Mumbai, April 12, 2013
First Published: 02:56
IST(12/4/2013)
Last Updated: 02:57 IST(12/4/2013)
Last Updated: 02:57 IST(12/4/2013)
The black breasted weaver, a rare
migrant bird, was sighted in the city this week after nearly a decade at
Dombivli (West). Belonging to the Ploceidae family, the black-breasted weaver
is rarely seen in Mumbai or its adjacent satellite cities, but amateur birdwatchers
managed to catch a glimpse of some non-breeding males
near the Diva-Vasai railway line. The area, they say, is something of a hotspot
for birds.
The non-breeding male weaver is
distinguished by its yellow head and black neck, which turns grey while
breeding. The birdwatchers spotted more than 50 of them, which experts said is
a good sign as they were last spotted nesting at Uran in 2002.
While they resemble sparrows in
shape, size and features, the species is not related to them at all.
“The weaver is found mostly in
sub-Saharan Africa and in the central and
north Indian plains,” said Prathamesh Desai, who sighted the bird in Dombivli.
“It is a beautiful bird and the males were seen in their non-breeding colours,
so we are also hoping to spot a few females and their nesting site as well.”
The black-breasted weaver has
rarely been spotted in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, experts said. Naturalist
Sunjoy Monga said old reports dating back to 1800’s have a record of a few
pairs nesting around Bhandup.
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