By Hemant SharmaAre you aware of the fact that there are as many as 1358 species of birds that can be seen right here in India? That’s just a HUGE number if you think about it for a sec, though many of them are seen only in specific parts of the country, and some are really rare. Out of all these more than a thousand bird species, at least you may have seen the most common ones, the ones that are literally found in every part of the country, right? If not, well, just keep on reading because we’re here to introduce you or to let you know about the top 10 most common birds in India so far, so, let’s just get to it.
1. House Sparrow
If you live in India, there is no way you have not seen this bird, that’s just not possible. Why do we say that though? Oh, well, they’re literally EVERYWHERE! A lot of us grew up watching these little birds everywhere, like in the backyard, while going to the market, or just chilling at home and looking out the window. You know, like, this bird loves eating grains, tiny seeds and small insects. And sure enough, as a result, it sneaks into kitchens and farms a lot. And just so you know, these sparrows nest in small places like crevices in walls, trees, electric poles, etc. Though, due to pollution going super high in bigger cities, and the radiation problems, we’re noticing these birds in fewer and fewer numbers.
2. Rock Pigeon
The regular Kabootar? Oh yes, that’s what we’re talking about. These are literally super common everywhere in India, and just going out in the open, you’ll see at least dozens of them right away, that’s how common they are. If you still don’t get it, well, these birds have green necks and black mixed with dark grey wings. And sure enough, these pigeons are very adaptable to city life because they will eat anything like grains, leftovers etc.
3. Common Myna
Oh yes, this is a loud and very chatty bird, like, a lot of times, you may have heard their calls, so much so that at some point it becomes kinda irritating for many. Though, the brown Common Myna bird has a black head and bright yellow spots around its eyes, have you seen that already? It’s super smart and can even copy human speech, can you even imagine that? The reason why they’re so common is because they have kinda adapted to the harshness everywhere, like, you will find it in much of the town, the farm, and the city where it is out for food (bugs, fruits, leftovers, etc.).
4. Crow
There is literally no way that you live in India and haven’t seen a crow yet, that’s not even possible. Though, these aren’t just the most common birds in India, but that seems to be the case in many parts of the country. These medium-sized birds with shiny black feathers are just something else, annoying at times, but very large in population right here in India. They can literally eat anything and that is precisely why they’re so common.
5. Rose-Ringed Parakeet
According to the stats, well, this bird species’ population is increasing year after year in India, and the evidence of that is pretty apparent actually, like, you can see so many of them everywhere. And if you still don’t get it, yes, we’re talking about the regular parrots here, those light green birds, you know, the ones that can mimic your sounds.
6. Indian Peafowl
The Indian Peafowl aka the peacock is a common bird? Oh yes, they really are, not in big cities, but in the rural parts of the country, they can be seen quite often. Like, in big cities, you may not have seen one in years, but once you go to a slightly rural part of the country, you’ll hear their mesmerizing calls and even see many of them together. Just so you know though, the male Indian Peafowl is called a peacock and has bright blue and green feathers and a big shiny tail.
7. Red-vented Bulbul
Though, you won’t see this one quite often in big cities, but it is a very much common bird, and yes, this bird is easily recognizable thanks to its black crest, brownish body, and red patch beneath the tail. It just looks kinda unique, you know? It is that one bird species that is full of energy, like, always. This bird enjoys eating fruits, nectar, and small insects and includes them in your landscaping. Though, they’re a bit noisy, so be prepared for that actually.
8. White-throated Kingfisher
And then there is this beautiful bird with stunning blue wings, a rich brown body, and a bright white throat that will surely make you look at it for a while and just admire the beauty, that’s all! And as for some details about where they’re found, well, this kingfisher’s habitat preference is different from others as this bird can be seen near fields and also the cities, you know?
9. Asian Koel
In India, you often hear a loud call of “koo-ooo”. That’s the Asian Koel, they are very shy, so surely they’re present in huge numbers in India, but it is not that easy to spot them. You know, like, the male is shiny black, while the female is brown and white. Here’s something crazy, you see, they don’t build their own nests!
10. Red-wattled Lapwing
The Red-wattled Lapwing is a ground bird that is always on alert. It has a black head, brown wings, and a bright red patch near its eyes. But the real reason people notice it? Well, that would be their kinda annoying and hysterical calls that are the strangest sounds. As for where you can spot them, well, it’s usually discovered close to water, fields and open lands, or you can see some flying around here and there.
Conclusion
There you have it. And yes, chances are, you have already seen these most common birds a million times already, that’s how common these birds are. Many people in India nowadays complain that they are not seeing these common birds in huge numbers anymore, but that’s how things are right now.