Not many in India have heard of Maredumilli, especially birders and bird photographers. A relatively unfrequented birding heaven, Maredumilli is an idyllic environment for bird watching. Anyone who visits will palpably have an unforgettable tryst with nature. It’s a must visit place for all nemophilists out there. This place is home to semi evergreen trees. The landscape is so spectacularly beautiful that you will be awestruck with emotions which will be written in our memories forever. This place is full of water streams flowing haphazardly over the rocks in the deep woods. The walk in the paths covered with canopies of thick trees is a sheer joy to eyes and heart flutters with happiness.

Why Maredumilli:

Maredumilli is a village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh situated 80 km. from Rajahmundry on Bhadrachalam road. It has a rich biodiversity, semi-evergreen forests with undulating terrain.

Maredumilli is home for more than 190 bird species both resident and migratory. It falls under Papikonda National Park, a potential Important Birding Areas(IBAs) in India. This Eastern ghats region is known to have avifauna quite distinct from the rest of the southern India. This area has species of Himalayan, Western Ghats and North-Eastern India. Thus, this is a unique place for bird watching in India.

It’s home for Green Avadavat Amandava formosa, a Vulnerable(IUCN Status) and sensitive species of India. It’s also a home for Pale-capped Pigeon(Vulnerable), Rufous-bellied Eagle (Near Threatened) and Malabar Pied-Hornbill(Near Threatened).

Green Avadavat

Most sought after species like Jerdon’s Baza, Malabar Trogon, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Green-billed Malkoha, Malabar Pied-Hornbill, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Besra, Blue-bearded Bee-eater & Rosy Minivet are residents & breeds in this region.

Jerdon's Baza Mating
Malabar Trogon Female
Blue-eared Kingfisher Habitat

It’s the home for endemic subspecies of Abbott’s Babbler (Malacocincla abbotti krishnarajui). This subspecies is named to honor Mr. K. S. R. Krishna Raju of the Andhra Pradesh Natural History Society, for his efforts to promote the survey and conservation of the natural resources of the Eastern Ghats.

Abbott's Babbler

Maredumilli gives us an opportunity to look at tribal life & their cultural lifestyle. Konda Reddis are the main tribes who dominate this forest. Their mother tongue is Telugu. They are recognized as the Primitive Tribal Group. They are primarily shift cultivators and largely depend on flora and fauna of forest for their livelihood. While birding, you do get an opportunity to meet them. Many of them are seen doing agriculture or with weapons for hunting wild animals & birds.

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon

Maredumilli is a place to try Bamboo Chicken and Jeeluga Kallu(Jaggery palm toddy or Fishtail palm toddy). Bamboo chicken is a local delicacy available in all eateries  here. The toddy made from Jeeluga(Caryota urens) is a must try drink here. 

Brown Wood Owl

How to Reach:

Maredumilli can be reached either from Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh(80kms) or from Badrachalam, Telangana(115 kms). From Badrachalam, you can start watching birds after crossing Chinturu(50kms from Maredumilli). From Rajamundry, after crossing Rampachodavaram(25kms from Maredumilli), you can expect to see birds.

Crested Serpent Eagle

Birding Hotspots:

It takes many days to cover different areas around Maredumilli for birds. Birding routes/hotspots which needs to be visited are 

  • Maredumilli-Tiger camp (17.7522733,81.4113369) 
  • Maredumilli-G.M.Vasala (17.5861597,81.6598165) 
  • Maredumilli-Potlavada(17.6901219,81.6977343) 
  • Potlavada- Mattam Bhimavaram(17.7752619,81.9202893) 
  • Maredumilli-Birds Nest(17.479899,81.7259023)
White-rumped Shama

Where to Stay:

  • The Woods Resort, Maredumilli. Very Expensive (https://maredumilli.in/). A privately owned well maintained property.
  • Birds Nest, Close to Rampachodavaram. Expensive (http://birdsnest.in/). A privately owned well maintained property. But this place is far from Maredumilli. Journey time is wasted to reach hotspots.
  • Vana Vihari, Maredumilli. Moderate (https://www.vanavihari.com/). A government owned place. Not well maintained. But located in a beautiful place.
  • JS Residency, Maredumilli. Reasonable. Mobile (+91 73822 60095). A new place which is maintained well and doesn’t burn a hole in our pockets. Walkable distance from main junction.
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker

Best Time To Visit Maredumilli:

  • For resident & breeding birds, the best time is from April till June.
  • For both migratory and resident birds, the best time is from December till March.
Indian Scimitar Babbler

In the last 6 years, I documented 187 species from this region. In that 166 species have made Maredumilli as their favorite home. I made a series of visits to this region during the May-June 2022 period and documented more than 150 species. Most of them are breeding during this period.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Below is the complete checklist of bird species seen in this regions.

S.NoSpeciesLocationIUCN Status
1Lesser Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna javanicaMaredumilliLeast Concern
2Indian Spot-billed Duck – Anas poecilorhynchaMaredumilliLeast Concern
3Indian Peafowl – Pavo cristatusMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
4Red Spurfowl – Galloperdix spadiceaTiger Camp, MaredumilliLeast Concern
5Painted Spurfowl – Galloperdix lunulataMaredumilli – Y Ramavaram Least Concern
6Red Junglefowl – Gallus gallusMaredumilliLeast Concern
7Rock Pigeon (Blue Rock Pigeon) – Columba liviaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
8Pale-capped Pigeon – Columba puniceaMaredumilliVulnerable
9Oriental Turtle-Dove – Streptopelia orientalisTiger Camp, MaredumilliLeast Concern
10Eurasian Collared-Dove – Streptopelia decaoctoTiger Camp, MaredumilliLeast Concern
11Spotted Dove – Streptopelia chinensisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
12Laughing Dove (Little Brown Dove) – Streptopelia senegalensisMaredumilli–Coffee PlantationLeast Concern
13Asian Emerald Dove – Chalcophaps indicaMaredumilliLeast Concern
14Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon – Treron bicinctusMaredumilliLeast Concern
15Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon – Treron phoenicopterusMaredumilli–Coffee PlantationLeast Concern
16Greater Coucal – Centropus sinensisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
17Green-billed Malkoha – Phaenicophaeus tristisMaredumilliLeast Concern
18Asian Koel – Eudynamys scolopaceusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
19Banded Bay Cuckoo – Cacomantis sonneratiiMaredumilliLeast Concern
20Grey-bellied Cuckoo – Cacomantis passerinusMaredumilliLeast Concern
21Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo – Surniculus dicruroidesMaredumilliLeast Concern
22Common Hawk-Cuckoo – Hierococcyx variusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
23Indian Cuckoo – Cuculus micropterusMaredumilliLeast Concern
24Jungle Nightjar (Indian Jungle Nightjar) – Caprimulgus indicusMaredumilliLeast Concern
25Jerdon’s Nightjar – Caprimulgus atripennisMaredumilliLeast Concern
26White-rumped Needletail (White-rumped Spinetail) – Zoonavena sylvaticaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
27Brown-backed Needletail – Hirundapus giganteusKutravada RoadLeast Concern
28Little Swift (Indian House Swift) – Apus affinisMaredumilliLeast Concern
29Asian Palm-Swift – Cypsiurus balasiensisMaredumilliLeast Concern
30Crested Treeswift – Hemiprocne coronataMaredumilliLeast Concern
31Eurasian Coot – Fulica atraMaredumilliLeast Concern
32White-breasted Waterhen – Amaurornis phoenicurusMaredumilliLeast Concern
33Red-wattled Lapwing – Vanellus indicusMaredumilliLeast Concern
34Pheasant-tailed Jacana – Hydrophasianus chirurgusMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
35River Tern – Sterna aurantiaMaredumilliVulnerable
36Little Cormorant – Microcarbo nigerMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
37Black Bittern – Ixobrychus flavicollisMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
38Little Egret – Egretta garzettaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
39Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
40Indian Pond-Heron – Ardeola grayiiMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
41Black-winged Kite (Black-shouldered Kite) – Elanus caeruleusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
42Oriental Honey-buzzard (Crested Honey Buzzard) – Pernis ptilorhynchusMaredumilliLeast Concern
43Jerdon’s Baza – Aviceda jerdoniMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
44Crested Serpent-Eagle – Spilornis cheelaMaredumilliLeast Concern
45Changeable Hawk-Eagle – Nisaetus cirrhatusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
46Rufous-bellied Eagle – Lophotriorchis kieneriiMaredumilli–Pullangi RoadNear Threatened
47Black Eagle – Ictinaetus malaiensisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
48White-eyed Buzzard – Butastur teesaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
49Crested Goshawk – Accipiter trivirgatusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
50Shikra – Accipiter badiusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
51Besra – Accipiter virgatusMaredumilli–Pullangi RoadLeast Concern
52Black Kite – Milvus migransMaredumilli–Pullangi RoadLeast Concern
53Indian Scops-Owl (Collared Scops-Owl) – Otus bakkamoenaMaredumilli–Coffee PlantationLeast Concern
54Oriental Scops-Owl – Otus suniaMaredumilli–Coffee PlantationLeast Concern
55Brown Fish-Owl – Ketupa zeylonensisMaredumilliLeast Concern
56Jungle Owlet – Glaucidium radiatumMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
57Mottled Wood-Owl – Strix ocellataBird’s Nest ResortLeast Concern
58Brown Wood-Owl – Strix leptogrammicaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
59Brown Hawk-Owl – Ninox scutulataBird’s Nest ResortLeast Concern
60Malabar Trogon – Harpactes fasciatusMaredumilliLeast Concern
61Eurasian Hoopoe – Upupa epopsMaredumilliLeast Concern
62Malabar Pied-Hornbill – Anthracoceros coronatusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadNear Threatened
63Common Kingfisher (Small Blue Kingfisher) – Alcedo atthisMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
64Blue-eared Kingfisher – Alcedo menintingMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
65White-throated Kingfisher – Halcyon smyrnensisMaredumilliLeast Concern
66Blue-bearded Bee-eater – Nyctyornis athertoniMaredumilliLeast Concern
67Green Bee-eater – Merops orientalisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
68Chestnut-headed Bee-eater – Merops leschenaultiMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
69Indian Roller – Coracias benghalensisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
70Coppersmith Barbet – Psilopogon haemacephalusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
71Brown-headed Barbet (Large Green Barbet) – Psilopogon zeylanicusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
72Speckled Piculet – Picumnus innominatusMaredumilliLeast Concern
73Heart-spotted Woodpecker – Hemicircus canenteMaredumilliLeast Concern
74Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Indian Pygmy Woodpecker) – Yungipicus nanusMaredumilliLeast Concern
75Yellow-crowned Woodpecker – Leiopicus mahrattensisMothugudem VillageLeast Concern
76Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker – Dendrocopos maceiMaredumilliLeast Concern
77Greater Flameback – Chrysocolaptes guttacristatusMaredumilliLeast Concern
78White-naped Woodpecker – Chrysocolaptes festivusMaredumilli–Rubber PlantationLeast Concern
79Rufous Woodpecker – Micropternus brachyurusMaredumilliLeast Concern
80Black-rumped Flameback (Lesser Goldenbacked Woodpecker) – Dinopium benghalenseMaredumilliLeast Concern
81Lesser Yellownape – Picus chlorolophusMaredumilliLeast Concern
82Streak-throated Woodpecker – Picus xanthopygaeusMothugudem VillageLeast Concern
83Grey-headed Woodpecker – Picus canusMaredumilliLeast Concern
84Greater Yellownape – Chrysophlegma flavinuchaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
85Rose-ringed Parakeet – Psittacula krameriMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
86Plum-headed Parakeet – Psittacula cyanocephalaMaredumilliLeast Concern
87Vernal Hanging-Parrot (Indian Lorikeet) – Loriculus vernalisMaredumilliLeast Concern
88Indian Pitta – Pitta brachyuraMaredumilli-Chinturu RoadLeast Concern
89Small Minivet – Pericrocotus cinnamomeusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
90Scarlet Minivet – Pericrocotus speciosusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
91Rosy Minivet – Pericrocotus roseusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
92Large Cuckooshrike – Coracina maceiMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
93Black-headed Cuckooshrike – Lalage melanopteraMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
94Indian Golden Oriole – Oriolus kundooMaredumilliLeast Concern
95Black-hooded Oriole – Oriolus xanthornusMaredumilliLeast Concern
96Ashy Woodswallow – Artamus fuscusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
97Large Woodshrike – Tephrodornis virgatusMaredumilliLeast Concern
98Common Woodshrike – Tephrodornis pondicerianusMaredumilliLeast Concern
99Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike – Hemipus picatusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
100Common Iora – Aegithina tiphiaMaredumilliLeast Concern
101Spot-breasted Fantail (White-spotted Fantail) – Rhipidura albogularisMaredumilliLeast Concern
102White-browed Fantail – Rhipidura aureolaMaredumilliLeast Concern
103Black Drongo – Dicrurus macrocercusMaredumilliLeast Concern
104Ashy Drongo – Dicrurus leucophaeusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
105White-bellied Drongo – Dicrurus caerulescensMaredumilli–Pullangi RoadLeast Concern
106Bronzed Drongo – Dicrurus aeneusMaredumilliLeast Concern
107Hair-crested Drongo (Spangled Drongo) – Dicrurus hottentottusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
108Greater Racket-tailed Drongo – Dicrurus paradiseusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
109Black-naped Monarch – Hypothymis azureaMaredumilliLeast Concern
110Indian Paradise-Flycatcher – Terpsiphone paradisiMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
111Long-tailed Shrike – Lanius schachMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
112Rufous Treepie – Dendrocitta vagabundaMaredumilliLeast Concern
113Grey Treepie – Dendrocitta formosaeMaredumilliLeast Concern
114House Crow – Corvus splendensMaredumilliLeast Concern
115Large-billed Crow – Corvus macrorhynchosMaredumilliLeast Concern
116Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher – Culicicapa ceylonensisMaredumilli–Coffee PlantationLeast Concern
117Cinereous Tit (Great Tit) – Parus cinereusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
118Indian Yellow Tit – Machlolophus aplonotusMaredumilliLeast Concern
119Common Tailorbird – Orthotomus sutoriusMaredumilliLeast Concern
120Grey-breasted Prinia – Prinia hodgsoniiMaredumilliLeast Concern
121Jungle Prinia – Prinia sylvaticaMaredumilli-Gudisa roadLeast Concern
122Ashy Prinia – Prinia socialisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
123Plain Prinia – Prinia inornataMaredumilliLeast Concern
124Zitting Cisticola – Cisticola juncidisGudisaLeast Concern
125Thick-billed Warbler – Arundinax aedonMaredumilliLeast Concern
126Black-crested Bulbul – Rubigula flaviventrisMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
127Red-vented Bulbul – Pycnonotus caferMaredumilliLeast Concern
128Red-whiskered Bulbul – Pycnonotus jocosusMaredumilliLeast Concern
129White-browed Bulbul – Pycnonotus luteolusMaredumilliLeast Concern
130Tytler’s Leaf Warbler – Phylloscopus tytleriMaredumilliLeast Concern
131Green Warbler – Phylloscopus nitidusMaredumilliLeast Concern
132Greenish Warbler – Phylloscopus trochiloidesMaredumilliLeast Concern
133Western Crowned Warbler – Phylloscopus occipitalisMaredumilliLeast Concern
134Yellow-eyed Babbler – Chrysomma sinenseMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
135Indian White-eye (Oriental White-eye) – Zosterops palpebrosusMaredumilliLeast Concern
136Tawny-bellied Babbler – Dumetia hyperythraMaredumilliLeast Concern
137Pin-striped Tit-Babbler – Mixornis gularisMaredumilliLeast Concern
138Indian Scimitar-Babbler – Pomatorhinus horsfieldiiMaredumilliLeast Concern
139Puff-throated Babbler – Pellorneum ruficepsMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
140Abbott’s Babbler – Malacocincla abbottiMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
141Brown-cheeked Fulvetta – Alcippe poioicephalaMaredumilliLeast Concern
142Jungle Babbler – Argya striataMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
143Yellow-billed Babbler – Argya affinisMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
144Indian Nuthatch – Sitta castaneaMaredumilliLeast Concern
145Velvet-fronted Nuthatch – Sitta frontalisMaredumilliLeast Concern
146Common Hill Myna – Gracula religiosaMaredumilliLeast Concern
147Rosy Starling – Pastor roseusMaredumilliLeast Concern
148Asian Pied Starling (Pied Myna) – Gracupica contraMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
149Brahminy Starling – Sturnia pagodarumMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
150Chestnut-tailed Starling – Sturnia malabaricaMaredumilliLeast Concern
151Common Myna – Acridotheres tristisMaredumilliLeast Concern
152Jungle Myna – Acridotheres fuscusMaredumilliLeast Concern
153Orange-headed Thrush – Geokichla citrinaMaredumilliLeast Concern
154Asian Brown Flycatcher – Muscicapa dauuricaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
155Indian Robin – Copsychus fulicatusMaredumilliLeast Concern
156Oriental Magpie-Robin – Copsychus saularisMaredumilliLeast Concern
157White-rumped Shama – Copsychus malabaricusMaredumilliLeast Concern
158Blue-throated Flycatcher – Cyornis rubeculoidesMaredumilliLeast Concern
159Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher – Cyornis tickelliaeMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
160Verditer Flycatcher – Eumyias thalassinusMaredumilliLeast Concern
161Malabar Whistling-Thrush – Myophonus horsfieldiiTiger Camp, MaredumilliLeast Concern
162Ultramarine Flycatcher – Ficedula superciliarisMaredumilliLeast Concern
163Rusty-tailed Flycatcher – Ficedula ruficaudaMaredumilli–Coffee PlantationLeast Concern
164Taiga Flycatcher (Red-throated Flycatcher) – Ficedula albicillaMaredumilliLeast Concern
165Red-breasted Flycatcher – Ficedula parvaMaredumilliLeast Concern
166Blue-capped Rock-Thrush – Monticola cinclorhynchaY Ramavaram – Sesharayi roadLeast Concern
167Blue Rock-Thrush – Monticola solitariusTiger Camp, MaredumilliLeast Concern
168Pied Bushchat – Saxicola caprataMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
169Pale-billed Flowerpecker – Dicaeum erythrorhynchosMaredumilli–Coffee PlantationLeast Concern
170Ruby-cheeked Sunbird – Chalcoparia singalensisMaredumilliLeast Concern
171Purple-rumped Sunbird – Leptocoma zeylonicaMaredumilliLeast Concern
172Purple Sunbird – Cinnyris asiaticusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
173Crimson Sunbird – Aethopyga siparajaMaredumilliLeast Concern
174Little Spiderhunter – Arachnothera longirostraTiger Camp, MaredumilliLeast Concern
175Jerdon’s Leafbird (Jerdon’s Chloropsis) – Chloropsis jerdoniTiger Camp, MaredumilliLeast Concern
176Golden-fronted Leafbird (Golden-fronted Chloropsis) – Chloropsis aurifronsMaredumilliLeast Concern
177Indian Silverbill (White-throated Munia) – Euodice malabaricaMaredumilliLeast Concern
178Black-throated Munia – Lonchura kelaartiMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
179White-rumped Munia – Lonchura striataMaredumilliLeast Concern
180Green Avadavat – Amandava formosaMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadVulnerable
181House Sparrow – Passer domesticusMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
182Yellow-throated Sparrow (Chestnut-shouldered Petronia) – Gymnoris xanthocollisMaredumilliLeast Concern
183Forest Wagtail – Dendronanthus indicusMaredumilliLeast Concern
184Western Yellow Wagtail – Motacilla flavaMaredumilliLeast Concern
185White-browed Wagtail (Large Pied Wagtail) – Motacilla maderaspatensisMaredumilli -Jungle starLeast Concern
186Paddyfield Pipit – Anthus rufulusMaredumilli-Gurthedu roadLeast Concern
187Common Rosefinch – Carpodacus erythrinusMaredumilli-Y RamavaramroadLeast Concern

Thank You 🙂