12 Best Place to See Raptors in India – Bird of Prey

India is home to more then 100 species of raptors, known as birds of prey. There are two kinds of raptor birds found in India diurnal and nocturnal, Here is the list of birds of prey found in Indian Subcontinent which includes species of kites,vultures,falcons, eagles, harriers, hawks, buzzards, kestrel and species of owls.

Nal Sarovar, Gujarat

Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary near Sanand Village of Ahmedabad is the largest wetland bird sanctuary in Gujarat state. The sanctuary is also one of the largest bird sanctuary in India and winter ground for Rosy pelicans, flamingoes, migratory waterfowl flock and Osprey,fish eagles and harriers.

Bharatpur, Rajasthan

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is renamed to Keoladeo Ghana National Park and most famous avifauna sanctuary in India. The sanctuary is home to 230 species of birds and raptors found in Bharatpur are 7 species of eagles, osprey and Peregrine falcon.

Osprey
Shikra
Peregrine Falcon
Pallas’ Sea Eagle
Short Toed Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Imperial Eagle
Spotted Eagle
Western Marsh Harrier
Crested Serpent Eagle
Greater Spotted Eagle

Chilka Lake, Odisha

Chilka Lake is the first wetland of international importance in India, listed under the Ramsar Convention and home to 14 types of raptor birds and endangered Irrawaddy dolphins.

Raptors Birds appear in Chilka Lake are White bellied sea eagle,Peregrine Falcon,Osprey and Crested Goshawk.

Pulicat Lake, Andhra Pradesh

Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish lake in India and home to greater flamingos and pelicans birds. The lagoon has rich flora and fauna diversity, Avifauna found in Pulicat lake includes painted storks,spoonbills and ducks.

Birds of Prey found in Pulicat Lake are harriers, peregrine falcons and white bellied sea eagle.

Rann of Kutch, Gujarat

Little Rann of Kutch is the best place in India where one can spot almost all species of raptors. The Ramsar Site is a birding paradise and wintering ground for demmossile crane,  flamingos , pelicans and hunting ground of Bird of Prey like harriers, falcons,buzzards and eagles.

Bird of Prey Found in Little Rann of Kutch

Peregrine Falcon
Common Buzzard
Steppe Eagle
Western Marsh Harrier
Black Winged Kite
Crested Goshawk
Common Kestrel
Short Eared Owl
Griffon Vulture

Sultanpur, Haryana

Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is very popular park in Gurgaon, located 15km from Gurgaon and 40 kilometres from Delhi. Migratory bird species found in Sultanpur are Egyptian vultures, hoopoe, gray francolin and sociable lapwing.

Bhigwan, Maharashtra

Bhigwan is also known as mini Bharatpur, noted for birdwatching especially flamingo during the winter season. The dusty town on the backwaters of Ujani dam is located 105 km from Pune on the Pune-Solapur Highway and home to raptors such as Osprey, Brahminy Kite and Indian Spotted Eagle.

Ranganathittu, Karnataka

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary is the largest bird sanctuary in Karnataka and attracted 170 species of birds during winter and spring. The bird paradise of Karnataka state is home to large raptors such as Osprey, Hawks, kites and eagles.

Family of Bird of Prey found in Ranganathittu Karnataka are Black baza, honey buzzard,Black kite and Lesser Fish Eagle.

Black Baza
Brahminy Kite
Laggar Falcon
Egyptian Vulture
Pallid Harrier
Shikra
Besra
Northern Goshawk
Tawny Eagle
Barn Owl
Indian Vulture
Lesser Kestrel
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Indian Spotted Eagle

Sundarbans, West Bengal

Sundarbans National Park houses a large number of Aquatic fauna, Avifauna of Sundarbans include black capped kingfishers,woodpeckers,openbill storks and jungle crows.

Bird of Prey found in Sundarbans include grey headed fish eagles, white bellied sea eagles,marsh harriers,brahminy kite and peregrine falcon.

Nagarhole, Karnataka

Nagarhole National Park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and noted flagship species like Bengal tiger, Black Panther,Indian leopard, Indian bison and Indian elephants. The park has over 250 species of birds such as Nilgiri wood pigeon, Malabar grey hornbill, blue winged parakeet and large congregations of waterfowl in the Kabini river.

Raptors found in Nagarhole National Park such as spotted eagle,Changeable Hawk Eagle,crested serpent eagle, greater grey headed fish eagle and very rare Cinereous Vulture.

Spotted Eagle
Cinereous Vulture
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Egyptian Vulture
Oriental White Backed Vulture

Vedanthangal, Tamil Nadu

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest water bird sanctuary in India and wintering ground for migratory birds such as common sandpiper, grey wagtail, shovellers, glossy ibises, grey pelicans and pintail.

Thattekad, Kerala

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is one of the best known bird sanctuary in Kerala, located in the evergreen forest of Periyar river. The sanctuary has a rich and varied birdlife and important ones include Indian pitta,Malabar grey hornbill,Oriental darter and Large hawk cuckoo.

– Ladakh Birdlife

The flora and fauna of Ladakh has a great diversity of birds, There are 225 species of birds found in Ladakh. A list of the bird species recorded in Ladakh is as follows:

Osprey
Honey Buzzard
Himalayan Griffon
Cinereous vulture
Snake Eagle
Pallid Harrier
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Bearded Vulture /Lammergeier
Golden Eagle
Common Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eurasian Hobby

Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary along the Palk Strait is famous for large congregations of waterbirds and land animals. Notable animals and birds of Point Calimere Sanctuary are Blackbuck, monitor lizard and migratory waterbirds include spoonbill sandpiper, Spot billed pelican,lesser flamingo and Spoonbill.

Desert National Park – Bird of Prey

Desert National Park of Rajasthan near the town of Jaisalmer is an excellent example of the Thar Desert ecosystem and haven to almost all the specie of birds of prey including great eagles, harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrel, Short toed eagles, tawny eagles, spotted eagles and vultures along with laggar falcons and great Indian bustards.