New Delhi: March, the third month in the Gregorian calendar, is the best time to watch birds. This is when bird sanctuaries and wetlands come alive with a riot of colours. Thousands of birds return to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere. Many local birds breed from March to May. Birdwatchers can see birds build nests and raise their young. The colours and sounds of breeding birds make birdwatching even more special.
It does not rank very highly in terms of variety and new birds to be found, but March does welcome the first spring migrants. The great exodus of winter visitors from the plains of India begins in March. It continues until mid-May, when the last migratory birds will have reached their distant breeding ground. March is the start of the closed season for game birds in all reserved forests of Northern India. This is important because some birds begin to breed at the end of the month.
Best Birds to Spot in India During March
- Indian Pitta
- Greater Flamingos
- Purple sunbird
- Demoiselle Cranes
- Ruddy Shelduck
- Eurasian Teal
Indian Pitta
The Indian pitta migrates locally. From October to March, it stays mainly in the broad-leaved forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. Around mid-April, these birds begin their journey north. During this time, they may appear in unexpected places.
Greater Flamingos
Greater flamingos usually arrive in India from November to March, with the highest number migrating in December and January. They often gather in large flocks at wetlands like salt pans, lagoons, and estuaries, where they find plenty of food like brine shrimp and small aquatic organisms. They typically leave India in March and April when the weather starts to warm up in their breeding habitats elsewhere. Their migration is important for the health of wetland ecosystems in India and beyond.
Purple Sunbird
In spring, around March or April, the breeding season starts. Male purple sunbirds develop bright dark purple plumage with a shiny greenish-blue head, mantle, and breast, sometimes with a maroon shine. By June, after the breeding season ends, their plumage returns to the original colours of blackish-blue upperparts and yellow underparts, a metallic blue shoulder patch and a glossy black band along the throat to the abdomen.
Demoiselle Cranes
The demoiselle crane is a migratory bird found in central Eurosiberia, from the Black Sea to Mongolia and Northeast China, with a small breeding population in Turkey. Birds from western Eurasia migrate to Africa for winter, while cranes from Asia, Mongolia, and China spend winter in the Indian subcontinent. Khichan attracts over 30,000 demoiselle cranes in India annually, starting as early as August and staying until March.
Ruddy Shelduck
The ruddy shelduck is a medium-sized waterfowl with rusty orange heads, necks, and pale grey bodies. They have big, pointed beaks and orange legs. They measure 58-70 cm in length with a 110-135 cm wingspan. Ruddy shelducks live in wetlands like lakes, rivers, marshes, fields, and grasslands. They eat plant matter, grasses and seeds, and small aquatic animals. They typically arrive in India in November or December and stay until March or April before returning to their breeding grounds.
Eurasian Teal
The Eurasian teal, or common teal, is a small duck that breeds in northern Eurasia and migrates to India in winter. It is about 35 cm long and weighs around 350 grams. It has a green patch on its head, a chestnut-coloured breast, and a mottled brown and white body. The Eurasian teal is known for its fast flight and ability to dive and swim underwater for food. They usually migrate from their breeding grounds in August and September and reach India by October and November. They remain in India until around February or March before returning to breed.
March offers exceptional birdwatching in India. Many migratory birds, including Greater Flamingos and Demoiselle Cranes, are present until March, while resident species like the Purple Sunbird begin their breeding season. The article details key species visible in March, highlighting their migration patterns and breeding behaviours. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
