As one is engaged in the discussion of birding or birdwatching, Sikkim comes to the top of their choice. Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan to Tiny Cupwings, and Wrens won't disappoint you. And one of the perfectly best areas for some serious birdwatchers is the pint-sized Himalayan state of Sikkim, which has the largest variety of birds per square kilometer of any state on the Himalayas!

Exaggerating 657 species, this tiny state has a greater diversity of birds than Arunachal Pradesh or Kashmir. It gives an immense opportunity to birders the possibility of sighting more different species in 10 to 15 days' time than you would see anywhere else. So for birders, the tiny state is not only a top birdwatching destination. Thanks to a large number of species, but also because Sikkim as a state is very safe and easy to get around. Birders, be ready to grab your checklist of birds and come here to Sikkim, we would sort out what we think are the best hotspots for birdwatching in Sikkim for your next trip.

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

The topper ridges of the Himalayan Mountain Range, Khangchendzonga top 3rd and it borders India and Nepal. The birdlife ends at Khangchendzonga base camp at 17,000 ft at HMI, Rathong Glacial Campsite. All the glaciers emerging from Khangchendzonga Glacial Belts flow down the southern slopes of the Sikkim Himalayas and eventually feed the mighty Teesta River. The mid-elevation sub-alpine and Bamboo forests and lowland sub-tropical broadleaf forests of the Sikkim Himalayas are prime birdwatching areas. During your stays at any of the many birdwatching homestays in this region, you’ll find on-site avian-species bird checklists that number 300 or more. A few of the main birding hotspots are well worth visiting and a must for the following:

1. Khangchendzonga National Park

Khangchendzonga National Park covers more than 1700 square kilometers and is located on the western ridge border between India and Nepal, making it the largest protected area in Indo-Nepal Himalayan Region. The avian fauna diverseness here is spectacular, with some 500 different species of birds present throughout the national park and biosphere reserve.

Trekking through the birch rhododendron forest thickets, accompanied by expert bird guides of Sikkim and Sherpa trail guides through the jungle, the highlight of any trip into Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is a visit to watch Blood Pheasants foraging calmly at vast pastures, one of the most striking experiences on any visit to the Sikkim Himalayas. At these sites — where hundreds to thousands of babblers and fulvettas and minlas and parrotbills go daily to feed on rhododendrons and bamboo thickets in large mixed flocks comprising 20 or more different species of birds in a single flock sometimes. The spectacle is stunning not only for the color variety but for the incredible acoustic sound of different songbirds as they flock together.

2. Pelling, Pemayangtse, Rabdantse and Khechepalri 

From the historical capital of Pemayangtse in Pelling city, post morning birding session we will take you to the Khecheopalri Lake, known as the place of Black-tailed Crakes and White-throated Needletails. From here, the venturesome birdwatcher can quickly enumerate a host of bird species on a few birding sessions out on the riverine ecosystems and by hiking through monastery adjacent forests.

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler or Ghost of the forest Red-headed Trogon would be a birding highlight. With their calm appearance and blended colors with the surrounding, their feather plumage coloring work as excellent camouflage, thus you would have to depend on your bird guide to point out the best views.

3. Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and Okhrey Hilley

On the western ridges of the Khangchendzonga mountain range, just outside the small hamlet Hilley of west Sikkim, you can venture through mysterious misty forests that are rich in avian diversity. During the rainy season, this region is great for sighting resident species that reside in malingo and pareng bamboos species. Every year, during summer and monsoon bird watchers, come here when the bird vocalization is best and they respond very well against playback. Birders here participate in the Himalayan Bird Count in the month of May!

Sikkim’s Tibetan Plateau Regions

The water flowing down from the northern slopes of the Mount Khangchengyao Andes heads the Teesta river in Tibetan Plateau and then down to the Greater Himalayan gorges of Gaigong and Thangu, a journey that passes through some of Sikkim Himalayas' most diverse and threatened bird habitats.

4. The Gurudongmar and Tso Lhamo Lake Regions

The Lachen and Lachung Valley corridors are the birding hotspots that run through Sikkim Himalayas' mountain valleys from north to south. This stretch is an irresistible magnet for the bird tourists that arrive in Sikkim. Situated just less than four hours north of Gangtok, these Lachen, Thangu, and Lachung, Yumthang valleys have been declared as protected bird areas in North Sikkim of global importance for birds such as the Saker Falcon, Little Owl, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Woodcock, Solitary Snipe, Satyr Tragopan, Grandalas, Blood Pheasants, Yellow-rumped Honeyguides, etc. In fact, in just two days you can easily observe more than 100 species of birds. What’s more, this area also extends outstanding tourist provisions and a great road network to survey this scenic and paradisiacal setting.

The middle hills - Maenam and Tendong Hills

Maenam Hills is situated almost in the middle of Sikkim; and is running from north to south down the spine of Sikkim Himalayas: High-altitude conifers, bamboo thickets, and rhododendron valleys are simply stunning. These hot and humid habitats due to low-lying clouds and mist — which are alternately baked in the glaring sunlight are home to a host of different bird species.

6. Maenam WLS

The conglomeration of green scenery, uncomplicated access, and solid birding make the Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary near Ravangla as one of the state’s favorite birding sites. While birdwatching, enjoy some of the most dramatic views of middle Himalayan landscapes in these high mountains as well. In the shadow of the huge snow cone of the Bhaley Dhunga Top, you can see Teesta floodplains as well the mighty Mt. Khangcchendzonga. And here from the same spot you can find Blood Pheasants in the flock - Sikkim’s State Bird as well as some vagrant and rare bird species.

7. The Tendong Hills

South Sikkim is a nicely developed area for birdwatching tourism like the west Sikkim district, to cater to foreign tourists. It is often visited area by domestic as well as international bird watchers. Nonetheless, the remote Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary is home to more than 400 bird species and the containing forests that range from the high Maenam top at 10,000 feet to the Rangit river basin at 1,000 ft, here in this district you can spot everything from magnificent Monal Pheasants to tiniest Sunbirds to elusive Cochoas in the sub-tropical forests.

The Pangolakha Ridge and Pakyong Valley

An up-close birding experience that will rival anything you might see in a BBC or National Geographic documentary, the Pangolakha ridge offers itself as an unbelievable birding destination in Sikkim.

From the most sought-after nocturnal bird - The long-eared Owl to the Blood Pheasant to the unique Fire-tailed Myzornis, and roosting colonies of Asian House Martins, the Pangolakha WLS and the surrounding complex is a great one-stop birding spot to spend six days to check off a whole altitudinal Sikkim Bird Diversity for once-in-a-lifetime birds from your list. About half of all the bird species here are endemic to the northeast Indian Himalayas, which you get at ease here. 

8. Pangolakha WLS  

Zuluk and Lungthung hamlets, which are two high-elevation villages inside Pangolakha WLS, are home to 80% of all bird species of Sikkim. What is importantly noteworthy about this wildlife sanctuary is that it’s the only continuous ridge that is motorable from 3,000 ft to 14,000 ft. This enables you to cover the mountain in a single visit. 

These are also the rarest and the most endangered babbler species that reside in conifers and bamboo thickets. Having experienced drastic habitat destructions over the past 20 years, these bird species have become very much range restricted within the sanctuary. Photographing in that cute Parrotbill way in the bamboo thicket, or Crawling along the steppe grasslands; it’s hard for a passionate birder of any type to get enough.

9. Mulkharka - Talkharka

For tourists and travelers as a whole — birdwatchers or not — Mulkharka and Talkharka hamlets' biggest attraction is its trekking and village life. The rare and endangered Ward's Trogon is a resident bird species of these ridges. There are around 10 pairs of birds of this species that can be found across the trans-state boundary forests of Neora Valley National Park and Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. The importance of Chumbi Valley gap just the north-eastern side of this jungle complex is a major flyway and staging site for migrant birds of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) and Eastern Australasian Flyway (EAF). Indeed, this newly developed birding destination in Sikkim is the only place on the planet where this enormous number of birds come to winter to spend their winter in the vast planes and coasts of India. So, whether you’re a fanatic and passionate birder or not, a visit to these remotest villages in east Sikkim would always be a highlight that you won’t want to be delayed!

10. Pakyong Valley - Dikling Pacheykhani Reserve Forest

Pakyong district and the tiny patch of reserve forest Dikling Pacheykhani packs a powerful punch for birdwatchers and birders alike. This birding destination in Sikkim offers a wonderful mixed bag of birds like Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Himalayan Shortwing, and White-bellied Redstart, which its avian denizens call home. Pristine forested patches and rocky slopes combined with lush green Pakyong valley provide a diverse range of habitats for birdlife.

In short, whenever you free yourself up and wanderlust your birding pursuance, surely keep Sikkim Himalayas in your mind!

Nisha Dhungel is the founder and Dibyendu Ash is the bird tour leader at Sikkim Birds Tours and Travels. Sikkim Birds Tours and Travels is a well-established birding tour operator in Sikkim, specializing in custom-made and luxury birdwatching tours in Sikkim and throughout the rest of northeast India's sister states namely - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.

If you want to be a guest blogger on Sikkim Birds to raise your profile, please contact us.