WHAT CAN THE BIRDWATCHER EXPECT AT KANHA?
Obviously, numbers and variety will differ with the time of year, but our experience suggests that a fortnight’s visit should easily yield on the order of 100 species. For a comprehensive listing and detailed annotation, we eagerly await the reference work currently being prepared by D’Cunha and All. Meanwhile, we have selected forty species for brief treatment here. These “top 40” were chosen on the following criteria: the birds are sighted relatively frequently at Kanha; they represent a diversity of habitats within the park; and various features of their appearance, behaviour, and/or calls make them intrinsically interesting. 1. Paddy Bird or Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii): This heron, which approximates the size of the Little Egret, is one of the most common marsh species in Kanha. It is delightfully varied in appearance: rather drab and speckled brown when on the ground or at rest, but flashing white when in flight. This heron feeds on frogs, crabs, fish, and insects, which it finds
