NEPAL REP 09 - Birdquest

known locally from Bhutan, where it is considered rare). Classified by Birdlife as
Vulnerable, with a world population of 10,000-19,999 birds. The key threat is the loss of
shrubby grasslands and open forests in the terai through conversion to agriculture,
collection of fuelwood, overgrazing of livestock, and burning and harvesting of grass for
thatch.
Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii: Common in the scrubbier areas of Chitwan.
Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris: Just one seen, at Chitwan Jungle Lodge.
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis: Two sightings in Chitwan.
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata: Fairly common in the grasslands at Chitwan.
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius: Ones and two seen at several sites.
SYLVIIDAE
Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata: One seen briefly on Phulchowki, and heard at
Pokhara.
Yellow-browed Tesia (Grey-bellied Tesia) Tesia cyaniventer: One seen briefly in Godaveri, and then
good looks at one in the lodge garden at Pokhara.
Pale-footed Bush-Warbler Cettia pallidipes: One seen and another heard at Chitwan Jungle Lodge,
but otherwise conspicuous by its absence (in most seasons it is often heard singing
around Tiger Tops).
Large Bush-warbler (Chestnut-crowned Bush-warbler) Cettia major: Several at Tiger Tops, in rank
vegetation near water, but hard to get decent views as they spend most of the time
crawling around on the ground.
Grey-sided Bush-warbler Cettia brunnifrons: Seen at Nagarjung and heard at Pokhara and in
Chitwan.
Aberrant Bush-warbler Cettia flavolivacea: Several seen, at Nagarjung and in Chitwan. The
yellowness of the plumage makes it a relatively easy bush-warbler to identify.
Spotted Bush-Warbler Bradypterus thoracicus: One seen briefly at Chitwan Jungle Lodge and heard
by the pools at Tiger Tops.
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum: A single bird at Chitwan Jungle Lodge.
Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus tristis: Just one seen, on the transit via back roads to Sauraha.
Smoky Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus fuligiventer: One showed well on the last morning at Tiger Tops.
Orange-barred Leaf-warbler (Buff-barred Warbler) Phylloscopus pulcher: Common on Phulchowki.
Grey-faced Leaf-warbler (Ashy-throated Warbler) Phylloscopus maculipennis: Several on the upper
slopes of Phulchowki, with some great looks at this smart little warbler.
Lemon-rumped Leaf-warbler (Lemon-rumped Warbler) Phylloscopus chloronotus: Just two seen, at
Godaveri and on Phulchowki; a recent split from Pallas’s Leaf-warbler.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus: A few around Godaveri and in Chitwan.
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides: Several at Pokhara and common in Chitwan.
Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis: One showed well at Chitwan Jungle Lodge.
Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides: Common at Godaveri, Nagarjung, and in Chitwan,
with one seen quite high up on Phulchowki.
Grey-hooded Warbler Phylloscopus xanthoschistos: Common on Phulchowki, and also seen at
Godaveri, Nagarjung and at Pokhara.
Green-crowned Warbler (Golden-spectacled Warbler) Seicercus burkii: A single bird identified at
Pokhara.
Whistler’s Warbler Seicercus whistleri: Two or three on Phulchowki and also seen at Nagarjung.
Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps: 2-3 seen briefly on Phulchowki.
Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps: Several flocks on Phulchowki, with some great looks at
this smart little bird.
Rufous-rumped Grassbird (Large Grass Warbler) Graminicola bengalensis: Great looks at this
surprisingly smart warbler at Chitwan Jungle Lodge.
18 Birdquest: Nepal 2009