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

The Green-winged Teal has a distinctive green patch of secondary feathers in both adult males and females. (Photo by Sam Smith/Mykola Swarnyk via Wikimedia Commons 3.0)

With the onset of winter, lakhs of migratory birds from Russia, China, Siberia and eastern Europe arrive in the Kashmir Valley. More than 22 migratory bird species, including Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Shoveller, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Tufted-Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Common Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Long-tailed Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Green-winged Teal, Garganey, Common Merganser, Greater White-fronted Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Smew, Great Crested Grebe, Eared Grebe and Great Cormorant flock to the Kashmir wetlands. The sight of these birds, flying in perfect formations, flanked by high mountains is breathtaking. Last year in winter, over 10 lakh migratory birds arrived in the Valley. According to the Asian Water Bird census conducted every year, a total of 11,18, 737 birds visited Kashmir in the year 2021.

Parvaiz Yousuf, director, Wetland Research Centre, Wildlife Conservation Fund Kashmir, says: “Birds migrate for various reasons, but mainly for avoiding extreme cold weather conditions. The birds leave their summer habitat in winter after their food – fish and seaweed – gets submerged under a thick layer of ice... the birds travel a long way to places like Kashmir, where it's relatively less cold, and food is available.” Yousuf adds that in April, when the temperature rises in the Himalayan region and the snow starts melting in the summer habitat of birds, they start their long return journey home.

Long-tailed ducks were spotted in Kashmir's Wular Lake in January 2023, after a gap of 84 years. (Representational image via Wikimedia Commons)

The birds start arriving in Kashmir in late October and start returning from the Valley in April. During the winter the wetlands, also known as a birdwatcher’s paradise in the Valley, remain abuzz with repetitive cooing and cackling of birds. These birds, Yousuf says, cover thousands of kilometres to reach Kashmir. “Birds use a combination of several types of innate biological senses including a natural electromagnetic compass which acts for them like navigation helps them find the right direction for long journeys.”

Every year, 5-12 lakh migratory birds are seen in Hokersar, Hygam, Prichal, Shallabugh, Chatlam, Fashkoori, Manibugh, Krenchoo, Wular and Dal – lakes and protected wetlands where they feed and breed. Hygam, Hokersar and Wular lake have been designated as wetlands of international importance under Ramsar convention and are protected areas. As the climate changes and the world heats up, the Valley too is seeing some changes in which birds migrate here in winter. For example, Eared Grebe birds were spotted in Jammu & Kashmir's Wular lake for the first time in March 2023.

Yousuf, who also wrote a book Birds of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh, explains that these birds do not only come to the Kashmir region, but travel to different parts of the world under various conditions, part of their struggle for survival.

Environmental experts say apart from boosting eco-tourism, these migratory birds have ecological benefits as they prey on insects and weeds, contributing towards the betterment of agriculture in the region. But many environmentalists, including Yousuf, also say that the population of migratory birds coming to places like Kashmir has declined over time. “The number of these birds has somehow declined due to climate change, administrative negligence, the shrinking of wetlands and poaching.”

Here are 22 main migratory bird species that come to Kashmir:

1. Gadwall (Mareca strepera): Gadwall is a large duck belonging to the family Anatidae. The gadwall is distributed in Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Central and North America and North Africa. Gadwalls are monogamous and may start breeding after their first year. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated gadwall species and has listed them as being of “Least Concern”.

2. Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope): Eurasian Wigeon is a species of dabbling duck that breeds in the northern parts of Europe and Asia. It is known for its distinctive whistling call and its beautiful breeding plumage. Eurasian Wigeons eat primarily aquatic and terrestrial plants, including leaves, stems, roots, rhizomes, and seeds. The IUCN has listed the Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope) as of “Least Concern”.

3. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata): Due to its shovel-like beak, the bird species is called Shoveller. It is a medium-sized duck and a member of the Anatidae family. Northern Shoveler is a dabbling duck that is found in Europe, Asia, and North America. Shoveler can fly at speeds of 65 km per hour and at altitudes of 300-600 meters. The IUCN has listed Northern Shoveller as of “Least Concern”.

4. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta): With their slender necks and long pointed tails, Northern Pintails are considered among the most numerous duck species in the world. The bird feeds by dabbling and upending in shallow water for plant food mainly in the evening or at night, and therefore spends much of the day resting. Pintails migrate at night, at speeds of around 48 miles per hour. Northern Pintail is not restricted to North America; they also occur in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia. The longest nonstop flight recorded for a Northern Pintail was 1,800 miles. The IUCN while categorizing and evaluating northern pintail species has listed them as of “Least Concern”.

5. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos): Mallard is the most widespread duck in the world and is found in most freshwater habitats and flyways, and breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. Mallards are large ducks with hefty bodies, rounded heads, and wide, flat bills. The Mallard is the ancestor of nearly all domestic duck breeds. It is considered to be a species of “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

6. Tufted-Duck (Aythya fuligula): The tufted duck is a small to medium-sized diving duck smaller than a mallard. Tufted duck is known for the agile diving abilities and can stay submerged for long periods of time. It wanders to North America from both directions, reaching the northeast from Europe and Iceland, reaching Alaska and the Pacific Coast from Asia. Tufted Ducks are voracious in winter, eating up to three times their body weight in mussels in a single day. The global population of tufted duck species is estimated at 2.6-2.9 million individual birds. The IUCN has considered tufted duck species of “Least Concern”.

7. Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca): The Ferruginous duck is found in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Indian Subcontinent and Morocco. It is a medium-sized diving duck belonging to the family Anatidae. The ferruginous duck species is distributed in the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Africa and Europe. It is listed as "near threatened" in the IUCN Red List, and its populations have been in decline in many European countries.

8. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina): The common pochard also known as the European pochard is a medium-sized diving duck that is widespread across the Palearctic. It is commonly found in freshwater lakes and ponds and is known for its diving and dabbling feeding habits. The common Pochard primarily feeds on aquatic plants and invertebrates. It is also known for its distinctive red head and neck, which makes it easy to identify in the wild. These ducks are excellent divers and can stay underwater for up to 20-30 seconds while foraging for food. In 2015 IUCN listed common pochard from “Least Concern” to "Vulnerable” based on its rapid decline throughout its range.

9. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina): Red-crested Pochard is a large diving duck distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. It is considered as a link between dabbling ducks (Anatinae) and pochards (Aythyinae). The male is identified by its orange-brown shaving brush head crest, red beak, and pale flanks; the female is brown with pale cheeks. Red-crested Pochards feed on aquatic plants, roots, shoots, tubers, seeds and grains. Though the pochard species faces threats in the form of habitat degradation and hunting, the IUCN has listed them as of “Least Concern”.

Red-crested Pochard (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

10. Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis): Long-tailed ducks are mid-sized birds with long, dark tails and gray legs and feet. This duck species is socially monogamous and may breed in single pairs or loose groups. Long-tailed Duck is considered an amazing diver—able to swim down as deep as 200 feet to forage, with an average lifespan of 15.3 years. It is distributed in the Arctic coasts of North America, Europe and Asia. On January 22, 2023, the rare duck species was spotted at the iconic Wular Lake in Kashmir after 84 years. The last time they were sighted in Hokersar wetland was in 1939 by F Ludlow. The IUCN has listed Long-tailed Duck species as "Vulnerable".

11. Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea): Ruddy Shelduck is a species of waterfowl mostly found in wetlands, marshes, and lakes in parts of Europe and Asia. Buddhists regard the ruddy shelduck as sacred and this gives the birds some protection in central and eastern Asia. They feed on roots, shoots, buds, grasses, leaves, seeds and stems. The IUCN has listed them as of “Least Concern”.

12. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna): The common shelduck is a black and white waterfowl species found in parts of Africa, Europe and Asia. It has a reddish chest band and a red bill with a knob on the drake. The female is slightly smaller and has a less prominent knob on its bill. Common Shelduck feeds on a variety of invertebrates, plants, and small fish. Common shelducks are known for their strong pair bonds, with males and females forming long-term partnerships. Despite waterfowl species not considered to be threatened, the populations in some regions have declined due to habitat loss and hunting. Common Shelducks are classified by the IUCN Red List as being of “Least Concern”.

13. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca): The Green-winged Teal has a distinctive green patch of secondary feathers found in both adult males as well as females. The birds are endemic to North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. The species are known as opportunistic foragers, feeding on things like insects and larvae, seeds of sedge grasses, aquatic vegetation. Green-winged teal are highly "grainivorous" in winter, with grains making up almost 95 percent of their diet in some populations. They become sexually mature after their first winter and have long been a game bird for waterfowl hunters around the globe. The IUCN Red List lists the green-winged teal as a species of “Least Concern”.

14. Garganey (Spatula querquedula): The garganey is a small dabbling duck and a member of the Anatidae family.  Garganey breeds in much of Europe and across the Palearctic, but is strictly migratory. The garganey species is distributed across Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Europe, Africa and Australia, while large wintering flocks are seen in India including Jammu and Kashmir. The IUCN has listed garganey as of “Least Concern”.

15. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser): The common merganser is a large diving duck that lives in rivers and lakes in forested areas of Europe, Asia, and North America. It uses keen eyesight to locate prey underwater while swimming on the surface. The common merganser is generally considered to be a top predator in aquatic food chains. The IUCN has listed Common Merganser as being of “Least Concern”.

16. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons): The greater white-fronted goose breeds at high latitudes in northern Europe, Asia and North America. It is a small, stocky, brown goose with white feathers around its bill. Greater White-fronted Goose pairs stay together for years and migrate together, along with their offspring. It is listed as a bird of “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

17. Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus): The bar-headed goose is one of the world's highest-flying birds having grey bodies, with orange legs and a black and white neck. The bird can achieve speeds in excess of 150 km per hour, and complete the 700–1000 km journey within a day. It is one of the few birds that fly over Mount Everest, and visited Kashmir for the first time on December 5, 2019. Bar-headed geese were one of the first species to show signs of the H5N1 (Bird Flu) virus and are listed on the IUCN Red List as being of “Least Concern”.

Bar-headed geese fly at about 80 kmph but can reportedly achieve speeds in excess of 150 km per hour, and travel up to 1,600 km a day. Unverified reports say they've been spotted flying over Mount Everest. (Photo by Trisha Mukherjee via Wikimedia Commons 4.0)

18. Greylag Goose (Anser anser): The Greylag goose is a large, heavy goose that is native to the British Isles. It is grey-brown, with a dark head and paler stomach. In captivity, greylag geese can live over 30 years and tends to weigh between 2,500 and 4,100 grams. The greylag goose is distributed across much of Europe and Asia, extending into eastern Russia and China. As per the IUCN Red List Criteria, the species is categorised as being of “Least Concern”.

19. Smew (Mergellus albellus): The Smew is a medium-sized duck and one of the most beautiful waterfowl species. The male Smew has a white body and black markings, and the female has a reddish-brown head and a grey body. Smew is a diving duck, which spends a lot of time under the water hunting for food: mostly aquatic insects in summer and small fish in winter. The global population of the species is estimated to be 130,000 individual birds. According to the IUCN, smew species are of “Least Concern”. Smew, as per a study conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society, have visited Kashmir after 116 years on January 25, 2023.

Great Cormorants are seabirds that are 84 to 90 cm long, with wingspans of 130 to 160 cm. (Photo by Imran Shah via Wikimedia Commons)

20. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus): Great Crested Grebe is considered a skilled diver and swimmer, often catching fish and other aquatic prey. The birds build floating nests on the water and are characterised by its distinctive appearance. Great crested grebes are mostly found in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. They are medium-sized bird measuring 40-60 cm in length and weighing 500-1500 grams. The IUCN while categorizing and evaluating the bird species has listed them of “Least Concern”.

21. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis): The Eared Grebe is a small waterbird; 12–14 inches long. It has a thin, dark bill with red eyes and a triangular head that peaks over its eye. The Eared Grebe migrates only at night and feeds on aquatic invertebrates, especially brine shrimp and brine flies along with the occasional small fish, mollusk, or amphibian. Birds of this species are found in North America, Eurasia, parts of northern and southern Africa, East Asia and Central America. For the first time ever, Eared Grebe birds were sighted on March 6, 2023 in Wular Lake of Jammu & Kashmir. Due to the large global population and range of the bird species, the IUCN lists them as a species of “Least Concern”.

22. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo): The great cormorant is a seabird, and is found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and in northeastern coastal North America. The birds are 84 to 90 cm long, with wingspans of 130 to 160 cm. The often hold the wings open when out of the water. The great cormorant weighs 2.6-3.7 kg and was hunted almost to extinction, but conservation efforts have increased their numbers. The IUCN has categorized this species as being of “Least Concern”.