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India

The Peacock is the National Bird of India

India is probably the only country in the world that can boast of harbouring as varied and rich a birdlife as it does. 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. The reason for this treasure-trove of species is undoubtedly the fact that India encompasses almost all the ecosystems to be found on the planet, ranging from the hot and humid evergreen forests of the north-east and south-west to the scorching deserts making up most of the western state of Rajasthan, providing habitats for variously adapted species, both residents and migrants, the latter numbering about 250 species. Two species, the Pinkheaded Duck and the Mountain Quail are now considered extinct whereas the Jerdon`s Courser and the Forest Owlet were redicovered recently after a gap of more than a century.

Even a cursory glance at the Indian countryside will reveal roughly 150 very common species, ranging from the ubiquitous House Sparrow and Indian Myna to such birds as the Red-vented Bulbul, Black Drongo and White-breasted Kingfisher. Common raptors include Black and Brahminy Kites, Honey Buzzard, Shikra and Egyptian Vulture. Waterbirds also offer quite a spectacle, especially in the winter, when the migratory waders arrive. Common resident species are White-breasted Waterhen, Indian Moorhen and Black-winged Stilt.

The main birding habitats in India can be broadly classified into forests, scrub, grassland & farmland, deserts and wetlands, each of these is home to a characteristic population of bird species, quite different from those found in other habitats. Notable exceptions are some species to be met with in any of these areas, such as the national bird, the Indian Peafowl, the Blue Rock Pigeon and the Hoopoe. See these habitat types in the Top Sites section below.

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 to be seen all around the Indian countryside.

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top sites

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.

Forests

India`s forests are of several types and as such, forests are an important habitat, especially in terms of conservation as most of this country`s threatened species and over two-thirds of its endemic birds live in forests.

Forests - Coastal Mangrove

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

Forests - Dense Evergreen

Dense Evergreen Forests are one of the most rewarding spots for field ornithology in India, although these forests don`t yield their rewards readily to the impatient birdwatcher, unless one comes upon a blossoming or fruiting tree. The evergreen forests in India occupy what are known as the Western Ghats in south-west India as well as the north-eastern corner of the country, in the 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 to be 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.

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 birder, ranging from several species of 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 to be met with in these jungles and birds like the Collared Scops Owl are commonly sighted.

Grassland

This habitat also supports several endemic species and is represented by the terai, a belt of grassland at the foot of the Himalayas (which is extremely rich in wildlife) as well as several pockets of grassland, primarily in central and peninsular India. 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 safegaurd their existance.

Mountain Ranges

The mountain ranges of the Himalayas lining the north of the country 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.

Open and Cultivated Land

Openland & Cultivation is the easiest place to go to, to see birds, especially for raptors, as many species of resident and migratory eagles,hawks, falcons and harriers are commonly met with in these hunting grounds. The Short-toed Snake Eagle and the Tawny Eagle are commonly seen residents, as are migratory birds like Old World Kestrels, Red-headed Merlin, Booted Eagle and Montagu`s Harrier. Cultivation and openland are also host to a variety of larks, pipits and in wetter areas, wagtails.

Scrubland

Scrub jungle is found all over the area, interspersed often with heavier jungle and most of the birds found here are also met often in crops and cultivation and in forest habitats. Species that are common in thia region are several types of wren-warblers and cuckoos, the Crow-Pheasant and the Indian Robin.

Wetlands

India has abundant wetlands in almost all of its areas, barring some parts of the west and they are a major wintering ground for many species of waterfowl, which seasonally augment the resident populations. 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.

contributor

Umesh Srinivasan
hakimali82@hotmail.com

numbers

Number of bird species: 1171

numbers

Number of endemics: 42
Rock Bush-Quail Perdicula argoondah Painted Bush-Quail Perdicula erythrorhyncha Manipur Bush-Quail Perdicula manipurensis Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadiceaPainted Spurfowl Galloperdix lunulata Himalayan Quail Ophrysia superciliosa Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii Pink-headed Duck Rhodonessa caryophyllacea White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis Crimson-throated Barbet Megalaima malabarica Malabar Grey-Hornbill Ocyceros griseus Intermediate Parakeet Psittacula intermedia Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides Forest Owlet Athene blewitti Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon Columba elphinstonii Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps Jerdon`s Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus White-bellied Treepie Dendrocitta leucogastra White-spotted Fantail Rhipidura albogularis

Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii White-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx major Black-and-rufous Flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa Nilgiri Flycatcher Eumyias albicaudata White-bellied Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis pallipes White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis Grey-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus priocephalus Yellow-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus xantholaemus Broad-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola platyura Wynaad Laughingthrush Garrulax delesserti Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax cachinnans Grey-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax jerdoni Marsh Babbler Pellorneum palustre Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis badeigularis Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis longicaudatus Snowy-throated Babbler Stachyris oglei Rufous Babbler Turdoides subrufus Rufous-tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicurus Malabar Lark Galerida malabarica Tawny Lark Galerida deva Crimson-backed Sunbird Nectarinia minima Nilgiri Pipit Anthus nilghiriensis Green Avadavat Amandava Formosa

useful reading

* Field Guides & Bird Song

For a comprehensive list of recommended titles covering Asia as a whole - please see the Asia page of Fatbirder

A Field Guide to Birds of the Indian Subcontinent

Krys Kazmierczak, Ber van Perlo (Illustrator) Hardcover - 336 pages (30 May, 2000) The Pica Press
ISBN: 1873403798
Buy this book from NHBS.com

A Photographic Guide to Birds of India

[Including Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh & Bhutan] Bikram Grewal, Bill Harvey and Otto Pfister 512 pages, 850 col photos, 800 maps. Christopher Helm
ISBN: 0713664037
Buy this book from NHBS.com

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of India

Including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan and Bangladesh - Amano Samarpan 160 pages, colour photos. Wisdom Tree
ISBN: 8183280293
Buy this book from NHBS.com

A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent

Salim Ali & Dillon Riply Centenary OUP (1995)
ISBN: 0195637321
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Endemic Birds of India

Edited by JM Dasgupta et al Series: RECORDS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA 200 44 pages, plates. Zoological Survey of India
ISBN: 8185874808
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Field Guide to the Birds of Northern India

by Richard Grimmett and Tim Inskipp Helm Field Guides 2003 RRP ?19.99p
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713651679
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Field Guide to the Birds of Southern India

by Richard Grimmett and Tim Inskipp 240 pages, 87 col plates, illus, 1 map. Christopher Helm 2005
ISBN: 0713651644
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, Volume 1

Divers to Hawks - Salim Ali and S Dillon Ripley Series: HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN 444 pages, col plates, b\w plates, illus, maps. Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195659341
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, Volume 2

Megapodes to Crab Plover - Salim Ali and S Dillon Ripley Series: HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN 347 pages, 147 col illus, b\w illus, maps. Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019565935X
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, Volume 6

Cuckoo-Shrikes to Babaxes - Salim Ali and S Dillon Ripley Series: HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN 247 pages, 76 col plates, b\w illus, maps. Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195629787
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, Volume 7

Laughing Thrushes to the Mangrove Whistler - Salim Ali and S Dillon Ripley Series: HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN 236 pages, 6 col plates, line illus, maps. Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195635906
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, Volume 9

Robins to Wagtails - Salim Ali and S Dillon Ripley Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195659422
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Helm Identification Guides: Birds of the Indian Subcontinent

Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp Hardcover - 888 pages (30 November, 1998) Christopher Helm
ISBN: 0713640049
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Important Bird Areas in India ? Priority sites for conservation

Compiled & edited by M Zafar-ul Islam and Asad R Rahmani published by IBCN: Bombay Natural History Society in conjunction with OUP, BirdLife & others
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0195673336
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Prion Birdwatchers' Guide to India

Krys Kazmierczak and Raj Singh Series: PRION BIRDWATCHERS' GUIDE SERIES 334 pages, line drawings, maps throughout. Prion Distributed by NHBS
ISBN: 1871104084
Buy this book from NHBS.com

The Birds of India: A Guide to Indian Ornithology

HE Barnes 449 pages, col & b/w plates. Cosmo Publications
ISBN: 8170205123
Buy this book from NHBS.com

The Breeding Birds of Kashmir

R.S.P. Bates, E.H.N. Lowther Hardcover - 390 pages (27 June, 1991) OUP India
ISBN: 0195625625
Buy this book from NHBS.com

useful information

National Bird

Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus

Proact

Coordinators:
Koustubh Sharma, Bhopal, India & Central India
Satya Prakash Mehra, Uttar Pradesh, North India
Thomas Zacharias, South India
Peter Lobo, East India
Zafar ul Islam, Mumbai, West India
Qupeleio (Leio) de Souza, Goa, Eco-tourim India
Members: 25
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
Contact your coordinator via mailto:info@proact-campaigns.net

clubs

Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History

http://envfor.nic.in/saconh/saconh.html
SACON or the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History was formally inaugurated on 5th June 1990 and registered as a society under the Society Registration Act 1860. SACON, an autonomous organization is a national centre for studies in Ornithology and Natural History. The centre was named befittingly after Dr. S�lim Ali in appreciation of his life long services to India`s bird life and conservation of natural resources...

Sanctuary Asia

http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/
Sanctuary Asia, India`s leading wildlife, conservation and environment magazine, was started by editor Bittu Sahgal in 1981 to raise awareness among Indians of their disappearing natural heritage.

Sloth Bear Foundation

http://www.slothbearfoundation.org/news.html
The Sloth Bear Foundation is launched to protect and preserve the endangered sloth bears and their habitats from destruction. The foundation has a tie up with the Karnataka forest department and has its head office at Bellary in Karnataka, India. Bellary and its surrounding districts (Raichur, Koppal, Davanagere, etc.) is home to a large number of sloth bears which are under enormous pressure due to the loss of habitat and fragmentation...

reserves

Wildlife Sanctuaries

http://www.indianwildlife.com/
India has a network of about 80 national parks and 440 sanctuaries dotted around the country.While some are inaccessible, many have excellent facilities for visitors. Depending on the area and terrain, wildlife watching provides its own excitement.

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can�t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page� give them a try!

2001 [February] - Northern India

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/india/india5/IndiaTripReport.htm
Northern India in general and Bharatpur in particular have been a major part of my birding consciousness for over 20 years. I cant even remember where or when I first heard or read of this Maharaja`s hunting area now given over to wildlife. I did promise myself that one day God willing I would pay a visit to this site now acknowledged as one of the foremost birding Mecca`s in the world. 2000 coinciding with my 50th was all the excuse I needed so together with 2 intrepid friends Dave Hanford and Richard Herbert, in late 1999 I started my fact gathering research. In this respect the Internet came into its own. I was amazed at how much information there was out there in the ether. We all wanted to go independently but after reading more it soon became apparent that in the limited time available to us (17 days); we would loose to much time trying to make all the necessary travel arrangements in India. We also wanted to spend as much of our money in India as was possible...

2001 [February] - Steve Dark, D. M. Hanford & R. A. Herbert - Northern India

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/tripreports/India01.html
Northern India in general and Bharatpur in particular have been a major part of my birding consciousness for over 20 years. I can`t even remember where or when I first heard or read of this Maharaja`s hunting area now given over to wildlife...

2001 [March] - Don Roberson

http://montereybay.com/creagrus/India2001.html
I recorded some 422 species in India in 25 days, almost all of which were seen by our whole group of four birders. I missed another 11 species seen by two or more others, bringing our group total to 433 species (over 440 species if single observer reports away from the group are added). Of the 422 I recorded, 161 were lifers for me (38%). Everyone else tallied 200-300 lifers...

2002 [December] - Simon Plat, Bernard Oosterbaan & Willem Oosterbaan

http://www.splatzone.nl/India/india11.htm
It is about impossible to use this report without the excellent Birdwatchers Guide to India by Krys Kazmierczak and Raj Singh. All locations mentioned in this report are described in detail in this guide, so there�s no need to repeat this...

2002 [January] - Simon Woolley, Julia Casson, Chris Mills & Jacky Harris

http://geography.wincoll.ac.uk/jjcskw/trip%20reports/india/India.htm
We had visited Goa three years ago (see our report), and I had been to India on two other occasions (Rajasthan in 1994, Tamil Nadu/Karnataka in 1996), but it was time to try for Tigers and to see some of the fantastic birds of northern India in winter...

2003 [March] - Brian Anderson - Northern India - dba trip

http://anytimetours.co.uk/indianorth2003.htm
...There were 11 of us on the dba trip: Ron Bartlett, Brian & Joanna Anderson, Selina Cook, Bo & Maggie Crombet-Beolens, Megan Hall, Steve Lister, Lawrence & Anne Robinson, & Sue Sayers. We ranged from the fully able-bodied through those with minor mobility problems to those needing to use wheelchairs full-time... 2003 [March] dba Northern India. A report on the dba trip to Northern India - details of access problems for disabled birders etc...

2003 [March] - Jan Vermeulen - Northeast India

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/india/india13-NE/ne-india03.htm
This is an account of a 16 days trip to Assam & Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India from 20 February - 9 March 2003...

2004 [Dcember] - Tropical Birding - Northern India

http://www.tropicalbirding.com/
...Highlights included several startling redstarts, dazzling Sapphire-and-chestnut rock-thrushes. Superb flocks of gorgeous Himalayan tits with nuthatches, leaf-warblers and others, interspersed. Some skulkers included Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler, a feast of six Laughing-thrushes including the snow-white capped White-crested, the bulbous-headed Striated, the elegant mottled and scaled Rufous-chinned and common Streaked...

2004 [January] - Avian Adventures - Southern India

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/kerala-birds/kerala-report.htm
We spent 10 days from December 25 through January 4 in Kerala (and briefly Tamil Nadu), India with the dual objectives of relaxing and searching for Southern Indian specialty birds. The trip was organized for two of us by Kalypso Adventures...

2005 [December] - Alf King - Northern India

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/india/india-36-N/n-India-dec-05.htm
A combined desire to leave the overindulgences of a British Christmas and to undertake some exciting birding led Jeannine and me to settle upon a birding trip to India for December. Having previously visited Kerala and not wanting to be exposed to a Goan Christmas we eventually settled upon visiting Uttaranchal together with a visit to the Chambal River, Keoladeo and environs. We consulted widely with many providers and also made use of the trip reports which had previously been left by others before settling upon these destinations. Our objectives were simply to enjoy good birding rather than tracking down any target species, as well as being able to experience parts of India that we hadn�t visited before. A good trip list would be a pleasant bonus, however. Initial enquiries were made through the good offices of Bo Beolens at Fatbirder who operates a series of Anytime Tours...

2006 [January] - Erik Hirschfeld - South India

http://www.travellingbirder.com/tripreports/view_birding_tripreport.php?id=44
The main purpose of this trip was to spend quality family time (wife, three sons 4-10) together and do some relaxing tourism in south India after a busy autumn. As the rest of the family does not bird, birding opportunities were restricted to early mornings, late afternoons and sky-scanning/sea-watching when the kids were in the hotel pools or on the beach. Having visited north India, Pakistan and China before for hard-core birding, I made careful preparations and a priority list on what I wanted to see on this trip. I did thus not spend much time on e. g. waterbirds or detailed counts, instead I went for the species in the following priority order: 1 endemics for southern Kerala, 2 south Indian endemics which should be possible to get based in Goa, 3 subcontinent endemics and 4 anything else that would be a tick for me. I did not bring a telescope which would have been useful to have on a few occasions (Gavi and beaches)...

2007 [Janmuary] - Richard Munns - Southern Indian Endemics

http://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/india/india-47/kerala-jan-07.htm
...It was good to see so many local people and Indian tourists appreciating the bird sanctuary but they may have caused a bit of disturbance. Nevertheless we saw several birds Little Cormorant, Large-billed Crow, Pale-billed Flowerpecker, K�el, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Rufous Treepie, Darter, Loten�s or Long-billed Sunbird (singing his socks off at the top of a tree), heard Blyth�s Reed Warbler, heard Greater Coucal, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Asian Paradise Flycatcher (white form), Darters nesting and better seen and not sniffed, Marsh Harrier, Bronze-winged Jacana, Barn Swallow, Whiskered Tern and Grey Heron. Other sightings Terrapin, Lesser Fruit Bat or Flying fox, Monitor Lizard, Smooth Indian Otter, and lots of butterflies including Glassy Tiger, Crimson Rose, Plain Tiger and Common Grass Yellow...

2007 [January] - Chris Bradshw - Northern India

http://www.birdwatchingbreaks.com/India_TripReport07.htm
This was the fourth tour of the classic northern Indian birding circuit operated by Birdwatching Breaks, and it was yet another superb birding experience. Although the mornings and evenings were chilly as usual, we were blessed with warm and sunny conditions throughout the tour and there was invariably barely a cloud in the sky. Such conditions are in marked contrast to my recent January trips, which have seen snow and generally colder conditions...

2007 [January] - Uffe Gj�l S�rensen - S India & Gujarat

http://www.netfugl.dk/trip_reports/asia/SouthernIndia_Gujarat_JanFeb07_ver02.pdf
...Spot-billed Pelican, Black Baza, Mountain Hawk-Eagle (southern subspecies), Painted Bush-Quail, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brown Fish Owl, Malabar Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, White-bellied Woodpecker, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Indian Pitta, Malabar Lark, Hill Swallow, Nilgiri Pipit, Forest Wagtail, Grey-headed Bulbul, Yellow-throated Bulbul, White-bellied & Nilgiri Blue Robin, Black-and-Orange Flycatcher and many others. A Tawny Eagle at Munnar, a new site for Yellow-throated Bulbul (close to Top Slip) and three records of the �Phillipine� Shrike � the eastern subspecies of Brown Shrike � are unusual records...

2008 [February] - Simon Woolley

http://geography.wincoll.ac.uk/jjcskw/pages/303.05overseasindia08.htm
A great 10-day trip to Delhi, Bandhavgarh and Agra with 14 keen and excited Winchester College students. Megas included 8 Bengal Tigers, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, White-capped Bunting, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Blue-capped Rock Thrush and 190+ others.

2009 [January] - Eustace Barnes - North West India

http://www.birding-southamerica.com/trIndia09.htm
...At Rann Riders we found Pheasant-tailed Jacana and a flock of Sand Martins, the latter a vagrant to the region. It was to become a feature of birding in this area that we recorded a good many species not mapped as occurring in this part of Gujarat...

Vivek Tiwari`s Trip Report Collection

http://www.princeton.edu/~vivekt/trip-reports.html
A whole series of reports (c. 50)linked here. From various Indian locations over a period of 10 years or more.

tour operators

All India Birding

http://www.allindiabirding.com
Gurudongma Tours & Treks etc.

Asian Adventures

http://www.indianwildlife.com/
e.g.Karapur Gateway to the wildlife wealth of Karnataka, Kabini River Lodge is nestled in the famous Nagarhole National Park. Once the hunting lodge of the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, Kabini is today rated by the British Tatler`s Travel Guide as one of the top 5 wildlife resorts in the world.

Birding in Kumaon Himalayas and Corbett National Park

http://www.junglelore.com/
The tour is customised for the serious-minded birder. A spectacular variety of Himalayan birds and wildlife is spotted in some of these most exotic locales. The itinerary focuses on the Central Himalayas at Binsar, Nainital, Betalghat and Corbett National Park.

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/India.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

Dream Catcher

http://www.dreamcatcher.co.in/
We are a Special Interest Travel & Experience Management Company. We work with people in outdoor natural environments. DreamCatcher has been in existence since 1995...

Eco India

http://www.ecoindia.com/
This website contains the ecotourism information in India including the information on the wild animals in India, birds information, famous wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and zoos in India...

Himalayan Holidays

http://www.himalayanholidays.net
Birding Trails in the Lower Himalayas - 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 to be seen all around the Indian countryside...

India Travel Club

http://www.indiatravelclub.com/wildlife-tours-with-birds-wacthing-india-and-nepal.html
Our Jungle Lodge is situated inside the park and has its own elephants and resident naturalists. Large two-Man huts are built round Jungle Hotel. All meals are included, as are the elephant safaris and canoe trips...

India Wildlife Resorts

http://www.indiawildliferesorts.com/wildlife-tour-packages/bird-watching-tours.html
Birdwatching tours based in resorts around India�

Indian Adventures

http://www.indianadventures.com/
The largest chain of Wildlife Resorts in India, offers an entire gamut of Action, Wildlife and Adventure holidays at its resorts.The locations are exquisite, at the periphery of some of the major National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, in India and add to this the deluxe cottage style properties with all modern amenities, airconditioned and aircooled rooms, yet rustic architecture blending with the locales in natural surroundings...

Indian Wildlife Adventures

http://www.indianwildlifeadventures.com
Indian Wildlife Adventures provides wildlife and adventure sports experience to travelers visiting this land of tigers and unlimited adventure. Our motto to "Conserve nature for Future" drive our philosophy of providing international exposure to Indian Wildlife with an aim to impart the importance of conservation not only for us but for our future generations to come�

Jungle Lore

http://www.junglelore.com/
Our tours will appeal to the serious birder as well as to the beginner or intermediate bird watcher and some are suitable for the non-birding spouse. A spectacular variety of Himalayan birds and wildlife is spotted in some of these most exotic locales. The itinerary focuses on the Central Himalayas at Binsar, Nainital, Betalghat and Corbett National Park.

Sita Tours

http://www.sitatours.com
India covers a total are of 3,287,263 sq. km. The north of the country is decisively bordered by the long sweep of the Himalayas, the highest mountains on earth...

South India Tours

http://www.southindiatours.net
Welcome to the website of South India Tours Ltd. The site introduces you to a range of fascinating and relaxing holidays in South India. Take a few moments to browse and see what we have on offer.

Wild About India

http://www.wildaboutindia.com/
Offeres tailor-made trips and a set itinerary to Bharatpur etc. with more to come...

Wildlife India

http://www.wildlifeindia.co.uk/
The text on this site is all embedded so I couldn't lift any to give people an idea of what they offer...

places to stay

Chambal Safari Lodge - Uttar Pradesh

http://www.chambalsafari.com
The Chambal Safari Lodge �Mela Kothi� is an oasis of calm and tranquillity, nestling in the midst of a 35 acre plantation of large shady trees. The birds of course are quite noisy, especially the Parakeets and the Babblers (called �gossip mongers� in the local dialect, after their habit of gathering in large groups and all babbling at the same time!). The resident Brown hawk owl and Flying foxes (fruit bats) don�t seem to mind though, and slumber on regardless...

Jungle Lore Birding Lodge

http://www.junglelore.com/
The lodge has 2 well-furnished and tastefully designed cottages with double beds and attached baths which provide all modern amenities. The design provides good ventilation and the roofs give good insulation in cold weather. The sit-out of each cottage has valley view. The bird feeders are kept outside each cottage to attract local birds. We do not host more than 6-8 birders at a time.

Lazy Days - (Goa)

http://www.lazydays.co.uk
In the pages on this web site there is a range of privately owned villas, cottages and apartments for short-term holiday rental in the tiny West Coast Indian State of Goa. You will find a small number of select properties that have been personally hand-picked ranging from delightful 1 bedroom apartments to large 4 bedroom villas on private estates.

Travel made easy

http://www.travelmadeeasy.in/
A portmanteau site with some good info and advice and a way to book hotels on line for Indian destinations...

mailing lists

BirdNest

http://srilankabutterfly.smfforfree3.com/index.php
Sri Lankan & Indian Subcontinent Birding & wildlife forum...

Birds of Bombay

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/birdsofbombay
To post to list:birdsofbombay@yahoogroups.com
List contact:birdsofbombay-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:birdsofbombay-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Discussion Group "Bombay City has coastline, marshes, wetlands , forests and hills. Consequently, several species of birds have been recorded. There are several birders staying in different parts of the city .Due to the distances and the traffic jams, find it difficult to assemble at one place and exchange notes. This e-group seeks to provide such a meeting place."

bngbirds

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bngbirds
To post to list:bngbirds@yahoogroups.com
List contact:bngbirds-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:bngbirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Discussion Group Intended to be a forum for the exchange of informationincluding notices, etc. pertaining to the birds and otherwildlife of the city of Bangalore in India, and its environs.

DelhiBird

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delhibird/
To post to list:delhibird@yahoogroups.com
List contact:delhibird-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:delhibird-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Discussion Group - a group of nature lovers who meet at different locales for birding in Delhi and Northern India...

NatHistory-India

http://home.att.net/~spiderhunters/
List contact:Vivek Tiwari - vivek@ee.princeton.edu
Description : Natural History of South Asia - General discussion and research. NatHistory-India has been created as a forum for discussions on the Natural History of South Asia. This includes the geographic area that roughly falls under the political boundaries of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives.

Birding India 2000

http://www.pinkmoose.ic24.net/india/bharatpur.htm
November 5th was a Sunday and was our day off. Our hosts kindly arranged for a trip to the Taj Mahal near Agra going via Bharatpur. It took us five hours to get to Bharatpur where we had two hours, then we drove to Agra and the Taj...

Birds and birding in India

http://www.princeton.edu/~vivekt/indian-birds.html
All sorts of useful information for Indian Birders or intending visitors including trip reports, checklists, books and field guides etc. Vivek Tiwari has recently updated his trips reports page.

Birds of Kolkata

http://www.kolkatabirds.com/
This web site is aimed at introducing the birds of Kolkata in their natural environment, the city of Kolkata. The key to this web site will be a photographic guide to the birds of the city. All pictures appearing on this site will be shot in the 250 square kilometers of the city depicted in the accompanying map, the actual Kolkata as the residents know it.

Books on Ornithology published in India

http://www.vedamsbooks.com/ornithol.htm
Please find below a selection of books on Ornithology published in India. Many of these titles are further linked to provide the complete table of contents of the books along with excerpts from the jacket/preface. If you do not find a title you are looking for in the list below, please e-mail us at vedams@vedamsbooks.com and we shall do our best to procure it. We can supply you any title published in India.

British Birdwatcher in Pune

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~sjoshi1/mirror/wildlife.html
From 22nd January to 26th February 1998 a birdwatcher (Ornithoscopus binoculus) showing characteristics of the race britannicus was present in and around Pune, Maharashtra.On the basis of the bare parts on the head, it was adjudged to be a male.During the week it was exclusively to be found in the offices of Mahindra British Telecom in Pune, but on weekends and public holidays it was catholic in its choice of habitat, frequenting lakes, rivers, marshes, dry-deciduous and evergreen forest, scrub and scattered woodland, dry grassland, semi-desert and urban areas.On one occasion it even visited a sandy sea-shore. Friends, I was that birdwatcher.

Checklists Of Birds For National Parks And Sanctuaries In India

http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/envis/doc98html/biodbird913.html
...some suggestions for sources other than JBNHS, Hornbill, Newsletter for Birdwatchers...

delhibird - The Northern India Bird Network

http://www.delhibird.net/
Site guide, recent sightings, photo gallery, checklists and more...

India Birds

http://www.indiabirds.com/
In this website, I have attempted to bring to you birds found in India, in the wild, in their natural habitat, as God made them. Enjoy yourselves & thanks for dropping in! - Vijay Cavale

Indian Birds

http://www.princeton.edu/~vivekt/indian-birds.html
A useful signpost site at Princeton University� good references and a few links.

Indian Wildlife

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~sjoshi1/mirror/wildlife.html
The following trip reports are either my own, or they are reproduced with the permission of the author. All reports dealing with the Natural History of the Indian subcontinent are appropriate for this site.

Indian Wildlife

http://www.indianwildlife.com/
India has a network of about 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries, covering four per cent of its land area. Most of them have excellent facilities for visitors. India has a network of about 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries, covering four per cent of its land area. Most of them have excellent facilities for visitors.

Journal of Indian Bird Records

http://www.angelfire.com/fl/indianbirds/
The Journal of Indian Bird Records and Conservation is the pioneering gratis internet-based ornithological publication of the Harini Nature Conservation Foundation. The Journal welcomes original articles, scientific papers, field checklists, sighting records, habitat notes and conservation recommendations about bird species known from the Indian Subcontinent.

Nature Web India

http://www.naturewebindia.com
A tribute to Indian birds and wildlife�

Nerdy Birders

http://www.nerdybirders.com/
This website, as the name goes, is the effort of two enthusiastic birders; our goal is to share our pictures and experiences of Indian bird life with nature lovers and fellow birders through the Internet. We also hope this will inspire skeptics and newbies to explore the diverse beauty that the Indian wilderness has to offer and, more importantly, appreciate the importance of nature conservation...

Ornithological Check List of India

http://www.princeton.edu/~vivekt/indbird.html
The following is a list of 1,224 bird species reliably recorded from India, together with their status categories. In total there are 1219 extant native species including migrants and vagrants (but excluding 3 species now known to be extinct in the country, and 2 introduced species). There are 923 breeding species (911 residents, plus 12 suspected residents)�

artists

Birds of India

http://www.pbase.com/sandipan/birds_india
Photographs of Indian Birds by Sandipan

Gallery - India Birds

http://www.indiabirds.com/
In this website, I have attempted to bring to you birds found in India, in the wild, in their natural habitat, as God made them. Enjoy yourselves & thanks for dropping in! - Vijay Cavale

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