Top 9 Birdwatching Destinations To Visit In The Monsoon

Tenzin Chodon

Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan

The monsoon floods this UNESCO World Heritage Site, creating ideal conditions for resident waterbirds to nest. Spot painted storks, herons, and cormorants.

Great white pelican Shutterstock

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala

Also known as the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad comes alive with the southwest monsoon. Look for the Malabar Trogon, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, and Sri Lanka Bay Owl.

White bellied Treepie Shutterstock

Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Maharashtra

Located along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Karnala's rain-soaked forests make birdwatching especially rewarding. Keep an eye out for the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and Indian Pitta.

Indian Pitta Deposit Photos

Ratnagiri Coastal Belt, Maharashtra

The Konkan coast becomes a birdwatching hotspot during the monsoon. Within a small area, you can spot five kingfisher species along with the Hooded Oriole.

A Jungle Babbler in coastal Konkan, Maharashtra Shutterstock

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka

Made up of six river islets on the Kaveri, Ranganathittu becomes an important nesting site for river terns, spoonbills, and openbill storks.

Birds at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary noorphotography_62/instagram

Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

While the core remains closed, Satpura's buffer zones stay open during the monsoon, where you can sight the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Crested Serpent Eagle, and other raptors.

Two Malabar Pied Hornbill on a branch indianwildography/instagram

Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa

South Goa's Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary is covered in lush greenery during the rains. Watch for the Crimson-backed Sunbird, White-bellied Woodpecker, and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch.

A crimson sunbird Manas Maozedongri Ecotourism Society

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Assam

The floodplains of Dibru-Saikhowa attract several wet-grassland birds during the monsoon. You can catch sight of Jerdon's Babbler and White-winged Wood Duck.

White-winged Wood Duck Wikimedia Commons

Sonkhaliya, Rajasthan

Near Ajmer, the monsoon transforms these grasslands into breeding grounds for threatened birds. Watch for the Lesser Florican's courtship display and the Rain Quail.

Bengal Florican at Orang National Park NEJIB AHMED/Wikimedia Commons

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