Description

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Context:

A group of bird enthusiasts traced the White-Naped Tit at Kadakola village in the Kappatagudda hills.

About White-Naped Tit

Category	Description
Common Name	Also called Pied Tit or White-Winged Tit
Scientific Name	Machlolophus nuchalis
Family	Tit (Paridae)
Distribution	Endemic to India, with disjoint populations in the northwest (Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan) and south (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu).
Habitat	Dry Thorn Scrub Forest.
Appearance	The upper part (from forehead to tail) is shiny black with a distinctive white spot on the lower neck and upper shell. The bite and lower parts are white, with black central groups running from neck to vent. Wings have a large white patch with several black sticks.
Behavior	Seen in pairs or small family groups.
Conservation Status	IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

Critically Endangered Birds in India

Species	Habitat	Distribution	Threats
Jerdon’s Courser	Undisturbed scrub jungle with open areas	Endemic to Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra (19th century records)	Illegal poaching, habitat clearance, pastureland creation, exotic species, mining, canal construction
White-bellied Heron	Inland lakes, gravel bars, sandy rivers	North Myanmar, Bangladesh, North Eastern India, Bhutan	Anthropogenic disturbance, forest and wetland degradation
White-backed Vulture	Forests, villages, etc.	Across India	Diclofenac poisoning from carcasses treated with painkillers
Slender-billed Vulture	Forests, villages, etc.	Across India	Diclofenac poisoning from carcasses treated with painkillers
Long-billed Vulture	Forests, villages, etc.	Across India	Diclofenac poisoning from carcasses treated with painkillers
Red-headed Vulture	Forests, villages, etc.	Across India	Diclofenac poisoning from carcasses treated with painkillers
Bengal Florican	Grasslands with small scrublands	India (UP, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh), Cambodia, Nepal	Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion
Siberian Crane	Wetlands	Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan	Hunting, habitat conversion to agriculture, wetland drainage, pesticide pollution

Source:

TOI

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the White-Naped Tit:

The White-Naped Tit is endemic to India with populations primarily found in the northeastern states of the country.
Its habitat includes dry thorn scrub forests and it is often seen in pairs or small family groups.
The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
The bird is characterized by a shiny black upper part with a distinctive white spot on the lower neck and upper shell, and a large white patch on its wings.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2, 3, and 4 only
C) 1, 2, and 4 only
D) 1, 3, and 4 only

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The White-Naped Tit is endemic to India, but its populations are primarily found in the northwest (Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan) and south (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu), not the northeastern states.

Statement 2 is correct: The species inhabits dry thorn scrub forests and is typically seen in pairs or small family groups.

Statement 3 is correct: The White-Naped Tit is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Statement 4 is correct: The bird has a shiny black upper part with a distinctive white spot on the lower neck and upper shell, and a large white patch on its wings.