Shitlakhet is known for its great forests which are a haven for birdwatching. This walk takes us through some amazing pine and oak forests. Forests that are this dense are rare these days. We head out early in the morning and will be spotting birds as they wake up. Our hike goes past oak and acacia forests to pine meadows where many bulbuls, flycatchers, and jays will be visible. Do carry your binoculars.
Birdwatching in Shitlakhet can be done from your luxury tent. In the evenings, you will hear the Indian Nightjar. In addition, during the day, you will see 2 different species of woodpeckers many Khaleej Pheasants and red-billed blue magpies. You may see a Paradise flycatcher as well if you’re lucky. The birds of this area make the soundscape of Shitlakhet as unique as it is.
Below is a bird checklist:
- Black Francolin
- Rock Dove
- Freckled Pigeon
- Oriental Turtle Dove
- Eurasian Collared Dove
- Spotted-necked Dove
- Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon
- Grey Nightjar
- Large-tailed Nightjar
- White-throated Needletail
- Himalayan Swiftlet
- Alpine Swift
- Common Koel
- Large Hawk Cuckoo
- Indian Cuckoo
- Himalayan Cuckoo
- Egyptian Vulture (Endangered)
- Red-headed Vulture (Critically endangered)
- Himalayan Vulture (Near-threatened)
- White-rumped Vulture (Critically endangered)
- Slender-billed Vulture (Critically endangered)
- Griffon Vulture
- Cinereous Vulture (Near-threatened)
- Steppe Eagle (Endangered)
- Crested Goshawk
- Besra
- Eurasian Sparrowhawk
- Black Kite
- Mountain Scops Owl
- Common Hoopoe
- Speckled Piculet
- Himalayan Flame-backed Woodpecker
- Greater Yellow-naped Woodpecker
- Grey-headed Woodpecker
- Great Barbet
- Blue-throated Barbet
- Common Kingfisher
- Crested Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
- White-throated Kingfisher
- Common Kestrel
- Slaty-headed Parakeet
- Blossom-headed Parakeet (Near-threatened)
- Rose-ringed Parakeet
- Long-tailed Minivet
- Scarlet Minivet
- Black-winged Cuckooshrike
- Black-headed Cuckooshrike
- Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
- Black Drongo
- Ashy Drongo
- Hair-crested Drongo
- White-throated Fantail
- Grey Treepie
- Red-billed Blue Magpie
- Black-headed Jay
- House Crow
- Large-billed Crow
- Crimson Sunbird
- House Sparrow
- Russet Sparrow
- Upland Pipit
- Yellow Wagtail
- Grey Wagtail
- White-browed Wagtail
- White Wagtail
- Black-and-yellow Grosbeak
- Common Rosefinch
- Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher
- Green-backed Tit
- Cinereous Tit
- Black-lored Tit
- Striated Prinia
- Grey-breasted Prinia
- Common Tailorbird
- Red-rumped Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Black Bulbul
- Himalayan Bulbul
- Red-vented Bulbul
- Hume’s Leaf Warbler
- Dusky Warbler
- Sulphur-bellied Warbler
- Golden-spectacled Leaf Warbler
- Greenish Leaf Warbler
- Grey-hooded Leaf Warbler
- Hume’s Bush Warbler
- Black-throated Tit
- Oriental White-eye
- White-browed Scimitar Babbler
- Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler
- White-throated Laughing-thrush
- Streaked Laughing-thrush
- Variegated Laughing-thrush
- Red-billed Leiothrix
- Bar-tailed Treecreeper
- Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch
- Common Myna
- Jungle Myna
- Brown Dipper
- Oriental Magpie Robin
- Dark-sided Flycatcher
- Asian Verditer Flycatcher
- Spotted Forktail
- Blue Whistling Thrush
- Ultramarine Flycatcher
- Plumbeous Water Redstart
- White-capped Water Redstart
- Blue-capped Rock Thrush
- Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush
- Pied Bush Chat
- Grey Bush Chat
- Brown Rock Chat
- Mistle Thrush
