National Bird Day 2024: 8 rare birds of India, and where to see them

The yellow-breasted bunting has a vital role to play in our ecosystem. (Photo credit: Manshanta Ghimire via Wikimedia Commons)

Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon Chilika was closed for visitors on January 3 and 4. The reason: the annual bird census. Every year, thousands of avian visitors, mostly from Russia and Central and Southeast Asia, arrive to feed and roost. They stay till the start of summer. This year, over 11 lakh birds were recorded in the lake, of which 10.93 lakh are migratory. Over 180 species of birds were found during the census.

This biodiversity is neither staggering nor surprising. As a tropical country, with warm climates and varied habitats, India is home to several migratory and resident birds. As per BirdLife International, the world’s largest nature conservation partnership to preserve birds and their habitats, 1,211 avian species can be found in the country.

Also read: State of India’s Birds 2023: Top 10 takeaways for conservation

Unfortunately, it also means that a larger proportion of species are threatened with extinction than cooler temperate regions. BirdLife International lists 89 as globally threatened. On the other hand, IUCN, which monitors the health and status of biodiversity globally, listed 18 birds as critically endangered (facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild). Among them is the majestic Great Indian Bustard, once a contender for India’s national bird. Sadly, poaching, habitat loss, and power lines have reduced its numbers to a mere 150 as of 2018. Also on the list is the Himalayan quail, with its distinctive red or yellow bill and legs, which has not been sighted for several years now.

“And, with anthropogenic pressures on the rise and climate change-related pressures showing no signs of abating, species that are not threatened at the moment too could be pushed to the brink in the future,” says Juhi Pannu, an independent researcher, who is studying the impact of global warming on Himalayan habitats.

Also read: 22 migratory birds that winter in Kashmir, and where to spot them

For instance, as temperatures rise, Himalayan birds at higher altitudes will feel the heat. Similarly, habitat specialists—those dependent on specific environmental conditions or resources—will become vulnerable when human actions degrade their ecosystems. The fate of the critically endangered white-bellied heron already hangs in the balance. “Reliant on undisturbed Himalayan streams and freshwater ecosystems, they are on the brink of extinction due to habitat degradation and human disturbance,” says K.S. Gopi Sundar, co-chair of the IUCN Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group.

Winters are the best time to see birds in their natural habitats, but recent records for many rare species have trickled down to a handful—in some cases nil. A few are still around though. So, here are eight endangered birds of India and where you might find them (if you are really lucky).

1. Great Indian Bustard

This majestic bird once roamed freely across western India, its presence a symbol of the land's wild spirit. However, a combination of factors, including habitat loss driven by agriculture and infrastructure development, poaching, and disturbances at breeding sites, led to a plunge in its numbers. Today, it is fighting for survival and on the edge of oblivion.

Where to see it: The Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Kutch

Great Indian Bustard (Photo credit: Kesavamurthy N via Wikimedia Commons)

2. Bengal Florican

Admired for its regal appearance, the Bengal Florican is one of the most threatened bustard species of the world. Its ideal home - the tall, wet grasslands of north India, Nepal's terai, lush floodplains by meandering rivers - are also fertile lands that are coveted by humans. This collision of needs has tragically led to the loss of 95 percent of these ecosystems, leaving fragments tucked away in protected areas like Dudhwa, Kishanpur, Pilibhit, Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, and D'Ering.

Where to see: Manas National Park in Assam

3. Lesser Florican

An enigmatic bird, it is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Locals call it “kharmor” (grass peacock) in Gujarat, and “Khar titar” (grass pheasant) in Rajasthan. Shy and solitary, it now also carries a critically endangered tag on its wing due to anthropogenic pressures. It can be found in scattered pockets of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and even parts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Where to see: Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh

4. Sociable Lapwing

These brownish-grey birds have black-brown crowns, and are found across central Asia, parts of the Arabian peninsula, and even reaching Pakistan and Africa. But this global traveller faces a critical threat: extinction. Habitat loss due to agriculture and hunting along its migratory route have led to huge decline in their numbers.

Where to see: Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan

Sociable Lapwings are global travellers and are facing the threat of extinction. (Photo credit: Sanjeev Kumar Goyal via Wikimedia Commons)

5. Forest Owlet

Endemic to India, they are found only in small forest patches in the country. The story of this species is one of resilience. Though first spotted in 1880, the bird was thought to be extinct for almost 100 years. In 1997, it was spotted again in an open forest in Maharashtra. Forest Owlets need larger, older trees to cavity and nest in, so the impact of tree felling, human disturbance and timber logging is considerable on them.

Where to see: Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra

Forest Owlets were thought to be extinct for over 100 years. (Photo credit: Saswat Mishra via Wikimedia Commons)

6. Indian Vulture

Its medium-sized frame glides effortlessly, with whitish feathers standing out on a dark head and neck. It has a pale bill and a pale collar. Though similar to the Slender-billed Vulture, the Indian Vulture boasts of a stockier build, a paler bill, and ear holes so tiny they seem almost invisible. Their numbers have fallen a lot over the years, yet they can be seen nesting in colonies on towering cliffs or ancient ruins, occasionally choosing the sanctuary of tall trees.

Where to see: Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Indian Vulture Photo credit: Shantanu Kuveskar via Wikimedia Commons)

7. Yellow-breasted Bunting

More than just a pretty face, the yellow-breasted bunting plays a vital role in our ecosystems, flitting through fields and meadows, feasting on seeds, insects and small invertebrates, particularly during breeding season. But its bright plumage is being dimmed by habitat loss and threats like illegal trapping. Once a common winter visitor to India, it is spotted less regularly these days.

Where to see: Baruipur wetlands in West Bengal

8. White-bellied Heron

Count yourself as really lucky if you spot this large, imperious stone-grey heron. It inhabits undisturbed and pristine Himalayan streams and freshwater ecosystems in the foothills and the mountainous areas. And since such habitats are on the decline, the bird too has been pushed to extinction.

Where to see: Undisturbed stretches of the eastern Himalayas.

Also read: Why bird counts are crucial for conservation