NORTHEAST INDIA TOUR REPORT 2023

10 April - 27 April / 4 May 2023

by Hannu Jännes

This year’s 18-day tour of Northeast-India, with its eight-day extension, proved to be a bird-filled, highly successful, adventure exploring the remote northeast corner of the Indian subcontinent. Nearly 500 species of birds, including most of the region’s specialties and other most wanted bird species, were seen. Our one-day visit to the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya provided an ideal start with both Dark-rumped Swift and Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler seen. The Himalayan section of the trip amongst the snowy heights of the Dirang Region brought us Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, Solitary Snipe, Black-tailed Crake, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler and several splendid Grandalas. The magnificent Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary never disappoints, and we saw such gems as Blyth’s Tragopan, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler, Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler and Bugun Liocichla, whilst the world famous Kaziranga National Park produced Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin, Greater Adjutant, Indian Grassbird, Slender-billed Babbler and, on the mammal front, three different Tigers in a single day! A brief side-tracks into Nagaland rewarded us with Naga Wren-Babbler, Black-breasted Thrush, Mountain Bamboo Partridge and Assam and Striped Laughingthrushes. On the Assam Plains along the Brahmaputra River, we discovered Swamp Grass Bird, Marsh and Jerdon’s Babblers and Black-breasted Parrotbill whilst in the remote Mishmi Hills, we tracked down many eastern Himalayan specialties with Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Mishmi and Long-billed Wren-Babblers, Gould’s and Rusty-bellied Shortwings, Green and Purple Cochoas, Blue-naped Pitta and Beautiful Nuthatch. Mammals are an important part of this tour and in addition to three magnificent Tiger encounters in Kaziranga, we had great sightings of Asian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Asian (or wild Water) Buffalo, Ganges River Dolphin and Hoolock Gibbon.

Our epic journey began with a quick day visit from Guwahati to the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. Departing at 3 am from Guwahati we reached our destination near Mawkdok village in good time and soon located our main target in the area, the restricted range Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler. Next in the agenda was the little-known Dark-rumped Swift at a scenic waterfall and we also saw Flavescent Bulbul, Hume’s Leaf Warbler, Pygmy Cupwing, Mountain Tailorbird, many Himalayan Prinias (a recent split within the Striated Prinia complex) and a showy Rufous-crowned Prinia (a recent split from the Black-throated Prinia) during the day. After a late lunch we started to work our way back to Guwahati where we arrived late in the evening.

The whole of the next day was spent traveling from Guwahati to Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh. Despite the long drive we made time for roadside birding seeing Small Pratincole, White-naped Yuhina, Slaty-backed Forktail, Little Pied Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Crimson Sunbird and one of the few Scaly-breasted Munias of the tour.

Our first birding destination in the Dirang region was the lofty Sela pass at 4170m asl. Birding at this altitude is hard work, and even though the effects of high altitude were getting to some towards the end of the day, we took full advantage of some decent weather, and we were very successful with most of the target birds. The magnificent Himalayan Monal gave in early on, and during the day we had several great encounters with this stunning species. We also got close to a pair of Blood Pheasant, but unfortunately the views were somewhat hindered by dense vegetation. Other star birds of this very scenic area included a big flock of Grandalas, Bearded Vulture, a species that has been tricky to find on earlier trips, a flock of stunning Snow Pigeons, Himalayan Bluetail, Golden Bush Robin, the amazing Fire-tailed Sunbird, Alpine and Rufous-breasted Accentors, White-winged Grosbeak, Plain Mountain Finch, Rufous-vented Tit and Himalayan Beautiful and Himalayan White-browed Rosefinches. After lunch in a local café, we received a hot tip on the whereabouts of a Solitary Snipe and managed to find it without difficulty as it fed out in the open by a roadside pool. Unfortunately, the said pool was next to a military base, and we were chased away by an angry guard just as we were trying to approach the bird for better photographs. Other birds seen during the day included Himalayan Buzzard, Red-billed Chough, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Bhutan and Black-faced Laughingthrushes and a singing Himalayan Thrush. A flock of five Mallards and a pair of Common Shelducks, scarce on this itinerary, were good additions for the bird list.

The next morning saw 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 brought us Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, a showy Green and several White-browed Shrike-babblers, amazing views of Spotted Laughingthrush, Spotted Nutcracker, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Yellow-browed Tit, Grey-sided and Hume’s Bush Warblers, Whiskered, Stripe-throated and Rufous-vented Yuhinas, White-tailed Nuthatch and Sikkim Treecreeper. We spent a lot of time at a stake-out for Temminck’s Tragopan, but unfortunately it was only seen by one of our drivers. Lower down the road a large scrub covered clearing produced a singing Buff-throated Warbler, a rare bird in India, and, in the late afternoon, our local guide Pallab showed us amazing Golden-breasted Fulvettas, a flock of Black-throated Parrotbills and a few White-throated Laughingthrushes. The day ended with a skulking Spotted Elachura, Brown-breasted Flycatcher and Black-chinned Yuhinas.

As we had missed a couple of important high-altitude birds on our first visit, we headed back to Sela pass the next morning. Our first stop was at a stand of Rhododendrons, where we soon connected with a pair of amazing Fire-tailed Myzornis enjoying excellent close-up views. Another target species, the Snow Partridge, took some finding but in the end, we found a confiding group of three birds, which showed well providing brilliant photo opportunities. Other good birds around the pass included several Himalayan Monals, three Bearded Vultures, Brown-throated Fulvetta, Eurasian Wren and Dark-rumped Rosefinch. After lunch in a roadside café, we headed for the Sangti Valley, where, after a search, we had good views of a pair of Long-billed Plovers. Then it was time to head back to the lower reaches of the Mandala road and a small marsh, where we called out a very cool Black-tailed Crake.

Our last morning in the Dirang area saw us back on the Mandala road. Again, we spent a fair amount of time trying to see the male Temminck’s Tragopan that frequented the area but had to do with some calls emerging from the dense hill side vegetation. The birds we managed to see this morning included a co-operative Large-billed Leaf Warbler, a pair of Slender-billed Scimitar Babblers, a pair of Kalij Pheasants, several Mountain Imperial Pigeons and a single Dark-sided Flycatcher. From Dirang we drove to Lamacamp in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary for two nights stay, stopping on route at a large river, where we sighted the only Brown Dipper of the tour and four Long-billed Plovers (including a baby bird) and a cliff face, where we had good views of two Yellow-rumped Honeyguides. Nearby, a roadside gully held a singing Spotted Elachura, and whilst trying to obtain better views of this arch skulker, a female Himalayan Shortwing landed right next to us and hopped around in the open for quite some time!

Most of our time at Lamacamp was dedicated to searching for the relatively recently (in 2006) described Bugun Liocichla. On our first day we had to be satisfied with calls emerging from the dense and impenetrable roadside vegetation, but in the second morning we managed decent views of a pair of this MEGA, which, apart from one single stray observation, is only found in this sanctuary with 12-14 known pairs. Other birds seen during our liocichla chase included Grey Nightjar, Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Black Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Bay Woodpecker, a showy Spotted Elachura, Short-billed Minivet, our first Grey-cheeked Warbler, White-breasted Parrotbill, Striated Laughingthrush, Himalayan Cutia, Streak-throated Barwing of the form daflaensis, Rusty-fronted Barwing and Scarlet Finch. A perched sparrowhawk was identified, after some initial confusion, from images taken by Jonathan as Japanese Sparrowhawk, a scarce bird in this part of the world. On the way to Bompu camp, our base for the next two nights, we made several birding stops seeing Grey-bellied Tesia, White-spectacled Warbler, a showy pair of Bar-winged Wren-Babblers, Yellow-throated and Rufous-winged Fulvettas, Red-tailed Minla and Sapphire and Snowy-browed Flycatchers.

The next morning saw us on the forested slopes above Bompu camp, where one of our main targets, the amazing Ward’s Trogon, showed well, and we had great scope views of a pair of this splendid bird. Other birds seen during the morning included Broad-billed Warbler, our first Golden Babblers and a very cooperative Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler. After lunch in the camp, we headed downwards and birded the slopes between 1800 and 1400 meters seeing Red-headed Trogon, Greater Yellownape, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Orange-bellied Leafbird, some White-throated Needletails and, after a chase, a cute Collared Owlet.

The new day began in the forests above the Bompu camp, where we had unfinished business. Our first target, a pair of Sikkim Wedge-billed Babblers, showed well early on, but the male Blyth’s Tragopan was much harder to see, and it took us quite some time before all of us had decent views of this magnificent bird. After lunch and packing we started descending to our next camp. On the way we spent a lot of time birding the mid-elevation forests around Sessni, where we saw several new species including Rufous-necked Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Grey-chinned Minivet, Bronzed and Lesser Racket-tailed Drongos, another co-operative pair of Sikkim Wedge-billed Babblers, our first Long-tailed Sibias, Silver-eared Mesias and Black-throated Sunbirds. For the night we drove to a brand-new camp in Doimara, just outside the wildlife sanctuary, stopping on route for night birding, but unfortunately birds were very quiet due to approaching thunderstorm and we only managed to hear two distant Hodgson’s Frogmouths.

The next morning we woke up to the calls of a Large-tailed Nightjar and even managed to see it briefly before we headed back to Eaglenest WLS, where our first lengthy stop was at the bamboo zone, where new birds included Blue-bearded Bee-eater, a flock of Large Woodshrikes, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Large Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied, Rufous-faced and Yellow-vented Warblers, Red-billed Scimitar Babblers, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush and Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch. Later, around Sessni, we tried to improve on our views of the Rufous-necked Hornbill and searched for the Beautiful Nuthatch, but luck was not with us. Then we 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.

We now had one and a half days in the world-famous Kaziranga National Park visiting the tourist infested Central Range on two mornings and the Burhapara area one afternoon in our open-topped vehicles, and also birding outside the park. 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. In addition, we were blessed with sightings of three different Tigers on our full day in the park, which was a great surprise! Kaziranga’s tiger population is apparently the densest in India but seeing them in the grassland habitat is another matter. Personally, on more than 10 visits, I have seen Tiger here only once before! Other interesting mammals included several Smooth-coated Otters, Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Northern Red Muntjac and Irrawaddy (or Hoary-bellied) Squirrel. On the birding front the highlights were a male Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin, a small group of Slender-billed Babblers that were found after a prolonged search and an Indian Grassbird. In addition, we saw the usual array of storks in good numbers, including at least five Black-necked Storks, Greater and Lesser Adjutants and Spot-billed Pelicans, while raptors included several Pallas’s and Grey-headed Fish Eagles, Changeable Hawk-Eagles and Slender-billed Vultures amongst a large flock of Himalayan Vultures. Other interesting birds in this mixed forest and grassland habitat included several Red Junglefowls, Green Imperial Pigeons, Oriental Pied Hornbill, River Terns, numerous colourful Indochinese Rollers, a couple of Stork-billed Kingfishers, Blue-tailed, Asian Green and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, Asian Barred Owlet, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Black-rumped Flameback, several Lesser Coucals, a Green-billed Malkoha, Plaintive Cuckoo, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, and a good selection of parakeets including the only Blossom-headed Parakeet of the tour and small numbers of commoner palearctic waders. On the passerine front Bengal Bush Lark and Black-crested Bulbul were new for the trip list as were Zitting and Golden-headed Cisticolas, Plain Prinia (of the form fusca, a future split), Striated and Chestnut-capped Babblers, the near endemic Bank Myna, a scarce bird on this itinerary, Black-backed Forktail, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker and Dark-necked Tailorbird. It was also good to see the two forms of Citrine Wagtail, the black-backed calcarata (Tibetan Wagtail) and the grey-backed nominate, side by side, and a single Blyth’s Pipit, which flew over calling as it went. Leaving Kaziranga behind we drove to Nagaland arriving at our comfortable accommodations (we stayed in two homestays) in Khonoma in time for dinner.

The following morning saw us on the Dzüleki road and the Tragopan Sanctuary, where most of us climbed several hundred meters up a steep trail for the habitat of the range restricted Naga Wren-Babbler, which played hard to get until we finally located a nest building pair. After that it was child’s play to see them well and even to get good images of the birds that didn’t seem bothered by our presence. In addition, Jonathan who stayed with the wren-babblers for longer than the rest of us, saw a male Blyth’s Tragopan at the same spot. Other birds seen during this partly rainy day included our first Mountain Bamboo Partridges, Black-eared Shrike-babbler, several singing Grey-crowned Warblers, Blue-winged and Assam Laughingthrushes, many Grey Sibias, Streak-throated Barwing (of the rufous-breasted form waldeni), Black-breasted Thrush, Ferruginous Flycatcher, Indian Blue and White-tailed Robins, Spot-winged Grosbeak and Rusty-capped Fulvetta.

Our second and last morning in Khonoma rewarded us with Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Red-faced Liocichla, Scarlet Finch and, best of all, Striped Laughingthrush. Then something of a rush back to our accommodation for an early lunch and check-out before continuing further into Nagaland. The original plan was to stay at Pfütsero for the following two nights and use it as base for our day trip to Mellori, but a few hours before our departure from Khonoma we were informed that our accommodation in Pfütsero had been taken over by the chief minister of Nagaland and his entourage. Luckily our ground agent managed to secure accommodation in Mellori. This meant a lot of extra driving today to reach Mellori, but more birding time there during the next two days. So, the rest of the day was spent driving to Mellori, where we arrived late in the evening.

Mellori is an interesting, rather under birded area of dry secondary forest between 700m and 1400m asl. The main reason to our visit was the Yellow-throated Laughingthrush, which occurs here in small numbers. Unfortunately, due to massive road construction project and large forest fires the entire roadside habitat where this rare laugher is normally seen was completely destroyed. We did manage to find some narrow trails and side roads that took us to bits of undisturbed habitat but failed to find the Yellow-throated Laughingthrush. Our hard work resulted some interesting birds though, including the difficult to get Rufous-vented Laughingthrush, a singing Pale-footed Bush Warbler, a new bird for this itinerary, Rufous Woodpecker, Grey-headed Parakeet, our first visuals of Long-tailed Broadbill, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Dusky Warbler, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Black-crested and Ashy Bulbuls, many Rufescent Prinias, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Striated Yuhina, Grey-throated and Puff-throated Babblers, many Nepal Fulvettas, Rufous-necked and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher and Plain Flowerpecker. After our stay in Mellori we drove to Dimapur for an overnight stay and said goodbye to Andreas, who was not joining us for the extension.

Leaving Dimapur early the next morning our first stop was at Nambor Reserve Forest, where we connected with Blue-eared Barbet, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Asian Fairy-bluebird, White-rumped Shama and Pale-chinned Blue Flycatcher before heading off in the general direction of Tinsukia and more precisely for the Digboi oilfields, where we arrived in the afternoon. Our main quarry here was the ultra-skulking Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, which we heard well, but failed to see as they were hiding in a large area of impenetrable bushes.

Next morning saw us on the shores of the mighty Brahmaputra, from where we were taken by a motorboat to an island for Swamp Grass Babbler, a rare denizen of the Assamese grasslands, which we saw well. Another grass covered island half an hour’s boat drive upstream revealed Jerdon’s Babbler, Sand Lark, Yellow-bellied and Delicate Prinias, Cinnamon Bittern, Striated Heron, Spotted Bush Warbler and a smart, Black-breasted Parrotbill. Unfortunately, Marsh Babbler, one of our main targets on this island, was very skittish and we had to make do with fleeting glimpses. The mammal sighting of the morning was two Ganges River Dolphins, which we saw from the boat while cruising along the Brahmaputra. After lunch we headed for the Dihing-Patkai National Park, a large wet lowland forest area with lots of birding potential, where we spent the rest of the day. The new habitat brought us several new birds, which included Oriental Dollarbird, Speckled Piculet, Lesser Yellownape, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Blue-winged and Golden-fronted Leafbirds and Yellow-vented Flowerpecker. On the mammal front Assam Macaque and Capped Langur were new for us.

Leaving Tinsukia early the next morning, we headed for the Mishmi Hills, crossing the mighty Brahmaputra River at the recently constructed Lohit River (or Dhola-Sadiya) Bridge, where we had a nice flock of roosting vultures including the critically endangered White-rumped and Slender-billed Vultures. After dealing with official paperwork at the Assam-Arunachal border we detoured via the floodplain mosaic near Jia village. Here our main target was a pair of Marsh Babblers, which this time showed quite well. Other interesting species included a vocal Smoky Warbler, Buff-chested Babbler, Siberian Rubythroat and Chestnut Munia. After buying supplies in Roing, at the base of the Mishmi Hills, we left civilization behind and headed for the mountains. During the afternoon we journeyed along the winding mountain road to our accommodation near the Mayodia pass, making several birding stops along the way. A birding session at a promising looking area of bamboo produced Pale-headed Woodpecker, and later we managed to locate a pair of Cachar Wedge-billed Babblers, one of the key species here, in the roadside vegetation.

For the next four nights we stayed at the basic guesthouse situated next to the remote Roing to Hunli road, a few kilometres before the Mayodia pass at almost 2500m asl. From such a convenient base it was easy to explore the seemingly endless forests between 600 and 3000m elevation. This area is famous for its rains, and we definitely had more than our share of it during our stay. In fact, for the next three days it rained every day till mid-afternoon, leaving us only a few late afternoon hours to enjoy the birding under rainless sky. Despite the extreme weather conditions, we worked hard and found many of the best birds of the area by exploring the higher reaches of the mountain on both sides of the Mayodia Pass and visiting the lower reaches of the mountain. The highlights of our stay included two very rare shortwings, Gould’s and Rusty-bellied, great views of Blyth’s Tragopan, a Himalayan Owl, a co-operative Blue-naped Pitta, Black-headed Shrike-babbler, Manipur Fulvetta, the restricted range Mishmi Wren Babbler, many Cachar Wedge-billed Babblers, Long-billed Wren-Babbler, Scaly Laughingthrush and several Gold-naped Finches.

Our last morning on Mishmi Hills dawned rainless, and we had a really busy time trying to utilize the good weather and secure at least some of the target species we still needed. During the day, we managed to find Beautiful Nuthatch, Green Cochoa, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Rufous-bellied Eagle and White-gorgeted Flycatcher. Unfortunately, the singing Purple Cochoa, everybody was so keen to see, was never seen. For the evening we drove back to Tinsukia for a one-night stay.

On our last morning, before heading to the airport in Dibrugarh, we paid another visit to Digboi to try to find the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, which was still singing from the dense, impenetrable vegetation, but simply refused to show. A new bird for the bird list was a Pied Falconet, always a good find on this tour. Then it was time to return to our hotel to prepare for our homeward journey.

BIRDS OF THE TOUR:

1st: Blyth’s Tragopan

2nd: Snow Partridge

3rd: Fire-tailed Myzornis

4th: Spotted Laughingthrush

5th: Naga Wren-babbler & Blood Pheasant

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED

BIRDS

Lesser Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna javanica

Bar-headed Goose  Anser indicus

Common Shelduck  Tadorna tadorna Two at Sela Pass was an unexpected find.

Ruddy Shelduck  Tadorna ferruginea

Indian Spot-billed Duck  Anas poecilorhyncha

Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos A flock of five at Sela pass. A good bird on this itinerary!

Eurasian Teal  Anas crecca

Hill Partridge  Arborophila torqueola heard only.

Chestnut-breasted Partridge ◊ (C-b Hill-P)  Arborophila mandellii heard only.

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

Snow Partridge ◊  Lerwa lerwa A group of three confiding birds at Sela pass.

Blood Pheasant  Ithaginis cruentus A pair below Sela pass. Ssp tibetanus.

Blyth’s Tragopan ◊  Tragopan blythii Encountered at Eaglenest and in the Mishmi Hills (ssp molesworthi) plus a pair for Jonathan in Nagaland (blythii). Great views!

Temminck’s Tragopan ◊  Tragopan temminckii heard only.

Himalayan Monal ◊  Lophophorus impejanus A number of sightings at Sela pass.

Kalij Pheasant (Kaleej P)  Lophura leucomelanos ssp lathami

Grey Peacock-Pheasant ◊  Polyplectron bicalcaratum heard only.

Mountain Bamboo Partridge  Bambusicola fytchii ssp hopkinsoni

Red Junglefowl  Gallus gallus ssp murghi

Swamp Francolin ◊  Ortygornis gularis

Grey Nightjar  Caprimulgus jotaka ssp hazarae

Large-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus macrurus ssp bimaculatus

Hodgson’s Frogmouth ◊  Batrachostomus Hodgsoni heard only. Ssp hodgsoni

Himalayan Swiftlet  Aerodramus brevirostris ssp brevirostris

White-throated Needletail  Hirundapus caudacutus ssp nudipes

Brown-backed Needletail (Brown-throated N, Brown N)  Hirundapus giganteus ssp indicus

Asian Palm Swift  Cypsiurus balasiensis ssp infumatus

Blyth’s Swift  Apus leuconyx

Dark-rumped Swift ◊  Apus acuticauda

House Swift  Apus nipalensis ssp nipalensis

Bengal Florican ◊  Houbaropsis bengalensis A splendid male in Burhapahar area in Kaziranga. Ssp bengalensis.

Greater Coucal  Centropus sinensis ssp sinensis

Lesser Coucal  Centropus bengalensis ssp bengalensis

Green-billed Malkoha  Phaenicophaeus tristis ssp tristis

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo ◊  Clamator coromandus

Asian Koel  Eudynamys scolopaceus ssp malayanus

Asian Emerald Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx maculatus

Banded Bay Cuckoo  Cacomantis sonneratii heard only. Ssp sonneratii

Plaintive Cuckoo  Cacomantis merulinus ssp querulus

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo  Surniculus lugubris ssp brachyurus

Large Hawk-Cuckoo  Hierococcyx sparverioides

Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo ◊  Hierococcyx nisicolor

Lesser Cuckoo  Cuculus poliocephalus heard only.

Indian Cuckoo  Cuculus micropterus ssp micropterus

Himalayan Cuckoo  Cuculus saturatus heard only.

Common Cuckoo (Eurasian C)  Cuculus canorus ssp bakeri

Rock Dove (R Pigeon)  Columba livia

Snow Pigeon ◊  Columba leuconota

Speckled Wood Pigeon ◊  Columba hodgsonii heard only.

Pale-capped Pigeon ◊  Columba punicea heard only.

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

Thick-billed Green Pigeon  Treron curvirostra ssp nipalensis

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon  Treron phoenicopterus ssp phoenicopterus

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon ◊  Treron apicauda ssp apicauda

Green Imperial Pigeon  Ducula aenea ssp sylvatica

Mountain Imperial Pigeon  Ducula badia ssp griseicapilla

Grey-headed Swamphen  Porphyrio poliocephalus ssp poliocephalus

Black-tailed Crake ◊  Zapornia bicolor

White-breasted Waterhen  Amaurornis phoenicurus ssp phoenicurus

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus

River Lapwing  Vanellus duvaucelii

Red-wattled Lapwing  Vanellus indicus

Long-billed Plover ◊  Charadrius placidus

Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius

Bronze-winged Jacana  Metopidius indicus

Temminck’s Stint  Calidris temminckii

Solitary Snipe  Gallinago solitaria One at Sela pass.

Common Snipe  Gallinago gallinago

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Spotted Redshank  Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Small Pratincole  Glareola lactea

Brown-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

River Tern  Sterna aurantia

Asian Openbill  Anastomus oscitans

Woolly-necked Stork  Ciconia episcopus ssp episcopus

Black-necked Stork  Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus ssp asiaticus

Lesser Adjutant  Leptoptilos javanicus

Greater Adjutant ◊  Leptoptilos dubius

Oriental Darter  Anhinga melanogaster

Little Cormorant  Microcarbo niger

Black-headed Ibis  Threskiornis melanocephalus

Glossy Ibis  Plegadis falcinellus

Cinnamon Bittern  Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Striated Heron  Butorides striata ssp javanica

Indian Pond Heron  Ardeola grayii

Eastern Cattle Egret  Bubulcus coromandus

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea ssp manilensis

Great Egret  Ardea alba

Intermediate Egret  Ardea intermedia ssp intermedia

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta ssp garzetta

Spot-billed Pelican ◊  Pelecanus philippensis

Osprey  Pandion haliaetus haliaetus

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus ssp vociferus

Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier)  Gypaetus barbatus ssp barbatus

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

White-rumped Vulture  Gyps bengalensis Five individuals of this critically endangered species by the Brahmaputra.

Slender-billed Vulture ◊  Gyps tenuirostris Three birds in Kaziranga NP and nine individuals at a roost by the Brahmaputra. Critically endangered.

Himalayan Vulture (H Griffon V)  Gyps himalayensis

Crested Serpent Eagle  Spilornis cheela ssp cheela

Changeable Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus cirrhatus ssp limnaeetus

Mountain Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus nipalensis ssp nipalensis

Rufous-bellied Eagle  Lophotriorchis kienerii ssp kienerii

Black Eagle  Ictinaetus malaiensis ssp perniger

Crested Goshawk  Accipiter trivirgatus ssp indicus

Shikra  Accipiter badius ssp poliopsis

Japanese Sparrowhawk  Accipiter gularis One bird was photographed below Lama camp by Jonathan.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus ssp nisosimilis

Black Kite  Milvus migrans ssp govinda

Pallas’s Fish Eagle ◊  Haliaeetus leucoryphus

Grey-headed Fish Eagle ◊  Haliaeetus ichthyaetus

Himalayan Buzzard  Buteo refectus

Collared Owlet  Taenioptynx brodiei ssp brodiei

Asian Barred Owlet  Glaucidium cuculoides ssp austerum

Mountain Scops Owl  Otus spilocephalus heard only; ssp spilocephalus.

Collared Scops Owl  Otus lettia heard only; ssp lettia

Brown Wood Owl  Strix leptogrammica heard only; ssp newarensis.

Himalayan Owl ◊ (H Wood O)  Strix nivicolum

Red-headed Trogon  Harpactes erythrocephalus ssp erythrocephalus

Ward’s Trogon ◊  Harpactes wardi

Eurasian Hoopoe (Eurasian H)  Upupa epops

Oriental Pied Hornbill  Anthracoceros albirostris ssp albirostris

Rufous-necked Hornbill ◊  Aceros nipalensis

Indochinese Roller  Coracias affinis

Oriental Dollarbird  Eurystomus orientalis ssp cyanicollis

Stork-billed Kingfisher  Pelargopsis capensis ssp capensis

Ruddy Kingfisher  Halcyon coromanda heard only; ssp coromanda

White-throated Kingfisher  Halcyon smyrnensis ssp perpulchra

Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis ssp bengalensis

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher  Ceyx erithaca ssp erithaca heard only.

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  Merops philippinus

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater  Merops leschenaulti ssp leschenaulti

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

Lineated Barbet  Psilopogon lineatus ssp lineatus and ssp hodgsoni

Golden-throated Barbet  Psilopogon franklinii ssp franklinii

Blue-throated Barbet  Psilopogon asiaticus ssp asiaticus

Blue-eared Barbet  Psilopogon duvaucelii ssp cyanotis

Coppersmith Barbet  Psilopogon haemacephalus

Yellow-rumped Honeyguide ◊  Indicator xanthonotus A total of three birds at two different beehives in the Eaglenest area.

Speckled Piculet  Picumnus innominatus ssp innominatus

White-browed Piculet  Sasia ochracea ssp ochracea

Crimson-breasted Woodpecker (C-b Pied W)  Dryobates cathpharius ssp catpharius

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker  Dendrocopos hyperythrus ssp hyperythrus

Greater Yellownape  Chrysophlegma flavinucha ssp flavinucha

Lesser Yellownape  Picus chlorolophus ssp chlorolophus

Streak-throated Woodpecker  Picus xanthopygaeus

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

Black-rumped Flameback  Dinopium benghalense ssp benghalense

Greater Flameback  Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus heard only. Ssp guttacristatus

Pale-headed Woodpecker ◊  Gecinulus grantia ssp grantia

Bay Woodpecker  Blythipicus pyrrhotis ssp pyrrhotis

Rufous Woodpecker  Micropternus brachyurus phaioceps

Pied Falconet ◊  Microhierax melanoleucos

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus ssp interstinctus

Grey-headed Parakeet ◊  Psittacula finschii

Blossom-headed Parakeet (Rosy-h P)  Psittacula roseate ssp juneae

Red-breasted Parakeet  Psittacula alexandri ssp fasciata

Alexandrine Parakeet  Psittacula eupatria ssp avensis

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

Vernal Hanging Parrot  Loriculus vernalis ssp vernalis

Long-tailed Broadbill  Psarisomus dalhousiae ssp dalhousiae

Blue-naped Pitta ◊  Hydrornis nipalensis After several heard-only birds, we had good views of one in the Mishmi Hills.

Hooded Pitta  Pitta sordida heard only; 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

Large Cuckooshrike  Coracina macei ssp nipalensis

Black-winged Cuckooshrike  Lalage melaschistos

Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius schach ssp tricolor

Grey-backed Shrike  Lanius tephronotus

Green Shrike-babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus ssp xanthochlorus

Black-eared Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius melanotis ssp melanotis

Black-headed Shrike-babbler ◊  Pteruthius rufiventer A very confiding bird in the Mishmi Hills.

White-browed Shrike-babbler (Blyth’s S-b)  Pteruthius aeralatus ssp validirostris

White-bellied Erpornis (W-b Yuhina)  Erpornis zantholeuca ssp zantholeuca

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

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

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie  Urocissa flavirostris ssp flavirostris

Red-billed Blue Magpie  Urocissa erythroryncha ssp magnirostris

Common Green Magpie  Cissa chinensis ssp chinensis

Rufous Treepie  Dendrocitta vagabunda ssp vagabunda

Grey Treepie  Dendrocitta formosae ssp himalayensis

Collared Treepie ◊  Dendrocitta frontalis heard only.

Spotted Nutcracker (Southern N)  Nucifraga caryocatactes ssp macella

Red-billed Chough  Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax ssp himalayanus

House Crow  Corvus splendens 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

Rufous-vented Tit  Periparus rubidiventris ssp allaji

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 ◊  Mirafra assamica

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 ssp mcclellandii

Black Bulbul (Himalayan B B)  Hypsipetes leucocephalus ssp nigrescens

Black-crested Bulbul  Rubigula flaviventris ssp flaviventris

Crested Finchbill  Spizixos canifrons ssp canifron

Flavescent Bulbul  Pycnonotus flavescens ssp flavescens

Red-whiskered Bulbul  Pycnonotus jocosus ssp monticola

Red-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus cafer ssp bengalensis

Sand Martin (Bank Swallow)  Riparia riparia ssp ijimae

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

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica ssp gutturalis

Common House Martin (Northern H M)  Delichon urbicum

Nepal House Martin  Delichon nipalense ssp cuttingi

Asian House Martin  Delichon dasypus ssp cashmeriense

Striated Swallow  Cecropis striolata

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

Grey-sided Bush Warbler  Cettia brunnifrons ssp muroides/umbratica

Chestnut-headed Tesia  Cettia castaneocoronata ssp castaneocoronata

Pale-footed Bush Warbler  Cettia pallidipes ssp pallidipes One singing bird in Mellori, Nagaland. A new bird for this itinerary.

Black-throated Bushtit  Aegithalos concinnus ssp rubricapillus & manipurensis

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

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

Hume’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus humei ssp mandellii

Yellow-browed Warbler (Y-b Leaf-W, Inornate W)  Phylloscopus inornatus Heard only.

Lemon-rumped/Sichuan Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus chloronotus/forresti Seen in Meghalaya, Eaglenest and Mishmi Hills, but no vocalizations, which is the key for separating these two species, were heard.

Tickell’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus affinis

Smoky Warbler ◊ (Smoky Leaf W)  Phylloscopus fuligiventer

Dusky Warbler  Phylloscopus fuscatus ssp fuscatus

Buff-throated Warbler  Phylloscopus subaffinis One along the Mandala road and another single in the Mishmi Hills. The first record for India was only 10-15 years ago.

White-spectacled Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus intermedius ssp zosterops

Grey-cheeked Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus poliogenys

Grey-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus tephrocephalus

Whistler’s Warbler  Phylloscopus whistleri ssp nemoralis

Large-billed Leaf Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus magnirostris

Chestnut-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus castaniceps ssp castaniceps

Yellow-vented Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus cantator ssp cantator

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus reguloides ssp assamensis

Grey-hooded Warbler  Phylloscopus xanthoschistos ssp flavogularis/tephrodiras

Spotted Bush Warbler  Locustella thoracica

Russet Bush Warbler ◊  Locustella mandelli ssp mandelli

Striated Grassbird  Megalurus palustris ssp toklao

Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis ssp cursitans

Golden-headed Cisticola (Bright-capped C, B-h C)  Cisticola exilis ssp tytleri

Himalayan Prinia  Prinia crinigera

Black-throated Prinia  Prinia atrogularis non-leader. Seen below Lamacamp at Eaglenest WLS.

Rufous-crowned Prinia ◊  Prinia khasiana A recent split from the previous species. Several sightings in Meghalaya and Nagaland.

Rufescent Prinia  Prinia rufescens ssp rufescens

Grey-breasted Prinia  Prinia hodgsonii ssp rufula

Delicate Prinia  Prinia lepida A recent split from the Graceful Prinia.

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 ssp patia

Dark-necked Tailorbird (Black-n T)  Orthotomus atrogularis ssp nitidus

Fire-tailed Myzornis ◊  Myzornis pyrrhoura

Golden-breasted Fulvetta ◊ (Himalayan G-b F)  Lioparus chrysotis ssp chrysotis

Yellow-eyed Babbler  Chrysomma sinense ssp sinense

Jerdon’s Babbler ◊  Chrysomma altirostre ssp griseigulare

Brown-throated Fulvetta ◊  Fulvetta ludlowi

Manipur Fulvetta ◊ (Streak-throated F)  Fulvetta manipurensis

Black-breasted Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis flavirostris Endemic.

Grey-headed Parrotbill ◊  Psittiparus gularis ssp transfluvialis

White-breasted Parrotbill ◊  Psittiparus ruficeps

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

Striated Yuhina  Staphida castaniceps ssp rufigenis

Black-chinned Yuhina ◊  Yuhina nigrimenta

Whiskered Yuhina  Yuhina flavicollis ssp flavicollis & rouxi

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 pileate 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

Buff-chested Babbler  Cyanoderma ambiguum ssp ambiguum

Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis caudatus

Mishmi Wren-Babbler ◊ (Rusty-throated W-B)  Spelaeornis badeigularis 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 ssp stenorhynchus

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 heard only.

Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler ◊  Erythrogenys mcclellandi

Grey-throated Babbler  Stachyris nigriceps ssp nigriceps

Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler ◊ (Blackish-breasted B)  Stachyris humei

Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler ◊ (Chevron-breasted B)  Stachyris roberti

Indian Grassbird ◊ (I G Babbler)  Graminicola bengalensis

Yellow-throated Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus cinereus

Rufous-winged Fulvetta  Schoeniparus castaneceps ssp castaneceps

Rusty-capped Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus dubius ssp mandellii

Puff-throated Babbler  Pellorneum ruficeps ssp pectorale

Marsh Babbler ◊  Pellorneum palustre

Spot-throated Babbler ◊  Pellorneum albiventre heard only; ssp albiventre

Swamp Grass Babbler ◊  Laticilla cinerascens Endemic.

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 ssp subunicolor

Blue-winged Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron squamatum

Bhutan Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron imbricatum

Striped Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron virgatum

Black-faced Laughingthrush  Trochalopteron affine ssp bethalae

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron erythrocephalum ssp nigrimentum

Assam Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron chrysopterum ssp chrysopterum in Meghalaya and ssp godwini in Nagaland.

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 ◊ [Rufous-breasted B]  Actinodura waldeni ssp waldeni

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 ssp calipyga

Silver-eared Mesia  Leiothrix argentauris

Red-tailed Minla  Minla ignotincta ssp ignotincta

Bugun Liocichla ◊  Liocichla bugunorum Endemic.

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

Slender-billed Babbler ◊  Argya longirostris

Striated Babbler ◊  Argya earlei ssp earlei

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush  Garrulax monileger ssp monileger

White-crested Laughingthrush  Garrulax leucolophus heard only; ssp leucolophus.

Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla rufogularis heard only.

Spotted Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla ocellata ssp ocellata

Striped Laughingthrush Ianthocichla virgatus

Rufous-vented Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus gularis

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus ruficollis

Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus nuchalis heard only.

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus pectoralis ssp pectoralis

White-throated Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus albogularis ssp albogularis

Grey-sided Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus caerulatus heard only; ssp caerulatus.

Asian Fairy-bluebird  Irena puella ssp sikkimensis

Spotted Elachura ◊ (Spotted W-b)  Elachura formosa

Eurasian Wren  Troglodytes troglodytes ssp nipalensis

Beautiful Nuthatch ◊  Sitta formosa

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch  Sitta frontalis ssp frontalis

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

Bank Myna ◊  Acridotheres ginginianus

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 nemoricola

Grandala ◊  Grandala coelicolor

Purple Cochoa ◊  Cochoa purpurea heard only.

Green Cochoa ◊  Cochoa viridis

Himalayan Thrush  Zoothera salimalii

Long-billed Thrush ◊ (L-b Ground T)  Zoothera monticola heard only; ssp monticola.

Grey-winged Blackbird  Turdus boulboul

Black-breasted Thrush ◊  Turdus dissimilis

Black-throated Thrush  Turdus atrogularis ssp atrogulairs

White-collared Blackbird  Turdus albocinctus

Oriental Magpie-Robin  Copsychus saularis ssp erimelas

White-rumped Shama  Copsychus malabaricus ssp macrourus

Dark-sided Flycatcher  Muscicapa sibirica ssp cacabata

Brown-breasted Flycatcher ◊  Muscicapa muttui

Ferruginous Flycatcher  Muscicapa ferruginea

White-gorgeted Flycatcher  Anthipes monileger ssp leucops

Pale Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis unicolor ssp unicolor

Pale-chinned Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis poliogenys

Large Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis magnirostris

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis rubeculoides ssp rubeculoides

Rufous-bellied Niltava  Niltava sundara

Large Niltava  Niltava grandis ssp grandis

Small Niltava  Niltava macgrigoriae ssp signata

Verditer Flycatcher  Eumyias thalassinus ssp thalassinus

Gould’s Shortwing ◊  Heteroxenicus stellatus

Rusty-bellied Shortwing ◊  Brachypteryx hyperythra

Lesser Shortwing  Brachypteryx leucophrys ssp nipalensis

Himalayan Shortwing ◊  Brachypteryx cruralis

Indian Blue Robin ◊  Larvivora brunnea

Bluethroat  Luscinia svecica svecica

Siberian Rubythroat  Calliope calliope

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

White-browed Bush Robin ◊  Tarsiger indicus heard only; ssp indicus

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

Golden Bush Robin  Tarsiger chrysaeus ssp chrysaeus

Black-backed Forktail ◊  Enicurus immaculatus

Slaty-backed Forktail  Enicurus schistaceus

Blue Whistling Thrush  Myophonus caeruleus ssp temminckii

Blue-fronted Robin ◊  Cinclidium frontale ssp orientale heard only.

Slaty-backed Flycatcher  Ficedula erithacus

Pygmy Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula hodgsoni heard only.

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

Sapphire Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula sapphira ssp sapphira

Ultramarine Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula superciliaris ssp aestigma

Little Pied Flycatcher  Ficedula westermanni ssp australorientis

Slaty-blue Flycatcher  Ficedula tricolor ssp cerviniventris

Snowy-browed Flycatcher  Ficedula hyperythra ssp hyperythra

Taiga Flycatcher (Red-throated F)  Ficedula albicilla

Blue-fronted Redstart  Phoenicurus frontalis

Plumbeous Water Redstart  Phoenicurus fuliginosus ssp fuliginosus

White-capped Redstart (River Chat)  Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Blue Rock Thrush  Monticola solitarius philippensis

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush  Monticola rufiventris

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

Siberian Stonechat  Saxicola maurus

Grey Bush Chat  Saxicola ferreus ssp haringtoni

Brown Dipper  Cinclus pallasii ssp dorjei

Blue-winged Leafbird  Chloropsis moluccensis ssp chlorocephala

Golden-fronted Leafbird (Gold-f L)  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

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

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

Scaly-breasted Munia  Lonchura punctulata ssp subundulata

White-rumped Munia  Lonchura striata ssp acuticauda

Chestnut Munia  Lonchura atricapilla ssp atricapilla

Alpine Accentor  Prunella collaris ssp nipalenis

Rufous-breasted Accentor  Prunella strophiata ssp strophiata

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Alaska W)  Motacilla [tschutschensis] tschutschensis

Citrine Wagtail  Motacilla citreola citreola

Tibetan Wagtail  Motacilla [citreola] calcarata This is the black-mantled form of Citrine Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail (Amur W)  Motacilla [alba] leucopsis

White Wagtail (Himalayan W)  Motacilla [alba] alboides

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus ssp rufulus

Blyth’s Pipit  Anthus godlewskii One in Kaziranga.

Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni ssp hodgsoni

Rosy Pipit  Anthus roseatus

Spot-winged Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas melanozanthos

White-winged Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas carnipes ssp carnipes

Grey-headed Bullfinch  Pyrrhula erythaca ssp erythaca

Golden-naped Finch ◊  Pyrrhoplectes epauletta

Plain Mountain Finch  Leucosticte nemoricola

Common Rosefinch  Carpodacus erythrinus ssp roseatus

Scarlet Finch ◊  Carpodacus sipahi

Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus pulcherrimus ssp pulcherrimus

Dark-rumped Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus edwardsii

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus thura

Crested Bunting  Emberiza lathami

Little Bunting  Emberiza pusilla

MAMMALS

Asian Elephant  Elephas maximus

Tiger  Panthera tigris Three different individuals in one day in Kaziranga!

Red Fox  Vulpes vulpes

Smooth-coated Otter  Lutrogale perspicillata Seen on three days in the Kaziranga area.

Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros  Rhinoceros unicornis Common in Kaziranga NP.

Wild Boar (Wild Pig, Indian W P)  Sus scrofa

Hog Deer  Axis porcinus Common in Kaziranga NP.

Swamp Deer (Barasingha)  Rucervus duvaucelii Common in Kaziranga NP.

Sambar Deer  Rusa unicolor Just a few in Kaziranga NP:

Ganges River Dolphin  Platanista gangetica Two from the boat in the Brahmaputra.

Assam Macaque  Macaca assamensis

Rhesus Macaque  Macaca mulatta

Northern Plains Gray Langur (Common L)  Semnopithecus entellus

Capped Langur (N)  Trachypithecus pileatus

Western Hoolock Gibbon  Hoolock hoolock

Large-eared Pika  Ochotona macrotis

Pallas’s Squirrel  Callosciurus erythraeus

Irrawaddy Squirrel (Hoary-bellied S)  Callosciurus pygerythrus

Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel  Dremomys lokriah

Common Giant Flying Squirrel  Petaurista petaurista non-leader.

Himalayan Striped Squirrel  Tamiops macclellandii