TREES

GUAVA (Psidium guajava)

The Guava tree is small and semi- evergreen. It is a very hardy tree and thrives inboth humid and dry
climates. It is also one of the preferred commercial crops. The reddish brown bark peels off to reveal a
smooth white or greenish under-bark. It has long leaves and small white, fragrant flowers. The fruit is
round or pear-shaped and soft and creamy when ripe. It has a sweet musky aroma and comes in a
variety of colors. Each fruit has numerous tiny, semi-hard edible seeds. Guavas are rich in potassium and
Vitamin C and A. It is said to be the healthiest fruit as it has anti-ageing and cancer preventive properties
and is good for the digestive system. It is used to make chutneys, jellies and beverages
.

JAMUN (Syzygium cumini)

The Jamun tree lives a 100 years! It is native to India and its bordering countries.The Jamun fruit is
oblong in shape and turns from green, to pink to shining crimson black as it ripens. It has a single seed
and soft dark purple skin and a lighter purple flesh.The fruit is sweet and astringent.They are a good
source of iron and are used to make Jams, jellies, squashes, vinegar, juices, beverages,
pickles and wine. Its wood is exceptionally strong and water resistant. Hence, it is used to make railway
sleepers, bullock cart wheels and furniture. The bark, leaves, seeds and fruits are used in preparation of
Ayurveda, Unani and Chinese medicines.

SOAPNUT Sapindus trifoliatus

Commonly called the Soapnut tree, because
the fruit pulp is used to make soap. The generic name is derived from the Latin words saponis, meaning
"soap", and indicus, meaning "of India". Soapnuts contain saponins which are a natural foaming agent.
They are increasingly popular as a nontoxic laundry detergent. In Ayurvedic medicine it is use to treat
eczema, psoriasis, and for removing freckles. Soapnut can now combat mosquito-borne diseases.
Kernel extracts of soapnut disrupt the activity of enzymes of larvae and pupae and inhibit the growth of
Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that spreads viral diseases such as yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya.
Sapindus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moths and butterflies species.

JUNGLE JALEBI Pithecellobium dulce

Jungle Jalebi, pods are eaten for their sweet- ish pulp, which is eaten raw, roasted or made into
lemonade. The seeds are black. It is native to Mexico, Central America, and Ven- ezuela. It has
naturalized in India and Africa and considered a pest in Hawaii. It is com- monly referred to as Jungle
Jalebi because of the tightly coiled pods. The leaves and pods are excellent animal fodder. The wood is
strong and used to make agricultural imple- ments, crates or cheap furniture. It is drought resistant and
can survive in dry lands from sea level to an elevation of 300 m (980 ft), making it suitable for cultivation
as a street tree.

GOOLAR (Ficus glomerrata)

The Goolar is an attractive deciduous fig tree with a crooked trunk and an open spreading crown.
It grows naturally near streams and ponds, in moist clay like soils. Then the leaves remain evergreen. The
flowers are pollinated by fig-wasps. Red furry figs grow directly out of the trunk in large
clusters. They change colour from green to red as they mature, and are a favourite food of the
Common Indian Macaque! Parts of the tree are used in traditional healing and the leaves make an
excellent fodder. The fig is used to treat stomach disorders and also consumed as a vegetable
when raw. The wood is considered sacred and is used for Hindu yagnas

SEMAL Bombax ceiba

Semal is a large tropical tree, commonly known as cotton tree. This tree is widely planted in parks and on
roadsides because of its large beautiful flowers which are usually red, coral, white or turmeric in colour.
The petals are fleshy and have a waxy texture. It has a straight tall trunk and its leaves are deciduous in
winter. Its branches grow in tiers radiating from the trunk like the ribs of an umbrella. The fruit is a woody
capsule that splits open containing white fibres like cotton. Can you see the bats? They are its chief
pollinators! The Semal stem is used in traditional medicine to treat stomach disorders. The leaves and
twigs are lopped for fodder while the fallen flowers are eaten by squirrels, deer and other wild animals.
The wood is light and is used for making shoe heels.

GULMOHUR Delonix regia

Also known as the flame tree/ royal Poinciana/firetree/flamboyant.
The Gulmohur tree is popular because of the beauty of its flowers. Orange, red and maroon flowers cover
the entire tree from April onwards making a striking sight! It is from Madagascar! It belongs to the Pea
family and grows well in tropical conditions and dry areas near the sea.
It has a straight slender trunk and smooth ash-grey bark. The shallow spread out roots, do not allow other
growth nearby. It has fern-like leaves.
The wood is white and soft. It is used for making ornaments. The flowers and buds are used for flavoring
food.

PUTRANJIVA Drypetes roxburghi

Commonly known as Child-life tree, lucky bean tree, wild olive, putajan,jiaputa & juti. Putranjiva is a
medium-sized evergreen tree belonging to theamla/castor family. It
has drooping branches and shiny dark green leaves. You may not be able to see the flowers as are
theyare very tiny and without petals. It is considered to be the best ever- green hedgeof all Indian plants!
The bark, leaves and fruits are used in traditional medicine to treat fevers and rheumatism and the leaves
make good cattle fodder. The stones inside the fruit are used to make rosaries and necklaces to ward off
evil and maintain good health.

SILVER OAK Grevillea robusta

This tall, semi- evergreen tree is a native of Australia and is easily recognized because of its deep-green
fern-like leaves that have a silvery underside. This is a very popular ornamental tree as it has golden-
orange bottlebrush like blossoms that look stunning! The fruit of this tree are peculiar looking, and
resemble little black tadpoles! You will find birds, bats and insects visiting the tree for its
nectar-laden flowers. The tree was introduced in India as a shade giving tree and was planted in tea
plantations. The timber is used for building and construction purposes.

MAGNOLIA Magnolia grandiflora

Also known as ‘Champa’, this tree is native to India, Indonesia and other neighbouring areas. This is a
large evergreen tree with a tapering crown with ascending branches. The leaves are deep-green and
leathery. You must have seen its small white flowers...how do they smell? The flower has an extremely
heady fragrance and is very popular. They are used in religious offerings and have been a part of our
culture since time immemorial. Did you know? The Champa flowers are used to make the world’s most
expensive perfume called ‘JOY’ and it is made in America.

NEEM Azadiarachta indica

The Neem is an evergreen with a short trunk and dense canopy,hence it is an excellent shade tree that
can withstand strong winds. It is hardy and can grow in sandy soils, so has anti-desertification properties.
It has small serrated leaves that are bitter, tiny white flowers with a pleasant scent and a light green olive-
like fruit. It has great medicinal value. The twig is used as a tooth brush. Its juice is a mouth freshener and
germicide. Neem oil is used in skin care products. The leaves are used for treating measles and chicken-
pox. The Neem is considered life-giving and sacred, as it is believed to be the abode of disease
regulating goddesses!

KASSOD Cassia siamea

Kassod is a mid-sized, deciduous tree with a dense crown of glossy leaves. The tree belongs to the pea
family and bears clusters of yellow flowers. It grows well in light, well-drained soils and is drought-hardy.
The bark is grey with parallel streaks. The fruit is a flat narrow pod with bulges where the seeds are.
Kassod is used extensively for rehabilitation of degraded lands. Its medicinal properties are used for
treatment of ailments related to intes- tines and diabetes. It is a fodder, but toxic to some animals!The
wood produces good quality charcoal and the bark is used for tanning.
Flower
DEVILS TREE Alstonia scholaris
Alstonia the generic name commemorates a distin- guished botanist Prof. C. Alston. The specific name
Scholaris refers to the fact that the timber of this tree has traditionally been used to make wooden slates
for school children. The bark is used solely for medicinal purposes, ranging from malaria ,fever ,
dysentery and epilepsy to skin conditions and asthma. “A leaf of the Saptparni adorning the certificates of
graduates of the Shantiniketan University, West Bengal became a practice ever since Indira Gandhi, the
then Prime Minister attended a convocation as the chief guest, which was as usual held under the shade
of this very tree. The tribals in Western Ghats are scared to pass or sit under this tree for fear of the Devil,
as this tree is considered the abode of the Devil.

FRANGIPANI Plumeria alba

Frangipani is one of the most exotic and widely grown flowering deciduous trees. It’s sweet scented
flowers, rich colorful blossoms and lush green leaves make it a center of attraction in any garden
landscape. They shed leaves in winter to reveal its fat limbs which usually grow at the ends of branches.
Because of its extra ordinary ability to produce leaves and flowers after it has been lifted from the soil,
Frangipani is usually related to immortality. For this reason, it can be commonly seen growing in
graveyards and temples in India and Pakistan. Its flowers are also used in temples in Sri Lanka and India.
The milky sap from its trunk is used in the treatment of rheumatism. When used with sandalwood oil and
camphor, the milky sap relieves itching. The bark is used in relieving fever, healing sores and reducing
tumors.

BAMBOO Bambuseae
Do you know Bamboo is actually a grass and not a woody plant? Also called Tree Grasses, they
originated in Asia. During monsoons, new shoots emerge from underground in the form of cone-like buds
that are wrapped over by strong, sharp- pointed sheaths. The shoot inside it is tender. The stem of the
tree is round, even and hollow and has no branches. The leaves are dark green and glittery. Bamboo has
important medicinal proper- ties and is used to treat wounds, stomach and respiratory disorders. Bamboo
shoots are served as a delicacy in various parts of the world and are used to make pickles, syrups and
candies. It is also used extensively to make furniture and houses as it is cheap, durable, sturdy and light.
It is an eco- friendly renewable resource.

INDIAN TRUMPET TREE Orxylum indicum

This tree is a night-bloomer and is pollinated naturally by bats! A medium sized deciduous tree, it is often
grown for its ornamental value. It has greyish brown bark and huge leaves and the flowers are reddish-
purple outside, and pale pink-yellow inside. The fruits are long pods that hang down from branches and
are broad and sword-shaped. It is also called the Broken Bones Tree as after the large leaf stalks wither,
they fall off the tree and collect near the base of the trunk, appearing to look like a pile of broken limb
bones. The roots are used to cure colic and stomach disorders while the paste of its bark is applied for
the cure of scabies and to treat arthritis. The Fruits are useful in treating cough, jaundice, cholera etc. And
the seeds yield non-drying oil used in perfume industry.

POMEGRANATE Punica granatum

Commony known as Anar. Pomegranate derives its name from Latin pōmum "apple" and grānātum
"seeded”. Native to Iran and Iraq, today it is widely cultivated throughout the Mediterranean region of
southern Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Indian subcontinent and South east Asia.
Pomegranate is grown as a fruit crop plant, and as ornamental trees and shrubs in parks and gardens.
The rind of the fruit and the bark of the pomegranate tree are used as traditional remedy against diarrhea,
dysentery and intestinal parasites. Pomegranate seeds and juice are considered a tonic for the heart and
throat. The juice is also used as eye drops as it is believed to slow the development of cataracts.

CYCAD TREE Cycas circinalis

Do you know why this is called a fossil plant? Because these palm like trees have existed since the time
of Dinosaurs! Amazing, isn’t it? The trunk is usually unbranched and rough. The trunk throws out bulbils
form which new plants can be propagated. Leaves are like palm. There are no flowers in the real sense,
but male and female parts are produced on separate trees.
The male part is a cone, brownish in colour made up of hundreds of units bearing pollen. The female
structures take the form of a crown of fleshy, stumpy leaves bearing ovules on the sides. The seeds when
ripe are pink to red about the size of a hen’s egg. It is a popular tree cultivated in parks and gardens.

Flower: Male Cone

DHAK Butea monosperma

Palash, Tesu or Parrot tree, this medium –sized tropical tree is a native of Madagascar.
It is a fast growing tree, having a crooked trunk with velvety, dark olive green branches and soft and thick
pale green leaves.
It is best known for its majestic canopy of deep vermillion red flowers that look spectacular and are
traditionally used for colour in the festival of Holi and also used for worship and medicine.
This tree has great medicinal value in Ayurveda and is used to cure various ailments. The most useful
product from the tree is the red gum from the stems used for tanning leather. The seeds also contain a
gum that is used in food and textile industry. It is home to the lac insect.

GUM KARAYA

A bushy deciduous tree, it is famous for the many uses of the gum derived from it. Also called the “Ghost
Tree” due to its whitish bark glowing in the dark…it feels like the tree stand- ing with hands towards the
sky. It has large spreading branches with a thick, smooth grey- ish or reddish bark having a white
transparent outer coat that peels off in papery flakes.
Flowers are small and greenish yellow in colour. They are covered with stinging hairs called ‘urens’. The
fruits are red when ripe, covered outside with many stiff bristles.
The gum extracted from the tree is used in foodstuffs as emulsifiers, stabilizers and thicken- ers. It is used
in the paper industry to make light weight paper and also in textile printing.
Its seeds are eaten after roasting.

KATSAGAON Fernandoa adenophyllum

The Katsagon tree is a deciduous, fast- growing, tall, tree with coarse, feather- compound leaves. It is
native to the forests in north-east India and south-east Asia.It thrives in lim -July. They bloom at night and
are polli- nated by small bats! The fruit is green, long, curly and cylindrical, twisting and curling as
it matures – looks like a snake! It has a ribbed and woolly texture with a rust coloured flower cup at its
base.The bark is ashy grey or pale brown, frequently with deep vertical splits as if raked by a giant claw!
The tree is used
to make furniture, fishing rods and medicines to ease muscular pain.

PEEPAL Ficus religiosa

The Peepal tree is a large, fast growing, long living,deciduous tree from the Mulberry or fig family. It
thrives in hot, humid weather
growing in any type of soil. The leaves are heart shaped, with long narrowing tips that clatter noisily in the
breeze. Figs grow in pairs and are red at first, turning deep purple as they ripen.The flowers are pollinated
by fig-wasp.
The bark is light gray and peels in patches.
The juice of the leaves, bark and roots is used in medicines to cure wounds, gastric and dental problems.
The Peepal is considered sacred. It is believed that Buddha gained enlightenment under this tree, so, it is
known as the ‘Bodhi Tree or the ‘tree of enlightenment’.The tree is also considered to be home to the
Trinity of Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

SHRUBS
KARAUNDA Carissa carrandas Fruit
Karaunda is a very tangy berry sized fruit. Its colour ranges from green to red. It thrives well in a wide
range of soils because of its very hardy, drought-tolerant quality. Flowering starts in March and the fruit
ripens from July to September in north India. It is commonly grown as a hedge. Karaunda is a rich source
of iron and contains someVitamin C. It is used in the treatment of anaemia. It is eaten raw and pickled.
The mature fruit contains a high

amount of pectin, therefore, it is also used for making jam, squash, chutney etc.

JASMINE Jasminum
Jasmine is a sweet scented flower that has arrived in India from China. It is a climber belonging to the
olive family.
The tree has a crooked trunk and fleshy branches. The flowers are cream or white in colour with yellow
centre. Its leaves can be both evergreen and deciduous.
Jasmine is called ‘moonshine in the garden’ and the plant is a symbol of peace and purity. It has
medicinal properties. Its oil is used in cosmetics and perfumes. Jasmine tea is said to have calming
properties. The flowers are used as religious offerings and women wear the flowers in their hair.

AROOWHEAD PLANT Syngonium

A Bushy common houseplant , Syngonium is native to tropical rain forests in Mexico, Central and South
America. It also is a climbing plant that reaches 5-10 meters or more in height when climbing larger trees.
They have leaves that change shape according to the plant's stage of growth, and adult leaf forms are
often much more lobed than the juvenile forms usually seen on small house plants. It repro- duces
vegetatively in the wild, and is propa- gated and spread by cuttings in cultivation. The 'flowers' consist of
an elongated whitish spike that is surrounded by a creamy-white to green- ish structure. The fleshy fruit
are red to
reddish-orange in colour and usually hidden.

BHENDI Abelmoschus esculentum

Bhendi is a very popular vegetable, grown all over the country. It requires a hot and
humid climate and well-drained soil. The plant grows to a height of 2 metres. Its leaves are long, broad
and lobed. The flowers are white or yellow with a purple center.
The fruit is capsule-like and contains numer- ous seeds with a slimy texture. Bhendi is rich in vitamin A
and C, iron, calciumand iodine. It is used to cook a variety of side dishes. A good source of fibre, it aides
in digestion, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is used for treating goitre. The fibre is
also used in the paper industry.

FIREBUSH Haemilia patens

Commonly known as Scarlet bush, Humming- bird bush and Muna. Firebush is a small, fast- growing
flowering evergreen shrub; named after its bright reddish-orange tubular flowers which grow in clusters.
The flower stems too are red in color! This makes it a favoured ornamen- tal hedge. The shrub attracts a
variety of butter- flies, insects and sunbirds too! The fruit is an edible juicy berry with numerous tiny seeds
that ripen from green to yellow to red and finally to black. The Firebush has many medicinal uses.
Pink colour extracted from the plant is used in dyeing. The fruit is used to make
syrups and wine.

BANANA Musa sapientum paradisiaca

Banana is amongst the most cultivated plant species. The size and shape makes the plant look like trees.
Instead of wood the trunk is made up of layers of leaves placed in circles! It is tropical and grown
throughout the country.
As green bananas turn yellow, the starch in the fruit turns into three naturalsugars - sucrose, fructose and
glucose that give an instant energy boost. Bananas are a rich source of vitamins B6 and C,
carbohydrates and potas- sium. They are eaten both as a fruit and vegeta- ble! They are considered a
symbol of prosperity and are used as decorations and disposable plates in festivals and weddings.

LUCKY BAMBOO Dracena

Dracaena sanderiana is a species of the genus. Dracaena, named after the German-English gardener
Henry Frederick Conrad Sander.
It grows as under storey plants in rainforests.
It is native to Cameroon in tropical west Africa. It is marketed in the developed world as a Chinese
decorative plant "Lucky Bamboo" (although unrelated to Bamboo and not native to Asia), propagated from
short cuttings, usually in water.– Also called Rainbow plant, the name is derived from Greek word
Drakaina meaning “female dragon". It is a very
popular tropical house plant and grown for
its ornamental value. Majority of the Dracaena species are native to Africa, southern Asia, and Central
America.

SHOE FLOWER Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

It is a bushy, evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy leaves and solitary, brilliant red flowers in summer
and autumn. It is native to East Asia. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia, called
Bunga Raya "big flower" in Malay. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics and
subtropics.
Hibiscus flower are used for hair care. The flowers are used to shine shoes in parts of India. In Indonesia,
these flowers are called "kembang sepatu", which literally means "shoe flower".The tea is popular as it
contains vitamin C and minerals, and is used traditionally as a mild medicine.

RANGOON CREEPER Quizquails indica

Commonly known as Burma Creeper, Chinese Honeysuckle and Scarlet Rangoon. A very colorful and
quick growing creeper, it has pink or white flowers when fresh, but turns red the next day! Sometimes,
you can see all three colours together! It is a constant bloomer; the flowers are trumpet-shaped and give
out an extremely sweet smell at night. Rich in nectar they attract bees and butterflies. The plant displays
odd growth habits. It starts as a shrub then taking support from other trees or walls, turns into a woody
creeper. It is therefore, also called quizqualisindica meaning ‘What is that?’ in Latin. The roots, flowers,
leaves, seeds and fruits, are used in traditional medicines to treat ailments like diarrhea and rheumatism.

CURRY TREE Murraya koenigii Fruit

Commonly known as curry leaves,Kadi patta,Meetha Neem. The leaves of the curry plant are aromatic
and highly valued as season- ing in southern, west-coast and Sri Lankan cooking, especially in curries.
The leaves, bark and root of the plant are used in the Ayurvedic medicine. They are much valued as an
anti- diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. It also helps prevent premature hair greying. The
Common Mormon and Swallow tail butterflies are partial to curry leaves. The plant is native to India and is
found up to an altitude of 1500 mtrs. It is cultivated mainly in homesteads but to a certain extent on a
plantation scale.

IXORA Ixora coccinea

Ixora is a common flowering shrub native to Southern India and Sri Lanka. It has become one of the most
popular flowering shrubs and is grown in gardens, landscapes and hedges. It is also grown in containers,
looking very distin- guished as a patio or poolside plant. This tight, compact shrub is much branched and
tolerates hard pruning, making it ideal for formal hedges. The flowers, leaves, roots, and the stem are
used to treat diarrhea, dysentery and a range of ailments in the Indian traditional system of medicine, the
Ayurveda, and in various folk medicines. The fruits, when fully ripe, are used as a dietary source.
Commonly known as jungle geranium, flame of the woods, jungle flame, Rugmini, Vedchi and Rangan.

ASPARAGUS Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus has been used as a vegetable and medicine, owing to its delicate flavour, It is a herbaceous,
plant, with stout stems with much-branched feathery foliage. The "leaves" are in fact needle-like modified
stems. The flowers are bell-shaped, greenish-white to yellowish; they are produced singly or in clus- ters
of two or three. It is usually dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants, but sometimes
hermaphrodite( both the male and female flowers found in the same plant).
The fruit is a small red berry, which is poisonous to humans. It is native to the western coasts of Europe,
northern Africa, and western Asia. Only young asparagus shoots are commonly eaten. Green asparagus
is a good source of vitamin C.

FLAX LILY Dianella tasmanica

Dianella is a shade loving garden plant com- monly known as Variegated Flax Lily. It ranges from Japan
to India, Australia and New Zealand; also occurring on many Pacific Islands. Several species of Dianella
are grown for their attractive foliage and shiny, blue to purple berries. As a medicine for colds, the
Ngarrind- jeri, an aboriginal tribe of Tasmania chewed
the roots of Dianella. The leaves are used to weave Dilly bags and baskets by Australian aboriginals. The
Dilly bag is a bag worn around the neck to hold food like berries, meat, fish etc. Mainly used by women to
gather food but can be used by men to help carry some tools for hunting.

GIANT MILKWEED Calotropis gigantea

Calotropis favours open habitat thus it is com- monly found in overgrazed lands, and along roadsides.
The leaves are profusely milky. It bears purplish –white flowers . The fruit is paired boat sized capsule.
When it bursts it releases large number of brown, flattened seeds with silky kapok attached to one end.
Giant milkweed is native to Africa, Madagascar, the Arabian Peninsula, southern Asia, and Indochina to
Malaysia. Sheep, goats, and camels eat the leaves of giant milkweed during droughts. The butterfly
‘Plain Tiger’ and ‘Common Crow’ breed here; their caterpillars feed on the leaves. The root bark, are used
to treat a variety of illness including leprosy, fever, Malaria, and snake bite.

BIRDS
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta Kanchia Bagla
Little Egret is a common resident of Delhi and is found in the larger wetlands. The Egrets stalks its prey in
shalllow water, often running with raised wings or shuffling its feet. It may also stand still and wait to catch
its prey. It prefers fish, insects, amphib- ians, crustaceans and reptiles. The Little Egret nests in colonies,
often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs or in a reed bed or bamboo
grove. When nesting begins, it is a fabulous sight to see them displaying to each other with raised crests
and lacy body plumes. At one time, the plumes of the Little Egret and other egrets were in demand for
decorating hats. The killing of these birds in large number for plumes has decimated the population of this
species to danger- ously low levels.

Indian Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros birostris Dhand, Dhamar
This is the most widespread and the only hornbill found in Delhi. The first thing to observe in Indian Grey
Hornbill is of course the HORN. It is black or dark grey with a casque extending up to the point of
curvature in the horn. It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly. It is most
often seen either sweeping from tree to tree or perched high on bare branches. It prefers large tree holes
for nesting. Once the female is inside, the male covers the entrance hole leaving a small gap so that it
can feed the female. The female comes out when the eggs are hatched. The hole is closed again and
both parents feed the young ones through the small gap.

Whitethroated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrensis Kilkila
Commonly known as White breasted Kingfisher, this brilliantly coloured bird has a prominent white patch
on its chin throat and centre of breast. It is less dependent on water than other kingfishers and it is found
in a wide range of habitats near wetlands, paddy fields and even the sea shore. It eats small animals and
large insects; fish is only a secondary item. Each bird usually has a feeding territory which is actively
defended against interlopers. The male sit on treetops and sings in the breeding season. The nest is a
tunnel bored into a muddy bank. Both parents share the task of excavating the nest, incubating the eggs
and feeding the young.

Green Bee-eater
Merops orientalis Patringa
Just as the name suggests, the bee-eater predomi- nantly eats insects, especially bees, wasps and ants.
It is a common and wide-spread breeding summer visitor to Delhi. It can be seen through out Delhi except
for areas which have high concentration of buildings. Its favourite habitat includes cultivation areas, parks,
large gardens and wetlands where it finds its favourite meal ‘dragon-flies’. Its eating habit is astounding
as it hits its prey several times to break its exoskeleton before swallowing it. It nests in hollows in vertical
mud banks. The eggs are laid on the bare ground in the cavity at the end of the tunnel.

Yellowfooted Green Pigeon

Treron phoenicoptera Harial
The Yellow-footed Green Pigeon also known as Yellow-legged Green Pigeon is a common species of
Green Pigeon found in South Asia. Yet one can easily overlook it as it disguises in the high foliage and its
fast flight makes it difficult to identify in the air. The species feeds on fruits of a large variety of fruit trees
such as mulberry, banyan and peepal.
Unlike other pigeons and doves it is rarely seen on the ground, preferring to feed on fruits in the canopy.
Although any fruit tree could attract it, it is most often found on road and canal side trees, temples, parks
and large gardens. In Delhi you can even get a sight of them in the grounds of ancient monuments and
the Zoo.

Redwattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus Titiri
Commonly known as Redwattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus. This easily recognizable bird has very long
legs and a crimson fleshy wattle in front of each eye. Its “did you do it” call is familiar. It is usually found in
pairs or trios near water bodies and in open countryside near towns and villages. It eats insects, molluscs
and vegetable matter. Its nest is a scrape in the ground lined with mud pellets or goat drop- pings. Both
parents incubate the eggs. On hot summer days the bird wets the feathers on its stomach before
incubating the eggs. The eggs and chicks are superbly camouflaged and the parents use the ‘broken
wing’ display to divert predators from the nest.

Shikra
Accipiter badius Shikra
This small, short ash or blue-grey hawk is an expert hunter. It uses surprise tactics for hunting by
pouncing on an unsuspecting prey from a tree. It also flushes small birds from thickets. The Shikra is
trained by falconers to hunt quails, partridges, and even young peafowl. It can be found in woodlands,
hills, plains, villages and near cultivation. Its food ranges from small mammals such as squirrels to birds,
reptiles and insects. The Shikra builds an untidy crow-like nest in leafy tree. Both the male and female
share the task of nest building and feeding the young.

Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus

Kotwal

The Black Drongo is a small glossy black with a wide fork to the tail. It is commonly found in open
agricultural areas and light forest, perching conspicuously on a bare perch or along power or telephone
lines. It is known for its aggressive behaviour towards much larger birds, such as crows, never hesitating
to dive-bomb any bird of prey that invades its territory. This behaviour earns it the informal name of “King
Crow”. They become active very early at dawn and roost later than many other birds. They feed mainly on
insects such as grasshop- pers, cicadas, termites, wasps, bees, ants, moths, beetles and
dragonflies.They congregate in fields that are being ploughed, picking up exposed caterpillars and beetle
grubs. They breed mainly in February and March in southern India, and until August in other parts of the
country.

Roseringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri Tota

This slim, grass green parakeet is found in forests, countryside and near cultivation areas and human
habitats. It has a communal roost often shared with crows or mynahs. It is a popular pet and in captivity
learns to mimic a few words. It gathers in large swarms and raids crops causing damage to farmers. It
eats fruits, cereals, grains, flower petals and nectar. Its nest is an unlined hollow in a tree trunk or the wall
of an old building. Both parents excavate the nest but only the female incubates the eggs.
The parents feed the young by regurgitating food (bringing swallowed food up again to the mouth).

Spotted Owlet

Athene brama Ulloo

The Spotted Owlet is a common resident bird of Delhi. It can be spotted in all kinds of habitats especially
in areas with trees or old buildings. It usually occupies large gardens and parks in Delhi. It nests in a hole
in a tree or building and surpris- ingly it can even use man-made nest boxes. The Spotted Owlet is one of
the least nocturnal of owls. It frequently hunts in the morning and even- ing. It hunts a variety of insects
and vertebrates such as small birds, rodents and reptiles. It shows high breeding success as it nests near
human habitation where the young ones are fed a
great number of rodents.

Rock Pigeon
Columba livia Kabutar
The Rock Pigeon has been domesticated for hundreds of years. It’s often simply referred to as ‘Pigeon’. It
is found everywhere and the city has a huge population of these birds. Here large flocks inhabit ancient
monuments and breed in them. It is also found in parks and many tall buildings of Delhi. You can see
them on your window sills and external air conditioning units. You may have seen their flimsy nests built
of sticks and other debris on trees, on ledges or on the ground in your locality. The Rock Pigeon feeds on
seeds and plants but grains make up the bulk of its diet. People feeding grains to these birds outside
temples or road corners is a common sight in India.

Laughing Dove
Streptopelia sebegalensis Chhota Fakta
The Laughing Dove is a small pigeon also known as the Little Brown Dove in India. It is a common and
widespread species in scrub, dry farmland and near human habitation. It prefers eating grass, seeds,
grains, other vegetation and small insects. It is fairly terrestrial, foraging on the ground in grasslands and
cultivation areas. It is particularly seen near human habitation, even in the centre of Delhi. You may find
its stick nest in trees, low bushes and adjoining creepers or in buildings. It will even wander through open
doors into houses, particularly in villages, in its quest for seeds on the ground.

Rufous Tree Pie

Dendrocitta vagabunda Mahlat
This long-tailed bright bird is widely distributed in India. It is found in lightly wooded country, forests, and
plantation groves and in and around towns and villages. It is a highly inquisitive, cunning and wary bird. It
stays in noisy parties of about three to four birds. It eats fruits, insects, and small reptiles such as geckos
and mammals such as bats. A Tree Pie is usually the first to discover the kill of the larger predator in
forests. It eats flesh from the kills after tearing it out . It builds a small nest with twigs. Both parents take
part in building the nest, incubation and feeding the young.

Oriental Magpie Robin

Copsychus saularis Dhayal
The male of this species is glossy black and white and the female is slaty above with grey on the throat
and breast. It is seen around human habitation.
Hopping about on the ground, it feeds on insects, snails, earthworms, centipedes, small lizards and some
vegetable matter. In the breeding season the male puffs out his chest, struts around in front of rivals and
vigorously defends his territory. Birds in different areas have very distinct local dialects.The nest is an
untidy cup of grass and roots placed in holes in trees, walls, drain water pipes, and build- ings. Building of
nests, incubation and care of young is done by both parents.

Red-Vented Bulbul
Pycnonatus cafer Bulbul
The Red-Vented Bulbul is easily identified by its short crest giving the head a square appearance. The
body is dark brown with a scaly pattern while the head is darker or black. The rump is white while the vent
is red. The black tail has a white tip. The bird prefers dry scrub, open forest, plains and cultivated lands.
In its native range it is rarely found in mature forests. It feeds mainly on fruits, petals of flowers, nectar,
insects and occasionally geckos. It has also been seen feeding on leaves. It builds its nest in a bush at a
height of around two to three meters. The nest is occasionally built inside a
house or in a hole in a mud bank. The nest is a small flat cup usually made of small twigs but
sometimes may be made of metal wires. Both parents feed the chicks.

Tailorbird
Omus sutorius Darzee
The Tailorbird is a small bird with short rounded wings, a short tail, strong legs and a long curved bill. This
warbler is usually brightly coloured, with a green or grey upper part and yellow white or grey under part.
Its head is usually chestnut in colour.
The tail is typically held upright, like a wren.
It favours open woodland, scrub and gardens.
The Tailorbird gets its name from the way its nest is constructed. The edges of a large leaf are
pierced and sewn together with plant fibre or spider's web to make a cradle in which the actual grass nest
is built. Like most warblers, the Common Tailorbird is insectivorous.

Jungle Babbler
Turdoides striatus Saat Bhai
The Jungle Babbler is a common resident breeding bird in most parts of India and is often seen in
gardens as well as in forested areas. This species, like most babblers, is non-migratory, and has short
rounded wings and a weak flight. The Jungle Babbler lives in flocks of seven to ten or more. It is a noisy
bird, and the presence of a flock may generally be known at some distance by the harsh mewing calls,
continual chattering, squeaking and chirping produced by its members. This birds are gregarious and very
social. The nest is built halfway in a tree, concealed in a dense mass of foliage.

Purple Sunbird
Nectarina asiatica Shakhar Khora
This small sunbird has a relatively short bill, a dark and short square- ended tail. It has a down-curve bill
with brush-tipped tubular tongues that aid in nectar feeding. The male is glossy metallic purplish black on
the upper part with the wings appearing dark brown while female is olive brown above with a yellowish
underside. It is seen in pairs or small groups and aggregations may be found in gardens with suitable
flowers. It not only feeds on nectar but also takes fruits and insects. The nest is a pouch made of
cobwebs, thin strips of vegetation, lichens and bark. The nest is built almost entirely by the female but the
male assists in feeding the chicks.

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus Gauriya
The House Sparrow has followed humans all over the world and has been intentionally or accidentally
introduced in most countries. It is now the most widely distributed wild bird on the planet. Although largely
a grain eater it eats the seeds of grains and weeds, but it is opportunistic and adaptable, and eats
whatever foods are available. The House Sparrow also eats berries and fruits, and in arid areas it can
survive without water by ingesting moisture with berries. The untidy straw bundle is almost always in a
hole in a building, sometimes tucked into an air-conditioner outlet, a furled window blind or behind a pipe
junction. It will even nest inside buildings if they can gain access.

Common Peafowl
Pavo cristatus Mor
This very familiar national bird of India is widespread throughout the country and is found in forests, near
villages and near cultivation. Is very abundant in Gujarat and Rajasthan and wherever protected locally.
They drink water early in the morning and at dusk before retiring to roost. They have phenom- enally keen
eyesight and hearing. Peacocks warn other inhabitants of the jungle about the presence of a tiger or
leopard by giving out a loud alarm call. The dance of the male to attract the more dully coloured female is
legendry. The nest is a scrap in the ground and may be lined with sticks or grass.
Only the female incubates the eggs.
Indian Roller
Coracias benghalensis

Neelkanth

The Indian Roller also called the Blue Jay. They are best known for the aerobatic displays of the
male during the breeding season. They are very commonly seen perched along roadside trees and wires
and are commonly seen in open grassland and scrub forest habitats. Several states in India have chosen
it as their symbol. The Indian Roller is a stocky bird. They descend to the ground to capture their prey
which may include insects, arachnids,small reptiles, small snakes and amphib- ians. The breeding
season is March to June, holes created by woodpeckers or wood boring insects in palms are favoured for
nesting in some areas. The call of the Indian Roller is a harsh crow-like chack sound. It also makes a
variety of other sounds, including metallic boink calls. It is especially vocifer- ous during the breeding
season.

Coppersmith
Megalaima haemacephala

Katphora
These small grass green barbets have a crimson breast and throat and are also known as the Crimson-
breasted Barbet. They are found in lightly wooded countryside, groves of trees near villages and
cultivation and in urban gardens and com- pounds. They mainly eat fruits specially those of Banyan,
Peepul and other wild figs. Their metallic call sounds like a coppersmith hammering on metal, hence the
name. They are comparatively silent in winter and become more vocal in summer and during the hotter
parts of the day. Their nest is a shaft excavated on a dead branch of a tree. Both parents share all
domestic chores.

Blackrumped Flameback
Dinopium benghalense Sonera Katphora

The Blackrumped Flameback is a fairly common and widespread breeding resident of Delhi. It is usually
seen all over Delhi in noisy pairs attracting attention with its loud laughing call. The Blackrumped Flame-
back is more likely to be seen in parks and gardens of Delhi particularly in Lodhi Garden. But you may be
lucky to see it on roadsides with other groups of birds in mixed flocks. It is found mainly on large trees at
all levels but most frequently on the trunk. It also feeds on ants on the ground.

Common Mynah
Acridotheres tristis orientalis Mynah
These familiar dark brown birds have a glossy black head, yellow bill and legs and a naked patch below
and behind each eye. They are one of the most common and abundant bird species in India, found near
human habitation and cultivation. Mynahs are quick to colonise areas of human habitation. They usually
hop on the fields and meadows and dig for insects. Flocks of Mynahs follow framers ploughing fields to
eat insects and grubs turned up with the soil. They are important pollinating and dispersing agents for fig
and other trees. They build untidy nests in holes, earth banks and even walls of houses in the middle of a
noisy bazaar.

Oriental White Eye

Zosterops palpebrosus Babuna

The Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus is a small bird . They forage in small groups, feeding on
nectar and small insects. They are easily identi- fied by the distinctive white eye-ring and overall yellowish
upperparts. These white-eyes are sociable, forming flocks which only separate on the approach of the
breeding season. They are highly arboreal and only rarely descend to the ground. The breed- ing season
is February to September but April is the peak breeding season and the compact cup nest is a placed
like a hammock on the fork of a branch.
The nest is made of cobwebs, lichens and plant fibre. The eggs hatch in about 10 days. Both sexes take
care of brooding the chicks . They pollinate flower when they visit them for flower insects (such as thrips)
and possibly nectar that form their diet.

Koel
Eudynamis scolopacea

Koel
Koels do nor build nests and lay their eggs in
nests of House Crows and Jungle Crows. The
male usually lures the host away from the nest
so that the female can lay the egg. Eggs and
young ones resemble those of the foster
parents. Nestlings are brought up by foster
parents. Males are glistening black with a
crimson eye females are barred and brown in
colour. Are found in lightly wooded country,
gardens, avenues, near village and cultivation.
The bird usually stays in leafy trees and shrubs
and eats fruits, insects, land snails and eggs of
small bird