Features: Top Birding Hot Spots in Pakistan-Federal Capital Territory (Islamabad and Environs)

Conserving Birds in Pakistan and Beyond



Top Birding Hot Spots in Pakistan - Federal Capital Territory Islamabad and Environs Updated: 12/25/2005 Information by Birdwatcher's Club of Pakistan (BCP) Islamabad, the federal capital of Pakistan is located in the midst of a huge evergreen forest. Naturally, the area is not much disturbed and as a result it is home to probably the most number of bird species that have ever been recorded in a single city of Pakistan. Just for a beginning, Islamabad has a bird list of 403 bird species which is about 60% of all birds recorded in Pakistan. This figure of Birds is highly likely to keep increasing as the residents of Islamabad include many foreign diplomats, some of whom are often keen birdwatchers. Islamabad combines many ecological components that make it a unique location. No other Pakistani location could ever come even near in the number of species seen or recorded. Islamabad has a good number of resident species in the well wooded parks and a number of birds particular to agricultural environment. The most important birding sites around Islamabad are Rawal Lake and Margalla Hills National Park. Rawal lake houses a large number of migratory and resident water birds all year around. As if this were not enough, the surrounding forests are home to many speciality birds. The habitat at Margalla hills is of a hill range heavily clothed by forests. It is home to several resident Himalayan species, and also receives many visitors from higher altitudes. The Margallas is an important extension of the Indo-Malayan biographical realm in Pakistan. Endangered birds that have been recorded inside Islamabad are: Ferruginous Pochard White headed Duck Rufous vented Prinia Black bellied Tern Indian Skimmer Tytler's Leaf Warbler Bristled Grassbird Greater Spotted Eagle Lesser Spotted Eagle Painted Stork White rumped Vulture Cinereous Vulture White tailed Sea Eagle Red crested Pochard Imperial Eagle Some species in their whole distribution in Pakistan are restricted to Islamabad. They are: Fulvous breasted Woodpecker Blue throated Barbet Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler Himalayan Treepie Indian Pitta Blue throated Flycatcher Orange headed Ground thrush Olive backed Pipit Dusky Warbler Red billed Leiothrix Yellow bellied Flycatcher Thick billed Flowerpecker Chestnut bellied Nuthatch Yellow cheeked Tit Snowy Owl Some other species that are of very restricted distribution in Pakistan and occur in Islamabad are: Kalij Pheasant White throated Fantail Common Wood Pigeon Spotted Dove Rufous bellied Woodpecker Blossom headed Parakeet Great Barbet Crested Bunting Red headed Tit Rufous vented Tit Grey Bushchat Brown Crake Northern Goshawk Slaty headed Parakeet Crested Kingfisher Rufous bellied Niltava Black headed Jay Jungle Myna Indian Cuckoo Golden bush Robin Cetti's Warbler Yellow eyed Warbler Pink browed Rosefinch Grey necked Bunting Russet Sparrow Black Bittern Red necked Grebe Great Crested Grebe Smew Goosander Ruddy Crake Black tailed Godwit Bar tailed Godwit Grey winged Blackbird Speckled Piculet Yellow billed Blue Magpie Verditer Flycatcher Slaty blue Flycatcher Grey headed Flycatcher Ultramarine Flycatcher Pallid Scops Owl Mountain Scops Owl Collared Pygmy Owlet Asian Barred Owlet Long tailed Nightjar Plaintive Cuckoo Oriental Cuckoo Rufous bellied Woodpecker Dusky Thrush Some speciality species of Islamabad are: Sirkeer Malkoha Variegated Laughing thrush Black chinned Babbler Black crested Tit Brown fronted Woodpecker Indian Chat Plain Leaf Warbler Sind Woodpecker Rufous fronted Prinia Western crowned Warbler White cheeked Tit Rufous vented Prinia << Back to birding sites list
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