Rare bird sighted in Kerala’s Chinnar sanctuary-Sri Lankan Frogmouth is usually found on the western side of the Ghats

• The sighting of a rare bird species in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary has sparked much interest among ornithologists, since its presence was noticed on the eastern side of the Western Ghats for the first time.
• The Sri Lankan Frogmouth, Batrachostomus moniliger, which was sighted at the sanctuary is usually confined to its habitation in the western side of the Western Ghats forests.
• It is a relative of Nightjar, a crepuscular and nocturnal bird breeding in Europe and temperate Asia.
• Its preferred habitat is a dry and open area with some small trees or bushes.
• The Sri Lankan Frogmouth, like the Nightjar, eats insects and mainly seeks prey during night time.

         One egg a year

• The main feature is that it lays only one egg a year after the mating season in April-May.
• The nest is made using moss or leaves of soft plants and the bark of the trees. The male bird destroys the nest and flies away with the new born bird.
• Ornithologists say that the bird has a unique habitat in Sri Lanka and is also believed to be present in the Thattekad bird sanctuary, also found in Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.

         The Hindu