Though home to tigers with the highest density in the World Bandhavgarh in India is a birders paradise. It is one of the most visited National Park and tiger reserve in Central India or the State of Madhya Pradesh. Another striking feature of the park is its history. The destination is home to ancient structures built by the tribal communities and subsequently by series of conquerors. But no more since its inception as a protected area the human settlements are now allowed with the core area of the park also called critical tiger habitat.

The tiger reserve area is large encompassing about 1100 sq.km which includes the buffer zone. In the buffer settlements and civilization exists albeit with some restriction. Tourists come here for tigers but few know what an excellent place the preserve is for bird watching. There are more than two hundred fifty avian species all around the reserve. The diverse terrain with niche habitats is the reason for wide spectrum of bird life that can be seen almost everywhere.

The enthusiasts prefer winters because of augmentation of species due to winter arrivals. Birds migrate from palearctcic region and from local surroundings. Most of the migrant go back with the start of the summers leaving the residents behind. But bird watching in summers is no less exciting as the canopy thins down and the breeding starts. Also like tigers and other animals the avian are attracted towards water sources making visibility easy.

Some of the spectacular species seen in the park is the horn bills both Malabar Pied and Grey. These are avian that breed in tree hollows at the top of the plateau of Bandavgarh Hill. Due to a number steep rocky cliffs the place is ideal for Indian vultures to breed. They are seen along with red headed vultures, white backed vultures and Egyptian vulture. Other raptors that are commonly seen are the crested serpent and hawk eagles, besides short toed snake eagle, white eyed and honey buzzard, grey headed fish eagle, shikra and peregrine falcon. Pallas's Fish Eagle is a winter visitor. Among the winter visitors are the Siberian ruby throat, verditor flycatcher, Hume's warbler. sulphur bellied warbler, Ticklell's leaf warbler, paddyfield warbler, common chiff chaff and booted warbler. Ultramarine flycatcher and ashy minivet arrive in the cold season. Other species to keep an eye on are the Indian Pitta, Orange Headed Ground Thrush, Asian paradise flycatcher, rock thrush, blue capped rock thrush, racket tailed drongo, white belled drongo, white eye, zitting cisticola, common kingfisher, white throated kingfisher, white rumped shama, scarlet minivet, alexendrine and blossom headed parakeet, common iora, painted francolin and many others.

Some of the less seen visitors are the grey bushchat and white bellied minivet, rufus woodpecker, white naped woodpecker, chestnut bellied nuthatch,. greater painted snipe and bronze dove. You can see these birds with some efforts but they are not rare.

Birding takes place during the safaris as well as outside of the park on treks. The outside birding is organized by the resorts near large ponds, grasslands forests and villages. This increases the scope of coming across wide range of species many of which are not common in the core zone. Wetland species are often seen in and around numerous tanks near the villages. One can see lesser whistling teal, Nakta, Northerm pintail, red crested pochard, Brahminy ducks, Gadwall, Painted Stork, Openbill stork, pied kingfisher, bronze winged and pheasant tailed jacana, green sandpiper, common sandpiper, grey wagtail, little ringed plover, greater cormorant, common teal, tufted duck, little stint, Temmincks stint, barred and blue button quail, yellow and chestnut bittern, shrikes, bushchats and shallows besides so many others.

Due to large movements required in order to cover niche habitats extended stay is required. With expert local birding guides and naturalists good checklist can be built in three or four days. Most of the luxury resort organize bird watching in Bandhavgarh with engagement of resident naturalist. They help cover a large number of habitats and provide valuable literature regarding the avian species in the reserve and outside.

Those interested in ornithological surveys need to carry a good pair of binoculars and some hand guides. Appropriate clothing is a must and so is capability for long walks. You can reach Bandhavgarh via Jabalpur at four hours drive or from Kanha National Park which if five hours drive. Jabalpur airport in Madhya Pradesh is well connected with New Delhi and Mumbai and also Kanha National Park.