BHUTAN

 

‘For the second year running Satyr Tragopan romped home as the easy to predict ‘Bird of the Tour’ poll winner as once again we were blessed with exceptionally lengthy views of this normally secretive forest denizen. We saw two tragopans on this year’s tour – but the first, a resplendent red male, showed superbly, coming close then going away, close and away as we gradually lured him to the edge of the forest. Seen well by everyone, even including our Bhutanese guide and driver, this magnificent specimen even made a bolt around the rear of our coach and across the road!

 

Two other Bhutanese specialities, Ward’s Trogon and Beautiful Nuthatch tied for second place in the same end of tour poll. The trogon, a fabulous male, was the first of the tiny Himalayan Kingdom’s specialities to give itself up but the encounter wasn’t without incident – we had to scramble about 50 metres down a steep forest slope in order to see him. We were left in little doubt that the ensuing scope views more than justified the effort. The nuthatch took a while longer – but then showed himself again and again and again…and this time all seven of our Bhutanese lunch crew also saw it, most of them for their first time as well. Extended scope views of Beautiful Nuthatch within 40 metres of a cooked lunch! Birding in Bhutan is often easy, but rarely as easy as that!

 

Himalayan Monal was ranked fourth – there was some debate over how many individuals we saw, was it four or five. No matter, the first was a female and she flew directly overhead moments after we’d clambered out of our coach. She was soon followed by her escort – he was almost as close as she was but it was still only minutes after sunrise and the light could have been better we mused. We needn’t have fretted since a couple of spectacular encounters ensued on the same conifer clad hillside later that morning. Surely this huge, gaudy, multi-coloured pheasant isn’t designed to climb trees and it came as somewhat of a surprise when our encounter was with a bird that launched it self from a full 50 feet up! Stunning just doesn’t quite do it justice!

 

The tour started very well with a fabulous flight along the southern edge of the Himalayan mountain chain with spectacular mountain views blessing the Kathmandu to Paro leg of the journey. Once in Paro we were met by our knowledgeable guide and our superbly skilled driver, and then we were off. Soon afterwards we were watching the first of our sought after Bhutanese birds - an Ibisbill. Later lunch was again a tasty introduction to Bhutanese cuisine and we didn’t have too long to wait before our second hoped for encounter – that with a Wallcreeper, or rather three of Wallcreepers. Cracking views but this was the last time we’d encounter this gorgeous sprite. Moving on to Thimpu we weren’t the only ones enjoying a special day in Bhutan – it was the country’s first ever national election – a historic day that’ll be remembered by the Bhutanese themselves probably just as long as it will be by us and even though all the shops were closed we still had a quick look around the capital.

 

We were up early the following morning, after a night that never seemed quite long enough and the Dochu La, our first Bhutanese pass, beckoned. True to form it yielded a few of its jewels – the superb pair of Fire-tailed Myzornis and a party of inquisitive Yellow-billed Blue Magpies, Hoary Barwings and some fly-by Snow Pigeons being particularly memorable.

 

Spending the following two nights at a charming guesthouse not far from Punakha, once Bhutan’s winter capital, gave us the opportunity to go birding up the Mo Chhu Valley. We saw a few Tibetan Plateau bound migrants – an adult Pallas’s Gull and a juvenile White-tailed Eagle but it was the region’s residents such as Spotted Wren Babbler and Slaty-bellied Tesia that gave us most satisfaction. After a hectic morning in this bird rich valley Khandu took us on an insightful guided tour inside the magnificent Punakha dzong. Our tour took longer than we expected due, in part, to some of the young monks being punished for swimming in the dangerous river that flanks the imposing building!

After a few hours the following morning adding a handful more Tibetan bound waterfowl we climbed up towards the Pele La where a Yellow-rumped Honeyguide was well appreciated. The undoubted star of the show however was the aforementioned Ward’s Trogon although the lingering Black-necked Crane in the Phobjika Valley pushed it close. This bird had apparently attempted to leave with two congeners the very same morning, but we were grateful that it returned, perhaps to try again the following day?

 

The Pele La the following morning saw us searching for some more high altitude specialities and our primary target, Himalayan Monal gave itself up, in spectacular style, within a couple of minutes of our arrival. After a hearty breakfast (hands up those who didn’t eat too much on this tour) it was the turn of a couple of Great Parrotbills to give equally impressive, long-term views. This, our first parrotbill of the tour, was soon accompanied by a slightly less satisfying encounter with its smaller cousin, Brown Parrotbill and then we ate again.  It was only day four in this, the Land of the Thunder Dragon and we were well on our way to having another fabulous Bhutan tour.

 

We paused our journey south of Trongsa to study a Russet Bush Warbler and then our first Blue-capped Rock Thrushes before continuing on through Zhemgang, and its small dzong. We’d been gazumped at our first camp-site (an incident that was to happen twice more later) but our alternative site proved to be better. A much greater disappointment however was that we failed to find our primary quarry, Beautiful Nuthatch, at either of the two sites that we explored on our way south. Fortunately we scored superbly with this enigmatic species and had some superb views the following day. Other goodies on the Zhemgang road included some fabulous encounters with our first Rufous-necked and Great Hornbills, a pair of Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, our first Rufous-chinned and Scaly Laughingthrushes, Cutias, Long-billed Wren Babblers and Yellow-throated Fulvettas and several parties of rare Golden Langurs provided some much appreciated non-avian distractions. Our introduction to Bhutanese camping went smoothly – everyone slept, the tents were sufficiently spacious and comfortable and, as if we ever doubted it, the camp crew hard working and capable. It was all just as well since we were to have many more days under canvas later on the tour!

 

Heading back up to Trongsa we then continued our eastward traverse. Our next port of call was a comfortable Bumthang guest house, replete with its log burning stoves and buck wheat pancakes and this was the last roof over-our-head for a full six nights.

 

Over the years we’ve found that the drive over Bhutan’s highest road pass, the mighty Thrumsing La between central and eastern Bhutan (effectively between Bumthang and Sengor), provides some of the best opportunities to encounter pheasants and 2008 provided no exception. We had excellent views of a female monal ‘walking the road’ shortly after it was light enough to see and not much later Chador spotted our first Blood Pheasant, a close range, road-side female that was sheltering from the increasingly heavy snow fall.  We’d go on to see seven others, including several males before our concerns shifted to the snow fall and whether it was safe to continue on and drive over the pass. Reassured we journeyed on and up, slowly, very slowly. The snow clad forest vistas were stupendous, but we didn’t dare pause too long to admire them since there was a distinct threat that the looming pass would be closed and we simply had to keep going. We made over to the east without any major incident, thanks almost exclusively to our driver’s impressive skills and sensible judgement. Our next camp, the one at Sengor high up on the fabulous Limithang road was occupied when we arrived and our team had pressed on a little further. It was fortunate that they had since it was near here that we found our tragopan – the ‘Bird of the Tour’ mentioned earlier.


We had just one primary target left on the Limithang road – the often vociferous Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler and we managed to find a pair even before we reached our second camp site. Frustratingly the bad weather found us at the same time and, in fading light, not all of us saw them. Equally disappointingly we were unable to re-find them during the following two days. It was certainly far from plane sailing – the higher altitudes were quiet, very quite with no Slender-billed Scimitar Babblers to be found anywhere and no Broad-billed Warblers willing to co-operate. We blamed the aseasonally cold weather and persevered. Our final full day however was genuinely first class and of the very highest calibre – a Whistling Hawk Cuckoo, umpteen Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbills, several Grey-sided Laughingthrushes and a single Red-faced Liocichla being pick of the bunch.

 

The hoped for Black-tailed Crakes performed superbly besides our next camp and the following day we headed off towards our fifth and final campsite at Narphung, pausing on route to admire a Speckled Woodpigeon, another Brown Parrotbill, a couple more Spotted Laughingthrushes, a party of Grey-headed Bullfinches and some very distant Fire-capped Tits. Unlike last year we were blessed with glorious weather at Samdrup Jongkhar close to the Indian border – and eventually found a few Dark-rumped Swifts, two new hornbills in the shape of Wreathed and Oriental Pied, umpteen Asian Fairy Bluebirds and several Common Hill Mynas to mention but a few.

 

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to the crew who’d taken such superb care of us over the previous weeks and to leave Bhutan. The drive back to Gauhati in Assam was uneventful and enlivened by a few birds. We didn’t log any more new birds in Delhi and settled briefly in to our comfortable hotel before it was all over. We returned to the airport and headed home.

 

Our memories of Bhutan are sure to fade, but hopefully not too quickly and I’d hope that we’ll long remember our stunning encounters with Satyr Tragopan, Beautiful Nuthatch, Himalayan Monal and Ward’s Trogon.’  Paul Holt.

 

Bird List:   The order, English and scientific names follow those used in Inskipp T., Lindsey, N. and Duckworth, W. An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of the Oriental Region. Oriental Bird Club. 1996. These are the ones also used in the principal field guide to Bhutan - Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T. and Grimmett, R.  2nd ed. 2004. Birds of Bhutan. Christopher Helm, London.  (ISBN 0-7136-5163-6).    However a few taxonomic revisions have recently been made, mostly by Pamela Rasmussen. These are detailed in her book - Rasmussen, P. C. and Anderton, J. C. (2005) Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions, Washington D.C. and Barcelona.  All of these changes are highlighted in the following list with an asterisk *.

 

Column A = Number of tours on which this species has been recorded.

Column B = Number of days this species was seen on the last tour.

Column C = Maximum daily count for this species on the last tour.

H                =  denotes a species that was heard but was not seen

(H)              =  denotes a species that was heard more often than it was seen

I                  =  a species that was only recorded in India

 

A

 

B

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Hill Partridge  

9

4

H

Arborophila torqueola

3

Rufous-throated Partridge  

4

4

H

Arborophila rufogularis

2

Chestnut-breasted Partridge  

 

 

 

Arborophila mandellii

3

Blood Pheasant  

1

10

 

Ithaginis cruentus

3

Satyr Tragopan  

2

5

(H)

Tragopan satyra

3

Himalayan Monal  

2

5

 

Lophophorus impejanus

2

Red Junglefowl  

1

1

H

Gallus gallus

1

Kalij Pheasant  

 

 

 

Lophura leucomelanos

3

Grey Peacock Pheasant  

1

1

H

Polyplectron bicalcaratum

1

Indian Peafowl  

1

1

H

Pavo cristatus

2

Lesser Whistling-duck

1

12

 

Dendrocygna javanica

1

Bar-headed Goose  

 

 

 

Anser indicus

3

Ruddy Shelduck  

2

40

 

Tadorna ferruginea

1

Common Shelduck

1

1

 

Tadorna tadorna

2

Gadwall  

3

6

 

Anas strepera

2

Eurasian Wigeon  

3

40

 

Anas penelope

2

Mallard  

1

1

 

Anas platyrhynchos

1

Chinese Spot-billed Duck*

 

 

 

Anas zonorhyncha

2

Northern Shoveler  

1

1

 

Anas clypeata

3

Northern Pintail  

1

2

 

Anas acuta

3

Common Teal  

2

10

 

Anas crecca

3

Red-crested Pochard

1

1

 

Netta rufina

2

Common Pochard  

1

2

 

Aythya ferina

1

Ferruginous Pochard

 

 

 

Aythya nyroca

3

Tufted Duck  

1

1

 

Aythya fuligula

1

Common Merganser  

2

3

 

Mergus merganser

3

Yellow-rumped Honeyguide  

2

1

 

Indicator xanthonotus

1

Speckled Piculet  

 

 

 

Picumnus innominatus

2

White-browed Piculet   

1

1

 

Sasia ochracea

3

Grey-capped Woodpecker  

1

1

 

Dendrocopos canicapillus

1

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker  

 

 

 

Dendrocopos macei

3

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker  

1

1

H

Dendrocopos hyperythrus

3

Crimson-breasted Woodpecker  

10

3

 

Dendrocopos cathpharius

1

Darjeeling Woodpecker  

 

 

 

Dendrocopos darjellensis

3

Rufous Woodpecker  

1

1

 

Celeus brachyurus

3

Lesser Yellownape  

3

1

 

Picus chlorolophus

3

Greater Yellownape  

2

3

 

Picus flavinucha

3

Grey-headed Woodpecker  

4

3

(H)

Picus canus

1

Black-rumped Flameback

 

 

 

Dinopium benghalense

2

Greater Flameback  

1

1

H

Chrysocolaptes lucidus

1

Pale-headed Woodpecker

 

 

 

Gecinulus grantia

3

Bay Woodpecker  

8

1

H

Blythipicus pyrrhotis

3

Great Barbet  

13

12

(H)

Megalaima virens

1

Lineated Barbet

1

2

 

Megalaima lineata

3

Golden-throated Barbet  

7

5

(H)

Megalaima franklinii

3

Blue-throated Barbet  

4

20

(H)

Megalaima asiatica

2

Coppersmith Barbet  

1

2

I

Megalaima haemacephala

3

Oriental Pied Hornbill

1

6

 

Anthracoceros albirostris

3

Great Hornbill  

3

15

 

Buceros bicornis

3

Rufous-necked Hornbill  

6

5

 

Aceros nipalensis

3

Wreathed Hornbill

2

2

 

Aceros undulatus

3

Common Hoopoe  

8

4

 

Upupa epops

2

Red-headed Trogon  

 

 

 

Harpactes erythrocephalus

3

Ward's Trogon  

1

1

 

Harpactes wardi

2

Dollarbird

 

 

 

Eurystomus orientalis

3

Common Kingfisher  

2

1

 

Alcedo atthis

1

Stork-billed Kingfisher

 

 

 

Pelargopsis capensis

3

White-throated Kingfisher  

9

8

 

Halcyon smyrnensis

3

Crested Kingfisher  

2

1

 

Megaceryle lugubris

1

Pied Kingfisher  

1

1

I

Ceryle rudis

3

Blue-bearded Bee-eater  

2

2

 

Nyctyornis athertoni

2

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

1

6

I

Merops philippinus

3

Large Hawk Cuckoo  

10

2

H

Cuculus sparverioides

3

Common Hawk Cuckoo  

1

1

I

Cuculus varius

2

Whistling Hawk Cuckoo*

2

2

(H)

Hierococcyx nisicolor

3

Eurasian Cuckoo  

3

1

H

Cuculus canorus

3

Oriental Cuckoo  

9

3

(H)

Cuculus saturatus

1

Banded Bay Cuckoo

 

 

 

Cacomantis sonneratii

2

Plaintive Cuckoo  

 

 

 

Cacomantis merulinus

3

Asian Emerald Cuckoo  

2

1

 

Chrysococcyx maculatus

2

Violet Cuckoo  

1

1

 

Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus

3

Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo  

 

 

 

Surniculus lugubris

3

Asian Koel  

1

2

H

Eudynamys scolopacea

2

Green-billed Malkoha  

 

 

 

Phaenicophaeus tristis

2

Rose-ringed Parakeet  

1

2

I

Psittacula krameri

3

Himalayan Swiftlet  

4

50

 

Collocalia brevirostris

3

White-throated Needletail  

2

40

 

Hirundapus caudacutus

3

Asian Palm Swift  

4

15

 

Cypsiurus balasiensis

3

Fork-tailed Swift  

5

50

 

Apus pacificus

3

Dark-rumped Swift

2

6

 

Apus acuticauda

3

Little Swift

2

4

 

Apus affinis

3

Mountain Scops Owl  

6

2

H

Otus spilocephalus

3

Collared Scops Owl  

3

1

(H)

Otus bakkamoena

1

Himalayan Wood Owl*

 

 

 

Strix nivicola

3

Collared Owlet  

6

2

(H)

Glaucidium brodiei

3

Asian Barred Owlet  

7

3

(H)

Glaucidium cuculoides

3

Grey Nightjar  

3

2

H

Caprimulgus indicus

3

Rock Pigeon  

13

200

 

Columba livia

3

Snow Pigeon  

2

10

 

Columba leuconota

3

Speckled Wood Pigeon  

1

1

 

Columba hodgsonii

3

Oriental Turtle Dove   

12

50

 

Streptopelia orientalis

3

Spotted Dove  

8

10

 

Streptopelia chinensis

2

Red Collared Dove  

1

1

I

Streptopelia tranquebarica

3

Barred Cuckoo Dove  

2

4

 

Macropygia unchall

2

Emerald Dove  

 

 

 

Chalcophaps indica

1

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

1

9

 

Treron phoenicoptera

1

Thick-billed Green Pigeon

 

 

 

Treron curvirostra

3

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon  

1

1

 

Treron apicauda

1

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon  

 

 

 

Treron sphenura

3

Mountain Imperial Pigeon  

2

10

 

Ducula badia

1

Black-necked Crane

1

1

 

Grus nigricollis

1

White-breasted Waterhen

1

1

I

Amaurornis phoenicurus

3

Black-tailed Crake  

2

3

 

Porzana bicolor

1

Common Moorhen

 

 

 

Gallinula chloropus

2

Common Coot  

1

3

 

Fulica atra

1

Pintail Snipe

 

 

 

Gallinago stenura

2

Common Greenshank  

 

 

 

Tringa nebularia

3

Green Sandpiper  

2

1

 

Tringa ochropus

1

Wood Sandpiper  

 

 

 

Tringa glareola

3

Common Sandpiper  

3

6

 

Actitis hypoleucos

2

Bronze-winged Jacana

1

1

I

Metopidius indicus

3

Ibisbill  

1

1

 

Ibidorhyncha struthersii

2

Pacific Golden Plover

1

5

I

Pluvialis fulva

3

Little Ringed Plover  

1

2

I

Charadrius dubius

1

Northern Lapwing  

1

2

 

Vanellus vanellus

3

River Lapwing  

3

15

 

Vanellus duvaucelii

3

Red-wattled Lapwing  

1

6

I

Vanellus indicus

1

Pallas’s Gull  

1

1

 

Larus ichthyaetus

3

Brown-headed Gull 

 

 

 

Larus brunnicephalus

1

Whiskered Tern

1

80

I

Chlidonias hybridus

1

Osprey  

 

 

 

Pandion haliaetus

1

Pied Falconet

 

 

 

Microhierax melanoleucos

2

Jerdon's Baza

 

 

 

Aviceda jerdoni

3

Oriental Honey-Buzzard  

2

2

 

Pernis ptilorhynchus

3

Black Kite   

2

10

 

Milvus migrans

1

 'Black-eared' Kite

1

1

I

Milvus [migrans] lineatus

2

Pallas’s Fish Eagle  

1

1

 

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

1

White-tailed Eagle

1

3

 

Haliaeetus albicilla

1

White-rumped Vulture  

 

 

 

Gyps bengalensis

3

Himalayan Griffon  

4

15

 

Gyps himalayensis

3

Crested Serpent Eagle  

4

2

 

Spilornis cheela

1

Eurasian Marsh Harrier  

1

2

I

Circus aeruginosus

3

Hen Harrier  

1

1

 

Circus cyaneus

1

Pied Harrier

 

 

 

Circus melanoleucos

3

Crested Goshawk  

2

1

 

Accipiter trivirgatus

1

Shikra  

 

 

 

Accipiter badius

3

Besra  

1

1

 

Accipiter virgatus

3

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  

1

2

 

Accipiter nisus

3

accipiter sp.

4

1

 

accipiter sp.

3

Himalayan Buzzard*

2

2

 

Buteo burmanicus

1

Long-legged Buzzard  

 

 

 

Buteo rufinus

3

Black Eagle  

2

1

 

Ictinaetus malayensis

1

Greater Spotted Eagle

 

 

 

Aquila clanga

2

Indian Spotted Eagle*

1

1

I

Aquila hastata

2

Steppe Eagle 

1

1

 

Aquila nipalensis

1

Booted Eagle  

 

 

 

Hieraaetus pennatus

3

Rufous-bellied Eagle  

2

2

 

Hieraaetus kienerii

3

Mountain Hawk Eagle  

6

3

 

Spizaetus nipalensis

3

Common Kestrel   

6

2

 

Falco tinnunculus

1

Eurasian Hobby  

 

 

 

Falco subbuteo

1

Peregrine Falcon 'Shaheen'

 

 

 

Falco peregrinus peregrinator

3

Great Crested Grebe  

1

1

 

Podiceps cristatus

3

Little Cormorant  

1

10

I

Phalacrocorax niger

3

Great Cormorant  

7

20

 

Phalacrocorax carbo

3

Little Egret  

1

2

I

Egretta garzetta

2

Purple Heron

1

2

I

Ardea purpurea

2

Great Egret  

1

10

I

Casmerodius albus

3

Intermediate Egret  

1

1

I

Mesophoyx intermedia

3

Eastern Cattle Egret  

1

100

I

Bubulcus coromandus

3

Indian Pond Heron  

1

10

 

Ardeola grayii

1

Black Stork  

1

1

 

Ciconia nigra

3

Lesser Adjutant

1

10

I

Leptoptilos javanicus

2

Greater Adjutant

 

 

 

Leptoptilos dubius

3

Asian Openbill Stork  

1

8

I

Anastomus oscitans

3

Blue-naped Pitta  

1

1

H

Pitta nipalensis

2

Long-tailed Broadbill  

 

 

 

Psarisomus dalhousiae

3

Golden-fronted Leafbird   

2

2

 

Chloropsis aurifrons

3

Orange-bellied Leafbird  

6

4

 

Chloropsis hardwickii

2

Brown Shrike  

1

1

I

Lanius cristatus

3

Long-tailed Shrike  

7

6

 

Lanius schach tricolor

3

Grey-backed Shrike  

6

2

 

Lanius tephronotus

3

Eurasian Jay  

1

2

 

Garrulus glandarius

3

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie  

5

5

 

Urocissa flavirostris

2

Common Green Magpie  

 

 

 

Cissa chinensis

3

Rufous Treepie  

1

2

I

Dendrocitta vagabunda

3

Grey Treepie  

11

4

 

Dendrocitta formosae

3

Black-billed Magpie  

2

5

 

Pica pica

3

Spotted Nutcracker  

6

10

 

Nucifraga caryocatactes

3

Red-billed Chough   

5

50

 

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

3

House Crow  

2

10

 

Corvus splendens

3

Large-billed Crow  

12

100

 

Corvus [macrorhynchos] japonensis

3

Eastern Jungle Crow  

1

20

I

Corvus [macrorhynchos] levaillantii

1

Slender-billed Oriole  

 

 

 

Oriolus tenuirostris

1

Black-hooded Oriole  

 

 

 

Oriolus xanthornus

3

Maroon Oriole  

5

2

 

Oriolus traillii

3

Asian Fairy Bluebird

2

10

 

Irena puella

1

Large Cuckooshrike  

1

1

I

Coracina macei

3

Black-winged Cuckooshrike  

5

2

 

Coracina melaschistos

3

Grey-chinned Minivet  

12

8

 

Pericrocotus solaris

3

Long-tailed Minivet  

6

6

 

Pericrocotus ethologus

3

Short-billed Minivet  

10

6

 

Pericrocotus brevirostris

3

Scarlet Minivet  

6

4

 

Pericrocotus flammeus

3

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike  

4

4

 

Hemipus picatus

3

Yellow-bellied Fantail   

7

4

 

Rhipidura hypoxantha

3

White-throated Fantail  

9

6

 

Rhipidura albicollis

3

Black Drongo  

3

30

 

Dicrurus macrocercus

3

Ashy Drongo  

10

10

 

Dicrurus leucophaeus

3

Bronzed Drongo  

6

6

 

Dicrurus aeneus

3

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo  

5

2

 

Dicrurus remifer

3

Hair-crested Drongo  

3

4

 

Dicrurus hottentottus

1

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo  

 

 

 

Dicrurus paradiseus

1

Black-naped Monarch  

1

1

 

Hypothymis azurea

3

Common Iora  

1

2

H

Aegithina tiphia

2

Large Woodshrike  

1

1

H

Tephrodornis gularis

3

Brown Dipper  

4

3

 

Cinclus pallasii

3

Blue-capped Rock Thrush   

7

8

 

Monticola cinclorhynchus

3

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush  

6

4

 

Monticola rufiventris

3

Blue Rock Thrush   

5

2

 

Monticola solitarius

3

Blue Whistling Thrush 

14

40

 

Myophonus caeruleus

3

Plain-backed Thrush  

1

1

 

Zoothera mollissima

1

Tickell’s Thrush  

 

 

 

Turdus unicolor

3

White-collared Blackbird   

5

15

 

Turdus albocinctus

3

Grey-winged Blackbird  

2

1

 

Turdus boulboul

2

Black-throated Thrush*

1

1

 

Turdus [ruficollis] atrogularis

1

Chestnut Thrush  

1

1

 

Turdus rubrocanus

3

Lesser Shortwing  

4

3

(H)

Brachypteryx leucophrys

2

Dark-sided Flycatcher  

1

1

 

Muscicapa sibirica

3

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher  

8

10

 

Ficedula strophiata

3

Red-throated Flycatcher*

1

3

 

Ficedula albicilla

3

White-gorgeted Flycatcher  

1

6

 

Ficedula monileger

3

Little Pied Flycatcher  

5

4

 

Ficedula westermanni

3

Ultramarine Flycatcher  

3

3

 

Ficedula superciliaris

2

Slaty-blue Flycatcher  

 

 

 

Ficedula tricolor

2

Sapphire Flycatcher  

2

1

 

Ficedula sapphira

3

Verditer Flycatcher  

12

15

 

Eumyias thalassina

3

Large Niltava  

6

6

 

Niltava grandis

3

Small Niltava  

7

7

 

Niltava macgrigoriae

3

Rufous-bellied Niltava  

2

1

 

Niltava sundara

1

Pale-chinned Flycatcher  

 

 

 

Cyornis poliogenys

3

Pale Blue Flycatcher  

1

1

H

Cyornis unicolor

3

Blue-throated Flycatcher  

2

2

 

Cyornis rubeculoides

3

Pygmy Blue Flycatcher  

3

2

 

Muscicapella hodgsoni

3

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher   

10

10

 

Culicicapa ceylonensis

3

Himalayan Orange-flanked Bush Robin*

4

4

 

Tarsiger rufilatus

3

Golden Bush Robin  

2

2

 

Tarsiger chrysaeus

1

Rufous-breasted Bush Robin

1

1

 

Tarsiger hyperythrus

2

White-browed Bush Robin  

 

 

 

Tarsiger indicus

3

Oriental Magpie Robin  

7

8

 

Copsychus saularis

2

White-rumped Shama  

1

1

 

Copsychus malabaricus

2

Black Redstart  

2

2

 

Phoenicurus ochruros

3

Hodgson’s Redstart  

8

15

 

Phoenicurus hodgsoni

3

Blue-fronted Redstart  

10

8

 

Phoenicurus frontalis

3

White-capped Water Redstart  

12

2

 

Chaimarrornis leucocephalus

3

Plumbeous Water Redstart  

7

10

 

Rhyacornis fuliginosus

3

White-tailed Robin  

3

4

[H)

Myiomela leucura

1

Blue-fronted Robin   

1

1

H

Cinclidium frontale

3

Little Forktail  

1

2

 

Enicurus scouleri

2

Black-backed Forktail  

2

1

 

Enicurus immaculatus

3

Slaty-backed Forktail  

2

4

 

Enicurus schistaceus

1

White-crowned Forktail

 

 

 

Enicurus leschenaulti

3

Spotted Forktail  

1

2

 

Enicurus maculatus

1

Purple Cochoa  

 

 

 

Cochoa purpurea

3

Common Stonechat   

4

6

 

Saxicola torquata

3

Grey Bushchat  

9

6

 

Saxicola ferrea

3

Chestnut-tailed Starling  

2

4

 

Sturnus malabaricus

3

Asian Pied Starling  

1

10

 

Sturnus contra

3

Common Myna  

8

50

 

Acridotheres tristis

2

Jungle Myna

1

2

I

Acridotheres fuscus

3

White-vented Myna

1

1

 

Acridotheres grandis

3

Hill Myna  

2

6

 

Gracula religiosa

3

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch  

2

2

 

Sitta castanea

3

White-tailed Nuthatch  

8

4

 

Sitta himalayensis

3

Beautiful Nuthatch

1

2

 

Sitta formosa

3

Wallcreeper

1

3

 

Tichodroma muraria

2

Eurasian Treecreeper  

1

2

 

Certhia familiaris

2

Rusty-flanked Treecreeper  

 

 

 

Certhia nipalensis

3

Brown-throated Treecreeper  

3

2

 

Certhia discolor

3

Winter Wren  

2

1

 

Troglodytes troglodytes

2

Fire-capped Tit   

1

30

 

Cephalopyrus flammiceps

3

Rufous-vented Tit  

3

3

 

Parus rubidiventris

3

Coal Tit   

3

20

 

Parus ater

3

Grey-crested Tit  

3

4

 

Parus dichrous

1

Great Tit

 

 

 

Parus major

3

Green-backed Tit  

13

10

 

Parus monticolus

3

Yellow-cheeked Tit   

6

4

 

Parus spilonotus

3

Yellow-browed Tit  

4

10

 

Sylviparus modestus

3

Sultan Tit   

4

2

 

Melanochlora sultanea

3

Black-throated Tit  

4

4

 

Aegithalos concinnus

3

Rufous-fronted Tit   

3

5

 

Aegithalos iouschistos

3

Grey-throated Martin*

2

6

 

Riparia chinensis

3

Barn Swallow  

3

2

 

Hirundo rustica

3

Red-rumped Swallow  

2

3

 

Hirundo daurica

1

Striated Swallow

 

 

 

Hirundo striolata

2

Asian House Martin  

 

 

 

Delichon dasypus

3

Nepal House Martin  

4

10

 

Delichon nipalensis

3

Ashy Woodswallow

1

6

I

Artamus fuscus

3

Goldcrest 

1

2

 

Regulus regulus

3

Striated Bulbul  

6

6

 

Pycnonotus striatus

3

Black-crested Bulbul*

3

4

 

Pycnonotus flaviventris

3

Red-whiskered Bulbul  

3

3

 

Pycnonotus jocosus

2

Himalayan Bulbul  

1

1

 

Pycnonotus leucogenys

3

Red-vented Bulbul   

12

50

 

Pycnonotus cafer

3

White-throated Bulbul  

2

6

 

Alophoixus flaveolus

3

Ashy Bulbul   

2

6

 

Hemixos flavala

3

Mountain Bulbul 

1

2

 

Hypsipetes mcclellandii

3

Himalayan Black Bulbul*

11

20

 

Hypsipetes leucocephalus

2

Zitting Cisticola  

1

2

I

Cisticola juncidis

3

Striated Prinia  

1

4

(H)

Prinia criniger

3

Black-throated Prinia*

4

4

 

Prinia atrogularis

3

Rufescent Prinia

2

6

(H)

Prinia rufescens

3

Oriental White-eye  

7

6

 

Zosterops palpebrosus

3

Chestnut-headed Tesia  

4

4

(H)

Tesia castaneocoronata

3

Slaty-bellied Tesia  

4

7

(H)

Tesia olivea

2

Grey-bellied Tesia  

 

 

 

Tesia cyaniventer

3

Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler  

5

10

(H)

Cettia fortipes

3

Hume's Bush Warbler*

1

4

(H)

Cettia brunnescens

3

Grey-sided Bush Warbler  

5

2

(H)

Cettia brunnifrons

3

Russet Bush Warbler   

1

3

(H)

Bradypterus mandelli

1

Rusty-rumped Warbler

1

3

H, I

Locustella certhiola

3

Mountain Tailorbird  

2

2

(H)

Orthotomus cuculatus

3

Common Tailorbird  

4

1

(H)

Orthotomus sutorius

2

Dusky Warbler  

 

 

 

Phylloscopus fuscatus

1

Tickell's Leaf Warbler  

 

 

 

Phylloscopus affinis

2

Buff-barred Warbler  

3

1

 

Phylloscopus pulcher

3

Ashy-throated Warbler  

5

8

 

Phylloscopus maculipennis

3

Lemon-rumped Warbler  

11

6

 

Phylloscopus chloronotus

2

Yellow-browed Warbler  

 

 

 

Phylloscopus inornatus

1

Hume's Warbler  

 

 

 

Phylloscopus humei mandelli

1

Greenish Warbler  

 

 

 

Phylloscopus trochiloides

3

Blyth's Leaf Warbler  

5

4

 

Phylloscopus reguloides

3

Yellow-vented Warbler  

2

10

(H)

Phylloscopus cantator

3

Grey-hooded Warbler  

7

16

 

Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

1

Golden-spectacled Warbler  

 

 

 

Seicercus burkii

3

Whistler’s Warbler  

6

6

 

Seicercus whistleri

3

White-spectacled Warbler  

1

1

H

Seicercus affinis

3

Grey-cheeked Warbler  

6

6

 

Seicercus poliogenys

3

Chestnut-crowned Warbler  

8

4

 

Seicercus castaniceps

3

Broad-billed Warbler  

3

1

H

Tickellia hodgsoni

3

Rufous-faced Warbler

1

1

 

Abroscopus albogularis

3

Black-faced Warbler  

6

4

 

Abroscopus schisticeps

3

Yellow-bellied Warbler  

1

2

 

Abroscopus superciliaris

1

Striated Grassbird  

1

4

I

Megalurus palustris

3

White-throated Laughingthrush  

10

50

 

Garrulax albogularis

3

White-crested Laughingthrush  

2

6

 

Garrulax leucolophus

1

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush  

1

2

 

Garrulax pectoralis

2

Necklaced laughingthrush sp.

1

2

 

Garrulax monileger/pectoralis

1

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush  

1

7

 

Garrulax ruficollis

3

Striated Laughingthrush  

8

15

 

Garrulax striatus

1

Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush  

4