Kolar Gold Fields, 30 Oct

For the first time ever, the rare Lesser Whitethroat bird was spotted in Kolar a few days ago by Dr Mohan Krishna, an ENT specialist by profession and amateur bird watcher. The European-origin bird is normally found in North Indian regions, such as New Delhi, but is less common in the State.

 Classified as a rare bird in India, the Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) is a small bird with a grey back and head, whitish underparts, and a white throat. It is insectivorous but will also eat berries and soft fruits. 

At a meagre length of 11.5 to 13.5cm and a wingspan of 18cm, they are difficult to spot and one needs a specialised magnifying glass to identify them. Instead, bird enthusiasts often identify the species through its scratchy chortling song, which ends with a distinctive rattle.

The bird spends the winter season between October and March in the warmer India and the Africas before returning to Europe in April. 

Krishna had spotted the Lesser Whitethroat while on a bird watching trip on hillock near a village in the KGF area. He did not believe his eyes at first, so he recorded the bird’s call and sent it to experts who confirmed the species.

Krishna said the bird breeds in temperate Europe and in the western and central palearctic regions migrate to Africa, Arabia and parts of India during winter. This was the first time the bird was spotted in Kolar district, he said. 

Rare European Bee Eater birds have also been spotted in the KGF region, he said, expecting  that many more European Bee Eater birds would flock the bushes in and around Krishnavaram forest area near KGF.