Descriptive List of Birds 



A grass-green bird washed with blue. The 

 head is gaudily coloured. Top of head, chin 

 and upper throat golden-yellow. Forehead 

 crimson, a black streak on each side of head. 



Its cry is Katak-katak-katak, 



Common at Darjeeling. 



Rollers 



Heavy-billed, bright-plumaged birds, which 

 take up a position on a perch and descend to 

 the ground to secure their insect quarry. 

 They sometimes eat small snakes. Their 

 cries are harsh. 



125. Coracias garrula : The European Roller. 

 F. 1024, J. 125, +III. K. 



This is a near relative of the roller, or " blue 

 jay " of the plains. 



Its plumage is mainly light and dark blue ; 

 the two shades of blue being arranged in broad 

 bands on the wings and tail. A gorgeous bird. 



Fairly common in the Kashmir valley. 



Bee-eaters 



Bee-eaters are elegant emerald-green birds. 

 The middle pair of tail feathers project as 

 bristles beyond the others. 



Bee-eaters catch their insect quarry in the 



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