Wayanad Sky Island bird survey records 156 species

The Wayanad Sky Island Bird Survey 2026 documented 156 species of birds. The survey was conducted between March 13 and 15 with the participation of around 55 birdwatchers. Among the species recorded were eight threatened species, 20 species endemic to the Western Ghats, and 12 species that had not been recorded in previous surveys. The Wayanad Sky Island Bird Survey was initiated in 2018 as part of the Kerala Bird Atlas programme.

The survey was jointly organised by the North Wayanad Forest Division, South Wayanad Forest Division, and the Hume Centre for Wildlife Biology. Birdwatchers were deployed across 11 base camps to survey different habitats of the sky islands located above 1,200 metres, including forests, grasslands, and sholas.

In Wayanad district, sky islands occur in mountain ranges such as the Camel’s Hump, Banasura, Kurichyarmala, and Brahmagiri. Sky islands are high-elevation landscapes that remain geographically isolated and climatically distinct from the surrounding regions.

Himalayan Buzzard. Photo: Special Arrangement

Notable species recorded during the survey included the Himalayan Buzzard, Malayan Night Heron, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Black Baza, and Great Hornbill. The sighting of the Himalayan Buzzard, a raptor typically found in the Himalayan ranges of north India, generated considerable interest among birdwatchers. This species has been recorded only for the second time in Kerala.

The survey also confirmed a healthy population of the Banasura Chilappan (Banasura Laughingthrush), the district bird of Wayanad, which is found exclusively in the district’s sky islands. The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Several Western Ghats endemic species were also recorded during the survey, including the Nilgiri Sholakili, Black-and-orange Flycatcher, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Wayanad Laughingthrush, and Nilgiri Woodpigeon.

Banasura Chilappan (Montecincla jerdoni), a recently described species and one of the most endangered forest birds in India, was spotted in sholas above 1,800 metres. The global distribution of the species is limited to three mountain ranges in Wayanad, covering an area of less than 50 square kilometres. It is estimated that fewer than 2,500 individuals remain in these mountains.

Malayan Night Heron. Photo: Special Arrangement

“Considering the limited habitat range of the Banasura Chilappan, the Camel’s Hump mountain range should be elevated to national park status to protect the remaining habitat of this rare bird,” said C.K. Vishnudas, director of the Hume Centre for Ecology, who coordinated the survey. The survey was inaugurated by Ajith K. Raman, DFO, South Wayanad Forest Division.