Birding in East Bhutan: Common Bird Species, Cost, Packing List and More

For the intrepid adventurer, a trip into the wild and rugged eastern region of Bhutan is one that will reward you with fascinating local communities, isolated and remote Dzongs, and wondrous sights that have greeted the eyes of few foreign tourists. The last remote wilderness in the Himalayas, this area of Bhutan is a huge lure to biding enthusiasts for its bird-rich forests, havens for the wildlife of Bhutan.

Eastern Bhutan sees a lot fewer tourists than Western and central Bhutan, which gives you more opportunities to have some unrestricted and uninterrupted time to watch for those rare species of birds that the region is noted for.

Ideal Birding Spots & Common Bird Species in East Bhutan

Bhutan’s eastern region has a huge number of amazing locations for birding, with some of the birds being found in general across the region, while others are particular to certain areas of this part of Bhutan. Often, where you go dictates what species you can find, and here we have compiled a list of the best birding locations in Eastern Bhutan for your convenience.

Forests along Road from Sengor to Namling & Lingmethang

A long section of forest-lined roads in the Mongar Dzongkhag of Eastern Bhutan, this part of the east has a good number of mostly-unseen birds, due to the very remote location. The road to Namling runs through lightly-wooded valley, and as you continue along to Lingmethang Town, you cross through some densely wooded areas on the ridges and slopes of these stunning valleys.

The best time to visit along this road is normally from April to May, when you can find such birds as the Satyr Tragopan and Bar-winged Wren Babbler nesting in the hemlock forests. You may also get the chance to see one of the rare Fire-Tailed Myzornis along the road, as they prefer the cooler broad-leaved forest areas.

Namling to Yongkhala

Taking the route from Namling to Yongkhala, which is part of the Namling-Lingmethang Road, you will find plenty of places for birding. This heavily-wooded area of broadleaf forest is a popular location for some of the more rare species of birds in Bhutan during the winter months from November to early May. Of the many species you can find here, the rarer birds you may see include the Chestnut-breasted Partridge, the Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, the Ward’s Trogon, the Collared Treepie, the White-gorgeted Flycatcher, and the Rufous-throated Wren Babbler.

Of the more common species, you can usually spot the Rufous-necked Hornbill, the Lesser Shortwing, the Rufous-breast Bush Robin, the Blue-fronted Robin, the Purple Cochoa, the Broad-billed Warbler, the Grey-sided laughing thrush, the Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, the Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, the Cutia, the Golden-breasted Fulvetta, the Yellow-throated Fulvetta, the White-naped Yuhina, and the Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill.

Yongkhala to Lingmethang

The second section of the Namling-Lingmethang Road, from Yongkhala, runs through some less densely wooded areas of the mountainsides, which gives rise to other species of birds that you rarely find anywhere else. Filled with warmer broadleaved forests, this is a place that is best visited from November to early May, and a haven for two of the more rare species of local birds. While you can see plenty of the common Yellow-vented Warblers along this stretch of road, the winter months also bring in the rarer Collared Treepie, and the even rarer Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle, now an endangered species in Asia.

Forests along Road from Narphung la to Deothang & Samdrup Jongkhar

The long road to Deothang is renowned for its birds, once you get past the pass at Narphung La. Crossing through the mountains of Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag, you can find a variety of birds here, in the warmer broadleaved areas of the region. And as you head lower in latitude into the sub-tropical forests, the variety becomes even more varied.

Best visited from November to May, you can find a variety of rarer birds, including the White-gorgeted Flycatcher and the Rufous-necked Hornbill. You can also find plenty of the more common species in this area, including the Beautiful Nuthatch, the Grey-sided Laughing thrush, the Yellowed-throated Fulvetta, the White-naped Yuhina, and the Gold-naped Finch.

Deothang to Samdrup Jongkhar

In the lower part of the route to Samdrup Jongkhar, the more common sub-tropical forests make for a change in the variety of some of the bird species you can find along this road down from the mountains. As you run down towards the borer with India, you can find some of the more rare birds that inhabit these sub-tropical forests.

The rare species of birds here include the Pale-headed Woodpecker, the Ward’s Trogon, the Blyth’s Kingfisher, the Dark-rumped Swift, the Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle, the Pied Falconet, and the Silver-breasted Broadbill. Of the more common species of birds here, the most popular to spot are the Blue-eared Barbet, the Wreathed Hornbill, the Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, the Yellow-vented Warbler, the White naped Yuhina, and the Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill.

When is the best time for east Bhutan bird watching tour?

Unlike most birding tours that are better held in the spring or autumn months, for Bhutan bird watching tour in the east regions, the best time is actually through the winter and spring seasons. With plenty of migratory birds entering this part of Bhutan throughout the winter, and fewer summer migratory birds coming in, the period from November to mid-May is the best time for birding. This is mostly due to the lower altitudes of the forests, and the wetter weather in the summer, as well as the milder winters in the southern parts of the west of Bhutan.

How much will it cost to go birding in east Bhutan?

Daily Fee of 200-250 US Dollars

Birding tours of Bhutan are no different to any other tours, and are still governed by the Minimum Daily Package fee (MDP) of 250 US dollars per night in the peak seasons and 200 US dollars per night in the low seasons. The overall cost of the tour does depend on how many nights you will be staying in Bhutan, and for those traveling to Eastern Bhutan to go birding, the cost is much higher due to the longer travel times to get there.

Duration Discount for the Longer Birding Tour to East Bhutan

Duration discounts can also be applied to travel to Bhutan, and the longer you travel, the more you can save. For travelers exceeding eight nights of travel in Bhutan, up to 14 nights, there is a discount on the nights over the eighth of 50 percent of the Sustainable Development Fee portion of the MDP. And for those exceeding fourteen nights, the Sustainable Development Fee discount is 100 percent.

Group Size Discount

However, there are ways to reduce this cost, which involve longer travel and travel in groups. When traveling in larger groups, there are special discounts for one member of the party, usually the one that organizes the trip with their friends or birding associates. For those traveling in groups of 11-15 people, a discount of 50 percent on the MDP is given to one member of the group, and for groups of 16 and over, the MDP discount for one member of the party is 100 percent.

What to pack for birding in east Bhutan?

Required Documents

The first thing to remember to pack for your birding trip to Eastern Bhutan is your required documents, including your passport, visa letter, etc. Once you arrive and have your visa, this should be kept safe by accessible, along with your travel permits for the areas of Bhutan you will visit.

Clothing To Wear

What to wear depends on the time of year, but with the Eastern and Southeastern areas of Bhutan being milder than in the west, you will not need too much warm clothing. Mostly, normal clothes such as shirts and pants are fine for this part of the kingdom, though you should bring hiking boots as the roads are not too god, and the ground is rough and rocky. Bring a couple of sweaters for the nights, as it does get cooler, and bring a hat to keep the sun off your head.

Bird Watching Gears

Your birding gear is of utmost importance, and you can bring any gear you like, as long as you are within your weight limit for the flights. Flights to Bhutan do not have the option to pay for overweight luggage, and you will be required to remove items to leave behind, or miss your flight. Binoculars are a requirement, really, and while you can get away with one camera body, you will need several zoom and telephoto lenses. However, unless you want to take a couple of panoramic mountain shots, the wide-angle lenses can stay at home.

For Camping

When you are camping, you really only need to arrange a sleeping bag, and only then for some tours. Most of the camping tours have all the gear you need included in the cost of the trip, and are provided by the travel agency on your Bhutan tour.

Do's and Don'ts while Birding in East Bhutan

Be Cautious and Quiet in Your Movements – if you move to fast or too noisily, you will scare the birds you are trying to spot. And if you have spent ages creeping up closer to get a better shot, you will have wasted all that time.

Wake up Early or Stay Late for Birding – The best bird spotting is usually done at dawn and dusk in Bhutan, when the birds are rising and settling down to sleep. So be prepared to get up before dawn and still be taking photos as the light goes in the evening.

Be Patient – Patience is a virtue, especially for bird watchers in Bhutan. Waiting for a while can often give you a unique opportunity to spot birds that you might not otherwise have seen.

Avoid Harsh Light – Most spotting is done during the daytime, so you will not need to use the flash. If you are planning on night bird watching, it is best to use night-sight equipment to see your target birds.

Conclusion

Birding in Eastern Bhutan is one of the most thrilling and outstanding trips to this isolated kingdom that you can take. And with the more remote areas and lower population, you have the chance to see many more birds than you can find in the west. You will also have the chance to see birds that only live in this lower altitude area, and among the more-common sub-tropical forests.