A new bird species has been spotted in Nepal. Nepal Bird Record Committee under the Nepalese Ornithological Union—a non-profit membership organisation working to protect birds and their habitats across the nation through scientific research and conservation—has recorded Naumann’s thrush (Turdus naumanni) as the new bird species in the country.

Ornithologist Shankar Tiwari sighted Naumann’s thrush and captured it in his camera frame at Chele village in Upper Mustang on April 30. Chele village, situated at an altitude of 3,100 metres above sea level, is in Annupurna Conservation Area Project.

With this addition, the total number of bird species recorded in Nepal has now reached 897.

During his trekking mainly aimed for birding in Mustang, Tiwari sighted the bird in an apple orchard at 6:39 am on April 30. After thorough studies of the bird, Tiwari on November 10 wrote to Nepal Bird Record Committee, which keeps record of the bird species in Nepal, detailing the geographical location of the place where he took pictures of the bird.

Issuing a press statement on Saturday, Chairman of Nepal Bird Record Committee Tulasi Subedi confirmed the bird as Naumann’s thrush and has recorded it Nepal’s new bird species. The committee has also named the bird in Nepali—Gerumuhar chanchar.

According to Subedi, the committee consulted with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, and national and international ornithologists regarding the new bird species. After detailed studies and research, the committee concluded that the bird was indeed Naumann’s thrush and it is the new bird species for Nepal, he said.

Though Tiwari spotted the bird in April, it took him around seven months to conclude that it could be a new bird species. “I initially thought that the bird was a Dusky thrush, locally called Chhatak chanchar,” Tiwari said. “While going through the in-depth observation and study, I found it different from other species. So I sent details about the bird to experts.”

According to the ornithologists, Naumann’s thrush is a migratory bird which is mainly found in Russia. The bird species is also found in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Great Britain, France, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, among other countries. They surmise that the bird entered Nepal during migration.

Tiwari is no new name for birding enthusiasts. Wildlife photographer Sanjay Tha Shrestha and Tiwari sighted and took photos of spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) for the first time in Upper Mustang on July 12. It was recorded as the 896th bird species in Nepal. In May, Tiwari sighted another bird species Lo Mangthang of Upper Mustang which was identified as the white-cheeked starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus). It was recorded as the 895th bird species found in Nepal.

“I am immensely happy for identifying new bird species,” Tiwari added. “This further encourages me to be involved in bird conservation and bird photography.”

Conservationists are elated to record three new bird species within the past seven months in the country. “New species of birds are recorded one after another. It is very good for Nepal,” said Hemsagar Baral, a renowned ornithologist. “The country can be developed as a major birding destination in the world.”

With the increasing number of bird population and bird species, Nepal has been a haven for birding. Given the variety of bird species the country hosts, a good number of foreign tourists have started visiting the country, exclusively to watch birds. Ornithologists suggest that bird conservation can be quite helpful to promote overall tourism development in the country. It is estimated that approximately eight percent of the total foreign tourists who visit Nepal is for birding.