Wildlife and birds · Dubdi Monastery
Birding on the Dubdi trail
Walk slowly up the forested trail to Dubdi at dawn with binoculars, looking and listening for the mid-hill birds of West Sikkim before the day warms up.
Photo: Shiv's fotografia · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The forest between Yuksom and Dubdi, from about 1,800 to 2,100 m, is typical mid-hill Himalayan habitat, and the trail is quiet enough to stop often. At dawn, mixed flocks move through the canopy and calls echo across the slope.
Laughingthrushes, minivets, sibias, yuhinas, tits and sunbirds are typical of this belt in Sikkim; a birding guide will know what has been seen recently. We do not promise particular species; luck, season and patience decide.
Take three hours rather than one for the climb, wear muted colours and keep voices low. Finish at the monastery, where the clearing gives a chance to see birds against the sky.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
What birds can I see near Yuksom?
Mid-hill forests around Yuksom hold many Himalayan species, including laughingthrushes, minivets, sibias, yuhinas, tits, barbets and sunbirds, with more on the higher park trail. Sightings vary by season and luck; a local birding guide improves your chances greatly.
When is the best season for birding at Yuksom?
March to May, when birds are breeding and calling, and October to December, when the air is clear and some higher-altitude species move down. Dawn is the best time of day. The monsoon is wet and leechy.
Do I need special equipment for birding at Dubdi?
Binoculars are essential, and a camera with a telephoto lens helps. Carry a field guide or bird app for the Indian subcontinent, water, a light jacket and rain gear outside the dry season. Wear muted clothes and soft-soled shoes.
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