Bhutan, known as the land of the Thunder Dragon, is a quaint, quiet, and scenically spectacular country with a strong conservation ethic rooted in ancient Buddhist traditions. Vast areas of unspoiled forest still cover the Himalayan foothills, which spread over much of the country. Bhutan has a wealth of birds, but as yet we have only a limited knowledge of their occurrence, distribution, and status. Bhutan covered an area of 46,500km2 and has a small population of 700,000 inhabitants. Lying in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is almost completely mountainous and must be one of the more rugged countries in the world. Slopes are steep and altitudes vary from 150m to 7500m. Bhutan has a diverse avifauna: 616 species have been recorded and many more are likely to be found. The country’s great range in altitude and topography produces a wide range of climatic conditions. Bhutan can be divided into three climatic zones: Subtropical, mid-montane, and Alpine.