Birds of Pench National Park are a delight. We all went looking for big cats, and they did oblige us with ample generosity. However, I have never had such good luck with birds as I had at Pench National Park and around.
Birds of Pench National Park
Allow me to walk you through some of my prized captures. I must thank the birds for allowing me enough time to capture them with my point-and-shoot camera.
A pair of Indian Scops Owl
I am putting this pair on top as this is the first time I managed to observe and click owls. They sat quietly half perched inside the tree, a natural camouflage. They let us click to our heart’s content when one of them decided to slide a bit low. The other one followed. I was mesmerized and if they had not decided to go back in – we might have just stood there missing out on the rest of the diversity that the jungle has to offer.
Colorful birds of Pench
The diversity of colors that the birds offer to a nature lover can probably be only matched by the underwater world in certain ocean beds. Of course, the fact that underwater, you see all the colors in one go, in the forest you have to spot these elusive beings. You have to follow their flight, wait for them to sit for a while, and then hopefully manage to click them.
Some of the colorful birds of Pench for you.
Jungle Fowls
Jungle Fowls do not fly too high but it is an effort to follow them on the ground.
Indian Roller
Indian Roller can be found across India. It looks not so colorful when it is sitting quietly like this but its colors show when it is in flight. It is such a delight to watch.
Indian Pitta
The Indian Pitta is called Navranga in Hindi – literally meaning the one with 9 colors. It is difficult to see all 9 colors in one go but try and count the colors in this picture.
Peafowls
June End – when I visited the Pench National Park, it was the time when skies were yet to open up. We were all hoping for rain. The peacocks perched on trees it seems we’re trying to entice the sky – so that it pours to meet this beautiful bird. Do you not think it sits like a lover waiting anxiously for its beloved? It displays all that it has to impress her. I found this pose enchanting.
Parakeets
We all know these green birds who wear different colors on their head and sometimes around their neck. Sometimes they let you doubt if they are yellow or green. I love them when they sit in the windows of old monuments and add some life to them.
Orioles
If you see golden birds flying around in India, they are more often than not – Orioles. For me, they are the most difficult ones to click, for they hardly sit on a branch. Even if they do, it is never the branch that is within my camera’s shooting range.
Treepies
Look at that colorful back.
Not-so-common birds at Pench National Park
Kites & Eagles
Crested serpent eagle – I have clicked this bird a few times. My camera loves it for this is one bird that does not fly away and sits steadfast like a non-moving object. The eyes of the Crested Serpent Eagle always give me a chill. Big yellow eyes have an emptiness that can suck you in. These eyes taught me the meaning of the Eagle Eye.
Black Shouldered Kite
I think I spotted this bird for the first time at Pench National Park – actually not inside the park, but on a dry tree near the fields.
Yellow Crowned Woodpecker
A hard knock is their identity. The bright colors on them make them easy to spot but a very restless nature makes them move swiftly. This time, I got lucky and caught Yellow Crowned Woodpecker.
Jacobin Cuckoo
I learned that this cuckoo is known as the harbinger of rain. In Indian mythology, you might have heard of it as Chatak.
White-Eyed Buzzard
A hawk with a white Iris – I assume it is not as gentle as it sounds in this picture.
Yellow-Throated Sparrow
Yellow-throated Sparrow is also known as chestnut-shouldered Petronia – a member of the sparrow family. Notice the little yellow on its throat.
Indian Grey Hornbill
Indian Grey Hornbill as seen at Pench National Park. Check out our post on Malabar Pied Hornbills at Dandeli.
Common Birds found near the National Park
Laughing Doves
Laughing Doves are quite common across India. What I find amusing about this pair was the way they were interacting – almost like a couple – talking, fighting but staying together.
Spotted Dove
Another of doves that be commonly found.
Asian Koel (Female)
This Koel was drinking water when the sun was shining hot – but not for a second had it lost its alertness. It would dip its beak for a second and then look around. We were probably guilty too with so many of our cameras pointing towards a small little Koel.
Asian Openbill
The Asian Openbill was spotted in a distant water body inside the Pench National Park.
Indian Black Ibis
The Indian Black Ibis was also spotted near a water body although this is also known to live in fields.
Asian Pied Starling
The Asian Pied Starling was talking aloud, as you can see from its wide-open mouth. There were others from its fraternity around her and it just could not stop talking.
Bay Backed Shrike
Do not know much about this bird, would be happy to update this post on any inputs received.
Black Drongo
A bird that loves to open its wings and dry them, can be seen flying in groups mostly in the evenings.
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Oriental Magpie Robin
I always identify Oriental Magpie Robin by its distinct black and white pattern.
Flame-backed Woodpecker
The flame-backed Woodpecker is a lovely bird. I love this pose of it when it is ready to pick the wood balancing itself almost vertically on the tree.
Red-wattled Lapwing
I have usually seen Red-wattled Lapwing around the edges of lakes or ponds.
White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher is probably the most easily spotted bird in India. Its bright colors never let you miss it.
I wonder if I could spot so many birds in the hot summer month of June, would Pench National Park be a paradise for birding during winter?
Recommend you to read the following travel blog posts on national parks.
A great capture and exiting view
Thank you, Madhu. Pench had so many birds that a non-birder like me could also capture them so easily.
Execellent post on birds of Pench. Delightfull pictures
Thank you Amarvir. I was surprised by the variety of birds I saw at Pench. In fact there were many more that I saw but could not capture.
Wow! I enjoyed your beautiful shoots and equally sumptuous write-up. Thanks a lot.
wow! What a wonderful creatures. Indian scops owl look so cute. My uncle used to have a jungle fowls when I was young and it was absolutely true, they can’t fly far enough but it’s too hard to catch them on the ground.
Yes, Annika. nature has so much diversity in all kinds of creatures. We can spend our lives exploring the same.
Pictures are really Awesome. Great reading your simple but very informative and creative presentation with simple words. Please keep it up. Please tell also what kind of Camera You use and the lenses.
Thanks Biswamohan ji. I used Nikon P600 for all these images. It is a point & shoot camera with 60X zoom.
The Jacobin Cuckoo you mentioned is a Crested Bunting