Blackbird gorges on Berberis or Kingod berries in western Himalaya, spreading seeds for the shrub

Blackbirds forage on Berberis aristata (Kingod berries) in the western Himalaya, spreading seeds while quietly pecking for insects in the undergrowth of the Wildfilms India sanctuary at Jabbarkhet, Uttarakhand. The Grey‑winged Blackbird, one of India’s finest songsters, can be heard trilling from deodar twigs or oak branches, its melodious calls echoing through the valley alongside the piao‑piao of Hill Barbets, the chatter of Blue‑throated Barbets, and the rufous sibia. While usually vociferous, the bird sometimes sits in silence, stealing nectar from Rhododendron blossoms above the Bindal stream at Motidhar Estate in Mussoorie. Its foraging behavior—digging beneath dry oak leaves for insects—illustrates the rich, humid forest floor that supports a diverse insect population.