Believe it or not--these birds are found in Pakistan

There is much joy and bliss in observing nature and Pakistan has been blessed with plenty of it. Owing to our country’s diverse climate, Pakistan has been blessed with a wide variety of animal species, which also includes birds.

Depending upon the climate, birds from the neighbouring regional areas migrate to Pakistan. Not only do these birds vary in size but they are also beautiful to look at owing to their different structures as well as vibrant colours.

Here are the pictures and relevant information of 17 birds which are observed in Pakistan and seem to be breathtakingly beautiful.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher is a summer visitor to Pakistan, breeds in northern Punjab in forests with good water source in or around it. Also breeds in Margalla Hills, further upwards in Himalayan Valleys up to 1500 meters. The size is 20 cm, except the male which comes with long tail which makes the size around 32cm as shown in the picture.

Chestnut Thrush is a 27cm resident bird of Pakistan. Stays mostly between 2300-3300 meters and breeds there, avoids dryer sunny slopes. Descends to Margalla Hills during winter season.

Red-billed Leiothrix is small bird, size of 13cm. It is a regular winter visitor to Margalla Hills, this bird sticks to dense bushes and can be seen in flock, and is recorded up to 2000 meters.

Steppe Eagle is 80cm bird in size. A winter migrant, it can be seen around different wetlands including northern areas of Pakistan.

A resident of Himalayan forest, Variegated Laughingthrush is a 24cm bird. During winter season it lands down to Margalla hills, that makes its presence somewhere in between altitude of 400 meters to 3000 meters depending on the weather and temperature.

Black Bulbul is 25 cm bird; resident of Himalaya region, from lower Chitral and Hazara district to Neelum Valley, and Murree Hills to Margalla Hills.

Lemon-rumped warbler is one of the smallest birds in Pakistan, size is 9 cm only. It is a resident bird, winters down in foothills of Murree and Margalla Hills and can also be seen up to 3000 meters.

Rufous -breasted accentor is a 15cm resident bird, and breeds somewhere between 2700-3600 meters preferably at locations that are rich with grassy moister slopes. Descends to Margalla Hills during winter season.

Himalayan bulbul is a 20cm resident bird, most common in forests of Islamabad. It can be seen up to 2100 meters that includes areas like Chitral, Swat and Murree.

Black headed Jay is 33cm resident bird, can be seen throughout Himalayan forest, which spends winters mostly in hills from Murree to Margalla hills.

Blue-capped Rock Thrush is gorgeous 17cm summer breeding visitor to Pakistan. It can be seen from Margalla Hills up to 3000 meter mostly with areas covered with Pine trees.

Dark-throated Thrush is a 25cm long winter visitor to Pakistan, starts coming in the northern areas in start of winter and then slowly spreads downwards to Punjab and Balochistan as the temperature drops.

Grey treepie is a 40cm bird resident bird. It can be seen in Margalla Hills and Murree.

Himalayan Griffon Vulture is huge bird with wing span up to 3 meters and body size of 110cm. It can be seen in Northern areas, comes down to Murree and Margalla Hills during winters.

Grey-winged black bird is a 28cm resident bird, which is confined to Murree and has limited altitudinal migration during winter down to Margalla Hills.

Blue throated Barbet is 23cm resident bird in Murree foothills and Margalla hills.

[post_gallery]

Pictures and text from Zahran Siyar. Based in Islamabad, Siyar is a hobbyist bird watcher and photographer. He tweets at @ZahranCR.