PHULCHOWKI MOUNTAIN & LIST, KATHMANDU

NEPAL
Region (Kathmandu)
Lat:00o00´S/00o00´W ha topography msl 

Shivapuri is a Wildlife Reserve 

January-April (27.03.1995, 06.04.1995-10.04.1995)

Birding Site Guide

Phulchowki is situated 20km south-east of Kathmandu. It can be easily reached by taxi in an hour. Before reaching Phulchowki though it is worthwhile stopping at Gadeveri Gardens left/east turn from Kathmandu, the taxi driver should know the place) along the way and birding the road there, it has Spotted Forktail along the river, which may not be easy elsewhere and other birds forest birds similar to Pulchowki. 

Spiny Babbler, Nepal’s only endemic is found at the foot of Phulchoki, along the stream where women do their washing and the water tankers fill up. Along the trails early morning it is possible to see 2 species of Tesia, so long as you are first to walk the path. As the track leads up the mountain following the stream, take the small side path along a little valley instead of following the track to the left and look for the tesias here. 265 species of birds have been recorded here. 

Species seen 

  • Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus CS, CK, P
  • Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus 0
  • Black Kite Milvus migrans 0
  • Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela 0
  • Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 0
  • Shikra Accipiter badius 0
  • Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis P
  • Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 0
  • Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus CK, P, S
  • Rock Pigeon Columba livia 0
  • Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis 0
  • Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto 0
  • Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 0
  • Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 0
  • Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Intro 0
  • Common Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus varius 0
  • Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus 0
  • Spotted Owlet Athene brama KB, P
  • Little Swift Apus affinis 0
  • Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis 0
  • White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 0
  • Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 0
  • Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 0
  • Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus 0
  • Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis 0
  • Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops 0
  • Great Barbet Megalaima virens P
  • Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima franklinii P
  • Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica BR, P
  • Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus P, S
  • Pale Sand Martin Riparia diluta 0
  • Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 0
  • Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii K, P
  • Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica 0
  • Oriental Pipit Anthus rufulus 0
  • Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus 0
  • Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni 0
  • White Wagtail Motacilla alba 0
  • White-browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis 0
  • Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola 0
  • Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 0
  • Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus 0
  • Gray-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris P, S
  • Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus P
  • White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys 0
  • Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 0
  • Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii P, S
  • Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus 0
  • Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii CK, P
  • Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus 0
  • Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima P
  • Long-billed Thrush Zoothera monticola P
  • Gray-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul P
  • Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata P
  • Grey-bellied Tesia Tesia cyaniventer P
  • Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 0
  • Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher P
  • Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus P, S
  • Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei P, S
  • Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides CK, CS, P
  • Western Crowned Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis S, P
  • Blyth's Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides P
  • Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii P
  • Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos P, S
  • Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps P
  • Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps P
  • Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica P
  • Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica CS, P, S
  • Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva CS, KT, P
  • Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni P
  • Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris P
  • Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor P
  • Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus P, S
  • Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae P
  • Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara P
  • Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis 0
  • Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 0
  • Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 0
  • Hodgson's Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni P
  • Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa P
  • European Stonechat Saxicola torquata 0
  • Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata 0
  • Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus P, S
  • Yellow-bellied Fantail Rhipidura hypoxantha P
  • White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis CS, P
  • White-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax albogularis P, S
  • Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus P, S
  • Streaked Laughingthrush Garrulax lineatus P, S
  • Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus P
  • Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys P, S
  • Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga albiventer P
  • Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps P
  • Spiny Babbler Turdoides nipalensis e P
  • Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata 0
  • Chestnut-tailed Minla Minla strigula P, S
  • White-browed Fulvetta Alcippe vinipectus P
  • Nepal Fulvetta Alcippe nipalensis P
  • Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata P
  • Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis P
  • Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis P
  • Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta P
  • Black-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis nipalensis P
  • Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus P, S
  • Great Tit Parus major CK, CS, P
  • Black-lored Tit Parus xanthogenys P, S
  • Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea 0
  • Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis P, S
  • Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata P
  • Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectum P, S
  • Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus CK, P
  • Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii P
  • Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach BR, CS, P
  • Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 0
  • Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus BR, CK, P
  • Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer P
  • Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 20, CS, P
  • Gray Treepie Dendrocitta formosae R, N, P
  • House Crow Corvus splendens 0
  • Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 0
  • Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus 0
  • Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 0
  • Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra 0
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus 0
  • Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus 0
  • Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus S, P
  • Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Carduelis spinoides P
  • Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla P, S


  • KEY
  • CR = Critical
  • E = Endangered
  • V = Vulnerable
  • NT = Near-threatened
  • e = endemic
  • intro = introduced


  • 0 = no sites given for common species
  • BR = Bagmati River
  • CS = Chitwan (Sauraha)
  • CK = Chitwan (Khagendra Mali)
  • G = Godaveri Gardens
  • KB = Kosi Barrage
  • KT = Kosi Tappu
  • K = Kathmandu
  • N = Najarjung
  • P = Pulchowki
  • R = road Kathmandu to Kosi
  • S = Shepuri
  • 20 = 20000 Lakes


Butterflies seen in Nepal (not just here) were: Indian Tortoiseshell Aglais cashmirensis aesisIndian Red Admiral Vanessa indica Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Pale Grassblue Zizeeria maha maha Pale clouded Yellow Colias erate lativitta Glassy Bluebottle Graphium cloanthus cloanthusGreat Zebra Graphium xenocles phrontis Lime Swallowtail Papilio demoleus demoleus BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni nepalensis Common Red Flash Rapala iarbus Glassy Tiger Parantica aglea melanoides Common Sailor Neptis hylas kamarupa Blue Admiral Kaniska canace canace Palin Tiger Danaus chrysippus chrysippus Common Indian Crow Euploea core core Tabby Pseudergolis wedah Common Windmill Atrophaneura polyeuctes letincius Lilacfork Zophoessa sura and White Royal Tajuria illurgis 

Author: BSG, Geof Grafton

www.birdingsiteguide.com