India is home to a wide variety of migratory birds that travel great distances to spend the summer months in the diverse habitats of the Indian subcontinent. Determining which migratory bird species flock to India during the summer is important for understanding avian ecology and implementing conservation efforts for threatened species.
Every year, millions of birds from Central Asia, Europe, and Africa migrate to India in search of more hospitable environments, higher quality breeding grounds, and abundant food sources as the summer months approach. India’s strategic location along major avian flyways and diversity of ecosystems ranging from the Himalayan peaks to the Indian Ocean coasts allows it to host a high density and diversity of visiting birds each summer.
There are several factors that make India an attractive summer destination for migratory birds. First, many parts of India provide ideal breeding conditions due to abundant water sources, such as wetlands, lakes, and rivers, coupled with protective vegetation cover. Second, the influx of monsoon rains leads to an explosion of insects, fish, and amphibians that represent an abundant food source for breeding and nesting birds. Finally, India’s moderate summer temperatures are more hospitable for delicate chicks than the extreme cold or hot temperatures of many migratory bird breeding grounds.
Approximately 500 species of birds across dozens of families are known to regularly migrate to India for the summer months or the entirety of the monsoon season. However, there are several iconic and threatened species that make this remarkable seasonal journey that warrant special attention.
Amur Falcons
The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) is a small raptor that breeds in southeastern Siberia and northern China before embarking on one of the longest raptor migrations in the world to southern Africa. However, the Amur falcon’s migratory route includes an important stopover in northeastern India.
Each year, millions of Amur falcons arrive in the Indian states of Nagaland and Manipur beginning in October. The birds congregate in massive numbers, forming huge roosting colonies in forested valleys and riverbeds. The Amur falcons utilize these stopover sites to feed on large flying insects like locusts, dragonflies, and termites in order to fuel up for the next leg of their transcontinental journey.
Some key facts about the Amur falcon’s migration to India include:
- Single roosting sites may contain upward of 1 million Amur falcons.
- The total Amur falcon population that passes through northeastern India may be over 20 million birds.
- Satellite tracking studies have revealed the Amur falcons’ 60,000-80,000 km round trip migratory route.
- Threats from habitat loss and unsustainable hunting led to a 30% population decline in recent decades.
- Collaborative conservation efforts between India, China, and Bhutan aim to protect Amur falcon roosting sites.
While the Amur falcon winters in southern Africa, its stopover in India is critical for resting and feeding to complete its transcontinental journey.
Common Crane
The common crane (Grus grus) is a large bird in the crane family that breeds across northern Europe and Asia. Many populations of this grey-bodied, long-necked species migrate vast distances to wintering grounds in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.
An estimated 150,000 common cranes make the long voyage from their Siberian and Central Asian breeding territories to wetland habitats scattered across India each year. The birds start arriving in the early winter months, congregating in large flocks at lakes, rivers, paddy fields, and swamps to feed and rest.
Some significant insights about the common crane’s annual migration to India include:
- The Central Asian breeding populations migrate the farthest, covering over 5,000 km.
- In India, common cranes are found predominantly across northern and eastern regions.
- Key wintering sites include Keoladeo National Park, Sultanpur National Park, and Gangetic floodplains.
- Their global population is around 600,000 individuals.
- Habitat degradation is their main threat, but hunting also occurs in some areas.
The common crane’s dependence on dispersed wetlands across India makes protection of these ecosystems vital for the species’ future.
Black-tailed Godwit
The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large shorebird belonging to the sandpiper family. It possesses a long, slightly upturned beak and breeding plumage features dark barred feathers across its back and tail.
This godwit undertakes a migration of over 10,000 km from its breeding grounds in northern Europe and Siberia to wintering grounds in the Indian subcontinent. Each year from August to October, hundreds of thousands of black-tailed godwits arrive at wetlands across India.
Here are some key details about the black-tailed godwit in India:
- A large proportion winters in the northeastern state of Assam.
- Flocks numbering 8,000-10,000 individuals form at preferred sites.
- Their diet consists of aquatic invertebrates like mollusks and worms.
- The total global population is estimated between 670,000 – 1,000,000 birds.
- They nest on the ground, making them vulnerable to predators and flooding.
This long-distance migratory shorebird relies on dispersed wetland networks across India to sustain it through the winter until its northern return.
Ruff
The ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a medium-sized wading bird belonging to the sandpiper family. It breeds across northern Eurasia and undertaking a sweeping migratory journey across Europe, the Middle East, and South/Southeast Asia to reach its wintering grounds.
During August and September, over a quarter of a million ruffs arrive at wetlands across India’s northern and eastern regions. The birds frequent marshy lakes, flooded grasslands, and paddy fields, feeding on insects, worms, mollusks, and plant seeds.
Notable facts about the ruff’s annual migration to India include:
- India hosts ruffs arriving from Siberian, Central Asian, and Eastern European breeding areas.
- Mass roosting flocks at select sites may exceed 15,000 birds.
- Males engage in elaborate mating displays with feather ruffs and plumage variation.
- Their global population is estimated at 2.2 to 3.2 million individuals.
- Habitat loss from wetland degradation is a major threat.
For this long-distance migrant, India’s wetlands serve as critical refueling staging posts enabling their marathon migrations between continents.
Lesser Sandplover
The lesser sandplover (Charadrius mongolus) is a small wading bird belonging to the plover family. It breeds across Mongolia, Siberia, and northern China before undertaking an arduous migration down to coastal regions across the Indian subcontinent and Oceania.
Each year, an estimated 100,000 lesser sandplovers arrive along India’s eastern seaboard from August to October. These birds frequent coastal wetlands, estuaries, and beaches, feeding on small crabs, shrimp, marine worms, and mollusks.
Key aspects of the lesser sandplover’s migration to India include:
- Globally threatened and nears the Vulnerable category.
- Main wintering sites are scattered along India’s eastern coast.
- Roosting flocks may contain upwards of 400-500 birds.
- The global population is between 335,000 – 556,000 individuals.
- Coastal development threatens feeding and roosting habitats.
India’s coastal ecosystems provide this tired long-distance migrant with ideal overwintering grounds after its travels across continents.
Conservation Challenges
These migratory birds undertake some of the most extreme migrations in the animal kingdom, with many species travelling over 10,000 km between their northern breeding grounds and Indian wintering habitats. However, these birds face escalating threats during their journeys and within India.
Habitat loss poses one of the most severe risks to migratory waterbirds. Wetland drainage, pollution, dams, and infrastructure development has degraded many stopover habitats across Central and South Asia. Similarly, destruction of India’s lakes, rivers, and coastal wetlands removes crucial wintering areas for migrating flocks.
Human disturbances also endanger migratory birds. Shorebirds and waterbirds are highly sensitive to noise, light, and other disruptions, which interfere with feeding and result in avoidance of otherwise suitable habitat. Expanding agriculture, fisheries, and recreational activities near wetlands degrades these environments as refuges.
Overexploitation represents another hazard. Migrating raptors and waterbirds are illegally trapped for trade or consumption in some areas of their range. In India, migratory birds are still hunted for food, traditional medicine, and the pet trade in certain regions.
Finally, climate change will likely pose escalating challenges. Shifting precipitation patterns and increased drought may degrade wetland habitats and reduce food availability. Increased desertification across Central Asia could hinder journeys for some species. Sea level rise also threatens important coastal wintering grounds.
Conservation Initiatives
Recognizing the threats faced by migratory birds, India has spearheaded several conservation initiatives and policies aimed at safeguarding visiting avian populations:
- Declaration of protected wetland areas through the Ramsar Convention and national wetlands program.
- Strengthened legal protections for endangered migratory birds under the 1972 Indian Wildlife Act.
- Bilateral partnerships with other nations along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway to monitor and protect migratory shorebirds.
- Creating an inventory of key migratory bird habitats used to target conservation efforts.
- Involving local communities in protecting roosting and foraging sites and sustainable ecotourism initiatives.
Additionally, multinational working groups coordinate scientific monitoring and research programs focused on poorly understood migratory routes and threaten species such as the spoon-billed sandpiper, bar-headed goose, and black-necked crane.
While substantial progress has been made, continued strengthening of habitat protections, anti-poaching laws, and international cooperation is needed to ensure healthy futures for India’s remarkable visiting migratory birds.
Conclusion
India forms an indispensable part of some of the world’s most astonishing avian migrations spanning continent-wide routes. From Amur falcons that traverse vast distances between Siberia and South Africa to plovers that hug the coastlines across Asia, myriad bird species make their way to India’s wetlands, forests, coasts, and mountains to escape the northern winter.
Understanding these migratory connections helps underscore the importance of India’s ecosystems in sustaining global biodiversity and provides insights into how to strengthen conservation efforts for threatened species. Moving forward, continued research, robust monitoring, enhanced legal protections, and community-based conservation will be vital for safeguarding the stopover and wintering habitats these long-distance migrants rely upon.
India should take great pride in its role as host to some of the natural world’s most extraordinary migratory avifauna. These inspiring journeys across continents emphasize how the fates of nations, ecosystems, and species across the globe are deeply interlinked. With thoughtful stewardship and diplomacy, India can solidify its role as one of the most important winter refuges enabling the conservation of long-distance migratory birds.
