Birding Bhutan: Six Hundred Species, And Counting

Dr. Tashi Phuntsho · 14 Dec 2025 · 6 min read

Why Bhutan is a birder's countryBhutan sits at a junction of three major flyways and a vertical range of more than 6,000 metres, compressed into a country the size of Switzerland. The official list is over 600 species, and almost all of the Himalayan specialities — Satyr tragopan, White-bellied heron, Fire-tailed sunbird, Black-necked crane — are possible with a good guide and a bit of luck.Where and whenPhobjikha Valley, November to February: black-necked cranes on the glacial marshes, plus huge numbers of Andean-style waterfowlDochula and the Thimphu valley, October to March: rosefinches, bullfinches, and the enormous Himalayan griffon colony at the viewpointBumthang and the Mangde valley, April to September: cuckoos, flycatchers and the forest specials of the central hillsBlack Mountain Crane Sanctuary, September to April: high-altitude specialistsThe cranes are the draw, but the thing people remember is standing still on a cold morning and realising the valley is moving with thousands of wings.Practical notesJanuary and February are the coldest months in Phobjikha — nights below minus 15 degrees are normal, and warm kit matters more than camera kit. Migratory patterns shift wi…