Birding Trips in India (Avifauna of India)
India is very rich in biodiversity with its unique geographical diversity and is considered one of the 12 megadiversity countries. This has resulted in more than 1200 species of birds comprising at least 13 % of the world's birds choosing India as their natural habitat. Biogeographically, India is located at the tri-junction of Afro-tropical, Indo-Malayan and Paleo-Arctic realms imbibing characteristic elements from each of them. This assemblage of three distinct realms provides its unique physical conditions which partly account for its rich and unique birdlife. India has a broad range of ecosystems and species within its seven recognized biogeographic zones. High density of birdlife in India is due to the presence of diverse biographical zones.
Let's Explore .
Birding in Himalaya India
There are several biotic provinces and biomes covering 7.2 % of the country's
landmass in the entire mountain chain running from north-western to north-eastern
India. Among 49 species of pheasants, almost 18 are found in the Himalayan
region (Ali & Ripley 1987). Some of the important among them are like
Western Tragopan, Satyr Tragopan, Blyth's Tragopan, Temminick's Tragopan,
Monal Pheasant, Sclater's Monal, Tibetan Eared Pheasant, Cheer Pheasant,
Blood Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Red Jungle fowl. Ibisbill
is another variant that is highly rated.Birding in Trans-Himalayan India
An extension of the Tibetan plateau, harboring high-altitude cold desert in Ladakh and Lahaul Spiti compriseing 5.7 % of the country's landmass. This area has many high altitude lakes and wide stretched plains serving as an important breeding ground for rare interesting birds like Black-necked cranes, Bar-headed geese, Great Crested Grebe, Tibetan Sand grouse, Horned Lark, The Tibetan Snowcock, Himalayan Griffen and Wheatears etc. The Western Himalayas is rich in its birdlife and some 500 species of birds are found in this region. The other hotspot area is Eastern Himalayas, one of the richest bird areas in India where some 536 bird species have been identified (Ali 1977).
Birding in the Gangetic Plains of India
Formed by the evolution of the stream of river Ganges, these plains are relatively homogenous. The region is known for its flood plain wetlands and the marshes. Some of the vital wetland habitats of the birds constituting an excellent example of Biodiversity with stark different fauna in the vicinity are found in this region. The bird species commonly found are Marsh Warbler, Bristled Grass-Warbler, Rufus-rumped Grass-warbler, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Swamp Francolin, Bengal Florican, a varied types of ducks and species threatened of extinction like Painted Storks, Black-necked Stork and Black-headed Ibis along with the wonderful Black-bellied tern..
Birding in Semi - arid land of India
Between the Great Indian desert and the Deccan pleatu including the Aravalli hill range lies the semi-arid zone with a unique dry climate with coarse vegetative tracts of land. This region has a sizable population of finches, munias, larks, doves & pigeons. Some of the species seen are the Green Munia, the Rock Bush Quail, Malabar Crested Lark, the Syke's Crested Lark, the Indian Chat and the highly endangered Lesser Florican.
Birding in Desert India
The west of Aravalli hill range, comprising both the salt desert of Gujarat and the sand desert of Rajasthan is an extremely arid area covering 6.9 % of the country's landmass. The Thar Desert is one of the smallest deserts in the world, but it has a wide variety of habitats and an immense biodiversity. Some 250 to 300 species of birds have been reported from this area. A few of the important species to be seen are highly endangered Great Indian Bustard, the migrant Houbara Bustard, various species of Sandgrouse, raptors, wheatears, larks, pipits & munias. The spectacular Rann of Kutch acts as a pivotal breeding ground for both Greater and Lesser Flamingo's for the continuation of their progeny
Birding in Deccan Peninsula
In the heart of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra there lies some of the finest Dry Deciduous Forests distinctive of the Deccan Peninsula. Grey Jungle Fowl, Painted Francolin, Rock Bush Quail, Yellow-throated Bulbul, highly endangered Forest Owlet, Jerdon's Courser, Green Munia, the Lesser Florican & the Great Indian Bustard are found in the region brushing their wings with one another.
Birding in Western Ghats
The Western Ghats consists of the hilly ranges and plains running along the western coastline, south of Tapti river. It covers an extremely diverse biotic provinces and biomes. As one of the two hot spots of Biodiversity of India, the area has around 500 species of birds including 16 endemic species found exclusively in this area. Some of the ornithologists' delight of the Western Ghats are Wynaad Laughing Thrush, Nilgiri Laughing Thrush, Nilgiri Pipit, the Broad-tailed Grass-Warbler, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Malabar Grey Hornbill. Real wildlife happens only with such birds of freedom.
Birding in North-Eastern India
North East India consists one of the two hot spots of India and covers 5.2
% of the land mass. The area is a showcase of some 5800 plant species out
of which around 2000 are endemic. At least 55 flowering plants are endemic
to this area and is famous for the origin of 5 palms of commercial importance
viz., coconut, areca nut, palmgra palm, sugar palm & wild date palm.
63 % of the genera of land mammals in India are known to be from this area
and more than 60 % of Indian birds' habitat are recorded in North East.
Spot-billed Pelican, Oriental White Stork, both Greater and lesser Adjutant,
White-winged Duck, Pallas Fish Eagle, Swamp Francolin, Manipur Bush-Quail,
Green Peafowl, Purple Wood-Pigeon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Marsh Babbler,
Jerdon's Babbler, Mishmi Wren-Babbler, Hodgson's Prinia and many more endangered
species are some of the beautiful creatures that gives the land a value
for the nature lovers. Birding in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands comprise 0.25 % of the total land mass of the Indian sub-continent whereas contribute a whooping 12 % of the endemic avifauna of the region (Sankaran 1998). Nicobar Megapode, Edible-nest Swiftlet, Narcondam Hornbill, Andaman Serpent-Eagle, Andaman Wood-Pigeon, Andaman Scops-owl, Andaman Hawk-owl, Andaman Black Woodpecker, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Nicobar Parakeet, Nicobar Sparrow Hawk, Nicobar Bulbul make the island a fabulous place to visit for bird watchers.
The Coasts
It is rather unfortunate that not much study has been done on the birds
of the 5700 km long coastline of the peninsula except for some isolated
studies in Maharashtra. But on a positive note this also keeps the scope
of researching open for the ornithologists of the wide variety of sea-side
birds in the peninsula.SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Duration : 11 Nights / 12 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Corbett - Nainital - Delhi - Agra - Bharatpur - Delhi - Nagpur - Kanha - Nagpur - Delhi
Duration : 19 Nights / 20 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Corbett - Agra - Bharatpur - Sawai Madhopur - Jaipur - Ahmedabad - Zainabad - Ahmedabad - Banglaore - Mysore - Ranganathitoo - Mysore - Bangalore
Duration : 15 Nights /16 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Corbett - Jaipur - Ranthambhor - Bharatpur - Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Khajuraho - Bandhavgarh - Delhi.
Want to capture many such extraordinary moments in Indian Wildlife ! Photograph a Tiger in ambush - about to make a kill of some unsuspecting prey or Rhino hidden in tall grass not liking your presence while you are enjoying your Elephant Safari.