Rufous Sibia

One of the most common birds found in the Eastern Himalayas is the Rufous Sibia. They have a black cap, rufous underparts, black and grey tail tip and wings. They are scientifically known as Leioptila annectans. These birds are mostly found in subtropical and temperate zones. These birds can be sighted mostly in broadleaved evergreen forests.

Rufous Sibia are usually seen in flocks of 10 or more. Only in the breeding season they can be seen away from the flock. They are also one of the noisiest birds in the Eastern Himalayas. The call of the Rufous Sibia are five flute like notes in the same pitch and the sixth note is a bit lower, they also make shrill calls which gives it the local name Charcharey in some parts of the Eastern Himalayas.

Rufous Sibia

The main role of the Rufous Sibia in the food chain is of a pollinator. They prefer nectars of many species of flowers found in the Eastern Himalayan region like the Rhododendron arboreum, Rhododendron Arboreum cinnamoneum, Leucosceptrum cannum, etc. During blooming season their plumage in the crown can be seen covered with the pollen of different flowers.

Although Rufous Sibia are one of the most common birds of the Eastern Himalayas, there is lot more to know about their behaviors. They also need a lot more attention in terms of conservation as their habitat are depleting day by day due to the development of the mankind.

In the last two decades due to the introduction of gas stoves the amount of habitat destruction has been controlled to some extent but it is still not enough. Much more efforts have to be made by the conservationists in order to save these jewels of the sky. First of all proper awareness should be brought among the locals and the students about these beautiful birds and their role in the ecological balance.

(Saurav Madhur Rai, from Darjiling, is a singer, an artist and a bird photographer.)