Abstract

First Record of Ardeola grayii (Sykes) 1832 from Lossar and Kunzam La in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

Author(s): D. R. Thakur* and Asheesh Mehta

Ardeola grayii (Sykes) 1832 known as Indian Pond-Heron, has been reported for the first time from the vicinity of Spiti river at Lossar Village of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. In almost barren cold dessert of Spiti vally, Lossar village has little vegetation of shrubs, wild willow and Betula utilis Don commonly known as Himalayan Birch or Bhojpatra. A solitary Indian Pond-Heron was found feeding on insect larvae in this area. This is a new record of this bird from high altitude and this different but interesting migration pattern is opening the new vista of avian record from wetland and barren lands of Lahaul Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India.

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