Bird Watching in Nainital: Spotting the Long-tailed Broadbill in Uttarakhand

It was June 2025, and I found myself winding up the forested roads on the outskirts of Nainital, binoculars in hand and heart full of anticipation. Nainital in Uttarakhand had long been whispered about among birding circles as a birdwatcher’s paradise, especially during the late spring and early monsoon season. The hill hamlets around this lake town – Pangot and Sattal, to name a couple – are famed for their rich birdlife. Pangot, a tiny and quiet village just 15 km from bustling Nainital, is often hailed as “the pioneer of birding in India,” with over 250 bird species recorded in its oak and rhododendron forests . Sattal, an interconnected cluster of seven mountain lakes, boasts over 500 species of birds in its mosaic of habitats . With statistics like those, my hopes were high. I was here for a bird watching adventure of a lifetime – and one jewel in particular was on my wishlist: the Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae).

The Moment of Spotting the Long-tailed Broadbill

Each day in Nainital’s periphery started before dawn, the air crisp and scented with pine. On one misty morning hike, accompanied by a local guide, we moved quietly along a trail fringed with dense canopies. The forest was alive with the sounds of Uttarakhand’s birds – the fluty calls of laughingthrushes, the distant drumming of woodpeckers, and the haunting two-note whistle of a Great Barbet. Suddenly, a distinct high-pitched whistle caught my ear – a series of sharp, descending notes, almost like “pseeu… pseeu… tseeay…” echoing through the trees . My pulse quickened; I recognized that call. Scanning the treetops, I caught a flash of impossible green and gold. There it was, perched on a mossy branch – the Long-tailed Broadbill!

For a moment, time stood still. The bird looked like something from a storybook, its colors surreal against the emerald background of the forest. I nudged my guide and we both watched in silent awe. The broadbill cocked its head, revealing its bright yellow throat and the striking black “helmet” cap on its head, set off by a sky-blue patch on the crown . Its long tail feathers swayed gently as it shifted position. I scarcely breathed, afraid to break the spell of this intimate encounter.

Meet the Long-tailed Broadbill: Identification and Behavior

The vibrant Long-tailed Broadbill perched in the Uttarakhand forest, showing off its green, yellow, and blue plumage.

The Long-tailed Broadbill is truly a sight to behold. It’s a medium-sized songbird (about 25 cm long) adorned in a rainbow of colors. Its most distinguishing feature is the head – a bright yellow face and throat encircled by a thin black band like a little collar . Atop the head sits a glossy black cap, giving the bird the look of wearing a helmet, hence its nickname “the helmet bird.” This cap is accented by a sleek blue patch on the crown and another on the nape , adding to its flamboyant charm. The rest of its plumage is a brilliant leafy-green that blends surprisingly well with the foliage . True to its name, the broadbill also boasts an impressively long tail – vivid blue on top and black on the underside . Even its bill and legs add to the palette: the beak is broad, stout, and yellowish-green, perfect for snapping up forest insects . In the dappled forest light, this bird looks like a flying jewel.

Despite its vibrant appearance, the long-tailed broadbill isn’t always easy to spot. It is often shy and camouflages high in the canopy. Typically, these broadbills roam the treetops in small, noisy flocks, especially outside the breeding season . I was lucky to encounter a solitary individual (perhaps off to feed its family nearby, as June is breeding time in these hills). Often, you will hear their presence before you see them – their calls are loud, sharp whistles carrying through the forest . When foraging, they move in groups, flitting through the branches in what can only be described as organized chaos. I recalled reading that broadbills are insectivorous and extremely social, banding together in flocks of up to a dozen or more outside the nesting season . Witnessing one alone was a treat, but seeing a group must be like watching a carnival of colors darting through the leaves!

Ecology: Habitat and Diet

One reason the Long-tailed Broadbill thrives around Nainital is the habitat. These birds favor broad-leaved evergreen forests in the Himalayan foothills . The outskirts of Nainital, including areas like Pangot and Sattal, are draped in oak, pine, and rhododendron forests – ideal broadbill country. They are typically found at altitudes between 150 and 2500 meters in the Himalayas , which means the mid-elevation forests of Uttarakhand suit them perfectly. Broadbills particularly love areas near streams and creeks, and indeed the spot where we found ours was close to a bubbling brook cascading down a ravine. Such moist, insect-rich environments provide plenty of food.

As primarily insect-eaters, Long-tailed Broadbills forage by picking through leaves and bark for tasty morsels. They snap up grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, moths, spiders and just about any small creepy-crawly they can find . Every now and then, they might supplement their diet with a small frog or some berries , but insects are definitely the main course. In the early morning, the forests around Nainital come alive with insects, and the broadbills take full advantage. Watching the one I spotted, I saw it suddenly sally out from its perch to snatch a flying insect mid-air – a quick, acrobatic maneuver that was over in a blink.

Vocalizations: The Forest Whistler

For bird watchers, learning bird calls is often as important as spotting plumage, and the broadbill’s voice is one you won’t forget. The vocalizations of the Long-tailed Broadbill are described as a series of loud, sharp whistles on a descending scale . It’s a bit like hearing a whistle that starts strong and then trails off: locals transliterate it as “pseeu… pseeu… pseeu” or “tseeay… tseeay”. When a flock is around, you might hear a chorus of these whistles echoing through the canopy. They also make a short, buzzy rasp – a sound birders sometimes liken to a tiny chainsaw, but it’s the whistling call that is the signature. On my trek, that call cutting through the morning quiet was the very clue that led me to my broadbill. It’s amazing how knowing the bird’s song adds a whole new dimension to bird watching – your ears become as important as your eyes in the dense forest.

Birding in Nainital – Uttarakhand’s Birder’s Delight

My trip to Nainital wasn’t just about one bird. The region is a cornucopia of avian life, making it a top destination for birding in India. The mix of lake ecosystems, hill forests, and altitude gradients means a wide variety of species thrive here. In Pangot’s high-altitude forests, one can find rare Himalayan pheasants like the Cheer and Koklass, as well as an array of laughingthrushes and flycatchers. In the Sattal area, the diversity is astounding – the avian fauna includes over 500 species, from colorful barbets to majestic raptors . During my stay, aside from the broadbill, I was treated to sightings of a Great Barbet (its huge form hunched on a branch, calling out with resounding hoots) and a Blue-throated Barbet with its neon teal head and crimson throat patch . Flocks of Streaked Laughingthrushes rummaged in the undergrowth, and a pair of Red-billed Blue Magpies flashed their long tails as they flew across a clearing. Bird watching here often feels like a treasure hunt – every bend in the trail has the potential to reveal a new species.

One afternoon, I even encountered a mixed foraging party: a troop of White-throated Laughingthrushes moving through the mid-canopy, accompanied by a couple of Scarlet Minivets and a lone Oriental White-eye. Mixed-species flocks like these are common in the rich forests of Uttarakhand, and they offer a feast for the eyes with multiple bird species in view at once. It’s no wonder Nainital and its surroundings are a must-visit for anyone passionate about bird watching. From woodpeckers knocking on resinous pine trunks to brown wood owls hooting at dusk, the experience is magical and every moment is filled with the promise of discovery .

Other Notable Uttarakhand Birds Around Nainital

While the Long-tailed Broadbill was the star of my journey, many other notable birds of Uttarakhand left an impression on me during this trip. Here are a few highlights that birders should keep an eye out for in the Nainital region:

Pheasants – The hills are home to spectacular pheasants like the Kalij Pheasant and the elusive Cheer Pheasant, often seen in the early mornings foraging at the forest edge.

Barbets – Species such as the Great Barbet and Blue-throated Barbet are frequently heard (and eventually seen) in the canopy, their loud calls echoing across valleys .

Woodpeckers – A variety of woodpeckers inhabit these forests, from the tiny Pygmy Woodpecker to the impressive Himalayan Woodpecker, noisily tapping on tree trunks .

Laughingthrushes – Flocks of Streaked, Striated, or Rufous-chinned Laughingthrushes rummage in the leaf litter, chattering among themselves . Their social behavior is a delight to watch.

Birds of Prey – Keep an eye on the skies for raptors like the Crested Serpent Eagle or a Mountain Hawk-Eagle soaring above the ridges. These add a dramatic flair to any birding day.

This is just a sampler – Nainital’s bird list is incredibly long. Whether you are scanning the lakes for waterfowl or the skies for eagles, the region offers perhaps the best bird watching in India’s Himalayan foothills.

Conservation and Closing Thoughts

As my Nainital birding trip wound down, I took a moment to reflect on the conservation importance of places like this. The Long-tailed Broadbill itself is fortunately classified as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List . It remains fairly common throughout its broad range, and here in India it benefits from protected areas and national parks that preserve its forest habitat . In Uttarakhand, reserves such as the Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Conservation Reserve (near where my broadbill was spotted) play a crucial role in safeguarding these birds’ habitats. However, the health of bird populations can be fragile – it hinges on preserving large tracts of unspoiled forest. The very forests where broadbills build their pear-shaped nests high in the trees are also home to countless other creatures. By protecting these ecosystems, we ensure that the Uttarakhand birds I was lucky to observe will continue to thrive for generations to come.

On my last evening, I sat by the glimmering Nainital lake, listening to the chorus of cicadas and nightjars, and felt a deep gratitude. This journey had been more than just a tick on my birding checklist. It was a personal reconnection with nature – a reminder of why I fell in love with bird watching in the first place. The Long-tailed Broadbill, with its dazzling plumage and spirited call, became a symbol of that wonder. As I packed up my binoculars, I knew I would return to these mountains. After all, birding in Nainital is an experience that stays with you. Whether you’re an avid bird watcher or a casual nature lover, the hills of Uttarakhand beckon with their feathered treasures and the promise that, on any given day, a flash of green and gold might just flutter into your life and steal your heart.