Bird species at Saul Kere

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Unlike larger wetlands around Bengaluru (such as Kaikondrahalli Lake or Madiwala Lake), Saul Kere packs an unusually high diversity into a relatively compact area. The combination of open water, reedbeds, mudflats, grass, and mature trees allows you to see:

  •  40–70 species on a typical morning,
  • 80+ species on an excellent winter visit,
  • and over 100 species in a month with consistent coverage.

Watch Birding at Saul Kere video on YT


With over 212 species, Saul Kere has produced unexpected records over the years, including:

  • uncommon ducks during good rainfall years,
  • scarce raptors,
  • unusual shorebirds during migration,
  • infrequent owls and night birds,
  • and other local vagrants that attract birders.

Because the lake lies on a migration route, every winter has the potential to produce one or two unexpected additions.

This lake supports a broad mix of habitats.

Waterbirds (about 40–50 species)

These are the main attraction and include:

  • Ducks and teals (seasonal)
  • Grebes
  • Cormorants
  • Darters
  • Herons and egrets
  • Bitterns
  • Ibises and spoonbills
  • Storks
  • Moorhens, coots and swamphens
  • Jacanas
  • Lapwings
  • Sandpipers, snipes and other migratory waders
  • Gulls and terns (occasional)

These are most diverse from October through March when winter migrants arrive.

Raptors (20+ species)

Saul Kere has an impressive raptor list for an urban wetland, including:

  • Black-winged Kite
  • Brahminy Kite
  • Shikra
  • Marsh Harrier
  • Bonelli's Eagle (occasional)
  • Peregrine Falcon (rare winter visitor)
  • Kestrels
  • Buzzards

Winter is generally the best season.

Kingfishers

A reliable site for multiple species:

  • White-throated Kingfisher
  • Common Kingfisher
  • Pied Kingfisher

Owls

Occasionally recorded:

  • Spotted Owlet
  • Barn Owl
  • Mottled Wood Owl (rare)

Woodland & scrub birds

Common resident birds include:

  • Common Iora
  • Golden Oriole (summer)
  • Minivets
  • Drongos
  • Shrikes
  • Bee-eaters
  • Barbets
  • Woodpeckers
  • Fantails
  • Bulbuls
  • Prinias
  • Tailorbird
  • Sunbirds
  • Flowerpeckers
  • White-eyes

Open-country birds

Around the lake margins:

  • Pipits
  • Wagtails
  • Larks
  • Bushlarks
  • Stonechats
  • Bushchats

Migratory visitors

The hotspot becomes much richer during winter with:

  • Sandpipers
  • Stints
  • Snipes
  • Yellow Wagtails
  • Citrine Wagtails
  • Bluethroat
  • Various warblers
  • Flycatchers 

For a complete list of bird species at Saul Kere visit https://ebird.org/hotspot/L5643010

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