New bird species recorded in Bhaktapur

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 23: A new bird species for Nepal, the Siberian Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus), has been recorded in Simi Manohara plains of Bhaktapur, located at an elevation of 1,399 metres near Sundarighat. “This bird is not only a new record for Nepal but also the first record in the entire Indian subcontinent,” said Dr. Hem Sagar Baral, a noted ornithologist.

The bird was first observed at 2:10 am on June 20, 2025, by a team of Nepali bird experts - Kumud Parajuli, Supradipta Neupane, and Rahul Pandey. The team photographed the bird and listed it in their preliminary records, according to a press statement issued by the Nepal Bird Record Committee (NBRC) on Tuesday.

“With this discovery, Nepal has added another globally threatened bird species to its record,” said Dr. Baral. The Siberian Sand Plover is a small wader belonging to the plover family.

For proper identification, the team submitted the photographs and field data to the NBRC for expert review. After careful analysis by both national and international ornithologists, the bird was officially confirmed as a new species record for Nepal, read the statement. 

The bird has been given the Nepali name ‘Siberian Rajputmira’. Previously, the Siberian Sand Plover and Lesser Sand Plover were considered subspecies of the same species, but they are now recognised as distinct.

“This bird has different features compared to other Siberian species. It has a breast band, a different bill shape, and unique colours and shades,” Dr Baral said. “It was difficult to distinguish at first, but with the help of advanced technology and high-resolution cameras, the photographers were able to correctly identify the species.”

The bird is described as a medium-sized plover with a pale throat, brown back, and white belly. Breeding adults have a black mask, white forehead and a bright orange chest and neck, with males typically appearing more vibrant than females. Young non-breeding birds display brown colour on their upper parts and have white underparts, with varying patterns on the forehead and eyebrows.

According to Dr. Tulsi Subedi, Chairperson of the Nepal Bird Record Committee, the Siberian Sand Plover is listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. 

While it is commonly found in the Siberian region, it has also been recorded in countries such as China, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Timor, Australia, and New Zealand. Dr. Baral said that the bird mainly breeds in the Russian Far East and winters along coastal mudflats and beaches from Taiwan to Australia. It is a highly vibrant species and may reach Nepal during its migration. With this addition, the total number of bird species recorded in Nepal has now reached 902.