Rare long-billed bush warbler spotted in Ladakh, India, after 46 years

The Long-billed Bush Warbler (Locustella major) was spotted on July 15. (Image: Harish Thangaraj)

In the silent thickets of Ladakh, a whisper was heard. Not wind or footsteps, but the tiny, insect-like call of a long-lost bird. That sound, faint but familiar, led five birdwatchers to a rare discovery.

A team of birders has confirmed India's first sighting of the long-billed bush warbler in 46 years. The elusive bird was spotted in the Suru Valley, tucked away in dense willow bushes at over 3,200 meters above sea level. The sighting was made on July 15, three days after the group’s search began.

A careful search and a lucky call
The expedition started on July 12 after weeks of planning. The team had pored over old reports and scouted likely locations using Google Earth and satellite maps. They even reached out to past researchers and birders for leads.

The breakthrough came not with sight, but sound. As they moved through the valley, the team heard a sharp call—faint, fast, and almost mechanical. It matched the warbler’s known song. Moments later, they saw it: the long-billed bush warbler, small and quick, hidden among the willows.

“This is a record after 46 years for India,” said Harish Thangaraj, a team member and keen birder. He had earlier discovered the rare Sind woodpecker in Rajasthan.

A species lost in changing landscapes
The last confirmed Indian sighting was back in 1979. Researchers from Southampton University had recorded it near Sankoo in Kargil. Before that, the bird had been common in the Suru and Dras valleys until the 1920s. But as farmlands spread, its habitat slowly vanished.

This warbler depends on thick bush cover, which was replaced by crops over the decades. That shift may have forced the bird into deeper, less disturbed areas—until now.

The birdwatching team included Lt. Gen. Bhupesh Goyal, Manjula Desai, Rigzin Nubu, Irfan Jeelani and Thangaraj. Together, they’re part of a broader effort to find birds thought lost in India. This latest success has sparked new hope for other rare species too.

In the quiet of Suru Valley, a soft chirp echoed again. For a moment, time rewound—and a forgotten bird took flight once more.