The building that accommodates our office is caressed by open space (read the endearing Mizoram green). Chirping of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) enlivens this space. Small groups are conspicuous by their calls and at times a frolicsome group may also be seen on the adjacent mobile tower! Anwaruddin Choudhury in Pocket Guide to Birds of Mizoram states “the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is very rare in Mizoram where Eurasian Tree Sparrow is the common sparrow in most places".
I had heard a call that was louder than and distinctly different from that of this sparrow while in our office and had continued with urgent tasks leaving aside the more important one. This happened more than once and finally on a drizzling – cloudy Saiha morning, it was 11.00 am, I was sensible enough to close the laptop on hearing the call. I saw a bird smaller than the sparrow perched on a cable about 5 feet from ground on 7th August (2009). I was also able to take a picture but not before it had forced a session of hide and seek on me by cavorting amidst bushes and shrubs. By the time I finally got the picture it was calling (presumably its partner) and I was aware to the presence of spectators our game had had.
After observing it to our content I and John (colleague) read of it Rufous-capped Babbler (Stachyrus ruficeps) in the few books we possess! Grimmett and Inskipp (2001) state its size as 12 cm as opposed to 14cm for the Eurasian Tree Sparrow and its being a resident in NE Hills. (Gosh! How I dislike the term; but more of it in another post!). Birand and Pawar (2004) and Anwaruddin Choudhury (2008) state of its presence in Mizoram.
We looked at the picture for a while and felt the joy of having the opportunity to not only see another bird but also observe it! And then hoping for many more such incidences got on to complete the tasks we were then upto.
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