Where to go for the Bird Watching in Nepal?

Nepal may be a small country in size, but it's a bird watchers' paradise. Packed with national parks and a topography that encompasses the sub-tropical to alpine conditions, Nepal plays host to more than 850 species of birds.

Nepal is a bird watchers' paradise, with national parks and conservation areas making up a large part of its territory. More than 850 species of birds are found in Nepal, and surprisingly a good number of these birds can be spotted in and around the Kathmandu Valley alone. Bird watching is possible in any corner of Nepal, be it in the sweltering plains where Koshi Tappu, Chitwan and Bardiya are the primary sites, or the mountainous region, where the Everest and Annapurna regions boast other well-known species of birds. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the eastern Terai is the place to be. Bird watchers cannot miss this wonderful reserve which abounds with birds of all kinds. It is where one sees trees packed with birds as if posing for a photograph.

The hills around Kathmandu valley, especially Nagarjun, Godavari and Phulchowki, are popular bird-watching areas, and the Taudaha Lake on the way to Dakshinkali is ideal for watching migratory water fowl during the winter months.

Raptors and birds of prey are found in the higher Himalayan regions, of which numerous species exist. But Koshi Tappu has better sightings of an incredible variety of both resident and migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia. Nepal’s national bird is the lophophorus or Impeyen Pheasant, locally called Danphe, found in the Himalayan region. Bird watching trips are organized by most local travel companies and even resorts and are accompanied by experienced naturalists.