NORTHEAST INDIA TOUR REPORT 2025

6 - 30 April 2025

Hannu Jannes

This comprehensive, bird-filled 25-day tour of Northeast India proved to be a highly successful exploration of this remote corner of the Indian subcontinent on which we observed over 520 species of birds, including most of the region’s specialties and other highly desired bird species. Our one-day pre-tour extension to Meghalaya rewarded us with the range-restricted Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler and Dark-rumped Swift, whilst the Himalayan section of the trip amongst the snowy heights of the Dirang Region produced Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Temmink’s Tragopan, Black-tailed Crake, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Brown Parrotbill and several splendid Grandalas. The magnificent Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary never disappoints, and we saw great birds including the rare and critically endangered Bugun Liocichla, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Blue-naped Pitta, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Beautiful Nuthatch, Large Blue Flycatcher, Rufous-throated and Long-billed Wren-babblers and Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler. The world famous Kaziranga National Park revealed Swamp Francolin, Greater Adjutant, Dusky Eagle-Owl and Finn’s Weaver and a sidetrack into Nagaland rewarded us with Naga Wren-Babbler, Black-breasted Thrush, Mountain Bamboo Partridge and Spot-breasted, Brown-capped, Assam, White-browed and Striped Laughingthrushes. A new feature on this tour was a two night’s stay in Jessami, a recently discovered birding site in the Manipur province, where we obtained great views of Yellow-throated and Moustached Laughingthrushes and an excellent male Mrs Hume’s Pheasant at its roosting tree. On the Assam Plains along the Brahmaputra River, we discovered Bengal Florican, Marsh and Jerdon’s Babblers and Black-breasted Parrotbill whilst the magnificent lowland forests of Assam held a great selection of quality birds including Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, a gorgeous Grey Peacock Pheasant, Western Hooded Pitta and Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush. In the remote Mishmi Hills, we tracked down many of the eastern Himalayan specialties with an amazing Blyth’s Tragopan, Wood Snipe, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Mishmi Wren-babbler, Gould’s Shortwing, Collared Treepie and Green and Purple Cochoas. The Scaly Laughingthrush seen there was our 22nd species of laughingthrush of the tour! Mammals are an important part of the tour and in Kaziranga, we enjoyed great views of Asian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, and Asian (or wild Water) Buffalo. This year we were guided by the master himself Dr Peter Lobo, assisted by excellent local guides Micah Rai and Rohit Goorng with local experts when required.

Our epic journey began in Guwahati, the capital of Assam province, with a one-day pre-tour extension to the hills of Meghalaya, where our main objective was to try and find the restricted range Tawny-breasted Wren-babbler and Dark-rumped Swift, both of which we managed to see well. Other interesting species seen during the day included Crested Finchbill, Mountain Tailorbird, an excellent, Brown-flanked Bush Warbler, the only Himalayan Prinias of the tour, Rufous-crowned Prinia, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Grey Sibia, White-tailed Robin and Lesser Shortwing. We drove back to Guwahati (a long day!) for the night, where the main tour commenced.

The first full day of the main tour involved a drive from Guwahati to Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh. Despite the long drive we made time for roadside birding seeing River Lapwing, Black-throated Prinia, Himalayan Swiftlet, Green-billed, Malkoha, Long-billed Plover, Black Eagle, Oriental Dollarbird, Scarlet Minivet, Black-hooded Oriole, Hair-crested Drongo, Mountain Bulbul, Nepal House Martin, Grey-cheeked Warbler, Black-throated Prinia, Golden Babbler and Grey-throated Babblers, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Silver-eared Mesia, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, many mynas, Small Niltava and Little Spiderhunter.

The first birding destination in the Dirang region was the lofty Se La pass at 4170m asl. Birding at this altitude is hard work but we persevered in the thin air till early afternoon and were very successful in seeing most of the target birds. The magnificent male Himalayan Monal was soon found, and we were lucky enough to observe its amazing display flight. We were also able to get close to showy Blood Pheasants and a pair of tame Snow Partridges. Other interesting birds in this very scenic area included twenty or so Grandalas, many stunning Snow Pigeons, a Bearded Vulture (a scarce bird here), Red-billed Chough, Coal and Grey-crested Tits, White-browed Tit-warbler, Brown-throated Fulvetta, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Eurasian Wren, a singing Alpine Thrush, several White-collared Blackbirds, White-browed, Golden and Rufous-breasted Bush Robins, Himalayan Bluetail, Blue-fronted Redstart, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Rosy Pipit, Collared and White-winged Grosbeaks, Dark-breasted and Himalayan White-browed Rosefinches and Plain Mountain Finch. Unfortunately, the Solitary Snipe that had been seen here earlier in the season was not found despite an extensive search. In the afternoon we visited Sangti Valley stopping en route for a good lunch and a showy Black-tailed Crake, where we were also entertained by three Long-billed Plovers.

The next morning found us at Mandala and Phudung Roads, with their wide elevational range and associated habitats, where we birded for the whole day. The cool upper levels with mixed oak, Rhododendron and coniferous forests produced a number of quality birds including Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, an unusual find here, Rufous-bellied and Darjeeling Woodpeckers, Southern Nutcracker, a confiding Spotted Laughingthrush, showy Black-faced Laughingthrushes, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Brown Parrotbill, a small group of cute Rufous-fronted Bushtits, two Hume’s Bush Warblers, White-tailed Nuthatch, and Sikkim Treecreeper, Grey-headed and Red-headed Bullfinches, small flocks of Crimson-browed Finches, Red Crossbills and Tibetan Serins. Commoner species feeding on the numerous flowering Rhododendrons included Bar-throated Minla, Stripe-throated and Rufous-vented Yuhinas, Buff-barred, Lemon-rumped and Ashy-throated Warblers, Green-tailed Sunbirds and Beautiful Sibias. One of our main objectives was to find a Temminck’s Tragopan, and we spent a fair amount of time in the morning with a bird that gave its magical call every now and then but refused to show itself. In the afternoon, on the way down towards Dirang, we unexpectedly located another calling male tragopan, which, after a lot of hard work, showed well, but rather briefly, on several occasions. What a bird! The afternoon was spent in the lower altitude forests, which yielded us with Black-chinned Yuhinas, Bhutan Laughingthrush, a small flock Black-faced Warblers, Himalayan Thrush, Blue-capped and Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrushes, Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, two different Buff-throated Warblers and two excellent Russet Bush Warblers.

Our last morning in the Dirang area saw us back on the Mandala Road, where we managed to see a pair of copulating Speckled Piculets, Short-billed Minivets, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Tickell’s Thrush, another Lesser Shortwing and Pale Blue, Blue-throated Blue, Ultramarine and several Little Pied, Flycatchers and Scarlet Finch. From Dirang we drove to Lamacamp in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary for a two-night stay, stopping on route at a big river, where we spent time scanning for Ibisbill, but had to make do with Hodgson’s Redstart, Black-faced Bunting and White-browed Wagtail (a rarity in this part of India) and three forms (ocularis, alboides and leucopsis) of White Wagtail. After lunch and shopping (beer, chocolate and water!) in Tenga, we entered the famous Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, where a late afternoon birding session below Lama camp produced a brief White-breasted Parrotbill and a showy Rufous-throated Wren-babbler. After dinner we still had enough energy left for an owling session, which produced a Grey Nightjar, a heard only Hodgson’s Frogmouth and Mountain Scops Owl.

The first morning at Lamacamp was spent searching for the relatively recently (in 2006) described, and extremely rare, Bugun Liocichla, which was first heard a couple of times before having had prolonged views of a feeding bird. After last year’s struggle it was a big relief to find this critically endangered (only 12-14 pairs are known to exist) bird so quickly and easily. Other birds seen during the morning in this very birdy area included Black Eagle, Crimson-naped and Bay Woodpeckers, Green Shrike-babbler, Striated Bulbul, Yellow-browed and Yellow-cheeked Tits, Striated Laughingthrush, a flock of Himalayan Cutias, a single Spot-winged Grosbeak and Golden-naped Finches. The afternoon was spent birding areas above Lama camp all the way up to the Eaglenest pass, where new birds included White-spectacled Warbler, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Streak-throated Barwing (of the form daflaensis) and a Mongolian Lark, a migrant that had been forced down by foul weather.

Next morning, on the way to Bompu camp, we stopped at a beautiful hill side forest, where, after a short uphill walk, our main target, a pair of amazing Ward’s Trogon, put up a great show. We also saw two Black-headed Shrike-babblers and our first Saphire Flycatchers. The rest of the day was spent travelling to Bompu camp with a number birding stops en route. New birds seen during this partly rainy day included a beautiful Golden-breasted Fulvetta, a tame Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Bar-winged Wren-babbler, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Blue-fronted Robin (allowing only brief views, which seems to be the norm) and Snowy-browed Flycatcher. It was also good to have another encounter with a flock of Tibetan Serins.

The first day in Bompu found us on the forested slopes above and below the camp, where one of our main targets, the bulky and often extremely skulking Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler showed very well for once. Other important target birds seen included a Chestnut-breasted Partridge, a very co-operative Long-billed Wren-babbler, a smart Broad-billed Warbler, a very close Blue-naped Pitta and an obliging Scaly Thrush, plus a selection of commoner Himalayan species, seen for the first time on the tour including Crested Goshawk, Barred Cuckoo-dove, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Grey-chinned Minivet, Black-eared Shrike-babbler, Sultan Tit and Orange-bellied Leafbird. In the evening, we had a short owling session below Bompu camp, but the hoped for Mountain Scops Owl didn’t co-operate.

The next day was spent birding the forests between Bompu (1900m asl) and Doimara camp (300m asl), just outside the wildlife sanctuary. Thanks to the wide altitudinal range we covered many different forest habitats including some bamboo and encountered many new species of birds. Our first target bird, Beautiful Nuthatch, was found easily along the main road just below Bompu and showed well. Rufous-necked Hornbill, the other important target bird proved a bit more difficult, but in the end, we saw a total of six birds. Further down, in the mid-elevation forests around Sessni we saw a number of new birds including a fine Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, Greater Yellownape, Long-tailed Broadbill, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-naped Monarch, another Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, an Eye-browed Wren-babbler, Long-tailed and Rufous-backed Sibias, White-crested Laughingthrush, White-naped Yuhina and Grey-throated Babbler. Further down the road in the bamboo zone and in the lowland forest and scrub we encountered a co-operative individual of the little known Large Blue Flycatcher, had our first Banded Bay Cuckoo, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Crested Honey Buzzard, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Large Woodshrike, Black-naped Monarch, Grey-backed Shrike, Grey-treepie, Black-throated Sunbird, Striated Yuhina, Rufous-fronted and two singing Spot-throated Babblers, which unfortunately, refused to show.

The next morning, we headed back to Eaglenest WLS, where we spent couple of hours in the bamboo zone above Khellong and also checked the riverine habitat. New birds included Kalij Pheasant for some of the group, two Asian Emerald Cuckoos, Fulvous-breasted and Pale-headed Woodpeckers, Black-crested Bulbul, Yellow-bellied, Rufous-faced and Yellow-vented Warblers, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Red-billed and White-browed Scimitar Babblers, Nepal Fulvetta and Spotted Forktail. We then drove back to Doimara for lunch and the rest of the day was spent travelling through the Assam lowlands to Kaziranga for a two-night stay. On the way we bypassed the northern edge of the Kaziranga National Park and saw our first Asian Elephants and Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros, Black-necked Storks, and first, and only, River Tern and Bar-headed Geese for the tour.

We now had one full day in the world-famous Kaziranga National Park visiting the tourist infested Central Range both in the morning and in the afternoon in our open topped jeeps. This year the park authorities had closed access to one of the watchtowers, which greatly limited our chances to try and see the many wetland and grassland birds of this excellent area. Despite the limitations we did see a good selection of Kaziranga’s birds including Swamp Francolin, a sizeable flock, including some breeding plumage males, of the rare Finn’s Weavers, the usual array of storks, including Black-necked and Asian Woolly-necked Storks, Greater and Lesser Adjutants and Spot-billed Pelicans, while raptors included Pallas’s and Grey-headed Fish Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagle and Changeable Hawk-Eagle. Other interesting birds in the mixed forest and grassland habitats included Dusky Eagle-Owl, a single Great and two Oriental Pied Hornbills, several Red Junglefowls, Green Imperial Pigeons, numerous colourful Indochinese Rollers, Blue-tailed, Asian Green and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, Lineated Barbet, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, and a good selection of parakeets including the only Blossom-headed Parakeets of the tour and Lesser Coucal, Green-billed Malkoha, Indian Cuckoo, Red-collared Dove, Eastern Yellow and Citrine Wagtails, Striated Grassbird, Ashy and Plain Prinia (of the form fusca, a possible future split), Chestnut-capped Babbler, Greenish Warbler, White-rumped Shama and Pale-chinned Flycatcher. Mammals are a prominent feature of this World Heritage Site, and we had no difficulty in getting multiple sightings of the ‘big four’: Asian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, Barasingha (or Swamp Deer) and Asian Buffalo. Other interesting mammals included several Smooth-coated Otters, Hog Deer, a single Sambar and Wild Boars.

Leaving Kaziranga behind we drove to Nagaland arriving at our comfortable accommodation (we stayed in two different homestays) in Khonoma in time for lunch. After lunch we did some roadside birding along the Dzüleki road, where the main target species was Spot-breasted Laughingthrush, and we eventually managed to see a pair quite well sat inside a large bush.

The following morning saw us back on the Dzüleki road and the Tragopan Sanctuary, where we climbed several hundred meters up a steep and treacherous trail into the habitat of the range restricted Naga Wren-Babbler, which we located after a search and had good views of it. To find the other target species this ‘trail’ has on offer we had to climb a bit more but in the end we had good views of three of the restricted range Brown-capped Laughingthrushes. Other birds seen during the day included our first Mountain Bamboo Partridges, Striped, Rufous-necked and White-browed Laughingthrushes, Spotted Elachura, Black-breasted Thrush, Ferrruginous Flycatcher, Indian Blue Robin and Yellow-breasted Greenfinch. In the evening, thanks to Rohit’s perseverance, we finally laid our eyes on the Collared Scops Owl that kept calling outside our dinner place.

Next morning we were back at the sanctuary area, where a short morning birding session produced many of the same species as the previous day plus Speckled Wood Pigeon, Black-tailed Crake, Blue-winged, Assam and Grey-sided Laughingthrushes, a very showy Brown Bush Warbler, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Red-faced Liocichla and Scarlet Finch. We then travelled further into the state of Manipur and the village of Jessami for a two a night stay. In Jessami, we still had enough energy to go out after dark to look out for Hodgson’s Frogmouth, which we heard well, but failed to see.

Jessami in Manipur is a brand-new birding location, which is rapidly becoming a popular destination amongst visiting birders as it holds the many of the same special birds as the more traditional sites in Manipur, but is completely safe to visit. The main reason for our visit to Jessami was the range restricted Yellow-throated Laughingthrush, which occurs here in good numbers and is generally rather easy to find. For us it took more time than expected, but in the end, we had brilliant views of a flock of about 35 birds. The afternoon was dedicated to finding the Moustached Laughingthrush, another range restricted and scarce bird in India, which we accomplished after much hard work. After dark we visited a wonderful roosting male Mrs Hume’s Pheasant that had been tracked down by local ex-hunters. Other birds encountered during our full day in this little studied, and very interesting area, included Plaintive Cuckoo, our first Common Emerald Dove, Cinnamon Bittern, Lesser Yellownape, Rufous Woodpecker, Rufescent Prinia, Yellow-eyed Babbler, another pair of Spot-breasted Scimitar Babblers and Scaly-breasted and White-rumped Munias.

A travelling day followed, but we managed roadside birding which included a couple of mid-morning hours near Pfutsero seeing White-browed Piculet, a pair of Grey-bellied Tesias, our first Ashy Bulbuls and Dusky Warbler of the trip and yet another Striped Laughingthrush. We arrived at our nice hotel in Dimapur early in the evening and really enjoyed our warm showers and the good restaurant with even beer on offer.

Leaving Dimapur early the next morning our first stop was at a roadside dhaba for a decent breakfast accompanied by a Blue-eared Barbet just outside. Then we spent a couple of hours doing roadside birding in a fine lowland reserve forest, where good birds included Green-billed Malkoha, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Thick-billed and Ashy-headed Green Pigeons, Ruddy Kingfisher, another White-browed Piculet, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, several White-throated Bulbuls, a Yellow-browed Warbler, Dark-necked Tailorbirds, Abbott’s Babbler, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush and White-rumped Shama. Another stop at a rice paddy yielded us with the much-needed Bengal Bush Lark and we also saw Indian Cuckooshrike, Zitting Cisticola and Paddyfield Pipit here. The rest of the day was spent driving to Tinsukia, but a brief stop at a promising looking roadside marsh added Cotton Pygmy Goose, Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Purple Heron to the birdlist. The next morning we headed for the Dihing-Patkai National Park, a large area of wet lowland forest with lots of birding potential, where we spent the whole day with Bijay, an excellent local bird guide. The new habitat brought us many new birds with a very tame male Grey Peacock-Pheasant, a splendid Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, several Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoos (a species we had only heard earlier), Red-headed Trogon, Ruddy Kingfisher, three Black-backed Dwarf Kingfishers, Western Hooded Pitta, a rather brief Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Thick-billed Warbler, Black-backed Forktail, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Yellow-vented and Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers and, as an unexpected bonus, a flock of four Grey-lored Broadbills (a recent split from Silver-breasted Broadbill).

The following morning, we returned to Dihing-Patkai’s forests to get a better look at the elusive Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, achieving partial success, and added Greater Flameback and Blue-eared Kingfisher (for Dale only) to our birdlist. Then we drove to Roing at the base of the Mishmi Hills, stopping en route at the Brahmaputra bridge where we enjoyed relaxed late morning birding seeing an Osprey, a pair of Oriental Hobby and singles of White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures, when suddenly a female Bengal Florican flew past us and landed on one of the islands in the Brahmaputra. How lucky you can get! In Roing, after check-in and lunch at our hotel, there was more birding in the extensive roadside bamboo of the lower Mishmi Hills, where we were rewarded with a small flock of Black-throated Parrotbills, two Pale-billed Parrotbills moving with a flock of White-hooded Babblers, Collared Treepie, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Blyth’s Pipit (a transient migrant here), Eurasian Wryneck (another migrant) and a Barred Buttonquail.

For the next three and a half days we explored the seemingly endless forests between 600 and 2700m elevation along the remote Roing to Hunli road, spending much of our time beyond the Mayodia pass at almost 2500m asl. The Mishmi Hills are famous for rain, and this year was no exception. We missed one morning and one afternoon birding due to bad weather, though some other teams faced even more rain during their stay. The highlights included the range restricted Mishmi Wren-Babbler, a few Cachar Wedge-billed Babblers, two Gould’s Shortwings, an excellent male Blyth’s Tragopan, a roadside Wood Snipe and Purple and Green Cochoas. Other species worth a mention included Eurasian Jay, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Manipur Fulvetta, Black-crowned Scimitar Babbler, Scaly Laughingthrush (our 22nd species of laughingthrush on this tour), Red-throated Thrush, Himalayan Shortwing, Pygmy Flycatcher, Dark-rumped Rosefinch and many other species seen previously. During brief visits to the floodplain near Roing — one in the morning (interrupted by a massive thunderstorm) and one in the afternoon — we saw Black-breasted Parrotbill, Swamp Francolin, a pair of Jerdon’s Babblers, several Striated Babblers, Rosy Minivets, a skulking Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, two heard-only Marsh Babblers and Chinese Rubythroat.

Leaving Mishmi hills behind, we headed back to Tinsukia for our last night stopping first by the Brahmaputra River crossing and later at a large marsh, where we added Chinese Pond Heron, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Ferruginous and Tufted Ducks, Watercock, Eastern Marsh Harrier and Common Redshank to our bird list and also sighted decent numbers (15 of each species) of the critically endangered White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures plus a single Himalayan Vulture there.

Next morning saw us on the shores of the mighty Brahmaputra, from where we were taken by a canoe to one of the nearby islands for birding. Our main target was the Marsh Babbler, a scarce denizen of the Assamese grasslands, which we saw well with the help of our local guide. Other good birds seen here and along the edge of the Maguli wetland during the morning included Small Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, another Chinese Pond Heron, Black Bittern (a write-in), Brown Shrike, Sand Lark, Sand Martin, Baikal and Spotted Bush Warblers, Delicate Prinia and Chestnut Munia. Back at the hotel it was time to pack, have lunch, do the bird list and then drive to the airport, where it was time to say our goodbyes, and to thank everyone for their excellent company, which, together with all the wonderful birds and exciting places, combined to make such a memorable trip.

‘BIRDS OF THE TRIP’ WINNERS:

1st: Himalayan Monal

2nd: Blyth’s Tragopan

3rd: Purple Cochoa

4th: Greater Adjutant

5th: Bugun Liocichla

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follow Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2025. IOC World Bird List (v15.1). Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in the species comment.

BIRDS

Lesser Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna javanica

Bar-headed Goose  Anser indicus

Ruddy Shelduck  Tadorna ferruginea

Cotton Pygmy Goose  Nettapus coromandelianus

Garganey  Spatula querquedula

Northern Shoveler  Spatula clypeata

Gadwall  Mareca strepera

Indian Spot-billed Duck  Anas poecilorhyncha

Ferruginous Duck (F Pochard)  Aythya nyroca

Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula

Common Merganser (Goosander)  Mergus merganser

Hill Partridge (Common H-P)  Arborophila torqueola  Heard only.

Chestnut-breasted Partridge ◊ (C-b Hill-P)  Arborophila mandellii  Endemic (or nearly so). One was seen at Eaglenest WLS. In addition, several birds were heard there.

Rufous-throated Partridge ◊ (R-t Hill-P)  Arborophila rufogularis  Heard only, ssp rufogularis.

White-cheeked Partridge ◊  Arborophila atrogularis  Heard only in the lowland forests of Assam.

Snow Partridge ◊  Lerwa lerwa  A confiding pair at Sela pass.

Blood Pheasant  Ithaginis cruentus  ssp tibetanus. Great views at Sela pass, where a total of four birds were seen.

Blyth’s Tragopan ◊  Tragopan blythii  A brilliant male in the Mishmi Hills. Ssp molesworthi.

Temminck’s Tragopan ◊  Tragopan temminckii  Good views of a male along the Mandala road. In addition, another male was heard there.

Himalayan Monal ◊  Lophophorus impejanus  Brilliant displaying male near Sela pass.

Mrs Hume’s Pheasant ◊  Syrmaticus humiae  A roosting male tracked down by local ex-hunters was a thrill to watch.

Kalij Pheasant  Lophura leucomelanos  Seen at Eaglenest, Nagaland and Dihing Patkai. Ssp lathami.

Grey Peacock-Pheasant ◊  Polyplectron bicalcaratum  Brilliant walk away views of a male at Dihing-Patkai NP. Also heard at Eaglenest WLS.

Mountain Bamboo Partridge  Bambusicola fytchii  Rather common in Nagaland. Ssp hopkinsoni

Red Junglefowl  Gallus gallus  ssp murghi

Swamp Francolin ◊  Ortygornis gularis  Seen on three days in the lowlands.

Grey Nightjar  Caprimulgus jotaka  ssp hazarae.

Large-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus macrurus  Seen well at Doimara camp. Ssp bimaculatus.

Savanna Nightjar  Caprimulgus affinis  Heard only at Doimara camp.

Hodgson’s Frogmouth ◊  Batrachostomus hodgsoni  Heard only at Eaglenest WLS and in Manipur. Ssp hodgsoni.

Himalayan Swiftlet  Aerodramus brevirostris  Quite widespread in the mountains. Ssp brevirostris.

White-throated Needletail (S)  Hirundapus caudacutus  ssp nudipes

Asian Palm Swift  Cypsiurus balasiensis  ssp infumatus Widespread in small numbers in the lowlands.

Blyth’s Swift  Apus leuconyx

Dark-rumped Swift ◊  Apus acuticauda  20 or so near their breeding cliffs in Meghalaya.

House Swift  Apus nipalensis

Bengal Florican ◊  Houbaropsis bengalensis  One female in flight by the Brahmaputra!. Critically endangered.

Greater Coucal  Centropus sinensis ssp sinensis

Lesser Coucal  Centropus bengalensis ssp bengalensis

Green-billed Malkoha  Phaenicophaeus tristis  ssp tristis

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo ◊  Clamator coromandus  Excellent views in Dihing Patkai.

Asian Koel (S)  Eudynamys scolopaceus  Widespread in the lowlands. Ssp malayanus.

Asian Emerald Cuckoo (S)  Chrysococcyx maculatus  A total of five seen.

Banded Bay Cuckoo  Cacomantis sonneratii  ssp sonneratii

Plaintive Cuckoo  Cacomantis merulinus  ssp querulus.

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo (S)  Surniculus lugubris  Fairly widespread in small numbers in the lowlands.

Large Hawk-Cuckoo  Hierococcyx sparverioides  Widespread and vocal.

Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo ◊  Hierococcyx nisicolor  One was seen at Eaglenest WLS. In addition, a few birds were heard during the tour.

Indian Cuckoo  Cuculus Micropterus  ssp micropterus  Widespread in the lowlands.

Lesser Cuckoo (S)  Cuculus poliocephalus  Heard only.

Indian Cuckoo (S)  Cuculus micropterus  Widespread in the lowlands.

Himalayan Cuckoo (S)  Cuculus saturatus  Heard only

Common Cuckoo (Eurasian C)  Cuculus canorus  Widespread in the mountains. Ssp bakeri.

Rock Dove (introduced) (Feral Pigeon)  Columba [livia] var_domestica

Snow Pigeon ◊  Columba leuconota  30 or so at Sela Pass.

Speckled Wood Pigeon ◊  Columba hodgsonii  A flock of six in Khonoma.

Oriental Turtle Dove (Rufous T D)  Streptopelia orientalis  ssp agricola

Red Collared Dove (Red Turtle D)  Streptopelia tranquebarica

Spotted Dove  Spilopelia chinensis  ssp tigrina

Barred Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia unchall  ssp tusalia

Common Emerald Dove  Chalcophaps indica  ssp indica

Ashy-headed Green Pigeon  Treron phayrei  Small numbers were seen on two days in the Assam lowlands.

Thick-billed Green Pigeon  Treron curvirostra  ssp nipalensis

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon  Treron phoenicopterus  ssp phoenicopterus

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon ◊  Treron apicauda  ssp apicauda

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon  Treron sphenurus  Heard only.

Green Imperial Pigeon  Ducula aenea  ssp sylvatica

Mountain Imperial Pigeon  Ducula badia  ssp griseicapilla

Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus

Grey-headed Swamphen  Porphyrio poliocephalus  ssp poliocephalus

Black-tailed Crake ◊  Zapornia bicolor  Great views of one near Dirang and another in Khonoma.

Watercock  Gallicrex cinerea  One on the way from Roing to Tinsukia.

White-breasted Waterhen  Amaurornis phoenicurus  ssp phoenicurus

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis

Barred Buttonquail  Turnix suscitator  One on the lower slopes of Mishmi Hills was a nice surprise.

Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius  Two sightings.

Long-billed Plover ◊  Charadrius placidus  One in Tenga and three in the Sangti Valley.

River Lapwing  Vanellus duvaucelii

Red-wattled Lapwing  Vanellus indicus

Pheasant-tailed Jacana  Hydrophasianus chirurgus  Five at a roadside marsh in Assam.

Bronze-winged Jacana  Metopidius indicus  Noted on three days.

Wood Snipe ◊  Gallinago nemoricola  A roadside bird in the Mishmi Hills.

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Common Redshank  Tringa totanus

Spotted Redshank  Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Temminck’s Stint  Calidris temminckii

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

Small Pratincole  Glareola lactea

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida

River Tern  Sterna aurantia

Black-headed/Brown-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus ridibundus/brunnicephalus  A distant flock at a reservoir on the pre-tour extension.

Asian Openbill  Anastomus oscitans

Lesser Adjutant  Leptoptilos javanicus

Greater Adjutant ◊  Leptoptilos dubius  Only two, both in flight, in Kaziranga NP.

Black-necked Stork  Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus  ssp asiaticus

Asian Woolly-necked Stork  Ciconia episcopus

Oriental Darter  Anhinga melanogaster

Little Cormorant  Microcarbo niger

Great Cormorant  Phalacrocorax carbo

Black-headed Ibis  Threskiornis melanocephalus

Glossy Ibis  Plegadis falcinellus

Black Bittern  Botaurus flavicollis  One at the Brahmaputra on our last morning. A write-in.

Cinnamon Bittern  Botaurus cinnamomeus  A few were seen.

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Striated Heron  Butorides striata

Indian Pond Heron  Ardeola grayii

Chinese Pond Heron  Ardeola bacchus  Two in the Assam lowlands. Scarce but regular visitor to Assam plains in late spring-summer.

Great Egret  Ardea alba

Medium Egret  Ardea intermedia

Eastern Cattle Egret  Ardea coromanda

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea  ssp manilensis

Spot-billed Pelican ◊  Pelecanus philippensis

Osprey (Western O)  Pandion [haliaetus] haliaetus

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus  ssp vociferus

Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier)  Gypaetus barbatus  One at Sela pass. A rare bird on this itinerary.

Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental H B)  Pernis ptilorhynchus  ssp ruficollis

White-rumped Vulture  Gyps bengalensis  Noted on two days (one and 15 birds) near the Brahmaputra river crossing. Critically endangered.

Slender-billed Vulture ◊  Gyps tenuirostris  Noted on two days (one and 15 birds) near the Brahmaputra river crossing. Critically endangered.

Himalayan Vulture (H Griffon V)  Gyps himalayensis  Only one was identified.

Crested Serpent Eagle  Spilornis cheela  ssp cheela

Mountain Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus nipalensis  ssp nipalensis

Changeable Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus cirrhatus  ssp limnaeetus

Black Eagle  Ictinaetus malaiensis  ssp perniger

Crested Goshawk  Lophospiza trivirgata  ssp indicus

Shikra  Tachyspiza badia  ssp poliopsis

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus

Eastern Marsh Harrier  Circus spilonotus

Black Kite (Black-eared K)  Milvus [migrans] lineatus  Great encounter with Black Kites (including this form) on Mishmi Hills on 28^th, where we estimated around 500 migrating birds.

Black Kite (Pariah K)  Milvus [migrans] govinda

Pallas’s Fish Eagle ◊  Haliaeetus leucoryphus  A few in Kaziranga.

Grey-headed Fish Eagle ◊  Icthyophaga ichthyaetus  A few in Kaziranga.

Himalayan Buzzard  Buteo refectus  One along the Mandala road.

Collared Owlet  Taenioptynx brodiei  Heard only. Ssp brodiei

Asian Barred Owlet  Glaucidium cuculoides

Mountain Scops Owl  Otus spilocephalus  Heard only. Ssp spilocephalus.

Oriental Scops Owl  Otus sunia  Heard only.

Collared Scops Owl  Otus lettia

Dusky Eagle-Owl ◊  Ketupa coromanda

Brown Wood Owl  Strix leptogrammica  Heard only

Red-headed Trogon  Harpactes erythrocephalus  ssp erythrocephalus

Ward’s Trogon ◊  Harpactes wardi  Brilliant sighting of a pair near Lama camp in Eaglenest WLS.

Eurasian Hoopoe (Common H)  Upupa epops

Great Hornbill (Great Pied H)  Buceros bicornis  Good views of a singleton in Kaziranga.

Oriental Pied Hornbill  Anthracoceros albirostris  ssp albirostris Seen on four days.

Rufous-necked Hornbill ◊  Aceros nipalensis  A total of six at Eaglenest WLS.

Indochinese Roller  Coracias affinis

Oriental Dollarbird (S)  Eurystomus orientalis  ssp cyanicollis Three birds in the lowlands on the way to Dirang.

Stork-billed Kingfisher  Pelargopsis capensis  ssp capensis

Ruddy Kingfisher (S)  Halcyon coromanda  ssp coromanda

White-throated Kingfisher  Halcyon smyrnensis  ssp perpulchra

Black-capped Kingfisher  Halcyon pileata  One roadside bird for Dale.

Blue-eared Kingfisher  Alcedo meninting  One for Dale in Dihing Patkai.

Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis

Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher ◊  Ceyx [erithaca] erithaca

Pied Kingfisher (Lesser Pied K)  Ceryle rudis  ssp leucomelanurus

Blue-bearded Bee-eater  Nyctyornis athertoni   ssp athertoni

Asian Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis  ssp ferrugeiceps

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (S)  Merops philippinus  A few in Kaziranga.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater  Merops leschenaultia  ssp leschenaulti  A handful of birds noted.

Great Barbet  Psilopogon virens  ssp magnifica and apparently ssp clamator in Nagaland

Lineated Barbet  Psilopogon lineatus  ssp lineatus and hodgsoni

Golden-throated Barbet  Psilopogon franklinii  ssp franklinii

Blue-throated Barbet  Psilopogon asiaticus  ssp asiaticus

Blue-eared Barbet  Psilopogon cyanotis  ssp cyanotis

Coppersmith Barbet  Psilopogon haemacephalus  Heard only.

Yellow-rumped Honeyguide ◊  Indicator xanthonotus  One along the Mandala road and another one at Eaglenest WLS:

Eurasian Wryneck  Jynx torquilla

Speckled Piculet  Picumnus innominatus  ssp innominatus

White-browed Piculet  Sasia ochracea  ssp ochracea

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker  Yungipicus canicapillus

Crimson-naped Woodpecker (C-n Pied W)  Dryobates cathpharius  ssp catpharius

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker  Dendrocopos hyperythrus  ssp hyperythrus

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (F-b Pied W)  Dendrocopos macei

Darjeeling Woodpecker (D Pied W)  Dendrocopos darjellensis

Greater Yellownape  Chrysophlegma flavinucha  ssp flavinucha

Lesser Yellownape  Picus chlorolophus  ssp chlorolophus

Grey-headed Woodpecker (G-faced W)  Picus canus  ssp hessei

Greater Flameback  Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus  ssp guttacristatus

Pale-headed Woodpecker ◊  Gecinulus grantia  ssp grantia  Two with good views at Eaglenest WLS.

Bay Woodpecker  Blythipicus pyrrhotis  ssp pyrrhotis

Rufous Woodpecker  Micropternus brachyurus  ssp phaioceps

Oriental Hobby ◊  Falco severus  A pair showed well by the Brahmaputra bridge.

Blossom-headed Parakeet (Rosy-h P)  Psittacula roseata  ssp juneae  Four in Kaziranga.

Red-breasted Parakeet  Psittacula alexandri  ssp fasciata

Alexandrine Parakeet  Psittacula eupatria  ssp avensis

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Ring-necked P)  Psittacula krameri  ssp borealis

Long-tailed Broadbill  Psarisomus dalhousiae  ssp dalhousiae

Grey-lored Broadbill ◊  Serilophus rubropygius  A group of four birds in Dihing Patkai was a nice surprise and a tour write-in.

Blue-naped Pitta ◊  Hydrornis nipalensis

Western Hooded Pitta (S)  Pitta sordida  ssp cucullate

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike (Pied F-s)  Hemipus picatus  ssp capitalis

Large Woodshrike  Tephrodornis virgatus  ssp pelvicus

Ashy Woodswallow  Artamus fuscus

Common Iora  Aegithina tiphia  ssp tiphia

Grey-chinned Minivet  Pericrocotus solaris  ssp solaris

Short-billed Minivet  Pericrocotus brevirostris

Long-tailed Minivet  Pericrocotus ethologus  ssp semiruber

Scarlet Minivet  Pericrocotus speciosus

Rosy Minivet ◊  Pericrocotus roseus

Indian Cuckooshrike  Coracina macei

Black-winged Cuckooshrike  Lalage melaschistos

Green Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius xanthochlorus  ssp xanthochlorus

Black-eared Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius melanotis  ssp melanotis

Black-headed Shrike-babbler ◊  Pteruthius rufiventer

White-browed Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius aeralatus  ssp validirostris

Maroon Oriole  Oriolus traillii  ssp traillii

Black-hooded Oriole  Oriolus xanthornus  ssp xanthornus

Bronzed Drongo  Dicrurus aeneus  ssp aeneus

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus remifer  ssp tectirostris

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus paradiseus  ssp grandis

Hair-crested Drongo  Dicrurus hottentottus  ssp hottentottus

Ashy Drongo  Dicrurus leucophaeus  ssp hopwoodi

Black Drongo  Dicrurus macrocercus  ssp albirictus

White-throated Fantail  Rhipidura albicollis  ssp stanleyi

Black-naped Monarch (B-n Blue M)  Hypothymis azurea  ssp stanyi

Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone affinis

Brown Shrike  Lanius cristatus

Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius Schach  ssp tricolor

Grey-backed Shrike  Lanius tephronotus

Eurasian Jay (Plain-crowned J)  Garrulus [glandarius] bispecularis

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie  Urocissa flavirostris  ssp flavirostris

Red-billed Blue Magpie  Urocissa erythroryncha

Common Green Magpie  Cissa chinensis  Heard only. Ssp chinensis

Rufous Treepie  Dendrocitta vagabunda  ssp vagabunda

Grey Treepie  Dendrocitta formosae  ssp himalayensis

Collared Treepie ◊  Dendrocitta frontalis  One in the Mishmi Hills.

Southern Nutcracker  Nucifraga hemispila

Red-billed Chough  Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax  ssp himalayanus

House Crow  Corvus splendens  ssp splendens

Large-billed Crow  Corvus macrorhynchos  ssp tibetosinensis

Eastern Jungle Crow  Corvus levaillantii

Yellow-bellied Fantail (Y-b Fairy Flycatcher)  Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher  Culicicapa ceylonensis  ssp calochrysea

Yellow-browed Tit  Sylviparus modestus  ssp modestus

Sultan Tit  Melanochlora sultanea  ssp sultanea

Coal Tit (Himalayan C T)  Periparus [ater] aemodius

Grey-crested Tit  Lophophanes dichrous

Cinereous Tit (Grey T)  Parus cinereus  ssp nipalensis

Green-backed Tit  Parus monticolus  ssp yunnanensis

Yellow-cheeked Tit (Black-spotted Y T)  Machlolophus spilonotus  ssp spilonotus

Bengal Bush Lark ◊  Plocealauda assamica

Mongolian Short-toed Lark  Calandrella dukhunensis

Sand Lark ◊  Alaudala raytal  ssp raytal

White-throated Bulbul ◊  Alophoixus flaveolus  ssp flaveolus

Striated Bulbul  Alcurus striatus  ssp striatus

Ashy Bulbul  Hemixos flavala  ssp flavala

Mountain Bulbul (Northern M B)  Ixos [mcclellandii] mcclellandii

Black Bulbul (Himalayan B B)  Hypsipetes leucocephalus  ssp nigrescens

Black-crested Bulbul  Rubigula flaviventris  ssp flaviventris

Crested Finchbill  Spizixos canifrons

Red-whiskered Bulbul  Pycnonotus jocosus  ssp monticola

Red-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus cafer  ssp bengalensis

Grey-throated Martin (Plain Martin, G-t Sand M)  Riparia chinensis

Sand Martin (Bank Swallow)  Riparia riparia

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica  ssp gutturalis

Asian House Martin  Delichon dasypus  ssp cashmeriense

Nepal House Martin  Delichon nipalense  ssp cutting

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow  Cecropis daurica

Scaly-breasted Cupwing (S-b Wren-Babbler)  Pnoepyga albiventer  Heard only. Ssp albiventer.

Pygmy Cupwing (P Wren-Babbler)  Pnoepyga pusilla  ssp pusilla

Yellow-bellied Warbler  Abroscopus superciliaris  ssp flaviventris/drasticus

Rufous-faced Warbler ◊  Abroscopus albogularis  ssp albogularis

Black-faced Warbler ◊  Abroscopus schisticeps  ssp flavimentalis

Mountain Tailorbird  Phyllergates cucullatus  ssp coronatus

Broad-billed Warbler ◊  Tickellia hodgsoni  ssp hodgsoni

Brown-flanked Bush Warbler (Strong-footed B-w, Brownish-f B-w)  Horornis fortipes  ssp fortipes

Hume’s Bush Warbler  Horornis brunnescens

Grey-bellied Tesia (Yellow-browed T)  Tesia cyaniventer

Slaty-bellied Tesia  Tesia olivea  ssp olivea

Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler ◊ (Large B-w)  Cettia major

Chestnut-headed Tesia  Cettia castaneocoronata  ssp castaneocoronata

White-browed Tit-warbler  Leptopoecile sophiae  One at Sela pass. A new bird for this itinerary.

Black-throated Bushtit  Aegithalos concinnus  ssp rubricapillus & manipurensis

Rufous-fronted Bushtit ◊  Aegithalos iouschistos

Buff-barred Warbler (Orange-b W)  Phylloscopus pulcher

Ashy-throated Warbler (A-t Leaf W, Grey-faced L W)  Phylloscopus maculipennis  ssp maculipennis

Yellow-browed Warbler (Y-b Leaf-W)  Phylloscopus inornatus

Lemon-rumped Warbler (L-r Leaf W)  Phylloscopus chloronotus

Tickell’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus affinis

Dusky Warbler  Phylloscopus fuscatus  ssp fuscatus

Buff-throated Warbler  Phylloscopus subaffinis  Two along the Mandala road. This species, a former rarity, seems to be getting commoner in NE India, or perhaps birders have learned to identify it.

Common Chiffchaff (Siberian C)  Phylloscopus [collybita] tristis  One at KM 65 in Mishmi Hills was seen well.

White-spectacled Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus intermedius  ssp zosterops

Grey-cheeked Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus poliogenys

Grey-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus tephrocephalus

Whistler’s Warbler  Phylloscopus whistleri  ssp nemoralis

Greenish Warbler  Phylloscopus trochiloides

Large-billed Leaf Warbler ◊ (S)  Phylloscopus magnirostris  Scarce this year, but eventually we managed good views in Mishmi Hills.

Chestnut-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus castaniceps  ssp castaniceps

Yellow-vented Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus cantator  ssp cantator  Rather common in the lower reaches of Eaglenest WLS. Also heard on the way to Dirang on the first day of the main tour.

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus reguloides  ssp assamensis

Grey-hooded Warbler  Phylloscopus xanthoschistos  ssp flavogularis/tephrodiras

Thick-billed Warbler  Arundinax aedon  A few were noted.

Brown Bush Warbler ◊ (S)  Locustella luteoventris  One in Khonoma.

Baikal Bush Warbler ◊  Locustella davidi  One was seen and another one was heard at the Brahmaputra island.

Spotted Bush Warbler  Locustella thoracica  One was seen at the Brahmaputra island

Russet Bush Warbler ◊  Locustella mandelli  Commonly heard in the Dirang area, where we also managed brilliant views of two birds.

Striated Grassbird  Megalurus palustris  ssp toklao

Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis

Himalayan Prinia  Prinia crinigera

Black-throated Prinia  Prinia atrogularis

Rufous-crowned Prinia ◊  Prinia khasiana

Rufescent Prinia  Prinia rufescens

Grey-breasted Prinia  Prinia hodgsonii  ssp rufula

Delicate Prinia  Prinia lepida

Yellow-bellied Prinia  Prinia flaviventris  ssp flaviventris

Ashy Prinia  Prinia socialis  ssp stewarti

Plain Prinia  Prinia inornata  The form encountered (fusca) is a potential split from Plain Prinia.

Common Tailorbird  Orthotomus sutorius

Dark-necked Tailorbird  Orthotomus atrogularis  ssp nitidus

Golden-breasted Fulvetta ◊ (Himalayan G-b F)  Lioparus [chrysotis] chrysotis  Two encounters with this beauty.

Yellow-eyed Babbler  Chrysomma sinense

Jerdon’s Babbler ◊  Chrysomma altirostre  ssp griseigulare of NE India differs rather markedly from the more western scindicum. A future split?

Brown-throated Fulvetta ◊  Fulvetta ludlowi

Manipur Fulvetta ◊ (Streak-throated F)  Fulvetta manipurensis

Black-breasted Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis flavirostris

Brown Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis unicolor

Grey-headed Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis gularis

White-breasted Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis ruficeps

Black-throated Parrotbill ◊ (Grey-breasted P)  Suthora [nipalensis] poliotis

Pale-billed Parrotbill  Suthora atrosuperciliaris

Striated Yuhina  Staphida castaniceps  ssp rufigenis

Black-chinned Yuhina ◊  Yuhina nigrimenta

Whiskered Yuhina  Yuhina flavicollis

White-naped Yuhina ◊  Yuhina bakeri

Stripe-throated Yuhina  Yuhina gularis  ssp gularis

Rufous-vented Yuhina  Yuhina occipitalis  ssp occipitalis

Indian White-eye  Zosterops palpebrosus  ssp palpebrosus

Chestnut-capped Babbler  Timalia pileata  ssp bengalensis

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (Striped T-B)  Mixornis gularis  ssp rubicapilla

Golden Babbler  Cyanoderma chrysaeum  ssp chrysaeum

Rufous-capped Babbler  Cyanoderma ruficeps  ssp ruficeps

Rufous-fronted Babbler (Buff-chested B)  Cyanoderma [rufifrons] ambiguum

Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis caudatus

Mishmi Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis badeigularis  Good views of one in Mishmi Hills. Endemic.

Bar-winged Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis troglodytoides  ssp sherriffi

Naga Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis chocolatinus  Endemic.

Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis longicaudatus  Endemic.

Black-crowned Scimitar Babbler ◊  Pomatorhinus ferruginosus  ssp ferruginosus

Red-billed Scimitar Babbler ◊ (Orange-b S B, Long-b S B)  Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps

Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler ◊ (Sickle-b S B)  Pomatorhinus superciliaris  ssp superciliaris

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler  Pomatorhinus ruficollis  ssp godwini & bakeri

White-browed Scimitar Babbler  Pomatorhinus schisticeps  ssp salimali

Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler ◊  Erythrogenys mcclellandi

Grey-throated Babbler  Stachyris nigriceps  ssp nigriceps

Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler ◊ (Blackish-breasted B)  Stachyris humei  Great encounter at Eaglenest with four birds seen and one heard only bird.

Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler ◊ (Chevron-breasted B)  Stachyris roberti  Brilliant views in Mishmi Hills.

White-hooded Babbler ◊ (Indian W-h B)  Gampsorhynchus rufulus

Yellow-throated Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus cinereus

Rufous-winged Fulvetta  Schoeniparus castaneceps  ssp castaneceps

Rufous-throated Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus rufogularis  Heard only.

Rusty-capped Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus dubius  ssp mandellii

Puff-throated Babbler  Pellorneum ruficeps  ssp pectorale

Marsh Babbler ◊  Pellorneum palustre  Endemic. Struggled at first with this vocal, but often skulking species, but in the end we had great views on one of the islands of Brahmaputra.

Spot-throated Babbler ◊  Pellorneum albiventre  Heard only.

Abbott’s Babbler  Malacocincla abbotti

Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler  Napothera epilepidota

Long-billed Wren-Babbler  Napothera malacoptila

Nepal Fulvetta ◊  Alcippe nipalensis  ssp nipalensis

Striated Laughingthrush  Grammatoptila striata  ssp brahmaputra

Himalayan Cutia  Cutia nipalensis  ssp nipalensis

Scaly Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron subunicolor

Brown-capped Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron austeni  Near-endemic, occurs also in W Myanmar.

Blue-winged Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron squamatum

Bhutan Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron imbricatum

Striped Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron virgatum  Near-endemic, occurs also in W Myanmar.

Black-faced Laughingthrush  Trochalopteron affine  ssp bethalae

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron erythrocephalum  ssp godwini

Assam Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron chrysopterum  Near endemic, occurs also in W Myanmar.

Long-tailed Sibia ◊  Heterophasia picaoides  ssp picaoides

Beautiful Sibia ◊  Heterophasia pulchella  ssp pulchella in the Mishmi Hills and ssp nigroaurita in the west.

Grey Sibia ◊  Heterophasia gracilis

Streak-throated Barwing ◊ (Grey-breasted B)  Actinodura [waldeni] daflaensis

Blue-winged Minla  Actinodura cyanouroptera  ssp cyanouroptera & aglae

Bar-throated Minla  Actinodura strigula  ssp strigula & yunnanensis

Rusty-fronted Barwing ◊  Actinodura egertoni

Red-billed Leiothrix  Leiothrix lutea  Heard only, ssp calipyga.

Silver-eared Mesia  Leiothrix argentauris

Red-tailed Minla  Minla ignotincta  ssp ignotincta

Rufous-backed Sibia  Leioptila annectens

Bugun Liocichla ◊  Liocichla bugunorum  Endemic, and with only 12-14 known pairs critically endangered. We had brilliant views of a singleton below Lama camp in Eaglenest WLS.

Red-faced Liocichla ◊ (Crimson-f L)  Liocichla phoenicea  ssp phoenicea & bakeri

Striated Babbler ◊  Argya earlei  ssp earlei

Spot-breasted Laughingthrush ◊  Garrulax merulinus

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush  Garrulax monileger

White-crested Laughingthrush  Garrulax leucolophus  ssp leucolophus.

Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla rufogularis

Moustached Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla cineracea

Spotted Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla ocellata  ssp ocellata

Yellow-throated Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus galbanus  Near-endemic, occurs also in W Myanmar.

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus ruficollis

Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus nuchalis  Near-endemic, occurs also in N Myanmar.

White-browed Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus sannio

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus pectoralis  ssp pectoralis

Grey-sided Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus caerulatus  ssp caerulatus.

Asian Fairy-bluebird  Irena puella  ssp sikkimensis

Spotted Elachura ◊ (Spotted W-b)  Elachura formosa  One was seen in the Khonoma area. In addition, five birds were heard during the tour.

Eurasian Wren  Troglodytes troglodytes  ssp nipalensis

Beautiful Nuthatch ◊  Sitta formosa  Three birds with some decent views at Eaglenest WLS:

White-tailed Nuthatch  Sitta himalayensis

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch  Sitta cinnamoventris  ssp koelzi

Sikkim Treecreeper (Brown-throated T)  Certhia discolor

Common Hill Myna  Gracula religiosa  ssp intermedia

Great Myna (White-vented M)  Acridotheres grandis

Jungle Myna  Acridotheres fuscus  ssp fumidus

Common Myna  Acridotheres tristis  ssp tristis

Indian Pied Myna (Asian Pied Starling)  Gracupica contra  ssp superciliaris

Chestnut-tailed Starling (Grey-headed S)  Sturnia malabarica  ssp malabarica

Grandala ◊  Grandala coelicolor  20 or so at Sela pass.

Purple Cochoa ◊  Cochoa purpurea  Two sightings including a very showy male in Mishmi Hills.

Green Cochoa ◊  Cochoa viridis  One male in Mishmi Hills.

Alpine Thrush  Zoothera mollissima

Himalayan Thrush  Zoothera salimalii

Scaly Thrush  Zoothera dauma

Grey-winged Blackbird  Turdus boulboul

Tickell’s Thrush ◊  Turdus unicolor

Black-breasted Thrush ◊  Turdus dissimilis

Red-throated Thrush  Turdus ruficollis

White-collared Blackbird  Turdus albocinctus

Oriental Magpie-Robin  Copsychus saularis  ssp erimelas

White-rumped Shama  Copsychus malabaricus  ssp macrourus

Dark-sided Flycatcher (S)  Muscicapa sibirica  ssp cacabata

Ferruginous Flycatcher  Muscicapa ferruginea

Rufous-bellied Niltava  Niltava sundara

Small Niltava  Niltava macgrigoriae  ssp signata

Large Niltava  Niltava grandis  ssp grandis

Verditer Flycatcher  Eumyias thalassinus  ssp thalassinus

White-gorgeted Flycatcher  Anthipes monileger  ssp leucops

Pale Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis unicolor  ssp unicolor

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher (S)  Cyornis rubeculoides  ssp rubeculoides

Large Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis magnirostris  One obliging female in the bamboo at Eaglenest WLS.

Hill Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis whitei

Pale-chinned Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis poliogenys

White-tailed Robin (W-t Blue R)  Myiomela leucura

Chinese Rubythroat ◊  Calliope tschebaiewi

Black-backed Forktail ◊  Enicurus immaculatus

Slaty-backed Forktail  Enicurus schistaceus

Spotted Forktail  Enicurus maculatus

Blue-fronted Robin ◊  Cinclidium frontale  ssp orientale

Blue Whistling Thrush  Myophonus caeruleus  ssp temminckii

Himalayan Shortwing ◊  Brachypteryx cruralis

Rusty-bellied Shortwing ◊  Brachypteryx hyperythra  Heard only.

Lesser Shortwing  Brachypteryx leucophris  ssp nipalensis

Indian Blue Robin ◊  Larvivora brunnea

Slaty-blue Flycatcher  Ficedula tricolor  ssp tricolor and ssp cerviniventris.

Snowy-browed Flycatcher  Ficedula hyperythra  ssp hyperythra

Pygmy Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula hodgsoni

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (Orange-g F)  Ficedula strophiata  ssp strophiata

Sapphire Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula sapphira

Ultramarine Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula superciliaris  ssp aestigma

Little Pied Flycatcher  Ficedula westermanni  ssp australorientis

Taiga Flycatcher (Red-throated F)  Ficedula albicilla

White-browed Bush Robin ◊  Tarsiger indicus  ssp indicus

Golden Bush Robin  Tarsiger chrysaeus  ssp chrysaeus

Rufous-breasted Bush Robin  Tarsiger hyperythrus

Himalayan Bluetail (Orange-flanked Bush-robin)  Tarsiger rufilatus  ssp rufilatus

Gould’s Shortwing ◊  Heteroxenicus stellatus  Two seen in Mishmi Hills.

Blue-fronted Redstart  Phoenicurus frontalis

Plumbeous Water Redstart  Phoenicurus fuliginosus  ssp fuliginosus

White-capped Redstart (River Chat)  Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Black Redstart  Phoenicurus ochruros

Hodgson’s Redstart  Phoenicurus hodgsoni

Blue-capped Rock Thrush ◊ (B-headed R-t)  Monticola cinclorhyncha

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush  Monticola rufiventris

Blue Rock Thrush  Monticola solitarius

Grey Bush Chat  Saxicola ferreus  ssp haringtoni

Siberian Stonechat  Saxicola maurus

Golden-fronted Leafbird  Chloropsis aurifrons  ssp aurifrons

Orange-bellied Leafbird  Chloropsis hardwickii  ssp hardwickii

Yellow-vented Flowerpecker  Dicaeum chrysorrheum  ssp chrysochlore

Plain Flowerpecker  Dicaeum minullum  ssp olivaceum

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker  Dicaeum ignipectus  ssp ignipectus

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker  Dicaeum cruentatum  ssp cruentatum

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird  Chalcoparia singalensis

Purple Sunbird  Cinnyris asiaticus

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird  Aethopyga gouldiae  ssp gouldiae

Green-tailed Sunbird ◊  Aethopyga nipalensis  ssp koelzi

Black-throated Sunbird (B-breasted S)  Aethopyga saturata  ssp assamensis

Crimson Sunbird (Greater C S)  Aethopyga siparaja  ssp labecula

Fire-tailed Sunbird  Aethopyga ignicauda  ssp ignicauda

Little Spiderhunter  Arachnothera longirostra  ssp longirostra

Streaked Spiderhunter  Arachnothera magna  ssp magna

Russet Sparrow (Cinnamon S)  Passer cinnamomeus  ssp cinnamomeus

Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus

House Sparrow  Passer domesticus

Baya Weaver  Ploceus philippinus  ssp burmanicus

Finn’s Weaver ◊  Ploceus megarhynchus  A flock of 25 birds including several breeding plumaged males in Kaziranga.

Scaly-breasted Munia  Lonchura punctulata  ssp subundulata

White-rumped Munia  Lonchura striata

Chestnut Munia  Lonchura atricapilla  ssp atricapilla

Rufous-breasted Accentor  Prunella strophiata  ssp strophiata

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (form unidentified)  Motacilla tschutschensis

Citrine Wagtail  Motacilla citreola  ssp calcarata and citreola

Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail  Motacilla [alba] alba

White Wagtail (East Siberian W)  Motacilla [alba] ocularis

White Wagtail (Amur W)  Motacilla [alba] leucopsis

White Wagtail (Himalayan W)  Motacilla [alba] alboides

White-browed Wagtail ◊  Motacilla maderaspatensis

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus

Blyth’s Pipit  Anthus godlewskii

Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni  ssp hodgsoni

Rosy Pipit  Anthus roseatus

Collared Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas affinis

Spot-winged Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas melanozanthos

White-winged Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas carnipes  ssp carnipes

Red-headed Bullfinch ◊  Pyrrhula erythrocephala

Grey-headed Bullfinch  Pyrrhula erythaca

Golden-naped Finch ◊  Pyrrhoplectes epauletta

Dark-breasted Rosefinch  Procarduelis nipalensis

Plain Mountain Finch  Leucosticte nemoricola

Common Rosefinch  Carpodacus erythrinus  ssp roseatus

Scarlet Finch ◊  Carpodacus sipahi

Dark-rumped Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus edwardsii

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus thura

Crimson-browed Finch  Carpodacus subhimachalus

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch (Himalayan G)  Chloris spinoides

Red Crossbill  Loxia curvirostra

Tibetan Serin ◊ (T Siskin)  Spinus thibetanus

Little Bunting  Emberiza pusilla

Black-faced Bunting  Emberiza spodocephala

MAMMALS
Asian Elephant  Elephas maximus  Numerous in Kaziranga.
Yellow-throated Marten  Martes flavigula  One in Mishmi Hills.
Greater One-horned Rhinoceros  Rhinoceros unicornis  Numerous in Kaziranga.
Eurasian Wild Pig (Wild Pig, Indian W P)  Sus scrofa  Small numbers in Kaziranga.
Hog Deer  Axis porcinus  Common sight in Kaziranga.
Northern Red Muntjac (Indian M)  Muntiacus vaginalis
Barasingha (Swamp Deer)  Rucervus duvaucelii  Common in Kaziranga.
Sambar  Rusa unicolor  One in Kaziranga.
Asian Wild Buffalo (Wild Water B)  Bubalus arnee  Common in Kaziranga.
Indian Flying Fox  Pteropus giganteus
Rhesus Macaque  Macaca mulatta
Western Hoolock Gibbon  Hoolock hoolock  Heard only.
Large-eared Pika  Ochotona macrotis  One at Sela pass.
Irrawaddy Squirrel (Hoary-bellied S)  Callosciurus pygerythrus
Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel  Dremomys lokriah
Red Giant/ Indian Giant Flying Squirrel  Petaurista petaurista/philippensis  One was seen by some on Mishmi Hills.
Black Giant Squirrel  Ratufa bicolor
Himalayan Striped Squirrl  Tamiops macclellandii