Northern India Birding Tour: Tigers, Birds and the Himalayas
A 17-day northern India expedition combining wetland and Himalayan birding with Ranthambhore and Corbett wildlife safaris, the Chambal River and visits to Fatehpur Sikri and the Taj Mahal.
About this tour
Follow a varied route from Delhi's wetlands through Ranthambhore, Keoladeo and the Chambal River before climbing into the Himalayan foothills at Sattal, Pangot and Corbett. The itinerary is built around contrasting habitats, from dry scrub and marshes to mountain forest and fast-flowing rivers.
Birding priorities include Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, Indian Skimmer, pheasants, vultures, owls and a wide range of wetland and Himalayan species. Wildlife drives add a realistic chance of Bengal Tiger and may also produce Asian Elephant and other mammals, while cultural stops include Fatehpur Sikri and the grounds of the Taj Mahal.
The scheduled Birding Ecotours programme includes accommodation, meals, ground transport, guiding, reserve entry, wildlife drives and the stated monument visits. Wildlife remains unpredictable and the guide may adapt the route to current conditions.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to India.
Birds you can spot
Horornis flavolivaceus
target
Haliaeetus vocifer
target
Ketupa leucosticta
target
Psittacula eupatria
target
Anthus gutturalis
target
Tachymarptis melba
target
Brachypodius fuscoflavescens
target
Treron chloropterus
target
Hemixos flavala
target
Pericrocotus divaricatus
target
Eremopterix griseus
target
Phylloscopus maculipennis
target
Glaucidium cuculoides
target
Delichon dasypus
target
Anastomus oscitans
target
Stiltia isabella
target
Pyrrhula murina
target
Vanellus tricolor
target
Anser indicus
target
Hemipus picatus
target
Nok hualon
target
Turnix suscitator
target
Ploceus philippinus
target
Heterophasia pulchella
target
Botaurus flavicollis
target
Dicrurus macrocercus
target
Francolinus francolinus
target
Phoenicurus ochruros
target
Ciconia nigra
target
Porphyrio indicus
target
Sterna acuticauda
target
Dicaeum haematostictum
target
Ploceus benghalensis
target
Prinia flavicans
target
Garrulus lanceolatus
target
Vanellus tectus
target
Oriolus larvatus
target
Heterophasia desgodinsi
target
Oriolus xanthornus
target
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
target
Dinopium benghalense
target
Elanus axillaris
target
Limosa limosa
target
Prunella atrogularis
target
Aegithalos concinnus
target
Aethopyga saturata
target
Turdus atrogularis
target
Himantopus himantopus
target
Ceuthmochares aereus
target
Monticola solitarius
target
Myophonus caeruleus
target
Nyctyornis athertoni
target
Cyornis herioti
target
Psilopogon cyanotis
target
Phoenicurus frontalis
target
Chloropsis venusta
target
Psilopogon asiaticus
target
Chloropsis moluccensis
target
Actinodura cyanouroptera
target
Luscinia svecica
target
Rhyticeros plicatus
target
Hieraaetus pennatus
target
Dendrocitta cinerascens
target
Zoothera atrigena
target
Sturnia pagodarum
target
Antigone rubicunda
target
Metopidius indicus
target
Dicrurus aeneus
target
Cinclus pallasii
target
Ketupa zeylonensis
target
Lewinia mirifica
target
Ploceus insignis
target
Pomatorhinus phayrei
target
Dendrocoptes auriceps
target
Halcyon albiventris
target
Lanius collurioides
target
Mirafra apiata
target
Catreus wallichii
target
Hemixos castanonotus
target
Pterorhinus mitratus
target
Clamator coromandus
target
Carpodacus dubius
target
Spatula cyanoptera
target
Motacilla citreola
target
Cisticola textrix
target
Periparus ater
target
Otus lettia
target
Phylloscopus collybita
target
Tringa nebularia
target
Upupa epops
target
Gallinula chloropus
target
Aythya ferina
target
Carpodacus erythrinus
target
Gallinago gallinago
target
Orthotomus sutorius
target
Tephrodornis pondicerianus
target
Pernis ptilorhynchus
target
Megaceryle lugubris
target
Galerida cristata
target
Spilornis cheela
target
Aethopyga siparaja
target
Pelecanus crispus
target
Heterophasia melanoleuca
target
Prinia lepida
target
Oenanthe deserti
target
Eumyias sordidus
target
Ketupa coromanda
target
Ardea coromanda
target
Aquila heliaca
target
Neophron percnopterus
target
Lanius gubernator
target
Fulica atra
target
Ptyonoprogne rupestris
target
Garrulus glandarius
target
Accipiter nisus
target
Platalea leucorodia
target
Anas crecca
target
Mareca penelope
target
Jynx torquilla
target
Heleia superciliaris
target
Aythya nyroca
target
Dicaeum ignipectus
target
Ketupa poensis
target
Dendrocopos analis
target
Rhipidura albolimbata
target
Dendrocopos macei
target
Mareca strepera
target
Spatula querquedula
target
Tarsiger chrysaeus
target
Chloropsis aurifrons
target
Psilopogon virens
target
Podiceps cristatus
target
Buceros bicornis
target
Clamator glandarius
target
Esacus recurvirostris
target
Pelargopsis melanorhyncha
target
Centropus sinensis
target
Phoenicopterus roseus
target
Pterorhinus pectoralis
target
Rostratula benghalensis
target
Clanga clanga
target
Chrysophlegma flavinucha
target
Amandava formosa
target
Elliotomyia viridicauda
target
Parus monticolus
target
Aethopyga nipalensis
target
Saxicola ferreus
target
Ortygornis pondicerianus
target
Motacilla cinerea
target
Orthotomus derbianus
target
Prinia hodgsonii
target
Pericrocotus solaris
target
Culicicapa ceylonensis
target
Edolisoma schisticeps
target
Vanellus cinereus
target
Porphyrio poliocephalus
target
Phylloscopus xanthoschistos
target
Pterorhinus caerulatus
target
Turdus boulboul
target
Anser anser
target
Coracina maxima
target
Zapornia atra
target
Prinia crinigera
target
Dendrocopos himalayensis
target
Cursorius coromandelicus
target
Bubo bengalensis
target
Oriolus kundoo
target
Ocyceros birostris
target
Pavo cristatus
target
Ardeola grayii
target
Copsychus fulicatus
target
Coracias benghalensis
target
Otus bakkamoena
target
Euodice malabarica
target
Anas poecilorhyncha
target
Clanga hastata
target
Burhinus indicus
target
Gyps indicus
target
Coracias affinis
target
Oenanthe isabellina
target
Otus semitorques
target
Oriolus cruentus
target
Ardeola speciosa
target
Myophonus glaucinus
target
Chrysomma altirostre
target
Perdicula asiatica
target
Prinia sylvatica
target
Lophura leucomelanos
target
Copsychus nigricauda
target
Ficedula subrubra
target
Anarhynchus alexandrinus
target
Sarkidiornis melanotos
target
Pucrasia macrolopha
target
Ptyonoprogne fuligula
target
Erythrogenys hypoleucos
target
Copsychus omissus
target
Sypheotides indicus
target
Dendrocygna javanica
target
Picus chlorolophus
target
Psilopogon lineatus
target
Charadrius dubius
target
Calidris minuta
target
Ficedula bonthaina
target
Anthus similis
target
Buteo rufinus
target
Cisticola angusticauda
target
Lanius schach
target
Coracina larutensis
target
Anas platyrhynchos
target
Oriolus traillii
target
Emberiza personata
target
Rhipidura superciliaris
target
Syma megarhyncha
target
Cossyphicula isabellae
target
Gypsophila crassa
target
Acrocephalus melanopogon
target
Delichon nipalense
target
Otus alius
target
Anas acuta
target
Spatula clypeata
target
Timeliopsis fulvigula
target
Anthus hodgsoni
target
Talaphorus chlorocercus
target
Pericrocotus flammeus
target
Geokichla citrina
target
Arachnothera flammifera
target
Anhinga melanogaster
target
Anthracoceros albirostris
target
Alauda gulgula
target
Pandion haliaetus
target
Anthus rufulus
target
Turnix varius
target
Galloperdix lunulata
target
Mycteria leucocephala
target
Androphobus viridis
target
Hydrophasianus chirurgus
target
Recurvirostra avosetta
target
Saxicola caprata
target
Ceryle rudis
target
Psittacula cyanocephala
target
Phoenicurus fuliginosus
target
Cinnyris asiaticus
target
Leptocoma sperata
target
Crypsirina temia
target
Rhinortha chlorophaea
target
Otus brookii
target
Amandava amandava
target
Streptopelia tranquebarica
target
Gallus gallus
target
Galloperdix spadicea
target
Dinopium psarodes
target
Urocissa erythroryncha
target
Leiothrix lutea
target
Ficedula parva
target
Netta rufina
target
Prinia rufifrons
target
Serinus pusillus
target
Sarcogyps calvus
target
Ptyonoprogne rufigula
target
Psilopogon lagrandieri
target
Pycnonotus jocosus
target
Vanellus duvaucelii
target
Sterna aurantia
target
Emberiza cia
target
Perdicula argoondah
target
Anthus roseatus
target
Tadorna ferruginea
target
Zapornia fusca
target
Calidris pugnax
target
Dendrocitta vagabunda
target
Dendrocopos hyperythrus
target
Anthipes solitaris
target
Prinia buchanani
target
Ficedula rufigula
target
Schoeniparus rufogularis
target
Arborophila rufogularis
target
Passer cinnamomeus
target
Antigone antigone
target
Lonchura punctulata
target
Pericrocotus speciosus
target
Prionochilus thoracicus
target
Pachycephala soror
target
Ammoperdix griseogularis
target
Dicrurus striatus
target
Calliope calliope
target
Saxicola maurus
target
Rhaphidura leucopygialis
target
Passer pyrrhonotus
target
Enicurus schistaceus
target
Psittacula himalayana
target
Pomatorhinus superciliaris
target
Glareola lactea
target
Ketupa nipalensis
target
Psilorhamphus guttatus
target
Spilopelia chinensis
target
Enicurus maculatus
target
Geokichla guttata
target
Athene brama
target
Tringa erythropus
target
Aquila nipalensis
target
Leucocarbo chalconotus
target
Trochalopteron lineatum
target
Carpodacus rubicilloides
target
Grammatoptila striata
target
Trochalopteron virgatum
target
Prinia striata
target
Dicrurus sumatranus
target
Pericrocotus miniatus
target
Otus lempiji
target
Rhopophilus albosuperciliaris
target
Anthus campestris
target
Xanthotis flaviventer
target
Heleia crassirostris
target
Anthus trivialis
target
Oenanthe picata
target
Sitta frontalis
target
Ketupa lactea
target
Carpodacus vinaceus
target
Rhipidura albiventris
target
Dicrurus densus
target
Tichodroma muraria
target
Rallus aquaticus
target
Pterorhinus delesserti
target
Circus aeruginosus
target
Pachyglossa propria
target
Chlidonias hybrida
target
Porphyrio albus
target
Calherodius leuconotus
target
Dicrurus caerulescens
target
Pericrocotus erythropygius
target
Amaurornis phoenicurus
target
Rhipidura aureola
target
Pteruthius aeralatus
target
Motacilla maderaspatensis
target
Emberiza stewarti
target
Phoenicurus leucocephalus
target
Psilopogon viridis
target
Pterorhinus vassali
target
Sterna repressa
target
Pycnonotus leucotis
target
Butastur teesa
target
Gampsorhynchus rufulus
target
Chrysocolaptes festivus
target
Copsychus malabaricus
target
Vanellus leucurus
target
Sitta himalayensis
target
Halcyon smyrnensis
target
Pterorhinus albogularis
target
Prinia flaviventris
target
Lanius corvinus
target
Chloris spinoides
target
Acritillas indica
target
Leiopicus mahrattensis
target
Chrysomma sinense
target
Chrysocolaptes xanthocephalus
target
Treron phoenicopterus
target
Gymnoris xanthocollis
target
Vanellus malabaricus
target
Anthus chii
target
Cyanoptila cumatilis
target
Dendroplex kienerii
target
Cisticola juncidis
target
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival and Delhi wetland birding
Transfer to the hotel after arrival, then visit a nearby wetland if timing permits. Painted and Black-necked Storks, wintering waterfowl, eagles, wagtails and Spotted Owlet are among the possible first sightings.
Day 2
Train to Ranthambhore and first safari
Take an early train south and reach Ranthambhore in time for lunch. The first afternoon wildlife drive concentrates on Bengal Tiger while also watching for birds and other mammals.
Day 3
Ranthambhore National Park
Use morning and afternoon drives to continue the tiger search and explore the park's dry forest and lakes. Painted Spurfowl, parakeets, vultures, woodpeckers, drongos and waterbirds are possible alongside deer and other mammals.
Day 4
Ranthambhore to Bharatpur
Travel toward Bharatpur with stops chosen around current water levels and bird reports. Open-country and wetland possibilities include Indian Stone-curlew, Painted Sandgrouse, Indian Skimmer, pratincoles, terns and lapwings.
Day 5
Keoladeo National Park
Spend the day moving through scrub, woodland, lakes and marshes by cycle-rickshaw and on foot. The varied habitat supports owls, waterfowl, storks, raptors, passerines and many other northern Indian species.
Day 6
Fatehpur Sikri and Chambal
Begin with an open-country search for Indian Courser and associated larks, pipits and cranes. Continue via the historic grounds of Fatehpur Sikri to the Chambal area for a two-night stay.
Day 7
National Chambal Sanctuary
Take a morning boat journey for Indian Skimmer, river terns, River Lapwing and Great Stone-curlew. The river also offers chances for Ganges River Dolphin and Gharial, followed by birding in nearby scrub and farmland.
Day 8
Agra and return to Delhi
Bird around the lodge before travelling to Agra for the outer grounds of the Taj Mahal. Continue to New Delhi after the cultural visit.
Day 9
Train to Kathgodam and Sattal
Travel by train to Kathgodam and climb into the cooler Himalayan foothills. The first afternoon and following full day explore Sattal for woodpeckers, laughingthrushes, flycatchers, forktails and mixed forest flocks.
Day 11
Sattal, Nainital and Pangot
Continue Himalayan birding while moving through Nainital to Pangot. Forest and stream habitats can produce Kalij Pheasant, tits, treecreepers, redstarts, thrushes, kingfishers and sunbirds.
Day 12
High-elevation Pangot
Gain elevation for Cheer and Koklass Pheasants, Himalayan Vulture, accentors, woodpeckers and nuthatches. Clear weather may also reveal broad views of the snow-covered Himalayan ranges.
Day 13
Pangot to Corbett
Complete priority searches around Pangot before descending toward Corbett. Time permitting, work the Kosi River for Ibisbill and Wallcreeper, with dippers, fish eagles, owls and redstarts also possible.
Day 14
Jim Corbett National Park
Spend two days in and around Corbett using forest, grassland and river habitats. Safaris target Bengal Tiger and Asian Elephant as well as vultures, owlets, hornbills, kingfishers, woodpeckers and many Himalayan foothill birds.
Day 16
Corbett to New Delhi
Bird the hotel grounds and, if useful, make a final river check for Ibisbill or Wallcreeper. Return to Delhi for the concluding evening.
Day 17
Departure from New Delhi
An airport transfer concludes the scheduled northern India programme. Flights out of Delhi and overnight accommodation after departure are not included in the tour price.
Locations & map
- Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi - India
Availability & pricing
Availability is confirmed after your inquiry.
Included
- Accommodation described in the itinerary
- Meals from lunch on day 1 through breakfast on day 17
- Drinking water from the tour vehicle
- Expert tour leader and local guide fees
- Listed monument entrance and guide fees
- Reserve entry fees and scheduled jeep safaris
- Ground transport, tolls and airport transfers
Not included
- Flights to and from New Delhi
- Visa
- Personal expenses
- Optional excursions and unlisted monument entry
- Pre- or post-tour services
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Camera permits
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.