Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 120 sq km, and is one of India’s last lowland evergreen rainforests. Cutting through the forest, is the Burhi Dihing river, which creates several sand islands that are popular with migratory roosting birds. Situated at the foothills of the Patkai Hill Ranges, contiguous to Namdapha National Park and bordering Myanmar, Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is one of India’s best kept secrets.
Like many other rainforests, Dehing Patkai is characterised by an emergent layer (>40m), a well pronounced mid-storey and lower canopy of vegetation. The forest is criss-crossed with lianas creating beautiful patterns wherever you see. The emerald Burhi Dihing river cuts through the sanctuary, separating it into the Jeypore and the Soraipung ranges. Bamboo and cane patches at several parts of the forest are another key habitat for birds.
Dehing Patkai has a high diversity of birds, with about 330 species recorded so far. A walk in the forest, especially early morning or late afternoons, is going to give you a good opportunity to spot birds in large foraging parties. From Long-tailed and Scarlet Minivets, to Sultan Tits, Pin-striped Tit Babblers, drongos like Bronzed, Greater and Lesser Racket-tailed, Blue-winged Leafbirds, Maroon Oriole, Green Magpie and the occasional woodpeckers and flycatchers—these are some of the participants in these mixed flock foraging parties.
Other than these, one is also lucky to come across Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush and Red-headed Trogon in good numbers. Among woodpeckers, there are good chances of spotting both Lesser and Greater Yellownape, Bay Woodpecker, Greater Flameback and the very tiny White-browed Piculet in bamboo patches. You also stand a good chance to spot Pale-capped Pigeon if you are lucky. Green and Mountain Imperial Pigeons also frequent the salt licks or pongs (In fact, Soraipung in the local Assamese languagetranslates to Sorai “bird” and Pong “salt-water pool”.)
The star attraction of the park is the White-winged Wood Duck—the state bird of Assam. It is extremely secretive and is found in very few forested ponds. White-cheeked Partridges, Grey Peacock Pheasant and the Streaked Wren Babbler are the target species when visiting this park
And the lucky birder gets to see the elusive Chestnut backed laughing thrush and the very rare and elusive Rufous Vented Laughing thrush on his day.
Highlight Bird Species:
White Winged Duck
Gray Peacock Pheasant
Striated Wren Babbler
Chestnut backed laughing thrush
Rufous Vented laughing thrush
White Cheeked Partridge
Pale Capped Pigeon
White Browed Scimitar Babbler
Large Scimitar Babbler
Eyebrowed Piculet
Silver Breasted Broadbill
Sultan Tit
