Wildlife and birds · Khangchendzonga National Park
Birding in the park's lower forests
Walk the first stretch of the Yuksom trail at dawn with a guide who knows the birds, in forests where the park records about 550 species, from laughingthrushes and sunbirds to, with luck, pheasants and tragopans higher up.
Photo: Roger Culos · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wikipedia records about 550 bird species in Khangchendzonga National Park, among them the blood pheasant, satyr tragopan, Himalayan griffon, lammergeier, green pigeons and sunbirds. Many of the forest species can be found in the lower park, on the trail from Yuksom towards Sachen.
Start at first light from the park gate at the top of Yuksom, with your permit arranged the day before. The first hours bring mixed flocks of warblers, tits, minivets and laughingthrushes through the canopy, barbets calling from the ridges and sunbirds on flowering shrubs. Pheasants and tragopans live higher and are shy; seeing one is luck, not a promise.
Carry binoculars, water and rain gear. Walk slowly and quietly, keep to the trail and do not use playback. Be back in Yuksom by early afternoon.
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Questions travellers ask
Before you book
What birds can I see in Khangchendzonga National Park?
Wikipedia lists about 550 species, including blood pheasant, satyr tragopan, Himalayan griffon, lammergeier, snow pigeon, Asian emerald cuckoo and many sunbirds. On a day walk from Yuksom expect common forest species such as laughingthrushes, minivets, barbets and warblers; the high-altitude pheasants need longer treks and luck.
Do I need a permit for birding in the park?
Yes. Even a day walk beyond the park gate at Yuksom needs a park permit and registration, and the current rules expect a registered guide. We arrange these the day before. Foreign nationals also need Sikkim's Restricted Area Permit. Check current status before you travel.
When is the best time for birding in the park?
March to May, when many birds are breeding and singing, and October to November, after the monsoon. Start at dawn, when activity peaks. Avoid June to September, when rain, leeches and cloud make the trail difficult and birds hard to see in the dripping forest.
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