Watching Winter Visitors

It is a common fallacy that most birds seen here in winter are migratory species. In fact, of the 700 bird species seen in Bangladesh, only about 260 are winter visitors.  Flying from colder climates they often cover long distances and settle down in all manners of habitats to enjoy warmer days here. Many of these birds are unusual and attractive. They make winter the best season for birding here.

The visitors start arriving as early as late August. One of the first is the Brown Shrike which shows up from Siberia and northern China. It is also one of the last winter migrants to leave Bangladesh, staying here as late as April. Perching on top of branches and tall weeds, it dives down to the ground to catch insects.

Along with the Brown Shrike, the Taiga Flycatcher is another early arrival. This grey bird also perches in clear, visible spots, flicks its tail incessantly and chases insects, returning to the same spot. Both birds are easily seen in our meadows and edges of our woodlands, including the lakes and wooded parts of Dhaka.

It seems to me the largest proportion of winter birds show up in our wetlands. Into the waters of our haors and larger rivers descend many ducks, geese and other waterbirds. Tanguar and Hail Haors in Sylhet and the chars of the Padma in Rajshahi and the southern coast are good places to see these birds. Closer to Dhaka they can be seen at Jahangirnagar University. Ducks and geese eat plant material growing in the water. I find the Bar-headed and Greylag Geese, as well as the Common Pochard, Northern Pintail and Common Teal to be attractive.

Near the water a slew of shorebirds (or waders) such as sandpipers and plovers arrive in winter. They spend their time on the shores of haors, rivers and smaller water bodies. Using long, pointed beaks of various shapes, waders probe the mud to catch worms and insects.

In our forests, several colourful flycatchers arrive in winter. Among them the easiest to see is probably the blue Verditer Flycatcher. Smaller brown birds, including warblers, also show up. In Sundarban, the prettiest bird of winter is undoubtedly the Black-capped Kingfisher with its blue and orange body and large red beak.

Winter brings many species of birds of prey. Among them is the Peregrine Falcon readily seen in the chars of Rajshahi. Our most common falcon to appear during winter, however, is the Common Kestrel, which I saw numerous times atop pylons in Purbachol.

Several eagles, including Booted Eagle and Steppe Eagle, can be seen in winter. On a lucky day you might see them circling over open meadows. Migratory Marsh Harriers hunt over large fields, flying low. In the forests, the Black Baza shows up in winter, but it is rare.

Among other special birds of winter are the Indian Skimmer, seen in the coastal areas and the extremely rare Spoonbilled Sandpiper, seen in a few islands in the Bay. In November 2019, this author spotted a flock of Common Cranes in the chars of Rajshahi, rare winter visitors once thought extirpated from this land. The same region also yields several species of rare storks in winter.

While Bangladesh is blessed with birds year-round, the arrival of winter birds adds variety and excitement for those who love birds and nature. Most stay until March, so there is plenty of time for you to go out and enjoy them.

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