10 Most Beautiful Migratory Birds Coming to India

India is a winter home for most of the Siberian birds such as Siberian Cranes, Greater Flamingo and Other beautiful species of birds along with numerous species of Ducks and water birds from the other region of the world.

These beautiful birds migrate to India every year during the winter and summer season for food, breeding and nesting. Here is the list of most beautiful migratory birds coming to India in winter and summer season.

1. Siberian Cranes (Grus leucogeranus)

Siberian Cranes are snowy white color birds and migrate during winter to India. These cranes are omnivorous and breeds in the arctic tundra of Russia and Siberia.

Siberian Cranes or snow cranes are critically endangered species of migratory birds, wintered in Bharatpur Keoladeo National Park till 2002. Image Source ebird.

2. Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)

Amur falcons are small raptor that breed in Siberia and migrate to Southern Africa. During migration in large flocks across North East India and over the Arabian sea, they feed around Doyang Lake in Nagaland in the evening or early in the morning during the winter season.

3. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Greater Flamingo is the largest of all species of the flamingo family, found in the Indian subcontinent. The migratory bird found in parts of Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Flamingo City and in the Thol Bird Sanctuary of Gujarat during entire winter season.

4. Demoiselle Crane (Grus virgo)

Demoiselle cranes are migratory birds and spend the winter in the Indian subcontinent. These cranes are smallest species of crane lives in a variety of different environments, including desert areas of Rajasthan.

5. Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)

 Bluethroat is a small brightly colored passerine bird from thrush family and winters in north Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur in Rajasthan is one of the best place to spot migratory birds coming to India in winter season.

6. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Black Winged Stilt is a very long legged wader bird and become a regular migrant to India, usually found around the wetland. The bird has 5 subspecies named as Black necked stilt,Black winged stilt ,White backed stilt and White headed stilt.

7. Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

Blue Tailed Bee Eater is a strongly migratory bird found seasonally in much of peninsular India. This species is a richly coloured near passerine bird breeds in farmland and most often seen near large waterbodies.

8. Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)

Bar Headed Goose is the highest flying bird in the world and migrate to India every in winter season. The bar headed migrates over the Himalayas and spend their winter in Assam to Tamil Nadu states of India.

This bird is one of the most common winter season visitor found in large wetlands of India. Keoladeo National Park or Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is the most famous avifauna sanctuary to spot bar headed goose in India.

9. Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)

Rosy Starling is a black head, chest and tail with white body passerine bird from starling family. It is a strong migrant bird and spend winters in India including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

10. Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)

The great white pelican also known as rosy pelican is a large bird with long beak and a large throat pouch, distributed in Eastern Europe, Africa and Northwest India.

This species migrates to India during winters in large numbers and settles down mainly in the states of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Follow the link to know more about Sanctuaries to See Pelican Birds in India.

Migratory Birds Coming to India in Winter Season

Here is the list of more migratory birds, wintering in the Indian subcontinent, mostly inhabits inland tress, water-bodies such as lakes and wetlands or backwaters.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Black Tailed Godwit is Sandpiper like shorebird, spend winter in the wetlands of the Indian Subcontinent.

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Ruddy shelduck also known as Brahminy duck is a strong migratory bird, wintering in backwaters and wetlands of the Indian subcontinent, visit India from southeast Europe.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Osprey is a large raptor bird, migrate to Indian in winter season. The osprey has a large range of migration, Bhigwan bird sanctuary is one of the best place to spot Osprey in India.

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

Pallid Harrier is a bird of prey, spend winters mainly in India. This medium sized raptor bird species nest on the ground, Little Rann of Kutch is the best place to see Pallid Harrier in India.

Eurasian SparrowHawk (Accipiter nisus)

Eurasian SparrowHawk is the most widespread raptor species, migrate to India during winter. This small bird of prey is the major predator of woodland small birds.

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Common Starling is a medium sized passerine bird, migrate to India for winter. The species is hunted by various mammals and birds of prey.

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

White Wagtail breeds in the wintering ground in India. This migratory bird along with Western yellow wagtail and Grey wagtail are form the family of Motacillidae with pipits and longclaws.

Migratory Birds Coming to India in Summer Season

Here are some of the migratory birds coming to India in summer and where you can see these fascinating birds of different color.

Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) in End of summer – Harbinger of Monsoon

Jacobin Cuckoo or pied crested cuckoo is partially migratory bird in India, it has been considered a harbinger of the monsoon rains in India due to the timing of its arrival.

Comb Duck

Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)

Blue-Cheeked Bee-Eater

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Black crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)

This article provides a list of migratory birds coming to India from South East Asia and the Siberian region during the winter and summer season. The migratory birds mainly arriving at the wetland spots of the national park, also seen in parts of the lakes and settling down in shallow or fresh water ponds.