India is one of the only countries in the World that can boast of having a vast, varied and rich birdlife. Home to well over a thousand species, of which about 100 are to be found only in India, this country is a veritable paradise for any birdwatcher. About 250 migratory birds are also part of the varied bird species that are found here. India is a treasure trove for bird species due to the fact that India encompasses almost all ecosystems, ranging from forests, scrub, grassland & farmland to deserts and wetlands, each of these is home to a characteristic population of bird species, quite different from those found in other habitats. Two species, the pink headed duck and the mountain quail are now considered extinct whereas the Jerdon’s courser and the forest owlet were rediscovered recently after a gap of more than a century.

The best time to visit India from an ornithological standpoint is no doubt the months between October and April as, in addition to the variety of resident species, migratory waterfowl, raptors, starlings & other passerines and a host of other species are also seen all around the Indian countryside.

When was the last time you saw a bird closely? Or listened to a beautiful bird song? If you want to see birds in abundance, or wish to be amazed by the music they create, visit them in their natural habitat. There are many bird sanctuaries across the country, which offer nothing less than a treat – both for bird watchers and adventure lovers. Below is a list of amazing bird sanctuaries in the country. It’s time to wake up the bird watcher in you, and go explore. But before you start packing, here are a few pointers in case you’re an amateur birdwatcher venturing out for the first time:

1. Take a good pair of binoculars
2. A field guide with illustrations is a must.
3. Go with a bird-watching group. The more sets of eyes and ears, the better.
4. Make sure you respect the birds and their habitat.

Different bird species are found in different habitats. India’s topography can be bifurcated as below:

Forests

Tropical deciduous

These account for most of the forest cover of India’s plains and the plateau of the Deccan and offer a delightful array of avifauna for the enthusiastic birdwatcher, ranging from pigeons, parakeets and babblers to exotic and flamboyant species like the paradise flycatcher and racket-tailed drongo. Other common woodland birds are the ioras, leafbirds and several woodpecker species. Many raptors are also there in these jungles and birds like the collared scops owl are commonly seen.

Coastal mangrove

These are typified by the Sunderbans in the east, and are a shelter for such species as the mangrove whistler and several species of Pittas.

Dense evergreen

The evergreen forests in India are the western ghats in south-west India as well as the north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. The birdlife of these regions shows a marked tropical character, with frogmouths, laughing-thrushes and the breathtaking fairy bluebird being some of the species seen. A host of endemic and rare birds also thrive in this habitat; the great pied and wreathed hornbills and two species of cochoas are four of the more uncommon species.

Deserts

India not only has the hot Thar desert in the west but also the cold and wind-swept deserts in the northernmost state of Kashmir. The hot deserts do not house a very rich avifauna, the only endemic bird being the Stolicza’s bush chat. The cold deserts support such species as the Tibetan Lark and several types of accentors.

Wetlands

India has abundant wetlands in almost all of its areas. Ducks and geese spread far inland and birds like the shoveler, garganey and wigeon are very common. The Keoladeo Ghana National Park is one of the best sites in the world for observing large poulations of migratory waterfowl. Migratory waders also arrive in large numbers and the shanks, sandpipers and stints are not hard to find. Three species of cranes including the endangered Siberian Crane visit the India wetlands in the winter months, as do several types of stork, herons, egrets and plovers. The two species of jacana – the bronze-winged and pheasant-tailed are common residents.

Open and cultivated land

Open & Cultivated land are the easiest place to see birds, especially raptors as many species of resident and migratory eagles, hawks, falcons and harriers are commonly seen. The short-toed snake eagle and the tawny eagle are commonly seen residents, as well as migratory birds like old world kestrels, red-headed merlin, booted eagle and montagu’s harrier. Cultivation and open land are also host to a variety of larks, pipits and in wetter areas, wagtails.

Grassland

The Great Indian Bustard and the Bengal Florican are both distinctive species of this habitat and are both facing certain extinction unless drastic measures are taken to safe guard their existence. The Terai, a belt of grassland at the foot of the Himalayas as well as several pockets of grassland in central and peninsular India form this habitat.

Scrubland

Scrub jungle is found all over, interspersed often with heavier jungle and most of the birds found here are also seen in open, cultivated land and forest habitats. Species that are common in this region are several types of wren-warblers and cuckoos, the crow-pheasant and the Indian robin.

Mountain ranges

The mountain ranges of the Himalayas lining the north, support coniferous & sub-alpine forests, home to a variety of characteristic Himalayan species like the colourful Tragopans and bamboo partridge, tits etc. Other birds typically found here are the finches, grosbeaks and parrotbills.

10 Spectacular Bird-Watching Sites in India

India reflects the world’s richest cultural kaleidoscope. It is also justifiably famous for its rich avifauna and charismatic mammalian megafauna. Some of the best bird watching sites are listed below. Besides these, there are many others as well.