Nestling in the eastern Himalaya, the kingdom of Bhutan is a land locked country with an approximate area of 47000 square kilometers. Its unique location along with altitude and climatic variations attribute to the tremendous diversity of flora/fauna to be found within its boundaries. Within its physical and biological diversities and with over 70% forest cover, Bhutan has some of the best remaining representative samples of the unique Himalayan eco- system.

The vegetation varies dramatically over short distance, ranging from tropical broadleaf to temperate conifer forests, to alpine shrubs and meadows. In addition, a rich assortment of medicinal herbs dot all over the country as do over 600 species of rhododendron.

These forests provide habitats for a variety of faunal species such as tigers, elephants, greater one horned rhinoceros, golden langur, blue sheep, musk deer, wolves, leopards, takins and a host of other creatures, many of which are listed as threatened or endangered.

A threatened bird in Bhutan / besides there is around 700 species of birds in Bhutan.

1. Black necked cranes 2. Monal pheasants 3. Lammergeirs (bearded vulture) 4. Trgopans 5. Beautiful nuthatch 6. Blyths kingfisher 7. Dark rumped swift 8. Grey bellied tragohan 9. Grey crown prinia 10. Pallas fishing eagle 11. Purple cochoa 12. Red headed parrot bill 13. Rufous necked hornbill 14. Satyr tragopan 15. Tailed wren babbler 16. Wards trogon 17. White bellied heron 18. Wood snipe 19. Yellow rumped honey guide

Spotted Nutcracker

Butterflies and birds abound as do some of the most breathtaking views to be had any where in the world. The ‘Shangri-La’ sobriquet though now overdone in tourism handouts is nevertheless a well deserved one!

The National Bird - THE RAVEN
(Corvus Corax Tibetanus )

1. Local name: Jarog

2. Size: 71cm (28 inches ) long

3. Distinctive Characters: Sexes alike. Jet blue-black color. Feathers on throat and breast are long, shiny and pointed. Massive bill, half the maxilla (upper beak) covered with bristles. Tail round.

4. Habitat: Resident bird found in alpine areas and trans- Himalayan regions, usually upland habitation. In severe winter, they come down to 2300 m. They feed on eerie form of vegetable or animal matter, dead or alive

5. Distribution: Found in the high altitudes of Tibet, Sikkim, Ladakh and Bhutan. In Bhutan it habitats in places like: In the west (Damthang, Cherithang, Jagothang, Lingshi, chebesa), Centre (Bumthang, Dur, Pegula) East (Singye Dzong and surrounding areas.

6. General Habits: Usually met in pairs, sometimes in dozens. Wild, wary and suspicious but can be bold. Carrion like vultures, feast on carcasses. Acrobatic stuns in high winds like twisting, turning, sides slipping, looping the loop, nose-diving. Clearly enjoying flying.

7. Breeding: The female build the nest (often as early as February) from twigs. Moss and hair brought by the male. Generally the same nest is used for years after making necessary renovations.

8. Eggs: Eggs (5-6) are incubated by the hen mostly, but occasionally relieved by the male. The young hatch after 19 – 23 days and remain in the nest for 40 – 42 days, fed by food being brought in the special throat sac of the adults. They have been observed to attack even large predators in the vicinity of their nest.

9. How to differentiate between  a crow and the raven: The raven can be easily confused with the large billed crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), which is commonly found in Bhutan. However there are certain distinct characteristics that could help you to identify our National Bird. The raven is much larger than a crow. It has very prominent hackles (pointed feathers) on its throat and has bristles on upper beak. The tail is distinctly wedge shaped.

Why it is National Bird of Bhutan?

The Raven in Bhutan’s History: The guardian Deity, Mahakala, is believed to have taken the form of a raven to guide the country’s unifier, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, to Bhutan. At a later time in history, the Trongsa Penlop. Jigme Namgyal (father of HM Ugyen Wangchuk. The first king of Bhutan) Wore the Raven Crown as a helmet during the 1885 war with the British. It thus became model for all future crowns of the Wangchuk dynasty. The Raven Crown takes its form from the raven – headed protective deity, Lego Jaro Dongchen, a form of Mahakala, the protective deity of the monarchy in Bhutan.

Black necked Crane winter migration to Bhutan.

The places they migrated to Bhutan are:

1) Phobjikha, Khotokha
2) Gyetsa, and Thangbi. 
3) Bomdling

How this majestic bird “THRUNG THRUNG KARM’” to descend from the lofty Tibetan plateau and spend their winter in Bhutan. Their visits have always brought joy to Bhutanese people. As a least known from the crane family, they are the last species of crane discovered and the only alpine crane in the world. They measure about 132cm in height and usually weigh 5.35 kg (12lb). The black necked cranes found in Asia only. And as the English name suggest the upper part of the neck and the head are black, except for a small white patch to the rear of the eye and a red bald patch between the bill and the eye. Males and Females are similar in appearance and juveniles have a buff- colored with white and black neck.

During the breeding season Black – necked Cranes use high altitude wetlands, nesting in grassy marshlands, sedge meadows and marshes along the shores of lakes and streams, and foraging in shallow marshes, streams, and pastures. The black necked cranes usually feeds on a wide range of food including roots and tubers, invertebrates such as grasshoppers, earthworms, shrimps, beetles, flies and small vertebrates including lizards and frogs. They feed on grains in stubble field in winters.

Loss and degradation of habitats are the main threats facing the Black- necked Cranes. These problems are serious in the wintering areas, where wetlands have been extensively affected by irrigation projects, dam construction, drainage and conversion to agriculture, heavy grazing pressure, sedimentation, industrial pollution and other factors.

They have made their presence felt in local folklores and cultural traditions of their residing place. In Bhutan, the black necked cranes are harbinger of winter for the Phobjikha people. During their arrival, the person of Phobjikha descends towards lower altitude and comes back when the cranes depart. The cranes usually reside in Bumdeling, Trashiyangtse and Phobjikha in Wangdue Phodrang.

PHOBJIKHA: Great spot for crane migration to Bhutan.

Is located at an altitude of 2900 meters, is the largest wetlands in the country covering an area of 2,227hectares. It is an ecologically and biologically diverse area. It is representative of alpine, wetland and temperate eco- systems. Phobjikha is ecologically important as the winter home to more than 250 rare and endangered black-necked cranes. Besides, it is also the life supporting bowl for many wetland species.

Although Phobjikha was declared a conservation area by the government of Bhutan, It lacked a proper definition and legal status. With this official recognition, RSPN (ROYAL SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF NATURE) will be able to implement the project activities more efficiently. 

THE BLACK-NECKED CRANE (Grusnigricollis)

1.Local name 2.size   3.Distinctive characters     4.Distribution     5.Habitat

Thrung Thrung Karm (Dzongkha) Wing span from 606.5 – 623 mm Culmen from 116.4 – 120.5 mm Tarsus from 231.7 – 247.4 mm Sexes alike: female slightly smaller. Tall grey bird with black head and neck. Lores and entire crown necked and dull red. Small patch of feathers below and behind the eye. Body is ashy grey with under parts almost white, Yellow iris. Legs and bill, black, the tip of the bill is yellow. Tibet ( the higher Himalayas) in the summer, Bhutan  (the lower Himalayas) in the winter. The high mountain valleys of Phobjikha, Bomdeling and Gyetsa are the winter habitat of the crane in Bhutan. Migratory, rare and endangered, 1800 – 4300m. Breed around highland lakes. Feed on fallen grain, tubers and insects. Mostly found I marshes, along lakeshores and n rivers in the higher mountain valleys of the Himalayas and their neighboring ranges.