Birds of India
Written by Abin Alex and Anu Joseph.
Abstract
Birds of India for photographers means knowing which birds live where and when they arrive. This guide covers the groups of birds, species counts from the State of India's Birds report, the Central Asian Flyway and migration months, and the sanctuaries of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other states, with diagrams and tables.
Keywords: birds of India, migratory birds, bird sanctuaries, Kerala birds, Tamil Nadu birds, Karnataka birds, Central Asian Flyway
- What types of birds will you meet in India?
- How many species are there, and how are they doing?
- When do migratory birds arrive and leave?
- Where can you photograph birds in Kerala?
- Where can you photograph birds in Tamil Nadu?
- What about Karnataka and the rest of India?
- How do you plan a birding trip?
- What do two Kerala bird places look like?
What types of birds will you meet in India?
Short answer. Group birds by how they live: waterbirds, waders, cranes, forest birds and raptors.
- The State of India's Birds report assessed 942 species (SoIB, 2023). A photographer does not need all of them. Start with the groups, because each group lives in a different place and behaves in its own way. Figure 1 lists nine groups with the birds the sources name.
- Waterbirds such as herons, egrets, cormorants, storks, ibises, spoonbills and pelicans gather at wetlands and village tanks (Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority, n.d.). Waders, gulls and terns, such as sandpipers, plovers, curlews and terns, work estuaries and mudflats (Incredible India, Kadalundi).
- Forest birds such as hornbills, barbets and woodpeckers live in the hills and forest reserves of the Western Ghats (Kerala Tourism, n.d.).
Pick one group. Find three birds of that group near you and learn to tell them apart by shape and behaviour.
A birds film is built by group and place. Plan a sequence for each habitat before you plan the species.
Cham tipLearn the group before the species.
Cham taskWrite one bird for each of the nine groups.
Check yourself: Name three groups of waterbirds.
Any three of herons and egrets, storks and ibises, pelicans and cormorants, ducks and geese.
How many species are there, and how are they doing?
Short answer. The State of India's Birds assessed 942 species, and about 370 migratory species arrive each year.
- The report assessed 942 species. Of these, 178 are classed as High Conservation Priority, and about 40 percent are declining at present (SoIB, 2023).
- About 370 migratory species arrive in India each year, out of over 2,000 species worldwide that migrate twice a year (WWF India Academy, 2025). Figure 2 compares the counts. The two numbers come from different sources, so they are not parts of one total.
Keep a list for one month. Mark each bird as resident or migrant.
A single number can carry a scene. Use the count of migratory species as the opening line of a film about the flyway.
Cham tipKeep a list, because lists become data.
Cham taskWrite the three counts and their sources.
Check yourself: About how many migratory species arrive in India each year?
About 370.
When do migratory birds arrive and leave?
Short answer. Most arrive in the northern winter. Kerala's season runs October to March.
- India sits in the middle of the Central Asian Flyway, a route of about 30 countries from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean. Birds come in the northern winter, when cold weather turns their lakes to ice and removes insects (WWF India Academy, 2025).
- Kerala's birdwatching season runs from October to March (Kerala Tourism, n.d.). At Kadalundi migrants arrive mainly from November to April, and November to March is the best time to visit (Incredible India, Kadalundi). Figure 3 shows the months.
- Karnataka's sanctuaries see many birds from September to October overall. Mandagadde sees more than 5,000 birds mainly from July to September, and Gudavi is best from July to October (Karnataka Tourism, n.d.).
- Table 1 lists examples of migrants and where they go in India (WWF India Academy, 2025).
| Bird | Where in India | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Amur falcon | Nagaland (a stopover) | A journey of about 20,000 km |
| Bar-headed goose | Keoladeo National Park, Tso Moriri in Ladakh | Crosses the Himalayas above 7,000 m |
| Great white pelican | Chilika Lake in Odisha, Rann of Kutch | Chilika holds over 300,000 birds at peak |
| Little stint | Coastal mudflats and salt pans, such as Khijadiya | One of India's smallest migrants |
| Demoiselle crane | Fields in Rajasthan | Feeds in farmland |
| Flamingo | Salt flats in Gujarat | Gathers in large flocks |
Table 1. Migrants and where to find them in India.
Visit one wetland in October and again in January. Compare the species lists.
Migration is a story with a calendar. Shoot the same place in two seasons and cut them together.
Cham tipPhotograph the same place in two seasons.
Cham taskMark the birding months for your nearest sanctuary.
Check yourself: In which months is the Kerala birdwatching season?
October to March.
Where can you photograph birds in Kerala?
Short answer. Kumarakom, Kadalundi, Thattekad, Silent Valley, Eravikulam, Periyar and Mangalavanam.
- Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on Vembanad Lake covers about 14 acres and lists over 180 species. Residents include herons, egrets, kingfishers, cormorants and darters, and migrants include teal, flycatchers and spoonbills (Incredible India, Kumarakom).
- Kadalundi, about 19 km south of Kozhikode, has over 100 resident and about 60 migratory species, among them terns, gulls, sandpipers, plovers, whimbrels and curlews (Incredible India, Kadalundi).
- Thattekad reports over 300 species, including the Malabar pied hornbill and crimson-breasted barbet. Silent Valley has over 265 species (Kerala Tourism, n.d.). Figure 4 compares the counts, and Table 2 lists the places.
| Place | Known for | Season note |
|---|---|---|
| Kumarakom (Kottayam) | Herons, egrets, kingfishers, teal, spoonbills | Migrants arrive in the winter months |
| Kadalundi (Kozhikode) | Terns, gulls, sandpipers, plovers, curlews | November to March is best |
| Thattekad | Malabar pied hornbill, crimson-breasted barbet, grey-headed woodpecker | October to March |
| Silent Valley | Nilgiri laughing thrush, Malabar pied hornbill | Kerala season: October to March |
| Eravikulam | Nilgiri wood pigeon, Malabar pied hornbill | Kerala season: October to March |
| Periyar | Greatest variety in winter | Winter, when migrants arrive |
| Mangalavanam (Kochi) | Mostly resident species | Migrants increase from October |
Table 2. Bird photography places in Kerala.
Plan a two-day trip: one wetland (Kumarakom or Kadalundi) and one forest site (Thattekad).
Kerala gives backwater, estuary and rainforest within a day's drive. Plan three looks for three habitats.
Cham tipPair a wetland with a forest on one trip.
Cham taskWrite a two-day Kerala bird itinerary.
Check yourself: Which Kerala sanctuary is on Vembanad Lake?
Kumarakom.
Where can you photograph birds in Tamil Nadu?
Short answer. Vedanthangal, Karikili, Koonthankulam, Karaivetti, Vellode and the great Pulicat Lake.
- The Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority lists dozens of bird sanctuaries. Vedanthangal (Kanchipuram, 30 ha) has cormorants, egrets, storks, pelicans and migratory teal and shovelers (Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority, n.d.).
- Koonthankulam and Karaivetti attract large numbers of migratory ducks and geese (Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority, n.d.). Pulicat Lake in Tiruvallur is the largest on the list at 15,367 ha. Figure 5 compares the smaller sanctuaries and Table 3 lists them.
- The state page gives no seasons. Plan for the winter months, when migrants arrive (WWF India Academy, 2025).
| Sanctuary | District | Area (ha) | Notable birds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vedanthangal | Kanchipuram | 30 | Cormorants, egrets, storks, pelicans, migratory teal and shovelers |
| Karikili | Kanchipuram | 61.21 | Cormorants, egrets, grey herons, spoon-billed storks |
| Vettangudi | Sivaganga | 38.40 | Cormorants, egrets, herons, teal, pelicans |
| Koonthankulam-Kadankulam | Tirunelveli | 129.00 | Grey pelicans, painted storks, white ibises |
| Karaivetti | Ariyalur | 453.71 | Egrets, pelicans, grey herons, white ibises, spoonbills |
| Vellode | Erode | 77.18 | Spoonbills, teal, pintail ducks, darters |
| Pulicat Lake | Tiruvallur | 15,367.00 | Spot-billed pelicans, egrets, grey herons, little cormorants |
Table 3. Bird sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu.
Pick the sanctuary nearest to you from the table and plan one winter morning visit.
Village tank sanctuaries give nesting scenes close to people. Plan a shot that includes both.
Cham tipSmall sanctuaries reward early mornings.
Cham taskChoose one Tamil Nadu sanctuary and list its birds.
Check yourself: Which Tamil Nadu site on the list is the largest?
Pulicat Lake, at 15,367 ha.
What about Karnataka and the rest of India?
Short answer. Ranganathittu, Mandagadde, Magadi and Gudavi in Karnataka, and famous wetlands in five other states.
- Ranganathittu lies on islets in the Cauvery River about 16 km from Mysore. Herons, river terns, white ibises and spoonbills are named (Karnataka Tourism, n.d.), and winter brings painted storks and pelicans (Outlook Traveller, n.d.).
- Magadi is known for bar-headed geese that have nested there for over a decade, and Bonal for purple herons and white-necked storks (Karnataka Tourism, n.d.).
- Beyond the south, Keoladeo in Rajasthan, Chilika in Odisha, Sultanpur in Haryana, Nal Sarovar in Gujarat and Nelapattu in Andhra Pradesh are winter hotspots (Outlook Traveller, n.d.). Table 4 lists them.
| State | Place | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | Ranganathittu | Herons, river terns, white ibises, spoonbills; painted storks and pelicans in winter |
| Karnataka | Mandagadde | More than 5,000 birds, mainly July to September |
| Karnataka | Magadi | Bar-headed geese that nest there |
| Karnataka | Gudavi (Sorab) | Cormorants; best from July to October |
| Karnataka | Bonal (Shorapur) | Purple herons, white-necked storks |
| Rajasthan | Keoladeo National Park | Bar-headed geese, Eurasian wigeons |
| Odisha | Chilika Lake | Flamingos, herons, great white pelicans |
| Haryana | Sultanpur National Park | Flamingos, rosy pelicans, cranes |
| Gujarat | Nal Sarovar | Flamingos, pelicans, coots |
| Andhra Pradesh | Nelapattu | Storks, ibises, herons |
Table 4. Bird places in Karnataka and other states.
Pick one place outside your state and write what you would photograph there and in which month.
Large wetlands such as Chilika give scale. Use a drone or a long lens for the flock and a close lens for the bird.
Cham tipPair one local place with one distant dream place.
Cham taskList three places outside your state for your bucket list.
Check yourself: Where have bar-headed geese nested for over a decade?
Magadi, in Karnataka.
How do you plan a birding trip?
Short answer. Choose the season, then the place, then check recent records and the rules.
- Start with the season, because migrants follow it. Then choose the place from the chapters above (Figure 6).
- Check recent records before you build a trip around one species. Tourism pages can be out of date, so look at recent sightings for the site.
- Follow the settings, fieldcraft and ethics in the Bird Photography guide. Never use playback or bait, and keep a distance at nests.
Plan a trip on paper: season, place, records, rules and a packing list.
Scout the place before you shoot a film there. A recce shows where the light falls and where the birds are.
Cham tipRecce first, then shoot.
Cham taskWrite a one-page plan for your next birding trip.
Check yourself: What do you check before building a trip around one species?
Recent sightings for the site.
What do two Kerala bird places look like?
Short answer. Videos of Changaram wetlands and Kadamakudi, played on this page.
- The two videos below show Changaram wetlands and Kadamakudi, two bird places in Kerala.
Cham tip
Cham task
Check yourself: undefined
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Questions beginners ask
When do migratory birds come to Kerala?
Kerala Tourism gives the birdwatching season as October to March, and at Kadalundi migrants arrive mainly from November to April.
How many migratory bird species arrive in India each year?
About 370, according to WWF India's academy.
Which is the largest bird sanctuary on the Tamil Nadu list?
Pulicat Lake in Tiruvallur district, at 15,367 hectares.
Where can I photograph birds near Kottayam?
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on Vembanad Lake, about 14 acres, with over 180 species.
When is Mandagadde best?
Mainly from July to September, when more than 5,000 birds arrive.
References
- WWF India Academy (2025) The great Indian flyway: why birds migrate thousands of kilometres, 11 October. Available at: https://academy.wwfindia.org/2025/10/11/the-great-indian-flyway-why-birds-migrate-thousands-of-kilometres (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
- Kerala Tourism (n.d.) Birdwatching opportunities in Kerala's diverse ecosystems. Available at: https://keralatourism.org/faq/birdwatching-opportunities-in-keralas-diverse-ecosystems (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
- Incredible India (n.d.) Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary. Available at: https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/kerala/kozhikode/kadalundi-bird-sanctuary (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
- Incredible India (n.d.) Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Available at: https://incredibleindia.gov.in/en/kerala/kumarakom/kumarakom-bird-sanctuary (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
- Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority (n.d.) Bird sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu. Available at: https://tnswa.tn.gov.in/bird-santuary-in-tn (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
- Karnataka Tourism (n.d.) Experience the fascinating bird sanctuaries of Karnataka. Available at: https://karnatakatourism.org/en/experiences/experience-the-fascinating-bird-sanctuaries-of-karnataka (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
- Outlook Traveller (n.d.) Winter wings: top 10 Indian bird sanctuaries to visit this winter. Available at: https://www.outlooktraveller.com/amp/story/destinations/india/ampstories/experiences/nature/winter-wings-top-10-indian-bird-sanctuaries-to-visit-this-winter (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
- State of India's Birds partnership (2023) State of India's Birds 2023: range, trends and conservation status. Available at: https://birdcount.in/state-of-indias-birds/ (Accessed: 1 November 2026).
How to cite this guide. Alex, A., & Joseph, A. (2026). birds of India: A guide for photographers and cinematographers. Creative Hut Academy. https://creativehut.org/library/birds-of-india/
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