Haryana

Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus ©Yash Kothiala Website
Birding Haryana

Haryana has more than 600 species of birds – latest checklist available from Delhibird. Water birds can be seen at Sultanpur Jheel (with its flats towards railway track harbouring chats and coursers); including nearby Basai Wetland and Bhindawas Lake Bird Sanctuary – all within one day birding trip from Delhi.

There is a largish desert patch of village Khedarh, (near Barwala, Hissar district) which is a sure place in winter for White-browed Bushchat – possibly 2 individuals. Desert, Variable and Isabelline Chats being additional menu items; with some luck, one can sight Sandgrouse species too. Ottu Waterhead in Sirsa district had yielded a Rufuous-vented Prinia on 3rd Oct 2002. After a good monsoon, Ottu harbour has over 15,000 migratory water birds.

Morni Hills in Panchkula district near Chandigarh are located at 1200-1300 meters altitude and one day birding can result in many Himalayan species including Bearded Vultures, 2 species of Accentors, Thrushes, Woodpeckers, Barbets. On 1st June 2003, the state government has launched its first ever Bird Safari near Berwala Wildlife Checkpost in the Morni Hills.

Another rich birding hot spot for the Himalayan birds in Haryana is Kalka where, with some luck, one can spot a Spotted Forktail.

Parts of Haryana along the canals still harbour Sarus Cranes and Black-necked Storks. 4 hours birding along the canals passing through the cultivation in winter usually produces 120+ species including several globally threatened species. I have spotted and alerted the world to the spreading Sind Sparrows along the canals of the state – the bird has become a regular in Sonipat district.

Checklists of birds (by Suresh C Sharma) of various parts of Haryana are available including those of Morni Hills in Panchkula district, Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yamunanagar district, DDN8 in Sonipat district, Western Yamuna Canal (spreading in several districts); Bhor Saiyadan in Kurukshetra district, Naharh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rewari district, Bhindawas Lake Bird Sanctuary in Jhajjar district and so on.

Contributors
  • Suresh C. Sharma

    | hqdos@vsnl.com

Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 640

    (As at december 2018)

    State Bird: Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus

Useful Reading

  • Fauna of Sultanpur National Park Haryana

    Written & published by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) | 2017 | Paperback | 219 pages, 16 plates with colour photos; colour & b/w illustrations, colour maps | ISBN: 9788181714749 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations
  • Chandigarh Bird Club

    Facebook Page
    A unique group for city Bird watchers, Bird photographer, Ornithologist - to promote birding-bird watching - share information regarding birds of city and nearby areas - create awareness in citizens about importance of birds in overall environment - to identify different species of birds with help of this group
  • DelhiBird Foundation

    Website
    One day, Nikhil Devasar who was born and brought up in Delhi, decided to take a closer look at nature and wildlife. This enchanted journey was the beginning of a new relationship with birds and nature. Which eventually led to the creation of delhibird.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • Blue Bird Lake

    InformationSatellite View
    Blue Bird Lake, Hisar is a resident and endangered migratory bird wetland habitat, lake and recreation area in the town of Hisar, in the Hisar district of Haryana State. The lake and surrounding wetland and parks are spread across 52 acres. The lake itself is 20 acres and has small islands where migratory birds and other flora and fauna live and nest.
  • IBA Basai Wetland

    InformationSatellite View
    Basai wetland located in Basai village in Gurgaon tehsil in Gurgaon district in Haryana, India, is a flora and fauna rich water body. It is recognised as one of India's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and is of global conservation significance as it supports populations of several endangered, vulnerable, and threatened bird species. The wetland supports a high diversity of birds, with at least 239 species reported since 2001 in the area. The wetland is also recognised as a birding hotspot in eBird with 282 bird species recorded as of May 2017.
  • IBA Kaushalya Dam

    InformationSatellite View
    It is an important wetland that is home of many endangered migratory birds.
  • NP BS IBA Sultanpur

    InformationSatellite View
    This Bird Sanctuary, ideal for birding and bird watchers, is best visited in winters when a large number of migratory birds come here. Over 250 species regularly seen.
  • NP WS Kalesar

    InformationSatellite View
    Kalesar National Park (13,000 acres (53 km2)) and adjacent Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary (13,209 acres (53.45 km2)) are protected areas in Yamunanagar district of Haryana state in India, 122 kilometres (76 mi) from Chandigarh. Both are also contiguous to Simbalbara National Park in Himachal Pradesh and Rajaji National Park in Uttrakhand.
  • WS BS Bhindawas

    InformationSatellite View
    Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary and the nearby Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary are located in Jhajjar district, which is about 15 km from Jhajjar town. Rain water, JLN Feeder canal and its escape channel are main source of water in the bird sanctuary.
  • WS Chhilchhila

    InformationSatellite View
    The Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary also known as Seonthi Reserve Forest, is located near Kurukshetra University in Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana. The early arrivals in October were gadwall (Aythya ferina), northern pintail (Anas acuta), northern shoveller (Anas clypeata), common teal (Anas crecca), common pochard (Aythya ferina), and common coot (Fulica atra). The birds recorded during November were mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha), and knob-billed duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos). The departure of the birds from the sanctuary was also noted in different months, towards the end of the winter season. The summer birds recorded were the lesser whistling duck (Dendrocygna javanica) and the cotton teal (Nettapus coromandelianus).
  • WS Saraswati

    InformationSatellite View
    Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary also known as Seonsar Forest is situated in Kaithal district of Haryana State, India. It is spread over an area of 4,452.85 hectares (11,003.2 acres). Kalesar National Park, Morni Hills and Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary are respectively first, second and third largest forest in Haryana.
Trip Reports
  • 2015 [08 August] - Jean-Yves Barnagaud - Ladakh, Spiti and Delhi

    Report PDF
    The purpose of my 2015 trip was to mix birding and visiting new places, including the Dah and Spiti valleys, and some 8 trekking days into the valleys of Karnakh, all of which are neartourist free (and rarely birded), although they offer exceptionally scenic landscapes, diverse habitats and unforgettable time with local people. I have tried to keep a track of all bird records of this trip on a day-per-day basis, except for the most abundant species. This report is bird-focused but a non-bird report is available upon request.
Other Links
  • Birding Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary

    Webpage
    Sultanpur bird sanctuary is situated very close to Delhi only 46 KMS away. This Bird Sanctuary is a paradise for bird watchers as various resident and migratory birds reside here in the winter.
  • Birds of Chandigarh

    Website
    Sightings of birds posted on birds-chandigarh google group will be uploaded on this blog for future reference. Others items will include trip reports, list of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, birding hotspots, conservation measures being taken etc
  • Ponds, Canals and Countryside

    Website
    I am no Henry David Thoreau but every pond of Haryana is a Walden Pond. There is no Ganga in Haryana, but every water irrigation channel is as sacred as the holy river to me. Nature dresses and undresses my countryside. Every outing is a new illustrated chapter of live birds. My aim is to write my experiences as a birdwatcher's journey in his neighbourhood. And this should be true for other states as well

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