New bird species for Nepal recorded in Mustang

Kathmandu, May 18: A new bird species for Nepal has been documented in Lomanthang, Mustang district. 

The White-cheeked Starling, which is christened as Fusre Chara in Nepali, was spotted in the lower Mustang region of the Annapurna Conservation Area.

Ornithologist Shankar Tiwari spotted the bird on the morning of May 7, 2024, at an altitude of 3,840 metres above sea level while he was there for birdwatching. 

He was in Lomanthang with his foreign friends for trekking, and when he was roaming around the area alone for birdwatching, he spotted the bird in a dry land, said Tiwari. 

“The area was dry with insufficient grass. I spotted the bird and while attempting to photograph it, it flew away and perched on an electric wire. I managed to capture three pictures of the bird. I realised that this bird was a new sighting for Nepal,” he added.

He said that the bird was around 30 to 35 metres away from him and was about one year old. 

On May 13, 2024, he submitted the picture of the bird to the Nepal Bird Record Committee (NBRC) for identification, providing details of the bird. He further informed that the NBRC confirmed the bird as a new species for Nepal and was later named ‘Fusre Chara’ by a group of ornithologists. 

According to the Nepalese Ornithologist Union, the English name of the bird is the “White-cheeked Starling” and its scientific name is “Sturnus cineraceus.” This bird belongs to the Sturnidae family in the Passeriformes order. It is found in China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam while it is recorded as a migrant in Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand. 

This bird is found in various locations in central China, they also breed in these areas. During winters, they regularly migrate southwards, residing in Southeast China and Taiwan. 

It is suspected that the bird might have roamed the Lomanthang area while it was returning to its breeding grounds after their migration journey, Tiwari said. 

According to renowned ornithologist Dr. Hem Sagar Baral, the bird is native to Northeastern Asia, where it is a common and well-known bird across much of its range. However, the species is new to Nepal, it may be a vagrant in Lomanthang. 

The Eurasian Roller was also recorded for the first time in Nepal in September 2021 in the upper Mustang region. “This indicates that Mustang is not only culturally beautiful but also an unusual spot for new bird species, said Dr. Baral.

With this, an additional species of bird has been listed to the record in Nepal, bringing the total number of bird species recorded in Nepal to 895. 

White-cheeked Starlings measure 24 cm in length. Adult males typically feature a dark grey-brown body with a lighter underside and a white band across the rump. Their head is blackish with whitish cheeks and forehead, while the tail has a white border and the secondary wing feathers display white markings. Their legs are pale orange, and the bill is orange with a black tip. Adult females resemble males but are paler and less vibrant.

Juveniles are brown with pale cheeks and rump and lack a black tip on the bill.