Andaman and Nicobar Islands were shrouded in mystery for centuries because of their inaccessibility. These are the paragon of beauty and present a landscape full with scenic and picturesque extravaganza. These islands shimmer like emeralds in the Bay of Bengal. The dense forest which cover these islands and the innumerable exotic flowers and birds create a highly poetic and romantic atmosphere. “Here the white beaches on the edge of a meandering coastline have palm trees that sway to the rhythm of the Sea. The beat of tribal drums haunt the stillness and technicolour fish steer their way through crystal clear water.” This addition of strangeness to beauty which is responsible for creating the infinite romantic impact may be described in the following famous lines of Keats.
The scenic beauty of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, would create a sense of dissatisfaction and the human mind would rebel against “the whole mass of the motley facts of life”. He would be guided by an irresistible desire to this paradise on earth, with invincible faith on the philosophy of Wordsworth:
The Andaman & Nicobar are a group of picturesque Islands, big and small, inhabited and uninhabited, a total of 572 islands, islets and rocks lying in the South Eastern Part of the Bay of Bengal.They lie along an arc in long and narrow broken chain, approximately North-South over a distance nearly 800 kms. . It is logical to presume a former land connection form Cape Negris at South part of Burma to Achin Head (Cape Pedro) in Andalas (Sumatra). The flora and fauna of these islands, however, indicate that this land connection if it existed, should have been prior to the development of their present life form.
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Birding Tour to South India and the Andaman Islands
Day 1 : Chennai- Port Blair
Arrive Chennai morning – Fly to Port Blair (last flight out 10:05 am). Check into Bay Island. Meet & assist at the airport. We will bird around Mount Harriet National Park, a tropical moist evergreen forest. Should sight Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Cuckoo Dove , Andaman Crake, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dollarbird, Collared Kingfisher, Brown Coucal, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Pintail Snipe, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Andaman Treepie , Black-naped Oriole Andaman Drongo, Orange-headed Thrush, Olive backed Sunbird, White-headed Starling.
Andamans Bird List
Nicobar Scrubfowl Megapodius nicobariensis
Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus
Blue-breasted Quail Coturnix chinensis
Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica
Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons
Andaman Woodpecker Dryocopus hodgei
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei
Narcondam Hornbill Aceros narcondami
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithacus
Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis
Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus
Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus
Asian Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus
Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
Brown Coucal Centropus andamanensis
Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis
Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Nicobar Parakeet Psittacula caniceps
Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda
Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
Himalayan Swiftlet Collocalia brevirostris
Edible-nest Swiftlet Collocalia fuciphaga
Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
Common Swift Apus apus
Andaman Masked Owl Tyto deroepstorffi
Andaman Scops Owl Otus balli
Nicobar Scops Owl Otus alius
Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia
Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata
Andaman Hawk Owl Ninox affinis
Hume’s Hawk Owl Ninox obscura
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus
Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis
Rock Pigeon Columba livia Andaman Wood Pigeon Columba palumboides
Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
Andaman Cuckoo Dove Macropygia rufipennis
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica
Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora
Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor
Andaman Crake Rallina canningi
Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
Sanderling Calidris alba
Little Stint Calidris minuta
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus
Beach Thick-knee Esacus neglectus
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus
Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus
Crab Plover Dromas ardeola
Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii
Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
Little Tern Sterna albifrons
Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
White Tern Gygis alba
Black Noddy Anous minutus
Brown Noddy Anous stolidus
Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus
White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
Nicobar Serpent Eagle Spilornis minimus
Andaman Serpent Eagle Spilornis elgini
Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Nicobar Sparrowhawk Accipiter butleri
Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis
Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis
Besra Accipiter virgatus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Pacific Reef Egret Egretta sacra
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Great Egret Casmerodius albus
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus
Little Heron Butorides striatus
Malayan Night Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis
Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala grisola
Andaman Treepie Dendrocitta bayleyi
House Crow Corvus splendens
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei
Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata
Pied Triller Lalage nigra
Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
Andaman Drongo Dicrurus andamanensis
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina
Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica
Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus
Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher Rhinomyias brunneata
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura
Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
Purple-backed Starling Sturnus sturninus
White-headed Starling Sturnus erythropygius
Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus
Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
Nicobar Bulbul Hypsipetes nicobariensis
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
Pale-footed Bush Warbler Cettia pallidipes
Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata
Rusty-rumped Warbler Locustella certhiola
Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
Thick-billed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes
Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis
Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola
Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila