Indian Bushlark

– The Little Singer at the Sundarban’s Dry Edge

When most people think of the Sundarban Tour, they imagine the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger, saltwater crocodiles, and kingfishers skimming across tidal creeks. What they don’t expect is to hear a tiny bird’s song drifting from a dry patch at the edge of the mangroves — a sound so sweet and delicate it almost feels out of place in this wild, waterlogged world.

That’s the charm of the Indian Bushlark (Plocealauda erythroptera).
A master of disguise and melody, this little lark is more often found in India’s dry grasslands and farmlands. Yet, from time to time, it wanders into the Sundarban’s buffer zones — those semi-dry fringes where farmland meets forest, and the air carries both the smell of mudflats and dry earth.

As a zoologist who’s spent years with binoculars fogging up in the Sundarban’s humidity, I can tell you: spotting a bushlark here is like finding a desert flower in a rainforest.

What Makes the Indian Bushlark Special

In the bird world, size is no measure of presence. The Indian Bushlark is just 14–17 cm long, weighing less than a couple of tablespoons of sugar, yet it has one of the richest repertoires of any open-country songbird in South Asia.

If you’ve ever wandered into dry fields during early morning in rural Bengal, you might have heard a repetitive, cheerful “tsee-tsee-tsee-tsee” climbing into the air, then ending with a long, soft whistle. That’s him — usually a “him,” because the males do most of the singing.

At a Glance – Field Marks

• Crown: Reddish-brown (rufous) that catches the sunlight.

• Upperparts: Streaked brown, blending perfectly with dry grass or stubble.

• Underparts: Pale with streaks on the breast.

• Wings: Warm rufous patches, especially visible in flight.

• Tail: Slightly longer than other larks, aiding short burst flights.

Taxonomy – The Scientific Identity

For birders who keep notebooks, here’s where the Indian Bushlark sits in the great tree of life:

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Aves

• Order: Passeriformes (perching birds)

• Family: Alaudidae (the larks)

• Genus: Plocealauda (recently updated from Mirafra)

• Species: P. erythroptera

This recent genus change is based on DNA studies showing subtle evolutionary differences between lark species — proof that even familiar birds can surprise science.

Where It Lives – And Why Sundarban Is a Surprise

Normally, the Indian Bushlark’s range stretches across:

• India’s plains (especially central, western, and peninsular areas)

• Pakistan’s drier zones

• Nepal’s lowlands

• Bangladesh’s inland fields

Its preferred habitats are:

• Open grasslands

• Scrublands

• Fallow agricultural fields

• Sandy coastal drylands

So how does it end up in a place famous for mangroves and tidal rivers?
The answer lies in Sundarban’s edges. Not all of Sundarban is under water or covered in mangroves. In the buffer zones — particularly near villages like Jharkhali or Gosaba — there are stretches of dry, sandy soil and crop fields. In dry months, these mimic the bushlark’s usual habitat enough to tempt it in.

Feeding – The Ground Forager’s Lifestyle

If you want to see a bushlark in action, don’t look up in the trees. Look down.

Main diet:

• Seeds & grains – especially from harvested fields.

• Insects – grasshoppers, ants, beetles (a vital protein source during breeding).

• Occasional berries & nectar – not common, but they will take advantage when available.

The Indian Bushlark walks or hops quickly over the ground, stopping suddenly to pick up food. Its streaked plumage acts as camouflage — so unless it moves, you might mistake it for a bit of dry grass.

Behavior – Song, Flight, and Territory

The male bushlark’s aerial display is one of nature’s small wonders:

1. Launches into the air from a perch or the ground.

2. Flies up steeply with rapid wingbeats.

3. Holds its wings in a V-shape.

4. Sings continuously while gliding down — sometimes for 30 seconds or more.

This display is part love song, part “stay away” warning to rival males. During March to June, when breeding peaks, males patrol territories aggressively.

In the Sundarban Context

When you join a Sundarban Private Tour, your guide will usually focus on flagship species — tigers, saltwater crocodiles, fishing cats, and raptors. But for bird lovers, especially those with a field scope, the fringes of agricultural land just outside the core area can be rewarding.

Possible bushlark spots:

• Dry embankments along rivers.

• Edges of harvested rice paddies.

• Sandy paths near village homes.

Sightings in the Sundarban are sporadic and seasonal — mostly in the cooler, drier months (November–March) when inland bushlark populations disperse slightly.

Conservation Status – Small Bird, Big Picture

The Indian Bushlark is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning it’s not currently at risk of extinction. However:

• Urban sprawl is eating into its grassland habitat.

• Heavy pesticide use in farmlands reduces insect prey.

• In Sundarban’s buffer areas, agricultural intensification can limit suitable foraging patches.

Why does this matter for Sundarban? Because biodiversity health isn’t just about tigers and crocodiles. Every small species is a thread in the ecological fabric. The presence of a bushlark here, however occasional, shows the resilience and variety of the ecosystem.

Field Notes – Spotting Tips for Birdwatchers

1. Time of Day – Early morning or late afternoon is best.

2. Binoculars Ready – They’re small and cryptic; movement is your best clue.

3. Listen First – Learn their song; often you’ll hear them before you see them.

4. Stay Low – Sudden movement scares them into cover.

5. Season – Dry months in Sundarban fringes (Nov–Mar) offer the highest chance.

If you’re on a Sundarban Luxury Tour, ask for an add-on early morning land excursion to nearby dry patches. The extra effort can be worth it for a lifer tick on your bird list.

Why Include Bushlark Watching in a Sundarban Tour?

• Adds variety – Not all birding here needs to be over water.

• Photographic opportunity – The warm rufous crown glows beautifully in sunrise light.

• Ecotourism benefit – Encourages guides and locals to value smaller species.

• Personal thrill – Spotting a bird outside its usual habitat always feels like a small discovery.

Just as tasting Hilsa or Ilish connects you to Sundarban’s cultural side, listening for a bushlark connects you to its lesser-known natural edges.

Closing Thoughts from the Field

The Indian Bushlark may never become the poster bird of Sundarban, but in my field notebook, it’s a little star. It reminds me that the world’s largest mangrove forest isn’t a uniform green blanket — it’s a living mosaic, with dry patches, farmlands, and ecotones where unexpected guests arrive.

Next time you plan a Sundarban Tour, pack your curiosity alongside your camera. Tigers may steal the headlines, but sometimes the heart of the wild sings in smaller voices.

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