Unique Wild Life Pakistan

Painted snipe

2011-03-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

Painted snipe

Order: Charadriiformes . Family: Rostratulidae
Painted snipe are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured. There are 2 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Pakistan.

Greater Painted snipe Rostratula benghalensis

Crab Plover

2011-03-23T23:12:00.000-07:00

Crab Plover

Order: Charadriiformes . Family: Dromadidae

The Crab Plover is related to the waders. It resembles a plover but with very long grey legs and a strong heavy black bill similar to a tern. It has black and white plumage, a long neck, partially webbed feet and a bill designed for eating crabs.

Crab Plover Dromas ardeola

Oystercatchers

2011-03-23T23:06:00.000-07:00

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes . Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. There are 11 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Pakistan.

Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Ibisbill

2011-03-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

Ibisbill

Order: Charadriiformes . Family: Ibidorhynchidae
The Ibisbill is a bird related to the waders, but sufficiently distinctive to merit its own family. The adult is grey with a white belly, red legs and long down curved bill, and a black face and black breast band.

Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii

Osprey

2011-03-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

Osprey

Order: Falconiformes . Family: Pandionidae
The Pandionidae family contains only one species, the Osprey. The Osprey is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish eater with a worldwide distribution.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Flamingos

2011-03-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes . Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet high, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly-shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and are uniquely used upside-down. There are 6 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor

2.Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus

Ibises and spoonbills

2011-03-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Ciconiiformes . Family: Threskiornithidae
The Threskiornithidae is a family of large terrestrial and wading birds which includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings with 11 primary and about 20 secondary feathers. They are strong fliers and despite their size and weight, very capable soarers. There are 36 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

2.Red naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa

3.Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

4.Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus

Storks

2011-03-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes . Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked, wading birds with long, stout bills. Storks are mute; bill clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Their nests can be large and may be reused for many years. Many species are migratory. There are 19 species worldwide and 7 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Black Stork Ciconia nigra

2.White Stork Ciconia ciconia

3.Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala

4.Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans

5.Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius (A)

6.Woolly necked Stork Ciconia episcopus (A)

7.Black necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

Bitterns, herons and egrets

2011-03-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Bitterns, herons and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes . Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 16 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Black crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

2.Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis

3.Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus

4.Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

5.Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis

6.Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris

7.Gray Heron Ardea cinerea

8.Goliath Heron Ardea goliath (A)

9.Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

10.Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta

11.Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia

12.Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis

13.Little Egret Egretta garzetta

14.Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii

15.Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

16.Striated Heron Butorides striata

Darters

2011-03-23T06:09:00.000-07:00

Darters

Order: Pelecaniformes . Family: Anhingidae
Darters are frequently referred to as "snake-birds" because of their long thin neck, which gives a snake-like appearance when they swim with their bodies submerged. The males have black and dark brown plumage, an erectile crest on the nape and a larger bill than the female. The females have a much paler plumage especially on the neck and underparts. The darters have completely webbed feet, and their legs are short and set far back on the body. Their plumage is somewhat permeable, like that of cormorants, and they spread their wings to dry after diving. There are 4 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Pakistan.

1.Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster

Cormorants

2011-03-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

Cormorants

Order: Pelecaniformes . Family: Phalacrocoracidae
The Phalacrocoracidae is a family of medium-to-large coastal, fish-eating sea-birds that includes cormorants and shags. Plumage colouration varies with the majority having mainly dark plumage, some species being black and white, and a few being colourful. There are 38 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger

2.Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmaeus

3.Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

4.Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo

Boobies and gannets

2011-03-23T05:53:00.000-07:00

Boobies and gannets

Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups comprise medium-to-large coastal sea-birds that plunge-dive for fish. There are 9 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Pakistan.

1.Masked Booby Sula dactylatra

Pelicans

2011-03-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak. As with other members of the order Pelecaniformes, they have webbed feet with four toes. There are 8 species worldwide and 3 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

2.Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus

3.Grey Pelican Pelecanus philippensis

Tropicbirds

2011-03-23T04:12:00.000-07:00

Tropicbirds

Order: Pelecaniformes. Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their heads and long wings have black markings.There are 3 species worldwide and 2 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Red tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda

2.Red billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus

Storm Petrels

2011-03-23T04:04:00.000-07:00

Storm Petrels
Order: Procellariiformes. Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are relatives of the petrels, and are the smallest of sea-birds. They feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. There are 21 species worldwide and 1 species which occurs in Pakistan.

1.Wilson's Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Shearwaters and Petrels

2011-03-23T04:01:00.000-07:00

Shearwaters and Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes. Family: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium sized 'true petrels', characterised by united nostrils with a medium septum, and a long outer functional primary. There are 75 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Flesh footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes

2.Jouanin's Petrel Bulweria fallax (A)

3.Short tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris (A)

4.Wedge tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus (A)

5.Persian Shearwater Puffinus persicus

Grebes

2011-03-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes. Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large sized freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes, and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. There are 20 species worldwide and 5 species which occur in Pakistan.

1.Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

2.Red necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena

3.Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

4.Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus

5.Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Loons

2011-03-23T03:29:00.000-07:00

Loons
Order: Gaviiformes. Family: Gaviidae
Loons, The loons are the size of a large duck or small goose, which they somewhat resemble in shape when swimming. There are 5 species worldwide and 2 species occurs in Pakistan.

1. Great Northern Loon Gavia immer

2. Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica

List of birds of Pakistan

2011-03-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

List of birds of Pakistan

This is a list of the bird species recorded in Pakistan. The avifauna of Pakistan includes a total of 786 species, of which 39 are rare or accidental. 1 species listed are extirpated in Pakistan and are not included in the species count. The Chukar (Alectoris chukar) is the national bird of Pakistan, whilst the Peregrine falcon is the military state-bird of the Pakistan Air Force.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families, and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of Clements's 5th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflects this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Accidental species are included in the total species counts for Pakistan.

(A) Accidental A species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Pakistan.

Non Passerines :

Loons.
Grebes.
Shearwaters and Petrels.
Storm-Petrels.Tropicbirds.
Pelicans.
Boobies and Gannets.
Cormorants.Darters.
Bitterns,Herons and Egrets.
Storks.Ibises and Spoonbills.
Flamingos.
Ducks,Geese and Swans.
Osprey.
Hawks,Kites and Eagles.
Caracaras and Falcons.
Pheasants and Partridges.
Buttonquails.
Cranes.Rails,Crakes, Gallinules,and Coots.
Bustards.
Jacanas.
Painted snipe.
Crab Plover.
Oystercatchers.
Ibisbill.
Avocets and Stilts.
Thick knees.
Pratincoles and Coursers.
Skimmers.
Sandgrouse.
Pigeons and Doves.
Parrots, Macaws and allies.
Cuckoos and Anis.
Barn owls.
Typical owls.
Nightjars.
Swifts.
Kingfishers.
Bee eaters.
Typical Rollers.
Hoopoes.
Hornbills.
Barbets.
Honeyguides.
Woodpeckers and allies.
Plovers and Lapwings.
Sandpipers and allies.
Skuas and Jaegers.
Gulls.
Terns.

Passerines :

Pittas . Larks . Swallows and Martins . Wagtails and Pipits . Cuckoo-shrikes . Bulbuls . Kinglets . Ioras . Waxwings . Grey Hypocolius . Dippers . Wrens . Accentors . Thrushes and allies . Cisticolas and allies .White-eyes . Old World Orioles . Shrikes . Helmetshrikes . Drongos . Crows, Jays, Ravens and Magpies . Starlings . Weavers and allies . Waxbills and allies . Buntings, Sparrows, Seedeaters and allies . Siskins, Crossbills and allies . Sparrows . Old World warblers . Old World flycatchers . Fantails . Monarch flycatchers . Babblers . Parrotbills . Long-tailed tits . Chickadees and Titmice . Nuthatches . Wallcreeper . Treecreepers . Penduline tits . Sunbirds and Spiderhunters . Flowerpeckers .

Toli Pir National Park

2011-03-16T05:30:00.000-07:00

Toli Pir National Park

Toli Pir (also spelled Tolipeer, Tauli Pir, Pir Tools, Tolipir or Toli Peer) is a hilly area located in Tehsil Rawalakot in the Poonch district of Azad Kashmir. Its approximate height is about 8800 m altitude. It is about 40 miles, or drive 45 minutes from Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir. Abbaspur, Bagh and Poonch river can be accessed from Toli Pir.

Parking area Toli Pir

Toli Pir is the highest mountain location in the north-east of Rawalakot is the origin of three different mountain ranges. Tourist rest house on the way to Toli Pir is situated in a picturesque location. There are remnants of an old mazar on the highest hill.
Toli Pir is the most accessible during the summer months, the weather is generally pleasant, but gets cold from October to March. Natural beauty of the region is at its peak in April and May.

Sheikh Buddin National Park

2011-03-16T05:22:00.000-07:00

Sheikh Buddin National Park

Saiful Muluk National Park

2011-03-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

Saiful Muluk National Park

Saiful Malook National Park is located in Kaghan Valley, Mansehra District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It was created in 2003.

Shandur Hundrup National Park

2011-03-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

Shandur Hundrup National Park

Margalla Hills National Park

2011-03-16T05:05:00.000-07:00

Margalla Hills National Park

The Margalla Hills National Park is located in Northern Pakistan at the foothills of the Himalayas and is a National Park. It is approximately 17,386 hectares in size.

Location

Founded in 1980, the Margalla Hills National Park includes the Margalla range (12,605 hectares) of Rawal Lake, Shakarparian and sports and cultural complexes. The chain of hills that lies between an altitude of 685 meters and 1,604 meters on the west side to the east.

Paleontology

The rock formations are 40 million years ago, and fossils of marine life abounds everywhere eloquent testimony to the effect that the hills were Margallah at a time under the sea

Flora and fauna

The vegetation of the southern side is short stuttered, including deciduous and evergreen shrubs with varied growth. In the north, pine and oak forests. The fauna is mainly Indo Himalayan, with some overlap of species Palacaretic. The birds found here are winter migrants and residents at higher elevations of northern spring / summer year, visitors to the farm, cash and short passage from day to arrive in the spring.

Margalla has a variety of mammals, they include Leopard, Gray Goral, Barking deer, wild boar, jackal, fox and porcupines, among others.
It also hosts a large number of birds such as skylarks, Paradise Flycatcher, Black grouse, pheasant them, Spotted Doves, the Egyptian vulture, hawks, falcons and Eagle.Reptiles as Russell's viper, Indian cobra Saw scale viper can be found here.

Conservation Campaign

Himalayan Wildlife Foundation is a project on a sustainable management strategy for the Margalla Hills National Park.
Margalla Hills Society founded in 1989 is a registered trademark non-governmental organization based in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is managed by an elected executive. Its main objective is to preserve the natural environment of Margalla Hills National Park and prevent the removal of green space to promote the public interest in conservation, development and management of forests, wildlife and other natural resources Margalla Hills National Park and disseminate information on Marghalla Hills National Park, including history, geography, flora, fauna and culture of its benefits for the citizens of Islamabad.

Tourism and monitoring

The national park is the most accessible in Pakistan because of its proximity to the national capital, Islamabad. This is an important hub for birdlovers throughout the year. There are several hiking trails, with the most famous being Trail 3.

Machiara National Park

2011-03-16T04:52:00.000-07:00

Machiara National Park

Machiara National Park in Pakistan is one of three globally significant national parks selected for a Global Environment Facility sponsored project. The overall goal is to set up management models demonstrating effective natural resource conservation and make a significant contribution to the development of Pakistan's capacity.