A selection of woodland and 'jungle' birds I have photographed on my trips to India. Most of the photos were taken in the Udaipur area..... a very good starting point for bird photography or bird watching. November to February is when the area gets most visitors (Birds and Tourists). There is more information at the bottom of the page.
All photos ©Keith Rawling 2010-2016
Updated 13/12/16
Photographed on location by
Keith Rawling
Keith Rawling
Woodland
A pair of Plum Headed Parakeets nesting in a hollow tree.
Rose Ringed Parakeet is common all over India
Indian Rollers displaying - female awaits outcome
Hoopoe
The Indian Roller. With beautiful turquoise colouring sometimes known as the Blue Jay. On the right with a Chameleon lunch.
The Coppersmith, so called because of it single repetitive metallic note, nesting in a hollow tree.
Common Babbler
Large Grey Babbler
The even more common Jungle Babbler
White Eared Bulbul
Greater Cougal: a large bid with a big booming voice.
The Treepie
Brahminy Myna also known as Brahminy Starling
Bank Myna
Common Myna with youngster
Yellow Crowned Woodpecker
White Naped Woodpecker
Female Indian Robin
The Yellow Footed Green Pigeon. I think is the hardest bird bird to see even when you know where they are.
Indian Grey Hornbill
Indian Courser
Brown Rockchat
Desert Wheatear
Rosy Starling
Lesser Goldenback or Black Rumped Flameback Woodpecker
Black Redstart
Udaipur is a great centre for birdwatching and bird photography. Around the lakes there are quite a few opportunities to spot something different and get close enough to get good photos. For the rarer species obviously it's better to get out in the countryside. A car or rickshaw make a very good hide. A lot of these photos were taken with my friend Samshu A good and trusted friend who knows the best places to get good photos.
This site has been updated since I got a copy of the the re-publication of 'Birds of the Indian Subcontinent' Oxford University Press. Easily the best book on the subject that I've seen. Consequently these birds are named to align with this publication. I also consult 'Birds of India' - OM International Press. Both obtainable at the Strand Bookshop Mumbai.
These images have been cropped and reduced to suit this web page. Full sized files suitable for publication, print or web, are available. For any further information contact me at:- keith.rawling@btconnect.com.
Techy Info: For Bird photography in India I travel light, two cameras, and two lenses - attached. I don't like changing lenses in case dust gets in. Currently I take Nikon D7100s, a 28-300mm lens and the new 80 - 400mm lens when I require that extra reach. Set to shutter priority (1000th) to freeze the action and to limit camera shake. The light is fantastic so 200 ISO is OK most of the time.
Koel - adult female and male
Black Drongo
White Fronted Drongo
A sleeping Laughing Dove
See also:
Common Hawk Cuckoo or Brainfever Bird - imm
Jacobin Cuckoo - imm
Grey Francolin
Stonechat - female
European Roller
Stonechat
Male Indian Robin - courtship display
Large Cuckooshrike - male and female
White Browed Fantail.
Female Desert Wheatear
Isabelline Wheatear
Female Desert Wheatear
Indian Thick Knee
Indian Thick Knee
Indian Thick Knee
Grey Francolin
Jungle Bush Quail
Barred Buttonquail
Barred Buttonquail
Common Quail
Common Quail
GROUND BIRDS
Indian Courser
Indian Courser
WOODPECKERS
These two plainly disagree - no holds barred.
FANTAILS
Pied Bushchat
Female Asian Magpie Robin
CUCKOOS
A general term for birds that prefer to run for cover rather than fly. The Indian Thick Knee it better known in England as the Stone Curlew
Male Asian Magpie Robin
Male Indian Robin - puffed up on a cold morning
Bluethroat
Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Rock Thrush
Female Blue Rock Thrush
ROBINS, REDSTARTS AND THRUSHES
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Black Drongo
DRONGOS and BULBULS
Jacobin Cuckoo
Red Vented Bulbul
BABBLERS
Bank Myna
BARBETS
The long Tailed Shrike
Bay Backed Shrike
Southern Grey Shrike
Common Woodshrike
MYNAS AND STARLINGS
Common Starling
Brahminy Myna
Pied Starling
Rosy Starling
SHRIKES
Southern Grey Shrike
Isabelline Shrike
Red Vented Bulbul
ROLLERS
PARROTS
Yellow Eyed Babbler
Yellow Eyed Babbler
Tawney Bellied Babbler
Large Grey Babbler
Bay Backed Shrike
Female Pied Bushchat
The Brown Faced Barbet
Koel - immature male
Changeable or Variable Wheatear (picata)
WHEATEARS, CHATS
Changeable or Variable Wheatear (opistholeuca)
Changeable or Variable Wheatear (picata)
Desert Wheatear
Changeable or Variable Wheatear (picata)
Black Redstart
Black-Hooded Oriole
Bluethroat female
Black-Hooded Oriole
White Browed Fantail.
The Brown Faced Barbet
Grey Francolin - Males fighting. Mate watching anxiously
Sirkeer Malkoha
Sirkeer Malkoha- Display
European Roller
The Brown Faced Barbet
Southern Cougal - Grey tinge to the head
The Treepie
HOOPOE
Eurasian Collered Dove
Red Collered Dove
Oriental Turtle Dove
Yellow eyed pigeon - rare
White Spotted Fantail.
White Spotted Fantail.
WRYNECK
Wryneck
Hoopoe
Hoopoe
Isabelline Shrike imm