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Wildlife & Avifauna

This is unlike in some other states in Northeast Asia, where you may still find forests – yet void of its inhabitants – it is certainly also thanks to the state's environmental consciousness and the observance of religious rules of Hinduism and Buddhism that wildlife in Sikkim today still has got habitat to thrive in is

Red panda, snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, marmots, goral, barking deer, langur monkey, Himalayan black bear, different species of leopard, Tibetan wolf, giant badgers, martens and jungle cats all belong to Sikkim's rich wildlife.

Sikkim also has a rich diversity of arthropods. Many of them remain unexplored and undiscovered. Of the approximately 1,438 butterfly species of the Indian subcontinent 695 exist in Sikkim alone! And the species found here include many endangered and endemic species too.

Ornithological Trips, Birding Safaris & Bird Watching

Sikkim and surrounding regions including Northeast India are extraordinarily rich in avifauna. Birders consider this to be birdwatchers paradise. Sikkim's avian population extends to almost 550 species and the ornithological diversity of the area has been documented by ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali. As the climate varies between the tropical heat of the valleys and the alpine cold of the snowy regions Sikkim has got altitudinal zones of vegetation that range from tropical, subtropical, temperate to Alpine. This diversity in climates, altitudes and vegetations is responsible for the great variety and abundance in the resident bird life, making this area one of the richest of its size anywhere in the world.

If you are interested in a birding/bird watching trip we will plan your itinerary in accordance to your requirements, taking into consideration your physical condition, timeframe and special interest.

Ornithological Trips usually include a trekking or field trips to sanctuaries and lesser known hot spots and excellent birding sites all. Species like Maroon-Backed Accentor and Red-faced Liocichla are found in these forests and sanctuaries. Depending on the area visited you may see Himalayan Monal, Brown Parotbill, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Cutia, Sapphire flycatcher, White browned Bush Robin, Granduala Rufous, Breasted Accentors, White winged, collared Grosbeaks, Spot-winged Rosefinch, Snow Partridge, Snow Cock, Griffon Vulture, Golden Eagels, Quail, Woodcock, Babblers, Bearded Vulture, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers and pheasants including the Blood Pheasant and crimson horned pheasant. Nearby a typical Bhutia-village you can combine your passion for birding with a trek to a nearby hill to see Tragopan, Kalij pheasant, rusty-bellied Shortwing, Minivet, Yuhina, flycatchers, etc.

While our standard birding tours do not include camping and trekking this is one of the best ways to see higher altitude birds. Depending on your specific interest we can organize a suitable trek for you lasting from anywhere between one day to two weeks. For an overview of our treks please go to: www.yetilaya.com.

In cooperation with local ornithological experts we take you to the best ornithological hot spots. Your journey will be planned in such a way so as to allow enough time for birding and taking pictures. Upon request and in cooperation with local experts we also organize slide shows and presentation on Ornithology as well as interaction with local ornithologists.

List of birds seen during an ornithological trip to a hot spot in North Sikkim:

1 Abroscopus superciliaris Yellow-bellied Warbler
2 Aegithalos iouschistos Rufous-fronted Tit
3 Anthus hodgsoni Olive-backed Pipit
4 Certhia nipalensis Rusty-flanked Treecreeper
5 Cissa chinensis Common Green Magpie
6 Dendrocitta vagabunda Rufous Treepie
7 Dendrocopos himalayensis Himalayan Woodpecker
8 Dicrurus macrocercus Black Drongo
9 Enicuruas scouleri Little Forktail
10 Enicurus immaculatus Black-backed Forktail
11 Enicurus leschenaulti White Crowned Forktail
12 Enicurus maculatus Spotted Forktail
13 Falco tinnunculus Common Kestrel
14 Garrulax affinis Black-faced Laughingthrush
15 Garrulax erythrocephalus Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush
16 Garrulax leucolophus White Crested Laughingthrush
17 Garrulax striatus Striated Laughingthrush
18 Heterophasia annectans Rufous-backed Sibia
19 Heterophasia capistrata Black-capped Sibia
20 Hypsipetes leucocephalus Black Bulbul
21 Hypsipetes mcclellandii Mountain Bulbul
22 Ictinaetus malayensis Black Eagle
23 Lanius schach Long-tailed Shrike
24 Lophophorus impeyanus Himalayan Monal
25 Lophura leucomelanos Kalij Pheasant
26 *Melanochlora sultanea Sultan Tit
* Totally protected wild animal
27 Motacilla alba White Wagtail
28 Muscicapella hodgsoni Pygmy Blue Flycatcher
29 Myiophoneus caeruleus Himalayan Whistling Thrush
30 Parus dichrous Grey-crested Tit
31 Parus spilonotus Yellow-cheeked Tit
32 Parus xanthogenys Black-lored Tit
33 Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Small Minivet
34 Pericrocotus solaris Grey Chinned Minivet
35 Phalacrocorax niger Little Cormorant
36 Phoenicurus fuliginosus Plumbeous Water Redstart
37 Phoenicurus leucocephalus White-capped Redstart
38 Phylloscopus affinis Tickell's Leaf Warbler
39 Phylloscopus cantator Yellow-vented Warbler
40 Phylloscopus maculipennis Ashy-throated Warbler
41 Picus chlorolophus Lesser Yellownape
42 Picus flavinucha Greater Yellownape
43 Prinia atrogularis Hill Prinia
44 Prinia criniger Striated Prinia
45 Psittacula finschii Grey Headed Parakeet
46 Pycnonotus cafer Red-vented Bulbul
47 Pycnonotus leucogenys Hamalayan Bulbul
48 Pycnonotus leucotis White-eared Bulbul
49 Pycnonotus striatus Striated Bulbul
50 Saxicola ferrea Grey Bushchat
51 Saxicola torquata Common Stonechat
52 Seiercus xanthoschistos Grey-hooded Warbler
53 Sitta castanea Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch
54 Spelaeornis formosus Spotted Wren Babbler
55 Spilornis cheela Crested Serpent Eagle
56 Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove
57 Tarsiger hyperythrus Rufous-breasted Bush Robin
58 Tesia castaneocoronata Chestnut-headed Tesia
59 Troglodytes troglodytes Winter Wren
60 Turdus boulboul Grey-winged Blackbird
61 Yuhina bakeri White-naped Yuhnia
62 Yuhina castaniceps Striated Yuhnia
63 Yuhina flavicollis Whiskered Yuhnia
64 Yuhina occipitalis Rufous-vented Yuhnia
65 Zoonavena sylvatica White-rumped Needletail
Keywords used in this page Tags: Sikkim, India, wildlife, fauna, animal kingdom, species richness, ornithology, mammals, wild, native, travel
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