Bird Walk at Hauz Khas Forest, New Delhi
- New Delhi
- 31 May, 2026
- Rs 300/- per head
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
About Hauz Khas Forest
Tucked into the heart of Hauz Khas Forest, the Hauz Khas Forest and adjoining green spaces form one of the city’s most fascinating urban wildernesses. Spread across the larger Hauz Khas Recreational Complex, a landscape of nearly 149 acres with woodland, scrub, grassland, wetlands and historic ruins — the forest acts as a vital ecological refuge amid Delhi’s dense urban sprawl. Native and semi-native trees such as neem, peepal, banyan, jamun, amaltas and arjuna create a layered habitat that supports remarkable biodiversity. The area blends seamlessly with Deer Park, Hauz Khas Lake and nearby ridge vegetation, making it feel less like a city park and more like a fragment of the ancient Aravalli ecosystem surviving inside the capital. Early mornings here are filled with the calls of parakeets, barbets and peafowl, while shaded trails wind past medieval monuments and hidden water bodies that give the forest an almost secret-garden atmosphere.
For birders and nature lovers, Hauz Khas Forest is among Delhi’s most rewarding green escapes. Resident species such as the Indian Grey Hornbill, Black-rumped Flameback, Rose-ringed Parakeet and White-throated Kingfisher are regularly seen, while winter brings migratory warblers, flycatchers and wetland birds to the lake edges. Beyond birds, the forest shelters spotted deer, reptiles, butterflies and a surprising variety of urban-adapted wildlife. Yet this ecological oasis faces mounting pressure from urbanisation, habitat fragmentation, invasive vegetation, pollution and heavy visitor footfall. Recent conservation efforts around the Hauz Khas–Neela Hauz landscape aim to restore wetlands, improve habitat quality and protect native flora and fauna. As Delhi continues to grow, Hauz Khas Forest stands as a reminder that thriving wildlife and historic landscapes can still coexist within a modern megacity if carefully protected.
Bird Guide: Anjali Bhardwaj
A passionate birder and researcher, I am currently a PhD scholar in biogeography at Jamia Millia Islamia with 3.5 years of experience studying urban birdlife in Delhi. My work focuses on bird occupancy, vocalisations, and their relationship with tree species,combining field birding with research to offer deeper, more insightful birding experiences.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Hauz Khas Forest
With nearly 88 bird species recorded, Hauz Khas Forest is one of Delhi’s most vibrant urban birding hotspots. The forest echoes with the calls of Indian Peafowl, Asian Koels and Brown-headed Barbets, while flocks of Rose-ringed Parakeets flash through the canopy in bursts of green. Careful observers may spot the prehistoric-looking Greater Coucal skulking through undergrowth, the elegant Indian Grey Hornbill gliding between trees, or a Spotted Owlet peering from an old trunk at dusk. Wetland edges attract species such as the White-throated Kingfisher, Red-wattled Lapwing and the striking Red-naped Ibis, while winter visitors like Hume’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Tree Pipit add a seasonal surprise for birdwatchers. Common residents including Jungle Babblers, Oriental Magpie-Robins, Purple Sunbirds, Red-whiskered Bulbuls and Rosy Starlings ensure the forest remains lively throughout the year. Together, these birds transform Hauz Khas Forest into a rare pocket of wild sound and movement within the heart of New Delhi.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Indian Peafowl
Greater Coucal
Asian Koel
Spotted Owlet
Indian Grey Hornbill
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Brown-headed Barbet
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Jungle Babbler
Rosy Starling
Common Myna
Purple Sunbird
Common Tailorbird
Indian White Eye
Rufous Treepie
White-throated Kingfisher
Eurasian-collared Dove
Black Kite
Red-vented Bulbul
- Fee collected goes entirely to the bird guide. Ataavi does not retain or profit from this amount.
