Daijiworld Media Network - Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai, Nov 8: A rare Oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis), also known as the rufous turtle dove, was spotted in Kharghar Sector 8, drawing considerable interest among local birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Wildlife photographer Pradeep Choudhary captured the bird on Monday, describing the sighting as an exciting and unusual occurrence in the urban ecosystem of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The bird was also sighted in the Mumbai coastal region on Tuesday.

The Oriental turtle dove is a common breeding resident across the Himalayan region and winters extensively in Central India. However, its appearance in a coastal metropolitan region such as Mumbai and Navi Mumbai is considered highly unusual.

The species is occasionally recorded as a rare winter or passage visitor in southern and western parts of the country, including urban pockets of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala.

According to Choudhary, the bird was seen picking and eating grains in fields near wetland areas.

"The bird was picking and eating grains from the fields near the wetland areas. Possibly, the El Nino and other climate change factors have forced the bird to move to areas having water," he said.

However, the bird could not be spotted again after the initial sighting, leaving wildlife photographers disappointed as they returned without getting further opportunities to photograph it.

Environmentalist and birder Jyoti Nadkarni has also confirmed the presence of the rare bird in the area, adding to the significance of the sighting among the local birding community.