Andaman & Little Andaman Birding Tour

Andaman Wood Pigeon by Planet Asia Expeditions

Overview

The Andaman and Little Andaman Islands are home to a rich diversity of birdlife, with over 270 species recorded. These tropical islands boast a variety of habitats, including tropical rainforests, mangroves, and beaches, which provide a haven for both endemic and migratory birds. From the vibrant scarlet minivet to the elusive Andaman crake, birdwatchers will have the opportunity to discover some of the most unique and fascinating avian species in the world on these islands.

Basic Information

A beutiful photo of Andaman Teal Endemic Bird of Andamans by Planet Asia Expeditions

Detailed Itinerary

Arrive in Port Blair on a morning flight and meet your guide. Proceed to either go birdwatching or check in to your hotel. We will explore Chidiya Tapu Reserve Forest, a tropical moist evergreen forest, in search of birds. Keep an eye out for Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo Dove, Andaman Crake, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Coucal, Andaman Flowerpecker, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Bulbul, Andaman Shama, Andaman White-headed Starling, Andaman Green Pigeon, Black-naped Oriole, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive-backed Sunbird, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Long-tailed Parakeet, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dollarbird, Collared Kingfisher. Return to the hotel for lunch and then head to Mount Harriet National Park or nearby areas in the evening for night birding. Look out for Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Hawk Owl, Oriental Scops Owl (Andaman Race), Hume’s Owl, and more

On the next morning, we will drive towards Ferrargunj Forest Reserve. Along the way, keep an eye out for Andaman Teal, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Cuckooshrike, Edible Nest Swiftlet, and other endemic and non-endemic bird species. Return to the hotel at noon. In the afternoon, we will visit Sippy Ghat to search for waders, and later in the evening, we will look for night birds around Chidiya Tapu.

We will sail to Little Andaman (depending on the ship schedule) and do some birdwatching in the evening if we arrive early.

We will spend two days birdwatching in different areas of Little Andaman, providing a good opportunity to spot species such as Andaman Nightjar, Andaman Barn Owl, and more.

Sail Back to Port Blair.

We will go for a morning drive to either Chidiya Tapu or Mount Harriet National Park, depending on the species we hope to see. We will return to the hotel at noon. In the evening, we will search for Andaman Nightjar and Andaman Barn Owl.

Today, look for Palani Laughing-thrush, Nilgiri Pipit, Indian Blackbird, Malabar whistling Thrush, Hill Swallow, Painted bush Quail, Indian blue Robin, Indian white Eye, Nilgiri Thrush, Plain Prinia, ect. around  so on.

In the morning, we will go birding around the Shoal Bay area, with a good chance to spot species such as the Ruddy Kingfisher, as well as other endemic and non-endemic bird species. In the afternoon, we will visit areas where we may have missed some of the endemics we were searching for earlier.

If time permits, we will do some birdwatching in the morning before flying to Chennai in the afternoon. This marks the end of the tour.

Tour Details

Total number of days: 10

Tour starting point: Port Blair

Tour ending point: Port Blair

Difficulty level: Easy

Photography opportunities: Excellent

 

Photo Gallery

We can easily modify this itinerary to include additional locations and/or longer stays. We also have a variety of birdwatching tour itineraries for other parts of India available. Please feel free to contact us if you are interested in a birdwatching tour in another part of India.

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