Bhutan Tiger's Nest Monastery Bird Watching Tour

The amazing Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro, also known as the Taktshang Monastery, is one of the most amazing sites in the world. Sitting perched on its narrow ledge, precariously balanced more than 900 meters above the Paro Valley, the monastery is the pinnacle of Lhakhang experiences in Bhutan, and is one site that you should not miss. The hike up to the monastery takes around 5-6 hours for most averagely-fit people, and you hike upwards through a variety of woodlands that cover the sides of the mountains where the monastery lies.

And these woodlands are filled with a huge variety of birds that you can find along the trail. For lovers of birding in remote locations, there are few places in the world that can compare to Bhutan, and the hike up the trail combines the stunning trek and the beautiful monastery with some of the best of Bhutan’s many species of birds.

Top 5 Frequent Residential Birds along Tiger's Nest Hiking Trail

Top 5 Frequent Residential Bird Species

The area around the monastery is filled with deciduous and evergreen woodlands, which harbor a wide variety of birds, including some of the most sought-after bird species for sightings in Bhutan. Of the many birds that can be seen on this trek along the trail to Taktshang, you can find the most popular of the sought-after birds, including the yellow-billed blue magpie, the rufous sibia, the white-browed Fulvetta, the spotted laughing thrush, and the black-faced laughing thrush.

There are more frequent residential bird species available

There are also a number of the more frequent residential bird species of Bhutan that you can find along this trail. More common in this area of Bhutan, the variety of species you can also find include such more common species as the chestnut-crowned spotted nutcracker, the laughing thrush, the chestnut-crowned laughing thrush, the rufous-fronted tit, the brown parrotbill, and the large-billed crow.

Top 5 Altitudinal Migratory Birds along Tiger's Nest Hiking Trail

Top 5 Altitudinal Migratory Birds

With its wide variety of altitudes and climates, Bhutan is a popular destination in the winter months for some of Asia’s altitudinal migratory birds. These species are common in Bhutan, tending to travel from their natural breeding areas to non-breeding and wintering areas that are at massively different altitudes. Many of the most popular species of altitudinal migratory birds that come to Bhutan come from much lower altitudes. The main five most sought-after species of altitudinal migratory birds that come to this part of Bhutan include the fire-tailed myzornis, the green-tailed sunbird, the red-tailed minla, the long-tailed minivet, and the wallcreeper, all of which hail from altitudes almost 3,000 meters lower than Paro.

There are more altitudinal migratory birds available

There are a huge number of more common altitudinal migratory species that can be found in this area around Paro and the Taktshang Monastery, many of which hail from only marginally lower altitudes. Some of these species even come from altitudes higher than Paro, which makes them even more sought-after for sightings in their winter homes. The variety of species includes the streak-breasted scimitar babbler, the white-collared blackbird, the bar-throated siva, the little fortail, the white-throated laughing thrush, the black bulbul, the grey-backed shrike, the olive-backed pipit, the yellow-bellied fantail, the ultramarine flycatcher, the alpine accentor and many more.

How long does it take for bird watching along Tiger's Nest hiking trail?

The trail from the car park at the bottom of the trek normally takes a hiker with average fitness around 5-6 hours to reach the Taktshang Monastery, including a short time to rest at the café halfway up the main trail. Descending takes less time, so you can expect to spend a whole day here, with around 5-6 hours for the trekking part of the trip. The trail runs up to the café first, where you can stop briefly to have a break and a nice refreshing cup of tea. From there, you take the remainder of the dirt trail to the top of this peak, before dropping down a ways to a bridge across to the cliff where the monastery is perched on its precarious ledge.

If you are planning to do some birding along the way, then you should prepare for the entire day to become a lot longer. Stopping at various points along the trail will increase your trekking time, making the day longer overall. However, you will find that you can find some amazing shots and views of the birds, especially if you get an early start. Most people tend to start the trek by around 9:00am, so if you are planning a few more stops than normal for birding, it may be useful to start the hike a few hours earlier, to give yourself more daylight time for the hike.

When is the best time for bird watching along Tiger's Nest hiking trail?

The Tiger’s Nest trek is not one that can be done easily in the monsoon and winter seasons, due to the wetter weather and more dangerous conditions. Your best times for taking this trek, and for birding along the trail, are in the spring and autumn, when the weather is at its best for this short Bhutan trekking tour.

Spring in Bhutan is generally dry, and runs from early March to the end of May, and temperatures generally range from 14 degrees in March to as high as 23 degrees by the middle of May. The skies are generally clear for the spring season, though you may see some light clouds in the latter part of May. The brighter days and fresher weather makes for some great birding sightings, and the spring brings in the early migratory birds ready for the summer season, as well as being the main breeding season for the local bird species. And with this being a major time for nest-building and breeding, you are more likely to see some spectacular displays between the birds along the trail.

Autumn in Bhutan generally runs from late September to late November, and is a time of lush vegetation and bright sunny days. Temperatures in autumn generally range from as high as 23 degrees in mid-September, dropping to around 18 degrees in October and down to 13 degrees by November. However, with the rains gone, the skies are clearer than at any time of the year, with bright days and excellent visibility. However, prepare for some morning mists as you get further into the season, especially in the higher areas of the trail and the forest-covered sections. You may even get chance to see some of the early migratory species in mid-November, coming in to the area from their lower summer breeding grounds for the winter.

What to pack for bird watching along Tiger's Nest hiking trail?

Clothing to Wear

Hiking along the trail to Taktshang Monastery really does not need much in the way of special hiking gear, though a good pair of hiking boots can make the climb a little easier with their better tread. And since the trail can sometimes get a little rough, the ankle support can be helpful. Whatever time of year you trek, bring along a sweater for when you stop or if it gets cold. As you get higher, the temperatures do drop, so maintaining your warmth after hiking is essential. Jeans or hiking pants are suitable, and bring a hat for the sun.

Bird Watching Gear

You will also need to consider what birding gear for this Bhutan bird watching tour, especially as you will be carrying it p a rather steep trail going up a mountain. So you may not want to bring everything you have with you, unless you are amazingly strong and super-fit. The best options are to bring your binoculars for sighting, and one decent camera body with a selection of lenses for the best choices of shots. Normally, telephoto and zoom lenses are preferred, as opposed to wide-angle lenses, but it is your choice.

Conclusion

With its changing altitude, dense woodland trail, and great location on the outskirts of Paro, the trail to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a great place to go birding, while getting in some great trekking and a wonderful experience of the remote monastery. It is best to start the trek early, and if you are careful, you can spot some of the more elusive species of birds that come to this part of Bhutan tour.