SATV 16 April, Kathmandu: A new bird species, the Violet Cuckoo (Baijani Koili in Nepali), has been officially recorded in Nepal, marking the 899th bird species in the country's avian records.

According to the Nepal Ornithologists Association, a male Violet Cuckoo was spotted on April 7 in the Sukhani forest area of Ilam, located at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level. The bird was observed for over an hour as it flew from tree to tree.

Ornithologist Rajendra Gurung led the team that discovered the bird. Malaysian birdwatcher Alexander John Ang Yang confirmed the species by its call. Other team members included Malaysian citizen Roger Robert Rajah and Nepali ornithologist Anish Timsina.

Photos and videos of the bird were sent to the Nepal Bird Statistics Committee on April 10. Following expert review, including input from national and international ornithologists, the committee officially added the species to Nepal's bird list, bringing the total to 899 species.

The Violet Cuckoo is found across South and Southeast Asia, including Bhutan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and India. It is known to breed in Bhutan, Singapore, and the Philippines. Two subspecies have been recorded globally.