There are approximately 18,000 bird species found throughout the world, each with its own unique habitat and characteristics. Unfortunately, many of these birds are on the verge of extinction and will perish if not saved. Some Indian birds are on the verge of extinction as a result of habitat loss, prey scarcity, and intensive hunting for meat. Poaching and widespread hunting have pushed these lovely birds into the category of critically endangered birds in India. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) have released the Red List of India, which lists 15 birds as being on the verge of extinction. Few species of birds facing extinction include the Great Indian Bustard, Indian Vulture, Himalayan quail, and Siberian Crane. In this article, we will discuss Critically Endangered Birds which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Critically Endangered Birds

Jerdon's Courser

• It is a nocturnal bird found only in the northern part of the state of Andhra Pradesh in peninsular India.
• It is a symbol of the critically endangered scrub jungle.
• The species was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1986, and the area of rediscovery was subsequently designated as the Sri Lankamaleswara Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Habitat: Untouched scrub jungle with open areas.
• Distribution: Jerdon's Courser is found only in Andhra Pradesh.
• Threats: Threats include the clearing of scrub jungle, the creation of new pastures, the cultivation of dry land crops, the illegal trapping of birds, exotic tree plantations, quarrying, and the construction of river canals.

Jerdon’s Courser

Forest Owlet

• Had been missing for over a century. After 113 years, the owlet was rediscovered in 1997 and added to the list of Indian birds.
• Habitat: Dry deciduous forest
• Distribution: South Madhya Pradesh, northwest Maharashtra, and north-central Maharashtra.
• Threats: Logging operations, tree burning, and tree cutting harm Forest Owlet roosting and nesting trees.

Forest Owlet

The White-bellied Heron

• Extremely rare bird found in five or six locations in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, one or two in Bhutan, and a few in Myanmar.
• Habitat: Rivers with sand or gravel bars, or inland lakes.
• Distribution: Bhutan and north-east India to the hills of Bangladesh and north Myanmar.
• Threats: Threats include the loss and degradation of lowland forests and wetlands as a result of direct human exploitation and disturbance.

White-Bellied Heron

The Bengal Florican

• A rare bustard species well known for its mating dance. Secretive males advertise their territories in the tall grasslands by springing from the ground and flitting to and fro in the air.
• Habitat: Grasslands interspersed with scrublands.
• Distribution: This species is only found in three countries: Cambodia, India, and Nepal. It occurs in three Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Threats: The ongoing conversion of the bird's grassland habitat for various purposes, including agriculture, is primarily responsible for its population decline.

Bengal Florican

The Himalayan Quail

• It is thought to be extinct because there are no reliable records of sightings of this species after 1876.
• Intensive surveys are required because this species is difficult to detect due to its aversion to flying and preference for dense grass habitats. A possible sighting of this species was reported in Nainital in 2003.
• Habitat: Tall grass and scrub on steep hillsides.
• Distribution: Western Himalayas.
• Threats: It includes indiscriminate hunting during the colonial period, as well as habitat modification.

Himalayan Quail

Pink-headed Duck

• It has not been conclusively recorded in India since 1949.
• Males have a deep pink head and neck that gives the bird its name.
• Habitat: Overgrown still-water pools, marshes, and swamps in lowland forests and tall grasslands.
• Distribution: Recorded in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The most records come from north-east India.
• Threats: The main causes of its extinction are wetlands degradation and loss of habitat, as well as hunting.

Pink-headed Duck

Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarious)

• It is a winter migrant to India. Because of a sudden and rapid population decline, this species has been designated as critically endangered.
• Habitat: Fallow fields and scrub desert are the habitats.
• Distribution: Central Asia, Asia Minor, Russia, Egypt, India, and Pakistan. In India, habitat and distribution are limited to the north and north-west of the country.
• Threats: This include conversion of habitat to arable land, illegal hunting, and proximity to human settlements.

Sociable Lapwing

Spoon-billed Sandpiper

• It requires highly specialised breeding habitat, which has always kept its population in check. Some of this species' last wintering grounds are in India.
• Habitat: Coastal areas with sparse vegetation. There are no breeding records further inland than 7 km from the seashore.
• Distribution: It has been found in West Bengal, Orissa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Threats: This include habitat degradation and land reclamation. Human disturbance also causes a high rate of nest abandonment.

Spoon-Billed Sandpiper

Siberian Crane

• It is a large, strikingly majestic migratory bird that breeds and winters in wetlands.
• They are known to spend the winter in Rajasthan's Keoladeo National Park. However, the last documented sighting of the bird was in 2002.
• Habitat: Wetland areas.
• Distribution: Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan is where distribution is located.
• Threats: Pesticide pollution, wetland drainage, conversion of prime habitat into agricultural fields, and, to a lesser extent, hunting are all threats.

Siberian Crane

Great Indian Bustard

Great Indian Bustard

• The Great Indian Bustard is a critically endangered bird found only in India and the surrounding region.
• The bustard is one of the largest flying bird species, weighing up to 15 kg and standing about 1 m tall.
• The largest land bird habitat in Rajasthan's scrub, tall grass, semi-arid grasslands, and semi-desert regions.
• The bird is becoming extinct in many parts of India as a result of overhunting and habitat loss. It is the state bird of Rajasthan.
• Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in Solapur, Maharashtra.

Baer’s Pochard

Baer’s Pochard

• The Baer's Pochard is a marshy wetlands-dwelling duck native to India, China, Vietnam, and Japan.
• The dark backs and white lower feathers of the Baer's Pochard set it apart. Its natural habitat is dense vegetation near lakes and watery meadows.
• The IUCN has classified the Baer's Pochard as 'Critically Endangered' in India.
• The primary cause of their near-extinction is widespread hunting and poaching of their eggs for food.
• They are mostly found in India's northwestern states bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh.

White-backed Vulture

White-backed Vulture

• White Backed Vultures, like all birds of this species, are scavengers. They feed on the carcasses of dead animals, including human remains.
• Because of a lack of food, the White-backed Vulture is on the verge of extinction.
• Unlike other birds, the White Backed Vulture does not share its food. As a result, it has limited food sources.
• These birds usually lived near mountainous areas in rural India and fed on domestic animal carcasses dumped by villagers.
• They are also said to visit the Tower of Silence, a place where members of the Zoroastrian community go after they die.

Red-headed Vulture

Red-headed Vulture

• The Red-headed Vulture, also known as the Indian Black Vulture or King Vulture, is an Old World vulture species found in India.
• The Grand Indian Vulture is another name for the Red Headed Vulture. It is distinguished by its reddish face and bald neck.
• It, like other vultures, feeds on animal carcasses, including humans, and occasionally kills weak or dying animals for food.
• According to ornithologists, the Red Headed Vulture is on the verge of extinction due to the widespread use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in veterinary medicine, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium, and others.
• These NSAIDS and other medications remain in domestic animal carcasses and are killing the Red Headed Vulture. The Indian government is attempting to increase their population.

Slender-billed Vulture

Slender-billed Vulture

• The survival of the Slender Billed Vulture, an Indian bird, is once again threatened by NSAIDs such as Diclofenac Sodium, which is used in the veterinary treatment of farm and other domestic animals.
• These scavenger birds eat dead animal carcasses. The carcasses of animals treated with Diclofenac, on the other hand, sound the death knell for the Slender Billed Vulture.
• Despite the fact that the Indian government has taken steps to prevent the use of Diclofenac for veterinary purposes, it is still available illegally.

Indian Vulture

Indian Vulture

• The Indian Vulture is native to Rajasthan and areas bordering Pakistan.
• The Indian Vulture, like other species in its category, is threatened by the use of Diclofenac and other veterinary medicines.
• The Indian government and their Pakistani counterparts have joined forces to keep this species of vulture from becoming extinct on both sides of the border.
• Kites made of glass-coated twine pose additional dangers to this bird.

Conclusion

Birds play an important role in the preservation of natural ecosystems. They aid in pest control, pollinate plants (which ensures food security), disperse seeds, and contribute to the delicate balance of plant and herbivore, predator and prey. However, human activities such as land conversion and the introduction of invasive animals are shrinking and fragmenting birds' natural habitats, threatening the survival of countless species.