Bird Walk at Sanjay Van, New Delhi

  • New Delhi
  • 13 September, 2026
  • Mansi

About Sanjay Van

Sanjay Van is one of New Delhi’s largest and most important urban forests, spread over about 780 hectares along the southern edge of the city near the Aravalli ridge. The landscape is dominated by dry deciduous and thorn scrub forest, interspersed with rocky outcrops, seasonal streams, grasslands, and small wetlands that fill during the monsoon. Native flora such as dhok, babool, neem, peepal, banyan, and ber coexist with plantations and regenerating scrub, creating a complex mosaic of habitats. This diversity supports a wide range of fauna, including mammals like nilgai, golden jackal, Indian hare, and mongoose, along with reptiles, butterflies, and other invertebrates. Sanjay Van is also a celebrated birding hotspot, recording well over 200 bird species, with resident woodland birds, winter migrants, and passage migrants making it a year-round destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers.

Despite its ecological value, Sanjay Van faces significant conservation challenges typical of urban forests. Pressures from encroachment, unregulated construction, invasive plant species, waste dumping, feral dogs, and heavy human footfall threaten habitat quality and wildlife movement. Fragmentation of forest patches and disturbance near nesting and foraging areas can impact sensitive species, while groundwater depletion affects seasonal wetlands. Conservation efforts focus on protecting native vegetation, controlling invasive species, restoring water bodies, and promoting responsible public use through awareness and community involvement. Safeguarding Sanjay Van is critical not only for its biodiversity, but also for its role as a green lung that moderates climate, supports groundwater recharge, and offers Delhi residents a rare connection to natural wilderness within the city.

Partnered with

Bird Guide: Mansi

Nature educator and birding guide with Midori Walks, Mansi blends ecology and mindfulness to create enriching outdoor experiences in urban green spaces.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Sanjay Van

Sanjay Van is a vibrant birding refuge in the heart of New Delhi, with 224 bird species recorded, and even a short walk can reveal an impressive mix of woodland, grassland, and wetland birds. Seasonal waterbodies attract Indian Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, and elegant Black-winged Stilts, while open areas and forest edges are watched over by the hovering Black-winged Kite. The trees and scrub resonate with familiar calls of Indian Peafowl, Rose-ringed and Alexandrine Parakeets, along with Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, and Laughing Dove. The undergrowth comes alive with small insectivores such as the Common Tailorbird, Yellow-bellied Prinia, and winter visitors like the Taiga Flycatcher, while the social chatter of Jungle Babblers, Common Mynas, and House Crows fills the forest air. Adding melody and colour are birds like the Oriental Magpie-Robin, Red-whiskered Bulbul, and Red-vented Bulbul, making Sanjay Van a rewarding destination for both casual visitors and dedicated birdwatchers alike.
Common Hoopoe
Eurasian Moorhen
Laughing Dove
Brown-headed Barbet
Oriental Magpie Robin

Black-rumped Flameback
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Red-vented Bulbul
Eurasian-collared Dove
Jungle Babbler
Grey Francolin
Common Myna
Eastern Cattle Egret
Common Tailorbird
Purple Sunbird
Rufous Treepie
Eurasian Coot
White-breasted Waterhen
Common Hawk Cuckoo
Ashy Prinia

Summary of Walk

Sanjay Van in New Delhi hosted an educational bird walk on 13 September, with 10 of the 14 registered participants — mostly students, first-timers, and families — turning up despite cloudy, rain-dampened conditions led by guide Mansi Lodhi. The group began by learning to “stop and observe” a bird, with a White-throated Kingfisher perched at a branch end providing the perfect first opportunity to practise using binoculars. A unique parakeet call led the group to scan the treetops, and what first looked like a Rose-ringed Parakeet turned out to be a Plum-headed Parakeet, sparking a great discussion on sexual dimorphism in birds. Later, at a spot nicknamed the “Dancing Spot of the Peafowls,” the group had a rare opportunity to spot two male Red Munias (Red Avadavats) in the open, along with their name’s interesting backstory. The walk wrapped up with a fun bird-survivor game, capping off a morning rich in both sightings and storytelling.
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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