Bird Walk at Ameenpur Lake, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Hyderabad
- 3 October, 2026
- Aakash Aggarwal and Kabir Kumar
About Ameenpur Lake
Ameenpur Lake is a well-known urban wetland on the outskirts of Hyderabad and is an important refuge for birds within a rapidly developing landscape. The lake and its surrounding habitats include open water, shallow margins, mudflats, aquatic vegetation, scrub, grassland and patches of trees, creating a variety of feeding and roosting opportunities for resident and seasonal birds. The wetland is particularly valuable for waterbirds that depend on shallow water and vegetated edges, while the surrounding scrub and trees support passerines, sunbirds and other terrestrial species. Its location within an expanding urban area makes it an interesting example of how wetlands can continue to support biodiversity even when surrounded by human habitation and infrastructure.
The mosaic of habitats around Ameenpur Lake makes it suitable for birdwatching throughout the year. Early mornings can be especially rewarding, with herons and egrets feeding along the shoreline, jacanas moving across floating vegetation and sunbirds visiting flowering plants. Species such as Gray-headed Swamphen and Lesser Whistling-Duck add to the wetland character, while prinias, munias, tailorbirds and bulbuls can be found in the surrounding vegetation. The lake also holds ecological importance as an urban green space, offering opportunities for nature education, bird monitoring and raising awareness about wetland conservation.
Bird Guide: Kabir Kumar
Kabir is a nine-year-old birder from Hyderabad, Telangana, with three years of birding experience. He can identify 150+ bird species and recognize the calls of around 50 common birds across India. He is accompanied by his dad, Dr. Gaurav J Kumar, who has been an avid birder for the past seven years.
Bird Guide - Aakash Aggarwal
He is a bird watcher and wildlife photographer with 3 years of experience leading field expeditions, and he can identify over 250 bird species by sight and sound. He was the top eBird contributor for his local wetland in 2026 and has been featured on the Telangana Rare Bird Alert three times for waterfowl sightings. On walks, he enjoys breaking down bird behaviour and ecosystem dynamics into simple, engaging explanations, and he communicates fluently in both Hindi and English.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Ameenpur Lake
The birdlife recorded at Ameenpur Lake reflects the diversity of its wetland, grassland and surrounding vegetation. Waterbirds such as Eastern Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Indian Pond-Heron, Gray-headed Swamphen and Bronze-winged Jacana are among the notable species, while Lesser Whistling-Duck represents the lake’s waterfowl diversity. The surrounding vegetation supports Purple Sunbird, Purple-rumped Sunbird, Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Indian Silverbill, House Sparrow and Common Tailorbird. Asian Green Bee-eater, Greater Coucal, Spotted Dove and Red-vented Bulbul further add to the variety of species observed around the lake.
Eastern Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Purple Sunbird
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Ashy Prinia
Plain Prinia
Scaly-breasted Munia
Indian Silverbill
House Sparrow
Indian Pond-Heron
Asian Green Bee-eater
Gray-headed Swamphen
Bronze-winged Jacana
Black-headed Ibis
Greater Coucal
Lesser Whistling-Duck
Spotted Dove
Common Tailorbird
Red-vented Bulbul
Summary of Walk
Twenty participants gathered at Ameenpur Lake in Hyderabad on 3 October for a lakeside sunrise and a bird walk led by guides Aakash and Kabir Kumar, and the weather could not have been more perfect. The first light on the water was one of the prime highlights for everyone who had come, and an icebreaker round at the start helped the mostly first-time group loosen up, ask questions and share their excitement. The walk produced 51 species, a lovely mix of resident birds and a few early winter migrants, including the Little Grebe, a tiny diving bird that is always a favourite. The Lesser Whistling-Duck and the Spot-billed Pelican were among the headline sightings, and participants also enjoyed the beautiful Tricoloured Munia, the Common Kingfisher, the Grey-bellied Cuckoo and the White-browed Bulbul, a bird of the subcontinent. Diving cormorants gave a close view of predator and prey behaviour, raptors made appearances overhead, and the reaction when people saw the sheer size of a flying Grey Heron or Painted Stork was priceless. Baya Weavers showed nesting behaviour and breeding plumage, and the binoculars were especially loved by everyone. The clean, well-maintained, vehicle-free walking track beside the lake made the experience easy and convenient, and parts of the walk were packed with constant sightings. Participants said the morning was a wonderful way to connect with nature, and many remarked that this was a far more productive way to spend an early morning than sleeping in. It was a joyful gathering of newcomers and experienced birders that set a high bar for the weekend.
Number of Participants
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