In a first, European Greenfinch sighted in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 11: A group of birdwatchers in Kashmir has sighted European Greenfinch in the valley, which is the first record of this species from India, said Prof. Khursheed Ahmad, one of the founding executive members of Kashmir Birdwatch and Head of the Division of Wildlife Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir.

The bird was sighted in the Botanical garden, Srinagar at 4pm on 10th February.  

The team of birders led by Waseem Ahmad Bhat, a famous Kashmiri bird guide and an active member of Kashmir Birdwatch - the oldest birding club of J&K - sighted the bird during one of their birding outings. The team also included  Uttam Mahatha, Ritu Chatterjee and Dar Bilal.

The European Greenfinch, scientifically named Chloris chloris, is considered as an Eurasian species but has never been recorded within the  Indian limits.

In Asia, it is distributed in Afghanistan, some Central Asian countries and parts of north-west Pakistan.

The sighting of this species from Kashmir is significant as it extends the limits of the bird to this part of the world, added Prof. Khursheed.