| My capture of the moments ,this male shikra gave me to photograph |
Upon feverishly googling to research what this bird was called I was at a loss .i picked up my Book Birds of India and narrowed it down to 3 species but to get an expert opinion I used a online resource group’s help. This is a wonderful group that let’s you tap into the expertise of other birdwatcher’s in India. I suggest using this group to identify a bird you spotted. http://www.birdforum.net/
The adult male shikra is smaller than the female with a striking red eye, pale grey plumage above and barred chestnut feathers below. In contrast, the adult female is darker and browner, with a deep-orange eye
The shikra was a favourite among falconers in India and Pakistan due to the ease with it could be trained and was frequently used to procure food for the more prized falcons .
