Ladakh
Ladakh is a region administered by India as a union territory and constitutes an eastern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan (since 1947) and India and China (since 1959). It is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region to the east, the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to the south, both the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan to the west, and the southwest corner of Xinjiang Chinese province across the Karakoram Pass in the far north. It extends from the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range to the north to the main Great Himalayas to the south. The eastern end, consisting of the uninhabited Aksai Chin plains, is claimed by the Indian Government as part of Ladakh, but has been under Chinese control. In the past, Ladakh gained importance from its strategic location at the crossroads of important trade routes, but as Chinese authorities closed the borders between Tibet Autonomous Region and Ladakh in the 1960s, international trade dwindled. Since then, the Government of India has successfully encouraged tourism there. Because Ladakh is strategically important, the Indian military maintains a strong presence in the region.
The territory covers 59,146 km2 (22,836 square miles) and the largest town is Leh, followed by Kargil, each of which headquarters a district. The Leh district contains the Indus, Shyok and Nubra river valleys. The Kargil district contains the Suru, Dras and Zanskar river valleys. Ladakh is one of the most sparsely populated regions in India with less than 300,000 people with the main populated regions are the river valleys, but the mountain slopes also support pastoral Changpa nomads. TIts culture and history are closely related to those of Tibet. Ladakh is both the largest and the second least populous union territory of India.
Confluence of Indus & Zanskar rivers – ©Bernard Gagnon CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ladakh is the highest plateau in India with most of it being over 9,800 feet. It extends from the Himalayan to the Kunlun Ranges and includes the upper Indus River valley. The Suru and Zanskar Valleys form a great trough, enclosed by the Himalayas and the Zanskar Range. Rangdum is the highest inhabited region in the Suru valley, after which the valley rises to 14,400 feet at Pensi-la, the gateway to Zanskar. Kargil, the only town in the Suru Valley, is the second-most important town in Ladakh. It was an important staging post on the routes of trade caravans, being more-or-less equidistant (at about 230 kilometres) from Srinagar, Leh, Skardu and Padum. The Zanskar Valley lies in the troughs of the rivers Stod and Lungnak. The region experiences heavy snowfall; the Pensi-la is open only between June and mid-October. Dras and the Mushkoh Valley form the western extremity of Ladakh.
Fertile Riverside – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA
The Indus River is the backbone of Ladakh. Most major historical and current towns – Shey, Leh, Basgo and Tingmosgang (but not Kargil), are close to the Indus River.
The Siachen Glacier is in the eastern Karakoram Range in the Himalaya Mountains along the disputed India-Pakistan border. The Karakoram Range forms a great watershed that separates China from the Indian subcontinent and is sometimes called the ‘Third Pole’. The glacier lies between the Saltoro Ridge immediately to the west and the main Karakoram Range to the east. At 76 km (47 miles) long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and second-longest in the world’s non-polar areas. It falls from an altitude of 18,875 feet at its source at Indira Col on the China border down to 11,880 feet at its snout. Saser Kangri at 25,171 feet is the highest peak in the Saser Muztagh, the easternmost subrange of the Karakoram Range in India.
The Ladakh Range has no major peaks; its average height is a little less than 20,000 feet, and few of its passes are less than 16,000 feet. The Pangong range runs parallel to the Ladakh Range for about 100 km northwest from Chushul along the southern shore of the Pangong Lake. Its highest point is about 6,700 m (22,000 ft) and the northern slopes are heavily glaciated. The region comprising the valley of the Shayok and Nubra rivers is known as Nubra. The Karakoram Range in Ladakh is not as mighty as in Baltistan. The massifs to the north and east of the Nubra–Siachen line include the Apsarasas Group, the Rimo Muztagh and the Teram Kangri Group together with Mamostong Kangri and Singhi Kangri. North of the Karakoram lies the Kunlun. Thus, between Leh and eastern Central Asia there is a triple barrier – the Ladakh Range, Karakoram Range, and Kunlun. Nevertheless, a major trade route was established between Leh and Yarkand.
High Altitude Arid Valley – ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA
Ladakh is a high-altitude desert; the Himalayas create a rain shadow which generally denies passage of any monsoon clouds. The main source of water is the winter snowfall on the mountains. Recent flooding in the region has been attributed to abnormal rain patterns and retreating glaciers, both of which have been found to be linked to global climate change. The Leh Nutrition Project creates artificial glaciers as one solution for retreating glaciers. The regions on the north flank of the Himalayas – Dras, the Suru valley and Zangskar – experience heavy snowfall and remain cut-off from the rest of the region for several months during the year, just as the entire region remains isolated by road from the rest of the country. Summers are short, though they are long enough to grow crops; summer weather is dry and pleasant. Peak temperatures range from 3 to 35 °C in the summer and minimums range from −20 to −35 °C in winter. The Zanskar (along with its tributaries) is the primary waterway of the region. The Zanskar freezes solid during the winter, and the famous Chadar trek takes place on the magnificent frozen river.
Birding Ladakh
Vegetation is extremely sparse in Ladakh except along stream-beds and wetlands, on high slopes, and irrigated places. About 1250 plant species, including crops, have been recorded. The bharal (or blue sheep) is the most abundant mountain ungulate in the Ladakh region and is one of the preferred choices of prey of the rare snow leopard. The Asiatic ibex, a mountain goat, is distributed in the western part of Ladakh. It is adapted to rugged areas where it easily climbs near-vertical rock faces when threatened. The endemic Ladakhi urial is another unique mountain sheep that is endangered. The endangered Tibetan antelope and Tibetan gazelle, inhabit the vast rangelands in eastern Ladakh bordering Tibet. The kiang, or Tibetan wild ass, is common in the grasslands of Changthang. There are thought to be about 200 snow leopards in Ladakh. The Hemis High Altitude National Park in central Ladakh is an especially good habitat for this predator as it has abundant prey populations. The Eurasian lynx is mostly found in Nubra, Changthang and Zangskar. Pallas’s cat, Tibetan wolf and a few brown bears are the other main predators. The Tibetan sand fox has been discovered in this region. Among smaller animals, marmots, hares, and several types of pika and vole are common.
Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus ©Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA
Being arid, high altitude and with long winters makes for a restricted avifauna. Among raptors are Eurasian Eagle Owl, Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Hamalayan Griffin Vulture and Kestrel. Wildfowl, such as Ruddy Shelduck and Red-crested Pochard are summer visitors. Red-billed Chough and Hoopoes are widespread, but Snow Pigeon much less so. The iconic Black-necked Crane are mostly seen in the wetlands of eastern Ladakh. Tibetan Sandgrouse overwinter around Leh, Shey and Thiksey. Ibisbill can be found along a number of rivers. Tibetan Snowfinch also over-winter, mostly in the west. Orange-flanked Bush Robin is relatively common on the high-altitude plains, but White-winged Redstart are more widely distributed. Robin Accentor are resident although they shift altitude according to season as do Mongolian Finch. Tibetan Snowcock are thinly distributed.
This page is sponsored by Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA
-
Number of bird species: 500
-
Avibase
PDF ChecklistThis checklist includes all bird species found in Ladakh , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them. -
E-Bird
PDF ChecklistThis checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide. -
Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh (WCBCL)
ChecklistOtto Pfister - Species listing follows still old order as described in my book ‘Birds and Mammals of Ladakh” and species splitting still not updated
-
Birds and Mammals of Ladakh
| By Otto Pfister | OUP | 2014 | Paperback | 392 pages, ~450 colour & b/w illustrations | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780199452705 Buy this book from NHBS.com -
Field Guide on Birds of Ladakh
The Field Guide on Birds of Ladakh has been specially designed for the local youth of Ladakh. ISBN: Buy this book from NHBS.com
-
Birds of Ladakh
WebsiteBird Channel built by: Abdul Khaliq, Padma Gyalpo, Padma Rigzin, Rigzin Gurmet, Cynthia Hunt, Tsetan Angdu, Jameel Kaiser Khan, Omar Morhbi, Maya Madhvani and see the Bird Club Page for all WCBCL Contributors -
Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh (WCBCL)
WebsiteWildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh (WCBCL) is not an additional organization duplicating the projects already in execution by other stakeholders in the conservation field, but a local community-based organization, involving the real stakeholders of the region who could not only sustain these conservation programs but also play an important role in educating and enlightening the target communities who are in direct conflict with the wildlife of the region. Involvement and participation of the local communities in such program is inevitable in making any conservation story a success.
-
NP Hemis National Park
InformationSatellite ViewHemis National Park is a high-elevation national park in Hemis in Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is approx. 50 km from Leh,One of the capital of Ladakh (Leh, Kargil). Globally famous for its snow leopards, it is believed to have the highest density of them in any protected area in the world. Birds present here include brown accentor, robin accentor, Tickell's leaf warbler, streaked rosefinch, black-winged snowfinch, chukar, Blyth's swift, red-billed chough, Himalayan snowcock, and the fire-fronted serin. -
WS Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary
InformationSatellite ViewIt is important as one of the few places in India with a population of the Kiang or Tibetan Wild Ass, as well as the rare Black-necked Crane. Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of 4000 km2. (Wildlife Department Ladakh) -
WS Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary
InformationSatellite ViewIt is an important wildlife sanctuary due to being one of the few places in India with a migratory population of the Chiru or Tibetan Antelope.
-
eBird
SightingseBirding This Month
-
Ancient Tracks
Local Tour OperatorLadakh, located on the border between the Pale-arctic and the Indo-Malayan zoogeographic regions and it hosts typical bird species from either side. -
Asian AQdventures
Tour Operator1 Week in Ladakh For 100 Rare Birds and 10 Rare Mammals -
Bird-Photo-Tours ASIA
Tour OperatorLadakh is situated on the western edge of The Tibetan Plateau and has landscapes which are simply stunning and must surely rank as one of the outstanding bird photography locations in Asia. -
BirdQuest
Tour Operatorhe best place for the ‘Grey Ghost of the Mountains’ plus fantastic wildlife and birds – no camping involved! -
Birding in Ladakh
Local Tour OperatorBirding & wildlife tours Photography -
Hidden North
Tour OperatorBirding Tours in Ladakh -
Incredible Birding
Tour OperatorLadakh Wildlife Photography Expedition -
India Birding Tours
Tour OperatorOur Ladakh Birding Tour rouses the birder and mountain adventurer in you. It showcases rare Himalayan birds in the most pristine and surreal landscape of the world’s mightiest mountain range. -
Maitreya Tours
Local Tour OperatorDORJEY DAYA is a local born, soft-hearted by nature & pro-vegetarian, A wildlife photographer since more than a decade. Take keen interests in birding and wildlife, a hobby turned in to a professional birder & wildlife lover, recorded more than 200 species in high altitude area -
NatureTrek
Tour OperatorLadakh - Birds & Mammals of the Tibetan Plateau -
Overland Escape
Tour OperatorBirding Tour of Ladakh -
Responsible Travel
Tour OperatorLadakh, a high-altitude region in the northernmost part of India, is a fantastic destination for birdwatching due to its unique blend of habitats, from wetlands to barren mountains. -
Wild India Journey
Tour OperatorLadakh Union Territory is one of the few places in India where rare high altitude birds, wildlife, mammals, and butterflies can be seen. -
Yama AQdventures
Tour OperatorLadakh is a bird watcher’s paradise. Some of the birds endemic to high altitude and cold temperate climates can only be found in Ladakh. Eastern Ladakh is the only breeding ground in India for the state bird of Jammu and Kashmir - the Black-Necked Crane
-
2016 [07 July] - James Eaton - Ladakh, Kashmir & Rajasthan
PDF ReportOur Pre-tour Ladakh extension had the primary goal of locating Tibetan Sandgrouse and we ended up havingsplendid views of a pair feeding amidst the magnificent scenery of Tso Kar, high on the plateau. Great Rosefinch,Mountain Chiffchaff, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Red-fronted Serin, Ground Tit, Black-necked Crane and Blanford’sSnowfinch were also recorded. The main tour began in Leh with Ibisbill, Mountain Chiffchaff and Hume’sWhitethroat the main birds recorded as we drove west to Kargil, then south towards Srinagar. With ‘unrest’ aroundSrinagar making life difficult for us, we made base up the valley at our fine ‘glamp’, taking in large numbers ofSpectacled Finch, Black-and-yellow Grosbeak, Pink-browed Finch, Rufous-naped Tit, Kashmir and White-cheekedNuthatches, Himalayan Parakeet, Tytler’s Leaf Warbler and, eventually, Kashmir Nutcracker. -
2022 [03 Marcgh] - Brecht Verhelst
PDF Report...Very tame Tibetan Partridges and Chukars roamed through the streets and below our homestay a flock of Brandt’s Mountain Finches would come to roost in the evenings... -
2022 [07 July] - Ravi Kailas
ReportWhile we did not focus on the rich summer birdlife of this region, sightings included species like Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Snowcock, Hume’s Groundpecker, Golden Eagle, Lammergeier, Tibetan Lark, Brandt’s Mountainfinch, Red-fronted Serin and Blandford’s Snowfinch... -
2022 [08 August] - Ann Gifford
PPDF ReportWe spent the whole morning looking for Tibetan sandgrouse in various areas, starting over by the freshwater lake. Another stunningly beautiful day and equally as warm as yesterday. Even better reflections of the scenery in the still lakes... -
2022 [08 August] - Aseem Kothiala
ReportToday the day one (June 2nd), was to take rest and acclimatise to the low oxygen levels. In the evening we strolled around the beautiful town of Leh, that had a vibrant market, well paved pathways. Being the first week of June, the well clad tourists had already arrived and the place was surely buzzing. The weather was cool (around 14 deg C) -
2023 [03 March] - Guillaume Péron - Eastern Ladakh
PDF ReportWinter snow leopard trips in the Leh area have long been on the mental map of traveling naturalists, but only recently has the opportunity to combine them with some high-altitude birding emerged. Given how fast things are changing in these parts, I thought a quick update was useful for future visitors... -
2023 [09 September] - Peregrine Rowse
PDF ReportLadakh is all about Snow Leopards in Hemis National Park in March and April, right? WRONG! Early Autumn offers the chance not only to catch the high altitude breeders and to find some scarce, in both an Indian and/ or Ladakhi context, Palearctic migrants, as well as some really fabulous localised Tibetan Plateau species that barely make it into India. In this respect the relaxation, in the very week of our visit, of the prohibition on foreigners overnighting in Hanle in South East Ladakh, is a complete game changer. This also opens the door to some really first class mammals.
-
Birds of Ladakh
PDF