Migratory hen known as long-tailed minivet (Pericrocotos ethologus) is a standard customer of Chandigarh area throughout winter.
Sukhna Lake forests and Morni Hills and different semi-forest and well-wooded areas are the best habitats of the hen.
Males and females differ in look, with males having a black head and higher elements, and a U-shaped purple marking on closed wings. Females exhibit gray heads, darkish wings with a yellow U marking, and yellow throat, breast, and underparts.
Long-tailed minivets develop as much as 20cm and feed on bugs, orthopterans, hymenopterans, beetles, flies, insect larvae, acacia buds, and fruits.
During breeding (April to June), men and women interact in a joint mission to build nests, forming neat cups with grass stems, footlets, moss, twigs, cobweb, and lichen. The feminine lays 3-4 eggs, with an incubation interval of 11 days and a fledging interval of 12 days, throughout which each the mother and father feed the chicks.
On February 11, through the 14th Chandigarh Bird Race, I, together with skilled birder Matinder Pal Sekhon, an government member of Chandigarh Bird Club, explored Sukhna Lake to record noticed birds. Surprisingly, we noticed at the very least two flocks of long-tailed minivets, all feminine. Despite spending half an hour observing and anticipating a male, none may very well be noticed.
Regarding the opportunity of female and male birds venturing individually, Sekhon talked about that there are lots of features of birds’ lives but to be explored. “In 2007, during a birding trip in Rajasthan, I encountered a flock of Variable Wheatear, where all members were females. Further exploration 800 meters ahead revealed another flock, entirely composed of males. After returning from that very trip, I researched a lot but despite extensive research in books, internet etc, answers about these behavioral patterns remain elusive,” Sekhon mentioned.
