Exciting Birding Season: Two Rarities in Chandigarh

As the scorching summer gradually fades and cooler winds knock on the door, excitement builds in the birding community of Chandigarh. For birders, the arrival of winter migrants is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the year. Each season carries its own suspense—will it be rich in sightings or lean in surprises? The start of September 2025 has already given birders much to cheer about, and if the early signs are any indication, the coming winter promises to be exceptional.

A Rare Golden Visitor

The thrill began on 16 September 2025, when a spectacular rarity was spotted near Suketri, close to the Regulator End of Sukhna Lake. Two birders reported the presence of a Golden-fronted Leafbird, and within hours, the news spread like wildfire across the local birding circles. Enthusiasts from all over Chandigarh rushed to the site, eager to catch a glimpse.

The Leafbird did not disappoint. For more than two weeks, it remained in the area, offering ample opportunities for observation and photography. This was not just another sighting—it marked the first-ever photographic record of the Golden-fronted Leafbird for the Inter-State Capital Region (ISCR), which covers a 50-kilometer radius around the city.

Although there had been a claim of the species from Nepli Wildlife Sanctuary in 2019, it was not backed by photographic proof. This time, there was no doubt. The bird’s striking green plumage blended seamlessly into the foliage, earning it the local Hindi name Harewa (meaning green). Its diet of insects, spiders, nectar, and fruits kept it busy, while its sweet, melodious calls drifting from the treetops added a magical charm. As poet William Wordsworth once wrote: “Seen less, heard more, no bird but an invisible thing, a voice, a mystery.”

Ecologically, the area east of Sukhna and south of Suketri , where the bird was photographed—is a diverse mosaic of scrubland, cultivation, fallow fields, and trees, providing just the right habitat for such rarities. Experts suggest that this bird may have descended from higher altitudes after the breeding season, as the Golden-fronted Leafbird is known to be a short-distance vertical migrant.

The significance of the sighting was underscored by coverage in prominent newspapers including Hindustan Times and Dainik Bhaskar by renowned journalists, putting Chandigarh firmly on the birding map once again.

The Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush Follows

Before the excitement around the Leafbird could even settle, another surprise awaited birders. On 28 September 2025, a Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush was spotted in the city – a second lifer for the region within just two weeks. Like the leaf bird, it too offered patient birders plenty of time to admire its beauty the following day.

This compact, long-winged bird with its distinctive rufous-orange outer tail feathers is unmistakable in breeding plumage. However, during the winter months, males and females, as well as young birds, appear much drabber, making identification more challenging.

Historically, the Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush was believed to occur in India only in Ladakh as a rare passage migrant, with possible breeding in Gilgit-Baltistan. In Pakistan, it is known from northern Baluchistan and other mountainous regions. But recent years have brought an increasing number of records from beyond these traditional ranges, and the Chandigarh sighting adds another important chapter to its expanding distribution.

A Season of Promise

For birders of the region, the back-to-back sightings of two rare species have been nothing short of a celebration. The leaf bird and the rock thrush are not just checkmarks on a life list—they symbolize the richness and resilience of Chandigarh’s biodiversity. That first species has already lingered for days rather than being mere flybys suggests that the region continues to provide suitable habitats for a wide variety of avian visitors.

With such a golden beginning, hopes are soaring high. If September has already gifted the community with two lifers, the rest of the winter may well bring many more surprises. For now, binoculars remain ready, camera shutters eager, and eyes skyward—as Chandigarh’s birding community waits to welcome the next winged guest.