Bird and wildlife conservation activist Devendra Kharel has discovered a new bird species in Nepal called the ‘Baijani Bungechara’ (Purple-rumped Sunbird). According to Kharel, the Nepal Ornithological Union has confirmed that this bird is new to Nepal. With the discovery of the ‘Baijani Bungechara,’ the total number of bird species found in Nepal has now reached 898.
Kharel, a resident of Mechinagar-6, Kakarbhitta, had previously discovered another new bird species in Nepal called the ‘Harit Parewa’ (Green Pigeon). According to him, the English name of ‘Baijani Bungechara’ is ‘Purple-rumped Sunbird.’ This bird species is also found in countries like India and Sri Lanka.
While observing birds, Kharel captured the first photographs and videos of a pair of ‘Baijani Bungechara’ on February 19, 2025 (Falgun 7, 2081 B.S.) at 8:30 AM in a garden in Kakarbhitta. On February 21 (Falgun 9), he sent the photographs for verification to the Nepal Bird Record Committee. The president of the Nepal Ornithological Union, Dr. Tulsi Subedi, officially announced through a press release on Tuesday that the ‘Baijani Bungechara’ has been added as a new bird species in Nepal.
Ornithologist Kharel, who is also the president of the Bird and Wildlife Conservation Society, has previously set a record by capturing photographs and videos of the rare bird ‘Hangrayo,’ which was believed to be extinct in Nepal.
