List of Threatened Birds found in Sikkim

Critically Endangered
Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis
Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris
Vulnerable Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri
Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni
Red-breasted Hill-Partridge Arborophila mandellii
Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii
Black –necked Crane Grus nigricollis
Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola
Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis
Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra
Slender-billed Babbler Turdoides longirostris
Black-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis flavirostris
Hodgson’s Prinia Beautiful Nuthatch
Prinia cinereocapilla Sitta Formosa
Near Threatened  Satyr Tragopan
Tragopan satyra Giant Babax
Babax waddelli

Endemic Bird Area 130 : Eastern Himalayas
Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra
Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis
White-naped Yuhina Yuhina bakeri
Red-breasted Hill-Partridge Arborophila mandellii
Black-browed Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus cantator
Ward’s Trogon Harpactes wardii
Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeornis caudatus
Wedge-billed Wren-Babbler Sphenocichla humei
Broad-billed Flycatcher-Warbler
Tickellia hodgsoni Giant Babax
Babax waddelli

Endemic Bird Area 133 : Tibetan Plateau
Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis
Broad-billed Flycatcher-Warbler Tickellia hodgsoni

1. DOMBANG VALLEY-LACHUNG-LEMA-TSUNGTHANG
A full checklist of this site is not available but the bird records maintained by the department show
that this area could have significant populations of Vulnerable Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa and Wood
Snipe Gallinago nemoricola. The site lies in Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA 130) where
Stattersfield et al. (1998) have identified 21 restricted range species. Only one such species, White-naped
Yuhina Yuhina bakeri has been noticed till now (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2002), but looking at the extent
of pristine habitat still available in this site, more restricted range species are likely to be found here. This
complex, with wide altitudinal variation, basically lies in Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest), but
avian elements of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane - Alpine and Tibetan) and Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan
Subtropical Forest) are also found as these biomes merge with Biome-7, and secondly, many birds show
seasonal altitudinal movement. Seventeen out of the 48 species listed in Biome-5 (BirdLife International,
undated) are found in this site. Similarly, 47 out of 112 species listed in Biome-7 are found here. As this site
also has Montane Mixed Broadleaf- Coniferous Forest, Broadleaf Evergreen Forest and Deciduous Forest,
many species of Biome-8 are also found here. Thus, this site perhaps has the most numerous biome
restricted species among all the sites of Sikkim. The important birds of the valley are Himalayan Griffon
Gyps himalayensis, Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota, Grandala
Grandala coelicolor, Plain Mountain-Finch Leucosticte nemoricola and Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola.
A specimen of Tibetan Horned Owl (Eurasian Eagle-Owl) Bubo bubo from Lema was collected and
deposited with BNHS.


TSO LHAMO PLATEAU-LASHAR-SEBU LA-YUMESAMDONG COMPLEX
A total of around 227 birds have been recorded from this c. 500 sq. km area, including four globally
threatened species, three Restricted Range species and 93 Biome-restricted species (Ganguli-Lachungpa
and Rahmani 2003). One of these, Babax waddelli, is reported only from extreme northeast Sikkim from
2,700-4,400 m in the Tibetan Plateau facies (EBA-133) in Hippophae thickets. It is found in dense deciduous
scrub above tree-line and edge of coniferous forest (Stattersfield et al. 1998). It is reported as ‘locally
common’ (Ali and Ripley 1987). This site in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area is the highest altitude
eco-region in Sikkim spanning two biomes, Sino- Himalayan Temperate Forest (Biome-7) and Eurasian High
Montane (Alpine and Tibetan) (Biome-5) as described by BirdLife International (undated). Of the 48 Biome-5
(Eurasian High Montane - Alpine and Tibetan) species, 35 occur here and of the 112 Biome-7 (Sino-
Himalayan Temperate Forest) species, at least 12 are from here. More are likely to be found after detailed
investigations. The important breeding bird species recorded here are Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus
tibetanus, Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis, Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Redshank
Tringa totanus, Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus, Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota, Robin
Accentor Prunella rubeculoides, Guldenstadt’s Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogaster, Plain Mountain Finch
Leucosticte nemoricola, Black-headed Mountain Finch Leucosticte brandti, Mandelli’s Snowfinch Pyrgilauda
taczanowskii, Tibetan Snowfinch Montifringilla adamsi, Plain-backed Snowfinch Pyrgilauda blanfordi,
Rufous-necked Snowfinch Pyrgilauda ruficollis, Hume’s Groundpecker Pseudopodoces humilis, Yellow-
billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus, Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, Golden Eagle Aquila
chrysaetos and Little Owl Athene noctua. Some of the non-breeding birds are Lesser Kestrel Falco
naumanni, Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus and Common Hoopoe Upupa epops.


BARSEY RHODODENDRON SANCTUARY
This is an important IBA on the southeast corner of Sikkim with Nepal as its western border and
contiguity with KBR and Singalila, stretching from alpine meadows down to subtropical forests. Birds from
biomes 5, 7, 8 and 9 have been recorded here including at least three globally threatened species, two
restricted range species, five out of 48 Biome-5 species, 38 out of 112 Biome-7 species, 21 out of 96 Biome-
8 species and three out of 9 Biome-9 species. However, much more research input is needed. During a brief
survey in September 1996, Biome-7 birds such as White-browed Tit- Babbler Alcippe vinipectus, Rufous
Sibia Heterophasia capistrata, Grey-faced Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis, Orange-gorgeted
Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata, Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara, Rufous-bellied Crested Tit Parus
rubidiventris and Red-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythrocephala were ringed with BNHS rings.

FAMBONG LHO WLS - HIMALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL PARK - RATEY CHU RESERVE
FOREST COMPLEX
Over 281 species of birds have been reported from this area, opposite the bustling township of
Gangtok. Of these, the Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis not seen since the slaughterhouse
at Gangtok was shifted to south to Rangpo almost a decade ago. The Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros
nipalensis reported by Ali (1962) from Gangtok has not been sighted lately. The Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta
formosa a globally threatened is still found, while the Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra was
remarkably easily netted and ringed both in Fambong Lho and Himalayan Zoological Park in the 2001 BNHS
Bird-Banding Programme. The Red-breasted Hill-Partridge Arborophila mandellii was reported by Ali (1962)
from Gangtok but not heard or sighted recently unlike the commoner Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola.
The Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis and the White-naped Yuhina Yuhina bakeri are restricted
range species reported from this IBA (Anon 2002). In this Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area, four out of
21 restricted range species, at least five out of 48 Biome-5 species, 49 out of 112 Biome-7 species, 38 out of
96 Biome-8 species and three out of 19 Biome-9 species are found (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003).
Other bird species include the biome-restricted Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia, Slaty-headed
Parakeet Psittacula himalayana, Red-winged crested Cuckoo Clamator coromandus, Large Green-billed
Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis, Blue-naped Pitta Pitta nipalensis, Orange-bellied Chloropsis Chloropsis
hardwickii, Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii, and Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus.


KHANGCHENDZONGA NATIONAL PARK AND BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Some important birding habitats here are Dentam-Uttarey-Chitrey-Chewabhanjyang, the Rathong
Chu Valley along the Yoksum- Dzongri-Goecha La trekking trail, Tashiding, Rabdentse, Dubdi, Khecheopalri
all in West Sikkim; Tholung Valley in Dzongu, Tsungthang-Menshithang-Lachen- Thangu, the Muguthang-
Green Lake route including the Zemu Glacier-Zemu Chu Valley, all in North Sikkim. Due to the size and
altitude elevations in this IBA, birds recorded are from at least four biomes. Thus this IBA has at least 127
bird species of conservation concern including seven globally threatened and restricted range species, 24
species of Biome-5, 67 of Biome-7, 26 of Biome-8 and three listed in Biome-9. Birds like Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni have been recorded from northern Trans-Himalayan part of the IBA while Baer’s Pochard
Aythya baeri has been sighted in Lake Khecheopalri along with wintering Mergansers Mergus merganser
and Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1991), Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Common
Teal Anas crecca and Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula. The Osprey Pandion haliaetus, protected under
Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, was killed atYoksum while fishing in the State Forest
Department’s fishpond (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1990). Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis has been recorded
from the Muguthang area of Lhonak Valley IBA contiguous to the north (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1998). A large
loose flock of dark eagles (unidentified) was videographed, during a trek to Dzongri in December 1999,
flying southwards along with Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis and Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Local Lepcha people at Tholung report a unique
phenomenon of congregations of either Ashy Wood-Pigeon Columba pulchricollis or Common Wood-Pigeon
Columba palumbus near the Tholung hot-springs (a day’s trek from jeepable road) in summer (Chumden
Nangpa pers. comm. 2000), an annual event that has got disrupted due to development of the area for
tourism (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). High altitude lakes at Kishong La are important stopover sites
not only for migratory waterfowl but also for resident breeding birds like Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna
ferruginea ducklings collected from here in 1986 survived for around five years at Gangtok’s Deer Park
enclosure at Tashiling Secretariat (C. B. Bhujel pers comm. 2000)}.

KYONGNOSLA ALPINE SANCTUARY– TSOMGO- TAMZE-CHOLA COMPLEX
Outside Khangchendzonga National Park, this is the site where the State Bird of Sikkim, the Blood
Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus, is found, probably in significant numbers. Among the globally threatened
species of this site, the most prominent one would be the Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, as it possibly
breeds here (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra at the upper limit of its
range, and Himalayan Monal Lophophophorus impejanus, the former considered as Near Threatened
(BirdLife International 2001), are also residents. The Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota come down here in
winter. Other species of interest are the Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda and Gold-naped Black
Finch Pyrrhoplectes epauletta, birds of temperate forest. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos and Greater
Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus with Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula
were seen occasionally in Tsomgo Lake during the winter Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC). Pallas’s Fish-
Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus was once seen in the forest patch below Tamzey during a survey for Red
Panda in 1998 (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). The site is located in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic
Bird Area (EBA-130) where 21 species have been listed of which only one species, the Hoary-throated
Barwing Actinodura nipalensis, has been found till now but more are likely to occur. Perhaps the most
important reason for selection of this site as an IBA is the presence of large number of biome restricted
species of three biome types. Although, this site lies chiefly in Biome-7 (Sino- Himalayan Temperate Forest),
birds of Biome -5
(Eurasian High Montane - Alpine and Tibetan) and Biome-8 (Sino-Himalayan
Subtropical Forest) are also seen, mainly due to their altitudinal movement. In winter, birds of Biome-5 move
down, so we see species such as Rosy Pipit Anthus roseus, Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota, Alpine
Accentor Prunella collaris and others in this site. Thirteen out of 48 species of this biome have been seen in
this IBA. Expectedly, the largest number of biome restricted species is from Biome-7: 35 out of 112 species
but more are likely to be present. As the boundary between Biome-7 and Biome-8 is very diffuse (like all
other biomes), some species are likely to be present in both the biomes. Till now, U. Lachungpa (pers.
comm. 2003) has been able to locate only two biome restricted species, Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus
boulboul and Black-spottedYellow-Tit Parus spilonotus, of Biome-8 in this IBA. Lhonak Valley is the famed
flyway of migratory waterfowl (Ali 1962). Many Vulnerable and Biome-5 restricted species breed here such
as the Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus, Black-necked Crane (unsuccessful nesting attempt at
Tebleh Tso, Muguthang), the Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus, the Güldenstädt’s Redstart
Phoenicurus erythrogaster, the Hume’s Groundpecker Pseudopodoces humilis.


Despite being the lowest altitude IBA in Sikkim, this site has records of birds restricted to biomes 9, 8, 7 as
well as 5, perhaps due to seasonal altitudinal migration as well as the telescoping effect of the Sikkim
Himalaya, where in a distance of c. 100 km, habitats ranging from lowland subtropical forests to high cold
desert can be seen (Ali 1962). Hence, as many as 14 globally threatened and restricted range species and
at least four Biome-5 species, 15 Biome-7 species, 33 Biome-8 species and seven Biome- 9 species have
been recorded from this IBA. The lowland forests of Sikkim are home to several species identified as Near
Threatened by BirdLife International (2001): Great Pied Hornbill Buceros bicornis now restricted to few
sightings over tea estates, Red-breasted Partridge Arborophila mandelli (not recorded recently) and Ward’s
Trogon Harpactes wardi. The Nepal Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga immaculata could also occur here. During a
survey conducted here in 1996, no potential habitat was found for the Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros
nipalensis. Biome-5 species like Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii are regularly recorded in winter on the banks
of the Great Rangit river; Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria recorded from Trans-Himalayan Lhonak Valley
(at Green Lake) and other high altitude sites is also recorded from this IBA. The Collared Falconet
Microhierax caerulescens was found breeding in 1996 very close to human habitation, hawking dragonflies
around the Fisheries Department pond at Baguwa but cleverly avoiding the mist-nets set around it. Ward’s
Trogon was sighted at Baguwa and Jorethang in October 1996 (Ganguli-Lachungpa 1996). All these records
make this IBA a very interesting bird watching and conservation area.


MAENAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY –TENDONG RF
There are several villages fringing this IBA due to which the habitat is open in several places. This
open habitat coupled with patches of dense forest provides ideal bird habitats in the IBA. The Hodgson’s
Frogmouth Batrachostomus hodgsoni was observed in Pabong area (Ganguli-Lachungpa and Lucksom
1998). The site lies in the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA- 130), in which Stattersfield et al.
(1998) have listed 21 restricted range species. Eight of these have been seen here (U. Lachungpa pers.
comm. 2003). This mid-altitude IBA falls mainly in Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest (Biome-7). BirdLife
International (undated) has listed 112 species in this biome, of which 53 are found here. The higher reaches
of this IBA, above 3,000 m show some birds of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane - Alpine and Tibetan)
where 48 species are listed and seven are seen in this site. At lower reaches, Biome- 7 merges with Biome-
8 (Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest) where 95 species are listed. Almost half of them (42 species) have
been found here. Some areas of this IBA, especially in the valleys also show some faunal elements of
Biome-9 (Indo-Chinese Tropical Moist Forest). Four species of this biome are also found here. They are
Grey Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum (unconfirmed), Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus
grantia, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax pectoralis and Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea.

PANGOLAKHA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY–ZULUKBEDANG TSO – NATU LA
COMPLEX
The mountain passes of Natu La and Jelep La (La = Pass) form the routes for migratory waterbirds
many of which stop over at the various wetlands in the area, especially Bedang Tso Lake. The Himalayan
Monal Lophophorus impejanus (locally called as Feydong) used to be found here (Chezung Lachungpa
pers. comm. 1996), hence the name Bedang Tso. Sometimes there is mass migration of birds of prey such
as Red Kites Milvus milvus and (unidentified) eagles. The Sherathang marshes are one area where the
Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea breeds. Some birds of this complex are Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticola and Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola, a globally threatened species (BirdLife
International 2001) occasionally seen on the banks of the Bedang Tso. Hill Pigeons Columba rupestris are
seen on smoking chimneys of local houses in snowy winters. The Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota, Snow
Partridge Lerwa lerwa, Himalayan Monal and Gold-naped Black Finch Pyrrhoplectes epauletta are common
on the alpine slopes. The Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus was once seen in the forest patch
over the Pangolakha range in 1994. Large Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and Bar-headed Geese Anser
indicus were sighted at Bedang Tso in 1992 (U. Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). The Tibetan Eared
Pheasant Crossoptilon harmani, a Near Threatened species, has been reported from Kupup (near Bedang
Tso) below the Jelep La . This area falls under PangolakhaWildlife Sanctuary and is adjacent to the Chumbi
Valley of Tibet. This pheasant is one of the two endemic birds in Southern Tibet (EBA-133). It is reported
from the edge of mixed Broadleaf Coniferous forest; Rhododendron, Juniper and deciduous scrub and
grassland (Stattersfield et al. 1998). Another Near Threatened species found in this IBA is the Giant Babax
Babax waddelli. Due to great altitudinal variation from 1300 m to above 4,000 m, three biomes occur in this
IBA: Biome-5: Eurasian High Montane (Alpine and Tibetan), from above 3,600 m; Biome-7: Sino- Himalayan
Temperate Forest, between 1,800 m and 3,600 m; and, Biome-8: Sino-Himalayan Subtropical Forest,
occurring between c. 1,000 m to 2,000 m (BirdLife International, undated). In Biome- 5, 48 species are
found, out of which 11 are found at this site.

YUMTHANG-SHINGBA RHODODENDRON WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
The globally threatened Wood Snipe Gallinago nemoricola is occasionally seen in the
Rhododendron-Fir forest of Shingba, and Ibisbill breeds on the shingle beds of the Yumthang Chu in small
numbers, usually not more than two pairs. Grandala Grandala coelicolor, a local altitudinal migrant, is seen
sometimes in apparently all-female flocks. Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus and Himalayan Monal
Lophophorus impejanus breed in the higher reaches of the Sanctuary while the Himalayan Griffon Gyps
himalayensis is a resident of the cold desert. Gould’s Shortwing Brachypteryx stellata, Rufous-bellied
Crested Tit Parus rubidiventris and the restricted range Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis are
common in forest patches. The Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda is conspicuous when
Rhododendrons are in bloom. Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii was sighted in Yumthang in June
1984. Jungle Crows are now resident at this altitude of c. 4,000 m with increasing tourist pressure (U.
Lachungpa pers. comm. 2003). This IBA lies at the interface of Biome-5 (Eurasian High Montane: Alpine
and Tibetan) and Biome-7 (Sino-Himalayan Temperate Forest). Therefore, species of both biomes are
represented. It has alpine meadows and scrubs, so we get Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae, Tibetan
Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus and Hume’s Short-toed Lark Calandrella acutirostris, while at slightly lower
altitude where Montane Broadleaf Evergreen and Mixed Broadleaf–Coniferous Forest are found, species
representing Biome-7 predominate. BirdLife International (undated) has listed 48 species in Biome-5, out of
which 19 have been seen in this IBA. The Biome-7 has a long list of 112 species, of which 19 are found
here. Looking at the intact habitat and the fact that no one has conducted detailed study on the avifauna of
this site, more species of this biome are likely to be found here.