Birding Tour Bhutan: Spring Birding in The Eastern Himalayas

The fabled Kingdom of Bhutan, fondly known as “the Land of the Thunder Dragon” is an almost ethereal country straddled in ancient history. Perhaps  best known for the role Bhutan has played in the formation of Buddhism, it comes as no surprise that iconic and significant monasteries such as the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, or Taktsang, draw the bulk of the visitors to the country. The general wildlife tourism and, in particular, the birdwatching tourism, is also a major drawcard for visitors, with the government having formally protected over two-thirds of the country’s total land area. This means that there are vast areas of largely untouched habitat, and its unique location in the eastern Himalayas makes it arguably the premier destination to see many of the highly sought-after Himalayan species. Birds like the stunning Beautiful Nuthatch, the gorgeous Ward’s Trogon, the unbelievable Fire-tailed Myzornis, the giant Rufous-necked Hornbill, the scarce Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, and of course, the spectacular duo of Satyr Tragopan and Himalayan Monal (as well as other vivid pheasants) are all prime examples. A plethora of other exciting birds add to the tour, with large numbers of seemingly strange-sounding families, like drongos, laughingthrushes, white-eyes, leafbirds, sunbirds, accentors, and parrotbills all likely. Even the Critically Endangered (IUCN) White-bellied Heron, will be sought out – a species on the brink of extinction, with only around 250 individuals thought to be left in the world. Three different monotypic bird families are another major attraction, with Ibisbill, Wallcreeper and Spotted Elachura – all sure to cater to some of the desires of world birders.

Satyr Tragopan is one of the most special and sought-after birds in the world – and is arguably the biggest attraction on this tour!

This tour begins in the high-elevation city of Paro, before undertaking an 18-day road trip through the country. We venture east to the Punakha Valley, seeking out our first forest birds and also searching for the rare White-bellied Heron, before heading east to Trongsa, and south to Tingtibi and Panbang, where we will tackle the mid-elevation mossy forests for the stunning Beautiful Nuthatch, amongst others. These lowland areas also offer stands of bamboo and other riparian woods and support a vast number of birds we’re unlikely to see anywhere else, including the trio of hulking Rufous-necked, Great and Wreathed Hornbills. We then transfer to the bird-rich Yongkhola region for a few days, where the forests are dripping with a wide array of sought-after birds, including Ward’s Trogon. The higher alpine zones follow, with time around Bumthang, Chumey and Nobding dedicated to giving us the best chances to see the highly sought-after pheasants, including Satyr Tragopan and Himalayan Monal. The tour concludes in Paro, following an enthralling road trip through all the best birding sites in Bhutan.

White-bellied Heron is one of the rarest birds in the world, with fewer than 250 individuals remaining.