Shuklaphanta National Park

National Park · Nepal

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Photo © Rajesh Dhungana

Photo © Rajesh Dhungana — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the Terai plains meet the foothills of the Sudurpashchim Province, sweeping grasslands and riverine forests create one of South Asia's most dynamic wildlife corridors. Shuklaphanta National Park spans a landscape shaped by winter-dry subtropical monsoon conditions, where the cold season brings crystalline clarity to the air and a dramatic reduction in water availability across the plains. The park's mosaic of tall grasslands, dense sal forests, and oxbow lakes along the Karnali River system supports a rich community of grazing herbivores, wetland species that congregate where water persists through the drier months, and predators that follow the seasonal rhythms of their prey. Migratory waders arrive in significant numbers during the winter transition, drawn by exposed mudflats and shallow wetlands, while resident raptors patrol above the grasslands and forest edges. This intimate weaving of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, shaped by the sharp seasonal pulse of the region's climate, creates ecological richness that belies the apparent simplicity of the Terai landscape.

For wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, the park's winter season—from November through February—offers unparalleled access and visibility. The retreating monsoon and reduced cloud cover deliver the crystalline light that defines serious wildlife photography, while the concentration of birds and mammals around shrinking water sources creates genuine opportunities for meaningful encounters. The grassland habitat opens sightlines across vast distances, rewarding observers with patient glass work, while the riverine corridors provide intimate framing for smaller groups and forest-dwelling species. A professional naturalist's itinerary should prioritize early morning drives across the plains and focused wetland surveys during the dry peak, when logistical access improves and subject density peaks. The park remains undervisited by international travelers compared to more celebrated reserves further east, lending an authentic quality to the experience and the very real possibility of having productive habitat to yourself.

Bengal Florican

Houbaropsis bengalensis

Black Francolin

Francolinus francolinus

Common Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon

Treron phoenicopterus

Gallinula chloropus

White-breasted Waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

White-tailed Lapwing

Vanellus leucurus

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Tringa glareola

Pseudibis papillosa

Indian Pond Heron

Ardea intermedia

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus cirrhatus

Grey-headed Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga ichthyaetus

Glaucidium radiatum

Indian Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros birostris

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Pelargopsis capensis

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

Common Kingfisher

Asian Green Bee-eater

Merops orientalis

Eurasian Wryneck

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus nanus

Himalayan Flameback

Dinopium shorii

Black-rumped Flameback

Dinopium benghalense

Greater Flameback

Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Rufous Woodpecker

Micropternus brachyurus

Plum-headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

Common Woodshrike

Tephrodornis pondicerianus

Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus paradiseus

Hair-crested Drongo

Dicrurus hottentottus

Long-tailed Shrike

Dendrocitta vagabunda

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

Striated Grassbird

Megalurus palustris

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Golden-headed Cisticola

Cisticola exilis

Grey-breasted Prinia

Prinia hodgsonii

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Prinia flaviventris

Prinia socialis

Prinia inornata

Indian White-eye

Zosterops palpebrosus

Chestnut-capped Babbler

Timalia pileata

Striated Babbler

Indian Nuthatch

Indian Pied Myna

Gracupica contra

White-rumped Shama

Copsychus malabaricus

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Saxicola ferreus

Saxicola caprata

Siberian Stonechat

Saxicola maurus

Cinnyris asiaticus

Black-breasted Weaver

Ploceus benghalensis

Ploceus philippinus

Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Amandava amandava

Citrine Wagtail

Motacilla citreola

Anthus roseatus

Lesser Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna javanica

Bar-headed Goose

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Tadorna ferruginea

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Nettapus coromandelianus

Spatula querquedula

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

Indian Spot-billed Duck

Anas poecilorhyncha

Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail

Red-crested Pochard

Ferruginous Duck

Aythya fuligula

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Ortygornis pondicerianus

Swamp Francolin

Ortygornis gularis

Coturnix coturnix

Caprimulgus jotaka

Large-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus macrurus

Savanna Nightjar

Caprimulgus affinis

Crested Treeswift

Hemiprocne coronata

Himalayan Swiftlet

Aerodramus brevirostris

White-rumped Spinetail

Zoonavena sylvatica

White-throated Needletail

Hirundapus caudacutus

Asian Palm Swift

Cypsiurus balasiensis

Tachymarptis melba

Apus nipalensis

Centropus sinensis

Centropus bengalensis

Sirkeer Malkoha

Taccocua leschenaultii

Clamator jacobinus

Eudynamys scolopaceus

Grey-bellied Cuckoo

Cacomantis passerinus

Cuculus micropterus

Cuculus canorus

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Red Collared Dove

Streptopelia tranquebarica

Spilopelia chinensis

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon

Treron bicinctus

Ashy-headed Green Pigeon

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon

Treron apicauda

Grey-headed Swamphen

Porphyrio poliocephalus

Ruddy-breasted Crake

Baillon's Crake

Zapornia pusilla

Gallicrex cinerea

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Yellow-legged Buttonquail

Barred Buttonquail

Turnix suscitator

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Great Stone-curlew

Esacus recurvirostris

Indian Stone-curlew

Burhinus indicus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Vanellus duvaucelii

Yellow-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus malabaricus

Grey-headed Lapwing

Vanellus cinereus

Anarhynchus alexandrinus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Bronze-winged Jacana

Metopidius indicus

Pin-tailed Snipe

Gallinago stenura

Gallinago gallinago

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Common Redshank

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Calidris minuta

Cursorius coromandelicus

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus

Anastomus oscitans

Lesser Adjutant

Leptoptilos javanicus

Mycteria leucocephala

Black-necked Stork

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Oriental Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

Little Cormorant

Microcarbo niger

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

Plegadis falcinellus

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta garzetta

Pandion haliaetus

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

Crested Honey Buzzard

Pernis ptilorhynchus

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

Crested Serpent Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

Nisaetus nipalensis

Rufous-bellied Eagle

Lophotriorchis kienerii

Indian Spotted Eagle

Greater Spotted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Circus macrourus

Circus melanoleucos

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Pallas's Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

Lesser Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga humilis

White-eyed Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Himalayan Buzzard

Ninox scutulata

Asian Barred Owlet

Glaucidium cuculoides

Oriental Scops Owl

Indian Scops Owl

Otus bakkamoena

Collared Scops Owl

Ketupa zeylonensis

Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl

Ketupa nipalensis

Dusky Eagle-Owl

Ketupa coromanda

Strix leptogrammica

Buceros bicornis

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Anthracoceros albirostris

Coracias benghalensis

Oriental Dollarbird

Eurystomus orientalis

Pied Kingfisher

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Nyctyornis athertoni

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Merops philippinus

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater

Merops leschenaulti

Psilopogon virens

Brown-headed Barbet

Psilopogon zeylanicus

Lineated Barbet

Psilopogon lineatus

Blue-throated Barbet

Psilopogon asiaticus

Coppersmith Barbet

Psilopogon haemacephalus

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Yungipicus canicapillus

Yellow-crowned Woodpecker

Leiopicus mahrattensis

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos macei

Streak-throated Woodpecker

Picus xanthopygaeus

Grey-headed Woodpecker

White-naped Woodpecker

Chrysocolaptes festivus

Great Slaty Woodpecker

Mulleripicus pulverulentus

Falco tinnunculus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Slaty-headed Parakeet

Psittacula himalayana

Alexandrine Parakeet

Psittacula eupatria

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

Pitta brachyura

Western Hooded Pitta

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike

Hemipus picatus

Large Woodshrike

Tephrodornis virgatus

Ashy Woodswallow

Aegithina tiphia

Long-tailed Minivet

Pericrocotus ethologus

Scarlet Minivet

Pericrocotus speciosus

Pericrocotus roseus

Indian Cuckooshrike

Oriental Cuckooshrike

Coracina javensis

Black-winged Cuckooshrike

Lalage melaschistos

Black-headed Cuckooshrike

Lalage melanoptera

Oriolus traillii

Black-hooded Oriole

Oriolus xanthornus

Indian Golden Oriole

Crow-billed Drongo

Dicrurus annectens

Dicrurus leucophaeus

White-bellied Drongo

Dicrurus caerulescens

Dicrurus macrocercus

White-throated Fantail

Rhipidura albicollis

White-browed Fantail

Rhipidura aureola

Black-naped Monarch

Hypothymis azurea

Indian Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone paradisi

Bay-backed Shrike

Lanius vittatus

Lanius cristatus

Grey-backed Shrike

Lanius tephronotus

Corvus splendens

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix griseus

Singing Bush Lark

Mirafra javanica

Oriental Skylark

Galerida cristata

Hume's Short-toed Lark

Calandrella acutirostris

Alaudala raytal

Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Black-crested Bulbul

Rubigula flaviventris

Grey-throated Martin

Riparia chinensis

Hirundo rustica

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Aberrant Bush Warbler

Horornis flavolivaceus

Hume's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus humei

Lemon-rumped Warbler

Phylloscopus chloronotus

Tickell's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus affinis

Phylloscopus fuligiventer

Phylloscopus fuscatus

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Whistler's Warbler

Phylloscopus whistleri

Greenish Warbler

Phylloscopus trochiloides

Blyth's Leaf Warbler

Phylloscopus reguloides

Grey-hooded Warbler

Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

Clamorous Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus stentoreus

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus dumetorum

West Himalayan Bush Warbler

Locustella kashmirensis

Bristled Grassbird

Schoenicola striatus

Himalayan Prinia

Prinia crinigera

Delicate Prinia

Prinia sylvatica

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

Yellow-eyed Babbler

Chrysomma sinense

Jerdon's Babbler

Chrysomma altirostre

Tawny-bellied Babbler

Dumetia hyperythra

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler

Mixornis gularis

Indian Grassbird

Graminicola bengalensis

Puff-throated Babbler

Pellorneum ruficeps

Large Grey Babbler

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Sitta frontalis

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch

Sitta cinnamoventris

Acridotheres fuscus

Acridotheres ginginianus

Acridotheres tristis

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Sturnia malabarica

Brahminy Starling

Sturnia pagodarum

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Orange-headed Thrush

Geokichla citrina

Grey-winged Blackbird

Turdus boulboul

Tickell's Thrush

Turdus unicolor

Black-throated Thrush

Turdus atrogularis

Oriental Magpie-Robin

Copsychus saularis

Copsychus fulicatus

Dark-sided Flycatcher

Muscicapa sibirica

Niltava macgrigoriae

Verditer Flycatcher

Eumyias thalassinus

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis tickelliae

Luscinia svecica

Siberian Rubythroat

Calliope calliope

Himalayan Rubythroat

Calliope pectoralis

Chinese Rubythroat

Calliope tschebaiewi

Blue Whistling Thrush

Myophonus caeruleus

Slaty-blue Flycatcher

Ficedula tricolor

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

Ficedula strophiata

Ultramarine Flycatcher

Ficedula superciliaris

Taiga Flycatcher

Ficedula albicilla

Phoenicurus ochruros

Blue Rock Thrush

Monticola solitarius

Jerdon's Bush Chat

Saxicola jerdoni

White-throated Bush Chat

Saxicola insignis

White-tailed Stonechat

Saxicola leucurus

Brown Rock Chat

Golden-fronted Leafbird

Chloropsis aurifrons

Pale-billed Flowerpecker

Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

Yellow-throated Sparrow

Gymnoris xanthocollis

Passer domesticus

Streaked Weaver

Tricolored Munia

Lonchura malacca

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla cinerea

White-browed Wagtail

Motacilla maderaspatensis

Richard's Pipit

Anthus richardi

Paddyfield Pipit

Anthus campestris

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus trivialis

Olive-backed Pipit

Anthus hodgsoni

Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch

Chloris spinoides

Crested Bunting

Emberiza lathami

White-capped Bunting

Emberiza stewarti

Chestnut-eared Bunting

Emberiza fucata

Butorides striata

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus remifer

Himalayan Bulbul

Pycnonotus leucogenys

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Niltava sundara

Blue-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus coeruleocephala

White-capped Redstart

Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Crimson Sunbird

Aethopyga siparaja

Indian Silverbill

Euodice malabarica

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Emberiza aureola

Eurasian Wild Boar

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