Whistling bird spotted in Lumbini

By Gokarna Paudel,Tulsipur, June 7: Malabar Whistling Thrush, a bird species, has been spotted in Nepal for the second time. About 10 years ago, the Malabar Whistling Thrush was first recorded near the Lumbini Cable Car station in Rupandehi district.

Amrit Nepali, a project officer at Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), spotted the bird again at the same location during a bird count conducted on May 29 and 30, 2025.

According to Nepali, this bird, typically found in western and southern parts of India, sings melodious tunes during mornings and evenings.

Though this species had not been previously listed during bird counts in Nepal, Nepali confirmed that it has been officially recorded this time. The bird usually lays two to three eggs at a time, and both the male and female take turns incubating them. Preferring habitats near rivers and forests, it has a diet that consists of insects, grasshoppers and fruits.

The bird is solitary and even mimics human-like sounds, which is why it is also called the “whistling schoolboy.” It typically builds nests in crevices of rocks or walls, Nepali said.