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Nestled deep in the heart of the Himalayas in the small mountain state of Sikkim is the remote and paradisiacal Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. Covering an area of just 124 sq km in the Pakyong District, Pangolkaha is a birdwatcher’s delight. What the sanctuary lacks in size, it makes up for in altitudinal variation from around 1,300 m to over 4,000 m, allowing a rich variety of birdlife to flourish in the diverse ecosystems. Tiny, picturesque hamlets full of warm and welcoming locals and their cosy homestays dot the sanctuary’s borders, allowing visitors to enjoy a relaxing getaway in the lap of nature.
Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary also enjoys international recognition as an “Important Bird Area” (IBA) and a “Key Biodiversity Area” (KBA). This makes it an ideal choice for those who want to explore and photograph the vibrant avifauna of the Himalayas.
However, it is not just the diversity of birdlife that enchants visitors to Pangolakha. Moving up and down the steep, winding mountain roads that cut through the Pangolakha Range, the fast-changing landscape can be quite enthralling. From dense, lush forested slopes to bamboo thickets and alpine meadows with open rhododendron patches and high-altitude lakes, Pangolakha harbours a variety of different habitats. Additionally, while on a birding trail, you may also be lucky enough to spot some of the rarest and most elusive mammalian fauna of the Himalayas, including Sikkim’s state animal, the red panda, Himalayan musk deer, snow leopard, and Himalayan black bear. In December 2023, a Bengal tiger was captured by a camera trap set up by the BNHS in the sanctuary! Researchers believe the tiger was a vagrant from the forests of Bhutan or West Bengal, as Pangolakha is well connected to both.
Let’s examine some of the fascinating birds of Pangolakha, one of the last refuges for many gorgeous Himalayan species.
Decked in a riot of colours from crest to tail, the Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) male is an unforgettable sight. This ground-dwelling, ground-nesting species belongs to the Phasianidae family, and uses its sharp beak and claws to dig into the ground to forage for roots, seeds, and invertebrates. The Himalayan monal is the national bird of Nepal and the state bird of Uttarakhand. Females have a streaked brown body, white throat, and blue patches surrounding the eyes. With their iridescent plumage, males are easier to spot along cliff edges, grassy slopes, or on alpine meadows.
Both these redstarts are flycatchers of the Muscicapidae family, primarily insectivorous, and upon perching, bob their tails up and down. (1) The blue-fronted redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis) breeds in subalpine areas but moves to lower elevations in winter. Males are orange and ultramarine blue, while females are orange and brown. (2) White-capped redstarts (Phoenicurus leucocephalus) are often spotted near mountain streams with boulders. They exhibit similar colouring in both sexes, but males have a larger white head patch.
These three species of finches, the (1) Himalayan white-browed rosefinch (Carpodacus thura), the (2) dark-breasted rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis), and the (3) red-headed bullfinch (Pyrrhula erythrocephala) — all true finches of the Fringillidae family. Their stout conical bills are designed to break seeds and nuts, which comprise the majority of their diet. All three species exhibit sexual dimorphism, with the images above representing the males of the species. The females of true finches usually lack the carotenoid pigments of males and are less brightly coloured.
These two species, the (1) red-tailed minla (Minla ignotincta) and the (2) hoary-throated barwing (Actinodura nipalensis), are laughingthrushes of the Leiothrichidae family. They are found in Pangolakha’s moist hill forests and are primarily insectivorous. They fill the air of the quiet mountains with their lively chirps as they fly around in small groups of the same or mixed species flocks. Males and females are similar in appearance with subtle colour differences between the sexes.
The gorgeous green colour of these birds helps camouflage them in their montane forest habitat. The golden-throated barbet (Psilopogon franklinii) is from the Megalaimidae or Asian barbet family and feeds primarily on berries and fruits.
The common green magpie (Cissa chinensis), on the other hand, is from the Corvidae or crow family, and animal prey is a major part of its diet. In both species, the sexes are similar in appearance, with subtle differences.
Living up to its name, breeding males of the fire-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda), with their long, bright-red tails, appear like flames in the forest. Females are very different; they have a grey head, a yellow-green body, and a shorter tail with a rufous tinge. Non-breeding males are similar in colour to females. Belonging to the Nectariniidae family, these birds have specialised bills that allow them to suck nectar from flowers and prey on insects.
Both these species have a widespread distribution in India. In Pangolakha, they are found in the lower elevations of the sanctuary. The omnivorous common hill myna (Gracula religiosa) from the Sturnidae or starling family is usually seen in pairs or small, noisy flocks.
The predatory jungle owlet (Glaucidium radiatum) from the Strigidae or true owl family is most active at dawn and dusk. At other times of the day, it roosts quietly in its perch (usually in tree cavities). Males and females of both species are similar in appearance.
(1) The fire-tailed myzornis (Myzornis pyrrhoura) and the (2) white-browed fulvetta (Fulvetta vinipectus) are from the Paradoxornithidae or parrotbill family. They inhabit stunted subalpine forests in Pangolakha. The myzornis prefers rhododendron scrubs and bamboo thickets. It is usually seen singly or in pairs, while fulvettas often fly in large flocks of single and sometimes mixed species. Both these species are primarily insectivores, and the sexes are similar in appearance, with subtle differences.
As their names suggest, (1) the rufous-necked snowfinch (Pyrgilauda ruficollis) from the sparrow family and the (2) alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) from the Prunellidae family are found in the higher elevations of the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, usually above the treeline. The snowfinch is known to use burrows of pikas as shelter or for breeding. The alpine accentor usually builds nests in rock crevices or sheltered areas beneath rocks. Both species are omnivores and exhibit slight sexual dimorphism.
This beautiful resident of Pangolakha, with its distinct mohawk crest, is the whiskered yuhina (Yuhina flavicollis), a member of the Zosteropidae, or white-eye family, that displays a distinctive white ring around the eyes. It is a highly social bird found foraging for insects, nectar, or seeds with others of the same or different species in the broadleaf forests of the sanctuary. There are only subtle differences in appearance between the sexes.
Today, the homes of these birds and other wildlife of Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary are threatened by climate change and growing human-induced disturbances. We need to conserve the various habitats of the sanctuary to ensure a secure future for these lovely species.
About the Authors
Oishimaya Sen Nag
