Bird walk at Rajarhat, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Kolkata
- 19 September, 2026
- Sudipta Ghosh and Sounak Dutta
About Rajarhat
Rajarhat, located in the northeastern part of Kolkata, West Bengal, is a rapidly developing urban landscape where modern residential and commercial areas coexist with wetlands, agricultural fields, ponds, grasslands, and patches of vegetation. This mosaic of habitats makes Rajarhat an interesting destination for birdwatching, particularly around the remaining wetlands and open areas. The region forms part of the wider East Kolkata landscape, where numerous water bodies and low-lying habitats provide important ecological spaces amid increasing urbanisation.
The diverse habitats around Rajarhat support both resident and migratory birds, making it a rewarding location for nature walks and birdwatching throughout the year. Open water and marshy areas provide feeding and roosting grounds for waterbirds, while grasslands, shrubs, and scattered trees support insectivores, seed-eaters, and woodland species. During winter, the area becomes particularly interesting as several migratory species arrive, adding to the diversity of the resident bird community. The wetlands and green spaces of Rajarhat therefore play an important role in maintaining urban biodiversity and providing opportunities for people to connect with nature.
Bird Guide: Sudipta Ghosh
Sudipta is from Kolkata and is an academician who teaches Biology in a college. Coming from a background of Zoology, she is an avid observer of Nature. She is passionate about Birding and is also deeply involved with activities promoting Nature awareness among all age groups.
Bird Guide - Sounak Dutta
Sounak is an academician teaching Chemistry in a college based in Kolkata. As a passion, he does Birding and Nature Photography. From the last year, he has been doing Nature walks with kids and elders.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Rajarhat
Common birds found around Rajarhat include Lesser Whistling Duck, Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Purple Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, White-throated Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Black Drongo, Indian Roller, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Red-vented Bulbul, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Purple Sunbird, Ashy Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Indian Robin, Jungle Babbler, Common Myna, House Sparrow, Spotted Dove, and Black Kite. During winter, migratory ducks, waders, wagtails, and other wetland birds can also be observed around the area’s ponds and wetlands.
Tricolored Munia
Red Avadavat
Scaly-breasted Munia
Common Myna
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Indian Cormorant
Zitting Cisticola
Purple Heron
Coppersmith Barbet
Black Drongo
Eurasian Moorhen
Plain Prinia
Black Kite
House Sparrow
White-throated Kingfisher
Indian Pond Heron
Grey-headed Swamphen
Common Hawk-Cuckoo
Red-vented Bulbul
Common Tailorbird
Summary of Walk
Six participants joined guides Sudipta Ghosh and Sounak Dutta for a bird walk through the Rajarhat wetlands in Kolkata, a strip of grassland that persists amid the area’s rapid urban construction. On a sunny morning, the group moved through tall grasses dotted with white catkins, watching grass-dwelling species like Plain Prinia, Zitting Cisticola and several munias going about their business — a Red Munia performing courtship among the catkin flowers was a particularly charming sight.
Exploring further, the group caught glimpses of shier species including Ruddy-breasted Crake, Cinnamon Bittern and Yellow Bittern, along with shrikes on the hunt and mammals and reptiles such as the Indian Grey Mongoose and Oriental Garden Lizard. A visit to a nearby waterbody added Little Grebes, cormorants and Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, along with a notable Brown Shrike fresh in from its northern migration. In total the group tallied around 38 species, and participants left with positive feedback and a genuine appreciation for this resilient pocket of grassland habitat.
Number of Participants
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