KATHMANDU, July 22: A new bird species, the Siberian Sand Plover, has been officially recorded in Nepal, marking a significant addition to the country's rich avian biodiversity.
The bird was first spotted on June 20 in the Manohara area of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, at an altitude of 1,319 metres above sea level. Locally, it has been named Siberiyali Rajputrika.
New species of bird found in Nepal
The initial sighting was made by a team of ornithologists—Supradeepta Neupane, Kumud Parajuli and Shatrughan Pandey—who captured photographs of the bird and suspected it to be of Siberian origin.
Following their observation, the Nepal Bird Record Committee undertook further study in coordination with international ornithologists. The committee officially confirmed the identification of the species, according to its Chair, Dr Tulsi Subedi.
Listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, the Siberian Sand Plover primarily breeds in Siberia and migrates to several countries including China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.
With this latest addition, Nepal’s official bird count has now reached 902 species, underscoring the country's ecological importance as a haven for migratory and native birds.
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