Goa bird count crosses 500 species

Goa’s bird checklist reached 502 species in its eighth edition on 16 July 2026. The updated list was published as a scientifically peer-reviewed paper in the Indian BIRDS Journal and added five new species to the state record.

Goa Bird Checklist 8.0

The Goa Bird Checklist 8.0 includes the Greylag Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, and Indian Courser among the new additions. Stephen Menezes recorded the Greylag Goose in Santa Cruz, while forest official Paresh Porob recorded the Red-crested Pochard.

Bird Diversity in Goa

Goa has 502 bird species within an area of 3,702 sq km. The state now hosts about 40% of India’s total bird species, making it one of the most species-rich regions in the country.

State Bird Atlas and Campus Bird Count

Goa became the second Indian state to publish a comprehensive state-level bird atlas in February 2026. The atlas was unveiled during the ninth Bird Festival of Goa, and the 2026 Campus Bird Count in Goa recorded 110 bird species across 12 participating institutions.

Important Facts for Exams

• The seventh version of the Goa bird checklist, published on 30 May 2025, recorded 497 scientifically documented species.
• Goa Bird Checklist 8.0 was authored by Pronoy Baidya and Mandar Bhagat.
• Pronoy Baidya is the head of research at Arannya Environment Research Organisation.
• Carmel College recorded 71 species in the 2026 Campus Bird Count in Goa.

Species and Habitat Notes

The Indian Courser and the Indian Grey Hornbill are species usually associated with drier habitats. Their presence in Goa is listed in the updated checklist as part of the state’s documented avifauna.