Introduction

Over 1200 of the world’s 8650 bird species are found in India, of which over 300 are winter visitors. The winter visitors are chiefly from Arctic region to the North. The country’s bird checklist is twice that of Europe and North America. It is the amazing variety of habitat, climate, and altitude in India that has led to such abundance.

The two largest birds of India are the Sarus Crane (stands the height of a man) and the Himalayan Bearded Vulture (wingspan of more than 8 feet). Amongst the small birds, the Tickell's Flowerpecker is just a little bigger than a normal Thumb. Peacock, the National Bird of India, is the most colorful bird with its elegant vibrant wings. The most accomplished songsters are the Grey-winged Blackbird, Malabar Whistling Thrush and Shama. The Hill Myna is certainly the best talker whose articulation of the human voice and speech is clear. Four rarest birds in India are the Mountain (Himalayan) Quail, Jerdon's Courser, Pink-headed Duck and Forest Owlet.

Birds in various wildlife sanctuaries in India

The tiger reserve in the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is home to about 450 species of birds such as the great pied hornbill, wreathed hornbill, different species of waterfowls and Bengal florican.

At the Kaziranga National Park, some of the species of birds that may be sighted are Pallas's fishing eagle, white-tailed eagle, oriental honey buzzard, Black Kite, Brahminy kite, Blue-breasted Quail, Himalayan Griffon, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Rose-breasted Parakeet, Red Jungle Fowl, Swamp Partridge, black-shouldered kite and grey-headed fishing eagle. During winter, migratory birds like Graylag Geese, Bar-Headed Geese, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Falcated Duck, Red-Crested Pochard and Northern Shoveller flock the sanctuary.

At the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary, Bharatpur, in Rajasthan, a World Heritage bird sanctuary, 17 species of birds, namely, Grey heron, purple heron, night heron, large egret, median egret, little egret, cattle egret, large cormorant, Indian shag, little cormorant, darter, painted stork, open-billed stork, black-necked stork, white-necked stork, white ibis and spoonbill are known to breed.

Species recorded at the Ranthambore National Park include the crested serpent eagle, Bonelli's eagle, great Indian horned owl, grey partridge, common sandgrouse, red spur fowl, common pea fowl, tree pie, paradise fly catcher, pheasant tailed jacana, painted stork, white necked stork, spoonbill, green pigeon, white-backed vulture, king vulture, white breasted kingfisher, spotted dove, ring dove, couca and the golden Wood pecker.

Birders can spot the rare Ibisbill, the Greylag, Barheaded goose, Great Crested Grebe, Snipe, Sandpiper, Gull and the Wagtail in the Kosi River bed in winter at the Corbett National Park in Uttaranchal.

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