Kaziranga records high diversity of grassland bird species

GUWAHATI

Researchers have found a great diversity of grassland bird species in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

In the first such survey of avians conducted between March 18 and May 25, a team of forest officials, bird experts, scientists, and conservationists recorded 43 grassland species across Kaziranga’s three wildlife divisions. The survey report was released on Monday (July 14, 2025), marking a milestone in the documentation and protection of grassland-dependent bird species in the Brahmaputra floodplains.

They included the critically endangered Bengal florican, the endangered Finn’s weaver, and the swamp grass babbler. Among the remaining 40 species, six were in the vulnerable category — the black-breasted parrotbill, marsh babbler, swamp francolin, Jerdon’s babbler, slender-billed babbler, and bristled grassbird.

Grassland health

“A highlight of this survey is that the Finn’s weaver, locally known as tukura chorai, is breeding successfully. This remarkable bird, a master nest-builder atop trees, is a vital indicator of grassland health,” Assam’s Environment Minister, Chandra Mohan Patowary, said while releasing the report.

The 1,174 sq. km Kaziranga is a mix of grasslands, forestlands, and wetlands.

“The study is significant because wet grasslands are not very well surveyed in India. Kaziranga’s grassland bird diversity can, thus, be compared in terms of species richness with the dry grasslands of Gujarat and Rajasthan,” the national park’s director, Sonali Ghosh, said.

A key highlight of the study was the deployment of passive acoustic recorders, enabling non-invasive and continuous monitoring even in inaccessible or high-risk areas. This approach significantly improved species detection, especially of shy and cryptic birds, enhancing the overall accuracy and depth of the findings.

The report identifies several critical grassland habitats within Kaziranga that support significant populations of threatened and endemic species. One such habitat is the park’s Kohora Range, where a breeding colony of the Finn’s weaver was spotted.