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After research, ornithologists determined that it was a new sub-species found only in Nepal. This new discovery makes the number of bird species available in Nepal to 862. BBC reports:

The bird is a warbler with a very long tail and slender beak and has been named the Nepal Rufous-vented Prinia.

Scientists say the bird provides an important geographical link between previously-known varieties in Pakistan and India.

But they warn its tiny population means the sub-species is endangered.

The bird was first spotted in 2005 in a wetland area.

But it is only now that taxonomists have decided it is distinctive enough to be described as a separate sub-species.

'Exciting find'

It has different dimensions from the two other types of Rufous-vented Prinia, and in colour comes between the rich chestnut of its western neighbour and the grey of the one to the east.

On April 1, 2005, Suchit Basnet, Chairperson, Nepal Rare Birds Committee (NRBC) and ornithologist Badri Chaudhary first recorded this bird. The bird belongs to Prinia burnesii species. The same species of birds are also seen in India and Pakistan. This new discovery finds out the link between the two species in the two countries. Nepal News reports:

Basnet said, "This must have been the most exciting bird record reviewed by the Nepal Rare Birds Committee since its establishment in 2001."

According to Dr Hem Sagar Baral of BCN, this subspecies of bird is currently found only in Nepal and expressed hope of finding more species of birds in Koshi Tappu, the most popular site for bird watching in winter.

"We must put extra resources for understanding birds and their conservation needs in future," he said.

Ornithologists call this as a groundbreaking research work and most significant on the taxonomy of Nepal's birds after the discovery of Nepal Wren Babbler or Pnoepyga immaculata nearly 17 years ago.

The bad thing is that this bird is an endangered species. Conservationists are saying that there are 500 birds at present but habitat loss and degradation would further shrink their number.

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