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Kanha Birds Checklist

There are an estimated 8,600 species of birds worldwide, and of these
over 1,200, or about 14%, may be found in the Indian subcontinent. A visit to an Indian national park, therefore, may be unusually rewarding for the bird enthusiast. Checklists are available for several of the most popular national parks in India, including Corbett, Bandhavgarh, and Ranthambhore, as well as for Nepal's Royal Chitwan. Unfortunately, there is no current, official checklist of the birds of Kanha published by the park. However, during the 1980s Park Research Officer P. C. Kotwal compiled a list of 163 species together with rather scanty annotations.

There 250+ species of Indian birds in Kanha including migratory species. It is a delight for the ornithologist tour and bird study trip and photography. Best time for bird watching is in winter. One can watch winter visitors.

For bird watchers and photographers, Kanha offers scope to study the forest birds and variety of water birds that thrive on wetlands, lakes and river ecosystem. Varied vegetation of Sal (Shorea Robusta) and Mixed forests, Bamboo, Grasslands, altitude variation and numerous river system, wetland and water bodies make this 1945 sq.km reserve a diverse bird habitat immensely suitable to avian fauna.

Nestled in Maikal Hill in Satpura Ranges this Central Indian Highland has approximately 260 bird species. Most bird species at Kanha preserve are resident and local migratory, but large number of migratory birds make Kanha their home in winters.

For birding excursion to water bodies - Sravan Taal (Lake), Saundhar Tank and Bisanpura, the rivers Banjar and Halon and tributeries as Sulkum. These are water bodies, which hold rich avi-fauna and preferred by bird watchers and photographers in bird photography tour.

One can see and checklist Common Teal, Pintails, Gargeny or Blue Winged Teal, Lesser Whistling Teal, Wigeon, Shoveller and Spotbill Duck. Among the common birds sightings but interesting are the Stints, Dabchicks, Sandpipers, Egrets, Cormorant and Jacanas. Purple Heron, Whitenecked storks, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Black Ibis and Blackwinged Stilts seen near waterbodies or streams near Kanha, Kisli and Mukki.

Forest Birds - Safari at reserve gives the tourist idea of amazing echo niches - due to varied topography. In the grassland survey one expects to see Collared and Pied Bushchats, Larks, Black Francolin, Grey Francolin, Painted Sandgrouse and Red Munia (Avadavat).

In the densely forested zones the number augments multifold. Kanha's prime attraction are the Indian Pitta, Greater Racket Tailed Drongo, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Golden Oriole and Black Headed Oriole, Ashy and White Bellied Drongos, Indian Cuckoo, Sirkeer Cuckoo.

More patience is required to sight a White Tailed Shama - an amazing songster, Lesser Golden Backed Wood Pecker and Raptors-some are migrants. Paradise Flycatcher and the Hair Crested Drongo.

Warblers, Leaf Birds, Babblers, Shrikes, the vocal Large Green Barbet the list is endless. Among more fortunate sighting would be the Brown Fish Owl, Orange Headed Ground Thrush, Bronze Winged Dove.

A trip to Bamni Dadar holds few more surprise for the birder, Green Footed Pigeon, Pygmy Woodpecker and Tickell's Blue Flycatcher. Little Minivet, Scarlet Minivet and Long Tailed Minivet can be see at at Parsa Toala grasslands. Resident common raptors as theCrested Serpent Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Honey Buzzard, White Eyed Buzzard, Shikra and Common Kestrel can be sighted hunting and nesting in magnificent, tall trees. Vagrant bird is a surprise for a birder.

Nocturnal birds Nightjars, Collored Scops Owl, Mottled Wood Owl,Indian Eagle Owl and Brown Fish Owl may be heard and indentified by calls. Bird indentification by calls needs expertise.

Rare Whitebacked Vulture, Longbilled and Egyptian Vultures can be seen on the carcas of carnivore kills. Malabar Pied Hornbills and Grey Hornbills nest in old-growth trees.