The Golden-headed Cisticola , a bird species commonly found in grasslands, was recently discovered in Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki.

• This marks the first sighting of the bird in the southern Western Ghats after a long gap, as reported by bird watchers.

About Golden-Headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

• They are also Known as Bright-capped Cisticola.
• Scientific Family : Belongs to the Cisticolidae family of warblers.
• Diet : Omnivorous, primarily feeding on invertebrates such as insects and small slugs, but also consuming grass seeds.
• Habitat: Usually found in grasslands of mountain ranges.
• Global Distribution: Found in Australia and various Asian countries.
• Distribution in India: Previously recorded in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and northern Kerala.
• Physical Characteristics
  • Breeding Males: Have distinct golden-orange plumage on their head, neck, and chest.
  • Beak and  Markings: Possess pinkish beaks and black streaks on their backs.
  • Identification: Easily recognized by their distinctive call.
• Previous Sightings: The bird was previously observed in the grasslands of Banasura Hills in Wayanad, Kerala.
• IUCN Status : Least Concern.

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About Mathikettan Shola National Park

• Location: Situated in the southern part of the Palakkad Gap, within the Western Ghats of Kerala.
• Named After : The Mathikettan Shola, the largest shola forest in Kerala.
• Ecological Features
• • Shola Forests : Unique to the Western Ghats, characterized by stunted evergreen trees, dense undergrowth, and high rainfall.
  • Vegetation : Comprises evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, shola grasslands, and semi-evergreen forests.
• Water Sources: Three major streams originate from the Mathikettan hill ranges:
  • Uchillkuthi Puzha
  • Mathikettan Puzha
  • Njandar (tributaries of the Panniyar River).

Significance of Mathikettan Shola National Park

• Last remnant of the original forests of the Cardamom Hill Reserve.
• Cardamom Hill Reserve : A unique region between two plantation holdings in the southern and northern Western Ghats of Idukki.
• Interconnected Reserves: Located between Eravikulam National Park and Pampadam Shola National Park.
• Inter-State Boundary : Shares borders with Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Indigenous Tribes : The Muthavan tribe resides near the northeastern borders of Mathikettan Shola.

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