 Print |
|
 |
|
New Bird for Nepal found in Koshi Tappu Badri Chaudhary, Anis Timalsina and Barry McCarthy a team of ornithologists affiliated with Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), identified the new bird as Sykes's Nightjar Caprimulgus mahrattensis for the first time in Nepal. The newly recorded bird belongs to Caprimulgidae family. Nightjars are small to medium – sized birds with long, pointed wings, and gaping mouth with long bristles that help to catch insects in flight. Nightjars are crepuscular and nocturnal in habit, with soft owl like, cryptically patterned plumage. By day they perch on the ground of lengthwise on a branch and are difficult to detect. They eat flying insects that are caught on the wing. Typically, they fly erratically to and fro over and among vegetation, occasionally wheeling, gliding and hovering to pick insects from foliage. This bird is most easily located by their calls. Now Nepal has five species of nightjars and Koshi is the only place where all five have been recorded. The most convincing feature of a male Sykes's Nightjar is the finely streaked crown, black 'inverted anchor-shaped' marks on scapulars, large white patches on side of throat and irregular buff spotting on nape forming indistinct collar. Nepalese ornithologists believe that this species to be an erratic visitor to Nepal in a low numbers. This nightjar breeds in Pakistan and North West India and winters in south of centre China. Nepal is regarded as exceptionally rich country in terms of birds and is home to nearly 9 percent of the worlds' birds. For more information, please contact: Mr Suchit Basnet Dr Hem Sagar Baral
|
| Print |