Bohemian Waxwing spotted in India after 100 yrs

A Tuesday morning tweet by Sanctuary Asia brought about some excited ‘twittering’ in the country’s birding community. The news — in January, Himachal Pradesh birder Raj Rawal spotted a Bohemian Waxwing, a first after a century-long absence from records in the country.

Rawal, it reported, “was a little surprised to observe a small flock of birds that he couldn’t identify. Perched on the branches of a juniper tree were half a dozen starling-sized birds, the likes of which he had never encountered before.” The pictures taken by Rawal in his village of Rawaling in Himachal Pradesh later confirmed the presence of Bohemian Waxwing in the country. As per records of the Bombay Natural History Society, the species was last recorded in India in Kashmir’s Dachigam National Park in 1907.

Bird talk

Bohemian Waxwing, is native to North America and Eurasia. The birds sport prominent crests, have distinct black throats and vibrant wing feathers. They can be found in feasting on insects and fruits.