Bird Walk at Mahatma Tekdi, Pune, Maharashtra

About Mahatma Tekdi

Mahatma Tekdi in Pune is a peaceful natural escape located near the bustling cityscape, offering a refreshing environment surrounded by greenery, gentle slopes, and panoramic views. Known for its quiet walking trails and scenic vantage points, the hill attracts morning walkers, nature lovers, and families seeking a serene spot to unwind. The hilltop provides a beautiful overlook of the surrounding neighborhoods, allowing visitors to enjoy sunrise and sunset moments while appreciating the cool breeze and songs of local birds.

The hill also carries cultural and recreational value, often serving as a gathering place for community activities and informal fitness routines. With increasing urbanization around Pune, Mahatma Hill stands as a reminder of the city’s natural beauty and ecological heritage. Whether it’s for meditation, photography, exercise, or simply a moment of peace away from daily routine, the spot continues to be a cherished green pocket for residents and visitors alike.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Mahatma Tekdi

Mahatma Tekdi in Pune is a thriving birding hotspot, with an impressive 168 species recorded, reflecting its diverse habitats of scrubland, grass patches, and scattered trees. Common sightings include ground-foraging birds such as the Laughing Dove and Red-wattled Lapwing, while water bodies around the hill support species like Little Grebe, Glossy Ibis, and Eastern Cattle Egret. Raptors such as the Black-winged Kite and occasional Booted Eagle add excitement for birders, soaring above the slopes in search of prey. Classic open-country species like the Asian Green Bee-eater, Black Drongo, and Long-tailed Shrike are frequently seen perched on wires or shrubs, actively hunting insects and contributing to the lively bird activity around the hill.

The hill also hosts a beautiful mix of woodland and urban-edge birds, from the melodic Indian Golden Oriole and Purple Sunbird to the playful Rufous Treepie and social Large Gray Babbler. Swallows such as the Wire-tailed Swallow skim gracefully over open spaces, while insect-hunters like Indian Robin and Black Redstart flit across rocks and bushy patches. Wetland visitors, including Little Cormorant and White-throated Kingfisher, reflect the presence of nearby water sources. With wagtails, kingfishers, sunbirds, shrikes, and raptors all appearing on a single walk, Mahatma Hill offers birders a vibrant and rewarding experience, making it one of Pune’s beloved nature pockets and a refuge for both migratory and resident birds.