10 Rare Birds You Can Only Spot in India’s Protected Areas

Himalayan MonalThis state bird of Uttarakhand is native to Himalayan forests and shrublands at elevations of 2,100–4,500 m. You will find it in the Great Himalayan National Park and the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.Malabar TrogonThe Malabar trogon is found in the Western Ghats, hill forests of central India and in parts of the Eastern Ghats. Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka and Kerala’s Thattekad Bird Sanctuary are the best places to spot it.Great Indian BustardThe critically endangered great Indian bustard lives in the dry grasslands and shrubland of the country. It can be found in the Desert National Park of Rajasthan.Indian PittaThis passerine bird inhabits scrub jungle, deciduous and dense evergreen forest. Jharkhand’s Betla National Park and Satpura National Park in Madhya Pradesh are the top places to see it.Nilgiri Wood PigeonThis is a large pigeon that is commonly found in the moist deciduous forests and sholas of the Western Ghats. Visit Nagarahole National Park and Eravikulam National Park in Kerala to see it in action.Bugun LiocichlaThis passerine bird was first spotted in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary of Arunachal Pradesh in 1995. It is thought to be an endangered species with a restricted distribution range.Rufous-Necked HornbillThis striking bird can be found in Bhutan and northeastern India. Nameri National Park in Assam and Sikkim’s Khangchendzonga National Park are the top places to see the rufous-necked hornbill.Himalayan FlamebackThis woodpecker species is found in the Indian subcontinent, spanning Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Nepal. According to reports, it can be spotted in Jim Corbett National Park and Nanda Devi National Park.Pallas’s Fish EagleListed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this bird primarily eats large freshwater fish. Kaziranga National Park in Assam and Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand are the top places to spot it.Indian PeafowlIndia’s national bird can be spotted all across the country, including Ranthambore National Park, the Sariska Tiger Reserve and the Viralimalai Bird Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, among others.Did You Know About These 10 Fascinating Nocturnal Birds Of India?Read more