CHILIKA IS THE DEAREST HOME  TO THIS RAREST BIRD IN THE WORLD ; KNOW IN DETAIL

(The Quiver) :  Odisha’s marshy land Chilika is a suitable home for wide range of Flora and Fauna over 200 species. Over 1 lakh birds dwelling in the place. Many rare birds are also found in Chilika. Do you know Odisha is the only home of a unique rarest bird ? No Where in the whole world this only one unique rarest water bird, White grey headed Swamphen can be found except in Chilika of Odisha. This existing bird appears completely different from the birds of its own species Grey Headed Swamphen.

Generally , Grey headed Swamphen  is a hensized waterbird with bluish-purple colour with a red bill and forehead shield, as well as red legs and feet with long toes. Its tail is flicked up often , revealing its fluffy white undertail covers .But this  rare Grey headed Swamphen completely appears white , with almost all-white plumage because of Genetic dilution .

This species of water birds are found in large marshes and reed beds bordering lakes across India. They make short nasal grunts and croaking sounds.

The prestigious “Wilson Journal of Orinthology” carried this finding as an online early article titled “First report of diluted plumage in grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) and a review of colour aberrations in swamphens”, reported a newspaper article.

This bird was first identified by a three member research team comprising honorary wildlife warden of Khordha Subhendu Mallik, associate professor at Sri Sri university Shakti Nanda and assistant conservator of forests Ashutosh Mallik.

Experts believe identifying plumage aberrations in the field can be very difficult due to several factors , such as distance from the bird , its movement , proper lighting ,and whether the bird is already strongly bleached by the light.” The reviewers had many queries on the sighting and other details, which we were able to address successfully,” Subhendu said.

Researchers stated that some colour aberrations have been observed in Indian birds. But none was observed in the Grey-Headed Swamphen or Purple Swamphen. The team of researchers on watching the bird in Odisha initially  suspected it be an albino . Subhendu Mallik, the corresponding author of the article, told the Times of India that when they photographed the bird in 2020, they knew that it is a grey-headed swamphen. “But we suspected it to be an albino because of its white body and reddish eye. After going deep into the subject and consulting with international ornithologists, we concluded that it is not an albino. The white colour was the result of a dilution process.”