Forest Owlet Photo: Tony Sawbridge
Thought to be lost to the world, the Forest Owlet was rediscovered in 1997 in northwest Maharashtra, India, following some impressive detective work by Pamela Rasmussen and others. Despite extensive searching, there was a remarkable gap of 113 years between the collection of a few specimens in the late 19th century and Dr. Rasmussen’s rediscovery. The Forest Owlet remains a rare and little-known bird, but there are some good sites for it and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary northeast of Mumbai is arguably the best and certainly the most accessible.
This short trip can be taken on its own or as a pre-tour extension to either our 2024 India: The West tour or our 2025 India: The South tour. (The two tours run in alternate years.) It is also possible to join this trip as an extension after the India: Goa tour. (See details below.)
Days 1-2: We’ll begin early this morning in Mumbai, India’s largest and arguably most vibrant city, and drive about three hours north to our guest house on the edge of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. Once there we’ll begin searching the dry teak forest for our prize, the elusive Forest Owlet. We’ll have the better part of three days for our quest, focusing on the early morning and early evening when the owlets are most active.
A variety of other species can also be found here, including the range-restricted Vigors’s Sunbird, the vociferous Red-naped Ibis, Malabar Trogon, and Indian Paradise Flycatcher. Sulphur-bellied Warbler is common while Western Crowned Warbler and Tawny-bellied Babbler are less so. Other nocturnal birds we stand a good chance of seeing include Jungle Nightjar, the magnificent Mottled Wood Owl, and both Jungle and Spotted Owlets.
Short-toed Snake Eagle and Changeable Hawk-eagle are also fairly common in this forest, as are White-eyed Buzzard and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon. More elusive species such as Painted Francolin, Jungle Bush Quail, and Red Spurfowl all occur, and, assuming we find the Forest Owlet fairly quickly, we’ll spend time searching for these as well. A supporting cast of other interesting birds includes Striated Heron, Crested Treeswift, Alpine Swift, Red-breasted and Taiga Flycatchers, and both Thick-billed and Pale-billed Flowerpeckers. We’ll spend both nights in a guest house close to the wildlife sanctuary.
Day 3: After a final morning in Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, we’ll return to Mumbai mid-afternoon where the Forest Owlet tour ends at the airport.
NOTE: Those staying on to join the India: The West tour will fly from Mumbai to Ahmedabad this evening and spend one extra night and day there before the start of the West India tour.*
Those staying on to join the India: The South tour will fly from Mumbai to Kochi this evening and spend two nights and one day there before the start of the South India tour.*
Those wishing to join the Forest Owlet tour from the India: Goa tour will fly from Goa to Mumbai early on the last day of the Goa tour.*
*Flights and any extra nights’ accommodation between tours are not included in the tour price.
Updated: 14 August 2023
Prices
- 2024 Tour Price : $1,500
- Single Occupancy Supplement : $150
- 2025 Tour Price Not Yet Available
Notes
Questions? Tour Manager: Erin Olmstead. Call 1-866-547-9868 (US or Canada) or (01) 520-320-9868 or click here to email.
* Tour invoices paid by check carry a 4% discount. Details here.
Maximum group size 10 with one leader (and a local guide.)
Details of all the additional costs to connect this tour as an extension to India: The South, India: The West, or India: Goa can be obtained from the WINGS office.