Nepal is a paradise for bird-lovers and ornithologists with over 848 species (8% of the world’s total) recorded. Among them almost 500 species are found in the Kathmandu valley alone. The most popular bird watching spots in Kathmandu are Phulchoki, Godavari, Negarjun, the Bagmati River and Taudaha.
Phulchowki
Phulchowki 18km south-east of Kathmandu. Phulchowki is situated at an altitude of 2760m, the highest hill encircling the Kathmandu valley. Regularly recorded resident species include Besra, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Common hill Partridge, Ashy Woodpigeon, Wedge-Tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, Golden-Throated Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Crimson-Breasted Pied and Rufous-Bellied Pied Woodpeckers, Grey-Chinned Minivet, Straited Bulbul, Orange-Bellied Leafbird, Spotted Forktail, Chestnut-Headed and Grey-Bellied Tesias, Chestnut-Crowned and Black Faced Warblers, Rufous-Bellied Niltave, Lesser Scally-Breasted Wren Babbler, Streak-Breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-Throated and Spiny Babblers, White-Crested, Striated, Rufous-Chinned and Grey-sided Laughing Thrush, Red-Billed Leiothrix, Cuttia, White-Browed Green and Black-Eared Shrike-Babblers, Hoary Barwing, Blue-Winged Minla, Nepal Fulvetta, Yellow-Browed Tit, Brown-Throated Treecreeper, Black-Throated Sunbird, Maroon Oriole, Eurasian and Lancelated Jays, Red-Billed Blue Magpie and Brown Bullfinch. A further 55 species have been known to visit the area as migratory or occasional visitors. Phulchowki’s forest is also very rich in flora and butterflies, mammals include Leopard, Yellow-Throated Marten and Orange-Bellied Squirrel.
Shivapuri National Park
Shivapuri National Park is situated at an altitude of 2563m north of Kathmandu. It is in the second highest point within the Kathmandu valley located near the source of holy river Bagmati and near Budhanikantha Temple, 8km north of Kathmandu This is a government protected forest reserve where over 500 species of birds are found.
Koshi Tappu National Park
Over 400 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve which includes two recent species previously not seen in Nepal - the spotted wren babbler and the oliver ground warbler. Other species include, 2 species of Ibis, Storks, Egrets, Herons the endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican. More than twenty species of ducks can be found throughout the year, the reserve is a very important migratory pathway.
Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park covers 932 sq km it supports some 450 species of birds. Flocks of common and Demoiselle Cranes occur on passage between March and May and October November. Along the marshes and small lakes there are Cormorants, Darter, Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons, Asian open bill, Woolly-necked and Lesser Adjutant Storks, Lesser whistling Duck,Cotton Pygmy Goose, Balloons Ruddy-breasted and Brown Crakes, Purple Gallinule, Bronze-winged Jacana, Painted Snipe Stork-billed Kingfisher, Chestnut-crowned and Spotted Bush Warblers, Yellow bellied Prinia, Clamorous Reed, Dusky and Smoky Warblers, and Red-caped Babbler. Forest species regularly seen are Lesser Fishing and Grey headed Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Emerald Dove, Orange-Breasted Green and Pompadour Green Pigeon, Moustached Parakeet, Green billed Malkoha, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Tree swift, Pied and Great Hornbills, Streak-Throated Green, Rufous, Himalayan Golden-Backed and Greater Golden-Backed Woodpeckers, large Woodshirike Rosy Minivet, Black crested Bull Bull, Golden Fronted leaf bird, Pale Chinned fly catcher, Black-Napped Monarch, Puff-Throated Babbler, White-Browed Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-Throated Babbler, Crimson Sunbird, Thick-Billed Flowerpecker, Hill Mynah, Black-Hooded Oriole, White-Rumped Shama, Lesser Necklaced, Greater Necklaced and Rufous-Necked Laughing-Thrushed, Nepal Fulvetta, Streaked Spider Hunter, Yellow-Bellied Warbler, Rufous-Bellied Eagle, Forest Eagle, Tawny Fish Owls, Red-Headed Trogon, White-Rrowed Piculet, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Long-Tailed Broadbill, Ruby-Cheeked Sunbird and Little Spider Hunter. )
Pokhara
Apart from the many birds found here, you will also be rewarded with some of the best views of the Annapurna’s and Machhapuchhre, Pokhara is situated around the shores of Lake Phewa a splendid mass of water which attracts a large variety of bird species. Regularly seen in the forest and along the shore of the lake include Besra, Red-Thighed Falconet, Pallid and Pied Harriers, Eurasian Griffon, Red-headed and Eurasian Black Vultures, Kalij Pheasant, Ducks, Gulls, Terns, Waders, Bulbul, Black-Backed Forktail, Puff-Throated Babbler, White-Crested, Lesser Necklaced and Rufous-Chinned Laughing Thrushes, Red-Billed Leiothrix, Minivets, Long-Tailed Mountain Thrush, Chestnut-Headed and Grey-Bellied Tesias, Chestnut-Crowned Warbler, Small and Rufous-Bellied Niltavas and Snowy-Brown Fly Catcher, Long-Tailed Broadbill, Pale Ble Flycather, White-Tailed Robin, Spiny Babbler, White-Browed Scimitar-Babbler, Striated Munia, Lesser Whitethroat and Thick-Billed Warbler.
Royal Bardia National Park
Royal Bardia National Park is another popular birding location especialy for the endengered Bengal Forican other birds found here include the Lesser Florican, Silver-eared Mesia, and Saurus Crane.
Shey Phoksundo National Park
Shey Phoksundo National Park is another good birding location with a variety of species of birds, the Impeyan Pheasant (Danphe - the national bird of Nepal), Blood Pheasant, Cheer Pheasants, Red and Yellow Billed Cough, Raven, Jungle Crow, Snow Partridge are but a few of the birds that inhabit the park.
Rara National Park
Rara National Park offers resident gallinaceous birds and migrant waterfowl. The Great–Crested Grebe, Black-necked Greble and Red Crested Pochard can be seen during winter. Other common birds include the Snow Cough, Chukor Partridge, Impeyan Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant and Blood Pheasant.