Bardiya National Park

National Park · Nepal

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Photo © Sanoj-photography

Photo © Sanoj-photography — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Across the subtropical lowlands of southwestern Nepal, where the Karnali River carves through galleries of riverine forest and the Siwalik foothills rise behind, a mosaic of grasslands, sal woodlands and wetlands creates one of the Indian subcontinent's most dynamic wildlife theaters. Winter brings the dry season—crisp mornings, clear skies and water concentrated in shrinking pools—when the park's most rewarding wildlife viewing unfolds. The landscape itself tells an ecological story of regeneration: once heavily hunted, this reserve now anchors a recovery of large mammals whose presence shapes the entire food web, from apex predators threading through the sal forest to the ungulates that sustain them. Birds of prey quarter the open grasslands, waders pick through seasonal wetlands, and the riverine corridors support both permanent residents and migrants that use these riparian zones as crucial stopover habitat during their hemispheric journeys.

For wildlife photographers and serious birders, Bardia demands a visit precisely because that dry season concentration—and the clarity that comes with it—transforms observation from uncertain to visceral. Early light across the grasslands renders distant figures sharp and reveals behavioral drama that monsoon rains obscure. The park's scale and relative quietness compared to more famous reserves mean that encounters with wildlife groups often arrive with the sudden intensity of genuine wilderness moments, unfiltered by crowds. Access via the nearby city of Pokhara and onward travel to the park's lodges places this reserve within reach of international travelers, yet its remoteness and the skill required to read the landscape ensure it remains a destination for those genuinely committed to understanding—rather than merely photographing—how predators, prey and the land itself move through the seasons together.

Lesser Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna javanica

Bar-headed Goose

Tadorna ferruginea

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Nettapus coromandelianus

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Indian Spot-billed Duck

Anas poecilorhyncha

Anas platyrhynchos

Red-crested Pochard

Lophura leucomelanos

Black Francolin

Francolinus francolinus

Large-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus macrurus

Crested Treeswift

Hemiprocne coronata

Centropus sinensis

Sirkeer Malkoha

Taccocua leschenaultii

Eudynamys scolopaceus

Grey-bellied Cuckoo

Cacomantis passerinus

Cuculus micropterus

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Red Collared Dove

Streptopelia tranquebarica

Spilopelia chinensis

Common Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon

Treron bicinctus

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

Treron phoenicopterus

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon

Treron apicauda

Gallinula chloropus

Grey-headed Swamphen

Porphyrio poliocephalus

Baillon's Crake

Zapornia pusilla

White-breasted Waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Bronze-winged Jacana

Metopidius indicus

Gallinago gallinago

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

Anastomus oscitans

Mycteria leucocephala

Oriental Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

Little Cormorant

Microcarbo niger

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Pseudibis papillosa

Cinnamon Bittern

Botaurus cinnamomeus

Botaurus sinensis

Egretta garzetta

Indian Pond Heron

Ardea intermedia

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus cirrhatus

Grey-headed Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga ichthyaetus

White-eyed Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Glaucidium radiatum

Indian Scops Owl

Otus bakkamoena

Indian Eagle-Owl

Bubo bengalensis

Ketupa zeylonensis

Dusky Eagle-Owl

Ketupa coromanda

Mottled Wood Owl

Strix leptogrammica

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Anthracoceros albirostris

Indian Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros birostris

Coracias benghalensis

Oriental Dollarbird

Eurystomus orientalis

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Pelargopsis capensis

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

Common Kingfisher

Crested Kingfisher

Megaceryle lugubris

Pied Kingfisher

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Nyctyornis athertoni

Asian Green Bee-eater

Merops orientalis

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Merops philippinus

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Merops leschenaulti

Brown-headed Barbet

Psilopogon zeylanicus

Coppersmith Barbet

Psilopogon haemacephalus

Eurasian Wryneck

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus nanus

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Leiopicus mahrattensis

Streak-throated Woodpecker

Picus xanthopygaeus

Himalayan Flameback

Dinopium shorii

Black-rumped Flameback

Dinopium benghalense

Greater Flameback

Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Rufous Woodpecker

Micropternus brachyurus

Falco tinnunculus

Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

Alexandrine Parakeet

Psittacula eupatria

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Pitta brachyura

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike

Hemipus picatus

Common Woodshrike

Tephrodornis pondicerianus

Ashy Woodswallow

Aegithina tiphia

Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Long-tailed Minivet

Pericrocotus ethologus

Scarlet Minivet

Pericrocotus speciosus

Oriental Cuckooshrike

Coracina javensis

Black-winged Cuckooshrike

Lalage melaschistos

White-bellied Erpornis

Erpornis zantholeuca

Black-hooded Oriole

Oriolus xanthornus

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus paradiseus

Hair-crested Drongo

Dicrurus hottentottus

Dicrurus leucophaeus

White-bellied Drongo

Dicrurus caerulescens

Dicrurus macrocercus

White-browed Fantail

Rhipidura aureola

Black-naped Monarch

Hypothymis azurea

Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone paradisi

Lanius cristatus

Long-tailed Shrike

Grey-backed Shrike

Lanius tephronotus

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie

Urocissa flavirostris

Dendrocitta vagabunda

Large-billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

Yellow-bellied Fantail

Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix griseus

Black-crested Bulbul

Rubigula flaviventris

Red-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

Himalayan Bulbul

Pycnonotus leucogenys

Grey-throated Martin

Riparia chinensis

Riparia riparia

Greenish Warbler

Phylloscopus trochiloides

Grey-hooded Warbler

Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Golden-headed Cisticola

Cisticola exilis

Grey-breasted Prinia

Prinia hodgsonii

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Prinia flaviventris

Prinia socialis

Prinia inornata

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

Yellow-eyed Babbler

Chrysomma sinense

White-browed Fulvetta

Fulvetta vinipectus

Stripe-throated Yuhina

Indian White-eye

Zosterops palpebrosus

Chestnut-capped Babbler

Timalia pileata

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler

Mixornis gularis

Puff-throated Babbler

Pellorneum ruficeps

Black-faced Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron affine

Striated Babbler

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Sitta frontalis

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

Sitta cinnamoventris

Tichodroma muraria

Acridotheres fuscus

Indian Pied Myna

Gracupica contra

Brahminy Starling

Sturnia pagodarum

Orange-headed Thrush

Geokichla citrina

Grey-winged Blackbird

Turdus boulboul

Tickell's Thrush

Turdus unicolor

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Copsychus saularis

Copsychus fulicatus

White-rumped Shama

Copsychus malabaricus

Verditer Flycatcher

Eumyias thalassinus

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis tickelliae

Himalayan Rubythroat

Calliope pectoralis

Blue Whistling Thrush

Myophonus caeruleus

Taiga Flycatcher

Ficedula albicilla

Blue-fronted Redstart

Phoenicurus frontalis

Blue-capped Rock Thrush

Monticola cinclorhyncha

Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius

Saxicola ferreus

Saxicola caprata

White-tailed Stonechat

Saxicola leucurus

Siberian Stonechat

Saxicola maurus

Brown Rock Chat

Golden-fronted Leafbird

Chloropsis aurifrons

Cinnyris asiaticus

Crimson Sunbird

Aethopyga siparaja

Fire-tailed Sunbird

Aethopyga ignicauda

Yellow-throated Sparrow

Gymnoris xanthocollis

Passer domesticus

Black-breasted Weaver

Ploceus benghalensis

Ploceus philippinus

Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Tricolored Munia

Lonchura malacca

Amandava amandava

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola

Motacilla cinerea

White-browed Wagtail

Motacilla maderaspatensis

Paddyfield Pipit

Olive-backed Pipit

Anthus hodgsoni

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch

Chloris spinoides

Crested Bunting

Emberiza lathami

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Spatula querquedula

Northern Pintail

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya fuligula

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Ortygornis pondicerianus

Coturnix coturnix

Caprimulgus jotaka

Savanna Nightjar

Caprimulgus affinis

Himalayan Swiftlet

Aerodramus brevirostris

White-rumped Spinetail

Zoonavena sylvatica

White-throated Needletail

Hirundapus caudacutus

Asian Palm Swift

Cypsiurus balasiensis

Tachymarptis melba

Apus nipalensis

Bengal Florican

Houbaropsis bengalensis

Clamator jacobinus

Banded Bay Cuckoo

Cacomantis sonneratii

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo

Surniculus lugubris

Cuculus canorus

Common Wood Pigeon

Columba palumbus

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Spilopelia senegalensis

Ruddy-breasted Crake

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Yellow-legged Buttonquail

Barred Buttonquail

Turnix suscitator

Great Stone-curlew

Esacus recurvirostris

Indian Stone-curlew

Burhinus indicus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Vanellus duvaucelii

Yellow-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus malabaricus

Grey-headed Lapwing

Vanellus cinereus

Anarhynchus alexandrinus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Black-tailed Godwit

Pin-tailed Snipe

Gallinago stenura

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Common Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Calidris minuta

Sternula albifrons

Chlidonias hybrida

Sterna aurantia

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Brown-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

Lesser Adjutant

Leptoptilos javanicus

Black-necked Stork

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

Aviceda leuphotes

Red-headed Vulture

Sarcogyps calvus

Cinereous Vulture

Aegypius monachus

Himalayan Vulture

Gyps himalayensis

White-rumped Vulture

Gyps bengalensis

Slender-billed Vulture

Gyps tenuirostris

Griffon Vulture

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Rufous-bellied Eagle

Lophotriorchis kienerii

Indian Spotted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

Circus macrourus

Circus melanoleucos

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Pallas's Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

Lesser Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga humilis

Himalayan Buzzard

Ninox scutulata

Asian Barred Owlet

Glaucidium cuculoides

Buceros bicornis

Psilopogon virens

Lineated Barbet

Psilopogon lineatus

Blue-throated Barbet

Psilopogon asiaticus

Speckled Piculet

Picumnus innominatus

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus canicapillus

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos macei

Greater Yellownape

Chrysophlegma flavinucha

Lesser Yellownape

Picus chlorolophus

Grey-headed Woodpecker

White-naped Woodpecker

Chrysocolaptes festivus

Great Slaty Woodpecker

Mulleripicus pulverulentus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Slaty-headed Parakeet

Psittacula himalayana

Red-breasted Parakeet

Psittacula alexandri

Long-tailed Broadbill

Psarisomus dalhousiae

Western Hooded Pitta

Large Woodshrike

Tephrodornis virgatus

Pericrocotus roseus

Oriolus traillii

Indian Golden Oriole

Dicrurus aeneus

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus remifer

Crow-billed Drongo

Dicrurus annectens

White-throated Fantail

Rhipidura albicollis

Bay-backed Shrike

Lanius vittatus

Red-billed Blue Magpie

Urocissa erythroryncha

Dendrocitta formosae

Corvus splendens

Green-backed Tit

Parus monticolus

Himalayan Black-lored Tit

Machlolophus xanthogenys

Oriental Skylark

Galerida cristata

Alaudala raytal

Hemixos flavala

Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Hirundo rustica

Asian House Martin

Delichon dasypus

Nepal House Martin

Delichon nipalense

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Aberrant Bush Warbler

Horornis flavolivaceus

Grey-bellied Tesia

Tesia cyaniventer

Grey-sided Bush Warbler

Cettia brunnifrons

Pale-footed Bush Warbler

Hemitesia pallidipes

Buff-barred Warbler

Phylloscopus pulcher

Hume's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus humei

Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

Lemon-rumped Warbler

Phylloscopus chloronotus

Tickell's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus affinis

Phylloscopus fuligiventer

Phylloscopus fuscatus

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Green-crowned Warbler

Phylloscopus burkii

Whistler's Warbler

Phylloscopus whistleri

Western Crowned Warbler

Phylloscopus occipitalis

Blyth's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus reguloides

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus stentoreus

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus dumetorum

Thick-billed Warbler

Arundinax aedon

West Himalayan Bush Warbler

Locustella kashmirensis

Bristled Grassbird

Schoenicola striatus

Striated Grassbird

Megalurus palustris

Delicate Prinia

Prinia sylvatica

Jerdon's Babbler

Chrysomma altirostre

Tawny-bellied Babbler

Dumetia hyperythra

Indian Grassbird

Graminicola bengalensis

Silver-eared Mesia

Leiothrix argentauris

Large Grey Babbler

White-crested Laughingthrush

Garrulax leucolophus

Indian Nuthatch

Bar-tailed Treecreeper

Certhia himalayana

Acridotheres ginginianus

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Black-throated Thrush

Turdus atrogularis

Dark-sided Flycatcher

Muscicapa sibirica

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Muscicapa dauurica

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Niltava sundara

Niltava macgrigoriae

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis rubeculoides

Pale-chinned Flycatcher

Cyornis poliogenys

Luscinia svecica

Siberian Rubythroat

Calliope calliope

Chinese Rubythroat

Calliope tschebaiewi

Black-backed Forktail

Enicurus immaculatus

Slaty-blue Flycatcher

Ficedula tricolor

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

Ficedula strophiata

Ultramarine Flycatcher

Ficedula superciliaris

Little Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula westermanni

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Blue-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus coeruleocephala

Plumbeous Water Redstart

Phoenicurus fuliginosus

White-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush

Monticola rufiventris

White-throated Bush Chat

Saxicola insignis

Orange-bellied Leafbird

Chloropsis hardwickii

Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Indian Silverbill

Euodice malabarica

White-rumped Munia

Lonchura striata

Richard's Pipit

Anthus richardi

Anthus campestris

Anthus trivialis

Anthus roseatus

Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus

Western Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrio

Oriental Pratincole

Glareola maldivarum

Butorides striata

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus nipalensis

Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl

Ketupa nipalensis

Indochinese Roller

Coracias affinis

Pericrocotus flammeus

Indian Cuckooshrike

Common Green Magpie

Cissa chinensis

Black-throated Bushtit

Aegithalos concinnus

Paddyfield Warbler

Acrocephalus agricola

Himalayan Prinia

Prinia crinigera

Passer cinnamomeus

Greater Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

Panthera tigris

Greater One-horned Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros unicornis

Elephas maximus

Nepal Sacred Langur

Semnopithecus schistaceus

Northern Palm Squirrel

Funambulus pennantii

Indian Flying Fox

Pteropus medius

Yellow-throated Marten

Martes flavigula

Indian Gray Mongoose

Northern Palm Civet

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus

Boselaphus tragocamelus

Bubalus bubalis

Northern Red Muntjac

Muntiacus vaginalis

Eurasian Wild Boar

Mainland Leopard Cat

Prionailurus bengalensis

Assamese Macaque

Macaca assamensis

Indian Crested Porcupine

Southern Black Giant Squirrel

Smooth-coated Otter

Lutra perspicillata

Vulpes bengalensis

Panthera pardus

Large Indian Civet

Viverra zibetha

Ganges River Dolphin

Platanista gangetica

Antilope cervicapra

Tetracerus quadricornis

Rucervus duvaucelii

Southern Red Muntjac

Muntiacus muntjak

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