Birds are found in subtropical forest

Suptropical forest  is the warm broadleave which grows along the foothills up to 1000m (3280ft) and higher up 2000m (6560ft). These forests are the richest  in  bird species. The globally threatened Rufous- necked Hornbill (Aceros nipalensis) found to these forests and these species is still fairly common in Bhutan, it is rare and declining eleswhere in its range. The beautiful Nuthatch ( Sitta formosa ) which is rare and poorly known where it occurs has been found only in Bhutan in warm broadleaved forests.

Amongst species with the restricted ranges, Yellow-vented Warblers (Phylloscopus cantator), White-naped Yuhina (Yuhina bakeri), Broad-billed Warbler (Tickellia hodgsoni) and Rufous-throated Wren Babbler (Speleaomis caudatus) are also found. These forests are also important for the enigmatic Chestnut-breasted Patridge (Arborophila mandellii), which is both internationally threatened and restricted in distribution.

Birds are found in Limithang camping

The Limithang area is situated from 900m to 3780m, boasts some of the country's most pristine forests, unrivalled in the destiny of tree species, and thus is a natural haven for birds.The large stretches of forests, the traditional villages house and a sleepy road which winds through the valley are all frequented by many species of birds that make the whole area a great pleasure for birds lovers.

Here we found some famous birds like Ward's Trogon, Rufus-necked Hornbill, Satyr Tragopan and endless others. There will be opportunities to spot, amongst others, the Collared Scops-Owl, Collared Owlet, Striated, Himalayan Swiftlet, White-cheeked, Black-crested,  Red-vented, Ashy, Black and mountain Bulbuls, Golden-breasted and Yellow- throat Fulvetta, Streak-breasted, Slender-billed Rusty-cheeked, and Coral-billed Scimitar- Babblers, Hill and Rufecent Prinia, Gray-headed Canary Flycatcher, common Tailorbird, Bronzen, Lesser Racquettailed and Hair-creseted Dorangos, and Scarlet Finch. We spend our nights in comfortable camps with camp-beds and sleeping bags provided.

Birds is so important in history of Bhutan

Once upon a time in the forest of Varanasi there lived a four friends, they are an Elephant, a Monkey, a Rabbit and a Bird. They are so respect each other and give love to themself. Among four friends the bird is eldest one, as Buddhist point of view we say that early life of Buddha was once he was born as a Bird and other three animals an Elephant,a Monkey and a Rabbit are his three disiciples.

In Bhutan every monasteries, Dzongs and every houses we see these four friends painting all over the Bhutaneses society, they symbolize harmony, interdependence, co-operation and friendship. The "four harmonious friends" one of the most universal and beloved tales in Bhutan. The images of bird, rabbit, and monkey standing on each other's  shoulders on the back of a patient elephant portrays social and enivornmental harmony. Paintings of the "four harmonious friends" appear  in Bhutanese homes and in official and other public buildings.

Birds in Bhutan flying in flocks

Whatever the season, birding in Bhutan offers not only an incredible array of species but also a rare opportunity to see unusal numbers of individual birds all at once. For example, golden-breasted fulvettas- birds that are considered rare elsewhere- have been seen in Bhutan flying around here in flocks of 25; scores or even hundereds of laughing thrushes might be seen flocking together. The vertical pitch to the landscape also makes the wide variety of habitats relatively accessible, with excellent birding done frequently from simple roadside stops.

Picture a single pulloff where one can scan on one side of the road upslope into the shrubs and up to the treetops, and then pivot to peer into the canopy off the opposite of the road, where the slope may drop precipitously thousands of feet into the valley below. Short walks along old footpaths also offer extraordinary opportunities for birding in quiet corners of the landscape with minimal effort. Ofcourse, more intensive multi-day treks into the high country or lower elevations offer yet another level of unmatched birding experience.

Birdwatching in Bhutan has been attracted by all over the world.

Over the years the kingdom has been attracting more and more birders, with most of the trips arriving in the spring from March through May when the bird migration is at its peaks. Although the number of species one may encounter is the greatest in the spring season, birding in the early winter months- when there are fewer birders and hence less competition for limited campsites along the birding circuits- can still be very rewarding for the bird seeker.

For example, the black-necked cranes would have migrated to its summer habitat in the Tibet by the mid-March, while it is a guaranteed sisgting from late October to mid-March. The white-bellied heron,one of the 50 rarest birds in the world,is more likely to be seen in the winter months than in the spring when it is nesting and rearing its young. Other much sought-after birds like the Ward's Trogon, Rufus-necked Hornbill and the Beautiful Nuthatch are residents and can be seen throughout the year.

Birding tour experience in some parts of Bhutan

From Trongsa the tours are usually divert towards the less visited district of Zhemgang. The strecth of road from Zhemgang town at 2000 meters to the camp in tingtibi  at below 500 meters is famous for the beautiful Nuthatch and the Rufous-necked  Hornbill, which are both globally threatened species. After a couple of days at Zhemgang  the trips backtrack  towards trongsa and then heads eastwards towards the famous Yongkhola camp,  where no amount of time spent there ever seems to be enough. From one of the kingdom's highest road passes at Thrimsingla, located at a breathtaking elevation of 3,700 meters, it is only a matter of hours before  you get to Limithang  at an elevation of less than 600 meters.

One would perhaps imagine the great bio-diversity within such a small area, and many birders consider this stretch of road to be arguably the best birding circuit in all of Asia. The specialties in this area include the majestic Satyr Tragopan, the incomparable Ward's Trogon, Rufus-necked Hornbills, an assortment of laughingthrushes, Parrotbills, and many others. With the recent opening of the exit route through Samdrup jongkhar,one will not have to backtrack towards Paro, and this provides yet another opportunity to cover some lowland species such as the Wreathed Hornbills and even some rarities like the Blyth's Kingfisher and Dark-rumped Swift.  

Birding in Bhutan can make you happy.

High in the mysterious and majestic eastern Himalayas, nestled bewteen Tibetan autonomous region of China and India, lies the small Kingdom of bhutan, increasingly renowned as one of the Earth's last precious unspoiled spots. In this magical place, an intact Buddhist culture is integrated into every aspect of daily life , and spectacular mountain scenery provides a backdrop to pristine forests and picturesque valleys. The breathtaking landscape is dotted with fluttering prayer flags, colourful farmhouses amidst terraced fields, and impressive monasteries clinging to impossible cliffs.

Over 70 percent of the country is forested, and unlike other Himalayan countries, most of bhutan's original forest remains intact. The enormity and magnificence of Bhutan's forest is a reminder of what Asia and in particular the himalayas once were. The Buddhist philosophy of respect for living things, and a progressive government approach to development in which the preservation of the envirnoment and the promotion of Bhutan's unique culture and traditions are key elements, have maintained a healthy environment where wildlife flourishes.

Birds killing in Bhutan is very sinful

In Drukyul Bhutan,killing birds and animals are very sinful  because in Bhutan all our peoples are so kind and religious minded they even not kill single small insects.Shooting and killing the birds are so strict prohibitat . When they see insects or small birds laying sick on the road side they give cares and loves, they even take to medical treatments and released back to their places.As you all know that our country,  all places are secret places of  Guru Rinpoche ( Precious Teacher) blessed by him.

We all peoples of Bhutan and our beloved king loves each other and  tried to released the life of birds and freed to near the monasteries and forest. We have a lots of protected areas different types wild life sanctuary. The conservation measures undertaken in Bhutan to preserve and conserve the cranes are unique; in fact more and more crane habitat areas are being brought under the protected area concept. The Royal society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) estabilished in 2003, which has the mandate for conservation and nature education has been involved in morning the winter vistors to the Phobjikha valley and its adjoining Bomdeling Valley.

Birds are seen in Punakha, Bhutan

Leaving Thimphu, you will cross the dochula pass at about 3050 meters and within the short time you will arrive at the Punakha valley which is drained by the Punatsangchu river. The cool broad leaved forest below the Dochula pass is home to one of the most sought after birds of Bhutan; the rare and globally threatened Ward's Trogon. Other species in this region includes the Cutia, Collared Grosbeaks, Darjeeling Woodpeckers and several colourful sunbirds, which especially abundant during the spring when the mountainside is covered in blooming rhododendrons and magnolias of varying shades.

Further down the valley we can spot the Tawny Fish Owl, Sliver-eared Mesia, barbets and oyher sub-tropical species. Perhaps the most famous bird in the valley is the extremely rare White-bellied Heron. This heron is one of the fifty rarest birds in the world and the global population is estimated at less than 200 individuals.

Bhutan is paradise for bird lovers

Bhutan is home for birdwatchers and ornithologists. Despite its small size about 770 species of birds have been recorded in Bhutan and it is recognized as 221 global endemic birds areas. The country ranking the top ten percent in terms of species richness per unit area in the world and it has the largest proportion of land under protected areas, with about 26.23% of the country's national parks.

Spring is the best time of the year to view flowering plants and after nestling out freely from the cold winter months.In spring, if you trip you can expect 400 species and during other times about 300 species will be seen. Even more, perhaps, than other countries, fabulous Bhutan fires the enthusiasm of all who have visited it, leaving them with a sense of privilege and a longing to return.

Black- Necked Crane in Bhutan

The Black- necked cranes in Bhutan mostly seen in winter during late October to mid February to the Phobjikha valley from the Tibetan plateau where they breed. The Biological name of the Black- Necked Crane is called Grus Nigricollis. In Bhutan, the black- necked Crane is also known as Thrung Thrung Karmo and also heavenly bird(Lhab-bja). The Lhab- Bja apprears in many Bhutanese folk lore, songs dances and historical references. 

It has an average height of 1.5 meters, weighs about 5.35kg and live span upto 70 to 80 years. In Bhutan, the black-necked Cranes have an annual festival held every year on 12 November, soon after their arrival from the Tibetan Plateau, in the Gangten Gonpa in Phobjikha Valley. Many tourists also visits the valley to witness this festival. The Black- necked Crane winter migration to Bhutan. The places they migrated to Bhutan are Phobjikha,Khotokha, Gyetsa, Thangbi and Bomdling.

National Bird of Bhutan

National Bird of Bhutan is called Raven. The Raven represents the deity Gonpa Jarodong chen (raven headed Mahakala), one of the chief guardian deties of Bhutan. Our Druk Gyalpo Royal Crown is wearing the Royal Raven Crown represents Bhutan's reverence for these birds and the faith of Bhutanese in their protective deity. One can still see the ravens in monasteries and Dzongs throughout Bhutan.

The biological name of Raven is Corvus Corax Tibetanus. The Raven in Bhutan's history is the guardian Deity Mahakala, who is believed to have taken the form of a raven to guide the country's unifier, the great Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, to Bhutan and is one of the most important guardian deties of Bhutan. It is the largest bird of the crow family. These birds are considered as most intelligent birds, due to having high learning ability and use of logic for solving real life problems. Ravens are known to steal the food of many birds and mammals, even from dogs.They can act in pairs: one individual captures dog's attention, while the other steals its food.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Bird watching in some parts in Bhutan

Bird Watching in Paro Dzongkhag(district)

If you were flying into Bhutan the  valley of Paro at an elevation of about 2300 m, will be your first place. The vegetation in the valley is mainly blue pine and immediately leaving the airport you can see the enigmatic Ibisbill, one of the most sought after himalayan shorebirds, feeding along the Pachhu(river). During the winter and spring, you can also see several other water birds such as Gadwalls, Mergansers, Shelducks and Great Cormorants. The flooded rice fields in the summer provide an ideal breeding habitat for the elusive black- tailed and ruddy-breasted crackes that can be occasionally sighted darting across the roads.

The Cheli la pass at over 3000 m with sub-alpine vegetation is perhaps the best place to see the majestic Himalayan Monal and the charismatic blood pheasants. In the winter it is also home to one of the most beautiful of the redstarts; the white- throated redstart. The White- browed Rosefinch, Collared and White-winged Grosbeaks are also quite common in this area. Other specialties include the Altai and Robin Accentors and if you are lucky, the incomparable Satyr Tragopan can also be spotted.

Thimphu Dzongkhag(district)

Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and as the vegetation is not much different from Paro; the bird life is also quite similar. In the days before urbanization, the wetland behind the swimming pool complex supported such rarities like the Wood Snipe but with the draining for the wetland for construction and human encroachment, many species may have either migrated to safer place or disappeared. The globally threatened Yellow-rumped Honeyguide can be frequently sighted on a rock cliff near the power house in Begana.The Cheri and Tango monasteries vegatation has mainly oak and bamboo here you can see Black-throated Parrotbills, Red- headed Bulfinch, Scarlet Finch, Snow Pigeon, etc. But perhaps the highlight of thisarea is the Fire-tailed Myzornis. The sewerage pond area is also great for many water birds such as the Ibisbill, Lapwings, Little-ringed Plovers, Shelducks, Teals, etc. Please visit our webpage.

Birding In Bhutan

Birding in Bhutan

Bhutan is one of the highlighted tour. Many American and European visit early for Bhutan for specially biriding tour. The Birding Season  is best in Spring and Autumn. Eastern Bhutan has been recognised as one of the top ten biodiversity hot spots in the world. Being a Buddhist country , hunting is illegal and consequently many species of bird and mammal are surprisingly tame.

 Bhutan birding tour is a great favourite, combing some of the finest birdwatching in the Himalayas with spectacular scenery and the sheer plesaure of travelling through Bhutan, one of the friendliest and least spoiled countries in the world. Our Bhutan tour is a highly enjoyable adventure that produces an unsurpassed number of himalayan specialities.

Four species of pheasant can be seen from the roadside. Close views of Blood Pheasants and Satyr Tragopans are very likely, along with himalayan Monal and Kalij Pheasants. We vist in April which is the best month for birding. The wether is generally good at this time and it is also the main period for traditional festivals. There are over a hundred species of rhdodendron in Bhutan and many will be flower along with large numbers of epiphytic orchids.

Bhutan Birding

Bhutan Birding

Birding in Bhutan is one of the most recreation activities. Which combine with cultural tour and visiting local villages. Usually birding take places along the road and high pass more than 3500 meter altitude from the sea level.

There are also some endanger species like Black-necked crane which migrate from Tibetan Plataea to Bhutan places call Phobjekha Valley. This is situated above 3000meter form sea level. There has the perfect roasting group for Black-necked crane. If you are interested to travel Bhutan for birding please visit our bhutan birding website.