Bird Walk at Kushivali, Thane, Maharashtra

About Kushivali

At the foot of the dramatic Malanggad hills, just beyond the busy suburbs of Kalyan and Ambernath, lies Kushivali, a surprisingly wild corner of Thane district. Around Kharad village and the Gavdevi Mandir, the landscape opens into a patchwork of grassland and farmland ringed by hills, laced with small streams that flow across the trails after the monsoon. Tall grasses, scattered trees, scrubby slopes and seasonal pools create a mosaic of habitats rarely found so close to Mumbai. After the rains, the hills turn emerald and the grasslands come alive with insects, which in turn draw a rich community of birds. Quails and doves forage in the grass, rollers and bee-eaters perch on wires and bushes, and raptors scan the open country from above. Winter is especially rewarding, when migrant harriers and eagles join the resident birds, making this one of the region’s finest grassland birding spots.

Grasslands, however, are among India’s most overlooked habitats, often dismissed as “wasteland.” Across Maharashtra, they are shrinking, along with the birds that depend on them. At Kushivali, the pressure comes from expanding urban development, construction and plotting, quarrying, garbage dumping and fires that sweep through the dry grass. Recognising the grasslands’ value, keeping them open and unburnt, and encouraging responsible birding can help protect this vital green buffer on Mumbai’s doorstep.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Kushivali

Kushivali’s open grasslands are full of character. The elusive Jungle Bush-Quail scuttles through the grass, while Spotted and Laughing Doves forage along the tracks. Red-wattled Lapwings sound the alarm at any intrusion, and Red-naped Ibises stride across the fields. Near water, the Common Sandpiper bobs along the edges, Indian Pond Herons wait motionless, Eastern Cattle Egrets follow grazing cattle, and both Common and White-throated Kingfishers hunt from nearby perches. The skies are a raptor watcher’s delight: Black-winged Kites hover over the grass, Western Marsh Harriers quarter low over the fields, the Indian Spotted Eagle soars overhead, Black Kites circle in groups and the agile Shikra darts between trees. A special highlight is the chance to see Indian and European Rollers side by side, their brilliant blues flashing in flight, while Asian Green Bee-eaters sally out after insects. The Pied Cuckoo, Asian Koel and noisy Rose-ringed Parakeets round out a vibrant mix.