Photo Essay – Birds of Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park is best known for its tiger population and the tiger sightings. But on my trip I discovered that it’s also a bird watcher’s and a photographers paradise. We had numerous sightings of some beautiful birds (both the common and the not so common) but I was able to capture just a few through the lens of my camera. And sharing the ones caught with you below –

Shikra Bird – These are hunting birds that prey on other birds. The males have a red iris while the females have a yellow iris and they can hunt birds as large as themselves.

Shikra Bird, Male with a red iris

White – naped woodpecker – We tracked this woodpecker with the usual sound of it pecking away at a tree. Notice the long beak?

White naped woodpecker

The Indian Roller – This is a common bird in many states of India and also known as the Neelkanth (after Lord Shiva). However its one of my favorite birds and is a sight in flight with its beautiful blue color all spread and glorious.

The Indian Roller

Crested Serpent Eagle – This eagle is called a crested serpent eagle as it’s a reptile eater and hunts in the forests for snakes and lizards.

Crested Serpent Eagle

An owl – I have not been able to identify the exact name, but caught this owl catching a nap during the day. Though my guess is it’s a brown fish owl.

A Sleeping Owl

Greater Coucal or Crow Pheasant – They are from the cuckoo family and are said to be associated with spirits and omens. They are also known as the Bharadwaj and their sighting is considered to be very auspicious.

Greater Coucal or the Crow Pheasant

Double-crested Cormorant – The Cormorant uses a “bat pose” to dry off. Since their feathers do not repel water, these birds make an effort to dry their feathers after a swim. The Cormorant spreads its wings and holds them outstretched until the feathers are dry.

Cormorant sitting by a lake

A cormorant drying its feathers

White Throated Kingfisher – A common bird but one of my first captures on camera.

White Throated Kingfisher

White Egret – These birds are white but turn yellow during the mating season.

White Egret

Indian Dove – Again a common bird but I somehow prefer these brown colored doves to their cousins, the grey pigeons.

Indian Dove

A bird from the pelican family, but I don’t know the name.

Unknown birds from the pelican family

Ducks – There’s something mystic and soothing about ducks gliding on water. I also love the ripples they create on the surface of water.

Ducks

Red Head Ibis –

Red Head Ibis

We also saw numerous drongos, cuckoos, etc but will wait to capture them on camera another time.