About Skardu District
District Brief
The Skardu District is bounded on the east by the Ghanche District, on the south by the Kharmang District, on the west by the Astore District, on the north by the Shigar district and on the north-west it touches Gilgit District. With land area of about 7,290 sq. kms, Skardu ecology is mostly dry alpine zones & glaciers, montane grasslands and shrublands mainly in Deosai area. The district also has sub-alpine scrub consisting of small deciduous plant species. Valleys in the northern parts of the district have some temperate coniferous forests. Overall the district has about 1% land under forest or tree cover (including farm forests and plantations), with 27% of the land comprising of alpine and winter pastures. Only half a percent of the land is used for agricultural and settlement purposes. The remaining 71% of the land area is either barren or permanently snow covered.Avian Diversity
About 198 bird species are found in the district, with the highest number (107 species) being Passeriformes (perching birds). This group mainly consist of corvids, finches, pipits and finches, some warblers, buntings, flycatchers, redstarts and larks. Waterfowl species increase significantly during spring and autumn passage, with 16 ducks & geese species, 12 waders, 9 gulls & terns, with additional 11 species of crakes, grebes, egrets and herons. In terms of predatory birds there are up to 14 hawks & eagles, 3 vultures, 1 owl and 4 falcon species in the region. Other birds in the region include 3 pheasant and 4 pigeon & dove species, with some woodpeckers, swifts and others.
Other: 15
Pheasants: 3
Raptors & Owls: 21
Water Birds: 52
Perching Birds: 107
Birds Checklist for Skardu 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)
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 (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
