Old Flame

The flame-throated bulbul wears its fire lightly. For all the drama of the name, the flame is only a small smoulder of orange at the throat — easily lost beneath the glossy black hood and that pale, staring eye. Below, the bird is olive green, with a bright yellow underside.

Like most bulbuls it lives loud and sociable, working the forest edge in small, chattering, fruit-hunting parties. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, yet prominent enough to be recognised as the State Bird of Goa.

This one had turned to look back over its shoulder, keeping the flame half-hidden — just a glint of it, in the last of the evening light at Ganeshgudi.