Generally the most common of the vultures in the jostling, flapping rabble round a carcass. Often sits around in trees or on buildings, looking like a heavy unkempt bird at rest, but like all vultures a wonderful flier. Although a disgusting feeder, often entering a carcass to pull out the entrails, it misses no opportunity to bathe when water is available. Found throughout the area.

KING VULTURE - Torgos calvus

A Striking-looking bird thinly distributed throughout the area except Sri Lanka. Noticeably less sociable both at carcasses and when breeding than the two common, larger vultures, and often seen singly. Despite its powerful bill, it is not a dominant species at a mixed feeding group, but stands round the edge, awaiting a clear moment to snatch a morsel.

LONG-BILLED VULTURE - Gyps indicus

In some areas, particularly the Himalayan foothills and Bangladesh, it is found in greater numbers than the White-backed Vulture, but is absent from the extreme south. Nests on cliff precipices or old forts, often in small colonies. This bird is just as aggressive when feeding as the white-backed, and has even been found trapped in a carcass.

SCAVENGER VULTURE - Neophron percnopterus,

This small, bedraggled-looking vulture is common throughout the India. It a bird of repulsive habit, although as a devourer of every kind of garbage it may render some beneficial effects in the absence of sanitation. Like an unkempt fowl when on the ground, where it waddled easily, it is much more impressive in flight. The stick nest is placed in a tree or on a building and two beautifully marked eggs are laid.

BLACK-WINGED KITE - Elanus caeruleus

This elegant and sociable little kite is widely distributed, frequenting low-lying grasslands, cultivation or light jungle. It beats slowly over a field, gliding with wings held in a shallow V, or hovers to inspect a small area more closely. When perched, it has a trick of drooping the wings and cocking the tail up.

COMMON KITE - Milvus migrans

One of the most noticeable birds in the sub-continent this abundant and successful scavenger can be seen soaring or flapping around villages and towns at all times. Avoiding only dense forests, it is everywhere parasitic on man, and boldly swoops down to snatch food from the busiest street or market. The flight is easy and graceful, on angled and flexing wings, the tail being constantly used as a rudder.

PALLID HARRIER  - Circus macrourus

Haunts open countryside, whether stony field or lush grasslands. Usually seen quartering the ground methodically at no great height, alternately flapping and floating on up-turned wings, now gaining and then losing height. An unsuspecting frog or lizard is pounced on from a few feet above before escape is possible, but agile prey is not pursued. It is a winter visitor to India.

MARSH HARRIER  - C. aeruginosus

More addicted to wet pastures, swamps and reedbeds than the pallid harrier. In the dark brown plumage it can be confused with a Pariah Kite, but its habit of quartering low over the reeds is distinctive. On occasion, however, it likes to soar high in the air, the primaries splayed out like fingers. It has earned a reputation for robbing the sportsman, as it quickly pounces on a wounded duck or snipe. This bird is also a winter visitor.

PALLAS’S FISH-EAGLE - Haliaeetus leucoryphus.

This fine eagle is commonly seen around lakes, rivers or jheels, often sitting on a sandbank or post. A powerful bird, it can kill large fish or other prey, Although sometimes eating carrion, or robbing other birds. It creates havoc at nesting colonies of herons or cormorants. It has a loud barking call which can be heard at great distances, and is found across Northern India, from the western frontier till Assam.