Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica வெண்தொண்டைச் சில்லை
Indian silver bill was frequently observed on Medavakkam wetland area. Even though this bird used to live in the dry area it is also living in the center of the wetland. often more than 20 silvelbill were counted near AARI.
The Indian silverbill or white-throated munia (Euodice malabarica) is a small passerine bird found in the Indian Subcontinent and adjoining regions that was formerly considered to include the closely related African silverbill (Euodice cantans). This estrildid finch is a common resident breeding bird in the drier regions of the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. It has also been introduced into many other parts of the world and has become established in some areas. They forage in small flocks in grassland and scrub habitats.
Indian Silverbill on the terrace of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) building at Medavakkam, Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Euodice
Species: E. malabarica
Binomial name: Euodice malabarica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Small, long-tailed finch with a chunky body and short, stout bill. Gray-brown above and pale below with a whitish rump and black-pointed tail. Highly sociable throughout the year. Found in a semidesert, scrub, and dry woodland but also proliferates in urban areas. Distribution is centered on the Indian subcontinent, but it is a popular cage bird and feral populations are widespread.
They prefer dry open country and cultivation. Indian silverbill inhabits dry, open, cultivated as well as sparse scrub-and-bush country, and avoids humid forest. It is usually met within flocks gleaning grass seeds on the ground or taking them off the ears.
Indian Silverbill on the terrace of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) building at Medavakkam, Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal
The black central tail feathers are slightly elongated, and the upper tail coverts are white. The tail appears pointed as the length of the feathers reduces from the center outwards. Indian silverbill has buff-brown upperparts, white underparts, and dark wings. Whitethroat extends from just beneath its beak to its under the tail. Indian silverbill has a conical silver-grey bill. Both sexes are similar, but young ones have buff underparts and a shorter tail. The male usually has a slightly wider head than the female. Breeds throughout the greater part of the year. Both sexes construct an irregular, oval nest with the help of some grasses and other soft materials. Eggs 4 to 8, white and these are incubated by both parents for about 10 to 12 days. The chicks fledge about 19 days after hatching, and around 7 days later the young can forage independently.
Indian Silverbill feeding on the terrace of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) building at Medavakkam, Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal
