ULTIMATE NORTHEAST INDIA TOUR REPORT 2026

12 April - 4 May 2026

Hannu Jännes

This comprehensive 23-day tour of Northeast India proved to be another highly successful exploration of this remote corner of the Indian subcontinent. We recorded nearly 550 species of birds, including most of the region’s specialties and many other highly sought-after species. The world-famous Kaziranga National Park produced Finn’s Weaver, Pallas’s and Grey-headed Fish Eagles and the Critically Endangered Slender-billed Vulture. The snowy heights of the Dirang region revealed Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Himalayan Monal, a day-roosting Himalayan Owl, Tibetan Blackbird, Alpine Thrush, the splendid Grandala, White-browed Tit-warbler and a gorgeous pair of Bird of the Trip Fire-tailed Myzornis. The lower-altitude forests and agricultural areas around Mandala gave us Black-tailed Crake, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Crimson-browed Finch, Blanford’s Rosefinch, Buff-throated Warbler, Black-headed Shrike-Babbler and Red-throated Thrush. In the magnificent Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary we saw such gems as the rare and Critically Endangered Bugun Liocichla, Blyth’s Tragopan, Rufous-necked and Wreathed Hornbills, an amazing male Ward’s Trogon, Chestnut-breasted, Rufous-throated and Hill Partridges, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, two Purple Cochoas, Large Blue Flycatcher, Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler and Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler. On the Assam plains along the Brahmaputra River, we found the range-restricted Marsh Babbler, while a nocturnal boat trip rewarded us with Eastern Grass Owl. The magnificent lowland forests of Dihing-Patkai held a fine selection of quality birds including a splenid Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Austen’s Brown Hornbill, Grey-lored Broadbill, Rufous-throated Fulvetta and Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush. In the remote Mishmi Hills, we tracked down many eastern Himalayan specialties including Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Mishmi and Long-billed Wren-Babblers, Gould’s and Rusty-bellied Shortwings, Beautiful Nuthatch, Western Hooded Pitta, Collared Treepie and Green Cochoa. The grasslands at the base of the Mishmi Hills produced an amazing 11 Bengal Floricans, Jerdon’s Babbler and Black-breasted Parrotbill, while a sidetrack into Nagaland rewarded us with Naga Wren-Babbler, Black-breasted Thrush, Mountain Bamboo Partridge and Brown-capped, Assam, White-browed and Striped Laughingthrushes. A one-night stay at Jessami, a recently discovered birding site in Manipur, gave us great views of an excellent male Mrs Hume’s Pheasant at its roosting tree. Mammals are always an important part of this 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 excellent local guide Micah Rai (assisted by Bukhey Rai in Mishmi Hills and Nagaland), with additional help from local experts where required. The increasing difficulty of obtaining permits for some of the Northeast Indian hill states, such as Nagaland and Manipur, forced us to change our itinerary completely at rather short notice. This also meant that the timing of our visits to some sites was perhaps less than optimal and probably cost us a couple of species.

Our epic journey began in Guwahati, the capital of Assam, from where we travelled through the Assam lowlands to Kaziranga, arriving just in time for a late lunch. En route we stopped at the Guwahati landfill to admire the magnificent Greater Adjutants that gather here in impressive numbers. Our count of over 200 individuals may have represented as much as a quarter of the world population of this Endangered species.

We then spent one and a half days in the world-famous Kaziranga National Park, visiting the tourist-infested Central Range and the more peaceful Eastern and Western Ranges in our open-topped jeeps, with additional birding around our comfortable resort. The best birds here were a male Finn’s Weaver, the usual array of storks, including Black-necked and Asian Woolly-necked, Greater and Lesser Adjutants and Spot-billed Pelicans. Raptors included Pallas’s and Grey-headed Fish Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Himalayan and the Critically Endangered Slender-billed Vultures, Pied and Eastern Marsh Harriers, Spotted Owlet, Asian Barred Owlet, Oriental Scops Owl and, as a nice surprise, a pair of Brown Fish Owls. Waterfowl included Cotton Pygmy Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Indian Spot-billed Duck and Green-winged Teal. Other interesting birds in the mixed forest and grassland habitats included Great and Oriental Pied Hornbills, several Red Junglefowls, Green Imperial Pigeons, numerous colourful Indochinese Rollers, Asian Green and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Lineated Barbet, Lesser Yellownape and a good selection of parakeets, including the only Blossom-headed Parakeets of the tour. We also saw Green-billed Malkoha, Red-collared Dove, Indian Cuckooshrike, Ashy Woodswallow, Common Iora, Black-hooded Oriole, Eastern Yellow and Citrine Wagtails, Striated Grassbird, Puff-throated and Abbott’s Babblers, a heard-only Slender-billed Babbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Common Hill Myna, White-rumped Shama, Ruby-cheeked, Purple and Crimson Sunbirds, two Richard’s Pipits and several Rosy Pipits. Mammals are a prominent feature of this World Heritage Site, and we had no difficulty obtaining 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, Sambar, Northern Red Muntjac, a troop of Capped Langurs and Wild Boars.

After Kaziranga we headed for Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh. Despite the long drive, we made time for roadside birding and saw, among other things, around 15 Dark-rumped Swifts at a recently discovered breeding colony, Rufous-bellied Eagle and Jerdon’s Baza, always a good bird on this itinerary, as well as our first Black-throated Prinias. In the bamboo zone above Bhalukpong we found Rufous-faced and Yellow-bellied Warblers and, best of all, a flock of three Pale-billed Parrotbills and a singing Large Blue Flycatcher. In the late afternoon we made a detour to a rocky stretch of river, which produced a total of four Long-billed Plovers.

Our first birding destination in the Dirang region was the lofty Se La Pass at 4,170 meters above sea level. Birding at this altitude is hard work, but we persevered in the thin air until early afternoon and saw a number of good birds including a magnificent male Himalayan Monal and, after a lengthy search, three pairs of Blood Pheasants. Other interesting birds in this very scenic area included Snow Pigeons, a Bearded Vulture (a scarce bird here), Himalayan Buzzard, Red-billed Chough, Coal and Rufous-vented Tits, Black-faced and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes, Eurasian Wren, Tibetan Blackbird, several White-collared Blackbirds, White-browed Bush Robin, Himalayan Bluetail, Blue-fronted and White-throated Redstarts, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Alpine Accentor, Rosy Pipit, White-winged Grosbeak, Himalayan Beautiful, Dark-breasted and Himalayan White-browed Rosefinches and Plain Mountain Finch. In the afternoon we visited Sangti Valley and other lower-altitude areas, finding another Long-billed Plover and adding Brown Dipper, Hodgson’s and Black Redstarts, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch and Crested Bunting to our bird list. 

Although the previous day at high altitude had been productive, we still needed several high-altitude species, and the following morning saw us back in the Se La Pass area. Here we were successful in finding several important targets, including a beautiful day-roosting Himalayan Owl, a party of three Snow Partridges, a single male Grandala, a breeding pair of cute White-browed Tit-warblers, a pair of confiding and gorgeous Fire-tailed Myzornis, a singing Alpine Thrush, Black-browed Bushtit, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Goldcrest, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, White-throated Dipper and Golden Bush Robin.

The next morning found us on the Mandala and Phudung roads, where we birded for the first half of the day. The cool upper slopes, with their mixed oak, rhododendron and coniferous forests, produced a number of quality birds, including Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Black Eagle, Crimson-naped Woodpecker, Black-headed Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-browed Tit, Southern Nutcracker, several Spotted Laughingthrushes, showy Slender-billed Scimitar Babblers, Long-tailed, Chestnut  and several Red-throated Thrushes, Hume’s Bush Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler, Sikkim Treecreeper, Red-headed Bullfinch, a small flock of Crimson-browed Finches, three Blanford’s Rosefinches and Tibetan Serins. Commoner species feeding on the numerous flowering rhododendrons included Bar-throated Minla, Stripe-throated and Rufous-vented Yuhinas, Whistler’s, Lemon-rumped and Ashy-throated Warblers, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Green-tailed Sunbird and Beautiful Sibia. One of our main objectives was to find Temminck’s Tragopan, and we spent a fair amount of the morning at a spot where the bird was supposed to cross the road, but it refused to show itself. In the afternoon, on our way towards Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, we made a detour via Shergaon, birding lower-altitude forest along the way. The best birds of the afternoon were several Black-tailed Crakes, a single Paddyfield Warbler, Collared Owlet, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Russet Bush Warbler, a couple of Tickell’s Leaf Warblers, a single Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Tickell’s Thrush, Slaty-backed Flycatcher and a couple of Ultramarine Flycatchers. Driving up the track to our accommodation at Lama Camp after dark, we saw a Grey Nightjar and had unexpectedly good views of a Mountain Scops Owl.

The main target of our first morning at Lama Camp was the relatively recently described Bugun Liocichla, discovered only in 2006 and still known from just 12–14 pairs. Rumour had it that several groups visiting the area before us had failed to find this Critically Endangered species, but fortunately our guide knew exactly where to go and, after a short wait, we saw a pair leaving their roosting area and crossing the road before disappearing into dense hillside vegetation. Later in the morning we heard another Bugun Liocichla calling below us but failed to see it. Other birds seen during the morning in this very birdy area included Asian Emerald, Lesser, Himalayan and Common Cuckoos and Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Striated Bulbul, Yellow-browed and Yellow-cheeked Tits, Striated Laughingthrush, a flock of Himalayan Cutias, White-breasted Parrotbill, Mountain Tailorbird, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, many Rusty-fronted and a few Streak-throated Barwings of the form daflaensis, Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler, Large and Rufous-bellied Niltavas, White-tailed Robin, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Golden-naped Finch and Dark-rumped Rosefinch. The afternoon was spent birding the areas above Lama Camp all the way up to Eaglenest Pass, where new birds encountered were Greater Yellownape, White-spectacled Warbler, a singing female-type Purple Cochoa, Green Shrike-Babbler, Sapphire Flycatcher, Blue-winged Laughingthrush and Red-tailed Minla.

The next morning, we revisited the areas below Lama Camp, where new birds were Bay Woodpecker, Grey-cheeked Warbler, White-tailed Nuthatch, Bhutan Laughingthrush, Lesser Shortwing and Grey-winged Blackbird. It was also good to enjoy fine scope views of another Purple Cochoa, this time a singing adult male. Later in the day we travelled to our next camp at Bompu, making numerous birding stops en route and seeing some good birds, including a tame Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, yet another Fire-tailed Myzornis, Blue-fronted Robin, which allowed only brief views as seems to be the norm, Broad-billed Warbler and a singing Aberrant Bush Warbler.

The morning of our first day at Bompu found us on the forested slopes between the camp and Sunderview, where our main targets, the amazing Blyth’s Tragopan and Ward’s Trogon, took some finding. The tragopan, a curious male, was scurrying through dense bamboo, but eventually gave good views to all, while the male trogon gave an excellent performance. Other birds seen during the morning included a confiding Eurasian Woodcock, great views of Slaty-bellied Tesia and Pygmy Cupwing, and a Brown Bullfinch, our third bullfinch of the tour. The foggy afternoon was spent around Bompu camp, where key species included two Black-crowned Scimitar Babblers in a mixed flock with White-breasted Parrotbills, Himalayan Thrush and White-gorgeted Flycatcher. We also heard Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler but failed to tease it into view.

The next morning, we began around Bompu camp, where we still had unfinished business with Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler and Chestnut-breasted Partridge, both of which we saw relatively easily. Additional delights included Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Silver-eared Mesia, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Black-throated Parrotbill, White-naped Yuhina and Golden Babbler. The rest of the day was spent birding the forests between 1,000 and 1,900 metres above sea level. Thanks to the wide altitudinal range, we covered many different forest habitats and encountered several new species with Rufous-necked Hornbill, Rufous-throated Partridge, Golden-throated Barbet, which we had only heard earlier, Mountain Bulbul, Little Pied and Ferruginous Flycatchers, Black-throated Sunbird and Long-tailed Sibia. After dark we checked a couple of sites for Hodgson’s Frogmouth but only managed to hear one individual. It was rather late in the evening when we arrived at our tented camp at Doimara at about 300 metres above sea level, just outside the wildlife sanctuary.

The next morning, we headed back into Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, where we spent a couple of hours in the bamboo zone above Khellong and searched roadside habitat farther down the road. Highlights of this very birdy morning included Kalij Pheasant, Fulvous-breasted, Grey-capped Pygmy and Pale-headed Woodpeckers, Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Wreathed Hornbill, Ruddy Kingfisher, Blue-eared Barbet, Large Scimitar Babbler, Long-tailed Broadbill, Bronzed Drongo, White-throated and Ashy Bulbuls, Asian Fairy-bluebird, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, White-hooded Babbler, White-crested and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrushes and Pale Blue Flycatcher, all of which were new for us. It was also good to see two more males of the scarce Large Blue Flycatcher and to improve our views of Yellow-vented Warbler and Black-crested Bulbul. Unfortunately, the Blue-naped Pitta that was already in my thermal imager never materialized into an acceptable view for the participants. 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 one-night stay.

The new day saw us birding close to our accommodation before taking a jeep ride in the Central Range of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. As we had already covered this area well on our earlier visit, there was not much new to see, but we still managed to find a few additions, including Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Greater Flameback, Common Woodshrike, Bengal Bushlark, Striated Babbler and Pale-chinned Flycatcher. Leaving Kaziranga behind, we drove to Tinsukia, arriving there in the evening. A roadside stop at a wetland yielded the only Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, Little Grebe and Common Coot of the tour.

The next morning we headed for Dihing-Patkai National Park, a large area of wet lowland forest with tremendous birding potential, where we spent the whole day accompanied by Bijay, an excellent local bird guide. The new habitat brought us many new birds, with highlights including a very tame male Grey Peacock-Pheasant, an adult and young Austen’s Brown Hornbill outside a nest hole, a pair of Chestnut-backed Laughingthrushes, Rufous-throated Fulvetta, which eventually allowed good views and brilliant photo opportunities, a showy pair of Grey-lored Broadbills, a recent split from Silver-breasted Broadbill, and a brief Pied Falconet. Other new birds seen on this excellent day included Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Red-headed Trogon, Brown Needletail, Thick-billed and Pin-tailed Green Pigeons, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Rufous Woodpecker, Large Woodshrike, Vernal Hanging Parrot, White-crowned Forktail, Sultan Tit and Yellow-vented and Plain Flowerpeckers. Unfortunately, we could not tease out a singing Hainan Blue Flycatcher, which was singing on the wrong side of a lake, and Streaked Wren-Babbler was seen only by Paul.

The new day began with an Eastern Barn Owl at our hotel in Tinsukia before we headed to the shores of the mighty Brahmaputra, from where we were taken by canoe to one of the nearby islands. Due to recent high-water levels, access to the main birding area, where two of our principal targets, Marsh Babbler and Swamp Grass Babbler, were supposed to occur, was blocked, and we had to bird other parts of the island. Birds seen included Lesser Coucal, Eurasian Curlew, Small Pratincole, Sand Lark, Little Heron, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Chestnut Munia, Yellow-bellied and Delicate Prinias and, finally, good views of Chestnut-capped Babbler, a bird we had heard several times before. A brief stop on the mainland at Maguli Bheel produced Watercock and Rufescent Prinia. Soon after leaving the Brahmaputra behind, we were hit by a massive tropical storm that lasted until the afternoon. We then drove to Roing at the base of the Mishmi Hills, where, after checking in to our hotel, we headed for the lower part of the hills for more birding. First, however, we had to visit the office of the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, where we all had to sign a waiver releasing the authorities from all responsibility regarding two man-eating tigers roaming the higher reaches of the Mishmi Hills! The rest of the day produced a brief Collared Treepie for some, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Black-backed Forktail and an excellent Western Hooded Pitta.

During the next two days we concentrated on the higher reaches of the Mishmi Hills, spending most of our time in the areas beyond Mayodia Pass, where some of the most important target birds were lurking, while also doing some roadside birding lower down along the road towards Roing. The main targets, some of which put up determined resistance before finally surrendering were Gould’s Shortwing, Rusty-bellied Shortwing, Mishmi Wren-Babbler and Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, but we also added Darjeeling Woodpecker, Green Cochoa, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Green-crowned Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Chestnut Thrush, Bar-winged Wren-Babbler and Brown-throated and Manipur Fulvettas to the bird list. The morning of our third day in the Mishmi Hills was spent lower down, where we found our main target, a cooperative Beautiful Nuthatch, after a search. We also called in a brilliant Long-billed Wren-Babbler, another new bird for us, and had great views of a showy pair of Ward’s Trogons. Other birds included White-throated Needletails, a pair of Rufous-necked Hornbills, Crested Goshawk, Rufous-backed Sibia, Grey-bellied Tesia and Snowy-browed Flycatcher. After lunch we visited grasslands by the Dibang River, where we had great views of Black-breasted Parrotbill and Jerdon’s Babbler. Later in the afternoon we revisited bamboo habitat in the lower Mishmi Hills, seeing Buff-breasted Babbler, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher and Little Spiderhunter.

On our last morning in Roing we headed for Elopa Grassland, an hour’s drive away, an amazing place to see the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican. During our short visit we estimated a total of eleven birds, including two females. Totally mind-boggling! Other birds included Zitting and Golden-headed Cisticolas, Blyth’s Pipit and Eastern Marsh Harrier. Later we headed back to Tinsukia and Maguli Bheel, stopping en route for the Critically Endangered White-rumped Vulture. An afternoon birding at Maguli produced both Cinnamon and Yellow Bitterns, Osprey, Swamp Francolin and a singing Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler. Later, after nightfall, we took two boats out onto the bheel. It took some time to find our main target, an Eastern Grass Owl sitting on a pole, a write-in and a lifer for the leader. During the search we also saw Large-tailed Nightjar and Eastern Barn Owl, enjoyed the clunking song of a couple of Watercocks, and heard Spotted Owlet, Brown Hawk-Owl, Asian Barred Owlet, Oriental Scops Owl and Collared Scops Owl.

The heavy rain that had started the previous evening was still falling when we reached the shores of the Brahmaputra the next morning, but eventually it eased off and we were soon back on one of the river islands. This time we were able to access the birding sites and soon located a Marsh Babbler, but Swamp Grass Babbler could not be found despite an intensive search. Other birds included Swamp Francolin, Chinese Rubythroat, and Paddyfield and Thick-billed Warblers. The rest of the day was spent travelling to the town of Khonoma in Nagaland, where we settled into two different homestays.

The following morning saw us on the Dzüleki road and in the Tragopan Sanctuary, where we climbed a few hundred metres up a rather steep slope into the habitat of the range-restricted Naga Wren-Babbler, which we located quite easily and enjoyed excellent views of a confiding pair. To find the restricted-range Brown-capped Laughingthrush we had to climb considerably higher, including sections of a treacherous trail, but in the end we had acceptable views of a skulking bird. Other birds seen during the morning included our first Mountain Bamboo Partridges, Black-headed, White-browed and Black-eared Shrike-Babblers, Rufous-crowned Prinia, Nepal House Martin, Grey-crowned and Grey-hooded Warblers, Crested Finchbill, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Grey Sibia, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Indian Blue Robin and Pygmy Flycatcher. During the lunch break some of us saw a pair of Yellow-bellied Flowerpeckers in flowering trees just outside their homestay. In the afternoon we visited agricultural areas below Khonoma, where, despite rather heavy rain, we found new birds with a pair of Spot-breasted Parrotbills, three White-browed Laughingthrushes, several Yellow-eyed Babblers and Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher.

The next morning, we were back in the sanctuary area, where a short birding session produced many of the same species as the previous day, plus Rusty-capped Fulvetta, the much-needed Striped Laughingthrush and Black-breasted Thrush. It was also good to get everyone onto a showy Large Hawk-Cuckoo, a species we had heard so many times during the tour. We then travelled farther into the state of Manipur and the village of Jessami for a two-night stay. After nightfall at Jessami, we visited a wonderful roosting male Mrs Hume’s Pheasant that had been tracked down by local ex-hunters, and afterwards still had enough energy to go out looking for Hodgson’s Frogmouth, which we heard well but failed to see.

Jessami, in Manipur, is a new birding location that has rapidly become popular among visiting birders, as it holds many of the same special birds as the more traditional sites in Manipur but is completely safe to visit. Unfortunately, the authorities here and in neighbouring Nagaland are tightening their grip on visiting permits, and it currently looks as though Jessami, despite being completely safe, is going to be off-limits to visiting birders for the foreseeable future. The main reason for our visit to Jessami was the range-restricted Yellow-throated Laughingthrush, which occurs here in deep valleys and is generally rather easy to find in winter, when the birds move around in large flocks. Unfortunately for us, spring had arrived early this year, the flocks had broken up, and the birds had dispersed widely through the valleys to prepare for breeding; we could not locate them in the short time, just one morning, that we had available. Birds we did see in this interesting area included Barred Buttonquail, Cinnamon Bittern, Rufous, Fulvous-breasted, Grey-headed and Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers, a pair of Rosy Minivets, a good bird here, many Burmese and Brown Shrikes, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Asian House Martin and several Blyth’s Pipits. In the afternoon we drove to Pfutsero for a one-night stay. The next morning, before driving to Dimapur, we had a couple of hours of roadside birding near Pfutsero, where, after many heard-only encounters, sightings of Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liocichla and Rusty-capped Fulvetta were especially welcome. Back at the hotel it was time to pack and then drive to the airport, where we said our goodbyes and thanked 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: Fire-tailed Myzornis

2nd: Blyth’s Tragopan

3rd: Bengal Florican, Bar-headed Goose & Eastern Grass Owl

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 AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025b. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025b

Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in the species comment.

BIRDS

Lesser Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna javanica

Cotton Pygmy Goose  Nettapus coromandelianus  Ten in Kaziranga’s Eastern Range.

Bar-headed Goose  Anser indicus  25 in Kaziranga’s Western Range.

Ruddy Shelduck  Tadorna ferruginea

Garganey  Spatula querquedula

Northern Shoveler  Spatula clypeata

Gadwall  Mareca strepera

Indian Spot-billed Duck  Anas poecilorhyncha

Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos  A pair at Sela pass on both visits. A rare bird on this itinerary.

Green-winged Teal  Anas crecca

Hill Partridge (Common H-P)  Arborophila torqueola  A few sightings and several heard only in the Dirang-Eaglenest area and again in the Mishmi Hills.

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  A few sightings in the Eaglenest area. Also heard in Nagaland. Ssp rufogularis.

Snow Partridge ◊  Lerwa lerwa  Good views of a group of three birds at Sela pass.

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

Blyth’s Tragopan ◊  Tragopan blythii  A brilliant male at Eaglenest WLS. Also heard in Mishmi Hills. Ssp molesworthi.

Himalayan Monal ◊  Lophophorus impejanus  A total of three males 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 and Nagaland. Ssp lathami.

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

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

Red Junglefowl  Gallus gallus  ssp murghi

Swamp Francolin ◊  Ortygornis gularis  Seen on two days in the lowlands along the Brahmaputra. Also heard in Kaziranga.

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis  One enroute to Tinsukia.

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus  A singleton at Sela pass on both visits.

Bengal Florican ◊  Houbaropsis bengalensis  An amazing morning with an estimated 11 individuals at Elopa grassland near Roing. 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  Good views in Dihing Patkai. A few more were heard elsewhere.

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

Asian Emerald Cuckoo (S)  Chrysococcyx maculatus  A total of four 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. It took quite some time before we had visual contact with this bird.

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

Lesser Cuckoo (S)  Cuculus poliocephalus  One was seen at Eaglenest WLS. In addition, ten or so were heard during the tour.

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

Himalayan Cuckoo (S)  Cuculus saturatus  Widespread in the mountains.

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

Barred Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia unchall  ssp tusalia

Spotted Dove  Spilopelia chinensis  ssp tigrina

Red Collared Dove (Red Turtle D)  Streptopelia tranquebarica

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

Snow Pigeon ◊  Columba leuconota  20-30 birds at Sela Pass on both visits.

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

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  Ten or so in Dihing-Patkai.  Ssp apicauda

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon  Treron sphenurus  One at Bompu camp, Eaglenest WLS.

Green Imperial Pigeon  Ducula aenea  Rather common in the lowlands, ssp sylvatica.

Mountain Imperial Pigeon  Ducula badia  Fairly common in the Eaglenest area, ssp griseicapilla.

Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian Coot (Common C)  Fulica atra

Purple Swamphen (Grey-headed S)  Porphyrio [porphyrio] poliocephalus

Watercock  Gallicrex cinerea  Brief views of one at Maguli Beel on our first visit and two calling birds in the darkness on our second visit.

White-breasted Waterhen  Amaurornis phoenicurus  ssp phoenicurus

Black-tailed Crake ◊  Zapornia bicolor  Several birds in and around Shergaon. Also heard in Dirang.

Long-billed Plover ◊  Charadrius placidus  Four near Tenga and one in the Sangti Valley.

Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius  Two sightings.

River Lapwing  Vanellus duvaucelii

Grey-headed Lapwing  Vanellus cinereus  Two enroute to Kaziranga on our first day.

Red-wattled Lapwing  Vanellus indicus

Pheasant-tailed Jacana  Hydrophasianus chirurgus  Two sightings of two birds in Assam.

Bronze-winged Jacana  Metopidius indicus 

Eurasian Curlew  Numenius arquata  One by the Brahmaputra.

Eurasian Woodcock  Scolopax rusticola  Brilliant views of a confiding bird at Eaglenest WLS.

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Common Redshank  Tringa totanus

Spotted Redshank  Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Temminck’s Stint  Calidris temminckii  One non-leader bird at the Guwahati dump.

Barred Buttonquail  Turnix suscitator  One in Manipur was a good surprise.

Small Pratincole  Glareola lactea  One by the Brahmaputra.

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida  Six in Kaziranga and a flock of three on the way to Nagaland.

Black-headed Gull (Common B-h G)  Chroicocephalus ridibundus  A flock of 26 birds by the Brahmaputra.

Brown-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus  Two sightings.

Asian Openbill  Anastomus oscitans

Greater Adjutant ◊  Leptoptilos dubius  200 or so at the Guwahati dump and small numbers in Kaziranga NP.

Lesser Adjutant  Leptoptilos javanicus  Small numbers were noted on four days.

Black-necked Stork  Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus  Small numbers in Kaziranga, ssp asiaticus.

Asian Woolly-necked Stork  Ciconia episcopus

Oriental Darter  Anhinga melanogaster

Little Cormorant  Microcarbo niger

Glossy Ibis  Plegadis falcinellus

Black-headed Ibis  Threskiornis melanocephalus

Spot-billed Pelican ◊  Pelecanus philippensis  Small numbers in Kaziranga.

Cinnamon Bittern  Botaurus cinnamomeus  A few were seen.

Yellow Bittern  Botaurus sinensis  Two at Maguli Bheel.

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax

Little Heron  Butorides atricapilla

Indian Pond Heron  Ardeola grayii

Great Egret  Ardea alba

Medium Egret  Ardea intermedia

Eastern Cattle Egret  Ardea coromanda

Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea  ssp manilensis

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Grey Nightjar  Caprimulgus jotaka  ssp hazarae.

Large-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus macrurus  Seen at Doimara camp by some and at Maguli Beel by all, ssp bimaculatus.

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

White-throated Needletail (S)  Hirundapus caudacutus  ssp nudipes

Brown-backed Needletail  Hirundapus giganteus

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

Dark-rumped Swift ◊  Apus acuticauda  Great views of a flock of 15 at a newly discovered site on the way to Dirang. In addition a singleton near Khonoma in Nagaland.

Fork-tailed Swift (Blyth’s S) Apus [pacificus] leuconyx

House Swift  Apus nipalensis

Himalayan Swiftlet  Aerodramus brevirostris  Quite widespread in the mountains from Mishmi Hills to Nagaland. Ssp brevirostris.

Eastern Grass Owl  Tyto longimembris  One at Maguli Beel on our nocturnal boat trip.

Eastern Barn Owl  Tyto javanica  One at the hotel in Tinsukia and another one at Maguli Beel.

Brown Boobook (B Hawk Owl)  Ninox scutulata  One was seen at our accommodation in Kaziranga and another one near Maguli Bheel. In addition, a handful of birds were heard.

Collared Owlet  Taenioptynx brodiei  Commonly heard in the mountains and good views of one in the Dirang region. Ssp brodiei

Spotted Owlet  Athene brama

Asian Barred Owlet  Glaucidium cuculoides 

Mountain Scops Owl  Otus spilocephalus  Good views of one at Eaglenest WLS. Ssp spilocephalus.

Collared Scops Owl  Otus lettia  Heard only.

Oriental Scops Owl  Otus sunia  One was seen at our accommodation in Kaziranga.

Brown Fish Owl  Ketupa zeylonensis  A roadside pair in Kaziranga.

Brown Wood Owl  Strix leptogrammica  One at Lamacamp on our first morning there.

Himalayan Owl ◊ (H Wood O)  Strix nivicolum  Brilliant views of a roosting individual near Sela pass.

Osprey (Western O)  Pandion [haliaetus] haliaetus

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus  ssp vociferus

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

Jerdon’s Baza  Aviceda jerdoni  One at Bhalukpong, one near Khellong at Eaglenest WLS and two at Dihing-Patkai.

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

White-rumped Vulture  Gyps bengalensis  Two adult birds near the Brahmaputra river crossing. Critically endangered.

Himalayan Vulture (H Griffon V)  Gyps himalayensis  Small numbers in Kaziranga and at Sela Pass.

Slender-billed Vulture ◊  Gyps tenuirostris  A few in Kaziranga. Critically endangered.

Crested Serpent Eagle  Spilornis cheela  ssp cheela

Mountain Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus nipalensis  ssp nipalensis

Changeable Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus cirrhatus  Just two, both in Kaziranga, ssp limnaeetus.

Rufous-bellied Eagle  Lophotriorchis kienerii  One near Bhalukpong and another one near Elupa grassland.

Black Eagle  Ictinaetus malaiensis  Noted on five days in the mountains, ssp perniger.

Booted Eagle  Hieraaetus pennatus  Two sightings.

Steppe Eagle  Aquila nipalensis  Two near Bhalukpong.

Crested Goshawk  Lophospiza trivirgata   Surprisingly scarce this year, only one seen. Ssp indicus.

Shikra  Tachyspiza badia  ssp poliopsis

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus

Pied Harrier  Circus melanoleucos  A female on the way to Kaziranga on the first day and the next day a male there.

Eastern Marsh Harrier  Circus spilonotus  Two sightings.

Black Kite (Black-eared K)  Milvus [migrans] lineatus

Black Kite (Pariah K)  Milvus [migrans] govinda

Pallas’s Fish Eagle ◊  Haliaeetus leucoryphus  A total of five including two juveniles in Kaziranga.

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

Himalayan Buzzard  Buteo refectus  A few in the Dirang area..

Red-headed Trogon  Harpactes erythrocephalus  ssp erythrocephalus

Ward’s Trogon ◊  Harpactes wardi  Brilliant sighting of a male at Eaglenest WLS and equally good observation of a pair at Mishmi Hills..

Common Hoopoe (Common H)  Upupa epops

Great Hornbill (Great Pied H)  Buceros bicornis  A few with good views in Kaziranga.

Austen’s Brown Hornbill ◊  Anorrhinus austeni  An adult and a recently fledged juvenile at nest in Dihing-Patkai. Great views.

Oriental Pied Hornbill  Anthracoceros albirostris  ssp albirostris  Seen in Kaziranga.

Rufous-necked Hornbill ◊  Aceros nipalensis  A total of four at Eaglenest WLS and two in Mishmi Hills.

Wreathed Hornbill  Rhyticeros undulatus  One at Eaglenest WLS.

Indochinese Roller  Coracias affinis  Widespread in the Assam lowlands.

Blue-bearded Bee-eater  Nyctyornis athertoni   A singleton in Kaziranga, ssp athertoni.

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

Asian Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis  ssp ferrugeiceps

Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis

Crested Kingfisher (Himalayan Pied K)  Megaceryle lugubris  One in the Mishmi Hills.

Pied Kingfisher (Lesser Pied K)  Ceryle rudis  ssp leucomelanurus.

Stork-billed Kingfisher  Pelargopsis capensis  ssp capensis.

Ruddy Kingfisher  Halcyon coromanda  ssp coromanda.

White-throated Kingfisher  Halcyon smyrnensis  ssp perpulchra.

Coppersmith Barbet  Psilopogon haemacephalus

Blue-eared Barbet  Psilopogon cyanotis  Good views of one near Khellong at Eaglenest WLS. In addition, a handful of were heard during the tour. Ssp cyanotis.

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

Yellow-rumped Honeyguide ◊  Indicator xanthonotus  One male in Eaglenest WLS:

Rufous Woodpecker  Micropternus brachyurus  ssp phaioceps

Pale-headed Woodpecker ◊  Gecinulus grantia  ssp grantia  One at Eaglenest WLS.

Black-rumped Flameback  Dinopium benghalense   Two in Guwahati.

Lesser Yellownape  Picus chlorolophus  ssp chlorolophus

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

Greater Yellownape  Chrysophlegma flavinucha  ssp flavinucha

Bay Woodpecker  Blythipicus pyrrhotis  ssp pyrrhotis

Greater Flameback  Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus  ssp guttacristatus

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker  Yungipicus canicapillus

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker  Dendrocopos hyperythrus  ssp hyperythrus

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

Darjeeling Woodpecker (D Pied W)  Dendrocopos darjellensis

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

Pied Falconet  Microhierax melanoleucos  One in Dihing Patkai.

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus  One in Kaziranga.

Peregrine Falcon  Falco peregrinus  One in the Dirang region.

Alexandrine Parakeet  Psittacula eupatria  ssp avensis A few in Kaziranga.

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

Blossom-headed Parakeet (Rosy-h P)  Psittacula roseata  ssp juneae  A total of 16 in Kaziranga.

Red-breasted Parakeet  Psittacula alexandri  ssp fasciata  This lowland parakeet was common in Kaziranga.

Vernal Hanging Parrot  Loriculus vernalis  Good views of one at Dihing Patkai. A tour write-in!

Long-tailed Broadbill  Psarisomus dalhousiae  ssp dalhousiae

Grey-lored Broadbill ◊  Serilophus rubropygius  A confiding pair gave good views in Dihing Patkai. A recent split from Silver-breasted Broadbill.

Blue-naped Pitta ◊  Hydrornis nipalensis  Heard only.

Western Hooded Pitta (S)  Pitta sordida  ssp cucullate  Great views of one at Mishmi Hills.

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  A pair in Manipur was a nice surprise. Apparently, a scarce bird in this corner of NE India.

Indian Cuckooshrike  Coracina macei  Seen in the lowland forests of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Black-winged Cuckooshrike  Lalage melaschistos

Ashy Woodswallow  Artamus fuscus

Common Iora  Aegithina tiphia

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

Large Woodshrike  Tephrodornis virgatus  ssp pelvicus  A few in Dihing Patkai.

Common Woodshrike  Tephrodornis pondicerianus  One in Kaziranga.

Black-headed Shrike-babbler ◊  Pteruthius rufiventer  Single birds were sieen along the Mandala road, Eaglenest WLS and Khonoma.

White-browed Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius aeralatus  ssp validirostris  Fairly widespread in the higher altitude forests.

Green Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius xanthochlorus  ssp xanthochlorus Some excellent views in the Eaglenest area.

Black-eared Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius melanotis  ssp melanotis  A few birds were noted at Eaglenest, Mishmi Hills and Nagaland.

White-bellied Erpornis (W-b Yuhina)  Erpornis zantholeuca  A handful of birds in the lowland forests.

Maroon Oriole  Oriolus traillii  ssp traillii  Noted on nine days in the mountains. 

Black-hooded Oriole  Oriolus xanthornus  ssp xanthornus  Regular in Kaziranga, a few elsewhere.

Slender-billed Oriole  Oriolus tenuirostris  Heard only in Dirang.

White-throated Fantail  Rhipidura albicollis  ssp stanleyi

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

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

Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone affinis

Burmese Shrike  Lanius collurioides  Ten or so near Jessami. Interestingly we didn’t see any there on our previous visit in 2025.

Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius Schach  ssp tricolor

Brown Shrike  Lanius cristatus  Ten or so near Jessami. A few elsewhere.

Grey-backed Shrike  Lanius tephronotus

Red-billed Chough  Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax  ssp himalayanus  Only noted around Sela pass, where common.

Rufous Treepie  Dendrocitta vagabunda  ssp vagabunda

Grey Treepie  Dendrocitta formosae  ssp himalayensis

Collared Treepie ◊  Dendrocitta frontalis  One was seen and another one heard in the Mishmi Hills.

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie  Urocissa flavirostris  ssp flavirostris  This handsome high altitude magpie was sighted along the Mandala road, at Eaglenest and in the Mishmi Hills.

Red-billed Blue Magpie  Urocissa erythroryncha  One in Jessami, Manipur.

Eurasian Jay (Plain-crowned J)  Garrulus [glandarius] bispecularis  This very distinct looking subspecies of Eurasian Jay was sighted in the Mishmi Hills.

Southern Nutcracker  Nucifraga hemispila  A handful of birds in the Dirang area.

House Crow  Corvus splendens  ssp splendens

Large-billed Crow  Corvus macrorhynchos  ssp tibetosinensis  This high-altitude form of Large-billed Crow was seen on three days in the Dirang area.

Large-billed Crow (Eastern Jungle C)  Corvus [macrorhynchos] levaillantii  This form of Large-billed Crow was a regular sight in the lowlands.

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  A few birds were noted in Dihing Patkai and in the Mishmi Hills.

Green-backed Tit  Parus monticolus  ssp yunnanensis

Cinereous Tit (Grey T)  Parus cinereus  ssp nipalensis

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

Coal Tit (Himalayan C T)  Periparus [ater] aemodius  Small numbers in the Dirang area.

Rufous-vented Tit  Periparus rubidiventris  A few sightings in the Sela pass area.

Grey-crested Tit  Lophophanes dichrous  Seen in the conifer zone beyond Sela pass.

Bengal Bush Lark ◊  Plocealauda assamica  Three with good views in Kaziranga.

Oriental Skylark  Alauda gulgula

Sand Lark ◊  Alaudala raytal  ssp raytal  A pair on the Brahmaputra island on both visits.

Common Tailorbird  Orthotomus sutorius

Dark-necked Tailorbird  Orthotomus atrogularis  ssp nitidus  Two in Dihing Patkai. Also heard in Kaziranga.

Black-throated Prinia  Prinia atrogularis  A few birds with good views in the western Arunachal.

Rufous-crowned Prinia ◊  Prinia khasiana  Rather common in Nagaland.

Rufescent Prinia  Prinia rufescens  Few sightings in Assam and in Nagaland.

Grey-breasted Prinia  Prinia hodgsonii  ssp rufula

Delicate Prinia  Prinia lepida  Seen along the grasslands of Brahmaputra.

Yellow-bellied Prinia  Prinia flaviventris  ssp flaviventris Seen along the grasslands of Brahmaputra.

Ashy Prinia  Prinia socialis  ssp stewarti

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

Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis  A few at Elopa grassland.

Golden-headed Cisticola (Bright-capped C)  Cisticola exilis  Five or so at Elopa grassland.

Thick-billed Warbler  Arundinax aedon  One was seen and another one heard at Maguli Beel.

Paddyfield Warbler  Acrocephalus agricola  One at Shergaon and another at Elopa grassland.

Blyth’s Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus dumetorum  One at Bhaghjan grassland.

Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler (Rusty-rumped W)  Helopsaltes certhiola  One singing bird at Maguli Beel.

Spotted Bush Warbler  Locustella thoracica  Heard only on the Brahmaputra island

Russet Bush Warbler ◊  Locustella mandelli  Seen at Shergaon and several heard in the Dirang area.

Striated Grassbird  Megalurus palustris  ssp toklao  Rather common around the lowland wetlands.

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

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

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

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica  ssp gutturalis

Nepal House Martin  Delichon nipalense  ssp cutting

Asian House Martin  Delichon dasypus  ssp cashmeriense

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow  Cecropis daurica

White-browed Tit-warbler  Leptopoecile sophiae  A pair at Sela pass.

Black-throated Bushtit  Aegithalos concinnus  ssp rubricapillus

Black-browed Bushtit ◊  Aegithalos iouschistos  Excellent views in the Sela pass area.

Pale-footed Bush Warbler  Hemitesia pallidipes  Heard only in Manipur.

Grey-bellied Tesia (Yellow-browed T)  Tesia cyaniventer  Commonly heard in the Mishmi Hills, where we also sighted this species.

Slaty-bellied Tesia  Tesia olivea  ssp olivea  Commonly heard at Eaglenest, where also seen.

Grey-sided Bush Warbler  Cettia brunnifrons  Good views of one in the Mishmi Hills.

Chestnut-headed Tesia  Cettia castaneocoronata  ssp castaneocoronata

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  A few sightings at the Eaglenest WLS.

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

Hume’s Bush Warbler  Horornis brunnescens  A few along the Mandala road and in the Mishmi Hills.

Aberrant Bush Warbler  Horornis flavolivaceus  A calling bird was teased out at Eaglenest WLS.

Buff-barred Warbler (Orange-b W)  Phylloscopus pulcher  Scarce this year, only a few birds were noted.

Ashy-throated Warbler (A-t Leaf W, Grey-faced L W)  Phylloscopus maculipennis  ssp maculipennis  Ten or so in the higher altitude forests.

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

Sichuan Leaf Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus forresti  Three in the Mishmi Hills. 

Lemon-rumped Warbler (L-r Leaf W)  Phylloscopus chloronotus  Ten or so in the western Arunachal (Dirang region and Eaglenest).

Tickell’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus affinis  Good showing including even some small flocks of wintering birds in the lowlands.

Dusky Warbler  Phylloscopus fuscatus  ssp fuscatus  Small numbers were noted.

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.

Green-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus burkii  One in the Mishmi Hills.

Grey-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus tephrocephalus  Noted in Nagaland.

Grey-cheeked Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus poliogenys

White-spectacled Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus intermedius  ssp zosterops  Several birds at Eaglenest.

Whistler’s Warbler  Phylloscopus whistleri  ssp nemoralis  Fairly common at Eaglenest and in the Mishmi Hills.

Greenish Warbler  Phylloscopus trochiloides  A handful of wintering birds.

Large-billed Leaf Warbler ◊ (S)  Phylloscopus magnirostris  Noted in the Dirang region and again in Mishmi Hills.

Chestnut-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus castaniceps  ssp castaniceps

Yellow-vented Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus cantator  ssp cantator  A handful of birds in the lower reaches of the Bhalukpong-Eaglenest area. Also heard in Jessami in Manipur.

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus reguloides  ssp assamensis Widespread.

Grey-hooded Warbler  Phylloscopus xanthoschistos  ssp flavogularis/tephrodiras

Black-crested Bulbul  Rubigula flaviventris  ssp flaviventris

Crested Finchbill  Spizixos canifrons  Common in Nagaland.

Red-whiskered Bulbul  Pycnonotus jocosus  ssp monticola

Red-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus cafer  ssp bengalensis

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

Fire-tailed Myzornis ◊  Myzornis pyrrhoura  A gorgeous pair along the road below Sela pass and a singleton at Eaglenest pass.

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  Good views of one at a grassland near Roing. The subspecies griseigulare of NE India differs quite markedly from the more western scindicum. A future split?

Brown-throated Fulvetta ◊  Fulvetta ludlowi  A few in the Mishmi Hills.

Manipur Fulvetta ◊ (Streak-throated F)  Fulvetta manipurensis  A few in the Mishmi Hills.

Black-breasted Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis flavirostris Good views of one at a grassland near Roing.

Spot-breasted Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis guttaticollis  Two below Khonoma in Nagaland.

White-breasted Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis ruficeps  Moderate numbers with brilliant views at Eaglenest.

Black-throated Parrotbill ◊ (Grey-breasted P)  Suthora [nipalensis] poliotis  Small numbers at Eaglenest, Mishmi Hills and Nagaland.

Pale-billed Parrotbill  Suthora atrosuperciliaris   Three in the bamboo above Bhalukpong enroute to Dirang.

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-fronted Babbler (Buff-chested B)  Cyanoderma [rufifrons] ambiguum  Heard only.

Rufous-capped Babbler  Cyanoderma ruficeps  ssp ruficeps

Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis caudatus  Good views at Eaglenest where relatively common.

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

Bar-winged Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis troglodytoides  ssp sherriffi  Acceptable views of a single bird on Mishmi Hills.

Naga Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis chocolatinus  Great views of a pair in Khonoma. Endemic.

Black-crowned Scimitar Babbler ◊  Pomatorhinus ferruginosus  ssp ferruginosus  Two below Lamacamp at Eaglenest.

Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler ◊ (Sickle-b S B)  Pomatorhinus superciliaris  ssp superciliaris  Excellent views of an interacting group of six along the Mandala road. Also noted in Mishmi Hills.

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler  Pomatorhinus ruficollis  ssp godwini & bakeri  Common in the Dirang-Eaglenest area.

White-browed Scimitar Babbler  Pomatorhinus schisticeps  ssp salimali  Three in the Khellong area in Eaglenest.

Large Scimitar Babbler  Erythrogenys hypoleucos  A pair below Khellong at Eaglenest WLS.

Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler ◊  Erythrogenys mcclellandi  Fairly common in Nagaland and Manipur.

Grey-throated Babbler  Stachyris nigriceps  ssp nigriceps  Heard only.

Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler ◊ (Blackish-breasted B)  Stachyris humei  A pair below Bompu camp at Eaglenest.

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

White-hooded Babbler ◊ (Indian W-h B)  Gampsorhynchus rufulus  Three in the Khellong area in Eaglenest.

Yellow-throated Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus cinereus  Noted daily at Eaglenest and in Mishmi Hills.

Rufous-winged Fulvetta  Schoeniparus castaneceps  ssp castaneceps

Rufous-throated Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus rufogularis  Brilliant views in Dihing Patkai.

Rusty-capped Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus dubius  ssp mandellii  A few in Nagaland with good views.

Puff-throated Babbler  Pellorneum ruficeps  ssp pectorale

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

Buff-breasted Babbler  Pellorneum tickelli  One was seen in Mishmi Hills.

Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler  Napothera epilepidota  One at Eaglenest WLS.

Long-billed Wren-Babbler  Napothera malacoptila  After couple of heard only birds, we had great views of one in Mishmi Hills.

Abbott’s Babbler  Malacocincla abbotti  Two in Kaziranga.

Streaked Wren-Babbler Gypsophila brevicaudata  Non-leader. One for Paul in Dihing Patkai.

Nepal Fulvetta ◊  Alcippe nipalensis  ssp nipalensis  Seen in Dihing Patkai and Mishmi Hills.

Striated Laughingthrush  Grammatoptila striata  ssp brahmaputra

Himalayan Cutia  Cutia nipalensis  ssp nipalensis  Several good sightings at Eaglenest and in Mishmi Hills.

Brown-capped Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron austeni  Near-endemic, occurs also in W Myanmar. Poor views of one in Nagaland.

Blue-winged Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron squamatum  Often heard but only seen on our last morning in Pfutsero.

Bhutan Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron imbricatum  A few were sighted in the Dirang-Eaglenest area.

Striped Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron virgatum  Near-endemic, occurs also in W Myanmar. Good views of a pair in Nagaland.

Black-faced Laughingthrush  Trochalopteron affine  ssp bethalae  Good views around Sela pass and in Mishmi Hills.

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron erythrocephalum  ssp godwini  Fairly common at Eaglenest and in Mishmi Hills.

Assam Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron chrysopterum  Heard only. Near endemic.

Long-tailed Sibia ◊  Heterophasia picaoides  ssp picaoides  Good views at Eaglenest WLS:

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

Grey Sibia ◊  Heterophasia gracilis  Commonly encountered in Nagaland.

Streak-throated Barwing ◊ (Grey-breasted B)  Actinodura [waldeni] daflaensis  Noted on four days at Eaglenest.

Streak-throated Barwing ◊ (Rufous-breasted B)  Actinodura [waldeni] waldeni  A pair in Mishmi Hills.

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  One in Mishmi Hills.

Bugun Liocichla ◊  Liocichla bugunorum  Endemic, and with only 12-14 known pairs critically endangered. We saw a pair and heard a third individual below Lama camp in Eaglenest WLS.

Red-faced Liocichla ◊ (Crimson-f L)  Liocichla phoenicea  We heard a few birds in Mishmi Hills (ssp phoenicea) and sighted ssp bakeri in Nagaland.

Slender-billed Babbler ◊  Argya longirostris  Heard only in Kaziranga.

Striated Babbler ◊  Argya earlei  ssp earlei

White-crested Laughingthrush  Garrulax leucolophus  ssp leucolophus.

Spotted Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla ocellata  ssp ocellata

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus ruficollis

Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus nuchalis  Near-endemic, occurs also in N Myanmar. Two seen and one more heard at Dihing Patkai.

White-browed Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus sannio  Three in Khonoma, Nagaland.

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus pectoralis  ssp pectoralis  Good views near Khellong at Eaglenest. A few were heard elsewhere.

Grey-sided Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus caerulatus  ssp caerulatus.  Good views at the dump at Bompu camp. A few were heard elsewhere.

Goldcrest  Regulus regulus  ssp sikkimensis  One in the conifer forest beyond Sela pass. Rather scarce bird on this itinerary. 

Beautiful Nuthatch ◊  Sitta formosa  Great views of one in Mishmi Hills.

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch  Sitta frontalis  A few were noted in Kaziranga, Nagaland and Manipur.

White-tailed Nuthatch  Sitta himalayensis

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch  Sitta nagaensis  ssp nagaensis  Two sightings in Khonoma, Nagaland.

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch  Sitta cinnamoventris  ssp koelzi

Hodgson’s Treecreeper  Certhia hodgsoni  One in the conifer forest beyond Sela pass. 

Sikkim Treecreeper (Brown-throated T)  Certhia discolor

Eurasian Wren  Troglodytes troglodytes  ssp nipalensis  Fairly common around Sela pass.

Spotted Elachura ◊ (Spotted W-b)  Elachura formosa  One was seen below Lamacamp at Eaglenest. In addition, a handful of birds were heard during the tour.

Common Hill Myna  Gracula religiosa  ssp intermedia  Small numbers in Kaziranga and in Dihing Patkai.

Indian Pied Myna (Asian Pied Starling)  Gracupica contra  ssp superciliaris  Rather common and widespread in the lowlands.

Chestnut-tailed Starling (Grey-headed S)  Sturnia malabarica  ssp malabarica  Fairly common and widespread in the lowlands.

Bank Myna ◊  Acridotheres ginginianus  A flock of four en route to Kaziranga on the first day of the tour.

Common Myna  Acridotheres tristis  ssp tristis

Great Myna (White-vented M)  Acridotheres grandis  Rather common and widespread in the lowlands.

Jungle Myna  Acridotheres fuscus  ssp fumidus  Common and widespread in the lowlands.

White-throated Dipper  Cinclus cinclus  ssp przewalskii. Two beyond Sela pass.

Brown Dipper  Cinclus pallasii  ssp dorjei  Three sightings.

Grandala ◊  Grandala coelicolor  One male at Sela pass.

Long-tailed Thrush ◊  Zoothera dixoni  One for some of the group along the Mandala road.

Alpine Thrush  Zoothera mollissima  One was seen and another one heard at Sela pass.

Himalayan Thrush  Zoothera salimalii  One below Bompu camp at Eaglenest WLS:

Purple Cochoa ◊  Cochoa purpurea  Two singing birds giving good scope views in Eaglenest. Also heard in Khonoma.

Green Cochoa ◊  Cochoa viridis  Two were seen in Mishmi Hills and few others were heard.

Tibetan Blackbird ◊  Turdus maximus  Three birds at Sela pass.

White-collared Blackbird  Turdus albocinctus

Chestnut Thrush  Turdus rubrocanus  First one non-leader bird along the Mandala road and later two showy individuals in Mishmi Hills.

Red-throated Thrush  Turdus ruficollis  Good views of two birds along the Mandala road.

Grey-winged Blackbird  Turdus boulboul  A handful of birds at Eaglenest and Mishmi Hills combined.

Tickell’s Thrush ◊  Turdus unicolor  One at Shergaon.

Black-breasted Thrush ◊  Turdus dissimilis  One co-operative individual near Khonoma in Nagaland. In addition, Pierre saw one in Mishmi Hills.

Oriental Magpie-Robin  Copsychus saularis  ssp erimelas

White-rumped Shama  Copsychus malabaricus  ssp macrourus

Ferruginous Flycatcher  Muscicapa ferruginea  One at Eaglenest and a total of three near Khonoma.

Dark-sided Flycatcher (S)  Muscicapa sibirica  ssp cacabata

Large Niltava  Niltava grandis  ssp grandis

Small Niltava  Niltava macgrigoriae  ssp signata

Rufous-bellied Niltava  Niltava sundara

Verditer Flycatcher  Eumyias thalassinus  ssp thalassinus

White-gorgeted Flycatcher  Anthipes monileger  ssp leucops  A few were sighted at Eaglenest. Also heard in Mishmi Hills.

Pale-chinned Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis poliogenys  This lowland flycatcher was seen near Kaziranga.

Pale Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis unicolor  ssp unicolor  A few at Eaglenest.

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher (S)  Cyornis rubeculoides  ssp rubeculoides  A few sightings near Khonoma in Nagaland.

Hainan Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis hainanus  Heard only. Two birds were heard in Dihing Patkai, but we couldn’t tease them out. This form, dialilaemus, formerly treated as a lowland form of Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher, is now considered to be part of the Hainan Blue Flycatcher complex.

Large Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis magnirostris  First one on the way to Dirang and later two at Eaglenest WLS.

Hill Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis whitei  Relatively common in the lower parts of Mishmi Hills, but more often heard than seen.

Bluethroat  Luscinia svecica  One on the island of Brahmaputra.

Chinese Rubythroat ◊  Calliope tschebaiewi  A few birds with some excellent views on the Brahmaputra island.

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

White-crowned Forktail  Enicurus leschenaulti  Two birds in Dihing Patkai.

Black-backed Forktail ◊  Enicurus immaculatus  One at Sally Lake, Mishmi Hills.

Blue-fronted Robin ◊  Cinclidium frontale  ssp orientale Typically brief views of one at Eaglenest where this species is rather commonly heard. Also heard in Mishmi Hills.

Blue Whistling Thrush  Myophonus caeruleus  ssp temminckii

Indian Blue Robin ◊  Larvivora brunnea  Rather common and easy to see in Khonoma.

Rusty-bellied Shortwing ◊  Brachypteryx hyperythra  Variable views of one in Mishmi Hills where we also heard two birds.

Lesser Shortwing  Brachypteryx leucophris  ssp nipalensis

Himalayan Shortwing ◊  Brachypteryx cruralis  One was seen at Eaglenest. In addition, a handful of birds were heard at various high-altitude forests.

Slaty-backed Flycatcher  Ficedula erithacus  One in Shergaon.

Snowy-browed Flycatcher  Ficedula hyperythra  ssp hyperythra  A pair on Mishmi Hills.

Slaty-blue Flycatcher  Ficedula tricolor  ssp tricolor

Pygmy Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula hodgsoni  A male in Khonoma.

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

Himalayan Bluetail (Orange-flanked Bush-robin)  Tarsiger rufilatus  ssp rufilatus  Two below Sela pass and one at Eaglenest.

White-browed Bush Robin ◊  Tarsiger indicus  ssp indicus  Two singing males below Sela pass.

Golden Bush Robin  Tarsiger chrysaeus  ssp chrysaeus  Excellent male below Sela pass.

Gould’s Shortwing ◊  Heteroxenicus stellatus  It took some searching but in the end we had good views of one in Mishmi Hills.

Blue-fronted Redstart  Phoenicurus frontalis

White-throated Redstart  Phoenicurus schisticeps  2-3 birds on both visits to Sela pass.

White-capped Redstart (River Chat)  Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Plumbeous Water Redstart  Phoenicurus fuliginosus  ssp fuliginosus

Hodgson’s Redstart  Phoenicurus hodgsoni  One en route to Dirang and another one in Sangti Valley.

Black Redstart  Phoenicurus ochruros  Two in the Dirang area.

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

Pied Bush Chat  Saxicola caprata  Two in Manipur. Common bird in more arid areas of Indian, but rare in the northeast corner of the country. A write-in!

Siberian Stonechat  Saxicola maurus

Yellow-vented Flowerpecker  Dicaeum chrysorrheum  ssp chrysochlore  Great views of one in Dihing Patkai.

Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker  Pachyglossa melanozantha  Two non-leader birds (a pair) in Khonoma.

Plain Flowerpecker  Dicaeum minullum  ssp olivaceum  Several birds in Dihing Patkai.

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker  Dicaeum ignipectus  ssp ignipectus  Noted on five days.

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker  Dicaeum cruentatum  ssp cruentatum  Small numbers with excellent views in the lowlands.

Little Spiderhunter  Arachnothera longirostra  ssp longirostra  Couple of birds in Mishmi Hills.

Streaked Spiderhunter  Arachnothera magna  ssp magna  Widespread in small numbers.

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird  Chalcoparia singalensis  Two in Kaziranga.

Fire-tailed Sunbird  Aethopyga ignicauda  ssp ignicauda  This gorgeous high-altitude sunbird was sighted in the Sela pass area and in Mishmi Hills.

Black-throated Sunbird (B-breasted S)  Aethopyga saturata  ssp assamensis  Only noted at Eaglenest WLS.

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird  Aethopyga gouldiae  ssp gouldiae  Noted on five days with good views.

Green-tailed Sunbird ◊  Aethopyga nipalensis  ssp koelzi  This was the commonest sunbird, noted almost daily at Eaglenest and in Mishmi Hills, and also sighted in Nagaland.

Crimson Sunbird (Greater C S)  Aethopyga siparaja  ssp labecula  This widespread low-elevation sunbird was noted on nine days.

Purple Sunbird  Cinnyris asiaticus  Two sightings, both in Kaziranga.

Golden-fronted Leafbird  Chloropsis aurifrons  ssp aurifrons

Orange-bellied Leafbird  Chloropsis hardwickii  ssp hardwickii

Asian Fairy-bluebird  Irena puella  Four in the Khellong area at Eaglenest and two in Dihing Patkai.

Baya Weaver  Ploceus philippinus  ssp burmanicus

Finn’s Weaver ◊  Ploceus megarhynchus  A breeding plumaged male in Kaziranga.

Scaly-breasted Munia  Lonchura punctulata  ssp subundulata

White-rumped Munia  Lonchura striata

Chestnut Munia  Lonchura atricapilla  ssp atricapilla

Alpine Accentor  Prunella collaris  Two at Sela pass.

Rufous-breasted Accentor  Prunella strophiata  ssp strophiata  A total of four in the Sela pass area.

Russet Sparrow (Cinnamon S)  Passer cinnamomeus  ssp cinnamomeus

Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus

House Sparrow  Passer domesticus

Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea

Citrine Wagtail  Motacilla citreola  ssp citreola

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Alaska W)  Motacilla [tschutschensis] tschutschensis  One in Kaziranga.

White Wagtail  Motacilla [alba] alba  One in Kaziranga.

White Wagtail (Amur W)  Motacilla [alba] leucopsis  A few, all in the lowlands.

White Wagtail (Himalayan W)  Motacilla [alba] alboides  The commonest subspecies of White Wagtail. Encountered on eight days.

Blyth’s Pipit  Anthus godlewskii  One at Elopa grassland near Roing and six in Jessame.

Richard’s Pipit  Anthus richardi  Two in Kaziranga.

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus  Only a few were noted.

Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni  ssp hodgsoni  Small numbers were noted on eight days.

Rosy Pipit  Anthus roseatus  Noted on seven days.

White-winged Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas carnipes  ssp carnipes  A total of ten at Sela pass.

Common Rosefinch  Carpodacus erythrinus  ssp roseatus  Only a few, all in Nagaland, were noted.

Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus pulcherrimus  Four beyond Sela pass.

Dark-rumped Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus edwardsii  One below Lamacamp at Eaglenest and 15 or so with brilliant views in Mishmi Hills.

Crimson-browed Finch  Carpodacus subhimachalus  Three along the Mandala road and two at Eaglenest.

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus thura  Ten or so on both visits to Sela pass.

Brown Bullfinch  Pyrrhula nipalensis  One seen and a few more heard at Eaglenest.

Red-headed Bullfinch ◊  Pyrrhula erythrocephala  One male along the Mandala road.

Grey-headed Bullfinch  Pyrrhula erythaca  Three birds on the way to Shergaon. 

Blanford’s Rosefinch ◊  Agraphospiza rubescens  Three, two males and a female, along the Mandala road.

Golden-naped Finch ◊  Pyrrhoplectes epauletta  Two at Eaglenest and three in Mishmi Hills.

Dark-breasted Rosefinch  Procarduelis nipalensis  Seen on four days in high-altitude forests.

Plain Mountain Finch  Leucosticte nemoricola  Good numbers at Sela pass but also a flock of 50 along the Mandala road.

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch (Himalayan G)  Chloris spinoides

Tibetan Serin ◊ (T Siskin)  Spinus thibetanus  A flock of ten at Mandala.

Little Bunting  Emberiza pusilla

Crested Bunting  Emberiza lathami  One male in Dirang.

MAMMALS

Asian Elephant  Elephas maximus  Numerous in Kaziranga.

Smooth-coated Otter  Lutra perspicillata  Two encounters, both in Kaziranga.

Yellow-throated Marten  Martes flavigula  Seen on three days.

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  Two in Kaziranga. Also heard at Eaglenest.

Barasingha (Swamp Deer)  Rucervus duvaucelii  Common in Kaziranga.

Sambar  Rusa unicolor  A total of three in Kaziranga.

Asian Wild Buffalo (Wild Water B)  Bubalus arnee  Common in Kaziranga.

Indian Flying Fox  Pteropus giganteus

Assamese Macaque  Macaca assamensis  Two in Dihing Patkai.

Rhesus Macaque  Macaca mulatta  Rather common in the lowlands.

Arunachal Macaque  Macaca munzala  A troop of ten at Eaglenest.

Capped Langur  Trachypithecus pileatus  A troop of 12 on the way to Kaziranga and ten in Dihing Patkai.

Western Hoolock Gibbon  Hoolock hoolock  Two good sightings in Mishmi Hills.

Forrest’s Pika  Ochotona forresti  One in Mishmi Hills.

Pallas’s Squirrel  Callosciurus erythraeus

Irrawaddy Squirrel (Hoary-bellied S)  Callosciurus pygerythrus

Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel  Dremomys lokriah

Black Giant Squirrel  Ratufa bicolor

Himalayan Striped Squirrel  Tamiops macclellandii