Housing more than 200 resident and wintering bird species, Chennai (formerly known as Madras) has long been a haven for bird watchers. It is one of the few urban areas in India with diverse range of birds including greater flamingo, black baza, osprey, Indian eagle-owl, Coppersmith barbet, Spot billed pelican and pied avocet can be seen. The following are some known birding hotspots in and around Chennai.
Guindy National Park
Guindy National Park (GNP) is one of India's smallest national parks covering an area of 2.7 km2. It is situated in the midst of the city, and is often called 'the lungs of Chennai'.
The habitat consists of dry evergreen scrub, thorn forest, open grassland and small water bodies. The star attractions of the Guindy National Park are the blackbuck antelope and the Indian star tortoise. Spotted deer, golden jackal, civet cat, pangolins and various species of snakes and butterflies can also be seen in the national park.Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Guindy National Park. http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/wildbiodiversity/np_gnp.html
Highlight: Guindy is the only place in Chennai where the very rare raptor, the black baza has been recorded during winter. The red winged crested cuckoo is another uncommon bird species found here.
Over 100 resident and migratory bird species have been recorded so far, the commonest raptors being: Oriental honey buzzard, white-eyed buzzard and shikra. Migratory raptors including black baza, common kestrel and booted eagle can be seen during the winter months. Resident birds include red-vented bulbul, red-whiskered bulbul and white-browed bulbul, coppersmith barbet, sunbirds, yellow-wattled lapwing, Indian robin, lesser flameback woodpecker and spotted owlet.
How to reach Guindy: Google Maps
Theosophical Society Gardens The Theosophical Society Gardens is one of the best birdwatching spots in Chennai. Being adjacent to the Adyar Estuary, TS hosts more than 50+ species of resident and migrant bird species.
The habitat consists of thick woodland, some fruiting trees, undergrowth, flower garden and the estuary.
The Theosophical Society Gardens has a good number of golden jackal, and housing many flowering trees and nectaring plants, this place is good for butterfly and insect lovers too. During the winter a large number of waders and other water birds can be seen near the estuary.
Highlight: This is one place in Chennai where the black-capped kingfisher has been recorded.
Some of the resident bird species seen here are lesser flameback woodpecker, coppersmith barbet, hoopoe, southern coucal, rufous treepie, Asian koel, sunbirds, yellow-billed babbler, common hawk-cuckoo, shikra, spotted owlet, spotted dove, rose-ringed parakeet, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher, white-breasted kingfisher and Oriental honey buzzard.
During winter one can see Indian paradise flycatcher, Asian brown flycatcher, brown-breasted flycatcher, Indian pitta, Blyth's reed warbler in the TS gardens, and in the estuary herons, egrets, sandpipers, black-winged stilt, godwits and plovers can all be seen.
How to reach Theosophical Society Gardens: Google Maps
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Campus
Adjacent to the Guindy National Park, the IIT campus has a few patches of well-wooded forest which are very good for birdwatching. The presence of multiple micro-ecosystems in a small area located in an urban environment makes it an ideal place to see many species of birds (up to 50 species in 2 hours during the winter season). Over 100 resident and migrant bird species have been recorded here. Prakriti, a wildlife club run by the students, staff and residents of IIT takes part in conservation activities and helps protect the biodiversity in campus.
The habitat consists of dry evergreen forest, reed beds, well-wooded forest, open grassland, dry scrub and undergrowth. The main inhabitants here are blackbuck antelope, spotted deer, Indian grey mongoose, golden jackal, monitor lizard, snakes, and over 40 butterfly species.
Highlight: The wintering sub-species of orange-headed ground thrush (Zoothera citrina citrina) can be seen here.
Resident bird species seen here include lesser flameback woodpecker, coppersmith barbet, hoopoe, greater coucal, rufous treepie, Asian koel, sunbirds, yellow-billed babbler, common hawk-cuckoo, shikra, spotted owlet, spotted dove, rose-ringed parakeet, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher, white-breasted kingfisher, collared scops-owl, Asian openbill stork, brown boobook, slaty-breasted rail, white-breasted waterhen, purple moorhen, common moorhen, blue-faced malkoha, red-vented bulbul, white-browed bulbul, red-whiskered bulbul and Oriental honey buzzard.
During wintering months one can see Indian paradise flycatcher, Asian brown flycatcher, Indian pitta, orange-headed ground thrush, large-billed leaf warbler, Blyth's reed warbler, and forest wagtail in the IIT campus.
How to reach IIT campus: Google Maps
Pallikaranai marsh
Pallikaranai marsh is a freshwater swamp adjacent to the Bay of Bengal covering an area of 80 square kilometres. It is one of the finest natural freshwater ecosystems in the city. Over 100 resident and migratory bird species have been recorded so far.
The habitat consists of fresh/saline water bodies, reed beds, mud flats and floating vegetation.
Highlights: Fulvous whistling duck,The Hindu. Fulvous Whistling Duck sighted at Pallikaranai. 17 July 2009. http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/17/stories/2009071759220400.htm grey-headed lapwing, greater flamingo and waders like pied avocet, sandpipers and ruffs can be seen here during wintering months.
Resident bird species include purple swamphen, common moorhen, pheasant-tailed jacana, purple heron, black-winged stilt, common coot, Indian spot-billed duck, spot-billed pelican, prinias, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher, pied crested cuckoo, white-breasted kingfisher and grey heron.
Raptors like shikra, black-winged kite, black kite, red-necked falcon, marsh harrier, Montague's harrier and booted eagle can also be seen here.
During wintering months thousands of waders and migratory ducks fill the marsh, which becomes a paradise for bird watchers. Osprey, greater flamingo, northern pintail duck, northern shoveller, garganey teal, black-tailed godwit, pied avocet, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper and marsh sandpiper, whiskered tern, rosy starling, yellow wagtail, little stint, grey-headed lapwing, glossy ibis and black-headed ibis, ruff and greenshank all visit the Pallikaranai marsh.
How to reach Pallikaranai marsh: Google Maps
Potheri Lake Potheri Lake is a rain fed freshwater lake situated near Potheri a small village on the outskirts of Chennai. It is situated right beside the SRMIST. The habitat in this place is a rain fed freshwater lake system, grasslands on the East and Southeast of the lake and scrub forests on the southern end. Till now 147 species has been recorded at this lake.
The uncommon species recorded at this place include Lesser Whitethroat, Paddyfield warbler, Red-necked Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Montagu's Harrier, Pacific Golden-Plover, Greater Painted-Snipe, Pin-tailed snipe, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Cinnamon Bittern, White-rumped munia, Red Avadavat, Common woodshrike, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Blyth's Pipit, Richard's Pipit, Eurasian Wigeon, Jungle Bush-Quail, Streaked Weaver, Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Brown-breasted Flycatcher.
It is situated near to the GST Road and is also near to the Potheri railway station. The location for it is here.
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest
Nanmangalam Reserve Forest is a scrub forest covering an area of 320 hectares. It is the only place in the city where the great horned owl (Eurasian eagle-owl) is resident. It has been successfully breeding there for two decades. Over 80 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded so far. Nanmangalam Reserve Forest is a very good place for reptiles and insects too.
The habitat consists of thick scrub forest, well-wooded eucalyptus plantations, three big abandoned quarries and small hillocks.
Highlight: The Indian Eagle-owl is the star attraction in Nanmangalam Reserve forest. Orange-breasted green pigeon was seen recently for the first time.
Resident bird species include Indian robin and magpie robin, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher and white-breasted kingfisher, great horned owl, common iora, purple-rumped sunbird, purple sunbird and Loten's sunbird, spotted dove and laughing dove, Indian nightjar, Eurasian stone-curlew (thick-knee), ashy woodswallow, common woodshrike, blue-faced malkoha, common babbler, red-whiskered bulbul, red-vented bulbul and white-browed bulbul, Oriental honey buzzard, white-eyed buzzard and shikra.
During the wintering months Indian pitta, rosy starling, orange-headed ground thrush, Indian paradise flycatcher, Asian brown flycatcher, common kestrel, booted eagle, common snipe and blue-tailed bee-eater can all be seen.
How to reach Nanmangalam Reserve Forest: Google Maps
Sirudavoor Lake Sirudavoor Lake is a rain-fed fresh water lake used for irrigation and fishing. Famous for the fresh water ducks such as Eurasian wigeon and cotton pygmy goose, over 70 resident and migratory bird species have been recorded so far. This is one place near Chennai where both red-wattled lapwing and yellow-wattled lapwing are seen in close proximity.
The habitat consists of a freshwater lake system, open grassland, sparse dry scrub and reed beds.
Highlights: Indian courser are recorded to breed here. Uncommon raptors such as red-necked falcon and short-toed snake-eagle can also be spotted.
Some of the resident bird species include little green bee-eater, pied bushchat, ashy-crowned sparrow-lark, paddyfield pipit, yellow-wattled lapwing, red-wattled lapwing, Indian courser, common kingfisher, pied kingfisher, white-breasted kingfisher, little ringed plover, red-rumped swallow, shikra, white-eyed buzzard, red-necked falcon, short-toed snake-eagle, baya weaver, zitting cisticola, plain prinia, ashy prinia and Indian roller.
During winter months blue-tailed bee-eater, common kestrel, yellow wagtail, barn swallow, glossy ibis, black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, painted stork, openbill stork, booted eagle, Oriental pratincole, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper and greenshank can be spotted.
How to reach Sirudavoor Lake: OpenStreetMap.org
Chembarambakkam lake
Chembarabakkam lake is another rain-water fed freshwater lake covering an area of 15 km2. This place is famous for wintering ducks and other migratory water birds. At least 60+ resident and migrant bird species have been recorded so far.
The habitat consists of a fresh water lake system, sparse scrub, reed beds, open dry land and floating vegetation.
Highlight: Hundreds of Eurasian wigeon, fulvous whistling duck, peregrine falcon, and cotton teal are recorded during winter. Red-necked falcons and golden jackals are recorded breeding in the open dry patches around the lake.
Resident bird species include pond heron, little cormorant, purple heron, spot-billed pelican, ashy woodswallow, little grebe, little green bee-eater, white-eyed buzzard, spotted owlet, Oriental darter, little egret, great egret, common coot, purple moorhen, white-breasted waterhen, bay-backed shrike, pied bushchat, grey francolin, ashy-crowned sparrow-lark, paddyfield pipit, black drongo, plain prinia, ashy prinia, black bittern, shikra, red munia, tricoloured munia, Indian silverbill, pheasant-tailed jacana.
During the wintering months common kestrel, Montague's harrier, blue-tailed bee-eater, barn swallow, Eurasian wigeon, cotton pygmy goose, fulvous whistling duck, painted stork, openbill stork can be spotted.
How to reach Chembarambakkam lake: Google Maps
Perumbakkam Lake