Kathmandu Valley Bird Watching Tour

The hills around Kathmandu Valley are a paradise for bird observers.  Phulchowki, Shivapuri, Nagarjun hills, Tau Daha, Manohara, and a few other wetlands are popular spots for bird watching.   Kathmandu Valley has recorded around 300 species of birds residing in these hills and Valley wetlands.  The moderate climate of Kathmandu Valley serves as a suitable nesting site for mass species of birds. 

Bird watching tour offers a variety of species due to its diverse habitats. During the bird-watching tour, we may need to go hiking in the hills for an hour. The commonly available birds are: 

Common Birds
1.    House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
2.    Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
3.    Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
4.    Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
5.    Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

Forest Birds
1.    Spiny Babbler (Turdoides nipalensis) – Endemic to Nepal
2.    Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)
3.    Rufous-bellied Niltava (Niltava sundara)
4.    Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens)
5.    Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus)

Wetland Birds
1.    Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)
2.    Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
3.    White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
4.    Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
5.    Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Birds of Prey
1.    Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
2.    Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis)
3.    Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
4.    Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
5.    Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Migratory Birds
1.    Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
2.    Red-throated Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla)
3.    Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
4.    White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
5.    Rosy Pipit (Anthus roseatus)

Waterfowl
1.    Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
2.    Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
3.    Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
4.    Common Teal (Anas crecca)
5.    Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Other Notable Birds
1.    Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
2.    Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus)
3.    Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)
4.    Plumbeous Water Redstart (Phoenicurus fuliginosus)
5.    White-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus)