Large Overpowering Birds
 Some birds perform a useful function scavenging and clearing refuse. One of the most widespread is the brown Pariah Kite. The more handsome chestnut and white Brahminy Kite is largely confined to the waterside. The common brown White-backed Vulture looks ungainly and has a bare and scrawny head and neck. The smaller Scavenger Vulture is mainly white, but often has dirty looking plumage and the bare head and neck of all vultures. In flight its wedge-shaped tail and black and white colouring are characteristic.
Lovely Hill Birds
Land above about 1,500 metres supports a distinct range of species, although some birds, such as the ubiquitous Common Myna, are found in the highlands as well as in the lower lying terrain.
White-cheeked Bulbul which is found in gardens and woodland in the Himalaya up to about 2,500 metres and as far south as Bombay. It has white underparts with a yellow patch under the tail. The black head and white cheek patches are distinctive. The crest varies in length and is most prominent in birds found in Kashmir, where it is very common in gardens. The Red-whiskered Bulbul is widespread in the Himalaya and the hills of South India up to about 2,500 metres.
 In the summer the delightful Verditer Flycatcher is a common breeding bird in the Himalaya upto about 3,000 metres. In winter it is much more widely distributed throughout the country. It is an active little bird which flicks its tail up and down in a characteristic manner.
Another species associated with man is the White Wagtail, very common in the Himalayan summer up to about 3,000 meters. It is always found near water, by streams and lakes, on floating vegetation and among the house boats in Kashmir. Its black and white plumage and constantly wagging tail make it easy to identify.
Yet another species common in Kashmir and in the other Himalayan hill stations is the Red-billed Blue Magpie. With a long tail and pale blue plumage, contrasting with its black head, it is usually seen in small flocks as it flies from tree to tree. This is not so much a garden bird, but prefers tea gardens, open woodland and cultivation.
Jungle fowl and pheasants The highlands of India, especially the Himalaya, are the home of the ancestors of domestic hens and also of numerous beautiful pheasants. These are mainly forest dewellers and are not easy to see as they tend to be shy and wary of man.
Domesticated Birds
Last but not least, mention must be made of India's national bird, the magnificent and well-known Peafowl, which is more commonly known as the peacock. Semi-domesticated birds are commonly seen and heard around towns and villages, especially in the northwest of India. In the wild it favours hilly jungles and dense scrub.
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