Nepal may be a small nation but it boasts of 847recorded species of birds of which a majority are migratory in nature. Although bird watching has not received as much attention as it should, there are agencies promoting and conducting bird watching tours.

Birding is possible in almost all parts of the country, from the plains (terai) through the mid hills and valleys right up to the Himalayan Mountains. Bird watching can be done on foot while on land or from a river raft on the water.

The two best locations for bird watching are the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, which is more suited for birding than for wildlife safari and the Royal Chitwan National Park, which has a high count of birds. Around Kathmandu, Phulchowki is the best site.

The better-known locations around Kathmandu valley are Phulchowki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve and the Taudaha Lake. At Phulchowki are the Spiny Babbler, cutia, Hawk Eagles, woodpeckers, parrot bill, etc. Nagarjun has pheasants, magpies, sunbirds, etc. Shivapuri-Laughing Thrush, eagles, flycatchers, etc. and Taudaha has waterfall.

Pokhara :
Pokhara is known for sightings for jacana, tesias, snipe, bulbuls etc around the lake areas.
The lake is surrounded by terraced hills and light forests which are also ideal for birding. The lakeside is good for sighting herons, gulls, ducks and pipits.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve :
Koshi Barrage & Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve lies in the eastern terai. The wetlands here are the best location anywhere for sighting waterfowl. About 26 species of ducks alone can be found here. Then there are kites, ospreys, harriers, kingfishers, falcons, partridges, vultures, storks, Swamp Francolin, etc.

Royal Chitwan National Park :
The other locations for bird watching within Nepal are inside the national parks in the terai like Royal Chitwan National Park, which is one of the best locations for bird watching owing to its large population of varied species of birds. There is Sal forests, riverine forests and grassland all rich in bird life. Then there is the river along which one can raft or canoe gently while looking out for rare species. Some of the species found here are Adjutant Storks, hornbills, and sunbirds, Night Jars, Bengal Florican and the beautiful Asian Paradise Flycatcher.

Royal Bardiya National Park :
Royal Bardia National Park, which lies in western Nepal, has similar forests and grassland as the Chitwan National Park. Some of the birds seen here are Ruddy Shelducks, kites, darters, gulls, cormorants, pratincoles, etc along the rivers and woodpeckers, orioles, jungle fowl, prinias, peacocks, etc in the jungles.

Himalayan Regions :
Then there are the national parks and conservation areas in the Himalayan regions, which are rich in eagles, vultures and also Nepal's national bird, the Himalayan Monal a.k.a. Impeyan Pheasant. The Monal is mostly found in the Langtang National Park. The better-known regions are the Annapurna Sanctuary, Gosaikunda and Langtang treks, Jomsom trek, Sagarmatha National Park, Upper Mai valley, Rara Jumla trek and the Arun valley.

The best time to go birding in the terai is between October and April while in the mountainous regions it is March to May. December to March is considered the ideal time for the terai. Travel agencies in Kathmandu organize bird watching trips and they can be combined with wildlife safari, if the national parks are your preferred sites for birding.