Migratory Lesser Whitethroat spotted near Polali

The Lesser Whitethroat, a migratory European bird, was spotted by two birdwatchers on October 8.— PHOTO: C. ROSHAN KAMATH

migratory European bird Lesser Whitethroat was spotted near Polali on the outskirts of the city by two birdwatchers on Thursday.

C Roshan Kamath, a marine engineer by profession and a birdwatcher by hobby, spotted it along with his friend Vivek Nayak at about 3.30 pm.

“We found it in bushes on roadside. It was feeding on a caterpillar inside bushes. Later the bird was hopping from one branch to other and was very active. We did not hear any call from the bird,” Mr. Kamath said.

According to Shivashankar, a birdwatcher and co-author of the book ‘Birds of Southern Coastal Karnataka’, Lesser Whitethroat has been spotted in the Mangaluru coastal region for the first time in recent years. “There was no incidence in the last eight years of having spotted it in this coastal region,” he said.

Mr. Kamath said the bird bred in Europe. It was found in summer in Europe, except in South West, and in Western and Central Asia. It migrated to India, Africa and Pakistan in winter.

He said that the particular bird fed on insects, worms, berries and caterpillars. It nested in open woods and scrubs. The bird is 13 cm in body size.

We found it in bushes on roadside. It was feeding on a caterpillar inside bushes.