Question

Which bird among the below options is the state bird of Gujrat?
A) Great hornbill
B) Red spurfowl
C) Flamingo
D) Vigors's sunbird

Answer 1

Hint: Gujarat is a beautiful place and absolute treat for the nature lovers as its rich variety of flora and fauna makes a home to 402 species of animals and 45 species of birds. The jungles of Gujarat is known to be the home of many extinct species namely Sloth Bear, Asiatic Lions, Greater Flamingo, Blackbuck, Indian Wild Ass, Indian Bustard, to name a few.

Complete answer:
The state bird of Gujarat is Greater flamingo. The greater flamingo is a carnivore bird. They mainly feed on molluscs, crabs, nematodes, worms, crustaceans, insects and larvae, and even vertebrates such as small fish. Apart from these flamingoes also consume vegetable matter, including grass, seeds and shoots, decaying leaves, and algae.

The greater flamingo is known as a social bird. They live in large colonies. Their nest is a small mound approximately twelve inches high, circular, and with a depressed centre for the egg to be laid. Lays a single egg, milky white in colour. Their incubation period is between 27 to 32 days. The egg is incubated by both parents.

When flamingos are often mistaken for geese when they fly in large groups, because of the load honking sound they make. The chicks even make calls while they are inside the eggs and their parents try to recognize them from their sound. The usual call sounds like a goose-like double honk “ka-hank” or “ka-rrak”. They mature in between 3 to 5 years.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note:
The scientific name of Greater flamingo is Phoenicopterus roseus. Flamingos shows spectacular group courtship displays, that involves synchronized wing-raising, ritualized preening, and ‘head-flagging’.