Gilgit-Baltistan, covers approximately 72,500 square kilometers in northern Pakistan bordering China, Afghanistan and India. The region is located between 35-37 N and 72-75 E, administratively divided into 3 divisions (Baltistan, Diamer and Gilgit) and 10 districts. Most of the area consists of rugged mountains, the higher elevations remaining snow covered throughout the year. The area constitutes an important segment of South Asia, covering the intersection zone of four majestic massifs – Karakoram and the western Himalayas covering the central and north-east regions, Hindukush in the south-west and Pamirs to the north. Among these mountain ranges Gilgit-Baltistan is home to some of the world’s highest peaks, massive glaciers, magnificent rivers, azure lakes, highest alpine plateaus, splendid valleys and unique ecological zones.

Gilgit-Baltistan due to its geographic location is habitat to unique biodiversity and part of the mountain ecosystems which harbors the largest mass of glaciers outside the pole. This network of glaciers bounded in Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu-Kush (HKH) are feeding hundreds of streams, lakes, and rivers which combine to form the mighty Indus River. Additionally the combination of different landscape types result in five major ecological zones and four forest types in Gilgit-Baltistan. namely 1) Dry Alpine Zones & Permanent Snowfields with glaciers, boulder fields and mountainous terrain at higher elevations in the northern and eastern parts; 2) Alpine Meadows and Alpine Scrub of dispersed through the region between high valleys and permanent snowfields around 3,000-4,000m. Dominant plant species of this Northern Dry Scrub are sea buckthorn, willow and juniper, where flora of Montane Sub-Tropical Scrub forest include dodonaea, wild rose and Artemisia; 3) Sub-Alpine Scrub mostly in the south and western parts, with major plant species of birch, willow, juniper and ephedra; 4) Montane Dry Temperate Coniferous forest on inner slops of Himalaya between 1,500-3,500m in the central and southern parts of Gilgit-Baltistan with major plant species of deodar, blue pine, fir, spruce, chilgoza and juniper; 5) Montane Dry Temperate Broad-leaved forests lying between 1,500-2,500m in the south, with flora including oak, ash, willow and poplar.

Documentation and information about the avian diversity of Gilgit-Baltistan has largely remained ignored. Most of the research and data about the birds of Gilgit-Baltistan is outdated, with an estimated 230 species mentioned by T. J. Roberts in 1991. But latest estimates from the field experts and observations indicate that the region is home to about 360 resident and migratory bird species. More than half, about 197 among these are Passeriformes (perching birds), ranging from small birds like Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) to Common Raven (Corvus corax). A significant number of warblers, finches, buntings, redstarts, larks and pipits are also included in this group. The region is also home to a great variety of waterfowl, especially during spring and autumn passage, with no less than 17 ducks & geese species, 33 waders, 10 gulls & terns, with more than 26 species of crakes, grebes, egrets and herons. In terms of predatory birds there are up to 19 hawks & eagles, 5 vultures, 9 owls and 6 falcon species in the region. Other birds in the region include 9 pheasant and 11 pigeon & dove species, with some woodpeckers, swifts and bee-eaters.

Some significant species in the region are Himalayan Snowcock, Himalayan Monal, Snow Partridge, Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Golden Eagle, Snow Pigeon, Eurasian Scops-Owl, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, European Bee-eater, Peregrine Falcon, Kashmir Nutcracker, Horned Lark, Hodgson's Treecreeper, Brooks's Leaf Warbler, White-winged Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Robin Accentor, Crimson-winged Finch and White-winged Grosbeak.

The diversity of avifauna not only enhance the ecology of Gilgit-Baltistan, but distribution and population of avifauna in the region provide an excellent indicator about the current situation and health of ecology in the region. In an effort to update the information about the bird species of Gilgit-Baltistan, this website is a compilation of a well-researched and comprehensive digital repository “Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan”. This first of a kind online resource covers and depicts all birds known to occur in the region, including migratory, infrequently occurring and introduced forms. Fully updated and expanded, the website features detailed accounts of more than 380 bird species relevant to Gilgit-Baltistan. This digital repository provides interactive search features for specific areas, regions and bird features, with the inclusion of photographs of all the documented species, field identification, range, status, habitat and other important information (including bird size, weights and characteristic for each species). Additionally each species account also covers updated the status of every species; feature photographs for all the species; new and enhanced range maps.