Singalila National Park

National Park · India

No ratings yet

Photo © Nibeditajha

Photo © Nibeditajha — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Where the eastern Himalaya folds into a ridge of rhododendron and silver fir, a high-altitude mosaic of forest and meadow opens along the Singalila range in West Bengal. This is a temperate mountain landscape shaped by a Cwb climate — mild, wet summers and a pronounced dry winter — so the vegetation reads as broadleaf and conifer forest threaded with bamboo, giving way near the crest to open grassy slopes and scrub. The character is montane and seasonal, not tropical: mist and monsoon cloud feed the woods in the warm months, while winter brings clear, cold, dry air and a leaner, more exposed look to the ridges. Wildlife here follows that structure — forest-dwelling songbirds and other woodland passerines in the canopy and understory, raptors working the thermals and open ground, and a suite of shy small and medium forest mammals moving through the bamboo and leaf litter. It is a place to read habitat, not to chase a single headline animal.

For photographers and birdwatchers, the appeal is the combination of altitude, atmosphere and light. Dawn and dusk over the ridge deliver long, low sun and drifting cloud that turn forest edges and grassy crests into layered, moody frames, and the dry winter months offer the clearest visibility and the most reliable access along the ridge trails. Spring and early summer bring the forest into leaf and the understory alive with birdsong, rewarding patient observers who work the woodland edges and clearings. Access is on foot along the range's walking routes, with the terrain demanding fitness and acclimatisation; the reward is a quiet, high-mountain birding and wildlife-watching experience where the emphasis falls on functional groups — raptors, woodland songbirds, migratory and resident montane birds, and elusive forest mammals — rather than on spectacle. Come prepared for cold, changeable weather and thin air, and let the landscape set the pace.

Ithaginis cruentus

Tragopan satyra

Lophura leucomelanos

Cuculus canorus

Himalayan Buzzard

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker

Dendrocopos hyperythrus

Black-headed Shrike-babbler

Pteruthius rufiventer

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie

Urocissa flavirostris

Southern Nutcracker

Nucifraga hemispila

Large-billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis

Yellow-browed Tit

Sylviparus modestus

Rufous-vented Tit

Periparus rubidiventris

Grey-crested Tit

Lophophanes dichrous

Green-backed Tit

Parus monticolus

Scaly-breasted Cupwing

Pnoepyga albiventer

Rufous-fronted Bushtit

Aegithalos iouschistos

Buff-barred Warbler

Phylloscopus pulcher

Ashy-throated Warbler

Phylloscopus maculipennis

Whistler's Warbler

Phylloscopus whistleri

Fire-tailed Myzornis

Myzornis pyrrhoura

Golden-breasted Fulvetta

Lioparus chrysotis

White-browed Fulvetta

Fulvetta vinipectus

Brown Parrotbill

Paradoxornis unicolor

Black-throated Parrotbill

Suthora nipalensis

Stripe-throated Yuhina

Rufous-vented Yuhina

Yuhina occipitalis

Rufous-capped Babbler

Cyanoderma ruficeps

Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler

Pomatorhinus superciliaris

Rufous-winged Fulvetta

Schoeniparus castaneceps

Scaly Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron subunicolor

Black-faced Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron affine

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron erythrocephalum

Heterophasia capistrata

Hoary-throated Barwing

Actinodura nipalensis

Bar-throated Minla

Actinodura strigula

Spotted Laughingthrush

Ianthocincla ocellata

White-tailed Nuthatch

Sitta himalayensis

Rusty-flanked Treecreeper

Certhia nipalensis

Zoothera mollissima

Black-throated Thrush

Turdus atrogularis

Red-throated Thrush

Turdus ruficollis

White-collared Blackbird

Turdus albocinctus

Verditer Flycatcher

Eumyias thalassinus

Blue Whistling Thrush

Myophonus caeruleus

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

Ficedula strophiata

Ultramarine Flycatcher

Ficedula superciliaris

Golden Bush Robin

Tarsiger chrysaeus

Himalayan Bluetail

Tarsiger rufilatus

Blue-fronted Redstart

Phoenicurus frontalis

White-throated Redstart

Phoenicurus schisticeps

Plumbeous Water Redstart

Phoenicurus fuliginosus

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush

Monticola rufiventris

Green-tailed Sunbird

Aethopyga nipalensis

Fire-tailed Sunbird

Aethopyga ignicauda

Rufous-breasted Accentor

Prunella strophiata

Maroon-backed Accentor

Prunella immaculata

Motacilla cinerea

Olive-backed Pipit

Anthus hodgsoni

White-winged Grosbeak

Mycerobas carnipes

Red-headed Bullfinch

Pyrrhula erythrocephala

Golden-naped Finch

Pyrrhoplectes epauletta

Plain Mountain Finch

Leucosticte nemoricola

Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus

Pink-browed Rosefinch

Carpodacus rodochroa

Dark-rumped Rosefinch

Carpodacus edwardsii

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch

Carpodacus thura

Loxia curvirostra

Bar-headed Goose

Tadorna ferruginea

Arborophila torqueola

Rufous-throated Partridge

Arborophila rufogularis

Himalayan Monal

Lophophorus impejanus

Caprimulgus jotaka

Large-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus macrurus

Himalayan Swiftlet

Aerodramus brevirostris

Centropus sinensis

Eudynamys scolopaceus

Banded Bay Cuckoo

Cacomantis sonneratii

Large Hawk-Cuckoo

Hierococcyx sparverioides

Cuculus poliocephalus

Cuculus micropterus

Himalayan Cuckoo

Cuculus saturatus

Speckled Wood Pigeon

Columba hodgsonii

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Spilopelia chinensis

Barred Cuckoo-Dove

Macropygia unchall

Common Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica

Ashy-headed Green Pigeon

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

Treron phoenicopterus

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon

Treron apicauda

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon

Treron sphenurus

Green Imperial Pigeon

Mountain Imperial Pigeon

Black-tailed Crake

Zapornia bicolor

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola

Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

Little Cormorant

Microcarbo niger

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Crested Honey Buzzard

Pernis ptilorhynchus

Himalayan Vulture

Gyps himalayensis

White-rumped Vulture

Gyps bengalensis

Griffon Vulture

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus nipalensis

Aquila nipalensis

Long-legged Buzzard

Taenioptynx brodiei

Asian Barred Owlet

Glaucidium cuculoides

Strix nivicolum

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

Crested Kingfisher

Megaceryle lugubris

Psilopogon virens

Lineated Barbet

Psilopogon lineatus

Eurasian Wryneck

Crimson-naped Woodpecker

Dryobates cathpharius

Greater Yellownape

Chrysophlegma flavinucha

Lesser Yellownape

Picus chlorolophus

Grey-headed Woodpecker

Greater Flameback

Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Falco tinnunculus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Slaty-headed Parakeet

Psittacula himalayana

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike

Hemipus picatus

Ashy Woodswallow

Grey-chinned Minivet

Pericrocotus solaris

Short-billed Minivet

Pericrocotus brevirostris

Long-tailed Minivet

Pericrocotus ethologus

Scarlet Minivet

Pericrocotus speciosus

Oriental Cuckooshrike

Coracina javensis

Black-winged Cuckooshrike

Lalage melaschistos

Green Shrike-babbler

Pteruthius xanthochlorus

Black-eared Shrike-babbler

Pteruthius melanotis

White-browed Shrike-babbler

Pteruthius aeralatus

Oriolus traillii

Black-hooded Oriole

Oriolus xanthornus

Dicrurus aeneus

Hair-crested Drongo

Dicrurus hottentottus

Dicrurus leucophaeus

White-throated Fantail

Rhipidura albicollis

Lanius cristatus

Long-tailed Shrike

Grey-backed Shrike

Lanius tephronotus

Garrulus glandarius

Common Green Magpie

Cissa chinensis

Dendrocitta vagabunda

Dendrocitta formosae

Corvus splendens

Melanochlora sultanea

Himalayan Black-lored Tit

Machlolophus xanthogenys

Yellow-cheeked Tit

Machlolophus spilonotus

Hume's Short-toed Lark

Calandrella acutirostris

Striated Bulbul

Alcurus striatus

Hemixos flavala

Mountain Bulbul

Ixos mcclellandii

Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

Himalayan Bulbul

Pycnonotus leucogenys

Hirundo rustica

Nepal House Martin

Delichon nipalense

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Pnoepyga pusilla

Yellow-bellied Warbler

Abroscopus superciliaris

Black-faced Warbler

Abroscopus schisticeps

Broad-billed Warbler

Tickellia hodgsoni

Brown-flanked Bush Warbler

Horornis fortipes

Hume's Bush Warbler

Horornis brunnescens

Aberrant Bush Warbler

Horornis flavolivaceus

Grey-bellied Tesia

Tesia cyaniventer

Grey-sided Bush Warbler

Cettia brunnifrons

Chestnut-headed Tesia

Cettia castaneocoronata

Black-throated Bushtit

Aegithalos concinnus

Hume's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus humei

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

Lemon-rumped Warbler

Phylloscopus chloronotus

Tickell's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus affinis

Phylloscopus fuligiventer

Phylloscopus fuscatus

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Grey-cheeked Warbler

Phylloscopus poliogenys

Green-crowned Warbler

Phylloscopus burkii

Greenish Warbler

Phylloscopus trochiloides

Large-billed Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus magnirostris

Chestnut-crowned Warbler

Phylloscopus castaniceps

Blyth's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus reguloides

Grey-hooded Warbler

Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Himalayan Prinia

Prinia crinigera

Black-throated Prinia

Prinia atrogularis

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

Great Parrotbill

Paradoxornis aemodius

Fulvous Parrotbill

Suthora fulvifrons

Whiskered Yuhina

Yuhina flavicollis

Indian White-eye

Zosterops palpebrosus

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler

Mixornis gularis

Cyanoderma chrysaeum

Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler

Spelaeornis caudatus

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler

Pomatorhinus ruficollis

White-browed Scimitar Babbler

Pomatorhinus schisticeps

Grey-throated Babbler

Stachyris nigriceps

Yellow-throated Fulvetta

Schoeniparus cinereus

Alcippe nipalensis

Striated Laughingthrush

Grammatoptila striata

Himalayan Cutia

Cutia nipalensis

Blue-winged Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron squamatum

Streaked Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron lineatum

Blue-winged Minla

Actinodura cyanouroptera

Rusty-fronted Barwing

Actinodura egertoni

Red-billed Leiothrix

Leiothrix lutea

Red-tailed Minla

Minla ignotincta

White-crested Laughingthrush

Garrulax leucolophus

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus ruficollis

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus pectoralis

White-throated Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus albogularis

Grey-sided Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus caerulatus

Regulus regulus

Spotted Elachura

Elachura formosa

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

Sitta cinnamoventris

Tichodroma muraria

Hodgson's Treecreeper

Certhia hodgsoni

Sikkim Treecreeper

Certhia discolor

Common Hill Myna

Gracula religiosa

Acridotheres fuscus

Acridotheres ginginianus

Acridotheres tristis

Indian Pied Myna

Gracupica contra

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Sturnia malabarica

Long-billed Thrush

Zoothera monticola

Grey-winged Blackbird

Turdus boulboul

Tickell's Thrush

Turdus unicolor

Chestnut Thrush

Turdus rubrocanus

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Copsychus saularis

Dark-sided Flycatcher

Muscicapa sibirica

Ferruginous Flycatcher

Muscicapa ferruginea

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Niltava sundara

Niltava macgrigoriae

Niltava grandis

White-tailed Robin

Myiomela leucura

Siberian Rubythroat

Calliope calliope

Little Forktail

Enicurus scouleri

Black-backed Forktail

Enicurus immaculatus

Slaty-backed Forktail

Enicurus schistaceus

Spotted Forktail

Enicurus maculatus

Himalayan Shortwing

Brachypteryx cruralis

Indian Blue Robin

Larvivora brunnea

Snowy-browed Flycatcher

Ficedula hyperythra

Pygmy Flycatcher

Ficedula hodgsoni

Sapphire Flycatcher

Ficedula sapphira

Little Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula westermanni

Taiga Flycatcher

Ficedula albicilla

White-browed Bush Robin

Tarsiger indicus

Rufous-breasted Bush Robin

Tarsiger hyperythrus

Blue-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus coeruleocephala

White-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Phoenicurus ochruros

Hodgson's Redstart

Phoenicurus hodgsoni

Güldenstädt's Redstart

Phoenicurus erythrogastrus

Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius

Saxicola ferreus

Saxicola caprata

Siberian Stonechat

Saxicola maurus

Cinclus pallasii

Orange-bellied Leafbird

Chloropsis hardwickii

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

Dicaeum ignipectus

Mrs. Gould's Sunbird

Aethopyga gouldiae

Black-throated Sunbird

Aethopyga saturata

Crimson Sunbird

Aethopyga siparaja

Streaked Spiderhunter

Arachnothera magna

Passer cinnamomeus

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Passer domesticus

Ploceus philippinus

Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

White-rumped Munia

Lonchura striata

Alpine Accentor

Prunella collaris

Prunella himalayana

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla tschutschensis

Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola

Anthus roseatus

Collared Grosbeak

Mycerobas affinis

Spot-winged Grosbeak

Mycerobas melanozanthos

Brown Bullfinch

Pyrrhula nipalensis

Dark-breasted Rosefinch

Procarduelis nipalensis

Carpodacus sipahi

Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch

Carpodacus pulcherrimus

Crimson-browed Finch

Carpodacus subhimachalus

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch

Chloris spinoides

Spinus thibetanus

Apus nipalensis

Troglodytes troglodytes

Slaty-blue Flycatcher

Ficedula tricolor

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Emberiza pusilla

Western Red Panda

Ailurus fulgens

View Complete List (304 more) →

0 Community observations

No community observations yet — be the first to log a sighting here.