Best Birding Places in Bhutan for Bird Watching Lovers

For ornithologists and bird watchers, Bhutan is an absolute paradise on earth. With more than 670 recorded species of indigenous and migrant birds found across the country, and more being discovered every year, there are plenty of birds to see when traveling through this high Himalayan kingdom. And there are more than 50 winter migrant species of bird that come to Bhutan’s warmer milder climates for winter from northern Tibet and northern China, as well as some from as far away as Siberia.

So for anyone looking for great places to go bird watching, there are plenty of opportunities in Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Keep reading to know some of best birding places in Bhutan.

Best Places of Bhutan Bird Watching Tour for Family

For anyone looking for a family bird watching tour, Bhutan is the ideal destination. As it can be hard to travel far with kids for a family, there are some amazing places to visit in the local tourist areas of Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha, which can give you some great options for birding in Bhutan.

Paro Valley

Paro to Drukgyel Dzong to Jangothang – Part of the Jomolhari Loop trek, this section of the hike is renowned for finding such amazing species as the Satyr Tragopan, the Blood Pheasant, the Himalayan Monal, Bearded Vultures, the Ibisbil, the White-Browed Tit Warbler, and many other such species common to these mountains.

Paro to Chele La to Haa Valley – The route from Paro to the Haa Valley, crossing the Chele La Pass, runs through areas of Blue Pines, which are common nesting places for the Himalayan Monal, the Eurasian Woodcock, Snow Pigeons, Nutcrackers, and the Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, among others.

Thimphu Valley

Thimphu to Dochu La to Punakha – Following the ridge along the route from Thimphu to Punakha takes you over the Dochula Pass, which is one of the best vantage points for viewing the Kalij Pheasant, the rare Bearded Vulture, the great Parrotbill, and the Red Crossbill.

Thimphu to Begana to Tango to Dodena – The road from Thimphu to Dodena, which takes you through Begana and Tango, is home to some rare species of birds in Bhutan, including the White-Tailed Eagle. You can also find such birds as the Long-billed Thrush, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, and the Maroon-backed Accentor along this lonely route.

Punakha Valley

Punakha to Mo Chu Valley to Rimchu – The Mo Chhu Valley is regularly used by migrant species of waterfowl and wading birds. Endangered species such as the Lesser Adjutant, the Pallas’s Fish Eagle, and the White-winged Duck, as well as the Indian Skimmer and the White-bellied Heron can be found here.

Best Places of Black Necked Cranes Birding in Bhutan

Black-necked Cranes are one of the rarest birds that come to Bhutan for the winter months from their breeding grounds in northern Tibet. And while the Gangtey Monastery is the most famous place to see them, it is not the only place they can be found in Bhutan.

Phobjikha Valley

Phobjikha Valley - also known as Gangtey Valley, is the most common place to find these rare auspicious birds in the winter months in Bhutan. They fly in around November, and spend the winter in the valley, departing in around mid-March. The best time to spot them is in the morning and evening, as they depart to forage for food and return to roost for the night.

Bumthang in central Bhutan

The three valleys of Chumey, Tang and Choekhor - are also home to the cranes during the winter, though in fewer numbers than in Phobjikha. On average, you can normally find around two dozen cranes in the three valleys these days, a drop in numbers from their previous year’s arrivals. The numbers have decreased due to local construction, but can still be seen in certain areas of the valleys.

Bumdeling in eastern Bhutan

Bumdeling in Eastern Bhutan - more than 80 cranes descend on the fields above Trashiyangtse, where the farmers retire to their homes for the winter, leaving their fields empty for their auspicious winter visitors. The Bumdeling Valley has long been home to almost a hundred of these rare birds for the winter, residing inside the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary until March.

Best Places of Birding in Bhutan for Beginner Bird Watcher

For those that are travelling to Bhutan for birding for the first time, it is a good idea to head for places that are easy to find and where you can get a good view of larger numbers and species of birds.

Punakha to Gasa Region

Rimchu to Trashithang to Damji – As you head out of Rimchu to Damji in the Jigme Dorje National Park, you can find several dozen species of birds residing in the forests of blue pine, spruce, hemlock, and juniper. These include the Himalayan and Bearded Vultures, the White-winged Grosbeaks, the Fire-tailed Sunbird, and the Orange-breasted Bush Robins, to name a few.

Damji to Gasa – As you head further into the parklands to the north of Damji, on the route to Gasa, you can find species like the Guldenstadts Redstart, the Grandala, the Eurasian Wren, the Blood Pheasant, and the Robin Accentor.

Gasa to Koina to Laya – As you continue on up towards Laya, part of the Laya Gasa Trek route, you can find plenty to keep you watchful. The species up here include those already found inside this vast woodland park, and also include the Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, the Fire-capped Tit, the Spotted Laughingthrush, the Golden-breasted Fulvetta, and the White-tailed Eagle, which prefer the warmer broadleaf and oak forests.

Wangdue Phodrang to Gangtey Region

Pele La – This part of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park is home to many species of waterfowl and wading birds, including Himalayan Herons, Black Storks, Eurasian March Harriers, and a few Black-necked Cranes.

Phobjikha Valley – Renowned home to the Black-Necked Cranes in Bhutan, this lush and beautiful valley is also home to many other species throughout the year. If you are not able to come in winter for the cranes, you can always find such amazing species as the Wood Snipe, the Short-eared and Himalayan Wood Owls, the oriental Skylark, Parrotbills, Brown Dippers, and the occasional Hume’s Bush Warbler.

Central Bhutan from Pele La to Bumthang Valley

The stretch of Bhutan between Pele La Pass and the Bumthang valley is separated into three main sections.

Trongsa - Yutong La – Bumthang section - which includes the Trongsa Valley, Gatsa Valley, the Yutong La Pass area, and the area of the Bumthang Valley around Jakar, is a varied landscape which consists of woodlands, fields, and riverine valleys. The variety of birds here include such species as Spotted Doves, Brown-flanked Bush Warblers, Greater and Lesser Adjutants, Indian Skimmers, White-bellied Herons, and a multitude of other species.

Trongsa to Shemgang - is rated as one of the best birding circuits in Bhutan, with the area around Tingtibi of sub-tropical forests and giant bamboo being a popular place for Collared Falconets, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, the Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Rufous-necked Hornbills, White-crested Laughingthrushes, White-hooded Babblers, Slaty-backed Forktails, and the Large Niltava.

Royal Manas National Park - has long been a popular place for birding tours, and with the border with India crossing through the woodlands and forests, you can easily find dozens of species that live on both sides of the border. Expect to see such species as the Kalij Pheasant, Green Imperial and Mountain Imperial Pigeons, several different species of Hornbills, the Common Hill Myna, Orange-bellied and Golden-fronted Leafbirds, and the amazing Purple Sunbird.

Best Places of Birding in Bhutan for Experienced Bird Watchers

Bhutan bird watching tours in the far east regions are more suitable for the experienced bird watchers. East Bhutan has a slightly different climate to the rest of the country, and is generally warmer with more broad-leafed and oak forests, and less pine and spruce. Hence, more deciduous-oriented bird species can be found here. 

Bumthang Valley to Mongar Region

Bumthang to Lingmithang – One of the best places in Eastern Bhutan for spotting the Kalij Pheasant, which predominates these oak and juniper forests, as well as plenty of chances to spot the Black-throated Prinia, a common bird in oak forests.

Sengor to Namling – this short section of the route to Lingmethang is a good place for finding such species as the Crested Serpent Eagle, the Spotted Owlet, and the Rusty-fronted Barwing, which prefer the lush wooded valleys.

Namling to Yongkala – A short part of the road to Lingmethang, this is a long wide valley section that has some great lowlands and wetlands for waterfowl and wading birds. You can find the Fish Eagle here, if you are lucky, along with the Himalayan Cutia, the Grey-sided Laughingthrush, and the Oriental Bay Owl.

Yongkala to Lingmethang – This last section of the route to Lingmethang is a less-dense area of woodlands, which has more ridges and open fields and meadows. You are more likely to find Shortwings, Spotted Forktails, and Yellow-vented Warblers here, as well as the occasional Purple Cochoa.

Mongar to Samdrup Jongkhar Region

The forests between Mongar and Samdrup Jongkhar - are one of the best areas for birding for the sub-tropical and warm broadleaf forests, which are best visited from September to June, to avoid the monsoon. From Mongar to Trashigang, and on over Narphang La and through Deothang to the border town of Samdrup Jongkhar is renowned for finding a side variety of avian species. You can often see such birds as the Yellow-footed and Pin-tailed Pigeons, and Fulvetta, Yuhina, and Nuthatches. You can also find a lot of rare birds here, including the Silver-breasted Broadbill, the Pale Headed Woodpecker, the Pied Falconet, the Rufous-Bellied Eagle, the Violet Cuckoo, and the Dark-rumped Swift.

Conclusion

Bhutan’s large population of bids and variety of species makes it one of the best places in the Himalayas for varied birding. It is renowned as one of the few places where you can find alpine birds and waterfowl a short distance from the lowland broad-leaf forest species, and some of the world’s rarest eagles. So if you are thinking of visiting Bhutan for birding, you can guarantee to find some amazing sights in the Land of the Thunder Dragon.