Wildlife and birds · Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary
Early birding for the blood pheasant
An early-morning birding trip into Kyongnosla with a local guide, looking for Sikkim's state bird, the blood pheasant, as well as monals and high-altitude finches. One of the few places outside the national park where the blood pheasant is reliably recorded.
Photo: Dibyendu Ash · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
BirdLife's Important Bird Area assessment singles out the Kyongnosla–Tsomgo area as the site outside Khangchendzonga National Park where the blood pheasant is found, probably in good numbers. The birds move down to lower slopes in winter snow, which makes November to April the best time to look, and early morning the best time of day.
We start from Gangtok before sunrise with a local birding guide and the required permits. The guide knows the stretches of road and forest edge where flocks feed. Stay in or beside the car, move slowly and keep voices low. Other species to look for include the Himalayan monal, grandala, rosefinches and laughingthrushes.
Sightings are never guaranteed. Combine the morning with Tsomgo, which you reach as the day warms up. Walking off the road inside the sanctuary needs forest department permission, which we arrange in advance. Dress for sub-zero temperatures at dawn and carry hot drinks. Check current status before you travel.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Where can we see the blood pheasant in Sikkim?
Most of its Sikkim range is inside Khangchendzonga National Park, far from roads. The Kyongnosla–Tsomgo area on the road to Nathu La is the main accessible site outside the park, according to BirdLife. Winter and early spring mornings, with a local guide, give the best chance.
Do we need a permit for birding in Kyongnosla?
Driving the road needs the Tsomgo protected-area permit, arranged a day ahead. Walking into the forest off the road needs permission from the Sikkim forest department and a local guide. We arrange both for birding trips. Check current status before you travel.
What other birds can we see near Tsomgo?
Besides the blood pheasant, look for the Himalayan monal, grandala, snow pigeon, rosefinches, accentors and laughingthrushes, depending on season and altitude. A local guide helps with identification and locations. Winter brings some species lower; summer brings breeding birds higher up.
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