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India: Birding, Tigers and the Taj Mahal
Set departure tour
29 Nov – 18 December 2004
Leader: Keith Barnes
Seeing a Tiger is indescribable. The thrill, exhilaration and adrenalin are phenomenal, no other cat quite does to you what this one does. The only other wildlife experience that comes close is seeing Mountain Gorillas, but whereas seeing gorillas is a profound reflection of humanity in nature, seeing a Tiger is all thrill! Oh, apart from the Tiger we also managed loads of birds, the Taj Mahal and the ancient city of Fatepuhr Sikri while we were in India. The trip started with a birding bang when we headed for the Himalayan foothills of Naini Tal. This fabulous little resort town is full of charm. Highlights included several startling redstarts, dazzling Sapphire-and-chestnut rock-thrushes. Superb flocks of gorgeous Himalayan tits with nuthatches, leaf-warblers and others, interspersed. Some skulkers included Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler, a feast of six Laughing-thrushes including the snow-white capped White-crested, the bulbous-headed Striated, the elegant mottled and scaled Rufous-chinned and common Streaked. Added to this was the superb Great Barbet, omnipresent Black-headed Jay and magnificent Blue Magpies which impressed greatly before we headed for the waterbird phenomenon that is Bharatpur. Although failed monsoons resulted in lower numbers the species diversity was impressive with most of the palearctic ducks being seen along with Jacanas, Waterhens, stately Sarus and Common Cranes, Bar-headed Goose, and hoardes of bush birds joining the raptor spectacle of Imperial, Greater Spotted and Lesser Spotted Eagles. The final days of the trip revealed the most sought-after wildlife experience of them all. An encounter with an incredible Tiger along with a feast of vultures, White-naped Woodpecker, a lone but welcome Lesser Adjutant and a beastly Black Ibis. The trip also yielded eight owl species seen during the day! A success without a doubt!
29 November. Delhi (arrival)
I met the participants in the late afternoon. Although we were in Delhi it is a remarkably birdy city and because we had about an hour to kill we wandered around our reasonably rural hotel area locating several widespread Indian plains birds, including Black Kite, Red-wattled Lapwing, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Little Swift, Tawny Pipit, White-throated Kingfisher, Long-tailed Shrike, Black Drongo, Asian Pied Starling, Common and Bank Mynas, House Crow and Red-vented Bulbul. The star bird for the day was a pair of Yellow-wattled Lapwings, which are much less common than the other of the areas lapwings. We returned to the hotel where we had a hearty Indian Curry “feed” as the Aussies put it.
30 November. Delhi-Naini Tal
We were up early for a quick breakfast and then to try and escape the hubbub mass that is Delhi. We headed out eastwards to Gajraula, a small town close to the River Ganges. The journey took us through the heartland of Hindu India and the most populous part of the country, providing a fascinating introduction to life on the subontinent. We visited the Ganges River encountering several new trip birds including our only Asian Openbill and first Red Avadavat of the tour. Other species included Great Cormorant, Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, River Lapwing, Black-headed and Brown-headed Gulls, River Tern, Plain Martin, Ashy Prinia and Pied Bushchat. This unfortunately comprised about our only birding today as we had a long drive to reach the Himalayas. Reaching the mountains the habitats started to change and we slowly started seeing pine woodlands and broadleaved forest. A stop at a Himalayan torrent riverside for coffee yielded a Plumbeous Water Redstart and the spectacular Chestnut, Black-and-White River Chat. Getting excited because we were reaching the mountains we saw a Blue Whistling Thrush as we climbed higher just at dusk. Rounding one of the hills, Naini Tal and its lights were scattered across the mountainside like diamonds on black velvet. Arriving at our little retreat we were treated to Vijay’s epic Chicken Butter Masala and nan breads that were roasted in garlic butter!!
1-3 November: Naini Tal (Himalayas)
This attractive but occasionally shabby reminder of the days of the British Raj, is situated at nearly 2000 m a.s.l. and lies in a hollow in the mountains by the shore of the lake that gives the town its name. Surrounding peaks rise to over 2600 m a.s.l. and the whole area is a mixture of open country, patches of forest and small lakes. From the crests of some of the wooded ridges it is possible to obtain spectacular views on clear days of the snowy Himalayan giants stretched out along the horizon. The avifauna here is dramatically different from that of the plains and lower foothills. Such contrasts are one of the pleasures of Himalayan birding - new species are constantly appearing whenever one ascends or descends. Of course coming in winter is best for birding as it frequently forces migrants down into town which is warmer. But also, being out at 6 a.m. in the morning at these altitudes is somewhat chilly and we were wrapped up in mittens and scarves for the early mornings. Standing in the carpark on day one we quickly notched up Blue Whistling Thrush and an immaculate Great Barbet that sung stoically from the treetops. Then a flock of the giant Red-billed Blue Magpie came flying in. These impressive purple, red and blue and white beasts came through at alarming speed and they held us transfixed before they had to head off. Moving onto the ridge behind town we quickly encountered the first of many great flocks in the area, this one pumped for about 45 minutes and we located a good selection of tits, including Green-backed and Black-throated Tit, Streaked Laughing-thrush, Bar-tailed Tree-creeper, White-tailed Nuthatch, Black-faced Warbler, and the very local Goldcrest. We also discovered a remarkably co-operative Long-tailed Thrush, that showed well near the rubbish-tip.
We explored the area around the town and dropped down into the Mongoli Valley and Sat Tal where the birdlife is rather different from the conifer-clad higher ridges. We frequently saw Himalayan Griffon soaring overhead, whilst encountering Slaty-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets, Black Francolin, an immaculate male Kalij Pheasant, dainty Speckled Piculet, Brown-fronted Woodpeckers, Nepal House Martin, Ashy, Mountain and Himalayan Bulbuls, Black-headed Jay, Grey Treepie, Large-billed Crow, a very vocal and spectacular Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler that was tempted much closer by playback, Black-chinned Babblers, White-throated, White-crested, Chestnut-crowned and Striated Laughingthrushes, Red-billed Liothrix, Rufous Sibia, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Buff-barred, Lemon-rumped and Grey-hooded Warblers, Red-flanked Bluetail, Blue-capped and Blue-fronted Redstarts, Grey Bushchat, Spotted Forktail, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Black-throated and Rufous-breasted Accentors, Spot-winged, Black-lored and Yellow-browed Tits, Chestnut-bellied and White-tailed Nuthatches, Oriental White-eye, Russet Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch and White-capped Bunting. We were lucky and encountered some of the scarcer inhabitants of the area, including Asian Barred Owl, Hill Partridge, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, White-browed and Green Shrike-Babblers. The undoubted highlight was a magnificent Chestnut-headed Tesia that we lured out of the bushes shortly after the Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler showed remarkably well!
The White-crested Laughing-thrush is an uncommon flock bird in the Himalayan foothills.
4 Nov. Naini Tal (Himlayas) – Quality Inn
After getting spectacular views of the Himalayas on a day of no cloud we dropped down the hillside to Ramnagar, where we quickly picked up the superb Wallcreeper. Pink wings flashing off the slaty body as it flitted up the river. This was also the only place where we saw Eurasian Griffon, Dusky Crag Martin and Little Cormorant. By the afternoon we had arrived at Quality Inn and soon racked up a beautiful (if distant) Pallas’ Fish Eagle and Crested Kingfisher, as well as a Common Merganser on the river. Scanning from the Inn revealed Crested Treeswift, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, Golden-spectacled Warbler and Grey-breasted Prinia which skulked in the thicket next to the verandah. An evening walk along the clear-water torrent produced the immaculate Spotted and Little Forktails as well as the much sought-after Brown Fish Owl!
5 Nov. Corbett – Delhi
In the morning, in the gardens of the lodge, we located a fantastic flock holding all three nuthatches, Velvet-fronted, White-tailed and Chestnut-bellied in the same flock as Grey-capped Woodpecker and Lesser Yellownape! It was a long drive to Delhi and we left before lunch, arriving in the early evening to meet up with the remainder of the party. We enjoyed a spectacular meal of Indian street food and a couple of mild to very hot curries! Tomorrow we were headed for Bharatpur!
6-9 Nov. Bharatpur
We drove via Kosi, across the Gangetic Plain. The sheer congestion of the roads, crammed with buses, trucks, motorized and cycle rickshaws, bullock carts and pedestrians carrying every imaginable item, has to be seen to be believed. We encountered some widespread Indian plains birds during the journey, including Indian Pond Heron, Black Kite and Egyptian Vultures, White-throated Kingfisher, Long-tailed Shrike, Black Drongo, Asian Pied Starling, Common and Bank Mynas, House Crow and Red-vented Bulbul. Arriving at the hotel, the Bagh was like being welcomed into an authentic oasis. The marble walls and floors, huge flowing rooms, bathrooms the size of small houses and general lavishness are in such stark contrast to the plains. Fit for a king and queen, we felt like royalty and certainly enjoyed some fine Mugali cuisine before setting off to look for Greater Painted Snipe at some local wetlands which we found with some ease and then located Brown Hawk Owl before dinner.
We enjoyed several days at the wetlands. Although the monsoons had failed and the plains were very dry we were still able to locate most of the species this wetland is famous for, but not quite in the spectacular numbers of BBC wildlife documentry fame! This is a small ancient hunting reserve belonging to the maharaja of Bharatpur. We located Indian Cormorants, Oriental Darters, Cattle, Great, Intermediate and Little Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Painted Storks, Black-headed Ibises and Eurasian Spoonbills just about everywhere there was water. The shallow food-rich lakes and floating vegetation offered perfect conditions to stalking Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas, White-breasted Waterhens and Purple Gallinules. Operating the shallows Black-necked Storks and stately Sarus Cranes worked the mud. Good numbers of Common Cranes also winter in the area and we located a large flock or two. Nearer the temple we saw Bar-headed Goose, Lesser Whistling Duck, Spot-billed Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Cotton Pygmy-goose and Comb Duck dabbling peacefully. One of the most sought-after waders, the White-tailed Lapwing was seen numerous times. Wire-tailed Swallows flited over the pan’s surface, and Blyth’s Reed Warblers grated away on its edge. In the woodlands we came across a surprise Hair-crested Drongo, as well as Grey Francolin, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Greater Coucal, Dusky Eagle Owl, with a hooting call reminiscent of a bouncing ping-pong ball, Spotted Owlet, Indian Grey Hornbill, Coppersmith and Brown-headed Barbet, Black-rumped Flameback, Yellow-crowned and Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers, Bay-backed Shrike, Brahminy Starling, Common Woodshrike, Small Minivet, White-eared Bulbul, Common Babbler, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Purple Sunbird and Chestnut-shouldered Sparrow. We were laso lucky with nocturnal species locating roosting Collared Scops Owl and Long-tailed Nightjars. Although raptor numbers were reduced as well, Bharatpur still delivered the key species including several superb views of Imperial, Steppe, Greater Spotted, and Bonelli's Eagle, Black-shouldered Kites, Red-headed Vulture and Shikra. Wintering passerines from northern and central Asia or the Himalayas included Red-breasted Flycatcher, Hume's Leaf and Greenish Warblers, Bluethroat, Olive-backed Pipit and Citrine Wagtail. Bharatpur is excellent for mammals and we had superb views of the huge Nilgai (or Blue Bull), Sambar, Wild Boar, Golden Jackal, Indian Grey Mongoose, Rhesus Macaque and Northern Palm Squirrel. An afternoon was spent at Bund Baretha. On route we located many Plum-headed Parakeets, Red-headed, Crested and House Buntings, Baya Weaver, Indian Silverbill, Short-toed Eagle and Yellow Bittern.
Having managed the birding we spent our last couple of afternoon’s exploring the cultural icons of the golden Triangle. More specifically the Taj Mahal and Red Fort at Agra and the abandoned city if Fatepur Sikri. The Taj needs no introduction. A mausoleum of ethereal beauty built by the Mogul emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is one of the seven wonders of the world and once again it did not fails to exceed visitors expectations. Its beauty, serenity, and symmetry are legendary. This immense building seems to float on its white marble plinth, whilst inside the light filters gently down to softly illuminate the jewel-encrusted tombs of the emperor and his beloved. After exploring this fabulous structure we nailed Greater Black-headed Gull on the Yamunna River and visited the Agra Fort, a massive yet elegant structure of gigantic red sandstone blocks started during the reign of the Mogul emperor Akbar. The maze of courtyards, mosques and private chambers of the fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire. The Moti Masjid and other magnificent structures reflect the skill of the ancient Indian architects and artists. Here in this romantic setting we looked out from the room where Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb and see the distant outline of the love monument he built for his wife - the Taj Mahal - further along the Yamuna River. On the second afternoon we visited the impressive city of Fathepur Sikri, the deserted city of Emperor Akbar. It literally means "The City of Victory". With our time at Bharatpur done, we boarded the famous overnight train to Umaria. This quintessential Indian experience is not one to be missed. Like a large mobile dormitory, the train is in fact reasonably comfortable and restful.
10-16 November: Bandhavgarh.
The train pulled into Umaria at the expected arrival time of around 07h00. We were picked up by jeeps and transferred to our lodge near the park and after a eggs and toast breakfast and a decent cup of coffee-equivalent we started birding, seeing Black-hooded Oriole, Large Cuckoo-shrike and Golden-fronted Leafbird in the gardens with a Verditer Flycatcher. A morning walk was almost as rewarding as luch and the post-lunch nap. Before long we were ready to explore the park for the first time. Bandhavgarh is a diverse park and it boasts 43 700 ha of Sal Forest, mixed forests, Saj (Terminalia tomentosa), Dhaora (Anogeissus latifolia), Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) and Amla (Emblica officinalis) in the higher elevations of the hills. There are extensive stands of bamboo and grasslands. We were all pretty focussed, with “old-stripes” being the target of our efforts and affections. The time went quickly and apart for the serene scenic beauty of the place, we only saw a few Spotted Deer and a Sambar. Then, late in the evening, Mahendra, our Mahout tracker, picked up an alarm call bark and the jeep went into top gear. The drivers go like maniacs and as we narrowed in on the alarm call, the adrenalin was pumping. A few other vehichles were there already and the frantic motioning by the others drivers meant that some had already had success. Sliding into the thick of things, the Tigress was in a thicket clump. A Chital was standing, eyes wide open, and hair bolt-upright on the neck. We waited…... The Deer bolted to the right and the Tiger emerged directly in front of us, walked for 5 metres in the open, the flame-orange and black striped pattern flickered through the dappled sunlight and then it dissapeared into the forest, never to be seen again! It is hard to explain the exhilaration, the adrenalin and excitment of seeing the world’s greatest cat, and just as hard to describe that the desire to see the next one is even more intense than it is to see your lifer Tiger. But within minutes of seeing the first Tiger, everyone was looking forward to the next one. Little did we know it would take 5 days. Tigers are far from garuanteed, and for the next five days although we tried, all we really saw was birds and deer, and although birding from the back of a jeep is not easy,we did add some exciting things to the list, including the localised Sal specialist White-naped Woodpecker, Red Junglefowl, White-bellied and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Yellow-eyed Babbler. On one of the rivers we saw Lesser Adjutant and the open grassland held a few Black Ibis. Other interesting species included Malabar Pied Hornbill, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Peafowl, White-eyed Buzzard, Tickell’s Thrush, Orange-headed Thrush, Green Bee-eater, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Alexandrine and Plum-headed Parakeets, Long-tailed Minivet, Ultra-marine Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama, White-browed Fantail, Pale-billed and Thick-billed Flowerpecker amongst others. A few probable Tiger kills offered a vulture feast including White-rumped, Long-billed, and a lone and slightly lost Cinereous Vulture. Nocturnal birds seen during the day included Jungle Owlet and Mottled Wood Owl. Our last drive in the park yielded our second Tigress, this time, mock hunting a Sambar. At first only the top of the head could be seen moving through the forest, but eventually full frame and ears perked up she motioned stealthily towards our vehicle, a beautiful sight none of us will forget. Rightly immortalised in William Blake’s poem “What fearful hand or eye, could frame thy mortal symmetry”. We returned to Delhi for a final meal of coriander and cumin meatballs and delicious sweet yoghurt sauce, we stopped to shop in the Delhi Malls for marble carved Elephants, and beautiful sari cloth and other exotic Indian Christmas presents. The tour concluded well happy with our birding haul, and to dream of our next meeting with a Tiger.
India Triplist
(Based on Clements)
Species Scientific name
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
Darter Anhinga melanogaster
Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Great Egret Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Striated Heron Butorides striatus
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus
Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
Gadwall Anas strepera
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Pallas' Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis
Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus
Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis
Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus
Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela
Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Shikra Accipiter badius
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa
Eurasian Buzzard Buteo buteo
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii
Changeable Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Laggar Falcon Falco jugger
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus
Gray Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus
Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
Sarus Crane Grus antigone
Common Crane Grus grus
Brown Crake Amaurornis akool
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii
Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
River Tern Sterna aurantia
Rock Dove Columba livia
Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Yellow-footed Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera
Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula himalayana
Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri
Common Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus varius
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia
Dusky Eagle-Owl Bubo coromandus
Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis
Mottled Wood-Owl Strix ocellata
Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides
Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
Spotted Owlet Athene brama
Brown Hawk-Owl Ninox scutulata
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
House Swift Apus nipalensis
Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
Indian Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris
Malabar Pied-Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus
Great Barbet Megalaima virens
Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla
Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus
Brown-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus
Gray-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus
Brown-fronted Woodpecker Dendrocopos auriceps
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis
Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus
Greater Yellownape Picus flavinucha
Gray-faced Woodpecker Picus canus
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense
White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus
Plain Martin Riparia paludicola
Eurasian Crag-Martin Hirundo rupestris
Dusky Crag-Martin Hirundo concolor
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
Streak-throated Swallow Hirundo fluvicola
Nepal Martin Delichon nipalensis
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
White-browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Oriental Pipit Anthus rufulus
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
Large Cuckoo-shrike Coracina macei
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis
White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala
Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii
Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii
Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata
Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis
Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush Monticola rufiventris
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus
Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina
Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni
Tickell's Thrush Turdus unicolor
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Gray-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata
Blyth's Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Smoky Warbler Phylloscopus fuligiventer
Tickell's Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus affinis
Sulphur-bellied Warbler Phylloscopus griseolus
Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher
Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus
Brooks' Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus subviridis
Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
Blyth's Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides
Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii
Gray-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos
Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris
Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina
Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara
Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae
Gray-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus
Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata
Blue-capped Redstart Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis
White-capped Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosus
Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri
Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus
Common Stonechat Saxicola rubicola
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
Gray Bushchat Saxicola ferrea
Indian Chat Cercomela fusca
Yellow-bellied Fantail Rhipidura hypoxantha
White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis
White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola
White-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax albogularis
White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus
Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus
Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush Garrulax rufogularis
Streaked Laughingthrush Garrulax lineatus
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus
Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenis
Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga albiventer
Black-chinned Babbler Stachyris pyrrhops
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense
Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus
Large Gray Babbler Turdoides malcolmi
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus
Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea
White-browed Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius flaviscapis
Green Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus
Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata
Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
Black-crested Tit Periparus melanolophus
Great Tit Parus major
Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus
Black-lored Tit Parus xanthogenys
Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea
White-tailed Nuthatch Sitta himalayensis
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria
Bar-tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana
Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus
Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum magnirostris
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
Southern Gray Shrike Lanius meridionalis
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
Eurasian Jay &n