In a significant discovery, a new species of bird has been identified in Lomangthang of Upper Mustang.

The bird, identified as the white-cheeked starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus), was sighted by birders Shankar Tiwari and Matthew Withraw at an altitude of 3840 meters on May 7, 2024.

Tulsi Subedi, chairman of the Bird Record Committee, confirmed the finding, stating that the organization verified the bird's existence in Nepal based on photographic evidence submitted by Tiwari.

Belonging to the Sturnidae family within the Passeriformes group, this species is native to North and Eastern Asia, including countries like Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines, and Thailand.

It is believed that the bird seasonally migrates to the Himalayan belt in Nepal. The finding marks a new addition to Nepal's diverse avian population.

With this discovery, the total number of bird species recorded in Nepal has now reached 895, Nepalese Ornithological Union said in a statement.