Flora and Fauna Usually Sighted In The Indian Sundarbans

The aim of this blog is not to provide a comprehensive list of all the flora and fauna which have been recorded in the Indian Sundarbans. That list would run into pages and would be of interest only to academicians. Rather, I will try to answer the question that tourists visiting Sundarban frequently ask, “What can we expect to see?” What tourists can see in Sundarbans is constrained by the limited access that is granted in the form of a tourist permit and by the limited time that tourists spend in the forest, typically three to four days. The Indian Sundarban spans several regions. My focus for this blog will be Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjoining areas. Sajnekhali WLS is the focal point of wildlife tourism in Sundarbans.

Mammals

Sl. No.	Common Name	Scientific Name	Notes
1	Spotted Deer	Axis axis	Common. Found in small groups. Seen resting in shade or foraging on Dhani Ghas (Porteresia coarctata) and Keora (Sonneratia apetala) leaves.
2	Wild Boar	Sus scrofa	Common. Often seen digging roots of the mangroves on the river bank or crossing the river.
3	Rhesus macaque	Macaca mulatta	Common. Seen from watchtowers. Often seen on the river bank eating mangrove roots and leaves.
4	Jungle Cat	Felis chaus	Common. Can be spotted sunbathing on the river bank.
5	Leopard Cat	Prionailurus bengalensis	Rarely sighted on mangrove trees.
6	Fishing Cat	Prionailurus viverrinus	Rarely spotted. Sightings occur early in the morning on the river banks.
7	Bengal Tiger	Panthera tigris (ssp. tigris)	Occasionally sighted. Usually spotted when it crosses wide rivers or small canals. At times, seen patrolling the river banks to mark its territory. Secretive and shy.
8	Irrawaddy Dolphin	Orcaella brevirostris	Occasionally sighted. Sighted in large rivers. Mostly swim in groups.
9	Asian Small-clawed Otter	Aonyx cinerea	Occasionally sighted. Usually sighted hunting crabs and fishes in the narrow creeks during low tide. Sighted as pairs or in small groups.
10	Indian Flying Fox	Pteropus giganteus	Common in the villages.
11	Asian Palm Civet	Paradoxurus hermaphroditus	Occasionally sighted in the forest.

Birds

Sl. No.	Common Name	Scientific Name	Resident or Migratory	Notes
	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies Family: Phasianidae
1	Red Junglefowl	Gallus gallus	Resident	Common. Commonly sighted on the forest floor and mud banks.
	Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl Family: Anatidae
2	Lesser Whistling Duck	Dendrocygna javanica	Resident	Common. Seen in large congregations in winter.
3	Cotton Pygmy-goose	Nettapus coromandelianus	Resident	Occasional sighting.
4	Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Migratory	Common in winter. Found only in specific patches.
5	Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	Migratory	Common in winter. Found only in specific patches.
6	Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Migratory	Common in winter. Found only in specific patches.
7	Eurasian Wigeon	Mareca penelope	Migratory	Common in winter. Found only in specific patches.
8	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Migratory	Common in winter. Found only in specific patches.
9	Garganey	Spatula querquedula	Migratory	Rare in winter. Sighted only in specific patches.
10	Ferruginous Pochard	Aythya nyroca	Migratory	Rare in winter. Sighted only in specific patches.
	Woodpeckers Family: Picidae
11	Rufous Woodpecker	Micropternus brachyurus	Resident	Occasional sighting.
12	Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker	Yungipicus nanus	Resident	Occasional sighting. Resident. Difficult to spot from the boat due to its small size.
13	Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos macei	Resident	Common.
14	Lesser Yellownape	Picus chlorolophus	Resident	Common.
15	Streak-throated Woodpecker	Picus xanthopygaeus	Resident	Occasional sighting.
16	Black-rumped Flameback	Dinopium benghalense	Resident	Common.
17	Greater Flameback	Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus	Resident	Common inside the forest. Vocal.
18	Eurasian Wryneck	Jynx torquilla	Migratory	Common in winter.
	Asian Barbets Family: Megalaimidae
19	Lineated Barbet	Psilopogon lineatus	Resident	Rare.
20	Blue-throated Barbet	Psilopogon asiaticus	Resident	Common in villages. Vocal, esp. from Feb-May
21	Coppersmith Barbet	Psilopogon haemacephalus	Resident	Common in villages. Vocal, esp from Feb-May
	Hoopoes Family: Upupidae
22	Common Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Migratory	Common in winter.
	Kingfishers Family: Alcedinidae
23	Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis	Resident	Common.
24	Brown-winged Kingfisher	Pelargopsis amauroptera	Resident	Common in winter.
25	Stork-billed Kingfisher	Pelargopsis capensis	Resident	Occasionally sighted in the villages.
26	Ruddy Kingfisher	Halcyon coromanda	Resident	Rarely sighted. More frequently sighted during the monsoons when they breed.
27	White-throated Kingfisher	Halcyon smyrnensis	Resident	Common.
28	Black-capped Kingfisher	Halcyon pileata	Migratory	Common in winter. Migrates to Sundarban in the winter. Leaves Sundarbans around March.
29	Collared Kingfisher	Todiramphus chloris	Resident	Common. Extremely vocal in March-April during their courtship.
30	Pied Kingfisher	Ceryle rudis	Resident	Common. Found in specific sites near their nests on the river banks.
	Bee-eaters Family: Meropidae
31	Asian Green Bee-eater	Merops orientalis	Resident	Common. Often seen in small groups hunting insects from tree branches.
32	Blue-tailed Bee-eater	Merops philippinus	Resident	Occasionally sighted. Found only in specific pockets.
33	Chestnut-headed Bee-eater	Merops leschenaulti	Resident	Rare.
	Cuckoos Family: Cuculidae
34	Pied Cuckoo	Clamator jacobinus	Migratory	Rare. Monsoon migrant.
35	Common Hawk Cuckoo	Hierococcyx varius	Resident	Common. Vocal in spring.
36	Grey-bellied Cuckoo	Cacomantis passerinus	Migratory	Occasional sighting.
37	Plaintive Cuckoo	Cacomantis merulinus	Resident	Common in winter.
38	Asian Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus	Resident	Common.
39	Green-billed Malkoha	Phaenicophaeus tristis	Resident	Occasionally sighted. Found in specific pockets.
40	Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis	Resident	Common in the villages.
41	Lesser Coucal	Centropus bengalensis	Resident	Occasionally sighted in the villages.
	Old World Parrots Family: Psittaculidae
42	Rose-ringed Parakeets	Psittacula krameri	Resident	Common. Can be found in large groups.
	Swifts Family: Apodidae
43	Asian Palm Swift	Cypsiurus balasiensis	Resident	Common in villages.
44	Little Swift	Apus affinis	Resident	Common in villages.
	Barn-Owls Family: Tytonidae
45	Barn Owl	Tyto alba	Resident	Common in villages.
	Owls Family: Strigidae
46	Buffy Fish Owl	Ketupa ketupu	Resident	Common in specific pockets in the forest.
47	Spotted Owlet	Athene brama	Resident	Common in villages.
48	Collared Scops-Owl	Otus lettia	Resident	Common in villages.
	Nightjars and Allies Family: Caprimulgidae
49	Large-tailed Nightjar	Caprimulgus macrurus	Resident	Common in villages.
	Pigeons and Doves Family: Columbidae
50	Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Resident	Common in villages.
51	Spotted Dove	Spilopelia chinensis	Resident	Common.
52	Eurasian Collared Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Resident	Common.
53	Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon	Treron bicinctus	Resident	Rarely sighted in a flock of Yellow-footed Green-Pigeons.
54	Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon	Treron phoenicopterus	Resident	Common.
	Rails, Gallinules, and Coots Family: Rallidae
55	White-breasted Waterhen	Amaurornis phoenicurus	Resident	Common.
56	Ruddy-breasted Crake	Zapornia fusca	Resident	Occasional sighting.
57	Watercock	Gallicrex cinerea	Resident	Occasional sightings in villages.
58	Grey-headed Swamphen	Porphyrio poliocephalus	Resident	Occasional sightings around villages.
59	Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Resident	Occasional sightings around villages.
60	Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra	Migratory	Occasionally sighted in winter.
	Sandpipers and Allies Family: Scolopacidae
61	Common Snipe	Gallinago gallinago	Migratory	Rare.
62	Common Sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	Migratory	Common. Abundant along the mud banks.
63	Terek Sandpiper	Xenus cinereus	Migratory	Occasionally sighted in winter.
64	Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	Migratory	Common. Sighted foraging on the exposed river banks.
65	Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	Migratory	Common. Sighted foraging on the exposed river banks.
66	Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	Migratory	Common. Sighted foraging on the exposed river banks.
	Painted-Snipes Family: Rostratulidae
67	Greater Painted Snipe	Rostratula benghalensis	Resident	Occasionally sighted in the villages.
	Jacanas Family: Jacanidae
68	Bronze-winged Jacana	Metopidius indicus	Resident	Occasionally sighted in the villages.
69	Pheasant-tailed Jacana	Hydrophasianus chirurgus	Resident	Rare.
	Plovers and Lapwings Family: Charadriidae
70	Pacific Golden Plover	Pluvialis fulva	Migratory	Common in winter.
71	Lesser Sand Plover	Charadrius mongolus	Resident.	A breeding population exists. Common.
72	Grey-headed Lapwing	Vanellus cinereus	Migratory	Rare sightings in winter.
	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Family: Laridae
73	Brown-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus	Migratory	Common in winter.
74	Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	Migratory	Common in winter.
75	Little Tern	Sternula albifrons	Migratory	Occasionally sighted in winter.
	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites Family: Accipitridae
76	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	Migratory	Common in winter.
77	Black-shouldered Kite	Elanus caeruleus	Resident	Occasionally sighted in villages.
78	Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Resident	Rare.
79	Brahminy Kite	Haliastur indus	Resident	Common. Often seen soaring or resting on high branches of trees.
80	White-bellied Sea Eagle	Haliaeetus leucogaster	Resident	Common.
81	Grey-headed Fish Eagle	Haliaeetus ichthyaetus	Resident	Rare.
82	Crested Serpent Eagle	Spilornis cheela	Resident	Common. Sighted only in specific pockets.
83	Shikra	Accipiter badius	Resident	Common.
84	Oriental Honey-Buzzard	Pernis ptilorhynchus	Resident	Occasionally sighted.
85	Changeable Hawk Eagle	Nisaetus cirrhatus	Resident	Common. Sighted only in specific pockets.
	Falcons and Caracaras Family: Falconidae
86	Eurasian Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Migratory	Rarely sighted in the villages during winter.
87	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	Migratory	Common in winter.
88	Amur Falcon	Falco amurensis	Migratory	Occasionally sighted during passage migration.
	Anhingas Family: Anhingidae
89	Oriental Darter	Anhinga melanogaster	Resident	Common in winter.
	Cormorants and Shags Family: Phalacrocoracidae
90	Little Cormorant	Microcarbo niger	Resident	Common.
91	Indian Cormorant	Phalacrocorax fuscicollis	Migratory	Rare.
92	Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	Migratory	Rare.
	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns Family: Ardeidae
93	Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	Resident	Common.
94	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Resident	Common.
95	Intermediate Egret	Ardea intermedia	Resident	Common.
96	Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	Resident	Common in villages.
97	Indian Pond-Heron	Ardeola grayii	Resident	Common.
98	Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	Resident	Occasionally sighted.
99	Purple Heron	Ardea purpurea	Resident	Occasionally sighted.
100	Striated Heron	Butorides striata	Resident	Common.
101	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Resident	Common.
102	Yellow Bittern	Ixobrychus sinensis	Resident	Occasionally sighted in villages.
103	Cinnamon Bittern	Ixobrychus cinnamomeus	Resident	Occasionally sighted in villages.
104	Black Bittern	Ixobrychus flavicollis	Resident	Occasionally sighted in villages.
	Ibises and Spoonbills Family: Threskiornithidae
105	Black-headed Ibis	Threskiornis melanocephalus	Resident	Common in specific pockets.
	Storks Family: Ciconiidae
106	Asian Openbill	Anastomus oscitans	Resident	Common in the villages.
107	Lesser Adjutant	Leptoptilos javanicus	Resident	Common.
	Pittas Family: Pittidae
108	Indian Pitta	Pitta brachyura	Resident	Rare.
109	Mangrove Pitta	Pitta megarhyncha	Resident	Rare. Sighting frequency increases in monsoons when they breed.
	Shrikes Family: Laniidae
110	Brown Shrike	Lanius cristatus	Migratory	Common in villages.
111	Long-tailed Shrike	Lanius schach	Resident	Common in villages.
	Whistlers and Allies Family: Pachycephalidae
112	Mangrove Whistler	Pachycephala cinerea	Resident	Rare.
	Crows, Jays, and Magpies Family: Corvidae
113	Rufous Treepie	Dendrocitta vagabunda	Resident	Common.
114	House Crow	Corvus splendens	Resident	Common.
115	Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos	Resident	Common.
	Woodswallows, Bellmagpies, and Allies Family: Artamidae
116	Ashy Woodswallow	Artamus fuscus	Resident	Common.
	Old World Orioles Family: Oriolidae
117	Indian Golden Oriole	Oriolus kundoo	Migratory	Occasionally sighted in winter.
118	Black-naped Oriole	Oriolus chinensis	Migratory	Occasionally sighted in winter.
119	Black-hooded Oriole	Oriolus xanthornus	Resident	Common.
	Cuckooshrikes Family: Campephagidae
120	Large Cuckooshrike	Coracina macei	Resident	Common.
121	Black-winged Cuckooshrike	Lalage melaschistos	Migratory	Rare.
122	Black-headed Cuckooshrike	Lalage melanoptera	Resident	Common in winter.
123	Small Minivet	Pericrocotus cinnamomeus	Resident	Common.
	Fantails Family: Rhipiduridae
124	White-throated Fantail	Rhipidura albicollis	Resident	Common in villages.
	Drongos Family: Dicruridae
125	Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus	Resident	Common in villages.
126	Bronzed Drongo	Dicrurus aeneus	Resident	Common.
	Monarch Flycatchers Family: Monarchidae
127	Black-naped Monarch	Hypothymis azurea	Resident	Occasionally sighted in villages.
128	Indian Paradise-Flycatcher	Terpsiphone paradisi	Resident	Occasionally sighted in villages.
	Ioras Family: Aegithinidae
129	Common Iora	Aegithina tiphia	Resident	Common. Vocal.
	Thrushes and Allies Family: Turdidae
130	Blue Rock-Thrush	Monticola solitarius	Migratory	Occasional sighting in winter.
131	Orange-headed Thrush	Geokichla citrina	Migratory	Occasional sighting in villages during Feb-Mar.
	Old World Flycatchers Family: Muscicapidae
132	Verditer Flycatcher	Eumyias thalassinus	Migratory	Common in winter.
133	Taiga Flycatcher	Ficedula albicilla	Migratory	Common in winter.
134	Spotted Flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	Migratory	Occassional sighting in villages during winter.
135	Bluethroat	Luscinia svecica	Migratory	Occasional sighting.
136	Oriental Magpie Robin	Copsychus saularis	Resident	Common.
137	Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	Migratory	Occasional sighting.
	Starlings Family: Sturnidae
138	Chestnut-tailed Starling	Sturnia malabarica	Resident	Common.
130	Indian Pied Starling	Gracupica contra	Resident	Common.
140	Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	Resident	Common.
141	Jungle Myna	Acridotheres fuscus	Resident	Common.
	Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice Family: Paridae
142	Cinereous Tit	Parus cinereus	Resident	Occasional sighting.
	Swallows Family: Hirundinidae
143	Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Migratory	Common in winter.
144	Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica	Migratory	Occasional sighting.
	Bulbuls Family: Pycnonotidae
145	Red-whiskered Bulbul	Pycnonotus jocosus	Resident	Common.
146	Red-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Resident	Common.
	White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies Family: Zosteropidae
147	Indian White-eye	Zosterops palpebrosus	Resident	Common
	Reed Warblers and Allies Family: Acrocephalidae
148	Blyth’s Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus dumetorum	Migratory	Common in winter.
149	Clamorous Reed Warbler	Acrocephalus stentoreus	Migratory	Common in winter.
	Cisticolas and Allies Family: Cisticolidae
150	Common Tailorbird	Orthotomus sutorius	Resident	Common.
	Leaf Warblers Family: Phylloscopidae
151	Common Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	Migratory	Common in winter.
152	Dusky Warbler	Phylloscopus fuscatus	Migratory	Common in winter.
153	Greenish Warbler	Phylloscopus trochiloides	Migratory	Common in winter.
	Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies Family: Timaliidae
154	White-browed Scimitar Babbler	Pomatorhinus schisticeps	Resident	Rare.
155	Pin-striped Tit-Babbler	Mixornis gularis	Resident	Rare.
156	Chestnut-capped Babbler	Timalia pileata	Resident	Rare.
	Laughingthrushes and Allies Family: Leiothrichidae
157	Jungle Babbler	Argya striata	Resident	Common.
	Flowerpeckers Family: Dicaeidae
158	Pale-billed Flowerpecker	Dicaeum erythrorhynchos	Resident	Common.
159	Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker	Dicaeum cruentatum	Resident	Occasionally sighted.
	Sunbirds and Spiderhunters Family: Nectariniidae
160	Purple-rumped Sunbird	Leptocoma zeylonica	Resident	Common.
161	Purple Sunbird	Cinnyris asiaticus	Resident	Common.
162	Loten’s Sunbird	Cinnyris lotenius	Resident	Rare.
	Old World Sparrows Family: Passeridae
163	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Resident	Common in villages.
	Wagtails and Pipits Family: Motacillidae
164	White Wagtail	Motacilla maderaspatensis	Migratory	Common.
165	Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	Migratory	Common.
166	Eastern Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla tschutschensis	Migratory	Common.
167	Richard’s Pipit	Anthus richardi	Migratory	Rare.
168	Paddyfield Pipit	Anthus rufulus	Migratory	Common.
169	Olive-backed Pipit	Anthus hodgsoni	Migratory	Common.
	Weavers and Allies Family: Ploceidae
170	Baya Weaver	Ploceus philippinus	Resident	Common.
	Waxbills and Allies Family: Estrildidae
171	Red Avadavat	Amandava amandava	Resident	Common in villages.
172	Indian Silverbill	Euodice malabarica	Resident	Common in villages.
173	Scaly-breasted Munia	Lonchura punctulata	Resident	Common in villages.
	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies Family: Fringillidae
174	Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	Migratory	Occasionally sighted in villages.

Reptiles

Sl. No.	Common Name	Scientific Name	Notes
1	Spotted Deer	Axis axis	Common. Found in small groups. Seen resting in shade or foraging on Dhani Ghas (Porteresia coarctata) and Keora (Sonneratia apetala) leaves.
2	Wild Boar	Sus scrofa	Common. Often seen digging roots of the mangroves on the river bank or crossing the river.
3	Rhesus macaque	Macaca mulatta	Common. Seen from watchtowers. Often seen on the river bank eating mangrove roots and leaves.
4	Jungle Cat	Felis chaus	Common. Can be spotted sunbathing on the river bank.
5	Leopard Cat	Prionailurus bengalensis	Rarely sighted on mangrove trees.
6	Fishing Cat	Prionailurus viverrinus	Rarely spotted. Sightings occur early in the morning on the river banks.
7	Bengal Tiger	Panthera tigris (ssp. tigris)	Occasionally sighted. Usually spotted when it crosses wide rivers or small canals. At times, seen patrolling the river banks to mark its territory. Secretive and shy.
8	Irrawaddy Dolphin	Orcaella brevirostris	Occasionally sighted. Sighted in large rivers. Mostly swim in groups.
9	Asian Small-clawed Otter	Aonyx cinerea	Occasionally sighted. Usually sighted hunting crabs and fishes in the narrow creeks during low tide. Sighted as pairs or in small groups.
10	Indian Flying Fox	Pteropus giganteus	Common in the villages.
11	Asian Palm Civet	Paradoxurus hermaphroditus	Occasionally sighted in the forest.

Fishes

Crustaceans

Insects

Flora