Endemic Birds of the Andamans – Part 2

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Endemic birds of the AndamansThe Andaman Islands are a birders paradise. The archipelago is blessed with 21 species of endemic birds, which are not found anywhere else on earth. These endemic birds of the Andamans are unquestionably the main reason birders visit the islands. Even so, the Andamans are not as popular as other regional birding destinations. Therefore, this article series aims to highlight these unique endemics, thus inspiring more people to visit the Andamans for birding.

Endemic Birds of the Andamans 

Birdwatching Asia was fortunate to go on a birding trip to these idyllic islands in late November 2024. Throughout our adventure, we were expertly guided by one of the local bird guides based in Port Blair, Arun Singh. Our trip was remarkably successful, as we saw 135 bird species, including all the endemics (except the Narcondam Hornbill, of course).

The photos and information in this article come mainly from our experience birding there. Each entry comes with a photo, a short description, where to see it, and our experience seeing them. The main reference sources are eBird, Xeno-canto and Wikipedia.

Endemic Birds of the Andamans – Part 2: Non-passerines

Part 1 of this article series showcases the endemic nocturnal birds found on the Andamans. For this second part, I’ll highlight several non-passerine birds endemic to the Andamans. Non-passerines are birds not part of the perching birds order, Passeriformes. To find out more about the endemic perching birds of the Andamans on part 3 of this  series.

  1. Andaman Teal
  2. Andaman Crake
  3. Brown Coucal (a.k.a Andaman Coucal)
  4. Andaman Serpent-Eagle
  5. Andaman Woodpecker
  6. The Andaman Wood-Pigeon is uncommon and much sought-after.
  7. Andaman Cuckoo-Dove
  8. Andaman Green-Pigeon

1) Andaman Teal (Anas albogularis)

Andaman Teals
These Andaman Teals were seen at Ograbraj Wetlands.

This endemic duck is rather sombre in its plumage but subtly attractive nonetheless. Greyish-brown overall, with a white eye-ring and white throat. There is also a bold black-and-white patch on the wing that’s visible when the bird is in-flight.

Before our trip, this species was on our list of top five endemic birds of the Andamans that we wanted to see. Thankfully, we saw it on our first day at Sippighat Salt Marsh. The birds were easy to spot, since they stood out from the much more numerous Lesser Whistling-Ducks by virtue of their conspicuous white eye-ring. We also saw a flock of about seventy birds at Ograbraj Wetlands.

According to our guide, these ducks are relatively common around the wetlands near Port Blair (Sippighat Salt Marsh, Ograbraj Wetlands). They may be scarce at certain times of the year but abundant during other times. The dry season (Nov until March) seems to be the best.

2) Andaman Crake (Rallina canningi)

Andaman Crake
Apologies for the blurry photo, but this is the only one I’ve got of the crake!

While many crakes are beautiful, the Andaman Crake certainly stands out. It has rusty-brown upperparts, with boldly contrasting black-and-white barred belly. It also has a yellow bill and blood-red eyes. Their striking plumage makes the Andaman Crake one of the most sought-after birds of the Andamans. 

This bird occurs throughout the Andaman archipelago and lives in forests, especially near water bodies. It is reasonably common. However, like most crakes, they’re not easy to see owing to their unobtrusive habits. According to our bird guide, a reliable spot to see them is at Kalatang, about 1 hour by road north of Port Blair.

Indeed, we saw the crake at Kalatang. Funnily enough, we saw the bird doing something rather ‘un-crake like: standing out in the open! I was caught off-guard when our guide pointed out the bird to me, so my camera settings were all incorrect (hence the blurry photo). By the time I chose the appropriate settings, the bird was no longer in clear view. 

3) Andaman Coucal (Centropus andamanensis)

Andaman Coucal endemic birds
This Andaman Coucal was scavenging for roadkill – in this case, a snake.

The only coucal on the islands. Unlike many Southeast Asian coucals, this one is uniformly brown. Indeed, their alternative name is Brown Coucal. 

A common bird on the islands and their booming calls are often heard. They like to skulk amongst vegetation but occasionally venture out into the open. Inhabits a variety of habitats, including forests, farmlands and paddyfields.

The coucal pictured above was scavenging on the road for a dead snake. The Andaman Serpent-Eagle pictured below was eyeing the same snake!

4) Andaman Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis elgini)

Chidiyatapu Andaman Serpent-Eagle
This Andaman Serpent-Eagle was eyeing a dead snake on the road near Chidiyatapu.

It is very similar in appearance to the familiar Crested-Serpent Eagle, which also occurs in the Andamans. However, the Andaman Serpent-Eagle is noticeably smaller and has a darker plumage overall. Additionally, its calls are very different from the Crested Serpent-Eagle.

This species is relatively uncommon and thus not easy to see. According to our bird guide, reliable spots include Chidiyatapu and Mount Harriet National Park. 

We only saw this bird once, on the road to Chidiyatapu. Amazingly, we saw the bird perching silently on a telephone pole, scanning its surroundings for food. It was so still; we probably wouldn’t have noticed it without our eagle-eyed guide!

5) Andaman Woodpecker (Dryocopus hodgei)

Andaman Woodpecker male
A male Andaman Woodpecker is identified by his red forehead and red ‘moustache’, which the females lack.

Another bird that was in our pre-trip top five. And it’s easy to see why: This is such a handsome bird with jet-black plumage, bright red crest and contrasting white eyes. What’s more, it’s quite large and noisy too.

Thankfully, this gorgeous woodpecker is rather easy to see. Good places include Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet NP, and Kalatang. Their loud calls are often the first indication of their presence. They love to forage on larger trees, especially those with rotting branches, and often forage in the open.

We saw several birds at Kalatang, including one bird foraging almost at ground level.

6) Andaman Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumboides)

Andaman Wood-Pigeon
We were lucky to have seen the uncommon Andaman Wood-Pigeon so clearly!

This bird wasn’t on our pre-trip top five, but it should’ve been. The Andaman Wood-Pigeon is one of the most sought-after endemic birds of the Andamans. This is because it’s naturally uncommon. Additionally, numbers may be declining due to habitat loss and hunting. According to our guide, this is one of the endemic species that visiting birders often miss out on seeing.

While it isn’t a striking bird, it is still an attractive pigeon. It has brownish upperparts with greyish head and underparts. There’s also a red eye-ring, and the bill is reddish with a yellow tip. In poor light, they may resemble the much more common Green Imperial-Pigeon. However, the bill colour is diagnostic, so look for this characteristic.

This pigeon occurs sparsely throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and lives in forests. Chidiyatapu seems to be a good place to spot this bird. The presence of fruiting trees will increase the chance of seeing them. We were somewhat lucky since we saw five birds relatively low down at Chidiyatapu. Even Arun, our bird guide, got excited!

7) Andaman Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia rufipennis)

Andaman Cuckoo-Dove
An Andaman Cuckoo-Dove at Kalatang

Like other cuckoo-doves, this bird has a long tail and a relatively small head. Plumage-wise, this bird is rufous-brown overall, with fine barring on the neck and breast. This bird resembles the Little Cuckoo-Dove that I’m very familiar with back in Malaysia.

A reasonably common bird that occurs throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They live in forests, so look for them in Chidiyatapu, Mount Harriet, Ferrargunj, and Kalatang. They can be relatively unobtrusive, though, so look carefully. During our visit, we saw them at Kalatang and Ferrargunj.

8) Andaman Green-Pigeon (Treron chloropterus)

Andaman Green-Pigeon
Unfotunately, this Andaman Green-Pigeon was rather high up a tree, so no clear photos of it.

Like the other two pigeons on this list, the Andaman Green-Pigeon occurs on both the Andaman and Nicobar Island groups. Similar to other green-pigeons, this one is predominantly green, with conspicuous yellow markings on the wings. The bill is pale. Additionally, the males have a maroon back.

These birds are relatively common around the archipelago. They are occasionally seen foraging in groups at fruiting trees and other frugivores. They prefer to perch within the canopy, so they’re a bit challenging to photograph well. 

During our trip, we saw several on a tree at Chidiyatapu, together with some Green Imperial-Pigeons. We also saw them at Havelock Island.

Conclusion

The endemic birds of the Andamans are certainly the main attractions for any birders visiting the Andamans. Some of them are rather easily seen, while others are uncommon and require a bit of effort and luck. All of them are special, though, and are worth coming to the Andamans for.

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