New Bird Species Spotted in Ilam

A new species of bird has been recorded in eastern district of Ilam recently. According to Nepal Ornithologists Association, a bird named ‘Violet Cuckoo’ has been recorded in the Sukhani forest area located at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level in Ilam.

A team led by ornithologist Rajendra Gurung spotted a male bird of the species in Sukhani forest area for the first time on April 7. Alexander John Ang Yang, a Malaysian citizen who was with Gurung while watching the bird, identified it as a new species for Nepal. Another Malaysian citizen in the team, Roger Robert Rajah, and Nepali ornithologist Anish Timsina also observed the male bird, according to a statement issued by the Association today.

The team members made the initial identification by taking photos and videos of the bird. Ornithologist Rajendra Gurung sent the photo along with the details of the bird to the Nepal Bird Statistics Committee on April 10. The committee chair Dr. Tulsi Subedi said the committee has recorded the new bird after studying the details received and collecting suggestions from national and international ornithologists.

The bird has been named ‘Baijani Koili’ in Nepali. This bird is found in Bhutan, Philippines, Singapore, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, while it breeds in Bhutan, Philippines, and Singapore. Two sub-species of this bird have been recorded in the world. At the same time, one species has been added to the number of bird species in Nepal and now the total number of bird species in the country has reached 899, it is said. (RSS)