Song Thrush bird, which breeds mainly in Europe, makes rare appearance at Pong Dam Lake in Himachal

Birdwatchers across India were greeted with exciting news on Sunday as a rare Song Thrush was sighted at the Pong Lake Wetland, adding to the site’s rich avian diversity. The species, seldom seen on the Indian subcontinent, was observed near Sathana village, close to the outflow area of the Shah Nehar Barrage Lake.

The unusual visitor was spotted by Mahesh and Akshay Bhardwaj, who were surveying migratory birds as part of the annual bird census conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Wildlife Department. Mahesh, a forest guard at present posted in Kullu district, noticed the Song Thrush perched on a stunted tree, likely flushed by a fellow survey team member.

The area where the bird appeared — wet grassy patches interspersed with reeds, low shrubs and scattered trees — provided an ideal micro-habitat for the species. The bird remained visible for a few minutes, allowing the observers to capture photographs before it quietly slipped away.

Initially unidentified in the field due to its rarity in India, the photographs were later examined by bird experts Abhinav and Himanshu Chaudhary. They confirmed the species based on its distinct features: Warm brown upperparts, well-defined wing bars, creamy underparts marked with bold arrowhead-shaped spots and a characteristic upright thrush posture. A follow-up visit to the site did not yield further sightings.

The Song Thrush widely breeds in Europe and West Asia, typically during the winter in southern Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. Indian records are exceptionally scarce. The last known sighting in Himachal Pradesh dates back to August 2018 when birder Ankit Vikrant had recorded the species at Rangrik Na in the Spiti valley. Nationwide, fewer than five confirmed sightings exist, with previous records from Ladakh, Bharatpur, Harike and the Delhi region.

A Ramsar site renowned for hosting thousands of migratory waterbirds every winter, the Pong Lake continues to solidify its reputation as one of India’s most significant wintering grounds for both waterfowl and passerines. This new sighting highlights not only the region’s ecological importance but also the role of scrublands and grasslands as crucial habitat patches for rare and migratory species.

The surprising appearance of the Song Thrush serves as a reminder of the hidden biodiversity within Himachal’s wetlands, where even a routine bird census can lead to a discovery of national significance.