Rajasthan

• Keoladeo Ghana National Park

  InformationSatellite View
  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 Bronzewinged and Pheasant-tailed are common residents. [When the monsoon fails there is very little wetland but efforts are made to keep the birds by pumping out groundwater; which was the case during my visit in Spring 2003 - Fatbirder]

• Main Birding Areas

  The main birding areas are: Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambhor National Park, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Desert National Park, Bund Baretha (Bharatpur); Talab-i-Shahi (Dholpur); Talchhapar Sanctuary (Churu); Sambhar lake and adjoining water bodies (Jaipur); Man Sagar lake (Jaipur); Raj Samand (Rajnagar); Fateh Sagar and Pichhola (Udaipur); Sardar Samand (Jodhpur/Pali); Mt. Abu (Sirohi); Kumbhalgarh (Rajnagar); and numerous grassland habitats, water bodies and river banks. Some of these birding spots are quite close to prominent cities like Jhalana, Arboratem, and Man Sagar (Jaipur); Ana Sagar (Ajmer); Fateh Sagar (Udaipur) etc. It is common to come across 25-35 species within an hour at any place in the state. The desert offers remarkable sights for birds of prey which dot the telephone wires along the road.

• Harsh Vardhan

  Jaipur | giisj_jp1@sancharnet.in

• Number of bird species: 635

  (As at April 2020)

  State Bird: Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps

• Birds of Rajasthan

  | By Rakesh Vyas | Oxford University Press | 2015 | Hardback | 319 Pages | 500 Colour Photographs | 473 Species Described | ISBN: 9780198098591 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Indian Bird Fair

  Bird Fair
  he Indian Bird Fair (IBF) is held every year in the city of Jaipur (Rajasthan). It is the only event of its kind in India. Conducted on the shores of Man Sagar Lake (Jal Mahal), in the city of Jaipur, during winter when the migratory species are present, the Fair presents an opportunity for education and awareness activities that benefit the bird resource in India…

Abbreviations Key

• BS Tal Chhapar Sanctuary

  InformationSatellite View
  Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a sanctuary located in the Churu district of Northwestern Rajasthan in the Shekhawati region of India. It is known for blackbucks and is also home to a variety of birds. The sanctuary is 210 km from Jaipur on the fringe of the Great Indian Desert and situated on road from Ratangarh to Sujangarh. It lies on the passageway of many migratory birds such as harriers. These birds pass through this area during September. Birds commonly seen in the sanctuary are harriers, eastern imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short-toed eagle, sparrow, and little green bee-eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes, which stay till March. Skylarks, crested larks, ring doves, and brown doves are seen throughout the year.[3] Desert fox and desert cat can also be spotted along with typical avifauna such as partridge and sand grouse. Tal Chappar Sanctuary comes alive with the chirping of various migratory birds including Montagur's, marsh harrier, pale harrier, imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short toed eagle, sparrow hawk, skylark, crested lark, ring drove, brown dove, blue jay, southern grey shrike, Indian spotted creeper, green bee eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes.

• NP Darrah

  InformationSatellite View
  Darrah National Park in Rajasthan, India is a national park established in 2004 consisting of three wildlife sanctuaries: Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary, and Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is located within the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests' ecoregion.

• NP Desert

  InformationSatellite View
  The Desert National Park is situated in the west Indian state of Rajasthan near Jaisalmer. This is one of the largest national parks, covering an area of 3,100sq. km. The desert sanctuary being a fragile ecosystem has its own flora and fauna. Birdlife in this sandy habitat is vivid & spectacular. The great Indian bustard is another magnificent bird found in relatively fair numbers. It migrates locally in different seasons. The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of the desert. One can see many eagles, harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrel and vultures. Short- toed eagles, tawny eagles, spotted eagles, lagger falcons and kestrels are the commonest of these. Sandgrouse are spotted near small ponds or lakes. Sea shells and massive fossilized tree trunks in this park record the geological history of the desert.

• NP Keoladeo (was Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)

  InformationSatellite View
  Keoladeo National Park or Keoladeo Ghana National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India is a famous avifauna sanctuary that hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to be resident. It is also a major tourist centre with scores of ornithologists arriving here in the hibernal season. It was declared a protected sanctuary in 1971. It is also a World Heritage Site.

• NP TR Sariska

  InformationSatellite View
  Sariska is located in the sharp cliffs of hills and narrow valleys of the Aravallis some 200km from Delhi. The forests are dry and deciduous. Within the sanctuary there are the ruins of medieval buildings. There is a 17th century castle on a sharp hilltop at Kankwari, which provides a panoramic view of flying Egyptian vultures and eagles…

• NP TR WS Ranthambhor

  InformationSatellite View
  Ranthambhore wildlife sanctuary is known for its Bengal tigers and is a popular place in India to see these animals in their natural jungle habitat.

• WS Bassi

  InformationSatellite View
  Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary near Bassi in Chittorgarh district. It covers an area of 15,290 hectares. The sanctuary is located on the western border of the Vindhyachal Ranges and includes the Bassi and Orai dams are part of the sanctuary. Antelope, wild boar, panther, mongoose and migratory birds inhabit the sanctuary.

• WS Gajner

  InformationSatellite View
  Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary is located at a distance of about 32.0 km (19.9 mi) from Bikaner. The lake in this wildlife sanctuary draws a variety of bird species. The residential species include wildfowl, deer, antelope, nilgai, chinkara, black buck, desert fox and wild boar.

• WS IBA National Chambal Sanctuary

  InformationSatellite View
  National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400 km2 (2,100 sq mi) tri-state protected area in northern India for the protection of the Critically Endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle and the Endangered Ganges river dolphin. Located on the Chambal River near the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. At least 320 species of resident and migratory birds inhabit the sanctuary. Migratory birds from Siberia form part of its rich avian fauna.[3] Vulnerable bird species here include the Indian skimmer,[8] sarus crane, Pallas's fish eagle and Indian courser. The pallid harrier and lesser flamingo are near threatened. Winter visitors include black-bellied terns, red-crested pochard, ferruginous pochard and bar-headed goose. Other species include great thick-knee, greater flamingos, darters, and brown hawk owl.

• WS IBA WII Sambhar Lake

  InformationSatellite View
  Sambhar Lake is the biggest saline lake of India, 190 sq-KMS in size at complete capability and set about 60 KMS western side of Jaipur, merely exterior prosaically called as Salt Lake City. This huge area of hostile salty is on standard only 0.6 cm deep and in no way over 3 m yet the monsoon is just finished. Sambhar Lake extends in length approximately 22.5 KMS, the width of the Sambar defers somewhere 3 to 11 KMS. Numerous seasonal streams of the freshwater, 02 of the main are Mendha River and Rupangarh River which feed Sambar Lake…

• WS Jaisamand

  InformationSatellite View
  A trip to Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary allows a close encounter with the rich wildlife in their natural habitat. The fauna include the panther, wild boar, deer, four-horned antelope, mongoose and various species of migratory birds. The sanctuary's ecoregion is that of Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests.

• WS Khodeswar Ran Shelter

  InformationSatellite View
  The Khodeswar Ran Shelter is a wildlife sanctuary and nature reserve in Jawiya, Jaswantpura, Rajasthan, India.

• WS Kumbhalgarh

  InformationSatellite View
  Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Rajsamand District of Rajasthan State in western India. The sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife, some of which are endangered species. The wildlife includes the Indian wolf, Indian leopard, sloth bear, striped hyena, Golden jackal, jungle cat, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha (the four horned antelope), chinkara and Indian hare. The leopard is the apex predator in the sanctuary. The birds at Kumbhalgarh includes the normally shy and untrusting grey junglefowl. Peacocks and doves can be sighted feeding on grains scattered by the jungle guards. Birds like the red spurfowl, parakeet, golden oriole, grey pigeon, bulbul, dove and white breasted kingfisher can also be seen near the water holes.

• WS Mount Abu

  InformationSatellite View
  Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary is located in one of the oldest mountain ranges of India, the Aravalli range. It is unique in the sense that more than 250 species of birds are found here, but the speciality of the Abu sanctuary is the grey jungle fowl. The rare Green Avadavat is commonly found here.

• WS Phulwari ki Nal

  InformationSatellite View
  The area of the Phulwari ki Nal Wildlife Sanctuary is 511.41 km2 of which 365.92 km2 is Reserved Forest and 145.49 km2 is Protected Forests.

• WS Sita Mata

  InformationSatellite View
  It is a dense forest, with an area of 422.95 square kilometers, which is about 40% of the total land area of the district. The land is undulating because of the confluence of three different formations — Malwa Plateau, the Vindhyachal Hills and Aravali mountain ranges. large number of residential and migratory birds are found in this region, nearly 130 varieties.

• WS Todgarh-Raoli Sanctuary

  InformationSatellite View
  The sanctuary is located pretty much in the middle of the Aravalli hill ranges, being based on the village of Todgarh, 25 km from Jassa Khera on NH-8 Delhi-Udaipur Highway.

• Northern India Bird Network

  Mailing List & Forum
  We are an interactive egroup which exists to share information about birds in Northern India and the issues that affect them. We seek to help and encourage newcomers to the study of birds and enable birdwatching visitors and short-term residents to meet fellow enthusiasts who live in India.

• RajNat - Rajasthan Naturalists

  Mailing List & Forum
  Rajnat is an e-group for all those who are interested in Natural History of Rajasthan (India).

• Anytime Tours - 12-Days Birding in Rajasthan

  Tour Operator
  This tour is designed for bird watchers interested in species of the desert areas such as Indian Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser, White-naped Tit and very large congregation of birds in different habitats. Optional stops: Tal Chappar for Yellow-eyed Pigeon, Bharatpur, Ranthambhor, Chambal, Agra. The best time to bird here is between November & March…

• Jungle Lore

  Tour Operator
  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.

• Ranthambhor Jeep Safari

  Tour Operator
  ...specialises in packaged and customised wildlife holidays across India with a focus on wildlife and photography tours.

• 2014 [01 January] - James Eaton - West India

  PDF Report
  …An afternoon walk along the river and reedbed was similar to the morning; pleasant general birding and great views of some particularly confiding Moustached Warblers, Baya and Black-breasted Weavers, Red Avadavats, Black-rumped Flamebacks, raucous Jungle Babblers and a Hoopoe posing in a trackside tree….

• 2015 [01 January] - Frank Lambert - Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra

  PDF Report
  ...West India also supports huge numbers of wintering birds, in particular raptorsand waterbirds, of which we saw plenty, and rarer species such as Hypocolius and Macqueen’s Bustard, both ofwhich gave us outstanding views. Although we recorded just 298 species this included many memorablespecies such as White-bellied Minivet, White-naped Tit, Indian Spotted Creeper, Green Avadavat, PaintedSandgrouse, Indian Courser, Yellow-eyed Pigeon, five species of vulture, Pallid Scops Owl, Mottled Wood Owl, Sykes’s Nightjar and to finish off, the Critically Endangered Forest Owlet...

• 2015 [03 March] - Graeme Wright - Rajasthan, Gujarat (and New Delhi)

  PDF Report
  ...Morning birding in Abu Road – tried for Grey Jungle Fowl at road to Temple Sanctuary, but a Brown Headed Pygmy Woodpecker was nesting by the entrance as was a Yellow Crowned Woodpecker.

• 2015 [08 August] - Aseem Kothiala - Birding in Sonkhaliya

  Report
  This is home to one of the worlds most endangered species of bird, the "Lesser Florican". Optimistic estimates suggest that only 1200 of them are left in the wild. More recently, declines have been caused by rapid reductions in the area of grassland owing to conversion into agriculture and overgrazing.

• 2015 [08 August] - Simon Colenutt - Rajasthan & Kashmir

  Report
  ...We birded the first 300-400m of the track which led through thorn scrub, wet grassland and a Water Hyacinth choked lagoon. Birds here included Greater Coucal, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Asian Openbill Stork, Red-naped Ibis, smart Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Purple Gallinule and Grey Francolin.

• 2015 [12 December] - Pritam Baruah - Desert National Park, Jaisalmer

  PDF Report
  The Thar Desert in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan is the western most frontier of India and although its sandy and scrubby desert-scape can seem rather lifeless, it is actually a veritable hotspot for birding. In particular, there are some sought-after species here that are difficult to find elsewhere in India. By far the most important target here is the spectacular Great Indian Bustard, a subcontinental endemic.

• 2016 [03 March] - Aseem Kothiala - Bera, The Leopard's Atelier

  Report
  The leopard is definitely the most elusive and secretive in the cat family. They are extremely difficult to trace and locate in the wild unless you are in Bera, in south-west Rajasthan, India.

• 2016 [05 May] - Stuart Vine - Delhi, Agra & Ranthambore

  PDF Report
  ...Our next stop was Agra and the Taj Mahal. Undeniably jaw-dropping, but perhaps a touch over-familiar.However, Erica turned to me and said "What's that!?" That was the scruffiest looking immature EgyptianVulture I've ever seen. It flew on to a water spout and spent its time looking at the tourists, whileoccasionally trying to poo on them from a great height! The Taj is great, but that made it for me...

• 2018 [01 January] - Mike Nelson

  PDF Report
  We began in the north around some huge areas of wetlands forlarge numbers of wintering ducks and geese. The reeds here also gave us Rufous-vented Babbler playing amongst the towering reeds. Heading south we entered the vast swath of arid scrub and thornbush where Indian Spottedcreeper gave us a fine show. A stop at the Bikaner carcass dump gave us a massive array of vultures and eagles along with wintering Yellow-eyed Doves, more importantly.

• 2018 [02 February] - Mark Smiles

  PDF Report
  This was a short trip with my wife, primarily aimed at targeting the NW India specials, with the very (impossibly, as it turned out) optimistic hope of also picking up Great Indian Bustard that is all but gone from the Naliya reserve. Being based in Dubai, this was almost a long weekend getaway, with flights between Dubai and Ahmedabad taking just over a couple of hours.

• 2018 [02 February] - Rob Hutchinson

  PDF Report
  This very special custom tour of West India, with a focus not only on seeing the most special birds of the area butalso the most spectacular mammals such as Tiger, Asiatic Lion and Leopard, and although these took center stageamong the mammals, we also enjoyed amazing encounters with Jungle Cat, Rusty-spotted Cat, ‘Desert’ Wild Cat,and the beautiful Blackbuck. We also spent much time to enhance photographic potential with great success, andalmost every day of the tour gave us fine opportunities. Among the birds, highlights included Painted Spurfowl duringour Tiger searches at Ranthambhore, Indian Spotted-creeper at Chhapar, Yellow-eyed Dove and a raptor spectacularat Bikaner, the amazing Demoiselle Crane show at Khichan, Great Indian Bustard and Stoliczka’s Bushchat in DesertNational Park, White-bellied Minivet at Siyana, then Green Avadavat at Mount Abu. Moving on to the Little Rann ofKutch we found Greater Hoopoe Lark, Macqueen’s Bustard, and watched Sykes’s Nightjar under a spectacular BloodMoon. Gir was all about the mammals but we back into the birds again as we finished in the Great Rann of Kutchwith Marshall’s Iora, White-naped Tit, Sykes’s Lark, Hypocolius and the fantastic Crab-plover.

• 2018 [08 August] - Graham Talbot - Lesser Florican Twitch

  PDF Report
  Having been granted a double entry visa when I went on my Kashmir jaunt a month earlier I thought it would be a waste not to use the second entry and so when Abdel said he was going to be in India forwork in early August and did fancy teaming up to twitch the Lesser Florican I thought why not.

• 2020 [02 February] - Mike Nelson - Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra

  PDF Report
  With a list of highly endangered and regionally localized birds, western India is a priority tour for birders. From the marshlands of the Punjab down through arid scrubland into the rolling dunes of Desert National Park, the vast expanses of the Kutch and then across to the dry deciduous forests of Maharashtra, this year’s tour covered all of the desired species of the region. The wetlands and reed beds around Harike attract migrants along with our main target the Rufous-vented Grass-babbler, and Jerdon’s Babbler and we had great views of these range- restricted skulkers. Sind Sparrow, wintering Mountain and Siberian Chiffchaffs, and loads of waterfowl were added. Heading south into Rajasthan we entered into the dry thorn scrub landscape dotted with Acacias and rocky outcrops where we found White-bellied Minivet, Painted Sandgrouse, Indian Spotted-creeper and stunning Black Francolin. A stop at the infamous Bikaner cattle dump gave us huge numbers of vultures that included Eurasian Griffon, White-rumped, Egyptian and Monk Vulture. There were a few Tawny Eagles and Eastern Imperial Eagles mingling with loads of Steppe Eagles.

• 2022 [11 November] - Jerry Armstrong

  PDF Report
  Birding in Keoladeo Gana park is either on foot or by bicycle rickshaw and we had two bicycle rickshaws waiting outside the hotel to take us the few hundred metres to the park. Once in the park we found that our rickshaw drivers were both good birders, picking out birds and recognising calls. We quickly caught up with some of the common birds in the initial, scrubby, area of the park including Black-winged Kite, Long-tailed Shrike, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Yellow-footed Pigeon, Jungle Babbler and House Crow.

• 2023 [01 January] - Peregrine Rowse - Rajasthan&Gujarat

  PDF Report
  The outlook for the magnificent Great Indian Bustard is ever more critical withnumbers now possibly falling below what is a viable population. I decided thereforetomake the long drive out West to the Desert National Park beyond Jaisalmer, the focus of the trip...

• Birders Inn

  Accommodation
  Located a mere stones throw from the entrance to the Keoladeo National Park, The Birder`s Inn is a quiet, peaceful haven for visitors to the area. Offering gracious hospitality and comfortable lodgings, the Inn is run by an avid birder and naturalist of considerabe repute, who grew up in the area and still makes his home there. The beautiful little lodge is the ideal place for the keen bird-watcher, offering the very best services in terms of naturalists and guides to share their experience and insight to make visits to the Park truly worthwhile. The Inn hosts ten well-appointed rooms with all the modern comforts one would expect, including air-conditioning and hot and cold running water. birders_inn@hotmail.com

• Laxmi Vilas Palace - Keoladeo Ghana National Park

  Accommodation
  At the Laxmi Vilas Palace, heritage hospitality goes beyond the narrow parameters of well appointed rooms, period décor, antique furniture and the best of creature comforts. Our style is equally distinguished by homely warmth, personnel involvement and unfailing attention to various intangibles that define the rich and varied heritage of Rajasthan in general and Bharatpur in particular.

• Udai Bilas Palace - Dungarpur

  Accommodation
  Nearly 200 specices of birds have been sighted in Durgarpur. See listing on the website. Nestled in idyllic splendour, with the blue waters of Gaibsagar lake on one side and a cove of private reserve forest on the other, Udai Bilas Palace is the embodiment of the old world charm of princely India. It offers a scenic location for rest and recreation. This is an ideal paradise of unhurried hospitality from where to explore birdlife and tribal life.