Every year, hundreds of species of birds migrate to India to escape the freezing cold in their breeding regions. They make their way over thousands of kilometres and fly above the tallest mountains on Earth. It is one of the greatest spectacles and mysteries of our time, as birds, ranging from tiny warblers to mighty pelicans and vultures, travel great distances in search of food, water and warmer climes. Suddenly, there are birds everywhere — from mountains to lakes and forests to coasts.
Undoubtedly, winter offers a treat for birders (short for birdwatchers) as the rich bird diversity of the subcontinent becomes even richer. Grab your binoculars (and/ or cameras), field guide and hat, and head to these 10 awesome places across the country for a visual treat of the avians of India.
1 — South Andaman and Havelock Island, Andaman & Nicobar
On your next vacation to the necklace of islands off India’s eastern coast, look beyond the beaches, turquoise waters and coral reefs. Instead, head to the less-explored, pristine Andaman rainforests with their towering trees — home to at least 14 endemic species of birds. Listen to the soft whistles of the Andaman Cuckoo-Dove echo through the forests. Watch an Andaman Woodpecker, all-black barring the red crest and moustachial stripe, chisel away at one of the trees, or an Andaman Serpent Eagle scan the forest for potential prey. On the coconut trees lining the beaches, you could find the majestic White-bellied Sea Eagle and the emerald-winged Collared Kingfisher surveying their territories on the coast. Birding needn’t end at sunset here, with the prospect of you being able to spot five species of owls patrolling the forests at night.
Winter is a great time to be here as the pleasant weather allows you to spend entire days in the dense rainforests. Many species of waders — stints, plovers, sandpipers, curlews, snipes and crakes — migrate to the coasts, mangroves and water bodies around the islands.
Pro Tip: Great places to visit for birding include Mt. Harriet National Park (South Andaman), Sippyghat (South Andaman) and the beaches and forest trails on Havelock Island.
2 — Tal Chhapar, Rajasthan
This small grassland, on the edge of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan (around 100km from Bikaner), is home to one of the largest Blackbuck populations in the country, with over 2,500 of these superfast antelopes thriving in this well-conserved wildlife sanctuary. It includes more than 330 species of birds on its checklist and secures its place firmly on every birder’s map.
Forty-two species of raptors (large birds of prey), including seven out of the nine species of vultures found in India, have been recorded here. You could watch flocks of Demoiselle Cranes fly gracefully over the park to settle down near a water body or spot a Stoliczka’s Bushchat going about its unique puff-and-roll routine. As sunset approaches, watch the sky fill with beautiful murmurations of Rosy Starlings and Harriers flying in from all directions to settle down in the park for the night.
Strict rules, like no off-the-track driving, ensure that the birds are minimally disturbed in the grassland.
Pro Tip: Spend at least three days birding from dawn to dusk here.
Here is a travel guide to help you plan your trip.
3 — Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
Grasslands, lakes, thorn forests, canyons and coasts are just a few of the different habitats around the Great Rann of Kutch. And they harbour a huge diversity of bird species, especially with the winter migrants settling down here along the Palearctic-African migration highway.
Birders flock here from all over the world to see some rare birds like Grey Hypocolius (Great Rann of Kutch is India’s only consistent wintering site for this bird), Marshall’s Iora, the endemic White-naped Tit, Great Indian Bustard and Sociable Lapwing. The coastline is dotted with many waders, including Crab Plovers, Eurasian Oystercatchers, many species of Gulls and Terns, and even the occasional Dalmatian Pelicans and Greater Flamingos. The sight of thousands of Common Cranes taking off at sunset in Banni Grasslands will remain etched in your memory forever.
Pro Tip: Make sure that you spend at least three days to cover all the diverse habitats here.
Here is a travel guide to help you plan your trip.
4 — Chopta, Uttarakhand
The Western Himalayas are great for birding, particularly early (till November) and late in the season (February and later) when the weather is pleasant. Adjacent to Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Chopta hosts a diverse multitude of birds. In fact, everywhere you look is full of the flurry of feathers. You can spot Himalayan Buzzards and Steppe Eagles in the villages, Russet Sparrows and Snow Pigeons in agricultural fields, Treecreepers, Nuthatches and Woodpeckers on the trees (or even on moss-laden walls, looking for a tasty grub). Colourful flycatchers, including the brilliant-blue Niltavas and the bright Golden Robin, pop in and out of the undergrowth. Forktails and Redstarts make the streams their home, with Brown Dippers taking up residence near the faster-flowing ones. If the road is clear, a drive towards Tungnath may let you spot the resplendent Himalayan Monal and the beautiful Koklass Pheasant.
Pro Tip: The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. It is always advisable to spend a bit more time than planned for birding (five days to a week is recommended).
5 — Daroji Bear Sanctuary, Karnataka
India’s first bear sanctuary is located very close to the historic ruins of Hampi (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The first glimpse of this area reveals a rocky landscape, as if a gigantic hand had collected huge piles of rocks to form small hills, interspersed by rivers, canals and lakes. Indian Eagle Owls, Yellow-throated Bulbuls, Sirkeer Malkohas, Painted Spurfowl, Painted Sandgrouse and Rock Bush Quails reside in this rocky scrub habitat, along with a lot of other birds. Winter brings in pleasant weather after the scorching summer. And migrating birds, including flocks of Red-headed and Grey-necked Buntings, Harriers, Common Sandpipers and Yellow Wagtails, are often seen around agricultural fields and water bodies.
Pro Tip: Spend at least two days birding here, and then visit the ruins of the Vijayanagara empire at Hampi.
6 — Mangalajodi, Odisha
A calm boat ride on the backwaters of the Chilika Lake is the perfect way to begin. Away from the din of civilisation, the only sound you hear is the splash of the oars. As you emerge from the tall reeds, the boat startles the ducks and the sound of thousands of them taking off fills the air.
Mangalajodi is a small village with a wonderful conservation story. Fishermen in this village doubled up as bird poachers until a decade or so ago and hunted the migrating waterfowl every winter. With the bird count declining annually, a local conservation organisation worked with the residents to develop eco-tourism facilities and help them find alternative lifestyles as boatmen and bird guides. Here, waterfowl and waders are most encountered, along with White-bellied Sea Eagles and Marsh Harriers. The sheer number of birds today will overwhelm you.
Pro Tip: Listen to the boatmen’s stories about their experiences with the birds. They’ll teach you more than most books can.
7 — Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal
The world’s largest mangrove forest. Bengal Tigers with the most fearsome reputation on Earth. The longest crocodiles and lizards, and the most venomous snakes on the planet. The Sundarbans is a land that lends itself to superlatives.
It is also an amazing destination for birding. A motorboat is the best option to navigate the various rivers and channels of this ecosystem. Kingfishers, waders and raptors are among the most sighted birds here. On a lucky day, you might come across rare birds like the Buffy Fish Owl and the Goliath Heron. Colder mornings may bring out a Water Monitor or an Estuarine Crocodile to bask along the exposed banks.
Pro Tip: Make sure you spend at least two days exploring the mangroves.
Here is a travel guide to help you plan your trip.
8 — Nameri National Park, Assam
Most tiger reserves don’t allow visitors to walk through the forest. Nameri is not one of them. The forest walk, nestled between towering trees on one side and the fast-flowing Jia Bhorelli on the other, is an experience of a lifetime. Amidst colourful butterflies, you could come across many species of birds, including the White-winged Wood Duck, Emerald Cuckoo, Peregrine Falcon, Sultan Tit and Pied Falconet. Armed guards from the forest department will have to accompany you on this trail. Some of the guards themselves are very knowledgeable about birding and know of places where specific birds can be seen.
Nameri is located at the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, so you can see many Himalayan species that have migrated here (to a lower altitude) to escape the freezing cold. In early November, you might also be treated to the sight of lakhs of Amur Falcons congregating on power lines as they migrate towards Africa.
Rafting down the Jia Bhorelli is quite an experience as well. This will allow you to get a close look at the Pallas’ Fish Eagle, Ibisbill and Long-billed Plover, in addition to other water birds like the Goosander and Ruddy Shelduck.
Pro Tip: You can combine a trip to Nameri with Kaziranga National Park (two hours away by road).
9 — Goa
Goa’s beaches are as famous among feathered bipeds as among humans. Waders like sandpipers, plovers, curlews, gulls and terns are mostly winter migrants and stay close to the coast and large water bodies. Ospreys, Brahminy Kites, and White-bellied Sea Eagles patrol the skies. Eight species of Kingfishers are seen in the backwaters, mangroves and forests.
But Goa is not just about beaches and backwaters. The rainforests of the Western Ghats run along the eastern boundary of the state and are home to enigmatic birds like the Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Wynaad Laughingthrush, Malabar Trogon and Nilgiri Wood Pigeon. Contrasting habitats ensure that Goa has over 400 species of birds recorded in the state.
Pro Tip: Visit Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and take a cruise down the Zuari river. Spend at least four days exploring the area.
10 — Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Rajasthan
No list of birding destinations is complete without India’s best-known bird sanctuary — Keoladeo Ghana National Park, or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary as it was formerly known. A Ramsar site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park is nesting ground for many resident birds like the Sarus Crane, Painted Stork, Black-necked Stork and Dusky Eagle-Owl.
The park truly comes into its element in winter, with the migrants arriving in tens of thousands. As you cycle down a pathway or take a ride in a cycle-rickshaw, ducks, geese and pelicans swim around in the water bodies on both sides. Bluethroats and Rubythroats walk onto the road from the undergrowth looking for insects. Grey Nightjars seem to blend into the branch on which they roost. The early morning fog adds extra charm.
Pro Tip: If you have an extra day, visit the National Chambal Sanctuary (a couple of hours by road) to see the critically endangered Gharials and threatened birds like Indian Skimmers and Black-bellied Terns. And if you’re historically inclined, you could visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Taj Mahal (about 64km away).
Here is a travel guide to help you plan your trip.
Further Reading: Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp, 2011. Second Edition Oxford University Press (Helm Field Guides)
