Pakistan is home to approximately 800 bird species that live in it. The South Asian country has a rich biodiversity, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and deserts, which provide birds with a variety of food sources and nesting opportunities.
There are house sparrows; myna; house crow; parrots, including macaw, budgerigar, cockatiel, and lovebirds; pigeon, and doves; nightingales, and cuckoo; chukar partridge; eagle and falcons, and a lot of bird species in Pakistan. For now, this writer will discuss and share some necessary information of few birds with Jarida Today’s readers.
HOUSE SPARROW: FEATHERED URBANITE
The house sparrow is a small, chunky bird with a short, thick beak. It has a brown-grey back and wings with black and white bars. The male has a distinctive grey crown, black throat, and chestnut nape and bib, while the female has a plain grey-brown head and buff-brown underparts. They are known for their distinctive chirping sounds, which are used to communicate with other birds in their flock.
House sparrows are commonly seen as a symbol of human presence due to their close association with human habitats. They typically nest in buildings and rooftops, and often make nests in places like windows where humans might not notice them. House sparrows are able to adapt and thrive in urban environment. Furthermore, they have been associated with human colonies for thousands of years.
There is no exact estimate of the number of house sparrows living in Pakistan. Basically, these birds are one of the most common species found in urban and rural areas. Some of the cities where house sparrows are commonly seen include Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Multan, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Abbottabad, Gwadar, Hyderabad, and areas of Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. House sparrows mostly live near human residences where they can easily find food and a home for themselves.
MYNA: VOCAL ACROBAT
Mynas are friendly, and just like house sparrows they like to live with humans. They are one of those birds that enjoys living under the shadow of humans and mostly follows certain rules. They are a ‘native’ species and available in many parts of Pakistan. The mynas are medium-sized birds with a distinctive appearance. They have a brown body, a black head with a yellow beak, and yellow legs. The wings have white patches that are visible in flight.
The myna has a compact body with a short tail and a rounded head, and its beak is thick and slightly curved. Mynas are generally social and like to eat insects and fruits. They have wonderful outgoing personality, which makes them an excellent pet. The mynas are friendly and adapt well to living in cages. Since hand-tamed myna babies are accustomed to human interaction, they often make better pets. Their lifespan ranges from an average of four to twelve years, as per available information.
HOUSE CROW: ADAPTABLE SCAVENGERS
The population of house crows in Pakistan is so high that it seems like crows are sharing their neighborhoods with us. In Lahore, after the honk of cars’ horns, the second thing we will hear is ‘caw’ or ‘kraa’, and it’s called crow call. They communicate through these calls, and we can crack a few of the crow calls. Most of the crows communicate with the number of calls, such as two caws mean “where are you?”, and the other crow will also respond with two caws, meaning “I am over here”.
Three caws mean ‘danger’. Whenever they see a dog or a stranger, they assume it as a danger. Corvids are basically a family that includes crows, ravens, jackdaws, jays, treepies, rooks, choughs and nutcrackers. There are about 133 species in the crow family. The most common bird in the crow family is the house crow, also known as the grey-necked, Ceylon, or Colombo crow. They originated in Asia but are now found in many parts of the world.
The grey-necked crow is commonly found in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Both male and female house crows look alike. A house crow is slender, measuring around 42-44 cm long, with black feathers on the body and grey feathers on the neck and breast. Its beak, legs, and feet are black. The house crow’s lifespan is around six years. Crows and ravens are considered some of the smartest birds on Earth.
Here are a few interesting facts about crows: Some species can count up to six, and some can mimic human voices. Young crows leave their nests after four weeks. Ravens are generally larger than crows. Crows are ‘social animals’. Despite their vexatious calls, crows are some kinds of ‘songbirds’. Members of the crow family can be found on every continent except Antarctica.
CHUKAR: THE ENIGMATIC BEAUTY
Chukar partridge is one of the rare species of terrestrial birds. It belongs to the pheasant family and is considered both a game bird and a non-migratory bird. Chukar or Chakor is the national bird of Pakistan and Iran. In native culture, Chukar is considered a symbol of good luck. The word Chakor is derived from Sanskrit, meaning intense love, and is often used in Pakistan and India to refer to someone loved.
Chukar partridge usually has a brownish-grey body with a light brown back, black and white stripes on its wings, a black gorge, and a white face. The bird stands around 35–38 cm tall, with a grey breast and a buff belly, and it has red legs and a coral-red bill. Their average lifespan is two to five years in the wild. Chukar partridge prefers rocky, arid, steep, and open hillsides.
In Pakistan, Chukar partridge partridges are found in places such as the arid, rocky, and hilly areas of the inner Himalayan ranges, the western Himalayas, Balochistan, and the dry hillsides of Punjab and Sindh. The native range of Chakor includes Pakistan, India, Iran, Syria, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Turkey. They are known as hunting birds among other wildlife species. While Chukar partridge prefers to run rather than fly, it can fly short distances with rounded wings if necessary.
PARROTS: COLORFUL CHATTERBOXES
In Pakistan, parrots are the most favorite pets. In every second house, we can hear parrots chirping through the window or door. A parrot chirping means everything is well in little bird’s life. In the woods, flock members chirp to one another to ensure that ‘all is well’. In our country, we can find numerous races of parrots, like macaw, budgerigar (Australian parrot), cockatiel, raw (rose-ringed Parakeet), African grey parrot, Fischer’s parrot and lovebirds. These are the common parrots that we can find easily and keep them as pet.
MACAW: AVIATOR OF RAINFOREST CANOPY
Macaws are colorful and are amongst the most famous parrot species in Pakistan. Their lifespan is around 50-60 years. A macaw is approximately 80-100 cm tall. They are native from South, North and Central America. They prefer rainforests, but can also be found in other types of forests like in the Caribbean. When kept in a birdcage, they scream loudly and aggressively just to gain our attention, which makes them a little more fascinating to me.
In addition, the macaws are fond of soft, clean branches and wooden toys. If we teach them to talk (mimic) and learn various tricks, they can indeed pick them up. Some breeds of macaws can break coconut shells with their powerful beaks. They have scaly, dry tongues, and a bone in the tongues that helps them tap on fruits. Macaws are quite romantic, and once they find their mates, they stick together for the rest of their lives.
BUDGERIGAR: CHARMER OF AUSTRALIAN SKIES
Budgerigars, also called budgie or Australian parrot among the locals, are small and long-tailed parrots. They are usually found in yellow and green colors. They have black scalloped marking on their nape, back, and wings. They are very popular among the locals because of their cuteness. The budgerigar’s average lifespan is around five to eight years. Normally, they are 18-20 cm tall. They are definitely native to Australia. They have three eyelids and can rotate their heads up to 180 degrees.
COCKATIEL: THE VOCALIST
Cockatiels are popular in Pakistan, and usually come in grey color with yellow heads having red/orange cheeks and long tails. They have feathers on their heads, known as crests. We can find them in the ecosystem with water bodies such as lakes, rivers and near proximately in open areas or woods. This species moves where food and water are available, and its average lifespan is 10-14 years. Cockatiels are generally 30-33 cm in height. As compared to females, male cockatiels are better whistlers, and they can mimic human voices. Their head crest can tell us about their mood. If kept alone for a long period, they can get depressed.
RAW: ICONIC ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
The raw parrot is the most well-known and is called the rose-ringed parrot, which is a popular breed. This parrot comes in multiple colors, such as turquoise, white, blue, cinnamon, olive, violet, grey, and yellow. However, it is commonly found in green, with a red ring around the neck. The average lifespan is 20-25 years, and its length is somewhere between 38 cm and 42 cm.
It is originally from Africa and Asia (the subcontinent). Only male parrots have the rose-colored collar around the neck. In several parts of the world – like the United Kingdom and Netherlands – rose-ringed parrots are considered pests due to their invasive nature. Raw parrots can mimic human speech. Apple seeds, salt, avocados, mushrooms, and other similar foods are not recommended for them.
GREY PARROT: THE INTELLIGENT COMPANION
The African grey parrot’s main feature is its scalloped grey plumage, with the darkest shade towards the head and a lighter tone on the lower body. The feathers are white underneath, while the tail is bright red. There is a white ring around their face, with the highest density near the eyes. Their lifespan is nearly 19–23 years, and they are normally about 30–35 cm tall. The grey parrots are native to Africa. As per traditions, these birds are considered the most intelligent bird species and can form strong bonds with their owners.
FISCHER’S: VIBRANT AND AFFECTIONATE
The Fischer’s parrot is one of the cutest parrot species due to its prominent eyes and vibrant orange colors. Fischer’s neck is yellow, while its head is olive-colored from the top. There are different color variations. Their personality is very charming. The Fischer’s are energetic and can be loyal companions if interacted with regularly. The average lifespan of this cute species is 15-20 years. They are about 12-16 cm tall. While they cannot mimic human speech like other parrots, they can sing pleasantly.
LOVEBIRD: THE PLAYFUL SPIRIT
Lovebirds are small, social, and affectionate parrots that are highly popular in Pakistan. They can be found in color combinations like green and yellow, or blue and white. Due to their small size and appealing eyes, lovebirds are loved worldwide. They form deep bonds with their owners and can be very cuddly. The lovebirds are active, curious, feisty, and playful, packing a lot of energy into their small size. Their typical lifespan is 20-30 years, and they are about 13-17 cm tall. They usually do not mimic human speech. Lovebirds are one of the smallest parrot species. They are known to sit only next to their mate.
During the extreme cold weather, migratory birds usually move from Siberia to Pakistan, and other neighboring countries. As per reports, the migratory birds cover approximately 4,500 kilometers distance by using the Indus flyway to reach Pakistan. Officials confirmed that the migratory birds arrived in Pakistan at the end of August and leave wetlands and water bodies in the month of February.
It is interesting to note here that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included the houbara bustard – a rare desert bird – on its red list of threatened species. Through social media posts, experts and common citizens demanded of the authorities that populations of houbaras should be protected and more sanctuaries should be established to support number of this migratory bird in Pakistan.