Birdwatching in Dudhwa National Park

Last Updated on March 31, 2021 by asoulwindow

Birdwatching in Dudhwa National Park

Dudhwa is home to many endemic and migratory birds. A biodiversity hotspot, Dudhwa is rich in both flora and fauna. This is a complete checklist of birds found in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. You will be surprised to know that of the 1300 birds species found in India, Dudhwa Tiger reserve is home to 550 species of birds.

Some of the birds easily found in Dudhwa Tiger reserve are Kingfishers, Bengal Florican, Lesser Florican, Sarus Cranes, Barbets, Owls, Hornbills, Drongos, Minivets, Geese, Ruddy-breasted Crake etc. Even if you are not fond of birding you will enjoy the wildlife safari at Dudhwa Tiger reserve. Do read my blog on Dudhwa National Park to know more about this offbeat wildlife destination.

Uttar Pradesh Bird Festival in Dudhwa

The Uttar Pradesh forest and wildlife Department, a government body, also organizes the annual Uttar Pradesh Bird Festival in Dudhwa National Park where birdwatchers from Uttar Pradesh and other states are encouraged to go on bird watching trips in and around Dudhwa Tiger reserve.

The objective of the Uttar Pradesh Bird Festival is to conserve avian habitats, promote eco tourism in Dudhwa region and boost the local economy by providing an additional source of income to the local people.

They offer bird watching packages which include Luxury Swiss Cottage Stay, Morning tea, breakfast, beverages, lunch, dinner, jungle safari, panel discussions, seminars, exhibitions and cultural shows.

Bird watching outside Dudhwa Tiger reserve

You can spot many native and migratory birds and even small wildlife outside the Dudhwa Tiger reserve, like I did. You just need to drive on the periphery of the Dudhwa National Park and keep your eyes peeled for any birds in the vicinity of countryside. I saw 2 massive Bishop stork or woolly necked stork while heading to Dhangadhi in Nepal from Dudhwa national Park in Uttar Pradesh in India. Be ready for surprises like this!

Bishop stork or woolly necked stork

Best time for bird watching in Dudhwa Tiger reserve

So, what’s the best time for bird watching in Dudhwa National Park?Winter is a good time for bird watching in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. Apart from the endemic birds, many migratory birds also spend winter months in the Dudhwa region.

Winter months in Dudhwa region include October, November, December, January and February. This is the best time for bird watching in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

Me with camera. Pic by Sudeep Garg

Checklist of birds of Dudhwa

Below is a complete checklist of birds, both endemic and migratory found in and around Dudhwa National Park and Dudhwa Tiger Reserve which also includes Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary.

PICIFORMES: Ramphastidae

Blue-throated Barbet

Brown-headed Barbet

Coppersmith Barbet

Lineated Barbet

Malabar Barbet

Blue Throated Barbet

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae

Black Bulbul

Black-crested Bulbul

Red-vented Bulbul

Red-whiskered Bulbul

PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark

Bengal Lark

Crested Lark

Indian Bush Lark

Oriental Sky Lark

Singing Bush Lark

Indian Bush Lark. Pic by Sudeep Garg

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

Citrine Wagtail

Forest Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Olive-backed Pipit

Paddyfield Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

Rosy Pipit

Tawny Pipit

White Wagtail

White-browed Wagtail

PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe

CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae

Eurasian Thick-knee

Great Thick-knee

PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

Black-headed Ibis

Eurasian Spoonbill

Indian Black Ibis

PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae

Great Cormorant

Indian Cormorant

Little Cormorant

PELECANIFORMES: Anhingidae

Oriental Darter

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

Brown Crake

Common Coot

Common Moorhen

Purple Swamphen

Ruddy-breasted Crake

Watercock

White-breasted Waterhen

CHARADRIIFORMES: Rostratulidae

Greater Painted-snipe

GRUIFORMES: Gruidae

Common Crane

Sarus Crane

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

Chestnut-shouldered Bush Sparrow

House Sparrow

CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt

CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae

Bronze-winged Jacana

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

OTIDIFORMES: Otididae

Bengal Florican

Lesser Florican

Lesser Florican mating dance by Sudeep Garg

CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae

Little Pratincole

CHARADRIIFORMES: Turnicidae

Common Buttonquail

CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Black-bellied Tern

Black-headed Gull

River Tern

Whiskered Tern

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae

Osprey

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae

Alpine Swift

Crested Treeswift

Little Swift

White-rumped Spinetailed Swift

Savanna Nightjar

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Grey Nightjar

Indian Nightjar

Jerdon’s Nightjar

Large-tailed Nightjar

Savanna Nightjar

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Asian Barred Owlet

Brown Boobook

Brown Fish Owl

Brown Wood Owl

Collared Scops Owl

Dusky Eagle Owl

Eurasian Eagle Owl

Jungle Owlet

Oriental Scops Owl

Rock Eagle Owl

Spot-bellied Eagle Owl

Spotted Owlet

STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae

Common Barn Owl

Eastern Grass Owl

BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucerotidae

Great Hornbill

Indian Grey Hornbill

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Asian Emerald Dove

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Emerald Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

Laughing Dove

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon

Oriental Turtle Dove

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon

Pompadour Green Pigeon

Red Collared Dove

Rock Dove

Spotted-necked Dove

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon

Yellow-legged Green Pigeon

PICIFORMES: Picidae

Black-rumped Woodpecker

Brown-capped Woodpecker

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker

Great Slaty Woodpecker

Greater Flame-backed Woodpecker

Greater Yellow-naped Woodpecker

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Grey-headed Woodpecker

Himalayan Flame-backed Woodpecker

Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpecker

Northern Wryneck

Rufous Woodpecker

Scaly-bellied Woodpecker

Streak-throated Woodpecker

White-browed Piculet

White-naped Woodpecker

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Grey Headed Wooodpecker

BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae

Common Hoopoe

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

Asian Emerald Cuckoo

Banded Bay Cuckoo

Common Cuckoo

Common Hawk Cuckoo

Common Koel

Drongo Cuckoo

Greater Coucal

Green-billed Malkoha

Grey-bellied Cuckoo

Indian Cuckoo

Jacobin Cuckoo

Lesser Coucal

Lesser Cuckoo

Sirkeer Malkoha

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Grey-headed Lapwing

Little Ringed Plover

Northern Lapwing

Red-wattled Lapwing

River Lapwing

White-tailed Lapwing

Yellow Wattled Lapwing

PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae

Black-naped Monarch

Indian Paradise-flycatcher

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Black Francolin

Common Quail

Grey Francolin

Indian Peafowl

Jungle Bush Quail

Red Junglefowl

Swamp Francolin

CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae

Indian Roller

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Common Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

Stork-billed Kingfisher

White-throated Kingfisher

CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Green Bee-eater

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittaculidae

Alexandrine Parakeet

Plum-headed Parakeet

Red-breasted Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Great Grey Shrike

PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae

Bay-backed Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

Long-tailed Shrike

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

Asian Pygmy Goose

Bar-headed Goose

Comb Duck

Common Pochard

Common Teal

Eurasian Wigeon

Falcated Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Gadwall

Garganey

Greylag Goose

Indian Spot-billed Duck

Lesser Whistling Duck

Mallard

Marbled Teal

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Red-crested Pochard

Ruddy Shelduck

Tufted Duck

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae

Black-headed Cuckooshrike

Large Cuckooshrike

Long-tailed Minivet

Scarlet Minivet

Short-billed Minivet

Small Minivet

PELECANIFORMES: Ciconiidae

Asian Openbill

Black Stork

Black-necked Stork

European White Stork

Lesser Adjutant

Painted Stork

Woolly-necked Stork

PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae

Indian Pitta

PASSERIFORMES: Vangidae

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike

Common Woodshrike

PASSERIFORMES: Aegithinidae

Common Iora

PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae

Black-hooded Oriole

Indian Golden Oriole

Maroon Oriole

PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae

Crimson Sunbird

Purple Sunbird

PASSERIFORMES: Rhipiduridae

White-browed Fantail

White-throated Fantail

PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae

Ashy Drongo

Black Drongo

Crow-billed Drongo

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Hair-crested Drongo

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo

White-bellied Drongo

PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae

Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Thick-billed Flowerpecker

PASSERIFORMES: Irenidae

Golden-fronted Leafbird

Orange-bellied Leafbird

PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae

Baya Weaver

Black-breasted Weaver

Streaked Weaver

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

House Crow

Large-billed Crow

Rufous Treepie

PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae

Black-headed Munia

Red Avadavat

Scaly-breasted Munia

PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae

Common Rosefinch

PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae

Black-headed Bunting

Chestnut-eared Bunting

Crested Bunting

White-capped Bunting

Yellow-breasted Bunting

PASSERIFORMES: Stenostiridae

Fairy-fantail

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae

Cinereous Tit

Fire-capped Tit

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae

Ashy Prinia

Common Tailorbird

Golden-headed Cisticola

Grey-breasted Prinia

Grey-crowned Prinia

Jungle Prinia

Plain Prinia

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Zitting Cisticola

PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae

Grasshopper Warbler

Striated Grassbird

PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae

Blyth’s Reed Warbler

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Paddyfield Warbler

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Barn Swallow

Northern House Martin

Pale Martin

Plain Martin

Red-rumped Swallow

Sand Martin

Wire-tailed Swallow

PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae

Chestnut-capped Babbler

Oriental White-eye

PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae

Striped Tit Babbler

Tawny-bellied Babbler

PASSERIFORMES: Pellorneidae

Puff-throated Babbler

Rufous-rumped Grass Babbler

PASSERIFORMES: Scotocercidae

Aberrant Bush Warbler

Grey-bellied Tesia

Grey-sided Bush Warbler

Pale-footed Bush Warbler

PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae

Yellow-eyed Babbler

PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae

Jungle Babbler

Large Grey Babbler

Scrub Babbler

Striated Babbler

PASSERIFORMES: Certhiidae

Bar-tailed Treecreeper

PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae

Great White Pelican

Spot-billed Pelican

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Asian Pied Starling

Bank Myna

Brahminy Starling

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Common Myna

Jungle Myna

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae

Asian Verditer Flycatcher

Black Redstart

Blue Rock Thrush

Blue Whistling Thrush

Bluethroat

Brown Rock Chat

Eastern Stonechat

Grey Bush Chat

Indian Robin

Little Pied Flycatcher

Oriental Magpie Robin

Pied Bush Chat

Plumbeous Water Redstart

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher

Siberian Rubythroat

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher

Ultramarine Flycatcher

White-capped Water Redstart

White-rumped Shama

White-tailed Rubythroat

White-tailed Stonechat

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Grey-winged Blackbird

Indian Blackbird

Orange-headed Thrush

Red-throated Thrush

PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae

Black Bittern

Black-crowned Night Heron

Cattle Egret

Cinnamon Bittern

Great Egret

Grey Heron

Indian Pond Heron

Intermediate Egret

Little Egret

Purple Heron

Striated Heron

Yellow Bittern

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

Common Kestrel

Peregrine Falcon

Red-necked Falcon

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

Black Eagle

Black Kite

Black-winged Kite

Bonelli’s Eagle

Booted Eagle

Brahminy Kite

Changeable Hawk Eagle

Crested Serpent Eagle

Egyptian Vulture

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Greater Spotted Eagle

Grey-headed Fish Eagle

Griffon Vulture

Hen Harrier

Indian Spotted Eagle

Indian Vulture

Lesser Fish Eagle

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Pallas’s Fish Eagle

Pallid Harrier

Pied Harrier

Red-headed Vulture

Shikra

Short-toed Eagle

Steppe Eagle

Tawny Eagle

Western Marsh Harrier

White-eyed Buzzard

White-rumped Vulture

White-tailed Sea Eagle

Pallas Fish Eagle

PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler

Common Chiffchaff

Golden-spectacled Leaf Warbler

Greenish Leaf Warbler

Hume’s Leaf Warbler

Tickell’s Leaf Warbler

Western Crowned Leaf Warbler

Yellow-vented Leaf Warbler

CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Black-tailed Godwit

Common Greenshank

Common Redshank

Common Sandpiper

Common Snipe

Green Sandpiper

Jack Snipe

Little Stint

Marsh Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Ruff

Spotted Redshank

Temminck’s Stint

Terek Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

Conclusion

You can use this handy guide on bird watching in Dudhwa National Park for a successful birding trip. You will be rewarded with many wonderful sightings of common and exotic birds in Dudhwa Tiger reserve if you visit during winter months. Do carry telephoto lens for close up shots of birds. Hiring a local guide for birding will help you have a better experience.

The view from my Soul Window is chirpy!

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