About Astore District
District Brief
Astore District is bounded by Gilgit District to the north, Roundu District to the northeast, Skardu District to the east, Kharmang District to the southeast, Diamer District to the west, the Neelum District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the southwest, and the Bandipore District of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the south. Covering about 5,120 sq. kms, Astore District’s ecology is mixed with Western Himalayan subalpine temperate coniferous forests in the southern parts, with higher elevations covered with alpine shrub and meadows of montane grasslands and shrublands. Whereas southern parts are mostly dry alpine zones with patches of alpine meadows. Overall the district has less than 6% land under forest or tree cover (including farm forests and plantations), with 43% of the land comprising of alpine and winter pastures. About 0.7% of the land is used for agricultural and settlement purposes. About half of the remaining land area is either barren or permanently snow covered.Avian Diversity
Due to its diverse ecology, about 288 bird species are found in the district, with the highest number (152 species) being Passeriformes (perching birds). This group includes a variety of flycatchers, finches, warblers, corvids, buntings, redstarts and pipits, with some lowland species. The district is also witness’s variety of waterfowl, during passage, with 16 ducks & geese species, 27 waders, 9 gulls & terns, with more than 24 species of crakes, grebes, egrets and herons. In terms of predatory birds there are up to 19 hawks & eagles, 4 vultures, 4 owls and 5 falcon species in the region. Other birds in the region include 6 pheasant and 9 pigeon & dove species.
Other: 22
Pheasants: 6
Raptors & Owls: 32
Water Birds: 76
Perching Birds: 152
Birds Checklist for Astore District
Anseriformes (Ducks and Geese)
Galliformes (Pheasants and Allies)
Podicipediformes (Grebes)
Ciconiiformes (Storks)
Suliformes (Cormorants)
Pelecaniformes (Egrets and Bitterns)
Pelecaniformes (Ibises and Spoonbills)
Accipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles and Vultures)
Gruiformes (Rails and Coots)
Gruiformes (Cranes)
Charadriiformes (Stilts and Allies)
Charadriiformes (Plovers and Lapwings)
Charadriiformes (Sandpipers, Snipes and Allies)
Charadriiformes (Gulls and Terns)
Columbiformes (Pigeons and Doves)
Cuculiformes (Cuckoos)
Strigiformes (Owls)
Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars and Swifts)
Bucerotiformes (Hoopoes)
Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers)
Piciformes (Woodpeckers)
Falconiformes (Falcons)
Passeriformes (Cuckooshrikes)
Passeriformes (Shrikes)
Passeriformes (Old World Orioles)
Passeriformes (Drongos)
Passeriformes (Crows, Jays and Magpies)
Passeriformes (Larks)
Passeriformes (Swallows and Martins)
Passeriformes (Tits and Long-tailed Tits)
Passeriformes (Nuthatches)
Passeriformes (Wall and Treecreepers)
Passeriformes (Wrens and Dippers)
Passeriformes (Bulbuls)
Passeriformes (Kinglets and Bush-Warblers)
Passeriformes (Leaf Warblers)
Passeriformes (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
Passeriformes (Sylviid Warblers)
Passeriformes (Laughingthrushes)
Passeriformes (Old World Flycatchers)
Passeriformes (Old World Redstarts)
Passeriformes (Chats and Wheatears)
Passeriformes (Thrushes)
Passeriformes (Starlings)
Passeriformes (Accentors)
Passeriformes (Wagtails and Pipits)
Passeriformes (Buntings)
Passeriformes (Finches and Allies)
Passeriformes (Old World Sparrows)
This website is a joint effort of Forest, Parks and Wildlife Department, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan and Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (an indigenous private initiative)
to highlight the diverse birdlife found in the region. All the maps, imagery and photographs in this book are provided by the mentioned individuals or entities with appropriate
permissions for public use, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan upholds the copyright of these material on behalf of the owners.
birds of gilgit-baltistan
