Mumbai boasts of nearly a quarter of the country's avifauna and yet, locals without an eye for or awareness about birdwatching attribute this diversity to the outlines of birds featured in a primary school colouring book — the crow, pigeon, eagle or sparrow.

With the migratory bird season starting this month, and extending till February, here are nine places in and around the city that are hotspots for birds with habitats ranging from hilly forests to wetlands. And in Karnala, Vasai, Uran, Dombivali and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park you get to spot over 200 species.