VISIT LADAKH —» Wildlife of Ladakh » Birds in Ladakh

Birds in Ladakh

A large variety of both resident and migratory birds are found in Ladakh and some 240 different species have been recorded. Most visitors will see magpies, sparrows and crows which are all common around villages. Other common birds include various species of lark, twite, fmches and snow pigeon.

In the mountains you are likely to see the chukor partridge and the occasional kestrel, while soaring high on the thermals are huge scavenging lammergeyer (bearded vulture) with a 205m-wingspan, and also HImalayan griffin vultures, buzzards and the occasional golden eagle.

Of the migratory birds, the black-necked crane is one of the rarest, its numbers have been reduced to just a handful of breeding pairs in the Chang Tang lakes. The barbeaded goose also makes the incredible journey over the Himalaya each spring to breed on these high-altitude lakes having spent the winter in the wetlands of the Ganges floodplain. The great crested grebe also breeds here. Another visitor is the boopoe, which is easy to spot with its long curved beak, and pink and black crest. This bird's arrival traditionally heralds the beginning of summer.

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