Birding in Gujarat

Gujarat is the preferred wintering ground for numerous migratory birds and many Indian endemics that draw birders from across the world every year.

What makes birding in Gujarat special are the diverse bird habitats found in this coastal state in the west of India. To the northwest in Gujarat is the Rann of Kutch, a vast swathe of marshy, salt-crusted flatland with ecosystems as varied as mangroves, scrub forests, deserts, wetlands and grasslands. To the east are the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests, which support enormous wildlife and avifauna diversity. To the south are the green hills of the Western Ghats. And spread throughout Gujarat are a number of rivers, reservoirs, lakes, forests, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that are home to as many as 611 species of birds, both resident and migratory.

Our Gujarat birding tour covers the best birding hotspots of Gujarat to give you rare glimpses of the region’s avian wonders. We have the knowhow, experience and expertise to treat you to some special bird sightings, such as that of the Great Indian Bustard and MacQueen’s Bustard (a winter visitor) at the same place.

We put you on the birding spots and trails that throw up uncommon views of magnificently beautiful birds like Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Purple Swamphen, Black-hooded Oriole, Coppersmith Barbet, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Pheasant-Tailed Jacana, Blossom-headed Parakeet, and Short-eared Owl. Our Gujarat birding holiday trip takes you amongst thousands of Demoiselle Cranes, Common Cranes, Lesser Flamingos, and many species of ducks, pelicans and waterfowl. Our birding trip of Gujarat offers you a good chance of catching a rare glimpse of the delightful Indian Skimmer, the elusive Stoliczka’s Bushchat and the shy White-naped Tit.

Many of these feathered beauties are found in several bird sanctuaries spread throughout Gujarat.

Topping the list is the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, the largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat and home to countless birds of diverse variety every winter and spring. As many as 250 avian species have been noted at this bird haven, and it’s not a tall order for a traveller on India birding holiday to log 100 sightings in a day. Set around the namesake lake, this bird sanctuary is best explored on a boat and it charms you with the sights of flamingos, rosy pelicans, storks, herons, bitterns, crakes, grebes, and brahminy ducks. Some of the birds – such as waterfowls and cranes – can be seen in their thousands at a time. Along the banks, one may spot pairs of Sarus Cranes. Up in the sky or on tree branches the fascinating birds of prey like the Great Spotted Eagle or Pallas’s Fish Eagle may catch your eye.

For the birders wishing to see raptors, Banni Grassland Reserve in the Rann of Kutch is the place to be. A large natural grassland spread across an area of 3847 sq km, Banni Grassland hosts 150 bird species and some spectacular raptors like Bonnelli’s Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle and Tawny Eagle. Huge flocks of flamingos, ducks, migratory cranes can be spotted at the lake Charri Dhand, which fills up every monsoon season and attracts many other birds like storks, herons and waterfowls in their hundreds and thousands. A doughty birder even stands a chance of sighting a stray White-naped Tit or a Short-Eared Owl here.

But if seeing the endangered Great Indian Bustard – the flagship species for grassland conservation – happens to top your wishlist, the Kutch Bustard Sanctuary near Naliya is the best bet. Though spread over a relatively small area, this grassland is also the stomping ground of MacQueen’s Bustard and Lesser Florican. In the bargain, the birding trip of Kutch Bustard Sanctuary throws up sights of Grey Francolin, Indian Sandgrouse, Imperial Eagle and Stoliczka’s Bushchat.

Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary holds out the promise of the Indian Skimmer, Baer’s Pochard, and varieties of ducks. This bird habitat has both fresh-water and salt-water wetlands and is also the breeding ground of Crested Grebe.

Gir National Park offers great views of raptors like Egyptian Vulture, White-backed and Long-Billed Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, and Crested Serpent Eagle. The forests here house colourful birds such as the Indian Pitta, Indian Peafowl, Black-headed Oriole, Crested Treeswift, and also many birds with camouflage plumage like Brown Fish Owl, Rock Bush Quail, Brown-Capped Pygmy Woodpecker. A total of 300 species of birds make this national park a choice destination for Gujarat birding adventure.

As you see, the birding options are so many as to leave you spoilt for choice.

We at India Birding Tours sift through the clutter to present you with the best birding tour of Gujarat you can have in limited time. We put you on spots and trails known to yield maximum bird sightings. We take you close to huge flocks of waders. We help you catch rare bird sights like a low-flying Indian Skimmer skimming its breakfast off the surface of a lake, or a Sarus Crane engaged in a courtship dance or the Great Indian Bustard scouring a grassland for its lunch. We can even customize your Gujarat birding trip to your liking, add new birding spots or extend the tour as per your liking. On the side, we give you options to do a lot of fun stuff as well.