Gaurav's Feathered Frames

I'm Gaurav Pathak, a bird and wildlife photographer based in Delhi. Years of fieldwork have taken me across India, from the wetlands of the northern plains to the high passes of Spiti, photographing birds in flight, hunts unfolding in front of the lens, and the landscapes that hold it all together.

I shoot on a Canon R5 with the RF 600mm f/4, and I spend far more time waiting than shooting. The frames on this site are the moments that made the waiting worthwhile.

For collaborations, licensing or print enquiries, write to me at pathak.gaurav@gmail.com.

Bird and wildlife photography from India's forests & wetlands

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Bird and wildlife photography from across India: birds in flight, close portraits, water birds, mammals, and the wild landscapes they call home. Each collection gathers moments from the field, from the wetlands of the plains to the high Himalaya.

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It has been a while since I posted. Some frames sit quietly in the archive before their time comes. This Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis) was one such moment, finally edited and ready to share. Tag someone who would stop scrolling for this little green gem
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📷 Canon R5 | RF 600mm F4 | f/4 | 1/1250s | ISO 1000
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#VernalHangingParrot #IndianBirds #WildlifePhotography #BirdsOfIndia #canonr5

Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus) – One moment it was resting on the water, the next it burst into motion—skimming the surface before lifting cleanly into the air. Small but swift, this compact waterfowl relies on speed and quick takeoffs to stay ahead. That flash of white and dark against the wetland makes for a fleeting, precise moment—gone almost as soon as it begins.
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Location - Purbasthali
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 800
f/5.6
1/3200s
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#TakeoffMoment #WetlandWings #PygmyGoose #inflight #canonasia

Brown Boobook (Ninox scutulata) – Small, alert, and all eyes, this little owl carries a quiet intensity that’s hard to shake off. Often heard before it’s seen, its repetitive calls echo through the night, giving away its presence long before your eyes adjust. Perched still and watchful, it blends into the darkness with ease until those bright yellow eyes catch the light and give it away. A night hunter that prefers subtlety over spectacle. Seen here during the day, a rare sight.
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Location - Purbasthali
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 1000
f/4
1/4000s
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#BoobookNights #EyesInTheDark #NocturnalWatch #quietpredator #canonasia

Nature doesn’t need a palette. It creates its own.

From electric blues to burning reds, from subtle earth tones to impossible greens - every feather carries a celebration of colour. Holi reminds us that vibrance is not something we add to the world; it already exists all around us, if we pause long enough to notice.

May your life be as bold as a kingfisher, as radiant as a sunbird, and as full of joy as spring in the wild.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holi. 🌸

All pictures shot on #canon
#happyholi #coloursofnature #canonasia #birdphotography

Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) – Oversized bill, oversized presence. This is the heavyweight of the kingfisher world, and it carries that massive red bill like a badge of authority. Perched quietly near water, it may look calm, but it’s capable of taking far more than just fish - crabs, frogs, even small reptiles aren’t off the table. Loud, bold, and impossible to ignore once it calls, the stork-billed kingfisher turns any riverside into its stage.
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Location - Purbasthali
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 640
f/4.5
1/4000s
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#KingfisherCountry #RiverbankRoyalty #BigBillEnergy #wetlandwild #canonasia

Brown Fish Owl (Ketupa zeylonensis) – Heavy-browed and intense, this owl carries a presence that feels almost prehistoric. Often found near rivers and lakes, it prefers fish, frogs, and other aquatic prey, waiting patiently on a low perch before striking with surprising force. Unlike many owls, it doesn’t rely on dense forest or deep darkness; it’s just as at home along open water at dusk. A bird that watches more than it moves, and when it does move, it means business.
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Location - Munnar
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 1000
f/4
1/5000s
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#BrownFishOwl #RiversideRaptor #OwlPresence #wildindia
#canonasia

Flame-throated Bulbul (Rubigula gularis) – Endemic to the Western Ghats and impossible to ignore once you’ve seen it. That vivid orange throat, set against a dark hood and bright yellow underparts, looks almost unreal in the forest light. It moves through the mid-canopy with quick hops and soft calls, often feeding on fruit and small insects. A reminder that some of India’s most striking birds are also among its most geographically special.
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Location - Munnar
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 3200
f/4
1/2500s
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#WesternGhats #EndemicBird #FlameThroatedBulbul #forestcolours #canonasia

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) – No, this isn’t an AI-generated image. It really did choose to sit on a leaf rising out of the water, as if placed there on purpose. Electric blue back, burnished orange underparts, and that dagger-like bill held steady over the shallows.

Moments like this feel almost staged, but they’re anything but. The common kingfisher is a precise, patient hunter, often perched low and close to the water before plunging in headfirst. Sometimes nature arranges the frame better than we ever could.
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Location - Purbasthali
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 1250
f/4.5
1/4000s
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#NatureIsWild #RiverbankMoments #toogoodtobetrue
#canonasia

Drifting along the Periyar as mist lifts gently from the water and the forest leans in close. The river moves without haste, carrying reflections of sky and silence in equal measure. Some journeys are not about distance, but about learning to slow down and simply observe.
#PeriyarRiver
#KeralaDiaries
#WesternGhats
#BoatSafari
#NatureInIndia

Jungle Cat (Felis chaus) – The first frame tells the story in raw detail: a Common Sand Boa hanging from its jaws, the hunt already decided. The second is quieter but no less intense - a direct look into the lens, steady and unapologetic.

Often mistaken for a large domestic cat, the jungle cat is anything but ordinary. Adaptable, patient, and surprisingly bold, it thrives in grasslands and scrub where few notice it moving through the edges. Predator and presence, instinct and eye contact, all within a few heartbeats.
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Location - Sultanpur National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 200
f/4
1/2000s
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#JungleCat
#WildEncounters
#PredatorMoment
#GrasslandLife
#canonasia

Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) – Often dismissed as just another brown bird by the water, until you really look. In one frame, it stands composed and almost statuesque. In the other, a wriggling worm tells the real story—this is a patient, sharp-eyed hunter who waits longer than most of us would.

For all its plain breeding plumage, the pond heron is a master of stillness and timing. Blink, and you miss the strike. Look closer, and you realise there’s nothing ordinary about it at all.
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Location - Sundarbans
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 160
f/4
1/1250s
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#PondHeron
#EverydayWild
#PatientHunter
#LookCloser
#canonasia

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) – Perched calmly with a small crab firmly in its bill, this kingfisher showed off its coastal instincts. Despite the name, it’s not just about fish. Crabs, insects, lizards, and anything slow enough are all on the menu. That heavy bill is built for exactly this kind of work, making quick, decisive meals out of life along mangroves and shorelines. A reminder that kingfishers are far more versatile hunters than they’re often given credit for.
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Location - Sundarbans
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 125
f/4
1/1000s
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#CoastalHunters
#KingfisherMoments
#MangroveLife
#WildFeeding
#canonasia

Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) – A true bird of the desert, perfectly at home among the warm tones of Jaisalmer. With its soft pink hues and sturdy build, it blends effortlessly into rocky, arid landscapes. Often found in small flocks, its nasal, trumpet-like calls carry across the open terrain, giving the bird its name. Subtle, hardy, and unmistakably desert-born.
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Location - Desert National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 125
f/4
1/4000s
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#DesertBirds
#JaisalmerWildlife
#AridLandSpecialist
#finchfocus
#canonasia

Would you like an intro…
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Hopping on the trend
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#wildlifephotographer #chasinglight #visualstoryteller #explorer #canonasia

Loten’s Sunbird (Cinnyris lotenius) – Slender, glossy, and quietly striking, this sunbird often reveals itself through movement before colour. The long, down-curved bill is perfectly shaped for probing deep flowers, and in the right light, the dark plumage flashes hints of metallic purple and green. Common in the south yet easy to overlook, it’s one of those birds that rewards a slower look, especially when it pauses just long enough to be noticed.
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Location - Chikmanglur
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 5000
f/4
1/1250s
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#SunbirdStories
#FlowerFeeder
#QuietColour
#everydaybirds
#canonasia

Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) – Resting on the open ground, this harrier felt almost unexpected in such a stark, golden setting. Long wings folded, posture relaxed yet alert, it watched the landscape quietly, blending more than you’d expect for a bird of prey. In the same light where coursers melt into the sand, even a raptor can become part of the desert’s stillness, reminding you that these open habitats aren’t just flown over, they’re lived in.
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Location - Desert National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 800
f/4
1/6400s
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#OpenLandscape
#RaptorOnTheGround
#GoldenHourWildlife
#desertstillness
#canonasia

Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor) – In the open stretches of Jaisalmer, this desert specialist moved with effortless grace across the sand. Bathed in golden light, its soft, sandy tones blended seamlessly with the landscape, a perfect match for wide, unforgiving spaces. Built for speed and subtlety, it’s a bird that feels inseparable from the desert itself.
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Location - Desert National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 640
f/4
1/6400s
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#DesertSpecialist
#JaisalmerWildlife
#GoldenLightBird
#AridLandLife
#canonasia

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) – Two birds, one bush, and the last light of the day doing all the work. The male, crisp black-and-white, looks sharp and assertive in the warm glow. The female, softer and sand-toned, blends effortlessly into the desert palette. Bathed in setting sunlight, the contrast between them feels gentle rather than stark. A quiet evening moment that shows how perfectly both belong to the same harsh, beautiful landscape.
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Location - Desert National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 200
f/4
1/2500s
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#DesertLight
#WheatearPair
#GoldenHourBirds
#AridLandBeauty
#canonasia

Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) – Bathed in soft golden light, this usually elusive stork took on an almost regal calm. Its dark plumage picked up warm tones, the red bill glowing quietly against the evening glow. A bird that prefers solitude and still waters, seen like this feels less like a sighting and more like a gift—brief, luminous, and unhurried.
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Location - Desert National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 160
f/4
1/2500s
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#GoldenHourWildlife
#QuietElegance
#LightAndFeathers
#RareMoments
#canonasia

Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix nigriceps) – Sitting on a barbed wire, but framed so perfectly between two soft wisps of vegetation that the scene felt entirely natural. In open grasslands, these birds adapt easily to whatever perches are available, turning the ordinary into something quietly pleasing. A reminder that context matters, and that even man-made elements can melt into the landscape when the moment comes together just right.
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Location - Desert National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 400
f/4
1/2500s
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#GrasslandBirds
#SparrowLarkMoments
#NaturalFraming
#FoundComposition
#canonasia

A quiet desert night in Jaisalmer, where the land falls silent and the sky takes over. This 15-second glimpse of the Milky Way took an hour of stillness and many more of patience behind a screen. When asked why I do it, the answer is simple. To share a small part of the wonder these moments bring me, with anyone willing to look up for a while.

#MilkyWayMagic
#JaisalmerNights
#DesertSkies
#ChasingTheStars
#whyicreate

Nilgiri Flowerpecker (Dicaeum concolor) – One of those moments that begins with sound before sight. A soft, insistent call from the tree above made me look up, and there it was—brief, unassuming, and easy to miss. It didn’t linger long, but just enough time was given for a single, decent frame. Sometimes that’s all you get, and sometimes that’s all you need.
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Location - Chikmanglur
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 3200
f/4
1/1250s
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#ChanceEncounter
#FlowerpeckerMoments
#BirdingByEar
#ForestFinds
#onegoodframe

Tal Chhapar Sanctuary – A place where the land stays open and the light feels endless. From quiet mornings to sudden bursts of movement, every moment here carried its own rhythm. A compilation of small encounters, wide grasslands, and pauses in between. Proof that Tal Chhapar reveals its magic slowly, if you give it the time it deserves.
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#TalChhapar
#GrasslandStories
#WildlifeMoments
#OpenLandOpenSkies
#indiangrasslands

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) – Perched on the same rock but looking in completely opposite directions, these two made it look like they weren’t on speaking terms. Of course, it’s more likely a practical arrangement—each keeping an eye on the water for passing fish. With their crisp black-and-white patterns and constant head-bobbing, pied kingfishers bring both efficiency and a bit of humour to the riverbank. Proof that even in the wild, shared space doesn’t always mean shared opinions.
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Location - Tadoba Tiger Reserve
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 400
f/4
1/2000s
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#PiedKingfisher
#RiverbankMoments
#BirdsWithCharacter
#OppositeDirections
#everydaywild

From watchful stretch to a wide yawn, and finally surrendering to sleep. A Rajaji leopard at ease in its treetop refuge, unhurried and perfectly adapted to a forest that still allows such moments of quiet dominance
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#RajajiTigerReserve #HimalayanFoothills #IntoTheWild #IndianJungles #ForestMagic NatureWalks GoldenHourIndia WildlifeIndia EcoTourismIndia protectourforests

Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) – A juvenile perched with a striking mix of white and soft brown, still growing into the darker, more defined plumage of the adult. That pale, mottled look gives young birds an almost ghostlike presence in the canopy, especially when the light catches their feathers just right. Even at this age, the posture is unmistakable: alert eyes, upright stance, and the quiet confidence of a forest hunter in the making. A glimpse of power before it fully matures.
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Location - Rajaji National Park
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 640
f/4
1/640s
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#canonrf600mmf4 #animalplanet #kings_birds #bbcearth #birdphotographers_of_india #bbcwildlifepotd #best_birds_of_ig #birds_captures #bestbirdshots #bird_brilliance #birds_adored #canonasia #canonedge
#capturedoncanon #birds_nature #discoverychannel #discoverychannelindia #earthcapture #canwithcanon #photoscapeofthemonth #morebirdpics #natgeoindia #natgeoyourshot #nature_brillance #ssptalenthunt #nuts_about_birds #planetbirds #raw_birds #your_best_birds #yourshotphotographer

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) – A tiny grassland singer that most people walk past without a second glance. Perched on a reed or bouncing between stems, it weaves its familiar call through open fields, a steady soundtrack to quiet landscapes. It may be common, but spend a moment with it and the charm becomes clear. Fine streaks on the back, a delicate posture, and a voice that carries far more confidently than its size suggests. A small reminder that beauty in the grasslands doesn’t always shout for attention.
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Location - Gurgaon
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
ISO 160
f/4
1/1000s
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#canonrf600mmf4 #animalplanet #kings_birds #bbcearth #birdphotographers_of_india #bbcwildlifepotd #best_birds_of_ig #birds_captures #bestbirdshots #bird_brilliance #birds_adored #canonasia #canonedge
#capturedoncanon #birds_nature #discoverychannel #discoverychannelindia #earthcapture #canwithcanon #photoscapeofthemonth #morebirdpics #natgeoindia #natgeoyourshot #nature_brillance #ssptalenthunt #nuts_about_birds #planetbirds #raw_birds #your_best_birds #yourshotphotographer

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) – Watching one glide low overhead is always a thrill. Wings steady, head fixed, every movement purposeful. But the air isn’t always friendly. In one of the frames, a Shikra darts in, mobbing the owl with sharp, fast passes. It’s a reminder that these open-country hunters face more than just the challenge of finding prey.

Short-eared Owls live in exposed landscapes and often share space with other territorial raptors. Encounters like this aren’t rare. They deal with constant pressure from aggressive neighbours, shrinking hunting grounds, and frequent disturbances. Yet they fly with the same calm purpose, threading through the fields as if the sky belongs to them alone.

Seeing them hold their own, even in the chaos of a mid-air chase, adds another layer of respect for a bird that survives on instinct, agility, and quiet resilience.
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Location - Gurgaon
Shot on Canon R5
Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM
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#canonrf600mmf4 #animalplanet #kings_birds #bbcearth #birdphotographers_of_india #bbcwildlifepotd #best_birds_of_ig #birds_captures #bestbirdshots #bird_brilliance #birds_adored #canonasia #canonedge
#capturedoncanon #birds_nature #discoverychannel #discoverychannelindia #earthcapture #canwithcanon #photoscapeofthemonth #morebirdpics #natgeoindia #natgeoyourshot #nature_brillance #ssptalenthunt #nuts_about_birds #planetbirds #raw_birds #your_best_birds #yourshotphotographer

Morning light filters through the sal trees as the trail winds deeper into Rajaji. The jeep moves quietly across the forest floor, and the soft beams reveal how alive this landscape truly is. Rajaji remains one of the few places where elephants, leopards, birds, and countless hidden creatures thrive side by side. Moments like this remind us why these forests need care and vigilance, so future travellers can witness the same gentle glow on a new day.
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#RajajiTigerReserve #HimalayanFoothills #IntoTheWild #IndianJungles #ForestMagic #NatureWalks #GoldenHourIndia #WildlifeIndia #EcoTourismIndia #protectourforests

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@gauravsfeatheredframes

Gaurav's Feathered Frames

Bird and wildlife photography from India's forests & wetlands

Quick Links

Gallery

Blog

Blog Feed

The Magic of Bokeh: Using Intentional Blur to Elevate Your Photography

Exploring Arunachal Pradesh: A Journey Through Rain and Reverie

The Silent Language of Birds (And Why Every Photographer Should Learn to Listen)

Follow Me

Follow me on Instagram

Gaurav's Feathered Frames

Bird and wildlife photography from India's forests & wetlands

Quick Links

Gallery

Blog

Blog Feed

The Magic of Bokeh: Using Intentional Blur to Elevate Your Photography

Exploring Arunachal Pradesh: A Journey Through Rain and Reverie

The Silent Language of Birds (And Why Every Photographer Should Learn to Listen)

Follow Me

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Follow me on Instagram