Tabakoshi is the right place for Birding or Birdwatching in Darjeeling : Darjeeling is a popular destination for birding or birdwatching enthusiasts. Tabakoshi in North Bengal Darjeeling has established itself as one of the best bird watching or birding destinations / places in West Bengal in the recent past. Birding is one of the best adventure activities that Tabakoshi offers. Birding or, as it’s more commonly known, birdwatching is the observation of birds as recreation spotting different species of birds common and rare.

Birdwatching Guest Review Video:

Why is Tabakoshi best Birding Destination in West Bengal.

• Due to its diverse habitats from river to tea bushes to forests it is possible to see wide variety of both land and water birds.
• Evergreen forests of Tabakoshi are home to some of the most sought after birds.
• When you are birdwatchig in Tabakoshi you are birding at picturesque destination.
• According to some of the Bird watchers who have visited Tabakoshi some of the rare birds found in the region.

Some Photos of the Birds Found in Tabakoshi

Best time for Birdwatching in Darjeeling Tabakoshi is

As a rule, the winter months (October/November to February/March) are ideal for birdwatching however Tabakoshi offers bird watching during monsoon as well. Some of the aquatic birds head there just as the monsoon arrives.The dedicated birding enthusiast will find species aplenty even in summer.Similarly, early morning is considered as the best time to see the birds nevertheless, the calmness, quietness, offbeat nature and location of the place offers the opportunity to see the birds throughout the day

We urge our birding Guests at Riverside Dwelling to keep in mind the well being of birds and their habitat when they go birding and maintain distance – and not disturb them.

One of our guests Mr Arupjyoti Moitra wrote us the following :

“I should start my review with the hospitality of Mr. Sanjog, the owner of Riverside Dwelling. This person has never shied away from providing the best of the services, right from getting my tea and guava served on the banks of the river as I was birding, to helping me in carrying my tripod. Such services you can never expect from the best of the hotels or resorts. The food here is awesome. The homestay is located at a very serene place on the banks of the river Rangbhang. The reason I came here is to do some birding, and I can confidently say to all birders that you will not leave this place disappointed. This place has plenty of birds as it is in the midst of tea gardens and beside the river. Thanks to Mr. Sanjog and his wife for making my stay memorable. Hope to visit you again.”

Here is the complete list of bird species observed in Tabakoshi :

Birds of Tabakoshi (Total: 119 Species)

1. Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)
2. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
3. Himalayan Buzzard (Buteo refectus)
4. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
5. Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris)
6. Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus)
7. Gray Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)
8. Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis)
9. Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus)
10. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
11. Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
12. Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
13. Hume’s Warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
14. Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
15. Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea)
16. Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus)
17. Plumbeous Redstart (Phoenicurus fuliginosus)
18. White-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus)
19. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
20. Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
21. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
22. Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
23. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
24. Streak-throated Woodpecker (Picus xanthopygaeus)
25. Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae)
26. Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
27. Hair-crested Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus)
28. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
29. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
30. Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
31. Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
32. Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)
33. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
34. Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii)
35. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
36. Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens)
37. House Crow (Corvus splendens)
38. Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
39. Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
40. Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus)
41. Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)
42. Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla)
43. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
44. Blue Whistling-Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus)
45. Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
46. Greater Yellownape (Chrysophlegma flavinucha)
47. Striated Laughingthrush (Grammatoptila striata)
48. Little Forktail (Enicurus scouleri)
49. Slaty-backed Forktail (Enicurus schistaceus)
50. Hodgson’s Redstart (Phoenicurus hodgsoni)
51. Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus)
52. Common Green-Magpie (Cissa chinensis)
53. Mountain Bulbul (Ixos mcclellandii)
54. Common Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa)
55. Golden-fronted Leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons)
56. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
57. Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon (Treron phoenicopterus)
58. Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
59. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
60. Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
61. Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides)
62. Brown Boobook (Ninox scutulata)
63. Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus)
64. White-throated Fantail (Rhipidura albicollis)
65. Himalayan Prinia (Prinia crinigera)
66. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo (Surniculus lugubris)
67. Gray Nightjar (Caprimulgus jotaka)
68. Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)
69. Black-winged Cuckooshrike (Lalage melaschistos)
70. Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus)
71. Whiskered Yuhina (Yuhina flavicollis)
72. Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (Mixornis gularis)
73. Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler (Erythrogenys erythrogenys)
74. Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia capistrata)
75. Blue-winged Minla (Actinodura cyanouroptera)
76. Rufous-necked Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus ruficollis)
77. Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)
78. Gray-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus)
79. Large Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides)
80. Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus)
81. Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
82. Pygmy Cupwing (Pnoepyga pusilla)
83. Eastern Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)
84. Gray-hooded Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthoschistos)
85. Yellow-bellied Warbler (Abroscopus superciliaris)
86. Nepal Fulvetta (Alcippe nipalensis)
87. Pale Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis unicolor)
88. Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus)
89. Mountain Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis)
90. Shikra (Tachyspiza badia)
91. Speckled Piculet (Picumnus innominatus)
92. Bay Woodpecker (Blythipicus pyrrhotis)
93. Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus)
94. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus picatus)
95. Black-throated Prinia (Prinia atrogularis)
96. Gray-throated Babbler (Stachyris nigriceps)
97. Silver-eared Mesia (Leiothrix argentauris)
98. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis)
99. Blue-throated Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides)
100. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectus)
101. Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)
102. Gray-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus canicapillus)
103. Himalayan Black-lored Tit (Machlolophus xanthogenys)
104. Besra (Tachyspiza virgata)
105. Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
106. Eastern Cattle-Egret (Ardea coromanda)
107. Asian Tit (Parus cinereus)
108. Fire-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda)
109. White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)
110. Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)
111. White-browed Piculet (Sasia ochracea)
112. Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei)
113. Oriental Cuckooshrike (Coracina javensis)
114. Striated Bulbul (Alcurus striatus)
115. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta cinnamoventris)
116. Rusty-flanked Treecreeper (Certhia nipalensis)
117. Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica)
118. Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)
119. Pin-tailed Green-Pigeon (Treron apicauda)

 Additional Taxa (Unidentified) 
1. Cuckoo sp. (Cuculidae sp.)
2. Woodpecker sp. (Picidae sp.)
3. Cyornis sp. (Cyornis sp.)
4. Wagtail sp. (Motacilla sp.)