Bird Watching - Brahminy Kite

Brahminy Kite

A medium-sized raptor with a rounded tail unlike other kites. Adults are unmistakable with a white head and breast contrasting with otherwise brick brown plumage. Juveniles are a darker brownish-black with a paler head and prominent white patches under the wings. Males and females look alike, except females are often slightly larger in size.

Local Names : Sankar cheel (Hindi)

                     Sem parunthu / Krishna Parunthu (Tamil)

                     Garudan / Krishna parunthu (Malayalam)

Scientific Name : Haliastur indus

They are most commonly seen sailing on level wings along shorelines, mudflats, mangrove swamps and estuaries. They are also observed in inland wetlands, flying over forests and rice paddies, and along rivers.

Brahminy kites are known to be opportunistic scavengers that will eat just about anything, including food waste from boats and rubbish dumps, dead animals such as dead fish and crabs.

Immature birds have been observed in playful behavior, such as dropping leaves and attempting to catch them in the air.

When fishing over water, they may sometimes land in the water but manage to swim and take off without much trouble.

Brahminy pairs build untidy, compact nests using twigs, sticks, grass, seaweed, flotsam and other materials found in their habitat. The nest is typically situated close to water, often in a prominent fork of a tall tree. The average clutch consists of 1 - 3 dull white or bluish-white eggs, which are incubated for 26 - 35 days before hatching. Both parents share the incubation duties and the feeding of the young. 

References

The Book of Indian Birds (Salim Ali)

beautyofbirds.com

Pictures:

Kerala, Bangalore

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Initially i was a little hesitant about posting this as i was not happy with the clarity of the pictures. But then i thought, will comeback and update the pictures as i get them later.. :) 

In Hinduism, Brahminy kite is considered as the contemporary representation of Garuda, the sacred bird of Vishnu.

The emblem of Jakarta (Indonesia) is Brahminy kite, even the airline is named Garuda airlines.