Common garden birds of Delhi
The most common birds you might find in your garden, local park, or spot from your balcony… Arranged by size for easy identification.
Small Birds
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Red-vented Bulbul - गुलदुम
Pycnonotus cafer
Size: 20-23cm
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Red-whiskered Bulbul - सिपाही बुलबुल
Pycnonotus jocosus
Size: 17-23cm
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Indian White-eye - बबूना
Zosterops palpebrosus
Size: 10cm
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Brahminy Starling - पुहय्या मैना
Sturnia pagodarum
Size: 20cm
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Oriental Magpie Robin - दयाल
Copsychus saularis
Size: 19-21cm
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Common Tailorbird - दर्जिन
Orthotomus sutorius
Size: 10-14cm
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Purple Sunbird - बैंगनी शक्करखोरा
Cinnyris asiaticus
Size: 10-11cm
Note: The male (pictured) and female look different!
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House Sparrow - घरेलू गौरैया
Passer domesticus
Size: 14-15cm
Note: The female (left) and male (right) look different!
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Indian Robin - कलचुरी
Copsychus fulicatus
Size: 16cm
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Pale-billed Flowerpecker - छोटा फूलचुकी
Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Size: 8cm
Medium-sized Birds
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Jungle Babbler - सात भाई
Argya striata
Size: 25cm
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Common Myna - मैना
Acridotheres tristis
Size: 23-26cm
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Black-rumped Flameback - सुनहरा कठफोड़वा
Dinopium benghalense
Size: 26-29cm
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Brown-headed Barbet - बड़ा हरा बसंता
Psilopogon zeylanicus
Size: 27cm
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Black Drongo - भुजंगा
Dicrurus macrocercus
Size: 26-28cm
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Laughing Dove - छोटा फाख्ता
Spilopelia senegalensis
Size: 27cm
Large Birds
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Rose-ringed Parakeet - तोता
Psittacula krameria
Size: 37-43cm
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Yellow-footed Green Pigeon - हरियल
Treron phoenicopterus
Size: 33cm
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Black Kite - चील
Milvus migrans
Size: 44-66cm
Wingspan: 120-153cm
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Rufous Treepie - लाल तरुपिक / टका चोर
Dendrocitta vagabunda
Size: 46-50cm
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House Crow - कौआ
Corvus splendens
Size: 40-43cm
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Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon - कबूतर
Columba livia
Size: 29-36cm
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Asian Koel - कोयल
Eudynamys scolopaceus
Size: 39-46cm
Note: The female (left) and male (right) look very different!
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Indian Grey Hornbill - धनेश
Ocyceros birostris
Size: 50cm
Less Commonly Seen Birds…
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Plum-headed Parakeet - टूईयां तोता
Psittacula cyanocephala
Size: 33-37cm
Slightly smaller than Rose-ringed Parakeets with a distinctive plum-coloured head, you may see these if you live close to a forested area such as Sanjay Van.
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Coppersmith Barbet - ठठेरा बसंता
Psilopogon haemacephalus
Size: 15-17cm
You have probably heard this bird which is named for its loud, repetitive call that mimics the sound of a coppersmith hammering metal. Though common, it is much more likely to be heard than seen.
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Rosy Starling - गुलाबी मैना
Pastor roseus
Size: 19-24cm
This medium-sized starling winters in India, remaining until March-April.
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White-throated Kingfisher - सफ़ेद छाती किलकिला
Halcyon smyrnensis
Size: 26-29cm
Common in parks and other less inhabited areas, often (but not exclusively!) near water.
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Brown Rock Chat - भूरा शैल पिद्दा
Oenanthe fusca
Size: 17cm
Trickier to identify - somewhat similar to a female Indian Robin, though the Brown Rock Chat has a shorter tail and lacks the rufous vent of a Robin. Often seen standing tall and proud on ridges and buildings.
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