Bird Walk at Kotra Village, Narsingarh (MP)

About Kotra Village

Kotra is a beautiful village nestled in the Vindhyachal hills, bordering the Chirikho Wildlife Sanctuary. It has been designated as a forest village. The village boasts five beautiful natural and man-made ponds dating back to the princely era, which are home to rich biodiversity.

Many beautiful birds and wildlife can be seen here. The village also has a unique cultural and historical heritage, evidenced by the rock paintings found in the surrounding hills. This bird walk will include bird watching, viewing the rock paintings, and enjoying traditional local food at a beautiful campsite location.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Kotra Village

Kotra village hosts a rich diversity of birdlife, making it a delightful destination for bird watchers and nature lovers. The wetlands and agricultural fields around the village attract a variety of waterbirds such as Bronze-winged Jacanas gracefully walking over floating vegetation, Spot-billed Ducks and Comb Ducks paddling in open water, and Ruddy Shelducks and Lesser Whistling Ducks gathering in calm stretches of ponds and canals. The presence of three species of kingfishers — Common, Pied, and the striking Stork-billed Kingfisher — highlights the abundance of aquatic habitats and healthy fish populations. Black-winged Stilts are often seen wading elegantly in shallow edges, while Laughing Doves, Spotted Doves, and Red-collared Doves add charm to farmlands and village lanes with their gentle cooing and fluttering flights.

Grasslands, scrub patches, and farm bunds around Kotra bring a different set of birds to the foreground. Indian Roller and the occasional European Roller brighten the landscape with their vibrant blues, often seen perched on wires scanning for prey. Small insect-eating birds like Pied Bushchat, Siberian Stonechat, and Zitting Cisticola flit across open fields, adding constant movement to the scenery. Winter brings special visitors like the Black Redstart, which can be seen hopping among rocks and walls. Kotra is also graced by the presence of scavengers like the Egyptian Vulture and critically endangered Red-headed Vulture, signaling an important raptor habitat in the region. Together, these species make Kotra village a thriving and ecologically valuable birding site where waterbirds, raptors, and farmland songbirds coexist harmoniously.