On 12 October 2024, over 1,000 birdwatchers from 31 states and union territories participated in India’s Wild Bird Day, contributing an impressive 3,074 checklists and documenting 762 species. Coinciding with the global October Big Day, India ranked 8th worldwide for checklist submissions and species recorded. Among the 762 species observed, 98 are High Priority species from the State of India’s Birds 2023 report, including Ruddy Shelduck, Sarus Crane, Montagu’s Harrier, Black-tailed Godwit and others. Here is a full list of species.
A heartfelt thanks to all participants, especially those who organised public bird walks, helping introduce new enthusiasts to the wonders of birdwatching!
Table 1: Observers, Checklists, and Species by Region
| REGION.NAME | OBSERVERS | CHECKLISTS | SPECIES |
| Karnataka | 184 | 457 | 267 |
| Maharashtra | 153 | 332 | 262 |
| Tamil Nadu | 135 | 449 | 271 |
| Kerala | 108 | 319 | 237 |
| Uttarakhand | 65 | 98 | 268 |
| West Bengal | 56 | 117 | 242 |
| Gujarat | 47 | 88 | 228 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 40 | 121 | 197 |
| Assam | 34 | 79 | 205 |
| Rajasthan | 33 | 45 | 224 |
| Telangana | 29 | 65 | 150 |
| Haryana | 24 | 26 | 211 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 24 | 50 | 148 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 23 | 30 | 167 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 21 | 60 | 168 |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 20 | 218 | 101 |
| Goa | 18 | 33 | 150 |
| Chhattisgarh | 18 | 51 | 148 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 17 | 45 | 129 |
| Delhi | 17 | 22 | 93 |
| Punjab | 12 | 21 | 98 |
| Meghalaya | 10 | 236 | 177 |
| Sikkim | 9 | 12 | 73 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 8 | 8 | 98 |
| Odisha | 8 | 9 | 84 |
| Tripura | 7 | 35 | 60 |
| Bihar | 6 | 12 | 66 |
| Ladakh | 6 | 17 | 55 |
| Nagaland | 5 | 14 | 22 |
| Jharkhand | 4 | 4 | 75 |
| Lakshadweep | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Thank you to everyone who engaged with the public, organised bird walks, and promoted the joy of birdwatching across the country!
Note: This is a preliminary summary; final numbers may vary.
Even though Wild Bird Day 2024 is over, you can still help by sharing your bird sightings on eBird all year round. Your observations are important for understanding bird populations and conserving them.
We hope more people will join us on our upcoming events: Great Backyard Bird Count (14–17 Feb 2025) and Endemic Bird Day (10 May 2025). There are also many regional birding events that you can participate in. Until then, keep birding, meet other birders, and share your discoveries to help us learn more about birds worldwide.
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Header Image: Grey-hooded Warbler Phylloscopus xanthoschistos © Hari K Patibanda / Macaulay Library
