About Ghizer District
District Brief
Ghizer district is the northernmost part of the Gilgit-Baltistan and hence the extreme north of Pakistan. It borders the Wakhan strip of Afghanistan on its north-west. With China and Hunza on its north and eastern borders, on its west is Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; and on its east the Gilgit District. Diamer District is on its south. Covering roughly 12,450 sq. kms, District Ghizer is defined mostly by sub-alpine scrub consisting of small deciduous plant species. Northern and western parts are mainly alpine meadows and alpine scrub of wildflowers, grasses and sedges. Only temperate coniferous forests are found in the extreme southern parts. Overall the district has less than 1.5% land under forest or tree cover (including farm forests and plantations), with 13.5% of the land comprising of alpine and winter pastures. Only about 1% of the land is used for agricultural and settlement purposes. More than 83% of the remaining land area is either barren or permanently snow covered.Avian Diversity
Due to its diverse ecology, about 299 bird species are found in the district, with the highest number (157 species) being Passeriformes (perching birds). This group includes a variety of flycatchers, finches, warblers, corvids, buntings, redstarts and pipits, with some lowland species. Waterfowl, during passage are 17 ducks & geese species, 30 waders, 9 gulls & terns, and more than 23 species of crakes, grebes, egrets and herons. In terms of predatory birds there are up to 17 hawks & eagles, 5 vultures, 7 owls and 6 falcon species in the region. Other birds in the region include 6 pheasant and 7 pigeon & dove species, with bee-eaters, woodpeckers, swifts and others.
Other: 22
Pheasants: 6
Raptors & Owls: 35
Water Birds: 79
Perching Birds: 157
Birds Checklist for Ghizer 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)
Otidiformes (Bustards)
Gruiformes (Rails and Coots)
Gruiformes (Cranes)
Charadriiformes (Stilts and Allies)
Charadriiformes (Plovers and Lapwings)
Charadriiformes (Sandpipers, Snipes and Allies)
Charadriiformes (Gulls and Terns)
Pterocliformes (Sandgrouse)
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 (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
