Bhutan is a high Himalayan mountain kingdom extending from the Trans-Himalayan region in the north, where its high-elevation mountain peaks form a natural boundary with China. To the south, it shares its border with India, adjoining the flat plains of Assam and the broader Himalayan foothills. To the east and west, Bhutan is surrounded by the mountainous regions of Northeast India, with Sikkim lying to the west and Arunachal Pradesh to the east. This landlocked country falls within the Indo-Malayan biogeographic realm and is influenced by two major bird migration pathways: the Central Asian Flyway and the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Both migration routes are extremely important for Bhutan's birdlife.
Buddhism is the predominant religion in Bhutan, and traditionally, hunting has not been part of the country's culture. Hunting is strongly discouraged, and this long-standing tradition has contributed significantly to the protection of wildlife and birds.
As a result, birdlife in Bhutan is remarkably well protected. For birdwatchers, this means that many bold, beautiful, and sometimes extremely rare Himalayan birds can be observed at relatively close range and, in many cases, photographed successfully.
Birdwatching in Bhutan is therefore comparatively easy, particularly because many of the country's important target species can be found in accessible habitats and are often seen well. This makes Bhutan one of the premier birdwatching destinations in the Himalayan region.
