Endemic Bird Day

The 11th edition of Endemic Bird Day will be celebrated on Saturday, 10 May 2025! It is a day to document the endemic or near-endemic birds of our subcontinent. Take a look at the excel list of all the 236 endemics of South Asia.

This day also coincides with the Global Big Day, in which birdwatchers all over the world document as many species as they can in a period of 24 hours. By participating in our Endemic Bird Day, your checklists uploaded on eBird get added to the Global Big Day too!

On this same day is the Himalayan Bird Count– a citizen-science initiative to document the bird diversity of the Himalayan regions of India, Bhutan and Nepal.

How to participate

• Observe and Count birds from anywhere in the listed Himalayan regions on 10th May 2025
• Upload checklists through the eBird Mobile App
• Ensure each list is at least 15 minutes in duration (15 minutes is ideal for year-to-year comparability)
• All lists should be complete with counts of all birds you can identify (no “X” entries)
• Upload multiple complete lists throughout the day (minimum 15 minutes per list)

Monitoring Breeding (IMPORTANT)

Report breeding codes on eBird to improve our understanding of breeding behaviors:

• Tap the species name in the eBird App
• Tap ‘Add breeding code‘
• Select the appropriate purple circle matching your observation

Note:

• F (Flyover) and H (Appropriate Habitat) are NOT breeding codes
• Avoid using H completely
• Not every observation requires a breeding code

Watch this webinar for guidance on using breeding codes correctly.

Watch this webinar to better understand how to use breeding codes.

General Instructions

• Counts will be more productive early in the morning, with birds generally becoming quiet and inactive during the middle of the day.
• You could also upload as many counts as you can from a single site or from different sites.
• eBird mobile app is one of the easiest ways to upload your sightings.
• If you are new to eBird, then do have a look at the list of short videos on using various eBird features. 
• Consider taking groups of people birding and show them the wonders of nature.

Please upload all your lists by 10 June 2025

For further queries, email: skimmer@birdcount.in

Results:

Endemic Bird Day 2024 Results
Endemic Bird Day 2022 Results
Endemic Bird Day 2016 Results
Endemic Bird Day 2015 Results

About Endemic Birds

Endemic Birds of India by Rohan Chakravarty

Endemic birds are those whose distribution is restricted to a defined area. For Endemic Bird Day we consider the region of South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka). There are probably more species endemic (or near-endemic) to South Asia than you think!

Endemic species are truly our very own; let’s get together and document them, from common and widespread endemics like Grey Francolin to rare and isolated species like Wayanad Laughingthrush. The lists gathered during Endemic Bird Day each year will give an annual snapshot of the distribution and breeding of these endemic species, and will in the long-term provide a valuable overall resource. In addition, any endemic birds we record contribute to the overall Global Big Day, where we will joining tens of thousands of birders worldwide in documenting all our sightings.

Banner Image: Illustration of Endemic Birds of India by Rohan Chakravarty