Chitwan National Park

National Park · Nepal

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Photo © Vadim Tolbatov

Photo © Vadim Tolbatov — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Subtropical lowlands unfold across Chitwan National Park, where the Rapti River carves through alluvial plains framed by the Siwalik Hills to the north. The park's landscape is a mosaic of riverine grasslands, sal forests, and wetland complexes shaped by monsoon-fed water cycles and the dry winters characteristic of the region's humid subtropical climate. During the cool season—November through February—when moisture recedes and deciduous canopy thins, visibility sharpens and wildlife congregates around remaining water sources. Large herbivorous mammals, water-dependent carnivores, and populations of semi-aquatic reptiles thrive in this mosaic, while raptors and other birds of prey hunt across open grasslands and forest edges. The park's riverine channels sustain migratory waterfowl and waders during their seasonal passages, and smaller mammals shelter within dense thickets and hollow trees throughout the year.

For wildlife photographers and serious birders, Chitwan demands patience and timing. The winter dry season—when afternoon light angles low across the grasslands and water holes concentrate fauna—offers peak conditions for observing predators and large herbivores in open terrain. Early mornings reward those who wade or canoe through shallow channels, where patient observation yields glimpses of water-dependent raptors and resident aquatic birds. Access is straightforward from Kathmandu, with established lodges and guide networks enabling multi-day immersions into the park's interior. Local naturalists navigate the landscape by foot, elephant-back, and boat, each mode unlocking different ecological niches and behavioral moments. The combination of predictable dry-season congregations, diverse habitat edges, and professional guiding infrastructure makes this Bagamati Province reserve an essential stop for naturalists intent on understanding South Asian lowland ecology.

Website chitwannationalpark.gov.np

Bengal Florican

Houbaropsis bengalensis

Lesser Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna javanica

Bar-headed Goose

Common Shelduck

Tadorna tadorna

Tadorna ferruginea

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail

Red-crested Pochard

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Lophura leucomelanos

Black Francolin

Francolinus francolinus

Large-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus macrurus

Crested Treeswift

Hemiprocne coronata

White-rumped Spinetail

Zoonavena sylvatica

Centropus sinensis

Centropus bengalensis

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo

Clamator coromandus

Clamator jacobinus

Eudynamys scolopaceus

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Red Collared Dove

Streptopelia tranquebarica

Common Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon

Treron bicinctus

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

Treron phoenicopterus

Grey-headed Swamphen

Porphyrio poliocephalus

Ruddy-breasted Crake

White-breasted Waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Indian Stone-curlew

Burhinus indicus

Ibidorhyncha struthersii

Recurvirostra avosetta

Northern Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Bronze-winged Jacana

Metopidius indicus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Common Redshank

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

Anastomus oscitans

Oriental Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

Little Cormorant

Microcarbo niger

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Pseudibis papillosa

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta garzetta

Indian Pond Heron

Ardea intermedia

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Crested Honey Buzzard

Pernis ptilorhynchus

Griffon Vulture

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus cirrhatus

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

Grey-headed Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga ichthyaetus

White-eyed Buzzard

Eastern Barn Owl

Ninox scutulata

Glaucidium radiatum

Indian Scops Owl

Otus bakkamoena

Collared Scops Owl

Ketupa zeylonensis

Red-headed Trogon

Harpactes erythrocephalus

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Anthracoceros albirostris

Coracias benghalensis

Oriental Dollarbird

Eurystomus orientalis

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Pelargopsis capensis

Ruddy Kingfisher

Halcyon coromanda

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

Common Kingfisher

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

Lineated Barbet

Psilopogon lineatus

Coppersmith Barbet

Psilopogon haemacephalus

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus canicapillus

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos macei

Greater Yellownape

Chrysophlegma flavinucha

Lesser Yellownape

Picus chlorolophus

Streak-throated Woodpecker

Picus xanthopygaeus

Grey-headed Woodpecker

Himalayan Flameback

Dinopium shorii

Black-rumped Flameback

Dinopium benghalense

Greater Flameback

Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Rufous Woodpecker

Micropternus brachyurus

Collared Falconet

Microhierax caerulescens

Falco tinnunculus

Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

Alexandrine Parakeet

Psittacula eupatria

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Long-tailed Broadbill

Psarisomus dalhousiae

Pitta brachyura

Western Hooded Pitta

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike

Hemipus picatus

Large Woodshrike

Tephrodornis virgatus

Common Woodshrike

Tephrodornis pondicerianus

Ashy Woodswallow

Aegithina tiphia

Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Scarlet Minivet

Pericrocotus speciosus

Pericrocotus roseus

Black-winged Cuckooshrike

Lalage melaschistos

Black-hooded Oriole

Oriolus xanthornus

Indian Golden Oriole

Dicrurus aeneus

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus paradiseus

Hair-crested Drongo

Dicrurus hottentottus

Dicrurus leucophaeus

White-bellied Drongo

Dicrurus caerulescens

Dicrurus macrocercus

Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone paradisi

Long-tailed Shrike

Grey-backed Shrike

Lanius tephronotus

Red-billed Blue Magpie

Urocissa erythroryncha

Dendrocitta vagabunda

Corvus splendens

Large-billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis

Alaudala raytal

Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Black-crested Bulbul

Rubigula flaviventris

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

Himalayan Bulbul

Pycnonotus leucogenys

Grey-throated Martin

Riparia chinensis

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Grey-breasted Prinia

Prinia hodgsonii

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Prinia flaviventris

Prinia socialis

Prinia inornata

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

Yellow-eyed Babbler

Chrysomma sinense

Chestnut-capped Babbler

Timalia pileata

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler

Mixornis gularis

White-browed Scimitar Babbler

Pomatorhinus schisticeps

Grey-throated Babbler

Stachyris nigriceps

Striated Babbler

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush

Garrulax monileger

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus ruficollis

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus pectoralis

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Sitta frontalis

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

Sitta cinnamoventris

Spot-winged Starling

Saroglossa spilopterus

Common Hill Myna

Gracula religiosa

Acridotheres fuscus

Acridotheres tristis

Indian Pied Myna

Gracupica contra

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Sturnia malabarica

Orange-headed Thrush

Geokichla citrina

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Copsychus saularis

White-rumped Shama

Copsychus malabaricus

Pale-chinned Flycatcher

Cyornis poliogenys

Siberian Rubythroat

Calliope calliope

Black-backed Forktail

Enicurus immaculatus

Slaty-backed Forktail

Enicurus schistaceus

Taiga Flycatcher

Ficedula albicilla

Phoenicurus ochruros

Saxicola ferreus

Saxicola caprata

White-tailed Stonechat

Saxicola leucurus

Siberian Stonechat

Saxicola maurus

Golden-fronted Leafbird

Chloropsis aurifrons

Cinnyris asiaticus

Passer domesticus

Black-breasted Weaver

Ploceus benghalensis

Ploceus philippinus

Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola

Motacilla cinerea

White-browed Wagtail

Motacilla maderaspatensis

Paddyfield Pipit

Olive-backed Pipit

Anthus hodgsoni

Anthus roseatus

Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus

Crested Bunting

Emberiza lathami

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola

White-throated Bulbul

Alophoixus flaveolus

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Nettapus coromandelianus

Spatula querquedula

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Indian Spot-billed Duck

Anas poecilorhyncha

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya fuligula

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Ortygornis pondicerianus

Caprimulgus jotaka

Savanna Nightjar

Caprimulgus affinis

Himalayan Swiftlet

Aerodramus brevirostris

White-throated Needletail

Hirundapus caudacutus

Silver-backed Needletail

Hirundapus cochinchinensis

Asian Palm Swift

Cypsiurus balasiensis

Tachymarptis melba

Apus nipalensis

Sirkeer Malkoha

Taccocua leschenaultii

Banded Bay Cuckoo

Cacomantis sonneratii

Grey-bellied Cuckoo

Cacomantis passerinus

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo

Surniculus lugubris

Large Hawk-Cuckoo

Hierococcyx sparverioides

Cuculus poliocephalus

Cuculus micropterus

Himalayan Cuckoo

Cuculus saturatus

Cuculus canorus

Speckled Wood Pigeon

Columba hodgsonii

Barred Cuckoo-Dove

Macropygia unchall

Ashy-headed Green Pigeon

Thick-billed Green Pigeon

Treron curvirostra

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon

Treron apicauda

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon

Treron sphenurus

Slaty-breasted Rail

Lewinia striata

Gallicrex cinerea

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Yellow-legged Buttonquail

Barred Buttonquail

Turnix suscitator

Great Stone-curlew

Esacus recurvirostris

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva

Vanellus duvaucelii

Yellow-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus malabaricus

Grey-headed Lapwing

Vanellus cinereus

Anarhynchus alexandrinus

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Black-tailed Godwit

Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola

Pin-tailed Snipe

Gallinago stenura

Gallinago gallinago

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Calidris alpina

Calidris minuta

Oriental Pratincole

Glareola maldivarum

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias hybrida

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Brown-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Adjutant

Leptoptilos javanicus

Mycteria leucocephala

Black-necked Stork

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

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

Short-toed Snake Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus nipalensis

Indian Spotted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Circus macrourus

Circus melanoleucos

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Haliastur indus

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Lesser Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga humilis

Long-legged Buzzard

Himalayan Buzzard

Taenioptynx brodiei

Asian Barred Owlet

Glaucidium cuculoides

Mountain Scops Owl

Otus spilocephalus

Oriental Scops Owl

Short-eared Owl

Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Strix leptogrammica

Buceros bicornis

Indian Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros birostris

Indochinese Roller

Coracias affinis

Black-capped Kingfisher

Halcyon pileata

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Alcedo meninting

Crested Kingfisher

Megaceryle lugubris

Psilopogon virens

Brown-headed Barbet

Psilopogon zeylanicus

Golden-throated Barbet

Psilopogon franklinii

Blue-throated Barbet

Psilopogon asiaticus

Eurasian Wryneck

Speckled Piculet

Picumnus innominatus

White-browed Piculet

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus nanus

Brown-fronted Woodpecker

Dendrocoptes auriceps

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Leiopicus mahrattensis

White-naped Woodpecker

Chrysocolaptes festivus

Blythipicus pyrrhotis

Great Slaty Woodpecker

Mulleripicus pulverulentus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco amurensis

Slaty-headed Parakeet

Psittacula himalayana

Blossom-headed Parakeet

Psittacula roseata

Short-billed Minivet

Pericrocotus brevirostris

Long-tailed Minivet

Pericrocotus ethologus

Oriental Cuckooshrike

Coracina javensis

Black-headed Cuckooshrike

Lalage melanoptera

White-browed Shrike-babbler

Pteruthius aeralatus

White-bellied Erpornis

Erpornis zantholeuca

Oriolus traillii

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus remifer

Crow-billed Drongo

Dicrurus annectens

White-throated Fantail

Rhipidura albicollis

White-browed Fantail

Rhipidura aureola

Black-naped Monarch

Hypothymis azurea

Bay-backed Shrike

Lanius vittatus

Lanius cristatus

Common Green Magpie

Cissa chinensis

Dendrocitta formosae

Yellow-browed Tit

Sylviparus modestus

Melanochlora sultanea

Green-backed Tit

Parus monticolus

Himalayan Black-lored Tit

Machlolophus xanthogenys

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix griseus

Oriental Skylark

Galerida cristata

Greater Short-toed Lark

Calandrella brachydactyla

Hemixos flavala

Mountain Bulbul

Ixos mcclellandii

Eurasian Crag Martin

Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Asian House Martin

Delichon dasypus

Nepal House Martin

Delichon nipalense

Yellow-bellied Warbler

Abroscopus superciliaris

Hume's Bush Warbler

Horornis brunnescens

Aberrant Bush Warbler

Horornis flavolivaceus

Grey-bellied Tesia

Tesia cyaniventer

Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler

Grey-sided Bush Warbler

Cettia brunnifrons

Pale-footed Bush Warbler

Hemitesia pallidipes

Black-throated Bushtit

Aegithalos concinnus

Buff-barred Warbler

Phylloscopus pulcher

Ashy-throated Warbler

Phylloscopus maculipennis

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

Green-crowned Warbler

Phylloscopus burkii

Whistler's Warbler

Phylloscopus whistleri

Greenish Warbler

Phylloscopus trochiloides

Large-billed Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus magnirostris

Chestnut-crowned Warbler

Phylloscopus castaniceps

Western Crowned Warbler

Phylloscopus occipitalis

Blyth's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus reguloides

Grey-hooded Warbler

Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus stentoreus

Paddyfield Warbler

Acrocephalus agricola

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus dumetorum

Thick-billed Warbler

Arundinax aedon

Spotted Bush Warbler

Locustella thoracica

Bristled Grassbird

Schoenicola striatus

Striated Grassbird

Megalurus palustris

Golden-headed Cisticola

Cisticola exilis

Himalayan Prinia

Prinia crinigera

Grey-crowned Prinia

Prinia cinereocapilla

Delicate Prinia

Jerdon's Babbler

Chrysomma altirostre

Black-chinned Yuhina

Yuhina nigrimenta

Indian White-eye

Zosterops palpebrosus

Black-chinned Babbler

Cyanoderma pyrrhops

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler

Erythrogenys erythrogenys

Indian Grassbird

Graminicola bengalensis

Alcippe nipalensis

Himalayan Cutia

Cutia nipalensis

Blue-winged Laughingthrush

Trochalopteron squamatum

Heterophasia capistrata

Slender-billed Babbler

Argya longirostris

Turdoides nipalensis

White-crested Laughingthrush

Garrulax leucolophus

White-throated Laughingthrush

Pterorhinus albogularis

Troglodytes troglodytes

White-tailed Nuthatch

Sitta himalayensis

Tichodroma muraria

Acridotheres ginginianus

Brahminy Starling

Sturnia pagodarum

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Long-tailed Thrush

Zoothera dixoni

Zoothera mollissima

Long-billed Thrush

Zoothera monticola

Grey-winged Blackbird

Turdus boulboul

Tickell's Thrush

Turdus unicolor

Black-throated Thrush

Turdus atrogularis

Red-throated Thrush

Turdus ruficollis

White-collared Blackbird

Turdus albocinctus

Copsychus fulicatus

Dark-sided Flycatcher

Muscicapa sibirica

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Muscicapa dauurica

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Niltava sundara

Niltava macgrigoriae

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis rubeculoides

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis tickelliae

Luscinia svecica

White-tailed Robin

Myiomela leucura

Himalayan Rubythroat

Calliope pectoralis

Little Forktail

Enicurus scouleri

Spotted Forktail

Enicurus maculatus

Blue Whistling Thrush

Myophonus caeruleus

Indian Blue Robin

Larvivora brunnea

Slaty-blue Flycatcher

Ficedula tricolor

Snowy-browed Flycatcher

Ficedula hyperythra

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

Ficedula strophiata

Ultramarine Flycatcher

Ficedula superciliaris

Little Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula westermanni

Blue-fronted Redstart

Phoenicurus frontalis

Blue-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus coeruleocephala

White-throated Redstart

Phoenicurus schisticeps

Plumbeous Water Redstart

Phoenicurus fuliginosus

White-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Hodgson's Redstart

Phoenicurus hodgsoni

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush

Monticola rufiventris

Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius

White-throated Bush Chat

Saxicola insignis

Cinclus pallasii

Orange-bellied Leafbird

Chloropsis hardwickii

Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

Plain Flowerpecker

Dicaeum minullum

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

Chalcoparia singalensis

Black-throated Sunbird

Aethopyga saturata

Crimson Sunbird

Aethopyga siparaja

Little Spiderhunter

Arachnothera longirostra

Streaked Spiderhunter

Arachnothera magna

Yellow-throated Sparrow

Gymnoris xanthocollis

Passer cinnamomeus

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Passer montanus

Indian Silverbill

Euodice malabarica

White-rumped Munia

Lonchura striata

Tricolored Munia

Lonchura malacca

Lonchura atricapilla

Amandava amandava

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Richard's Pipit

Anthus richardi

Anthus godlewskii

Anthus campestris

Anthus trivialis

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch

Chloris spinoides

Emberiza leucocephalos

Emberiza pusilla

Black-headed Bunting

Emberiza melanocephala

Aix galericulata

Sibirionetta formosa

Butorides striata

Pericrocotus flammeus

Indian Cuckooshrike

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Prinia sylvatica

Dendronanthus indicus

Panthera tigris

Greater One-horned Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros unicornis

Elephas maximus

Nepal Sacred Langur

Semnopithecus schistaceus

Northern Palm Squirrel

Funambulus pennantii

Indian Gray Mongoose

Crab-eating Mongoose

Bubalus bubalis

Northern Red Muntjac

Muntiacus vaginalis

Eurasian Wild Boar

Melursus ursinus

Panthera pardus

Southern Red Muntjac

Muntiacus muntjak

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