Question 14 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Environme nt

Question

If you walk through countryside, you are likely to see some birds stalking alongside the cattle to seize the insects disturbed by their movement through grasses. Which one of the following is/are such bird/birds?
1. Painted Stork
2. Common Myna
3. Black-necked Crane
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: Identify the bird species known for following cattle in fields. Eliminate options based on their typical habitats and behaviors, which are inconsistent with this context.

Key Info: **Common Myna**
- Widely distributed across South Asia and associated with human habitations, agricultural areas, and grasslands.
- Famously follows grazing cattle to feed on insects and larvae disturbed by the animals.

**Painted Stork**
- A large wading bird found in wetlands, lakes, and shallow waters.
- Feeds primarily on fish, frogs, and aquatic insects, with little association to grazing mammals.

**Black-necked Crane**
- A high-altitude species inhabiting wetlands of the Tibetan Plateau, Ladakh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Lives in marshes and rivers, not in farmlands or grasslands with cattle.

**Ecological Relationship**
- The interaction between cattle and insectivorous birds like the Common Myna is commensalism, benefiting the bird without affecting the cattle. Other Indian birds exhibiting this behavior include the Cattle Egret.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 2 and 3

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 3 only