Wildlife and birds · Murti
River birding along the Murti at dawn
The Murti's channels, gravel bars and forested banks hold a good mix of river and forest birds. A slow dawn walk along the bank from your lodge, ideally with a local birder, can easily give 40 or more species in winter.
Rivers leaving the Himalaya create some of the richest bird habitat in the Dooars: open gravel for lapwings, plovers and wagtails, fast riffles for forktails and redstarts coming down in winter, and forest edges for barbets, hornbills, drongos and bulbuls. At Murti all of these come together within a short walk.
Start at first light, walk slowly along the lodge side of the river and scan the channels and the far bank. In winter look for ruddy shelduck, great cormorant, river lapwing, white-capped redstart and plumbeous water redstart. Overhead, oriental pied hornbills fly between forest patches, and crested serpent eagles call.
Local guides from the forest villages know where birds feed and can tell calls apart. Ask at your lodge. Keep to the open riverbank, away from the dense forest edge, and turn back if the staff warn you of elephants nearby.
Cost: Free; local guide ₹500–800
Questions people ask
Good to know
What birds can be seen at Murti?
River birds such as lapwings, plovers, wagtails, kingfishers, cormorants and in winter redstarts and ruddy shelduck; forest-edge birds such as hornbills, barbets, drongos and bulbuls; and raptors like the crested serpent eagle. Winter mornings from November to March give the best variety.
Do I need a guide for birding at Murti?
Not for the riverbank near the lodges, but a local guide helps you find more species and keeps you away from elephant paths. Fees are modest, roughly ₹500–800 for a morning. Inside the parks, birding is only from the watchtowers.
What should I bring for birding at Murti?
Binoculars, a field guide or app, a warm layer for the misty dawn, shoes that can take wet gravel and a flask of tea. A long lens if you photograph birds. Leave bright clothes behind.
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