Bird Walk at Sanjay Van City Forest, New Delhi

Name: Bird Walk at Sanjay Van City Forest, New Delhi
Start: 2025-08-10T06:30:00+05:30
End: 2025-08-10T08:30:00+05:30

About Sanjay Van City Forest

Sanjay Van, New Delhi’s largest city forest, sprawls across nearly 780 acres within the South Delhi ridge of the Aravalli hills. Interwoven with ancient ruins, walking trails, and regenerating woodland, this semi-arid forest is a green oasis amid the capital’s urban sprawl. Once overrun by invasive species, recent efforts have gradually restored patches of native vegetation, encouraging the return of dry scrub and thorn forest habitats typical of the Aravallis.

Today, Sanjay Van supports over 222 bird species, including Indian Peafowl, Golden Oriole, Grey Francolin, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and Spotted Owlet, making it a vital refuge for both migratory and resident birds. The forest also shelters jackals, porcupines, nilgai, and a range of reptiles. Acting as a crucial ecological corridor in Delhi’s fragmented landscape, Sanjay Van contributes to air purification, groundwater recharge, and offers citizens a rare chance to experience wilderness within city limits.

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Common birds of Sanjay Van

Sanjay Van, nestled within the South Delhi ridge of the Aravallis, offers a mosaic of dry deciduous forest, scrub, and waterbodies that support rich avian diversity. Over 222 bird species have been recorded here, with residents such as the Indian Peafowl, Jungle Babbler, Red-vented Bulbul, and Rose-ringed Parakeet commonly seen along trails and forest edges. Raptors like the Shikra, Oriental Honey-buzzard, and Black Kite frequently soar overhead, while understorey-loving species like the Ashy Prinia, Common Tailorbird, and Purple Sunbird animate the thickets. Water-associated birds including the White-breasted Waterhen, Eurasian Moorhen, and Indian Spot-billed Duck are found in the forest’s ponds and marshy areas.

Migrants and seasonal visitors such as the Greenish Warbler, Taiga Flycatcher, Bluethroat, and Indian Paradise-Flycatcher appear during winter and passage seasons, adding seasonal vibrancy to the checklist. The forest’s quieter zones also host woodland specialists like the Spotted Owlet, Coppersmith Barbet, and Black-rumped Flameback, making Sanjay Van a rewarding urban biodiversity haven for birdwatchers year-round.