Grey-necked Bunting: latest addition to Nepal's bird list

Press Release 12 October 2010

Bird study in Nepal continues to be an exciting subject. On a recent bird watching trip to Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, the far west Nepal, two young birdwatchers Anish Timsina and Dheeraj Chaudhary have recorded yet another new species of bird for Nepal. This new bird record marks up the country's total as 867 bird species.

Anish Timsina and Dheeraj Chaudhary while bird watching roughly 7 km away from Reserve headquarter Majhgaon near Pipariya found an unusual looking sparrow like bird. They photographed the bird with their digital camera and later consulted with Dr Hem Sagar Baral for identification. The bird appeared to be a new record for the country and Dr Baral tentatively identified the species as Grey-necked Bunting. This record was immediately submitted to Nepal Rare Birds Committee and now has been officially accepted as a new bird to the country.

 

Grey-necked Bunting was first seen and photographed on 20 April 2010 at the edge of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. It was seen feeding on open ground amongst scattered bushes and both observers had good view of the bird from close range. The Reserve has also seen addition of one more bird making the total bird list of the Reserve to 424 species! Earlier study on birds of Sukla Phanta had confirmed 423 species of birds in the Reserve.

 

The newly found bird is 15 cm (6 inches) long and weighs between 17 to 26 grams. The bird has pinkish orange beak, plain head and white ring around the eye. The male of this bird has blue-grey head and back of neck. Female is similar to male but a bit duller and more streaking on the body. Its main habitat is open ground with low shrubs.

It breeds along a wide distribution range from the Caspian Sea to the Altai in Central Asia and winters in parts of Southern Asia.

 

For further information:

Anish Timsina affiliated with Koshi Camp Pvt Ltd and Himalayan Nature

9804315499

Dheeraj Chaudhary, affiliated with Sukla Phanta Wildlife Camp Pvt Ltd and Himalayan Nature

9806413790

Suchit Basnet, Chairperson, Nepal Rare Birds Committee

Tel 9751028933, 9841228933

Dr Hem Sagar Baral, Chairperson, Nepalese Ornithological Union

Tel 98510 19751

(Nepal Rare Birds Committee is a committee representing different experts on avian taxonomy and identification and is the main body to authenticate rare bird records for Nepal)

Press Release as part of Himalayan Nature's scheme to inform and involve local people towards conservation of Nepal's birds through media news. More information about Himalayan Nature and its programs can be found on its website www.himalayannature.org

Nepalese Ornithological Union (www.birdsofnepal.org) is our official partner in matters related to bird conservation in Nepal

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