During a vantage point survey for a proposed high-voltage transmission line alignment from Butwal to Dang supported by Asian Development Bank (ADB), a team from Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN), Mr. Deu Bahadur Rana and Mr. Amrit Nepali made an exceptional avian discovery. On 30 May 2025, they documented the first confirmed sighting of the Malabar Whistling-thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii) in Nepal.

At approximately 16:58, while surveying the final vantage point of the day near the base station of the Lumbini Cable Car, Butwal, Rupendehi, the team was scanning the canopy and undergrowth for raptors and other bird species. The site, situated within a mosaic of Shorea robusta (Sal) forest and other native vegetation, while observing nesting behaviors of a Brown Rock Chat (Oenanthe fusca) and White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata), a striking bluish bird suddenly appeared.

At first glance, it resembled the common and widespread Blue Whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus), which ranges from the Chure foothills to the high Himalayas in Nepal. However, Mr. Nepali managed to photograph the bird at 17:01, and a closer examination of the images revealed several distinct morphological traits that differed significantly from the Blue Whistling Thrush. Notable features included:

·         A prominent V-shaped, glossy bluish patch on the forehead

·         Bright bluish shoulder patches

·         Glossy blue scaling from the back and scapulars down to the mid-breast and belly

·         Solid black bill and legs

These traits clearly differed from those of the Blue Whistling Thrush. The observed bird was silent, elusive, and remained hidden within dense vegetation, avoiding open areas entirely.

Subsequent reference to field guides, eBird records, and the BirdLife International DataZone suggested a closer match with the Malabar Whistling-thrush, a species endemic to the Western Ghats and peninsular India, with no prior records in Nepal.

Following this significant observation, the team revisited the site on 31 May 2025 after consulting experts from BirdLife International and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). That morning, the same individual was observed again, briefly perching on a metallic fence post before quickly retreating into the bushes. After an extended wait of over thirty minutes, the bird reappeared, allowing the team to capture short video recordings before it once more vanished into dense cover.

Given its distinctive plumage and verified by photographic and video evidence, the bird was identified as Myophonus horsfieldii. Comprehensive expert reviews at both national and international levels verified this as the first documented record of the Malabar Whistling-thrush in Nepal.

This remarkable discovery significantly extends the known distribution range of the species and highlights the need for continued ornithological surveys in the lowland forest corridors of Lumbini Province.

For further information

Deu Bahadur Rana

Project Officer

Bird Conservation Nepal

9846155382