Nicobar Islands Birdwatching Expeditions & Field Reports

Nicobar Endemics TourLed by Expert Local Guides
Book now

Welcome to the field archive for Tribesmen Tours’ specialized birdwatching expeditions across the Nicobar Islands.

Our pioneering Nicobar birding trip reports provide an unfiltered, day-by-day log of expeditions navigating the unique ecosystems of the region—from the windswept grasslands of the Kamorta islands to the pristine, mega thermic rainforests of the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve and Galathea National Park.

Explore our upcoming nicobar group departure dates led by our local guides G.Shaktivel, Prodip Sarder, Aldrich Franklin  and Jabili Rao

Recent Nicobar Expedition Reports, Nicobar Endemic Bird Checklist, Expedition FAQs

Nicobar scops owls perched at great nicobar biosphere reserve

Nicobar Endemics Birding Tour – May, 2026 Trip

Guide: Prodip Sarder Dates: 20 April- 2 May, 2026 This highly strategic island-hopping expedition delivered exceptional results across three distinct island ecosystems. Beginning with a brief but highly productive survey of Kamorta Island, the team successfully recorded eight Nicobar endemics, highlighted by definitive views of the localized Nicobar Bulbul. Moving south to Great Nicobar Island, […]

VIEW FULL EBIRD REPORT

Nicobar Endemics Birding Tour – April, 2026 Trip

Tour Guide: Prodip Sarder Tour Dates: 30 March – 12 April, 2026 This extraordinary expedition achieved an ultimate clean sweep, recording all 27 target endemic bird species across the Andaman and Great Nicobar archipelagos. Field highlights included exceptional, open views of the rare Red-legged Crake, the elusive Malayan Night-Heron, and both Chinese and Javan Pond-Herons […]

VIEW FULL EBIRD REPORT
Nicobar serpent eagle fighting each other

Nicobar Endemics Birding Tour: October, 2025 Expedition Report

Guide: G. SHAKTIVEL, Tour Dates: 13-24 October, 2025. This Nicobar birdwatching tour successfully recorded all seven endemic bird species of the Nicobar Islands, alongside a historic ornithological milestone: the first documented record of the White-faced Plover (Charadrius dealbatus) in the Indian subcontinent. Offshore pelagic birding sessions yielded exceptional sightings of the Arctic Skua, Flesh-footed Shearwater, […]

VIEW FULL EBIRD REPORT
Barau's Petrel at Great Nicobar

Nicobar endemics Birding Tour – September, 2025 Report

Guide: Prodip Sarder Tour Dates: 8-20 September, 2025 This extraordinary expedition achieved sweeping success, recording 15 Andaman endemics in just two days before securing all seven Nicobar endemics on Great Nicobar. The ultimate highlight was a historic mega-pelagic rarity: a Barau’s Petrel, marking the first official record for the Andaman Islands and only the second […]

VIEW FULL EBIRD REPORT
Nicoabar Imperial Pigeon perched at Galathea National Park

Nicobar Endemics Birding Tour – March, 2023 Trip Report

Guide: G. SHAKTIVEL TOUR DATES: 5-18 March, 2023 Despite completing this expedition just as the Nicobar Islands were transitioning to closed status for tourism—severely restricting accessible terrain—our team successfully located and photographed all seven endemic bird species of the Nicobar Islands. The expedition’s absolute highlight was securing unobstructed, prolonged views of a breeding pair of […]

VIEW FULL EBIRD REPORT
Nicobar Parakeet feeding on arcanuts

Nicobar Endemics Birding Tour – November, 2022

Guide: G. SHAKTIVEL Tour Dates: 12-26 November, 2022 Marking our first post-COVID Great Nicobar expedition, this 8-night tour delivered historic records. The ultimate highlight was a Chinese Egret, the first documented record for the Nicobar archipelago. The group also secured exceptional views of the endemic Nicobar Megapode at its nesting mound, Nicobar Parakeet feeding on […]

VIEW FULL EBIRD REPORT

Frequently Asked Questions

Do your expeditions target the undescribed Nicobar Crake?

Yes. Our specialized Nicobar itineraries explicitly target the undescribed Nicobar Crake across its known sanctuary habitats. We utilize precise territory mapping and ethical, low-impact field methods to locate this elusive species without disturbing breeding pairs.

Does Tribesmen handle ship tickets and government permits for Great Nicobar?

Yes. We manage all logistical and administrative requirements on your behalf. This includes securing mandatory Tribal Pass clearances, Forest Department permissions, and booking inter-island passenger vessel transit between Port Blair and Campbell Bay.

Are foreign nationals allowed to join Great Nicobar birding tours?

Yes. Foreign nationals are permitted to visit Great Nicobar. While foreign visitors are subject to specific zone-access restrictions due to tribal reserve regulations, our permitted field routes provide access to primary rainforests and edge habitats that are fully sufficient to observe all core Nicobar endemic bird species.

What other core endemic bird species are targeted in the Nicobar Islands?

In addition to rare crakes, our expeditions focus on securing clean views of all regional endemics: the Nicobar Megapode, Nicobar Scops Owl, Nicobar Serpent Eagle, Nicobar Parakeet, Nicobar Imperial Pigeon, Nicobar Bulbul, and Nicobar Jungle Flycatcher.

When is the best season for a Great Nicobar birdwatching expedition?

The optimal window is between October and May during the northeast monsoon dry phase. This period provides stable inter-island sea conditions, dry trail access inside Galathea National Park, and high vocal territorial activity among resident owls and canopy species.