India’s vibrant landscapes have long been a haven for an incredible diversity of birdlife, from the soaring Himalayan peaks to the lush mangroves of the Sundarbans. Yet, the harmony of these ecosystems is under threat, with climate change casting a long shadow over the country’s avian heritage. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and habitat degradation have pushed many species to the brink, and some have already vanished forever. In this blog, we explore the stories of five Indian birds believed to have been driven to extinction due to climate change and its cascading effects. Their loss is a stark reminder of the fragility of our natural world and a call to action to protect what remains.
The Pink-Headed Duck: A Jewel of the Wetlands
Once a striking presence in the wetlands of eastern India, the Pink-Headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) was a bird that captivated all who saw it. With its vibrant pink head, dark brown body, and elusive nature, it thrived in the marshy terrains of Assam, Manipur, and parts of Myanmar and Bangladesh. This shy waterfowl preferred dense, swampy habitats, feeding on small fish, insects, and aquatic plants. Its beauty, however, made it a target for hunters, and its habitat a casualty of human expansion.
Climate change exacerbated the duck’s decline in ways that were insidious yet devastating. Increased temperatures and erratic monsoons altered the delicate balance of wetland ecosystems. Floods became more severe, washing away nesting sites, while prolonged droughts dried up the marshes where the duck bred. Agricultural expansion, driven by the need to feed a growing population, further drained these wetlands, replacing them with fields that offered no refuge for the duck. By the mid-20th century, sightings dwindled, with the last confirmed record in 1949. Despite occasional unverified reports, the Pink-Headed Duck is now widely considered extinct.
The loss of this bird underscores how climate-driven changes in water availability can unravel entire ecosystems. Wetlands, which act as carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots, are among the most vulnerable habitats to global warming. The Pink-Headed Duck’s disappearance is not just a loss of a species but a warning of what happens when we fail to protect these critical environments.
The Himalayan Quail: Vanished from the Heights
High in the Western Himalayas, the Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) once roamed the grasslands and shrublands of Uttarakhand and northwest India. This medium-sized bird, with its distinctive white eye-spot and reddish bill, was a master of blending into its surroundings. Living in small flocks, it foraged for seeds and insects, retreating to rocky hollows during the heat of the day. Its habitat, however, was perched on the edge of survival, sensitive to the slightest shifts in climate.
As global temperatures rose, the Himalayan Quail faced a double threat: habitat loss and changing seasonal patterns. Warmer winters disrupted the growth cycles of the grasses and plants it relied on for food and cover. Meanwhile, increased human activity—spurred by a warming climate that made higher altitudes more accessible—led to deforestation and commercialization of areas like Nainital and Mussoorie. These hill stations, once quiet retreats for the quail, became bustling tourist hubs, leaving little room for wildlife. Hunting, too, took its toll, as the bird’s meat was prized by colonial-era game hunters.
The last confirmed sighting of the Himalayan Quail was in 1876, though a reported sighting in 2006 at Manas National Park offered a glimmer of hope that was never substantiated. Today, the species is presumed extinct, a casualty of a warming world that reshaped its alpine home. The Himalayan Quail’s story highlights the vulnerability of montane species, which have nowhere to go when their high-altitude habitats change.
The Nicobar Pigeon: A Tropical Tragedy
The Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobariensis), a close relative of the dodo, was a dazzling inhabitant of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. With iridescent feathers that shimmered in shades of green, blue, and copper, it was a sight to behold as it foraged for fruits and seeds in the dense tropical forests. Unlike many pigeons, it was a ground-dweller, nesting in low shrubs and relying on the island’s humid, stable climate to sustain its food sources.
Climate change, however, brought chaos to these remote islands. Rising sea levels, fueled by melting polar ice, began to erode coastal forests, shrinking the pigeon’s habitat. More frequent and intense cyclones, a byproduct of warming oceans, battered the islands, destroying nests and uprooting fruit-bearing trees. Deforestation, driven by both climate-induced migration of human populations and commercial logging, further reduced the pigeon’s range. By the late 20th century, the Nicobar Pigeon’s population had plummeted, with the last confirmed sighting in 1949.
The extinction of the Nicobar Pigeon is a poignant reminder of how climate change disproportionately affects island species. With limited space to retreat, these birds faced an onslaught of environmental pressures that left them with no escape. Their loss diminishes the biodiversity of one of India’s most unique ecosystems and signals the urgent need to protect our island habitats from the ravages of a warming planet.
The Indian Bustard: A Giant Grounded
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), one of the heaviest flying birds, once roamed the grasslands of western and central India. Its stately presence, marked by a black crown and sandy plumage, made it a symbol of the open plains. The bustard thrived in semi-arid landscapes, feeding on insects, small reptiles, and seeds. It was a contender for India’s national bird, but its name—prone to mispronunciation—saw the peacock chosen instead.
Climate change struck at the heart of the bustard’s existence by altering its grassland home. Prolonged droughts, intensified by global warming, parched the plains, reducing the availability of food and water. At the same time, shifting rainfall patterns led to overgrazing by livestock, as pastoral communities sought greener pastures. Infrastructure projects, including wind turbines and power lines, proliferated in these areas, posing deadly collision risks for the heavy, low-flying bustard. By 2006, confirmed sightings had ceased, and the species is now believed extinct, though conservationists hold out hope for a few surviving individuals.
The Great Indian Bustard’s demise reflects the broader crisis facing India’s grasslands, which are often overlooked in favor of forests and wetlands. Climate change amplifies human pressures on these ecosystems, turning viable habitats into barren landscapes. Protecting grasslands means rethinking land use and energy policies to prioritize biodiversity over short-term gains.
The Vijayan’s Bulbul: Silenced in the Ghats
Endemic to the Western Ghats, Vijayan’s Bulbul (Pycnonotus vijayani) was a small, melodious bird that flitted through the evergreen forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Named after an Indian ornithologist, it was known for its olive-green plumage and cheerful song, which echoed through the misty hills. The bulbul relied on dense forest cover for nesting and a steady supply of berries and insects for sustenance.
Climate change disrupted this delicate balance with ruthless efficiency. Rising temperatures shifted the altitudinal range of the forests, forcing the bulbul to compete with other species for dwindling resources. Erratic monsoons led to reduced fruit production, starving the bird of its primary food source. Meanwhile, deforestation—accelerated by climate-induced agricultural expansion—fragmented its habitat, leaving isolated populations vulnerable to predators and inbreeding. The last confirmed sighting was in 2001, and the bulbul’s song has since fallen silent.
The extinction of Vijayan’s Bulbul is a tragedy for the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot. It illustrates how climate change compounds existing threats like habitat loss, pushing even adaptable species past their tipping point. Saving the Ghats requires addressing both local deforestation and global carbon emissions, a dual challenge that demands urgent action.
A Call to Protect Our Feathered Legacy
The stories of these five birds—the Pink-Headed Duck, Himalayan Quail, Nicobar Pigeon, Great Indian Bustard, and Vijayan’s Bulbul—are not just tales of loss but lessons for the future. Climate change, with its far-reaching impacts on temperature, rainfall, and habitat stability, has proven to be a relentless force in their extinction. Yet, these losses are not inevitable for the species that still grace our skies.
Protecting India’s birds means tackling climate change head-on. Reforestation, sustainable land use, and renewable energy policies that prioritize wildlife can help restore habitats. Community-led conservation, like the efforts to save the Amur Falcon in Nagaland, shows that local action can make a difference. On a global scale, reducing carbon emissions through collective commitment is non-negotiable if we are to halt the slide toward a sixth mass extinction.
As individuals, we can contribute by supporting conservation organizations, reducing our carbon footprint, and raising awareness about the plight of our feathered friends. Every small action—whether planting a tree, cutting down on plastic, or advocating for protected areas—helps build a future where birdsong continues to fill the air.
The skies are quieter without these five birds, but their legacy endures in the urgent need to act. Let’s honor their memory by ensuring that no more species join them in the silence of extinction. Together, we can keep India’s avian heritage alive for generations to come.
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