Birds of Nandi Hills – An ode to the feathery angels

Nandi Hills may have begun as a simple sunrise destination for us. But our staycation there during the Covid lockdown unveiled a hidden side of this place we had never noticed before. Having abundance of time to soak in the surroundings, we discovered the vibrant avian life that calls this hilltop home. 

Birds of every size and colour adorned the trees, bushes, and even the pathways, filling the air with their chirps and chatters. Without the usual crowds, these feathered friends seemed braver, some venturing remarkably close without hesitation. It was an absolute delight to see them up close and witness their fascinating behaviour. That was when we first picked up the camera to capture these winged wonders.

Now, on every visit we eagerly spend hours spotting and photographing them, as morning melts into afternoon and afternoon fades into evening. It seems birdwatching has a way of becoming irresistibly addictive 🙂 .

Over the years, we’ve spotted many beautiful birds, some captured through the lens and some in our hearts. This blog is an ode to these feathered beauties – the ones that have brought immeasurable joy to our hearts and keep drawing us back.

Most active areas for birds

You can spot birds almost everywhere at Nandi Hills. but certain areas stand out as hotspots. The vicinity of Nehru Nilaya and the trails near the Nursery close to the parking lot are especially rewarding. The area around the cottages, in particular, seemed to teem with bird activity.

While most birds can be observed across these locations, some species seem to prefer specific areas. For instance, the Blue Rock Thrush has been consistently spotted near the cottages, while the Blue-headed Rock Thrush is found in abundance near the Gandhi and Nehru Nilaya area. 

Birds we spotted

Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Perhaps the most elegant bird of Nandi Hills, the Indian Paradise Flycatcher is a sight to behold, especially the males with their striking long tails that seem to dance as they move.  So its hard to miss it flying around or simply grooming itself perched on the branches. We spotted both the white and the rufous ones.

Sunbirds

During our December visit, we were delighted to spot sunbirds in abundance. Two varieties graced our sightings – the Purple-rumped Sunbird and Loten’s Sunbird. They seemed especially fond of the tall Bougainvillea arch near Nehru Nilaya. We also found them flitting around and feeding on the vibrant Red Powder Puff (Calliandra Haematocephala) flowers.

We’re glad we managed to capture a few shots, even if they aren’t the sharpest. Photographing these constantly moving birds made us realise just how challenging it is to freeze their lively energy in a frame.

Red-whiskered Bulbul

This charming songbird is a common sight in the area. I love how its striking crest and blush-red patch beneath the eye give it a somewhat regal appearance.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

We have a special place in our hearts for the flycatchers. Ever since we came across the Verdite Flycatcher in Himachal, we were amazed by the intelligence this little bird displayed. 

So it was a pleasant surprise spotting this Red-breasted Flycatcher at Nandi Hills. It’s colour may not be as vivid, but it definitely did not lack in cuteness. Spotted it under the Bougainvillea near Nehru Nilay.

Indian White-eye (aka Oriental White-eye)

This tiny bird is easily recognisable by the distinct ring around its eyes. Very fickle and difficult to capture, but definitely worth the wait and effort. We found a group of these around the small trees near the cottages.

Oriental Magpie Robin

This bird feels like an old friend, as it’s a regular visitor to our backyard in our native place. Its simple black-and-white plumage may seem modest, but its graceful tail movements and melodious birdsong never fail to charm us.

Blue-capped Rock Thrush

This is perhaps one of the easiest birds to photograph. And we have spotted the male on every visit. Once it settles somewhere, it stays perfectly still for minutes, as if lost in deep thought. This gave us plenty of opportunities to capture some stunning shots. You’ll often find it perched on its favourite branch or foraging on the ground. Spotted the female on our recent visit too.

Blue Rock Thrush

Just as we were about to check out of our cottage, this beautiful bird graced us with its presence. Perched peacefully on the boundary wall, it stayed long enough for us to capture it from our room – until a monkey disrupted its solitude! This was our first sighting of the Blue Rock Thrush and we were truly impressed.

White-cheeked Barbet

These birds easily camouflage among the trees because of their colour, but their distinct calls makes it easy to locate them. As its call almost sounds like kutroo kutroo, people in our native call it Kutra Pakhi in Odia. We also spotted the Coppersmith Barbet, but it was sitting on a tree too far away for the camera.

Tawny-bellied Babbler

You can spot a lot of these birds frolicking near the old fountain near Nehru Nilay and the bushes near by.

Indian Blue Robin

A beautiful bird with blue upper body and an Orange underpart. Mostly spotted it on the ground near the bushes.

Black-naped Oriole

We spotted this beauty on our first visit but never since. With its vivid yellow plumage, the Black-naped Oriole is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant residents of Nandi Hills. The bold black stripe running from its eye to the nape gives it a distinctive, almost Batman-esque charm 😉 .

Hume’s Warbler

Spotted this small energetic bird darting around the foliage of a towering tree near Nehru Nilay. 

Shikra

We spotted this bird of prey purely by chance on our recent visit. While following the calls of another bird near Nehru Nilay, Sush looked up and noticed the Shikra perched on a tree branch, perfectly blending into its surroundings. This was a lucky encounter, as the Shikra is the only raptor we’ve seen here, apart from the common kite, of course.

Other Pointers

• We could  hear many birds from inside the nursery, but it seems to be closed to the public. Though I have heard sometimes they allow birders inside, we did not try as some maintenance work was in progress and we did not speak the language.
• Winter seems to be a better time to spot some of the avifauna such as Sunbirds and certain flycatchers. 
• Like I said before, there are many other birds apart from the ones listed in this blog that we spotted, but could not photograph. Also, depending on the season and time of visit, some people have spotted different seasonal birds at Nandi Hills. You can see the list of birds found at Nandi Hills by birders on e-bird site.

Conclusion

That’s all about our bird watching experience at Nandi Hills. I would not call us birders yet.  But I am glad how these encounters with the winged wonders have been an incredible blend of learning and fun. Until next time, Nandi Hills –  You Beauty.

Read our other blogs about Nandi Hills.