Wood duck hen, United States

Nest stop: Mexico!. World Migratory Bird Day

Birds don't bother with passports, visas or luggage—they simply spread their wings and fly. Twice a year, billions of migratory birds criss-cross the planet, travelling immense distances between breeding and wintering grounds. World Migratory Bird Day, marked on the second Saturday of May and October, celebrates this incredible journey. In India, the story takes on a vivid form each winter, when lakes and wetlands burst into life with the arrival of birds from colder regions. Places like Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Rajasthan transform into lively sanctuaries, offering some of the best opportunities to witness the spectacle.

Among the travellers celebrated on this day is the wood duck, pictured here. Native to North America, it once faced severe population decline due to hunting and habitat loss. Thanks to conservation efforts and nest box programmes, this striking species has made a remarkable recovery and is now a common sight in wooded swamps, marshes and lakes.