A new bird species in Nepal

Nepali and Malaysian ornithologists have found a new species of bird in Nepal. Violet Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus), a bird known to reproduce in Bhutan, the Philippines, and Singapore, was seen in the Sukhani Forest area of Ilam district. 

The Violet Cuckoo has now been given the Nepali name ‘Baijani Koili,’ which is a literal translation of the English name.

On April 7, 2025, a team of birdwatchers led by Nepali ornithologist Rajendra Gurung spotted the male bird. The team also included Malaysian nationals Alexander John Ang Yang and Roger Robert Rajah, and Nepali bird expert Anish Timilsina. Nepal Bird Record Committee (NBRC) consulted with national and international ornithologists to conclude its uniqueness to Nepal on Wednesday. 

With the new entry in the avifaunal records, the total number of bird species recorded in Nepal has reached 899.