Kanha National Park

Kanha National Park, located in Madhya Pradesh in the Central Indian Highlands, is better known for its wildlife diversity, particularly tigers and leopards. However, because KNP is so large and well-protected, birds of all feathers congregate here during migration, and many others have made these forests their home. The national park and buffer zone cover nearly 2000 square kilometers, which is larger than New Delhi and Mumbai combined! Almost 300 bird species are found here, accounting for more than 25% of the total species found in India. This alone makes KNP an important birding destination.

There are common birds such as egrets, storks, herons, bee-eaters, many species of birds of prey, nocturnal birds such as owls and nightjars, and vultures. There are a few rare birds that you might see if you're lucky, such as various types of Paradise Flycatchers, black hooded orioles, scarlet minivets, Hornbills, and so on. The best time to visit the sanctuary is during the winter, when the weather is cooler and migratory birds from cold northern countries are present.

Obviously, the number and variety of birds vary with time in any forested area where many migratory birds can be seen. Surprisingly, a fortnight's visit to Kanha National Park yields more than 100 bird species. Although Kanha Park is famous for the king of the jungle, the tiger, which rules the ground, birds also excel in the sky domains surrounding Kanha.

Location: Madhya Pradesh