Largely a nation blessed with geographical diversity, India fosters a wildlife few other

countries can match. While a huge multitude of animals walk its terrain, and an
equally impressive number of birds soar its skies, the nation extends its famed
hospitality to a whole host of migratory birds as well. It was Mumbais oddly
misplaced flamingos of sewri that inspired the search for them in the first place but
upon closer inspection, we found that they were in much more hallowed company.
Plenty of birds seek refuge from either the clod in the North or the heat in the west
and the south, and the climate of India provides the perfect escape from both. Here
are some of the most fascinating ones. For dexterous purposes, we decided to split
them into 2 categories: The Winter birds, and the Summer birds
A. The Winter Wings
I. Siberian Cranes
An endangered species, the Siberian Crane is a very distinctive and endangered member of the
crane family. While it nests in western Siberia throughout the year, the cranes undergo a 4,000
mile journey to India every winter to escape the deathly cold and lack of food in the Siberian
regions. The cranes can be spotted mainly at two places: the Kaladeo Ghana National Park or the
Bharatpur National Park, which has since been declared a world heritage site because the
Siberian Crane traverses nearly half of the globe to reach it.
However, in the recent past, things have drastically changed. The once regular visitors have
started making sporadic appearances in the past decade or so sometimes, disappearing for very
long spells. Overpopulation, extreme weather changes and hunting are major contributors to this
phenomenon. While the Crane Foundation is doing all it can to reroute the birds and bring them
back to India, the chances, frankly, look bleak.

Siberian Cranes, Image-source-www.susancarnahan.com

II. Greater Flamingo

The Journey: From Flamingo City to Rann Of Kutchs Anda Bet Island.
While the Flamingos of Sewri might be renowned all over Bombay, theyre actually Lesser
Flamingos, found in India and migrate within the country itself. Flocks of Greater Flamingos,
however, start descending into Flamingo City to an island called Anda Bet, in the Greater Rann
of Kutch which is the largest nesting site of the species in the country. In 2011, around 10 lakh
flamingos were recorded in the island. They settle down in the month of October only .
Flamingos are fussy, and breed in ideal conditions only. The level of water and availability of
food are all take into account before the swarm of pink decides to settle down. However, since
their last migration in 2011, the flamingos have disappeared and have not made any more
arrivals. Although they are known to breed once every three years, their sudden disappearance is
a cause of concern, experts believe. Another cause of worry in the Rann of Kutch salt marsh is
that greater flamingos are occasionally electrocuted when they sit on 1000-watt electric cables
near their breeding areas only recently, 139 such deaths were recorded. Fingers are crossed as
we hope that the majestic swarm of pink makes an appearance this year.

Greater Flamingo, Image source clementfrancis.com

III. Ruff
The Journey: From the Arctic Tundra Region to The Himalayas.
The Ruffs are birds of the Arctic Tundra region. Although they spend the summer months
breeding and rearing chicks, the winters pose a huge problem altogether as hell freezes over
literally. The subzero temperatures cause everything, from plants to flowers to insects, to freeze,
which propels them to move South. One of their preferred destinations is India, where they can
find food in abundance for the growth of their young ones. However, once the breeding season
comes around again they move back to the Tundra to repeat the cycle all over again.

Ruff. Image source ibc.lynxeds.com

IV. Northern Shoveler

The Journey: From Europe and Northern Asia to The Himalayas.
This resident of Europe and Northern Asia, the Northern Shoveler is a species of duck that
spends its winters in southern Europe, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, northern South America,
and the Malay Archipelago. A huge population of these birds, which spends its winters in the
Indian Subcontinent makes a taxing journey over the Himalayas, often taking a break in wetlands
just south of the Himalaya before continuing further south to India. The birds, which reside in
marshy wetlands in the north, have seen a tremendous rise in its population in the past four
decades, numbering over four million today.

Northern Shoveler, Image source Dan Pancamo

V. Rosy Pelican
The Journey: From Europe To North India.
Pelicans are known to possess gigantic beaks yet, the Rosy Pelican is known for its gigantic
wingspan too, which stretches close to 12 feet in length. Like other winter migratory birds, the
Rosy Pelican migrates to the north of India, settling down in shallow, fresh water lakes with
plenty of fish. Although a majority of these birds settle down in Pakistan, some of them visit
India, while some go as far and as high as Nepal. Due to overfishing, the Rosy Pelicans have had
to go farther south to look for food, which has brought about a disruption in their habitat.
However, on the odd occasion, they might also eat seagulls and ducklings and sometimes, even
steal other birds food!

Rosy Pelican, Image source wikipedia.com

VI. Gadwall
The Journey: From Europe & North America to Bhopal, India.
Myla. Bhuar. Beykhur. If you recognise any of those three names, youd know were referring to
Gadwall. The tiny brown duck is a common winter visitor in India, travelling many a mile from
its home in Europe and North America. Gadwall generally prefers freshwater reedy marshes,
jheels and other such low water bodies. It prefers to keep near emergent vegetation for quick
availability of food. The bird can be spotted during the winters in north and central India, most
notably in Bhopal.

Gadwal, Image source cyclingtheworldforbirds.blogspot.com

VII. Black-tailed Godwit

The Journey: From Iceland or Russia to North India.
The black-tailed godwits spend their summers in Iceland or Russia where they breed, eat and
raise their young. However, winters are not too kind on these delicate birds up in the north, so
they migrate down south landing in the lowland wet grasslands in North India. The birds prefer
the mud and the muck, and can generally be found by inland pools, lakes and marshes. They feed
on mostly insects or frogspawn, and walk the mucky lands in India for a good four-five months.

Black-Tailed Godwit, Image source birdsasart-blog.com

VIII. Spotted Redshank

The Journey: Scandinavia to Haryana.
A bird that soars the airs of Scandinavia in the summer turns South-East during the winters. The
tiny Spotted Redshank needs a moderate temperature and tropical conditions, as well as wet
coniferous forests for its nests. Therefore, the period after monsoons in India is perfect for their
survival. The females the eggs and leave India to return to Scandinavia while the young ones
hatch in India itself and are taken care of by the males. After the birds grow enough, they too
return to Europe. These birds can be easily found in November in the wet, marshy areas in
Haryana.

Spotted Redshank, Image source awayfromfourmarks.blogspot.com

IX. Bluethroat
The Journey: From Europe & Alaska to Rajasthan.
A beautiful bird that resembles a sparrow, the bluethroat, as the name suggests, is distinguished
by the gleaming blue feathers below its neck. An excellent mimic, the bluebird is known to
answer calls of other birds, while having a melodious originality in its own voice. A full grown
bluethroat is no bigger than your palm, and thus cannot cope with the freezing winters in Europe
or Alaska. During the winters, it can be spotted easily in Rajasthan; however, they are known to
travel as far south as Maldives to look for a temporary home. The insectivore then travels back
home in April, and looks for mates as the breeding season beckons.

Blue Throat Bird, Image source awayfromfourmarks.blogspot

B. The Summer Soarers

I. Asian Koel
The Journey: From Singapore to Pondicherry.
Koel jaisa meetha sur is a term we grew up hearing. However, what few people know is that
the Asian Koel is not indigenous to India it migrates from Singapore every year. With its
mesmerising voice and perpetually bloodshot eyes, the bird is a brood parasite it lays its eggs
in the nests of other birds. In India, the victim is the poor crow, whose nests the Koel invades.
The reason for the Koels migration, believe it or not, is unique too. The summers in Singapore
and its surrounding tropical areas is too hot for the Koel and so it migrates to India to get a
cool climate as well as considerable food! The migratory brood parasite, which leaves India
during the winters, is also the state bird of Pondicherry.

Asian Koel, Image source theanimals.pics

II. Black-crowned Night Heron

The Journey: From Argentina, Chile & China to the Bengal region of India.
Dubbed the night raven, the Black-crowned Night Heron is sprawled throughout the world
from Argentina and Chile to China and Taiwan. While it spends its winters in the west, the Heron
spends much of its summer in Asia and most of it, in the Indian subcontinent, especially in the
Bengal region. The bird is known to eat fish, insects and even snakes.

Black Crowned Nigh Heron, Image source nathistoc.bio.uci.edu

III. Eurasian Golden Oriole

The Journey: From Europe and Africa to India.
While its cousin, the Indian Golden Oriole, is a native of the Indian subcontinent, the Eurasian
Golden Oriole does drop by every summer to exchange pleasantries. The bird lives across
Europe and Africa, and is a summer migrant to the subcontinent and West Asia. The Oriole is
known for its striking features and distinct cry something, which people say, cannot be
forgotten once heard.

IV. Comb Duck

The Journey: From Madagascar & South Asia to Haryana.
The Comb Duck, or Natka, as it is called in India, is a large, queer duck found in large
freshwater wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar and south Asia. It also occurs in
continental South America south to the Paraguay River region in eastern Paraguay, south-eastern
Brazil and the extreme northeast of Argentina, and Trinidad. The queer duck prefers places that
are away from human settlements, and is most comfortable in fresh water swamps and lakes in
tropical lowlands. Found mainly in the state of Haryana, the duck migrates to India to escape the
harsh weather conditions in other places.

Comb Duck, Image source www.zoochat.com

V. Blue-cheeked Bee Eater

The Journey: From Africa and parts of Europe to peninsular India.
The Blue-tailed Bee-eater is a tiny, near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It is
strongly migratory, seen seasonally in much of peninsular India and travels to the land for
breeding purposes. Although its name might suggest otherwise, but the Bee Eaters favourite
food is the Indian dragonfly. It spends its summers in India and travels back to Africa and other
parts of Europe at the end of the season.

Blue Cheeked Bee Eater, Image source wikipedia.com