List of Bird Sanctuaries in India 2025
India is one of the world’s most diverse bird habitats, home to more than 1,300 bird species in more than 50 bird sanctuaries in India, which range from majestic raptors and vibrant pheasants to elegant waders and rare migratory visitors.
This rich avian diversity is supported by a wide variety of ecosystems — wetlands, forests, grasslands, coastal belts, riverine islands, and high-altitude habitats.
This incredible diversity is also supported by a vast network of national parks in India and renowned tiger reserves, many of which serve as important bird habitats and migration stopovers.
Bird sanctuaries across the country play a critical role in protecting these species and their environments. They serve as breeding grounds, safe wintering habitats for migratory birds travelling thousands of kilometres along global flyways, and a refuge for endangered and vulnerable species threatened by habitat loss and climate change.
As interest in birdwatching and wildlife conservation continues to grow, these sanctuaries have also become key centres for research, education, and eco-tourism. They offer nature enthusiasts and photographers an opportunity to experience India’s extraordinary birdlife up close, promoting awareness and responsible tourism practices.
This blog explores some of the most important bird sanctuaries in India, their ecological value, and how they contribute to preserving the nation’s irreplaceable natural heritage.
Why Bird Sanctuaries Matter
Bird sanctuaries serve as vital ecological reserves that protect resident and migratory bird species. They preserve breeding habitats, feeding grounds, nesting sites, and shelter for birds that depend on diverse ecosystems such as wetlands, grasslands, estuaries, and forests.
These protected areas also support global migratory pathways. India lies along the Central Asian Flyway, making the sanctuaries crucial stopover points for migratory birds travelling from Siberia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Arctic. Without these habitats, thousands of migratory species would lose key resting and feeding zones essential for their survival.
Beyond conservation, bird sanctuaries contribute to scientific research and biodiversity monitoring. They help researchers study species behaviour, migration patterns, population trends, and the impact of environmental changes. Sanctuary-based programs often include rehabilitation and captive breeding efforts for threatened species.
Bird sanctuaries additionally promote sustainable eco-tourism. They attract birdwatchers, photographers, and nature travellers, offering immersive wildlife experiences while generating livelihood opportunities for local communities. When managed responsibly, this tourism fosters conservation awareness and encourages the protection of natural habitats.
Overall, bird sanctuaries act as ecological buffers, educational platforms, and conservation strongholds, safeguarding India’s rich avian life for future generations.
List of Bird Sanctuaries in India, State-Wise/UT
India’s bird sanctuaries form a vast network of protected habitats across plains, coasts, mountains, river basins, and wetlands. These sanctuaries safeguard breeding colonies, support migratory flocks along the Central Asian Flyway, and preserve critical wetland and forest ecosystems.
Below is a comprehensive state-wise table highlighting key sanctuaries and the number of recognised sites in each state/UT. This list also includes notable bird-rich wetlands acknowledged for significant avifaunal value.
Bird Sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh hosts some of India’s most significant coastal and freshwater bird habitats, especially around Pulicat Lake and the Krishna–Godavari wetland system. It attracts thousands of migratory waterbirds and supports pelican nesting colonies.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Atapaka | — | Large wintering site for pelicans |
| Nelapattu | 1976 | Major pelican breeding colony |
| Pulicat Lake | 1976 | India’s second-largest brackish lagoon |
| Sri Penusila Narasimha WLS | 1998 | Forest birds and raptors |
| Uppalapadu | — | Pelicans and painted storks |
| Kondakarla Ava | — | Freshwater lake bird habitat |
Bird Sanctuaries in Bihar
Bihar’s wetlands and reservoirs provide important wintering grounds for migratory ducks, geese, and waders. The state plays a modest but meaningful role in bird conservation along the Central Asian Flyway.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Nagi Dam | 1984 | Important waterbird wintering site |
Bird Sanctuaries in Delhi
Despite its urban landscape, Delhi retains key wetland habitats. Najafgarh wetland supports winter migratory birds and acts as a biodiversity refuge within a megacity environment.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Najafgarh Drain Wetland | — | Large wetland with winter migratory species |
Bird Sanctuaries in Goa
Goa’s estuarine and mangrove ecosystems host rich resident and migratory birdlife. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary protects coastal birds, waders, and mangrove specialists.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Salim Ali | 1988 | Mangrove estuary bird hotspot |
Bird Sanctuaries in Gujarat
Gujarat is a major birding destination with vast salt marshes, coastal wetlands, and desert ecosystems. It supports flamingos, bustards, pelicans, and large numbers of migratory waterbirds across Ramsar sites like Nal Sarovar and Khijadiya.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Gaga WLS | 1988 | Bustards and migratory birds |
| Khijadiya | 1981 | Wetland bird habitat; Ramsar site |
| Kutch Bustard | 1992 | Great Indian Bustard habitat |
| Nal Sarovar | 1969 | One of India’s largest bird lakes |
| Porbandar | 1988 | Urban wetland for migratory birds |
| Thol Lake | 1988 | Shallow lake attracting flamingos |
| Wachana | — | Salt-pan and wetland birds |
Bird Sanctuaries in Haryana
Haryana protects key wetland bird habitats linked to the Upper Ganga–Yamuna floodplain. Bhindawas and Khaparwas serve as crucial wintering grounds for thousands of migratory birds.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Bhindawas WLS | 1986 | Largest wetland in Haryana |
| Khaparwas WLS | 1987 | Linked wetland system with Bhindawas |
Bird Sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh offers diverse high-altitude, riverine, and reservoir habitats for Himalayan birds and migratory waterfowl. Pong Dam Lake is one of northern India’s most important wintering wetlands.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Gamgul | — | Western Tragopan, Himalayan birds |
| Pong Dam Lake | 1983 | Major migratory waterfowl site |
| Gobind Sagar | 1958 | Wetland for migratory aquatic birds |
Bird Sanctuaries in Karnataka
Karnataka is rich in diverse bird habitats, from Western Ghats forests to inland wetlands. It is known for large breeding colonies of pelicans and storks and holds India’s oldest freshwater bird sanctuary at Ranganathittu.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Attiveri | 2000 | Ducks, teals, migratory birds |
| Bankapura | — | Peafowl conservation site |
| Bankapura Peacock | 2002 | Dedicated peacock sanctuary |
| Bonal | — | Migratory wetland birds |
| Gudavi | 1983 | Marsh birds and storks |
| Kaggaladu | — | Painted stork breeding site |
| Kokrebellur | — | Pelican & stork community-run conservation |
| Magadi | 2008 | Bar-headed geese wintering site |
| Mandagadde | — | Egret and cormorant nesting |
| Puttenahalli Lake | — | Urban lake bird habitat |
| Ranganathittu | 1940 | Famous riverine bird sanctuary |
Bird Sanctuaries in Kerala
Kerala’s network of backwaters, mangroves, and forests makes it exceptional for birdlife. The state is home to India’s first bird sanctuary at Thattekad and supports migratory and endemic species.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Kadalundi | — | Sandbanks and migratory waders |
| Kumarakom | — | Backwater wetland birds |
| Mangalavanam | — | Urban mangrove bird habitat |
| Pathiramanal | — | Island bird refuge |
| Thattekad | 1983 | India’s first bird sanctuary, high species richness |
Bird Sanctuaries in Maharashtra
Maharashtra includes coastal, forest, and inland wetland ecosystems. Sites like Nandur Madhmeshwar are vital wintering zones for migratory ducks and waders, while Karnala protects Western Ghats forest birds.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Mayani | — | Flamingos and waterbirds |
| Karnala | 1968 | Western Ghats forest bird hotspot |
| Great Indian Bustard | 1979 | Bustard conservation site |
| Nandur Madhmeshwar | 1950 | Ramsar wetland for migratory birds |
Bird Sanctuaries in Mizoram
Mizoram’s hill forests form part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot. The state supports rich tropical avifauna and many rare Eastern Himalayan bird species.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Lengteng WLS | 1999 | Eastern Himalayan bird species |
Bird Sanctuaries in Odisha
Odisha’s Chilika Lake is Asia’s largest brackish lagoon and a globally important wintering site for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, including flamingos and ducks.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Chilika Lake | 1981 | Asia’s largest brackish lagoon; Ramsar site |
Bird Sanctuaries in Rajasthan
Rajasthan contains both arid grasslands and wetland habitats. Keoladeo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for migratory waterbirds, while Tal Chhapar protects raptors and grassland species.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Keoladeo | 1981 | UNESCO site; world-famous wetland birds |
| Tal Chhapar | 1962 | Raptors and blackbuck grassland ecosystem |
Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has one of India’s most extensive networks of bird sanctuaries, especially famous for heronries and waterbird breeding colonies. Wetlands and coastal lagoons attract large flocks of resident and migratory birds.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Chitrangudi | — | Pelicans and herons |
| Kanjirankulam | — | Heronry sanctuary |
| Koothankulam | — | Large breeding waterbird colony |
| Suchindram Theroor | — | Wetland birds & ibis populations |
| Udayamarthandapuram | — | Asian openbill stork breeding |
| Vedanthangal | 1936 | India’s oldest bird sanctuary |
| Vellode | — | Pelicans and storks |
| Vettangudi | — | Wetland breeding birds |
Bird Sanctuaries in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh lies along the Gangetic floodplains, hosting critical sanctuaries for Sarus cranes, storks, and migratory waterfowl. Its wetlands are part of major flyways supporting globally significant populations.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Sarsai Nawar | — | Sarus crane wetland |
| Haiderpur | 2021 | Ramsar site with riverine birds |
| Lakh Bahosi | — | One of largest natural wetlands in UP |
| Nawabganj | — | Migratory ducks and storks |
| Okhla | 1990 | Yamuna wetland Ramsar site |
| Patna | — | Marshland birds |
| Saman | — | Sarus cranes & waterbirds |
| Samaspur | — | Wintering waterfowl |
| Sandi | — | Wetland ecosystem |
| Thasrana (Dhanauri) | — | Sarus crane breeding stronghold |
Bird Sanctuaries in West Bengal
West Bengal features mangroves, riverine habitats, and forest wetlands. The Kulik heronry and other sanctuaries support large breeding colonies and diverse migratory birds.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Chintamoni Kar | — | Urban woodland birds |
| Rasikbill | — | Waterbirds and raptors |
| Kulik (Raiganj WLS) | 1979 | Asia’s second-largest heronry |
Bird Sanctuaries in Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir supports rich Himalayan and wetland birdlife. High-altitude lakes and riverine wetlands like Hokera provide essential wintering habitats for migratory geese and ducks.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Hokera Wetland | — | Migratory ducks and geese |
Bird Sanctuaries in Puducherry
Puducherry includes coastal wetlands shared with Tamil Nadu. Oussudu Lake is a key wintering site for migratory birds and a rich freshwater biodiversity hotspot.
| Bird Sanctuary | Year Established | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Oussudu | — | Wetland habitat shared with Tamil Nadu |
Source: Wikipedia, BNHS-EIACP & Others
Migratory Birds in India
India plays a central role in global bird migration, especially along the Central Asian Flyway, one of the world’s most important migratory routes. Every year, millions of birds travel thousands of kilometres from regions such as Siberia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Arctic to winter in India’s wetlands, estuaries, and lakes.
Bird sanctuaries and wetlands across the country act as critical stopover and wintering sites, providing food, shelter, and safe resting grounds. These seasonal movements enrich India’s biodiversity and offer birdwatchers exceptional opportunities to observe rare and long-distance migrants.
Key migratory birds seen in India include species like the Bar-headed Goose, Greater Flamingo, Demoiselle Crane, Siberian Stonechat, Pied Avocet, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, and Rosy Starling. Prestigious wetlands like Keoladeo, Chilika Lake, Sultanpur, Ranganathittu, Harike, and Deepor Beel become vibrant havens during the migratory season.
Monitoring migratory birds also provides vital ecological insights. Changes in arrival times, population density, or migration routes often signal environmental shifts, wetland health issues, or climate change impacts. Safeguarding these migratory corridors is essential for maintaining global avian biodiversity and ecological balance.
Best Time to Visit Bird Sanctuaries in India
The ideal time to visit bird sanctuaries in India depends on migration cycles, breeding periods, and regional climate patterns. In general, the peak birdwatching season aligns with the arrival of winter migrants, when wetlands and forest edges see maximum species diversity.
Best months:
- November to February – Prime season for migratory birds across most sanctuaries, especially wetlands.
- March to April – Good for watching breeding behaviour, nesting activity, and summer visitors in select regions.
- Monsoon months (June to September) – Productive for bird photography in rainforest zones and Western Ghats, but restricted in some sanctuaries due to weather closures.
Regional timing notes:
- North India wetlands (e.g., Keoladeo, Sultanpur): November–February
- Southern sanctuaries (e.g., Ranganathittu, Vedanthangal): November–March
- Eastern wetlands (e.g., Chilika, Deepor Beel): December–February
- Himalayan parks: March–June for high-altitude species
During peak season, early mornings and late afternoons are the most rewarding periods for observation, as birds are most active during these cooler hours. Planning visits around sunrise or sunset significantly improves the chances of sighting diverse species and capturing high-quality photographs.
Birdwatching Tips for Beginners
Successful birdwatching depends on patience, observation skills, and respect for nature. For beginners, the following guidelines help enhance the experience while ensuring minimal disturbance to wildlife.
Essential gear:
- Binoculars (8×42 or 10×42 recommended for clarity and field coverage)
- Field guide or bird identification app
- Notebook or digital recorder for notes and sightings
- Comfortable neutral-colored clothing to blend with surroundings
Observation techniques:
- Move slowly and quietly to avoid disturbing birds
- Use natural cover like trees and bushes while watching
- Focus on behaviour, calls, size, and flight patterns for accurate identification
- Start with common birds and gradually progress to rarer species
Photography practices:
- Use long-lens equipment to maintain a safe distance
- Avoid flash or sudden movements
- Prioritise documenting behaviour rather than approaching too closely
Ethical guidelines:
- Never feed or chase birds
- Avoid playing bird calls excessively, as it may cause stress
- Stay on designated trails and respect sanctuary rules
- Maintain silence to preserve the habitat’s natural environment
Following these practices not only improves sighting opportunities but also contributes to ethical birding, ensuring that wildlife remains undisturbed and habitats stay intact for future generations.
Conservation Challenges
Bird sanctuaries across India face numerous ecological and human-driven pressures that threaten avian species and their habitats. Understanding these challenges is essential for effective long-term conservation.
Habitat loss and degradation
Wetlands, grasslands, mangroves, and riverine ecosystems are increasingly shrinking due to urban expansion, agriculture, industrial activities, and encroachment. Many sanctuaries face reduced water availability or pollution, directly affecting bird breeding and feeding sites.
Climate change impacts
Shifts in temperature and rainfall patterns disrupt migration cycles, breeding seasons, and food availability. Rising sea levels and altered monsoon patterns particularly impact coastal and wetland sanctuaries.
Pollution and eutrophication
Industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, plastic waste, and pesticide use degrade water quality, causing fish decline and affecting aquatic bird populations. Toxic algal blooms in wetlands reduce oxygen levels and nesting conditions.
Poaching and illegal trade
Despite legal protection, certain bird species are still targeted for meat, feathers, or the cage-bird trade. Ground-nesting species and migratory birds are especially vulnerable.
Invasive species
Non-native plants and animals compete for resources, degrade wetlands, and alter vegetation structures. Examples include invasive aquatic weeds affecting open-water birds.
Human disturbance
Unregulated tourism, boating, loud noises, and construction near sanctuaries disturb birds, particularly during breeding and wintering seasons.
Addressing these threats requires coordinated conservation efforts, scientific monitoring, community participation, and sustainable habitat management to maintain India’s avian diversity and protect migratory flyways.
Eco-Tourism & Community Participation
Bird sanctuaries are not only conservation zones but also important spaces for sustainable nature-based tourism. When managed responsibly, eco-tourism generates income for local communities, strengthens conservation efforts, and promotes awareness about avian biodiversity.
Role of eco-tourism:
- Creates employment for local people as guides, boat operators, homestay hosts, and conservation staff
- Encourages infrastructure development such as nature trails, watchtowers, interpretation centres, and regulated boating zones
- Supports funding for habitat restoration, wetland management, and research programs
Community involvement:
Local communities often play a direct role in protecting bird habitats. In several regions, community-run tourism and conservation models have reduced poaching and encouraged sustainable practices. Areas around wetlands, coastal bird sites, and forest fringes particularly benefit when residents participate in habitat monitoring and awareness programs.
Responsible visitor guidelines:
- Follow designated routes and sanctuary regulations
- Minimise noise and avoid littering
- Support certified local eco-tourism services
- Choose sustainable accommodations and community-based experiences
By integrating tourism with conservation and rewarding local stewardship, India’s bird sanctuaries become long-term guardians of avian heritage. Sustainable community-based eco-tourism ensures that both wildlife and humans benefit from protected natural ecosystems.
Conclusion
Bird sanctuaries in India are vital ecological strongholds that preserve habitats for resident and migratory birds while supporting global flyways and biodiversity networks. From expansive wetlands like Chilika and Bharatpur to compact yet rich sanctuaries like Ranganathittu and Vedanthangal, these protected landscapes safeguard breeding grounds, feeding sites, and wintering refuges essential for avian survival.
Beyond conservation, sanctuaries serve as living classrooms, fostering environmental awareness, scientific research, and sustainable tourism. They offer invaluable opportunities for birdwatchers, photographers, and naturalists to engage with wildlife responsibly and appreciate India’s ecological richness.
Continued protection, community participation, responsible tourism, and strengthening wetland and habitat management are necessary to secure the future of these natural treasures. Protecting bird sanctuaries today ensures that future generations inherit thriving ecosystems filled with the melodies and migrations of diverse birdlife.
