Assessment of the Bird Species Observed in and around the CNR Campus
Group Members
1. Tshering Dechen
2. Sonam Cheki
3. Yeshi Lhekzin
4. Purni Maya Gurung
5. Ngedup Wangmo
College of Natural Resources
Royal University of Bhutan
Year: 2025
Acknowledgement
Our group would like to express our sincere gratitude to our tutor, Dr. D.B. Gurung, firstly, for
giving us this wonderful opportunity to explore and learn about different bird species, and
secondly, for his unwavering support, guidance, and valuable insights throughout the course of
this bird-watching project. His expertise and encouragement have been of significant help in
giving us a clear view of our project.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Keshab Khandal Sir for spending his leisure
time on giving us guidance in this bird watching project, and his constant motivation and
practical advice, moreover we are really greatful for keshab sir for allowing us to use his
personal book on birds and also for letting us use his personal camera and binoculars, which all
together have greatly contributed to the success of this project. His dedication and enthusiasm for
the subject have inspired us to explore and appreciate the wonders of bird watching.
Last but not least, we would also like to thank the collage of CNR for providing us with
materials needed for this project, like binoculars and books.
Thank you all for your immense contributions and continuous support in shaping our project.
Introduction
The presence of diverse bird population indicates a healthy ecosystem. Birds are warm-blooded
vertebrates belonging to the class Aves, characterized by their feathers, beaks, the ability to lay
hard-shelled eggs, and specialized features such as hollow bones and air sacs that support their
efficient respiration and frequent capacity for flight. Birds are vital in maintaining the balance
and health of ecosystems globally. Their contributions towards pollination, seed dispersal, and
ensureing plant reproduction and forest regeneration have significant effects on human well-
being, economic stability, and agricultural productivity. According to the Clements Checklist of
Birds of the world lists, there are 10,906 bird species in 249 families and 42 orders of the Aves
class (Birdfact, 2024). According to Bhutan Birdlife Society, Bhutan with, 69.71% of land under
forest coverage, supports the life of about 50 families and 754 species of both the resident and
migratory birds, making it birding hotspot for the Ornithologists.
Forests serve as the primary habitat for birds, hosting approximately 75% of all bird species. In
contrast, only about 45% of bird species have managed to adapt to environments altered by
human activity (Birdlife International, 2008). In Bhutan, the presence of diverse species and
IUCN red list species such as White Bellied Heron, Black Necked Crane attracts tourist from
across the world mainly for the purpose of birding which contributes towards the economic
importance of the country. Numerous initiative such as The Birds of Bhutan-a digital platform
founded in October 2015 with the main objective to promote awareness, educate the public about
birds in Bhutan and to highlight the importance of bird conservation. Additionally, it provides an
opportunity among birders to exchange observations online. Between 2015 and 2016, the Forum
recorded 351 bird species, including several that are categorized as threatened in Bhutan
(Tobgay, 2018). The connection of cultural and traditional belief with the forest of Bhutan has
significantly contributed to the conservation of rare and unique species of birds to the region,
drawing the attention of bird enthusiasts and environmentalist from around the world.
List of Birds
1. Oriental Turtle Dove
Oriental Turtle-dove Streptopelia orientalis
Common Name: Oriental Turtle Dove
Scientific Name: Streptopelia orientalis
Family: Columbidae
Appearance: It has the black and white striped patch of the neck with feathers of silver-
tipped. Its breast is less pink. The feather is of brown hue and have darker center which
gives them a scaly appearance. Their tail is of wedge shape.
Habitat: Well-wooded open habitats like farmland and scrub.
Food Habit: They are granivorous and forage on the ground for the seeds of hemp,
sunflower, millet, amaranth, wheat, and gastropods.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC)
Bird’s Call:
2. Spotted Dove
Spotted Dove - eBird
Common Name: Spotted Dove
Scientific Name: Spilopelia chinensis
Family: Columbidae
Description: The underside of the dove is rosy buff which transits into grey at the head and the
belly. It has a half collar at the back side of it neck, where the feather splits into two parts with a
white spot at the end. The outer feather of the tail are white tipped which are only visible when
the birds takes off.
Habitat: It is found perching on trees and telephone wires and often forage on the grounds.
Food Habit: It is primarily a herbivore (Granivores) which mainly feeds on seeds and grains. It
may also supplement their diet with insects.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC).
Bird’s Call:
3. Black Bulbul
Black Bulbul - eBird
Common Name: Himalayan Black Bulbul/ Asian Black Bulbul
Scientific Name: Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Family: Pycnonotidae
Appearance: The feathers covering their body ranges from grey to shimmering black. Their
beak, legs, and feet are orange. Their head has a black fluffy crest which is absent in the young
ones.
Habitat: Broad-leaved forests, cultivation areas, gardens, and hilly areas.
Food Habit: It mainly feeds on insects and seeds. They feed on berries such as Celtis, Rosa,
Melia, and Ehretia in the Himalayan regions. They also feed on nectar of Rhododendron,
Salmalia, and Erythrina.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC).
Bird’s Call:
4. Red-vented Bulbul
Pictures and information on Red-vented Bulbul
Common Name: Red-vented Bulbul
Scientific Name: Pycnonotus cafer
Family: Passerines
Appearance: It has a squarish appearance due to its short crest on the head. The body is dark
brown with scaly pattern while the dead is black and darker. The rump is white and their vent is
red in color. Its tail is long with white-tipped.
Habitat: It is inhabits open forests, plains, dry scrub, cultivated areas,
parks, and gardens.
Food Habit: It is an omnivorous bird and feeds on fruits, nectar, flower petals, and insects such
as house geckos.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC).
Bird’s Call:
5. Scarlet Minivet
Figure 1: Male Figure 2: Female
Scarlet Minivet - eBird
Scarlet minivet #194 | Scarlet minivet (female) | Pericrocot… | Flickr
Common Name: Scarlet Minivet
Scientific Name: Pericrocotus speciosus
Family: Pericrocotus
Appearance: It has long wing with strong dark beak. In males, the upper parts and the head are
black with scarlet underparts with orange patches on the wing. In females, the underparts are
yellow including their face, wing patches, tail edges, and rump while their upper parts are grey.
Habitat: It is found in the Southern part of the tropical Asia and in well-wooded areas. They are
also common in gardens and hilly regions.
Food Habit: They feed on insects.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC)
Bird’s Call:
6. Blue Whistling Thrush
Blue whistlingthrush (Myophonus caeruleus)
Common Name: Blue Whistling Thrush
Scientific Name: Myophonus caeruleus
Family: Muscicapidae
Appearance: It has dark violet blue and have shiny spangling on the tip of the feather of the
body except for the abdomen, lores, and under the tail. The wing coverts have slightly different
blue shade. The median coverts consist of white spots at the tip of the feathers. Their bill is
yellow and the feathers of the tail are black.
Habitat: It is found in the temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Food Habit: It feeds on snails, crabs, earthworms, aquatic insects, and fruit larvae. It also feeds
on berries and some vegetables.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC).
Bird’s Call:
7. Whiskered Yuhina
Whiskered yuhina (Yuhina flavicollis)
Common Name: Whiskered Yuhina
Scientific Name: Yuhina flavicollis
Family: Zosteropodae
Appearance: It has a yellow collar around the neck and greyish body. Its crown has a slight
white crest.
Habitat: It is found in the subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, typically at higher
elevations. It has darker ear coverts which contrast with the color of the crest. It also has dark
whisker-like markings on either side of its face which gave the bird its name.
Food Habit: They are primarily insectivores and nectarivores which feeds on the nectar of
flowers, spiders, and other insects.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC).
Bird’s Call:
8. Common Myna
Common Myna - a photo on Flickriver
Common Name: Common Myna
Scientific Name: Acridotheres tristis
Family: Sturnidae
Appearance: They have brown body, black hooded head, and has a bare yellow patch behind
their eyes. It consist of a white patch on the outer part and the lining of the wing on the
underside. Its legs and bill are also bright yellow.
Habitat: It inhabits open woodland, grasslands, orchards, mangroves, farmlands, and municipal
areas.
Food Habit: They are omnivorous and feeds on insects, crustaceans, seeds, fruits, grains, and
waste disposed by the humans in urban areas.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC).
Bird’s Call:
9. Oriental Magpie Robin
The Oriental Magpie-Robin - Taman Safari Bali
Common Name: Oriental Magpie Robin
Scientific Name: Copsychus saularis
Family: Muscicapidae
Appearance: It has long tail which cocks up when hopping on the ground. In males the upper
parts, head, and throat are all black except the white shoulder. In case of females, greyish black
on the upper parts.
Habitat: They are found in the mangroves, open woodlands, and cultivated areas near human
settlements.
Food Habit: They are carnivores (insectivores) and mainly feeds on geckos, leeches, fishes,
centipedes, and other invertebrates.
IUCN Status: Least Concerned (LC)
Bird’s Call:
10. Hodgson Redstart
https://ebird.org/species/hodred1
Common Name: Hodgson Redstart
Scientific Name: Phoenicurus hodgsoni
Family: Muscicapidae
Description: The males are easily identified by their bold black and polar blue plumage,
complemented by a chestnut belly and undertail coverts. Meanwhile, females flaunt a more
modest greyish-brown hue on their upper sides with a pale white underside.
Habitat: commonly found in open coniferous forests, alpine meadows, or shrublands situated at
high elevations ranging from 2,100 to 5,000 meters.
Food Habit: these birds primarily sustain themselves by preying on various species of insects
such as moths, butterflies, beetles, flies, and ants. In snowy conditions or periods when insects
are scarce, they often opt for berries or seeds to complement their diet.
IUCN Status: least concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
11. White-throated Laughingthrush
https://ebird.org/species/whtlau1
Common Name: White-throated Laughingthrush
Scientific Name: Pterorhinus albogularis
Family: Leiothrichidae
Description: It is a large, dull brown laughingthrush with white breast, rufescent-buff lower
underparts and broad white tail tips.
Habitat: It is found in broadleaf evergreen forest, deciduous forest and coniferous forest, open
secondary growth, scrub and light jungle. It breeds mainly above 1200 m, with some descent
from highest levels during spells of harsh weather.
Food Habit: It eats insects and outside breeding season also berries and seeds.
IUCN Status: least concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
12. White wagtail
https://animalia.bio/white-wagtail#population
Common Name: White wagtail
Scientific Name: Motacilla alba
Family: Motacillidae
Description: The White wagtail is a slender bird with the characteristic long, constantly wagging
tail of its genus. The Pied wagtail exchanges the grey colour of the nominate form with black (or
very dark grey in females).
Habitat: They inhabit in grasslands, seashores, rocky shorelines, sand beaches, tidepools, rivers,
lakeshores, farmland, gardens, and parks. They are also often found in towns and villages.
Food Habit: White wagtails are carnivores (insectivores). Terrestrial and aquatic insects and
other small invertebrates form a major part of their diet. These include beetles, dragonflies, small
snails, spiders, worms, crustaceans, maggots found in carcasses, and, most importantly, flies.
IUCN Status: least concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
13. Warbler
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sedge-
warbler-scientific-name-acrocephalus-schoenobaenus-with-crane-133037375.html
Common Name: Warbler
Scientific Name: Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Family: Muscicapidae
Description: has a slender, elongated body with a brown, streaked back and pale underparts. It
features a distinct pale, slightly buffy face with a dark, streaked crown. Its long, pointed bill aids
in catching insects, and its legs are slender. This species has a relatively short tail, which it often
flicks, adding to its agile appearance.
Habitat: found in Reedbeds, marshes, wetlands with dense vegetation, especially along lakes and
rivers.
Food Habit: The Eurasian reed warbler feeds on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates,
foraging among reeds and vegetation near water.
IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
14. grey treepie
https://www.birdland.co.uk/31st-january-species-spotlight-grey-treepie/
Common Name: grey treepie
Scientific Name: Dendrocitta formosae
Family: Corvidae
Description: is a striking bird with vibrant blue plumage, a long, iridescent tail, and black wings.
It has a white belly, red legs, and a red, slightly curved beak, complemented by a black head and
nape.
Habitat: inhabits wooded areas, forests, and scrublands, typically found in foothills and lowland
regions across South Asia, including India, Nepal, and Bhutan. It prefers areas with mixed
forests and open woodlands.
Food Habit: is an omnivorous, feeding on a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, seeds, small
vertebrates, and scraps from human settlements.
IUCN Status: least concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
15. Rock pigeon
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/rock-pigeon
Common Name: Rock pigeon
Scientific Name: Columba livia
Family: Columbidae
Description: it has a stocky body with a short neck, a broad, rounded tail, and short legs. Its
plumage ranges from gray to iridescent green and purple on the neck, with a white belly and dark
wings.
Habitat: it inhabits in urban areas, rocky cliffs, coastal regions, and farmlands, often nesting on
buildings and structures.
Food Habit: it primarily feeds on seeds, grains, and fruits. It often scavenges in urban areas,
eating food scraps and occasionally small invertebrates.
IUCN Status: Least concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
16. House sparrow
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sbern/13471682373
Common Name: House sparrow
Scientific Name: Passer domesticus
Family: Passeridae
Description: is a small, stout bird with a brown and gray body, a short, conical bill, and dark
streaks on its back. Males have a distinctive black bib and a gray crown, while females are more
muted.
Habitat: thrives in urban areas, farmlands, cities, and suburban regions, often nesting in buildings
and structures.
Food Habit: it primarily feeds on seeds, grains, and small fruits. It also scavenges human food
scraps and occasionally eats insects, especially during breeding seasons.
IUCN Status: Least concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
17. Russet sparrow
https://ebird.org/species/russpa2
Common Name: Russet sparrow
Scientific Name: Passer cinnamomeus
Family: Passeridae
Description: is a small bird with a distinctive cinnamon-brown body, a pale underbelly, and dark
streaks on its back. It has a short, conical bill and a subtle grayish crown, making it easily
recognizable.
Habitat: inhabits in dry, arid regions, including scrublands, grasslands, and open savannas, often
found in parts of Central Asia and the Middle East.
Food Habit: it primarily feeds on seeds, grasses, and grains, but also forages for small insects and
invertebrates, especially during breeding seasons.
IUCN Status: Least concern (LC)
Bird’s Call:
References
Animalia.bio. . (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://animalia.bio
Birda. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://birda.com
Birdlife International. (2008). State of the World’s Birds 2008. BirdLife.
https://magazine.birdlife.org/state-of-the-world-s-birds-2008/full-view.html
Birdfact. (2024, October 29). Global Overview of Bird diversity: How many bird species exist?
Birdfact. https://birdfact.com/articles/how-many-species-of-birds
Tobgay, T. (2018). An Annotated Checklist of Bird species Recorded from 1 st October 2015 –
30 th September 2016 Using Social Media . October 2015.
DiBird.com. . (n.d.). Search: Bird sounds database. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from
https://dibird.com
