Assam, located in northeastern India, is home to a wide variety of birds. With diverse habitats ranging from thick forests to grasslands and wetlands, Assam provides a haven for both resident and migratory bird species. Some of the most notable birds found in Assam include:
State Bird of Assam – White-winged Wood Duck
The beautiful White-winged Wood Duck is the state bird of Assam. With striking white patches on its wings, this critically endangered duck inhabits dense forests near rivers and streams. Assam is considered an important global stronghold for the species, providing sanctuary to significant populations.
Greater Adjutant
The Greater Adjutant is a large stork found exclusively in Assam and Cambodia. A scavenger bird dependent on wetlands, it is recognized by its massive wedge-shaped bill and bare red head. Assam’s innumerable wetlands allow this Endangered bird to thrive.
Bengal Florican
The Bengal Florican is the rarest bustard in the world, classified as Critically Endangered. The male is identified by its black crest and striking black and white plumage. The grasslands of Assam are the last refuge of this severely threatened bird.
Pallas’s Fish Eagle
A powerful bird of prey, the Pallas’s Fish Eagle inhabits wetlands and rivers where it feeds on fish and waterbirds. With distinctive brown upperparts and white-tailed underside, this Vulnerable eagle breeds in Assam’s forests.
Greater Spotted Eagle
A large brown raptor with fierce yellow eyes, the Greater Spotted Eagle is found across Assam during winter. As one of the state’s common migratory raptors, it arrives from its Palearctic breeding grounds to hunt mice, reptiles and small mammals in grasslands.
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
The smallest kingfisher in India, the brightly colored Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher measures under 9 cm. It inhabits dense forests and woodlands in Assam, where it hunts insects and small invertebrates. Despite its diminutive size, the male has an astonishing red and blue plumage.
Green Imperial Pigeon
A vibrant green pigeon with iridescent purple and bronze wings, the Green Imperial Pigeon forages for fruit and berries in Assam’s forests. As a vulnerable species threatened by hunting and deforestation, Assam remains a stronghold for the beautiful pigeon.
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
A lesser-known cousin of the famous Pallas’s Fish Eagle, the Grey-headed Fish Eagle inhabits wetlands and rivers in Assam. A stocky eagle with grey hood and white tail, it swoops down to snatch fish from water bodies.
Great Hornbill
The heavyset Great Hornbill, with its huge downward-curving bill, is an iconic bird of Northeast India. This impressive hunter makes its home in Assam’s dense forests, where it feeds on reptiles, mammals and fruit. The Great Hornbill is known for noisy duets between breeding pairs.
Rufous-vented Prinia
A tiny, active warbler, the Rufous-vented Prinia inhabits dense grasses in Assam. Recognized by its short tail and reddish undertail coverts, the prinia often cocks its tail as it darts through thickets foraging for insects.
Black-breasted Parrotbill
The Black-breasted Parrotbill is a small, distinctive bird found in bamboo thickets and reedbeds of Assam. The stocky bird has a thick blue-grey bill and black bib on an otherwise brown-and-white body. A range restricted species, Assam represents prime habitat.
Wreathed Hornbill
The striking Wreathed Hornbill makes its home in Assam’s forests. It has a massive yellow and black casqued bill and elegant white tail bars. As a fruit-eating hornbill, it plays an important role dispersing seeds of forest trees through regurgitation and defecation.
Other Notable Birds
Beyond rare and endangered birds, Assam harbors a wealth of aquatic and grassland species. Some other notable birds found here include:
- Lesser Adjutant
- Asian Openbill
- Black-necked Stork
- Lesser Whistling Duck
- Ferruginous Pochard
- Pallas’s Fish Eagle
- Pied Falconet
- Great Indian Hornbill
- Pied Kingfisher
- Blue-eared Kingfisher
- Stork-billed Kingfisher
- White-browed Piculet
- Speckled Piculet
- Grey-headed Bulbul
- Black-breasted Weaver
- Finn’s Weaver
With its diversity of habitats, Assam is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The state provides sanctuary to globally threatened species and a wealth of endemics found nowhere else on Earth. Protecting the region’s wetlands, grasslands and forests is crucial to preserve its unmatched avifauna.
Table Summary of Notable Birds of Assam
Bird Name | Key Habitat | Conservation Status |
---|---|---|
White-winged Wood Duck | Forest streams | Critically Endangered |
Greater Adjutant | Wetlands | Endangered |
Bengal Florican | Grasslands | Critically Endangered |
Pallas’s Fish Eagle | Wetlands, rivers | Vulnerable |
Greater Spotted Eagle | Grasslands | Vulnerable |
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher | Forests | Least Concern |
Green Imperial Pigeon | Forests | Vulnerable |
Grey-headed Fish Eagle | Wetlands, rivers | Near Threatened |
Great Hornbill | Forests | Vulnerable |
Rufous-vented Prinia | Grasslands | Least Concern |
Conclusion
Assam is endowed with an incredibly rich diversity of avifauna. The state provides the last remaining habitat for a multitude of threatened and endemic bird species found nowhere else on Earth. Conservation of the region’s forests, grasslands and wetlands is critical to preserve its unique natural heritage. Assam’s birds play integral roles in forest regeneration, pest control, pollination and other ecosystem services. Protecting the habitats that sustain them will allow future generations to enjoy their beauty and value.