Every winter, the birds that visit our country fly down from Europe, Mongolia, Northern China, the Himalayas and some parts of the African continent. They migrate towards warmer temperatures because in Alpine and snowy regions, the climate is too harsh to sustain food and water sources. Interestingly, against popular belief, the entire population of each migratory bird species doesn’t migrate as a routine. If food is still found in their original habitat, and breeding grounds continue to thrive in the winters, they stay put.

Self-taught wildlife expert and photographer, Prashant Gokrankar, who conducts butterfly and bird trails at Maharashtra National Park, helps you identify the migratory birds you are likely to spot in your neighbourhood.

Ashy Drongo

From: Breeds in the Himalayas, flies down from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal and Arunachal