Sumit Shaw Photography

Sumit Shaw Photography "🌿 Passionate about the beauty of nature and the enchanting world of birds and wildlife.

Welcome to our page! 🦜 Explore with us as we journey through the fascinating realms of avian wonders and the mesmerizing tapestry of wildlife.

The Alpine Jewel: Gould's ShortwingA prized sighting from the freezing altitudes of the Eastern Himalayas, the Gould's S...
28/07/2026

The Alpine Jewel: Gould's Shortwing

A prized sighting from the freezing altitudes of the Eastern Himalayas, the Gould's Shortwing (Heteroxenicus stellatus) is an enigmatic, ground-dwelling songbird. Finding this high-altitude specialist amidst the icy, mist-laden slopes near Sela Pass is an unforgettable reward for any serious birder.

About the Bird
Distinguished by its slate-grey head and upper breast speckled with starry white dots—resembling a night sky—the Gould's Shortwing also features a rich chestnut back and rump. Highly terrestrial and secretive, it hops spritely among damp alpine rocks and rhododendron roots, making it extremely challenging to frame clearly in the wild.

Location & Date
* Sela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh — May 2025
* Habitat: Alpine scrub, rocky ravines, and high-elevation rhododendron thickets above 3,300 meters.

Conservation Status
* Status: Least Concern (IUCN 3.1).
* Context: Restricted strictly to high-mountain biomes, its breeding habitat is stable yet naturally fragmented.

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Black and Orange Flycatcher - Female
25/07/2026

Black and Orange Flycatcher - Female

Rufous naped ground tyrant
16/07/2026

Rufous naped ground tyrant

🦜 The Blue-Tailed Beauty: Malabar ParakeetAn absolute jewel endemic to the Western Ghats, the Malabar Parakeet (Psittacu...
13/06/2026

🦜 The Blue-Tailed Beauty: Malabar Parakeet

An absolute jewel endemic to the Western Ghats, the Malabar Parakeet (Psittacula columboides)—or Blue-winged Parakeet—adds a stunning flash of color to the southern hills. Catching one in the crisp morning light of Kotagiri is pure birding bliss.

Location & Date
* Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu — January 2026
* Conservation Status - Least Concern
* Habitat: Moist evergreen forests and shaded coffee estates of the Nilgiri hills.

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Restless baby langur!
08/06/2026

Restless baby langur!

Royal Bengal Tigress - Bandhavgarh National Park.
08/06/2026

Royal Bengal Tigress - Bandhavgarh National Park.

The Monarch of the Canopy: Great HornbillThe Great Hornbill is one of the largest members of the hornbill family, spanni...
20/05/2026

The Monarch of the Canopy: Great Hornbill

The Great Hornbill is one of the largest members of the hornbill family, spanning nearly four feet in length. Its most defining feature is the massive, bright yellow-and-black casque sitting atop its heavy bill. Despite its solid appearance, the casque is actually hollow and structure-supported, believed to act as a resonant chamber for their deep, barking calls. They share an incredibly unique nesting ritual where the female seals herself inside a tree hollow for months, entirely dependent on the male to feed her through a narrow slit.
Location & Date
* Valparai Forest Range, Tamil Nadu — October 2025
* Habitat: Wet evergreen rainforests and older canopy trees. Valparai's mosaic of rainforest fragments and shaded coffee plantations serves as an indispensable refuge for these canopy dwellers.

Conservation Status
* Status: Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1).
* Context: They are highly vulnerable to habitat loss because they require very large, mature trees for nesting. They are also vital ecosystem engineers—as large fruit-eaters (frugivores), they act as the "farmers of the forest" by dispersing seeds of giant jungle trees across vast distances.

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🐝 The Beeswax Connoisseur: Yellow-rumped HoneyguideThe male is a striking sight with his glowing, golden-yellow forehead...
16/05/2026

🐝 The Beeswax Connoisseur: Yellow-rumped Honeyguide

The male is a striking sight with his glowing, golden-yellow forehead and lower back (rump) which cuts through his otherwise drab, streaked olive-brown plumage. They possess a unique symbiotic awareness of giant Himalayan honeybee (Apis laboriosa) colonies. Because they lack the ability to break open active hives themselves, they patiently wait for predators or human honey-hunters to harvest the combs, leaving behind the wax which these birds digest with the help of specialized gut bacteria.

Location & Date
* Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh — May 2025
* Habitat: Subtropical and temperate coniferous forests, almost always found in the vicinity of steep cliffs where wild honeybee nests hang.

Conservation Status
* Status: Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1).
* Context: Their populations are declining due to the commercial and destructive harvesting of wild honeycombs, which eliminates their primary food supply. The pristine, protected cliffs of Eaglenest offer a crucial sanctuary for this highly dependent species.

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The Himalayan Hermit: Scaly-breasted CupwingThe Scaly-breasted Cupwing is famous for its "scaly" appearance, created by ...
28/04/2026

The Himalayan Hermit: Scaly-breasted Cupwing

The Scaly-breasted Cupwing is famous for its "scaly" appearance, created by dark fringes on its pale breast feathers. Though it looks like a puffball with legs, it is a hardy survivor of the high altitudes. In May, during the breeding season, males are particularly active, emitting a piercing, two-note whistle that belies their minuscule size. They prefer the dense, moist undergrowth near mountain streams, making them a significant challenge to photograph.

Location & Date
* Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh — May 2025
* Status: Least Concern.

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🦜 Subtle Elegance: The Female Plum-headed ParakeetEndemic to the Indian Subcontinent, the female is easily distinguished...
24/04/2026

🦜 Subtle Elegance: The Female Plum-headed Parakeet

Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent, the female is easily distinguished from the male by her greyish-blue head and the absence of the black neck ring and red shoulder patch. These parakeets are fast, social, and highly vocal, often seen in small flocks darting through the trees with incredible agility.

Location & Date
* Shimoga, Karnataka — November 2025
* Habitat: Deciduous forests and edge of agricultural lands.

Conservation Status
* Status: Least Concern.
* Context: They are common across their range but rely heavily on old-growth trees for nesting cavities.

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