul with no crest.
• Blackish forehead, face and throat.
• Olive-green back.
• Bright yellow underparts.
• A dark band near the tip of the tail, with yellow tips beyond it. Females are duller, with a paler head.

Call

A song of metallic, tinkling notes; calls are soft single or double metallic notes. Often silent.

Where and when to see it

Evergreen and light deciduous forest, forest edge and thick second growth. Mount Harriet and Chidiyatapu are the best places. Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) has a few records, from around Kalapathar and Radhanagar.

Food and habits

It usually moves in pairs, often with mixed flocks of other forest birds, and feeds low in the forest on small fruits, berries and insects.

Easy to confuse with

• Red-whiskered Bulbul: Tall black crest, white cheeks and underparts, and red on the face and under the tail.

How to identify it

• Male: shining blue crown, back and under the tail.
• Male: velvety black face, throat, belly, wings and tail.
• Red eye in both sexes.
• Female: dull blue-green all over with blackish wing feathers.

Call

Various notes, often in pairs, such as "wit!" and "wi-wit!", and "tik" calls in flight.

Where and when to see it

Forest and forest edge, feeding in the canopy. Try Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet; on Havelock it has been seen around Radhanagar and Kalapathar.

Food and habits

It gathers in fruiting trees with other fruit-eating birds and eats mostly fruit, from small berries to figs, and some nectar. Now and then it catches flying insects at the forest edge.

Easy to confuse with

• Black-naped Monarch: Much smaller and blue, with a small black tuft on the head and no red eye.

How to identify it

• Bright golden-yellow bird.
• Black band through the eye that joins across the back of the head.
• Pink bill and red eye.
• Black and yellow wings and tail.
• Females are duller, with a greener back. Young birds are streaked below and have no black band.

Where and when to see it

Open forest, plantations, gardens and mangroves. On Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) it has been seen at Radhanagar and Kalapathar; elsewhere at Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet, Wandoor and in Port Blair.

Food and habits

It eats figs, other fruit and berries, and also large insects. It builds a cup nest of bark, twigs, grass and roots and lays 2 or 3 eggs.

Easy to confuse with

• Indian Golden Oriole: A rare visitor here, with only a couple of records. It lacks the broad black band that joins across the back of the head.

How to identify it

• Small black-and-white woodpecker; black back and wings with heavy white bars.
• Buff chest and belly with small dark spots and streaks.
• Red under the tail.
• Whitish cheeks edged with a black line.
• Male: red crown. Female: black crown.

Call

A sharp, repeated "chick" or "tsik".

Where and when to see it

Open and second-growth forest, wooded gardens and the edges of fields. Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet are good, and Havelock records come from around Radhanagar and Kalapathar.

Food and habits

It eats insects, including ants and large larvae, and also berries and fruit.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Woodpecker: More than twice the size, all black with a red crest and a pale eye.

How to identify it

• Large, all-black woodpecker with a bright red crest.
• Very pale, yellowish eye and a long dark bill.
• Male: red forehead and a red moustache stripe.
• Female: red only on the crest.
• Young birds are duller than adults.

Call

Loud, sharp and shrill calls, usually of one or two notes. It also drums loudly on dead wood.

Where and when to see it

Evergreen and semi-evergreen forest, mangroves and open places with tall trees. The most reliable sites are Chidiyatapu, Kalatang and Mount Harriet. On Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) it has been recorded around Radhanagar and Kalapathar.

Food and habits

It usually moves in pairs, sometimes small family groups, feeding on ants and other insects on the trunks of big trees and sometimes on the ground. It digs its nest hole 6 to 14 m up in a dead trunk and breeds from January to March.

Easy to confuse with

• Freckle-breasted Woodpecker: Much smaller (16-18 cm) and black-and-white barred, with a spotted buff chest.

How to identify it

• Glossy black all over.
• Long, deeply forked tail whose outer tips curl outwards.
• Large black bill with a hooked tip.
• No tail wires or rackets.
• Young birds are browner and less glossy.

Call

Tinkling sounds, metallic whistles and many short harsh notes; also a liquid "tseep" repeated for minutes.

Where and when to see it

Forest, forest edge and scrub in the lowlands and hills. On Havelock, look around Radhanagar and Kalapathar; on Neil (Shaheed Dweep), try Sitapur.

Food and habits

It catches insects in flight. It is often in small groups of up to 20 and joins mixed flocks with birds such as the Asian Fairy-bluebird and White-headed Starling. It builds a shallow cup of fine twigs high in a large tree.

Easy to confuse with

• Greater Racket-tailed Drongo: Bigger, with two long bare tail wires that end in "rackets".

How to identify it

• Black with a metallic blue gloss and a red eye.
• Two very long outer tail feathers: bare wires ending in twisted "rackets". They can be broken or missing.
• Andaman birds have only a small crest.
• Young birds are browner, with shorter rackets.

Call

Very varied: loud whistles, metallic and nasal notes, and excellent copies of other birds. It often starts calling before dawn.

Where and when to see it

Forest, forest edge, plantations and wooded gardens. Common around Radhanagar and Kalapathar on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and at Sitapur Beach on Neil (Shaheed Dweep). Also at Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet.

Food and habits

It catches insects in flight from an open perch. It is bold near its patch and mobs intruders, even big birds of prey. It builds a small, cradle-like nest of twigs and grass high in a tree.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Drongo: Smaller, with a forked tail that curls out at the tips but no long wires or rackets.

How to identify it

• Male: bright azure blue, with a small black tuft on the back of the head and a thin black band across the throat.
• Male: darker blue-grey wings. Andaman males are blue-grey below, not white.
• Female: no black marks; duller, with a grey-brown back and wings.
• Sits very upright on a perch.

Call

The song is a plain "wi-wi-wi-wi-wi". Calls include a harsh, nasal "wheh" and an explosive "whi-cheh!".

Where and when to see it

Forest, forest edge and second growth with thick undergrowth. Good sites are Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet, and on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), the area around Radhanagar and Kalapathar.

Food and habits

It catches insects in short flights from a perch, moving actively through the lower forest. It builds a small, neat cup nest of fine grass and moss in a tree fork.

Easy to confuse with

• Asian Fairy-bluebird: Much bigger, with shining blue from the crown to the tail, a black face, belly and wings, and a red eye.

How to identify it

• Brown back and a rounded brown tail.
• Black mask through the eye with a white eyebrow above it.
• Creamy underparts with warm buff flanks; no white patch on the wing.
• Most Andaman birds that observers name to race are the "Philippine" form, with a grey crown fading into the brown back.
• Females have fine scaly marks below.

Call

Loud chattering or rattling calls, used to defend its winter patch.

Where and when to see it

Open country with bushes, forest edges, farmland, gardens and towns, often on wires. Havelock sightings come from Govind Nagar, Radhanagar and Kalapathar; also try Sippighat, Port Blair and Chidiyatapu.

Food and habits

It watches from a perch and drops to the ground to catch large insects, including wasps and bees, and sometimes lizards and small birds.

How to identify it

• Large crake with a deep chestnut head, neck, chest and back.
• Black-and-white bars on the belly and flanks.
• Green bill and green legs.
• Red eye.
• Young birds are duller and less barred.

Call

A throaty, croaking "kroop kroop", and a sharp "chik" when alarmed.

Where and when to see it

Marshes and streams in or near moist forest, sometimes mangroves, in dense cover such as rattan and pandanus. Kalatang, Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet have the most records. Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) has only a few.

Food and habits

It creeps on the ground in dense forest and eats worms, caterpillars and insects such as beetles and grasshoppers. It nests mostly at the base of large trees near water.

Easy to confuse with

• Ruddy-breasted Crake: Smaller, and has no green bill or green legs.

How to identify it

• Very small yellow-green bird.
• A clear white ring round the eye.
• Off-white belly.
• Light, bouncing flight, usually in small flocks.

Call

Faint but bright "zwee!" calls while feeding and in flight.

Where and when to see it

Forest edge, open woodland, gardens, plantations, coastal scrub and mangroves. Havelock records come from Govind Nagar, Radhanagar and Kalapathar. Also at Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet, Wandoor and on Neil (Shaheed Dweep).

Food and habits

It moves restlessly through the leaves, sometimes with other small birds, eating small insects, nectar, fruit, buds and seeds.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Flowerpecker: Also tiny and olive, but with no white eye-ring. Usually alone or in pairs.

How to identify it

• Large, long-tailed, robin-like bird.
• Glossy black face, chest, back, wings and tail.
• White belly, rump and underside of the tail; orange flanks.
• Often raises its tail.
• Shorter tail than the mainland White-rumped Shama. Males and females look much alike.

Call

A song of mellow, throaty trills and whistles.

Where and when to see it

Lowland forest, plantations, village gardens, scrub and mangrove edges. Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet and Wandoor are good places. On Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) it has been recorded at Kalapathar and Radhanagar.

Food and habits

It is shy and easy to miss. It feeds low in the forest and on the forest floor.

Easy to confuse with

• Oriental Magpie-Robin: Has a broad white wing-bar and white outer tail feathers, no orange flanks, and sings from high, open perches in villages.

How to identify it

• Tiny, active sunbird with a thin curved bill.
• Both sexes: plain olive back, yellow belly and white edges to the tail.
• Male: shining blue-black forehead, throat and chest.
• Female: yellow throat and a yellow stripe over the eye.

Call

A rising "dwee", a common sound even in towns.

Where and when to see it

Forest edge, gardens, mangroves and farmland. Very common on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep): around Radhanagar, Kalapathar, Govind Nagar and the jetty. Around Port Blair it is everywhere.

Food and habits

It feeds low down, often hovering to pick insects off leaves, alone or in small groups. It drinks nectar from flowers and also eats spiders and small fruit.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Flowerpecker: No yellow throat or eye-stripe and no white tail edges; pale below with only a smudge of yellow.

How to identify it

• Tiny, plain bird with a short tail.
• Slim, dark, slightly curved bill.
• Olive-green back.
• Pale underparts with a smudge of yellow on the belly.

Call

Buzzy, single-note calls that often give away a bird hidden in the canopy.

Where and when to see it

Forest and well-wooded areas, mostly in the treetops. Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet and Wandoor are good; Havelock sightings come from around Radhanagar, Kalapathar and Govind Nagar.

Food and habits

It flits about restlessly in the canopy, usually alone or in pairs, eating fruit and flowers and searching for insects under leaves.

Easy to confuse with

• Ornate Sunbird: The female sunbird has a yellow throat, a yellow eye-stripe, a yellow belly and white tail edges.
• Indian White-eye: Brighter yellow-green, with a clear white eye-ring, and moves in flocks.

How to identify it

• Male: black head and back; bright red underparts, rump and tail edges.
• Black wings with a red band and a separate red patch, so the wing pattern looks broken.
• Female: grey above and yellow where the male is red, with a yellow forehead.
• Usually in small flocks high in the trees.

Call

High, whistled "wheeep" notes as flocks fly over the treetops.

Where and when to see it

Tall forest with a good canopy, and wooded gardens. Try Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet, Wandoor and Ferrargunj, or Kalapathar and Radhanagar on Havelock.

Food and habits

It moves in small flocks that hop from treetop to treetop, eating caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, cicadas and spiders.

Easy to confuse with

• Small Minivet: Smaller; the male has a grey, not black, head and back and an orange chest that fades to whitish.

How to identify it

• The smallest minivet.
• Male: slate-grey crown, cheeks and back; black throat and wings; an orange patch on the wing.
• Male: orange chest fading to yellowish-white on the belly.
• Female: paler grey above, white throat, light yellow below.
• Both: orange rump and a black tail with pale edges.

Call

A high, thin "swee swee", given often as the flock moves.

Where and when to see it

In the Andamans mostly at forest edges, in villages and in gardens. On Havelock it turns up around Govind Nagar, Radhanagar and Kalapathar, and elsewhere at Chidiyatapu, Sippighat and Wandoor.

Food and habits

It travels in small, restless flocks, picking insects off leaves and sometimes catching them in mid-air.

Easy to confuse with

• Scarlet Minivet: Bigger; the male has a black head and back and bright red, not orange, underparts.

How to identify it

• Large grey bird with a strong, hooked bill.
• A dark patch from the bill to just behind the eye gives it a masked look.
• Grey back with black wing feathers.
• Male: grey throat and upper chest, paler belly.
• Female: paler below with faint grey barring.

Call

A loud, two-note, rather nasal "gii-yaak", in flight and from a perch.

Where and when to see it

Lightly wooded country and forest edge. Chidiyatapu, Kalatang and Mount Harriet are good, and on Havelock it shows up around Kalapathar, Radhanagar and Govind Nagar.

Food and habits

It is noisy and calls often, both in flight and from perches.

Easy to confuse with

• Andaman Cuckooshrike: An endemic species. Slightly smaller and slimmer, darker grey, barred right across the underparts, and keeps to the canopy of dense forest.

How to identify it

• Plain, drab bird with no strong markings.
• Grey-brown to ashy-grey head and back.
• White underparts.
• Thick black bill, heavier than a flycatcher's.

Call

Loud, ringing whistles. The song is a run of loud musical notes ending in one or two louder ones.

Where and when to see it

Mainly mangroves; also coastal woods, plantations and wooded gardens. Good sites are Chidiyatapu, Chouldari and the Wandoor mangroves. On Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) it has been recorded near Govind Nagar Beach and Radhanagar.

Food and habits

It picks insects off branches and trunks or snatches them in short flights, and sometimes joins mixed flocks of small birds.

Easy to confuse with

• Asian Brown Flycatcher: A winter visitor that beginners can mix up with it. It has a bright white eye-ring and a much finer bill.

How to identify it

• Glossy dark head with a short, rounded crest and a blue ring round the eye.
• Adult males have very long central tail streamers.
• Males come in two forms: rufous, or white with a black head.
• Female: rufous-chestnut back and tail, slate-grey head and chest, no streamers.

Call

The song is a ringing "wiwiwiwiwiwi"; the call a nasal "ji-jeh".

Where and when to see it

Forest, forest edge, gardens and mangroves. Most Andaman records come from Chidiyatapu, a few from Mount Harriet and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep).

Food and habits

It feeds high in shady trees and catches insects in short flights from a perch.

Easy to confuse with

• Amur Paradise-Flycatcher: Also recorded here. Rufous Amur birds are white, not pale rufous, under the tail. White males cannot always be told apart.
• Indian Paradise-Flycatcher: Also recorded. It has a longer, pointed crest.

How to identify it

• Small brown-grey flycatcher.
• Black tail with bright white sides at the base.
• All-dark bill; whitish under the tail.
• Breeding male: a small orange throat patch edged with grey. Most winter birds show little or no orange.

Call

A dry trill.

Where and when to see it

Forest edge, scrub, parks and gardens. Chidiyatapu, Kalatang, Sippighat and Chouldari have the most records. Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) has only a few, for example at Radhanagar Beach.

Food and habits

It often cocks its tail and drops from a perch to feed on the ground.

Easy to confuse with

• Asian Brown Flycatcher: Has no black tail with white sides, and has a bright white eye-ring.