Best Birdwatching Spots In And Around Kolkata

According to research, spending time in nature and being surrounded by birdsong has mental health benefits. It has the potential to reduce stress, improve focus, and improve long-term mental health outcomes. Winter is a good time to spot birds in India, and ideal for birding in and around Kolkata. Not only is the weather pleasant, but it is also migration season for the city's extensive wetlands. If you are in the city this winter, here are some places to do a spot of birdwatching. 

Chintamoni Kar Bird Sanctuary

Chintamoni translates to "a wish-fulfilling jewel," and for avid birdwatchers, this sanctuary lives up to the name. It was named after the famous sculpture artist Chintamani Kar, The Sanctuary was named after the noted sculpture Sri Chintamoni Kar, who along with many others, fought tirelessly to obtain wildlife sanctuary status for the place. Located close to the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya in Narendrapur, it is part of the larger abandoned orchard known as Kayaler Bagan, which spans 17 acres with fruit trees that are more than 100 years old. Mango trees dominate the landscape, with jackfruit, coconut palm, tamarind, guava, ficus, and other trees interspersed. The sanctuary is home to a variety of birds including the Ashy drongo, Asian koel, Brown fish owl, kingfishers, Asian Paradise-flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Rose-ringed Parakeet and more. The sanctuary is also home to various species of snakes, civets, mongoose, monitor lizards, different types of insects, fungi, ferns, orchids and medicinal plants. Come here with some time in hand to explore everything. Keep in mind that the sun sets early in winters in Kolkata - by around 4pm, the light starts to dim. Find a listing of birds observed at the sanctuary on eBirds.

Timings: 6am to 5pm

Address: Hogulkuria Rajpur Road, Ramchandrapur, Narendrapur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700103

Rabindra Sarobar

Also known as the Dhakuria Lakes, this large water body in south Kolkata is a popular hangout spot for the people of the city. The Lakes, as the place is popularly known, attracts a large number of walkers, joggers, yoga practitioners, and professional rowers. The surrounding area is rich in floral species, some of which are centuries old. It is also a popular birding destination, with several species of resident and migratory birds sighted for decades. In the winters, a regular visitor is the stunning painted stork who makes its way to the plains of India from the foothills of the Himalayas. Other species spotted here include the rufous treepie, white-breasted kingfishers, the greater coucal, and more. A Poila Baisakh Bird Count was held here in April 2023, and participants reported sightings of 45 species, including a female Indian Rubythroat for the first time that season. From time to time, you'll see groups from the Bird Watchers Society walking around with binoculars and cameras. You can check out the number of birds spotted at the lakes here.

Timings: 5am to 7pm

Address: On Southern Avenue, near Golpark, Kolkata 700029, India

Santragachi Jheel

This stunning 13,75,000 square foot lake is only a 20-minute drive from Kolkata. According to reports, the lake attracted over 7,000 winged visitors this winter. Species such as the rare Fulvous Whistling-duck, Lesser Whistling duck, Gadwall, Garganey, Northern Pintail. Glossy Ibis, Swinhoe's Snipe, Ferruginous Pochard, Comb Duck, and the more common Gadwall, Garganey, Northern Pintail, Northern Shovelers Common Moorhen, Cotton Pygmy Goose, and others flock here in the winter. In the winter, the area, also known as Pakhiralay (bird sanctuary), attracts 4,000 to 5,000 ducks and waders in the winter.

Check out the bird species spotted in the waterbody here.

Purbasthali

Also known as Chupir Chor, this is a riverine oxbow lake and a cluster of islands which comprise the Purbasthali Gangetic isle complex. it is located on the Bhagirathi-Hooghly in Purba Bardhhaman district and draws many migratory birds in the winter. You can stroll around the lake or take a boat ride on its glistening clear water to take in the enchanted mosaic of over a hundred resident and migrating bird species. Make sure you do not disturb them. Among the more common birds are cormorants, egrets, jacanas, lesser whistling teals, red-crested pochards, and little grebes. Early in the morning is the ideal time to see the birds. Amidst a beautifully manicured park, there are a few guest cottages (two rooms with double beds and dorm. You can check the species of birds spotted at the lake here.

Getting there: Purbasthali is connected to Kolkata via rail (local trains from Howrah and Sealdah stations) and road (about 130 km).

East Kolkata Wetlands

Not many people know that Kolkata also has a wetland—the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), which has been designated as a Ramsar site. Located on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata, with Salt Lake township on one side and the new Rajarhat township on the other, it covers an area of 12,500 hectares with rich foliage and tranquil water bodies. The EKW is considered to be unique, as it is responsible for the world's largest wastewater-fed aquaculture system. The best way to explore it is by signing up for a tour to see the farms and fishing communities, palm-fringed paths, and fishing huts on stilts. The only reliable bird survey conducted at EKW in 1965 found 248 species in the wetlands. A recent survey found that over a hundred species have vanished from wetlands over the past 40 years. However, the area still attracts many species of birds. You can check out the bird species found in the place here.