Bird Walk at Kumizhi Lake, Chennai

  • Chennai
  • 5 September, 2026
  • Praveen Pandian

About Kumizhi Lake

Kumizhi Lake and Forest, located in the outskirts of Chennai, is a landscape where a freshwater wetland meets stretches of forest, scrub and open habitats. The lake forms an important ecological feature in the area, providing feeding, resting and breeding opportunities for a variety of waterbirds. Its shallow edges, aquatic vegetation and surrounding open areas create suitable conditions for species such as ducks, grebes, coots, moorhens and jacanas. The presence of Indian Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Moorhen, Little Grebe, Grey-headed Swamphen and Bronze-winged Jacana reflects the importance of the wetland habitat. Kingfishers and cormorants can frequently be associated with the lake, taking advantage of the aquatic environment and its availability of fish and other prey. During a nature walk, the changing habitats around the lake can provide opportunities to observe birds both on the water and along its margins.
Beyond the lake, the surrounding forest and scrub vegetation support a different community of birds. Trees and shrubs provide food, shelter and nesting sites for insectivorous, frugivorous and nectar-feeding species, while open patches attract ground-foraging birds. The area can support colourful species such as Indian Golden Oriole, Blue-tailed Bee-eater and Purple-rumped Sunbird, alongside woodland birds including Black-rumped Flameback, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Red-whiskered Bulbul and White-browed Bulbul. Indian Peafowl, Laughing Dove and Spotted Dove are also representative of the more open surroundings. The combination of wetland and terrestrial habitats makes Kumizhi Lake and Forest a valuable site for birdwatching and nature education around Chennai. Protecting the lake, maintaining native vegetation and minimising disturbance are important for sustaining the area’s diverse birdlife.

Bird Guide: Praveen Pandian

He is a wildlife enthusiast, birder, and photographer with 9 years of experience documenting around 800 bird species across India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. He has extensive birding experience in Chennai, Vedanthangal, and Puducherry, and enjoys sharing bird identification tips, behaviour, and habitat insights with fellow birders. His depth of field experience and eye for detail make every walk with him both informative and engaging.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Kumizhi Lake

A bird walk at Kumizhi Lake and Forest can offer a good mix of wetland, woodland and open-habitat species. The lake supports several waterbirds, with Eurasian Coot, Eurasian Moorhen, Little Grebe, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Grey-headed Swamphen and Bronze-winged Jacana among the highlights. The waterbody also attracts fishing and water-associated species such as Indian Cormorant, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher and White-throated Kingfisher. Around the forest and scrub, birdwatchers can look for Black-rumped Flameback, Indian Golden Oriole, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Red-whiskered Bulbul, White-browed Bulbul and Purple-rumped Sunbird. Blue-tailed Bee-eater adds a colourful presence to the area, while Indian Peafowl, Laughing Dove and Spotted Dove represent the more open habitats. Together, these 20 species highlight the variety of birdlife supported by Kumizhi’s lake and surrounding forest.
Black-rumped Flameback
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Indian Cormorant
Indian Peafowl
Eurasian Coot

Common Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
White-browed Bulbul
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Bronze-winged Jacana
Indian Golden Oriole
Little Grebe
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Grey-headed Swamphen
Eurasian Moorhen
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Laughing Dove
Spotted Dove

Summary of Walk

On 5 September 2026, 22 participants gathered at Kumizhi Lake in Chennai for a guided walk led by Praveen Pandian. The mix of open water and wooded fringe habitat made for varied birding through the morning, and the good turnout reflected growing enthusiasm for birdwatching in the city. Moving between the lake’s edge and the shaded forest trail, the group logged an impressive 39 species by the end of the walk, one of the strongest counts of the entire week and a wonderful showcase of what this quiet corner of Chennai has to offer. The forest’s shaded canopy offered welcome relief from the morning sun, allowing the group to move at a leisurely pace while scanning the treetops.

Highlights included the striking Pied Cuckoo, a sharp-eyed Shikra, and the distinctive call of the Common Hawk-Cuckoo, all of which drew attention from the group. Water birds were well represented too, with Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe, Eurasian Moorhen, Indian and Little Cormorants, and Grey-headed Swamphen all recorded around the lake. Birders also enjoyed excellent photo opportunities with all three common bulbul species — Red-vented, Red-whiskered, and White-browed — alongside Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, Indian Golden Oriole, and Rose-ringed Parakeets, making for a memorable and thoroughly satisfying outing at Kumizhi, from start to finish. Praveen’s patient explanations of call recognition helped several first-time participants identify species purely by sound.

Number of Participants
0
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ATAAVI Bird Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a deeper connection between people and the avian diversity of India. Through advocacy, education and conservation efforts, we strive to increase awareness and appreciation for birds across communities.

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