Bird Walk at Sikandarpur Pahadi, Gurugram
- Gurugram
- 2 August, 2026
- Mansi Lodhi
About Sikandarpur Pahadi
Located in Gurugram, Haryana, Sikandarpur Pahadi is a unique urban biodiversity hotspot where rocky Aravalli outcrops, scrub forests, grasslands, seasonal wetlands, and small waterbodies come together to create a rich natural landscape. Despite being surrounded by rapid urban development, the area provides valuable habitat for a wide range of birds, butterflies, reptiles, and small mammals. Native shrubs, thorny scrub, and scattered trees support a diverse ecosystem, making Sikandarpur Pahadi one of the most accessible birding locations in the National Capital Region.
The combination of dry scrub habitat and wetland patches makes Sikandarpur Pahadi rewarding throughout the year, with resident birds joined by migratory visitors during the winter months. However, increasing urbanisation, habitat fragmentation, invasive plant species, littering, and human disturbance continue to threaten this fragile ecosystem. Protecting and restoring the area’s natural habitats is essential for conserving its biodiversity and maintaining one of Gurugram’s most important green spaces.
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 Sikandarpur Pahadi
Sikandarpur Pahadi offers an exciting blend of wetland, scrubland, and woodland birds, making it an excellent destination for birdwatchers of all experience levels. Wetland species such as Indian Spot-billed Ducks, Eurasian Moorhens, Black-winged Stilts, Green Sandpipers, and Red-wattled Lapwings thrive around the seasonal waterbodies, while the surrounding scrub supports Yellow-footed Green-Pigeons, Rose-ringed Parakeets, White-eared Bulbuls, Ashy Prinias, Oriental Magpie-Robins, and Asian Green Bee-eaters. Raptors such as Black Kites patrol the skies, and the area is also home to Spotted Owlets and large flocks of Rosy Starlings during migration. Together, these species highlight the ecological importance of Sikandarpur Pahadi as a vital refuge for wildlife within the rapidly expanding urban landscape.
Ashy Prinia
Asian Green Bee-eater
Asian Koel
Black Drongo
Black Kite
Black-winged Stilt
Common Moorhen
Green Sandpiper
Indian Spot-billed Duck
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Red-vented Bulbul
Red-wattled Lapwing
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rosy Starling
Spotted Owlet
White-eared Bulbul
Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon
Indian Robin
Purple Sunbird
Common Tailorbird
Summary of Walk
The bird walk at Sikandarpur Pahadi, a green forested patch tucked within Gurugram, began on a cloudy morning that gradually gave way to sunshine. Of the nine participants who had signed up, five were present on the day, guided by Mansi Lodhi along trails lined with native trees on both sides and filled with birdsong from the surrounding bushes. The walk yielded 17 recorded species, with the White-eared Bulbul, Indian White-eye, and White-throated Bulbul among the standout sightings.
The group also enjoyed Purple Sunbirds and a beautiful preening display by a Red-vented Bulbul, while peafowls gliding overhead and displaying their long tails left everyone awestruck. Unusually, the typically elusive Indian White-eye was spotted multiple times throughout the walk, offering participants a rare, extended view of the species. Beyond the birds themselves, the biggest highlight for many participants was simply discovering that a place as mesmerizing as Sikandarpur Pahadi existed so close to their own homes, turning the walk into both a birding outing and a small, welcome local discovery for the whole group.
Number of Participants
0
