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 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.
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 2 and 3
- (d) 3 only
Why the answer is (b)
• The Common Myna (2) habitually follows grazing cattle to catch grasshoppers and other insects flushed from the grass, as does the cattle egret.
• The Painted Stork (1) wades in shallow water feeding on fish; the Black-necked Crane (3) is a high-altitude bird of Ladakh and Tibet that forages in marshes.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2
- Painted Storks feed in water, not beside cattle.
- (c) 2 and 3
- Black-necked Cranes forage in high-altitude marshes.
- (d) 3 only
- Black-necked Cranes do not follow cattle.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.