A red-breasted flycatcher has returned to the Ameenpur Lake area in Hyderabad for the third consecutive season, offering a positive sign for the city’s birding community even as concerns persist over disturbance to the lake’s ecosystem.
The migratory bird was spotted near HMT Swarnapuri Colony by birder Syamala Rupakula during a routine visit, according to Telangana Today. Rupakula, who has been birding since 2017, made the sighting along with fellow birders and also recorded an Indian pitta, a malkoha and several other species.
The red-breasted flycatcher’s repeated return to the same area has drawn particular attention from birdwatchers. Rupakula said the bird was seen at the same location where it had been spotted previously. She described it as a migratory visitor from the distant forests of Europe and said its continued presence had helped sustain interest in the Ameenpur area despite the impact of urbanisation.
“Honestly, just when we were left wondering where else we could spot these beautiful birds, with Ameenpur Lake’s ecosystem badly disturbed, these birds have lifted our spirits,” Rupakula told Telangana Today after another visit to photograph the species.
The sighting comes during the winter birding season, when migratory species add to Hyderabad’s urban biodiversity. Rupakula also said the Indian pitta had returned. She noted that many expert birders now associate the species’ migration with the Western Ghats, though the supplied report does not provide further details about its movement patterns or population.
Ameenpur Lake and its surrounding habitats are part of the increasingly urbanised landscape of Hyderabad’s western suburbs. The reported presence of migratory birds highlights how remaining water bodies and adjoining open areas continue to function as ecological spaces within the city. At the same time, the reference to a disturbed ecosystem points to the pressure such habitats face as urban development expands around them.
Rupakula’s sightings have been shared with Hyderabad’s birding community through social media, creating anticipation among enthusiasts who are expected to visit the area in the coming days. Her posts are also contributing to the informal documentation of bird movement across the city’s lakes, colonies and open spaces.
Rupakula has recorded around 700 bird species across India and is now aiming to document 1,300. Her husband, T Bala Subrahmanya Kumar, a software engineer and birdwatcher, supports her birding activities.
For now, the returning flycatcher has placed Ameenpur back on Hyderabad’s birding map. Further visits by birders over the winter season are expected to establish whether the species remains at the location and what other migratory birds are using the area.
