Nepal, March 5 -- A new bird species has been sighted in Jhapa district. Bird enthusiast Devendra Kharel spotted a purple-backed sunbird, known in Nepali as Baijani Dhade Bungechara, in Kankadbhitta of the district on February 19. Kharel first noticed the bird on the rooftop of Rajendra Mishra in ward 6 of Mechinagar Municipality and captured it on camera.

"I sent the image, along with necessary details to the Nepalese Ornithological Union via email. On February 28, the union officially confirmed it as a new bird species for Nepal," said Kharel.

According to the Nepalese Ornithological Union, Nepal had previously recorded seven species of sunbirds. With the addition of the purple-backed sunbird, the count has now reached eight.

The pur...