Rare 'Madana Chanchar' Bird Sighted for First Time in Nepal's Shuklaphanta National Park

Kanchanpur. The 'Madana Chanchar' bird, rich in biodiversity, has been sighted for the first time in Shuklaphanta National Park. This bird, typically found in the mid-hill and Himalayan forest regions, is considered significant for conservation efforts as it has been spotted in the flat Terai region.

This bird was first recorded in the park by a team including senior ornithologist Hiralal Dagaura, Dilip Chand Thakuri, Suman Chaudhary, and Dr. Bikalp Pande from the Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) during a bird observation session in the park. The scientific name of the 'Madana Chanchar' is Turdus boulboul. It belongs to the Thrush family.

Although the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it globally as 'Least Concern,' ornithologist Dagaura stated that for Shuklaphanta, this bird is an entirely new and rare species.

According to him, this bird primarily inhabits moist forests in the mid-hill and Himalayan regions. This species, usually found at altitudes between 1800 to 2700 meters, might descend slightly during winter. However, ornithologist Dagaura noted that its appearance in the flat Terai region is considered unusual.

“Although it is common globally, its sighting in Shuklaphanta is a locally rare event,” he said, adding, “This indicates a change in environmental conditions or migration patterns.” The Madana Chanchar is about 28-29 centimeters long. The male bird appears black with brown spots on its wings, while the female bird is brown. The male's beak is yellow, and the female's is light yellow or brown.

“The sighting of this species, believed to be limited to the hilly regions from Nepal to Northern Vietnam, in the Terai region is a signal of the impact of climate change or ongoing shifts in the ecological system,” ornithologist Dagaura stated, adding, “The appearance of a bird confined to the hills in the Terai suggests that the scope of biodiversity in Shuklaphanta is widening further.” With the arrival of this new visitor in Shuklaphanta, the number of bird species found in the park has further increased.

The recording of this hill region bird in Shuklaphanta is expected to help establish the park as an even more significant destination for bird watching and scientific research.