A black-breasted weaver photographed at Jokatte Sunday. The species is typically found in grasslands and wetlands, and recent records indicate its range is extending south
The flock of seven to eight birds was spotted between 8.45am and 9am Sunday. “At least 10 to 15 migratory species have already been spotted along this stretch.
This is the first time we have documented it in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi,” he said. Recent records indicate that its range is extending further south, he said. The changing weather and rising temperatures in northern regions could be influencing bird movement, although this needs further study,” he said.
Mangaluru: Birders and businessmen K Vivek R Nayak and Abhay Yellore recorded the black-breasted weaver at Jokatte near Mangaluru, adding a significant species to the region’s bird checklist. The sighting is believed to be the first record of the species in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. “During the recent Karnataka Rajyotsava bird count, birder Shwetha Bharati spotted the species in Kumta, Uttara Kannada. Before that, it had been recorded in Kannur, Keralam. It is a resident species whose distribution has traditionally been concentrated in the northern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent.
He told TOI that the sighting was particularly significant as the species had not previously been documented in the two coastal districts. Vivek Nayak, an avid birder with more than a decade of experience, has several rare sightings to his credit, including the yellow-breasted bunting, ortolan bunting and king quail. Black-breasted weaver, a sparrow-sized species, is predominantly found in grasslands and wetlands
