Heard and seen at Dhikala
Greater Coucal
Centropus sinensis
Seen on the Kosi near Infinity Resorts
Lesser Coucal
Centropus bengalensis
Seen in Fulai Chaur as well as in Dhikala Chaur
Alexandrine Parakeet
Psittacula eupatria
Least common of the parakeets seen
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacula krameri
Seen in flocks daily
Slaty-headed Parakeet
Psittacula himalayana
A few seen in the park but most sightings were on the road to Machure outside the park and at an elevation over 4000 feet.
Plum-headed Parakeet
Psittacula cyanocephala
Common both in and outside the park
Red-breasted Parakeet
Psittacula alexandri
One or two seen daily.
White-rumped Needletail
Zoonavena sylvatica
A few seen flying high over Bijrani
Alpine Swift
Tachymarptis melba
A few seen flying high over Dhikala
Asian Palm Swift
Cypsiurus balasiensis
A few seen flying
House Swift
Apus affinis
A few seen flying over Ramnagar
Crested Treeswift
Hemiprocne coronata
Several seen on a daily basis
Brown Fish Owl
Ketupa zeylonensis
One seen, looking very agitated, early in the morning on Sambhar Road. One bird was observed high on a branch on the Kosi River near Quality Inn in Kumeria.
Jungle Owlet
Glaucidium radiatum
A single bird seen near Mota Sal
Large-tailed Nightjar
Caprimulgus macrurus
Seen and heard near the tourist complex in Dhikala
Savanna Nightjar
Caprimulgus affinis
Seen and heard near the tourist complex in Dhikala and in Bijrani
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Oriental Turtle Dove
Streptopelia orientalis
Seen on Sultan-Gairal Road. Also outside the park
Laughing Dove
Streptopelia senegalensis
Seen at Dhikala and near Dhangari and Bijrani Gates
Spotted Dove
Streptopelia chinensis
Common throughout the area
Red Collared Dove
Streptopelia tranquebarica
Seen at Dhikala
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Seen outside the park as well as in Dhikala.
Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica
Several seen flying low in the forest
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Treron phoenicoptera
Very common in the forest
Pin-tailed Green Pigeon
Treron apicauda
A single bird was observed in a flock of Yellow-footed on the Sultan-Gairal Road
Brown Crake
Amaurornis akool
A single bird was observed left of the first wooden bridge on the Khinanauli-Ghetiararao sector
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia
Seen at Sherbhurji and reservoir area
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area. Also on the Ramganga and Kosi River.
Little Stint
Calidris minuta
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area
Temminck’s Stint
Calidris temminckii
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area
Great Thick-knee
Esacus recurvirostris
A single bird seen at Sherbhurjee
Black-winged Stilt
Himantopus himantopus
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area. Common outside the park.
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area
River Lapwing
Vanellus duvaucelii
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area. Common on the Ramganga, Mandal and Kosi riverbanks.
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus
Very common. Breeding at the moment.
Small Pratincole
Glareola lacteal
Seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area. We found the nest and observed a bird mobbing an Indian Roller.
Pallas’s Gull
Larus ichthyaetus
A single bird seen at reservoir area
River Tern
Sterna aurantia
Several seen at reservoir area
Whiskered Tern
Chlidonias hybridus
Several seen at Sherbhurjee and reservoir area
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Pernis ptilorhyncus
Commonest raptor in the park seen daily.
Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus caeruleus
A single bird seen outside the park at Machure
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Common outside the park
Pallas’s Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus leucoryphus
Common in the Dhikala and Ringora area.
Lesser Fish Eagle
Ichthyophaga humilis
Common in the Dhikala and Ringora. Several seen
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
One bird seen at Ringora
Egyptian Vulture
Neophron percnopterus
A single bird seen outside the park
White-rumped Vulture
Gyps bengalensis
Three birds were seen next to a nest with one young near Ringora Village,
near the Amdanda Gate
Himalayan Griffon
Gyps himalayensis
Several seen flying in and around the park
Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachus
Two birds seen near Ringora
Red-headed Vulture
Sarcogyps calvus
At least six birds were seen on different days flying over the Dhikala and Fulai Chaurs
Short-toed Snake Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
A single bird seen near Mohan
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela
Common. Several birds seen.
Shikra
Accipiter badius
Several birds observed, including one diving and dropping about 500 feet like a Peregrine
Bonelli’s Eagle
Hieraaetus fasciatus
One bird seen
Booted Eagle
Hieraaetus pennatus
One bird observed
Rufous-bellied Eagle
Hieraaetus kienerii
Two birds including a juvenile seen
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Spizaetus cirrhatus
Common. Several seen in different parts of the Park and the buffer area.
Mountain Hawk Eagle
Spizaetus nipalensis
Seen on the road to Machure and over Dhikala
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Seen over the Dhikala Chaur as well as on the way to Machure
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
One bird seen in Dhikala Chaur
Darter
Anhinga melanogaster
A single bird was seen in the Bijrani area.
Little Cormorant
Phalacrocorax niger
Common on the Ramganga and Kosi rivers
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Great Egret
Casmerodius albus
Intermediate Egret
Mesophoyx intermedia
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
All of the above were observed several times on the riverbanks
Little Heron
Butorides striatus
Two birds were seen from the Infinity Resort verandah on the Kosi river
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Several seen flying over the Dhikala Tourist complex
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucocordia
A single bird was seen on the reservoir
Black Stork
Ciconia nigra
Three birds were seen flying on the Fulai Chaur. Rather late for these birds
Woolly-necked Stork
Ciconia episcopus
About four seen in the Fulai Chaur area. Also a single bird in Bijrani
Black-necked Stork
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Two birds seen at Sherbhurjee
Indian Pitta
Pitta brachyura
Heard every single day but seldom seen
Long-tailed Broadbill
Psarisomus dalhousiae
Two pairs seen and photographed in Lohachaur area
Long-tailed Shrike
Lanius schach
Strangely the only shrike seen on the trip.
Black-headed Jay
Garrulus lanceolatus
Seen on the Machure-Chimtakhal Road
Red-billed Blue Magpie
Urocissa erythrorhyncha
Several parties seen on the Road to Machure
Common Green Magpie
Cissa chinensis
One bird seen in a "nullah" beyond Dhangari gate
Rufous Treepie
Dendrocitta vagabunda
Lowland areas of the park.
Grey Treepie
Dendrocitta formosae
Several seen on the road to Machure
House Crow
Corvus splendens
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos
Common. Several seen daily
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolus
Summer visitor. Several seen and heard.
Black-hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornus
Several seen in various parts of the park
Black-winged Cuckooshrike
Coracina melaschistos
One seen at Chimtakhal
Rosy Minivet
Pericrocotus roseus
Summer visitor but strangely the most common of the minivets seen.
Small Minivet
Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
A pair seen near Lohachaur
Long-tailed Minivet
Pericrocotus ethologus
Common. Several seen.
Scarlet Minivet
Pericrocotus flammeus
Common. Several seen
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Hemipus picatus
A group was seen in Lohachaur and a pair near Sarapduli.
White-throated Fantail
Rhipidura albicollis
Common.
Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus
Common, seen everywhere and every day.
Ashy Drongo
Dicrurus leucophaeus
Several seen
Bronzed Drongo
Dicrurus aeneus
Seen mostly in the Lohachaur area.
Spangled Drongo
Dicrurus hottentottus
Seen mostly in the Bijrani area.
Black-naped Monarch
Hypothymis azurea
A single bird was seen near the Amla Sot on Sambhar road. Another bird was observed in the buffer area near Infinity resort.
Asian Paradise-flycatcher
Terpsiphone paradisi
This summer visitor has invaded the park and up to twenty pairs were seen every day
Common Iora
Aegithina tiphia
A single bird was seen on the main road between Ramnagar and Dhangari Gate, several heard.
Common Woodshrike
Tephrodornis pondicerianus
A single bird was observed in Lohachaur
Blue-capped Rock Thrush
Monticola cinclorhynchus
Very common both inside and outside the pair.
Blue Rock Thrush
Monticola solitarius
Seen across the Kosi river from the Claridges Resort and one at Dhikala Complex.
Blue Whistling Thrush
Myophonus caeruleus
Common. Several seen in a day
Orange-headed Thrush
Zoothera citrina
Another common summer visitor. Several seen daily
Tickell’s Thrush
Turdus unicolor
A single bird seen on the edge of the forest near Dhikala
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Muscicapa dauurica
A single bird seen in a "nullah" beyond Dhangari gate
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Ficedula parva
Not common. Only two were seen in the entire stay
Ultramarine Flycatcher
Ficedula superciliaris
A single bird was seen in the forest
Verditer Flycatcher
Eumyias thalassina
Common on the road to Machure. A few were seen inside the park
Small Niltava
Niltava macgrigoriae
Seen in low scrub outside the park
Rufous-bellied Niltava
Niltava sundara
Seen once in the Machure trip
Blue-throated Flycatcher
Cyornis rubeculoides
Seen several times in the highlands
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher
Cyornis tickelliae
Three specimens seen in the forested areas of the park
Bluethroat
Luscinia svecica
Very common in the grasslands. Several seen on each trip to the Dhikala Chaur.
Oriental Magpie Robin
Copsychus saularis
Possibly the most common bird in the park
White-rumped Shama
Copsychus malabaricus
Four seen on the road to Kanda. Several seen in the Bijrani area.
Indian Robin
Saxicoloides fulicata
Seen at Bijrani
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
Three birds seen in Dhikala and Bijrani
White-capped Water Redstart
Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
Seen on both the Ramganga and the Kosi rivers
Plumbeous Water Redstart
Rhyacornis fuliginosus
One pair seen on the way to Machure
Spotted Forktail
Enicurus maculates
A pair was seen on the Machure- Chimtakhal Road far away from any water.
Common Stonechat
Saxicola torquata
Very common in the grasslands
Pied Bushchat
Saxicola caprata
Common. Several seen
Grey Bushchat
Saxicola ferrea
A pair seen on the road to Machure
Spot-winged Starling
Saroglossa spiloptera
A single bird was seen briefly near the Dhangari Gate
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Sturnus malabaricus
Seen in hundreds everyday.
Brahminy Starling
Sturnus pagodarum
Seen in Dhikala and out side the park
Asian Pied Starling
Sturnus contra
Seen at the Amdanda gate
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis
Bank Myna
Acridotheres ginginianus
Seen en-route to the area
Jungle Myna
Acridotheres fuscus
Not uncommon. Seen at several times.
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch
Sitta castanea
White-tailed Nuthatch
Sitta himalayensis
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Sitta frontalis
All three nuthatches were seen within the park and in different places.
Great Tit
Parus major
Another common bird
Several seen
Himalayan Bulbul
Pycnonotus leucogenys
All over the place. Very common
Red-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus cafer
Common. Several pairs seen
Ashy Bulbul
Hemixos flavala
Several seen throughout the stay.
Black Bulbul
Hypsipetes leucocephalus
More common in the higher reaches of the park. Seen on the way to Kanda as well as on the road to Machure
Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola juncidis
Several seen in Dhikala Chaur
Bright-headed Cisticola
Cisticola exilis
Not as common as the above but easily seen in Dhikala Chaur
Striated Prinia
Prinia criniger
Strangely seen low-down near Kanda
Grey-breasted Prinia
Prinia hodgsonii
Very common. Seen several times
Ashy Prinia
Prinia socialis
Seen at Dhikala and at Gairal
Plain Prinia
Prinia inornata
Seen at Dhikala Chaur
Oriental White-eye
Zosterops palpebrosus
Very common
Blyth’s Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus dumetorum
Common passage migrant. Seen often
Common Tailorbird
Orthotomus sutorius
Only one seen near Infinity Resort
Common Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
Few seen over the period
Tickell’s Leaf Warbler
Phylloscopus affinis
Several seen through the period. Common
Sulphur-bellied Warbler
Phylloscopus griseolus
Two birds seen near the Dhikala Canteen. A recent addition to the checklist
Grey-hooded Warbler
Seicercus xanthoschistos
Two birds seen, one in Dhikala and the other on the Sultan-Gairal Road
Striated Grassbird
Megalurus palustris
Only one bird seen in the Dhikala Chaur
White-throated Laughingthrush
Garrulax albogularis
White-crested Laughingthrush
Garrulax leucolophus
Several flocks of the above two birds were met in the forest. Common and easily seen
Streaked Laughingthrush
Garrulax lineatus
One bird on the Machure-Chimtakhal Road
Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler
Pomatorhinus erythrogenys
More heard than seen. One good and prolonged sighting on Sambhar Road
Black-chinned Babbler
Stachyris pyrrhops
Seen and heard every day. Common
Yellow-eyed Babbler
Chrysomma sinense
One seen near Lohachaur
Large Grey Babbler
Turdoides malcolmi
A pair seen near Dhangari Gate
Jungle Babbler
Turdoides striatus
Common and ubiquitous
Black-chinned Yuhina
Yuhina nigrimenta
A few birds seen on the Sultan-Gairal Road
Greater Short-toed Lark
Calandrella brachydactyla
Pair seen in Dhikala Chaur
Oriental Skylark
Alauda gulgula
Several birds were seen in Dhikala Chaur
Pale-billed Flowerpecker
Dicaeum erythrorynchos
Seen at Dhikala Tourist complex
Purple Sunbird
Nectarinia asiatica
Very Common. Seen everyday
Crimson Sunbird
Aethopyga siparaja
Seen in the forest and at Infinity Resort
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Seen In Dhikala and around other forest rest-houses
Russet Sparrow
Passer rutilans
Seen on the road to Machure
Chestnut-shouldered Petronia
Petronia xanthocollis
A big flock seen near Claridges Resort and intermittently in other places including the Bijrani area
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba
White-browed Wagtail
Motacilla maderaspatensi
Common
Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola
Many on Dhikala Chaur
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Many on Dhikala Chaur
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Paddyfield Pipit
Anthus rufulus
Tawny Pipit
Anthus campestris
Long-billed Pipit
Anthus similes
The Dhikala Chaur held a good number of pipits and were relatively tame and easy to see.
Olive-backed Pipit
Anthus hodgsoni
A few seen
Upland Pipit
Anthus sylvanus
A single bird was observed near Machure
Baya Weaver
Ploceus philippinus
Red Avadavat
Amandava amandava
Indian Silverbill
Lonchura malabarica
All the above were seen in the Dhikala Chaur
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus
A single bird was seen in Fulai Chaur
Crested Bunting
Melophus lathami
Seen the Dhikala Tourist Complex and the Machure-Chimtakhal Road.
White-capped Bunting
Emberiza stewarti
A pair was seen sitting on a wire in the Dhikala Tourist complex
