Checklist of the Birds of Mount Abu

Checklist of the Birds of Mount Abu
Location: Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India

Total Species: 195. 

Mount Abu Birds.

"I’ve been photographing the birds of Mount Abu for as long as I can remember. Along the way, I’ve noticed that many existing checklists for the area contain questionable sightings. To set the record straight, I’ve put together this list based solely on my documented observations in the Sirohi district. I hope this serves as a helpful guide for your next birding trip! If you spot an error or have an update, please leave a comment on the blog."

Checklist of the Birds of Mount Abu:

To view the Species, click on the bird's name.

"To view my full collection of sightings and photographs, you can visit my eBird profile. "While you can view my checklists publicly, I recommend creating a free eBird account to view the high-resolution photo gallery and track your own sightings."

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Waterfowl (Anatidae)

Gadwall (Mareca strepera)

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)

Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) — Recorded in Abu; documented in recent photographic sessions.

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae)

Gray Junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii)

Red Spurfowl (Galloperdix spadicea)

Jungle Bush-Quail (Perdicula asiatica)

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

Grebes (Podicipedidae)

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Pigeons & Doves (Columbidae)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) — [Field Note: 08/01/2024] Rare visitors to Mount Abu; likely stragglers and not commonly recorded here.

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon (Treron phoenicopterus)

Cuckoos (Cuculidae)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Sirkeer Malkoha (Taccocua leschenaultii) uncommon /Rare 

Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus)

Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)

Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius)

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) — [Field Note: 13/09/2025] Recent photographic record.

Swifts (Apodidae)

Alpine Swift (Apus melba)

Little Swift (Apus affinis)

Rails, Gallinules & Coots (Rallidae)

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)

Shorebirds (Waders)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) uncommon / rare

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) uncommon

Gulls & Terns (Laridae)

River Tern (Sterna aurantia)

Storks, Cormorants & Herons

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)

Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)

Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) — Recently documented via photography

Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Black Bittern (Botaurus flavicollis) — First for Abu (May 2025).

Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) uncommon

Great Egret (Ardea alba) — Recently documented via photography.

Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Eastern Cattle-Egret - Ardea coromanda

Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii)

Little Heron  (Butorides atricapilla)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) flyover

Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) — Recently added to the photographic checklist.

RAPTORS

(Accipitriformes & Falconiformes)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) rare 

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) was once common

White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus)

Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis)

Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) — Recently documented via photography.

Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)

Short-toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus)

Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastata)

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) — Recently documented via photography.

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) — [First District Record: 12/11/2022] A personal lifer and the first officially recorded sighting for Mount Abu.

Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata)

Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis)

Western Marsh Harrier - Circus aeruginosus

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Shikra (Accipiter badius)

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) — Recently added to the checklist.

White-eyed Buzzard (Butastur teesa)

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Himalayan Buzzard (Buteo refectus) — [Field Note: 01/11/2025] Recent photographic record.

Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) — Including Shaheen subspecies.

Owls (Strigiformes)

Indian Scops-Owl (Otus bakkamoena)

Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)

Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum) — [Field Note: 11/06/2025 & 11/09/2025] Multiple recent sightings documented.

Hoopoes, Kingfishers & Bee-eaters

Common Hoopoe - Upupa epops

Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Asian Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

Barbets & Woodpeckers (Piciformes)

Brown-headed Barbet (Psilopogon zeylanicus)

Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus)

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus nanus) — Recently documented via photography.

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker (Leiopicus mahrattensis)

Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense)

White-naped Woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus)

Parrots (Psittaculidae)

Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala)

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatri)

Passerines (Songbirds)

Minivets, Woodshrikes & Orioles

Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)

Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus) — [Field Note] A personal first for Mount Abu; recently added to the checklist.

Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)

Indian Golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo)

Drongos & Fantails

Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)

White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)

Spot-breasted Fantail (Rhipidura albogularis)

Indian Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi)

Crows & Shrikes

Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)

Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)

Larks & Tits

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus) — [First Record: 24/09/2024] Sighted on Achalgarh Road; likely a vagrant and the first recorded sighting for the area.

Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus)

Indian Yellow Tit (Machlolophus aplonotus)

Bulbuls

Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)

White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)

Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)

Swallows & Martins

Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor)

Eurasian Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Streak-throated Swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola) — [Field Note: 26/08/2022] Recent photographic record.

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow ( Cecropis daurica)

Western House-Martin  (Delichon urbicum)

Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae)

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

Hume's Warbler (Phylloscopus humei)

Sulphur-bellied Warbler (Phylloscopus griseolus)

Green Warbler (Phylloscopus nitidus) — Recently added to the checklist

Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides)

Large-billed Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus magnirostris) — Recently documented via photography.

Western Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus occipitalis) — [Field Note: 28/08/2025 & 13/09/2025] Recent photographic records.

Reed Warblers & Sylviids

Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) — Recently documented via photography.

Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)

Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) — Recently documented via photography.

Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata)

Sykes's Warbler (Iduna rama) — Recently documented via photography.

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

Greater Whitethroat (Curruca communis) — [Potential First Record: 10/09/2023] A personal lifer; currently investigating if this is the first formal record for Mount Abu

Babblers & White-eyes

Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense)

Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)

Indian Scimitar-Babbler (Pomatorhinus horsfieldii)

Tawny-bellied Babbler (Dumetia hyperythra)

Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata)

Large Gray Babbler (Turdoides malcolmi)

Starlings & Thrushes

Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum)

Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Indian Blackbird (Turdus simillimus)

Chats & Flycatchers

Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)

Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus)

Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) — [Field Note: 26/09/2022 & 02/10/2022] Awaiting formal confirmation via eBird data review.

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis tickelliae)

Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus)

Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)

Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)

Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla)

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)

Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius)

Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)

Brown Rock Chat (Oenanthe fusca)

Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis)

Sunbirds, Munias & Sparrows

Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)

Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum agile)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Gymnoris xanthocollis)

Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Green Avadavat (Sporaeginthus formosus)

Wagtails & Pipits

Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis)

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)

Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)

Buntings & Rosefinches

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)

Crested Bunting (Emberiza lathami)

White-capped Bunting (Emberiza stewarti)

Gray-necked Bunting (Emberiza buchanani)

To view my collection on eBird, click the link below

Ains Priestman's contribution to eBird

"I share my documented sightings through eBird, the world's largest birding database. "While you can view my checklists publicly, I recommend creating a free eBird account to view the high-resolution photo gallery and track your own sightings."

Getting started is easy: just head over to eBird.org and click 'Get Started' to create your account. If you’re new to birding apps, they offer a fantastic, free eBird Essentials course that walks you through everything. Use the link below to join the community and see what we’ve been spotting in Mount Abu!

Birding in March 2026: Mount Abu.

 Spring in Full Bloom | Third Week Observations (16–21 March)

Mount Abu Birding Diary–March 2026.

The third week of March (16–21 March 2026) in Mount Abu unfolded with typical early-spring character — warm days, occasional gusty winds, and an overcast sky drifting over the Aravalli hills. The days remained dry, and temperatures showed noticeable fluctuations between the warmth of midday and the coolness that settled in after sunset.

 By this stage of the season, spring migration is complete. Most of the winter visitors have already begun their long journeys northward. Yet, a few lingering migrants still grace the Abu forests — the buzzards, the elusive Sparrowhawk, scattered warblers, and a handful of pipits preparing for their departure.

 I’m thrilled to present a modest yet significant compilation of bird observations from March 16th to 20th. Each photograph from these outings tells its own quiet story — one of patience, observation, and the simple joy of discovering beauty in landscapes that, at first glance, may seem sparse and silent.

 Spring birding in Mount Abu has a special charm. The forests awaken with renewed life: blossoms appear on trees, insects stir, butterflies flutter through sunlit clearings, and the resident birds grow vocal as breeding season approaches. For a birder, it is a time of subtle transitions — the last whispers of winter mingling with the vibrant promise of summer.

 My birding excursion on 21 March to the West Banas Dam deserves special attention, and I will feature it in a separate post. That outing proved rewarding and offered a different birding experience in the foothills below Mount Abu.

 Stay tuned for my upcoming posts, where I venture further into the foothills to capture the last wave of spring migration. These landscapes often produce thrilling encounters and a fascinating variety of avian life during this transitional period.

Bird of the Week.

Jungle Owlet - Glaucidium radiatum

"I spent more than a decade birding without ever spotting a Jungle Owlet. Then, like a dream come true, they started appearing over the last two years. I was even lucky enough to find a pair and get some great photos!"

16 March

Eastern Cattle-Egret - Ardea coromanda

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach

Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer 

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

17 March

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor 

Dusky Crag-Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor 

Spot-breasted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis

18 March

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Indian Yellow Tit - Machlolophus aplonotus

Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri

19 March

Jungle Owlet - Glaucidium radiatum

Jungle Owlet - Glaucidium radiatum

Jungle Owlet - Glaucidium radiatum

"Ten years in the making.  The Jungle Owlet was my most-wanted sighting for a decade—now, I’m finally sharing the frame with a pair of them. Never give up on the search!" "Ten years in the making! So grateful to my niece, Crescentia, for helping me finally cross the Jungle Owlet off my list. This pair was well worth the wait."

Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatri 

Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatri 

Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatri 

Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus

Brown-headed Barbet - Psilopogon zeylanicus

Gray Junglefowl - Gallus sonneratii 

Gray Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea 

Green Avadavat - Sporaeginthus formosus

Indian Silverbill - Euodice malabarica

Little Cormorant - Microcarbo niger

Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis

Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis

Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis

Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis

White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens 

20 March

Indian Yellow Tit Machlolophus aplonotus

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 

Field Notes–Third Week of March 2026

Location: Mount Abu, Rajasthan–Aravalli Hills

Dates Covered: 16–21 March 2026

Weather: Warm, dry days with occasional winds and intermittent overcast skies. Noticeable temperature difference between day and night.

Seasonal Pattern: Spring migration is complete. A few winter migrants are still present, including buzzards, sparrowhawks, warblers, and pipits.

Habitat Covered: Woodland patches, rocky slopes, forest edges, and open clearings around Mount Abu.

Highlight of the Week: Observing the last lingering raptors and warblers before they depart for northern breeding grounds.

Upcoming Exploration: Birding visit to West Banas Dam in the foothills. 

Footnote: The highlight of the trip wasn't even a bird! My niece, Cres, and I stumbled upon a melanistic Eastern Grey Squirrel. I’d heard they existed, but seeing that jet-black coat in person was a first for me. A fantastic "non-feathered" addition to our March birding log.

BLACK SQUIRREL MOUNT ABU MARCH 2026

BLACK SQUIRREL MOUNT ABU MARCH 2026