Nepal Records 899th Bird Species with Discovery of Violet Cuckoo in Ilam

Nepal has officially added a new bird species to its national record with the recent sighting of the Violet Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) in the Sukhani forest of Ilam district, raising the total number of bird species recorded in the country to 899.

According to the Nepal Ornithologists Association, a team led by ornithologist Rajendra Gurung observed a male Violet Cuckoo in the Sukhani forest at an altitude of 300 meters on April 7. The bird was seen flying between trees for over an hour.

Malaysian birdwatcher Alexander John Ang Yang, who was part of the team, recognized the bird by its call and confirmed it as a new species for Nepal. Fellow team members Roger Robert Rajah of Malaysia and Nepali ornithologist Anish Timsina also verified the sighting.

The group documented the bird through photographs and videos, and Gurung later submitted the findings to the Nepal Bird Records Committee on April 10. Committee Chair Dr. Tulsi Subedi confirmed the identification after consulting national and international ornithologists. The species has been named Baijani Koili in Nepali.

The Violet Cuckoo is native to several Asian countries including Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, China, the Philippines, and Malaysia. It is known to breed in countries like Bhutan, Singapore, and the Philippines. Globally, two subspecies of the bird have been recorded.

The discovery underscores the rich biodiversity of Nepal and the growing importance of its forest habitats for global avian diversity, conservationists said.