Delhi hosts 471 bird species, ranks second globally in avian diversity
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New Delhi: Delhi is the world's second-richest capital city for avian diversity after Nairobi, hosting 471 bird species, according to the findings of the city's first comprehensive Delhi Bird Atlas.
The atlas has been prepared by the Delhi Forest Department in collaboration with Bird Count India as a city-wide citizen science project aimed at systematically mapping the distribution and abundance of bird species across the national capital.
The report presents findings from the first year of a two-year survey that commenced in January 2025, officials said.
As part of the project, Delhi was divided into grids measuring 6.6 kilometres by 6.6 kilometres. A total of 145 randomly selected sub-cells, covering approximately 11 per cent of the city's geographical area, were surveyed.
Teams comprising two to five birdwatchers conducted standardised field surveys on foot during both winter and summer seasons to record resident and migratory bird species.
During the first year of the survey, 221 species were documented. Of these, 108 species, accounting for 48.87 per cent, were identified as invertebrate feeders. Plant and seed feeders comprised 37 species (16.74 per cent), omnivores accounted for 34 species (15.38 per cent), while 33 species (14.93 per cent) were classified as vertebrate and carrion feeders. Fruit and nectar feeders represented the smallest group, with nine species (4.07 per cent).
The findings indicate that nearly half of the recorded bird species primarily feed on invertebrates, while fruit and nectar-feeding birds constitute the smallest segment of the avian population.
The atlas also documented several bird species of conservation concern, including the Endangered Black-bellied Tern and Near Threatened species such as the Asian Woolly-necked Stork, Painted Stork, Black-headed Ibis and Oriental Darter.
"This data will help researchers and urban planners better understand biodiversity and make informed decisions for conservation and urban development," said Pankaj Gupta, State Coordinator of Bird Count India.
According to the atlas, Delhi's location along the northern edge of the Aravalli Hills, the Yamuna and Sahibi floodplains, as well as its position on the Central Asian Flyway, contributes significantly to sustaining one of the richest bird assemblages among the world's capital cities.
The atlas has been conceived as a long-term scientific initiative to establish a baseline for monitoring bird populations, assessing habitat health and tracking ecological changes across Delhi. The data generated through the exercise is expected to aid conservation planning, habitat restoration efforts and sustainable urban development.
Officials said the survey will continue into its second year, with future findings expected to provide a more detailed understanding of bird distribution and biodiversity patterns across the capital.
With IANS inputs